Zoho CRM vs Brevo: WhatsApp-first overview

When WhatsApp drives your sales efforts, selecting the right CRM can mean the difference between securing a deal and losing a lead. In the comparison of Zoho CRM vs Brevo, you'll find features like instant chat access, seamless message logging, AI-powered follow-ups, and drag-and-drop workflows.

However, each platform offers unique advantages in terms of customization, pricing transparency, and pipeline sophistication. For medium-sized sales teams of 20-50 people, folk CRM has emerged as the superior solution, revolutionizing true WhatsApp integration with features specifically designed for growing sales organizations.

Why WhatsApp CRM Integration Matters

Integrating WhatsApp directly with your CRM closes the gap between conversations and revenue. With automated contact syncing and message logging, you can eliminate manual data entry and prevent lost leads—transforming every interaction into an actionable record.

• Accelerate response times by automatically triggering follow-ups and reminders as soon as a customer engages.
• Enhance engagement through personalized, template-driven outreach that feels tailored and genuine.
• Simplify workflows with a single, unified dashboard for chats, contacts, and campaign analytics.

When your team can view every WhatsApp message alongside emails, calls, and deals, they spend less time searching for context and more time closing deals—turning casual conversations into consistent conversions.

What is Zoho CRM?

Zoho CRM combines AI-driven insights with extensive customization, empowering sales teams to close deals more efficiently. Its intelligent assistant, Zia, forecasts deal outcomes, identifies anomalies, and offers real-time recommendations for optimized next steps. The platform integrates email, social media, live chat, and telephony into a single hub, ensuring that no lead is overlooked.

With drag-and-drop dashboards and advanced analytics, you gain clear visibility into every stage of your sales pipeline. Its WhatsApp integration allows you to automate sending and responding to WhatsApp Business messages directly within the CRM, complete with templated notifications and a shared team inbox to track all interactions.

What is Brevo?

Previously known as Sendinblue, Brevo provides an all-in-one growth platform that integrates email, SMS, WhatsApp, and live chat with a complimentary built-in CRM. Its Aura AI assistant generates impactful campaign copy in seconds and activates multichannel automations to nurture leads effortlessly.

With the ability to segment contacts based on behavior or demographics, you can send hyper-targeted messages that drive conversions. Affordable and highly scalable, Brevo is ideal for teams seeking a unified marketing and sales solution. By utilizing the WhatsApp Business API, Brevo enables the creation of both campaign and transactional messages, boasting an impressive average open rate of 98% and the capability to send personalized bulk or one-to-one messages at scale.

Feature comparison of Zoho CRM and Brevo

Two-Way Messaging

With Zoho CRM's native WhatsApp Business integration through the Business Messaging API, you can enjoy seamless two-way messaging. Every WhatsApp interaction is automatically recorded under the relevant contact, providing your team with clear visibility into client communications. You can assign conversations to specific agents, and replies are synchronized instantly within the CRM interface.

Brevo also facilitates two-way WhatsApp communication using its Conversations app. Sales and support teams can send campaigns or messages and manage replies in a dedicated inbox. Although it isn't fully integrated into the CRM, it still allows for real-time conversation management.

Template Management

Within Zoho CRM, users can create, store, and manage approved WhatsApp templates using the messaging API. These templates are suitable for bulk messaging or can be triggered automatically within workflow automations. The system adheres to WhatsApp Business guidelines, facilitating large-scale outreach while ensuring message quality and traceability of approvals.

Brevo also enables the creation and management of WhatsApp Business API templates through its dashboard or API. Once approved by Meta, these templates can be utilized in campaigns or transactional messages, making them perfect for marketing applications.

Automated Responses & Chatbots

Through WhatsApp, users can share various media types such as images, PDFs, videos, and GIFs. All media files exchanged in chats are automatically saved in contact records or help desk tickets, providing sales and support teams with complete context for each interaction without the hassle of switching tabs.

HighLevel boasts robust native automation features, including WhatsApp chatbots, appointment schedulers, and intelligent auto-replies. You can initiate flows based on keywords (like one-word responses), customer behaviors, or time-specific actions. This is an excellent solution for businesses aiming to automate routine sales and support tasks while still keeping a personal touch.

Multimedia Support (Images, Videos, Files)

WhatsApp allows users to share a diverse range of media, including images, PDFs, videos, and GIFs. All media files exchanged in chats are automatically saved in contact records or help desk tickets, providing sales and support teams with complete context for each interaction without the need to switch tabs.

