Overview
Freshworks CRM (Freshsales) is part of the Freshworks business suite, offering AI-powered lead scoring, built-in phone, and omnichannel communication. Odoo CRM is part of a comprehensive ERP with native integration to sales, accounting, and operations. Both target SMBs with affordable pricing and modern interfaces.
Quick Comparison
| Aspect | Odoo CRM | Freshworks CRM |
|---|---|---|
| AI Features | AI lead creation (v19 EE) | Freddy AI scoring and insights |
| Pricing | $24-44/user/month (all apps) | Free - $69/user/month |
| Built-in Phone | VoIP module (v19 with AI transcription) | Native cloud phone |
| Integrated email gateway | Built-in email with tracking | |
| Chat | Live Chat module | Built-in chat widget |
| Helpdesk | Helpdesk module (Enterprise) | Freshdesk (separate product) |
| ERP Integration | Native | Requires third-party tools |
AI Capabilities
Freshworks Freddy AI
Freshworks introduced Freddy AI across its products, providing predictive lead scoring, deal insights, next-best-action recommendations, and email composition. Freddy AI is available on Growth plans and above, making AI accessible at lower price points.
Odoo AI (v19)
Odoo 19 introduced a comprehensive AI suite with 14+ modules. For CRM specifically: AI-powered lead creation from conversations, AI-assisted email composition, and integration with the broader AI agent framework that can reference knowledge bases and automate workflows.
Communication Channels
Freshworks excels at omnichannel communication. The CRM includes built-in phone (with call recording), email (with tracking and sequences), chat, and WhatsApp integration — all in the CRM interface. Odoo provides similar capabilities through separate modules: VoIP (with AI transcription in v19), Email Marketing, Live Chat, and SMS Marketing.
Pricing Comparison
# Monthly Cost (20 users):
# Tier | Odoo EE | Freshworks CRM
# Free | CE (full) | Free (3 users max)
# Growth | $620 | $380
# Pro | $620 | $780
# Enterprise | $880 | $1,380
# + Marketing | Included | Freshmarketer $228+
# + Helpdesk | Included | Freshdesk $300+Where Freshworks Wins
- Built-in phone and omnichannel in the CRM
- Freddy AI available on lower-cost plans
- Simpler, sales-focused interface
- Free plan for very small teams (3 users)
- Faster onboarding for sales teams
Where Odoo Wins
- CRM connected to ERP (quotes, orders, invoicing, inventory)
- All modules included in one price
- Community Edition is fully free with no user limits
- Open-source flexibility
- v19 AI suite is more comprehensive than Freddy
- Self-hosting option for data sovereignty
Verdict
Freshworks CRM is excellent for sales teams that want built-in phone, email, and AI insights without ERP complexity. Odoo is better when you need CRM as part of your business operations — connecting sales to fulfillment, invoicing, and accounting in one platform.
DeployMonkey Advantage
Deploy Odoo with CRM, VoIP, Live Chat, and marketing modules to match Freshworks' omnichannel capabilities — all within a unified ERP at a lower total cost.