Salesforce Starter in ZDNET's 2026 CRM Guide: Seats, Limits and the Missing Middle Tier

ZDNET’s 2026 CRM guide describes Salesforce Starter as a small-business entry point, priced at $25 per user per month, with a free plan for two seats. The same entry lists its limits: advanced automation and AppExchange access are reserved for premium subscribers, and there is no middle tier between Starter and Pro. This guide reports those details as ZDNET records them, and it does not turn them into a verdict.

What the guide says about price

ZDNET’s CRM guide, updated January 16, 2026, says Salesforce Starter CRM comes in packages starting at $25 per user per month, and that payment options are simple for small and large businesses. Its expert take repeats the figure and adds that Salesforce offers one plan for small and midsize businesses and another for enterprises, priced at $25 and $100 per user per month.

These are ZDNET’s figures from a single article. They are entry-level numbers, not a quote. The same article’s Pro figure of $100 per user per month matches the Pro Suite tier in WeekCRM’s snapshot, but the two sources are separate and should not be merged.

What the free plan covers

ZDNET’s expert take says there is a free plan to get started, which comes with two seats. That is a small allowance, and it suits a solo founder or a pair of salespeople testing the product. ZDNET does not say how long the free plan lasts or what happens when a third seat is needed, so ask Salesforce before you build a process around it.

The limits ZDNET records

ZDNET lists two limits that matter to a buyer. The first is that some features, including advanced automation and access to AppExchange, the Salesforce app marketplace, are limited to premium subscribers. A team that expects to automate its sales process should check whether the feature it needs sits in Starter or in a higher tier.

The second is that ZDNET says there is no middle-ground plan between Starter and Pro Suite. For a team that outgrows Starter, the next step is a large jump in price, not a small one. ZDNET names this as a reason some buyers may look elsewhere.

What ZDNET says about the product’s strengths

ZDNET’s pros and cons for Salesforce Starter include learning guidance, a wide range of CRM tools, payment management and support, and AI for campaigns and sales tools. Its cons include the price of the highest tier, which ZDNET says is likely out of reach for many startups, and the lack of a midrange plan.

These are descriptions of the product as the article presents it. This guide does not test them, and it does not add to them.

Who the details are useful for

• A small team that wants a Salesforce account with two free seats to test the workflow before paying.
• A growing business that wants to know, before it signs, how big the step from Starter to Pro is.

For a team that needs the automation or AppExchange features now, the Starter entry may not be enough, and the pricing question becomes whether Pro is worth the step.

Checklist before you sign up

1. Confirm the current Starter price and seat limits on Salesforce’s own site.
2. List the automation and AppExchange features you need, and check them against the Starter edition.
3. Ask whether the free plan’s two-seat limit applies to your team, and what happens when you add a third person.
4. Compare the Starter-to-Pro step with your expected growth in seats and features.

Boundaries of this guide

It cannot tell you how Salesforce Starter performs against other products, because ZDNET’s pros and cons are one editorial record and this guide does not test the product. It does not give a total cost, since implementation and administration are not in the figures above. It does not confirm the free plan’s current terms, which Salesforce controls.