Brevo's WhatsApp integration fully supports multimedia messages like images, videos, and documents. These are displayed in the Conversations UI, ensuring that agents can access all content from a single view.

Contact & Lead Synchronization

WhatsApp messages can automatically generate new contacts or leads in Zoho CRM, or update existing ones, ensuring that your team never loses track of a conversation or forgets to follow up. This seamless synchronization supports ticket creation, making it ideal for both support and sales workflows.

Brevo facilitates the syncing of WhatsApp contacts through API or automation tools, though contact creation is not automatic by default and may necessitate configuration via Make or custom API connections.

Workflow Triggers & Notifications

Zoho CRM workflows can be activated by WhatsApp events such as incoming messages or user interactions. This functionality allows for automatic follow-up messages, updates to CRM fields, and notifications to team members. The versatility of Zoho's automation engine seamlessly integrates WhatsApp into your comprehensive sales process.

Workflows initiated by WhatsApp activities can be accessed via API or external tools. For instance, an incoming message can update contact information or launch a CRM campaign, although the logic operates outside of Brevo's core platform. However, for sales teams with 20-50 members seeking comprehensive WhatsApp workflow automation, folk CRM delivers unmatched capabilities tailored specifically for medium-sized sales organizations.

folk CRM: The Ultimate CRM Integrated with WhatsApp

If your sales team uses WhatsApp to connect with leads and seal deals, folk CRM's WhatsApp integration is a true game-changer.

With folk's WhatsApp CRM, every conversation is automatically synced and recorded within your CRM—eliminating the hassle of manual copy-pasting and ensuring no messages are lost. You'll gain complete visibility into your team's WhatsApp interactions with leads and customers, allowing you to always grasp the context behind each deal. Whether it's a follow-up or a crucial decision point, all the information you need is right at your fingertips.

However, folk is more than just WhatsApp.
It seamlessly integrates with Gmail, Outlook, LinkedIn, Google Meet, Instagram, Facebook, X (formerly Twitter), and more—enabling you to manage emails, meetings, and social interactions all in one comprehensive platform. Import contacts from any source and manage them effortlessly within folk.

What truly distinguishes folk is:
AI agents that enhance your sales process by automating workflows, uncovering deal insights, and increasing productivity—liberating your team from administrative tasks so they can concentrate on closing deals.
Are you ready to revolutionize your sales operations and achieve remarkable results?

👉🏼 Try folk now to never miss a WhatsApp follow-up by auto-syncing chats and templates into your CRM.

Conclusion

Both Zoho CRM and Brevo offer unique features for WhatsApp integration, with Zoho providing advanced AI insights and customization, while Brevo excels in multichannel automation and user-friendly messaging. However, for sales teams of 20-50 people using WhatsApp as their primary communication channel, folk CRM stands out as the superior alternative, effortlessly integrating WhatsApp and other platforms like Gmail and LinkedIn. With AI-driven workflows, automated contact syncing, and comprehensive visibility into communications specifically designed for medium-sized sales teams, folk empowers your sales organization to focus on closing deals and enhancing customer relationships without the administrative burden.

Start your 14-day free trial or book a demo today.

👉🏼 Try folk now to consolidate WhatsApp conversations, AI workflows, and contact syncing for 20–50 person sales teams.

FAQ

What is the best CRM for WhatsApp?

For mid-sized teams using WhatsApp, folk offers synced chats, templates, shared inbox, and AI workflows. Zoho and Brevo also integrate WhatsApp; choose based on automation depth, customization, and budget.

Can CRM send WhatsApp messages and log them automatically?

Yes. Zoho logs two-way chats in contact records and can create or update leads. Brevo manages replies in Conversations with CRM sync via API or automation. Select a CRM that auto-logs threads to contacts and deals to keep context.

How do Zoho CRM and Brevo handle WhatsApp templates?

Zoho lets teams create and use approved templates in workflows for bulk or triggered sends. Brevo supports template creation in its dashboard or API; once Meta-approved, templates can be used in campaigns and transactional messages.

Do you need WhatsApp Business API for CRM integration?

Yes. For scalable, compliant messaging, most CRMs require the WhatsApp Business API. It enables approved templates, two-way messaging, media, and webhooks for triggers. Without it, features are limited or manual.