Freshworks vs Salesforce
Business model, scale, and a side-by-side Litmus framework score — which model wins, and for whom.
Freshworks wins SMB simplicity and price; Salesforce wins enterprise depth, ecosystem and AI scale.
At a glance
| Metric | Freshworks | Salesforce |
|---|---|---|
| Revenue | $838.8M (FY2025, +16% YoY) | ~$41.5B (FY2026 guidance) |
| Profit | First full-year profit; record FCF | ~$8.5B (GAAP net income, FY26 est.) |
| Active users | ~75,000 Companies | 150,000+ Enterprises |
| Employees | ~5,000+ | ~76,000 |
| Founded | 2010 | 1999 |
| HQ | San Mateo, CA / Chennai | San Francisco, CA |
LLitmus Framework Score
Overall: Freshworks 90 · Salesforce 92
Customer Segment
95
98
Value Proposition
92
95
Marketing Channel
95
92
Engagement
85
85
Income Source
90
96
Asset Validation
88
94
Core Operations
85
88
Strategic Alliance
80
90
Expense Validation
80
91
Freshworks leads 1 module, Salesforce leads 7. Overall edge: Salesforce.
Head to head
| Dimension | Freshworks | Salesforce |
|---|---|---|
| Revenue | $838.8M (FY2025) | ~$41.5B (FY2026) |
| Customers | ~75,000 companies | 150,000+ enterprises |
| Positioning | Anti-Salesforce, SMB-first | Enterprise platform of record |
| Cost structure | India (Chennai) arbitrage | US-based, large sales force |
| AI | Freddy ($25M ARR, metered) | Agentforce (consumption-priced) |
FAQ
Is Freshworks or Salesforce a better business?
Freshworks wins SMB simplicity and price; Salesforce wins enterprise depth, ecosystem and AI scale. It depends on what you optimise for — see the module-by-module breakdown above.
What is the difference between Freshworks and Salesforce's business model?
Freshworks operates in SaaS / Technology (Refreshingly simple software), while Salesforce is SaaS (The #1 AI CRM). Their revenue, scale and Litmus scores are compared in detail above.
Which is more profitable, Freshworks or Salesforce?
Freshworks: First full-year profit; record FCF. Salesforce: ~$8.5B (GAAP net income, FY26 est.).