Orbit vs Bigin by Zoho
Bigin by Zoho is a simplified pipeline CRM for small businesses, with multiple pipelines, basic automation, and an affordable per-seat price. Orbit is a free CRM for one person that adds 16 AI agents which prospect, call leads back in about 90 seconds, and draft follow-ups you approve. Bigin keeps your pipeline tidy. Orbit keeps it tidy and works it for you.
What is Bigin great at?
Bigin is Zoho's answer to CRMs that got too complicated. It strips the idea down to clean, multiple pipelines, contacts, and a few practical automations, with a mobile app that is genuinely good. It is cheap, fast to set up, and connects to the wider Zoho suite if you grow into it.
For a small business that wants more than a spreadsheet but far less than a full sales platform, Bigin hits a sweet spot. Multiple pipelines for different processes, a clear board view, and a price that does not flinch make it an easy yes for a small team starting out. Check their site for current plans.
Orbit vs Bigin at a glance
Both keep the pipeline simple. One of them also works it.
| Orbit | Bigin | |
|---|---|---|
| Built-in AI agents that do the work | 16 named agents from prospecting to collections | Basic automation, not an AI agent team |
| AI voice calls and speed-to-lead | Remy calls new form leads back in about 90 seconds | |
| Multiple pipelines | 1 pipeline on free, more on upcoming Pro | Multiple pipelines, a core feature |
| Clean, simple setup | Yes, simple core with agents on top | Yes, a core strength |
| Human approval gates on AI output | Every agent output is a card you approve first | Not applicable, no agents |
| Invoices, proposals, and booking pages included | Included on the free plan | Via the Zoho suite, check their site |
| On-device meeting transcription | Free, audio stays on your machine | |
| Free plan | Free forever, no credit card, all 16 agents | Free tier for very small use, then per seat, check their site |
| Pricing model | Free plan now, your own API keys at provider cost, Pro coming soon | Per seat, per month, check their site |
Where does Orbit fit instead?
Bigin and Orbit start in the same place: a simple pipeline you can actually keep current. The difference is what happens between stages. In Bigin, you move the card and you do the work. In Orbit, the work has staff. Niko prospects from your ideal client profile, Remy calls new form leads back in about 90 seconds, Tess drafts bumps for quiet threads, and Sam keeps your data clean by flagging duplicates and dead numbers.
If you love Bigin for being light, Orbit will feel familiar, because the CRM core stays calm and the agents only surface as cards you can ignore. The honest trade-off is on pipelines: Bigin gives multiple pipelines on paid plans, while Orbit's free plan includes one and more come with the upcoming Pro plan. For most solo operators one pipeline plus smart deal stages is enough.
Voice agents are off by default and run on your own Vapi number with hours and a daily cap. The free plan covers all 16 agents with your own AI key, unlimited contacts, a pipeline, a booking page, landing pages, forms, invoices, and proposals, with providers billing you at cost.
Choose Orbit over Bigin when
- You want the pipeline worked, not just a clean board to move cards on.
- Leads go cold because nobody calls them back fast. Remy answers in about 90 seconds.
- You are one person and would rather not pay per seat as you add features.
- You want invoices, proposals, a booking page, and a meeting recorder included free.
- You want a CRM you can reach from Claude through MCP on the upcoming Pro plan.
Bigin keeps a small pipeline simple. Orbit keeps it simple and puts a team behind every stage.
Keep exploring
Frequently asked questions
Is Orbit a good Bigin alternative for one person?+
Yes. Orbit keeps the simple pipeline feel Bigin is known for, then adds 16 AI agents that prospect, call leads back, and draft follow-ups, with your approval. Bigin is the pick if you mainly want multiple pipelines on a budget; Orbit is the pick if you want the pipeline actually worked.
Does Bigin have a free plan?+
Bigin offers a free tier for very small use and then charges per seat. Check their site for current limits. Orbit has a free forever plan with no credit card that includes all 16 AI agents with your own API keys.
Does Orbit support multiple pipelines like Bigin?+
Orbit's free plan includes one pipeline. Bigin offers multiple pipelines on its paid plans. Additional pipelines in Orbit are part of the upcoming Pro plan. For most solo operators, one pipeline with clear stages covers the work.
What can Orbit's agents do that Bigin cannot?+
Bigin has basic automation but no agent team. Orbit ships 16 agents that prospect, make voice calls, draft email and call follow-ups, prep meetings, chase invoices, and clean your data, each doing one job and each requiring your approval before anything sends.
Who pays for the AI in Orbit?+
You bring your own AI model key, plus Vapi for voice if you want calling. Providers bill you directly at cost with no Orbit markup. Typical solo usage runs cents to a few dollars a month.
Simple pipeline, with a team behind it
Orbit is free forever, no credit card. Bring your own AI key, turn on the agents you want, and approve every card before it moves.
Free forever plan. No credit card. No spam.