Zoho Cliq review (2026): features, pros and cons, and what to check before you buy
Team chat from Zoho with channels, calls and bots, with a free tier and per-user paid plans.
Our take for buyers
Zoho Cliq is team chat from Zoho with channels, threads, calls and bots, and it suits teams that already run Zoho CRM, Projects or Workplace. The plan comparison page lists SSO on all plans, including Free, which is unusual for team chat. Audit logs are Enterprise only, and guest chat starts at Professional. G2 rates it 4.4 from 261 reviews, which is a decent sample for a chat tool.
That makes it a reasonable shortlist candidate for Zoho-centric teams that need basic identity controls cheaply. It is a weaker fit if your compliance team wants audit logs below the top tier, or if you need a published price list before engaging a salesperson. Reviews praise a clean, easy interface; complaints are not well documented.
Pros
- Easy to use with a clean interface.
- Strong fit when the rest of the stack is Zoho.
- Best for
- Teams already on Zoho apps (CRM, Projects, Workplace) that want chat inside that suite.
- Starting price
- Free; paid Standard plan (USD amount not confirmed by the vendor)
- G2 rating
- 4.4 (261 reviews)
What is Zoho Cliq?
Team chat from Zoho with channels, calls and bots, with a free tier and per-user paid plans. Zoho Cliq is Zoho's team chat with channels, calls and bots, offered with a free tier and per-user paid plans. It stands out for fitting naturally into Zoho CRM and Projects, with meetings of up to 1,000 active participants on higher plans.
Category: Team Chat and Messaging Software
Zoho Cliq key features
| Criterion | What we found |
|---|---|
| Channels and threading | Channels up to 100 participants and group chats up to 100 participants on Free. |
| Built-in video and huddles | 1:1 audio/video calls; meetings up to 100 participants (Free, Standard) or 1,000 active participants plus 10,000 viewers (Professional, Enterprise); 60-minute cap on Free. |
| Search and message history limits | 10,000 searchable messages on Free; unlimited on Standard and above. |
| App integrations and bots | Extensions and bots; Free is limited to 10 extensions and 100 bots per company. |
| Guest and external access | Guest chat on Professional and Enterprise, not on Free or Standard. |
| Security and admin controls | SSO listed on all plans; audit logs on Enterprise only; retention and eDiscovery policies; encryption at rest and in transit. |
| Pricing model and transparency | Free tier plus per-user paid plans; annual billing saves 10%. |
| Target company size | Small teams to enterprises (Enterprise tier has 10-user minimum) |
Zoho Cliq plans and pricing
| Plan | Price | Unit | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Free | $0 | 10,000 searchable messages, meetings capped at 60 minutes, 100 GB per company, 10 extensions and 100 bots per company | |
| Standard | per user per month | Unlimited searchable messages, 24-hour meetings, 100 GB per company; no minimum users | |
| Professional | per user per month | Minimum 10 users, 100 GB per user, guest chat, meetings up to 1,000 active participants | |
| Enterprise | per user per month | Minimum 10 users, 100 GB per user, audit logs |
Zoho's pricing pages show no amounts for visitors in Germany. A third-party copy of the plan comparison lists 10, 25 and 50 per user for Standard, Professional, Enterprise but gives no currency or billing period, so these are not recorded as prices. Pricing page states annual billing saves 10%.
Who should shortlist Zoho Cliq
A strong fit for
- Teams already on Zoho apps (CRM, Projects, Workplace) that want chat inside that suite.
- Small teams that want a free tier with 100-person channels and group chats.
A weak fit for
- Buyers who need audit logs below the Enterprise plan.
- Teams that need a verified public USD price list before talking to Zoho.
Zoho Cliq alternatives
SlackTeams wanting channel-based chat with a large app ecosystem.
Microsoft TeamsOrganizations already on Microsoft 365 and Entra ID.
Google ChatTeams already on Google Workspace that want chat without a second license.
MattermostOrganizations that must self-host or run air-gapped chat.
FlockSmall teams (up to about 100 members) wanting low-cost chat with a free tier.
ChantySmall teams wanting cheap per-user chat with tasks.
Security, admin and compliance
Published: SSO is listed on all plans, audit logs are Enterprise only, and retention policies, eDiscovery and encryption at rest and in transit are listed. Not published: SCIM, data residency and DPA terms. A support plans page exists, but its details are not spelled out, so ask what response times you get. Professional and Enterprise carry a 10-user minimum. Ask Zoho for data residency options and a DPA in writing, and confirm which plan holds the retention and eDiscovery features.
- SAML SSO
- Listed on all plans including Free (plan-comparison page)
- Audit logs
- Enterprise.
Contract and buying terms
- Contract
- Monthly billing available.
- Support
- Support plans page exists (zoho.com/cliq/pricing/support-plans.html); details not confirmed by the vendor.
- Starting price
- Free; paid Standard plan (USD amount not confirmed by the vendor)
- Pricing model
- Per user.
- Free plan or trial
- Free plan.
What to test in a Zoho Cliq demo or trial
Test the plan limits that matter to you. On Free, check how quickly 10,000 searchable messages and the 60-minute meeting cap become a problem. Run a meeting with the participant count you expect, since Free and Standard allow up to 100 and Professional and Enterprise up to 1,000 active participants. Invite an external guest to confirm it works on the plan you plan to buy, because guest chat is not on Free or Standard. Build one bot or extension tied to Zoho CRM or Projects, and check that SSO login works with your identity provider.
Questions to ask Zoho Cliq before you sign
These are the points Zoho Cliq's public pages leave open. Get the answers in writing before procurement signs off.
- Is SCIM provisioning included, or a paid add-on?
- Where is our data stored, and can we choose the region?
- Can we sign your standard DPA without changes?
- What will the price be at renewal, and is the increase capped?
Things to know before a demo
- Audit logs are Enterprise only; guest chat starts at Professional.
- Professional and Enterprise need at least 10 users, Standard has no minimum.
- Storage is 100 GB per company on Free and Standard but 100 GB per user on Professional and Enterprise.
- Free meetings stop at 60 minutes; paid plans allow 24 hours.
Zoho Cliq FAQ
What is Zoho Cliq used for?
Zoho Cliq is Zoho's team chat with channels, calls and bots, offered with a free tier and per-user paid plans. It stands out for fitting naturally into Zoho CRM and Projects, with meetings of up to 1,000 active participants on higher plans. It suits teams already on Zoho apps (CRM, Projects, Workplace) that want chat inside that suite.
Does Zoho Cliq support SSO?
The plan comparison page lists SSO on all plans, including Free. It does not say which identity providers are supported, so ask Zoho before you commit.
Does Zoho Cliq have audit logs?
Yes, but only on the Enterprise plan. Lower plans do not include them according to the plan comparison.
Can I invite external guests?
Guest chat is available on Professional and Enterprise, not on Free or Standard.
Sources
Every fact on this page comes from Zoho Cliq's own pricing, product or documentation pages, G2 and company records, checked on October 24, 2026. Unknown values are left out instead of estimated.