Zoho CRM UI Comparison
Zoho CRM's nextgen interface brings modules, and their configuration options into a single sidebar, freeing up screen space and cutting down the clicks it takes to reach the things used every day from the Setup menu. This article shows where everything has moved, how familiar tasks work now, and what's new for each edition.
What are the key differences between the new UI and the old UI?
The NextGen UI introduces a more streamlined experience, focused on easier navigation, team-based collaboration, and better data interaction.
- Navigation and Layout:
Old UI: Modules are listed in a top navigation bar with limited screen space for record content. Accessing setup configurations requires navigating through multiple screens.
NextGen UI: Modules are now listed on a vertical left panel, offering more space to view records. This sidebar give quick access to configurations, hence no need to dive deep into the Setup page.
→ Navigating the new UI - Module creation and configuration:
Old UI: All module and layout configurations are accessed through the central Setup area, requiring deeper navigation and more clicks. Only custom modules can be created in Old UI.
NextGen UI: In New UI, you can create modules for your team using the team module, with easier access to field layouts, automation, and permissions from the sidebar, without switching to the full Setup page. and you can also create custom modules.
→Navigating to the nextgen UI - Views and Record Interaction:
Old UI: List view, Kanban view and canvas view are the default mode of record interaction. It supports basic filtering and search with canvas view alone providing a visual context.
NextGen UI: Multiple views like Grid, Timeline, Split and Chart are now available along with other old UI views. These support inline editing, visual layouts, and built-in charts.
→ Grid View → Timeline View → Chart View → Split View - Team-Based Access:
Old UI: The old UI had Tab groups for team-based actions. Custom modules are shared across all users based on profile permissions.
NextGen UI: Teamspaces replaces Tab groups and let departments work independently with their own modules (Org and Team modules) and roles like Admin, Manager, Member, Participant or Requester to control access. In Org modules, automation requires the "Manage Automation" permission, which applies system-wide. But in Team Modules, a user can create automation only for that team module if they're its Admin even without the Manage Automation permission.
→ Read-me first Admin Guide - Sharing customer-context between modules:
Old UI: Linking related records requires manual lookups fields that too is limited with parent-child relationship in records.
NextGen UI: Modules can be intelligently linked so that related data is shown automatically without giving full access to other modules. This is done using Connected records and automating this process of record-sharing can be achieved through Connected Workflows. - Cross-Team Collaboration:
Old UI: Collaboration between teams rely on email, chats, or external tools.
NextGen UI: Requests can be raised between teams (e.g., Sales to Legal) and tracked within CRM without relying on email or external tools.
→ Requester roles for collaboration - Viewing Customer Journey:
Old UI : You can view many customer interactions from a record's detail page, but there isn't a single unified view that brings together every touchpoint across the customer's journey.
New UI : Each record has a timeline-style view that shows all related calls, emails, tasks, and updates in one place helping admins, CEOs, Leads and managers understand the full customer journey without switching tabs.
→ Interactions Tab - System View:
Old UI : No native support for Light Mode or Dark Mode with limited theme customization options
New UI : Users can choose between Day, Night, and Auto modes for a more personalized and comfortable viewing experience. There are also multiple color themes with appearance modes available.
→ Dark Mode and Themes Customization
Where to find things now
OLD UI | Nextgen UI | |
Module list | Across the top bar | A single left sidebar, as a scrollable list |
Setup menu | Top bar | Top right, opening onto a Setup homepage with settings grouped into categories |
Global search | Top bar | Centered at the top of the screen |
Quick create (+) | Top bar | Next to Global search and merged with the + icon |
Profile menu, notifications and utility actions | Top - right | Top right. Day, night and auto mode, along with themes, live here |
Teamspace switcher | Not available | Centered in the sidebar, with a More option beside it to manage teamspaces and create folders |
Tab groups | Top bar | Now teamspaces. See 'What's changed for good' below |
How everyday tasks work now
Task | How it worked before | How it works now |
Create a module | Setup > Modules and Fields > Create New Module | Also, use the + on the Modules tab in the sidebar, or the + at the top of the screen in addition to the availability in Setup menu. |
Edit fields, layouts and buttons | Setup only | Hover over the module in the sidebar and click More |
Workflow rule, blueprint, approval, assignment rule, canvas, webforms, layout rules, wizard, validation rules, connected workflows | Setup only | The same More menu on the module |
Open a report or dashboard | The Reports module listed everything on a second sidebar, and getting back to another module took several clicks. | A drop-down menu, with folders, Zia and Zoho Analytics in the same place. One click takes you back to your modules |
Filter, sort and change the record view | Filter sat next to the custom view. Record view sat next to Create Record | All three are grouped in one action bar, under the module name |
Display custom views | A drop-down | Optionally shown as tabs across the top of the list |
Hide the sidebar | Not applicable | Available whenever you want a wider workspace |
Switch between light and dark | Not available | Profile menu > Mode > Day, Night or Auto. Auto follows your device settings |
Create a chart from a list | Reports and dashboards only | Directly inside the list view, on Standard and above |
A use case : Say you're an operations lead setting up a Renewals module. Previously you'd open Setup, create the module, go back to Setup for the layout, and back again for the workflow rule. Now you create it from the + in the sidebar, hover over it, and configure the layout, fields and approval process from the same menu, without leaving the page.
What's changed for good
Tab groups are now teamspaces. Tab groups you created in the old interface will be converted to Teamspaces. Once converted and edited, there will not be a sync meaning any changes you made to the tab groups in the old UI will not carry over to its converted teamspace in the new UI. Once old UI is removed, your tab group that was converted to a teamspace and will be available in the teamspace switcher option available in the sidebar. Teamspaces do more: each one holds its own modules, its own members and its own admin. On the Free edition, users will keep their default CRM teamspace and everything inside it. Creating additional teamspaces is available on our paid plans.
NOTE : Everything else, including modules, records, workflows, roles and permissions, carries across unchanged.
What's new, and what's available on your edition
Feature | Free | Standard | Professional | Enterprise | Ultimate / Bundles |
Single sidebar | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes |
Night mode, configuration shortcuts, grouped filter bar, custom views as tabs | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes |
Grid view | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes |
Split view | Yes, 1 | Yes, 5 | Yes, 5 | Yes, 10 | Yes, 25 |
Chart view | No | Yes, 2 | Yes, 2 | Yes, 5 | Yes, 5 |
Timeline view | No | No | No | Yes | Yes |
Interactions tab | No | No | No | Yes | Yes |
Create teamspaces | Default teamspace only | Yes, 5 | Yes, 10 | Yes, 25 | Yes, 25 |
Team modules | No | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes |
Maximum modules, custom and team combined | Not applicable | 10 | 25 | 200 | 500 |
Connected records | No | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes |
Public fields | No | Yes, 30 | Yes, 30 | Yes, 30 | Yes, 30 |
Team user licences | No | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes |
Team user licences cost US $9 per licence per month when paid annually, or US $11 per month when paid monthly. They aren't used in Zoho One. Zoho One with the Ultimate add-on carries Ultimate limits.
What this means for you r customers
For Free Edition users : They get the single sidebar, night mode, configuration shortcuts, grid view and split view and they will be added to their default CRM teamspace. Teamspaces can be created, along with team modules, chart view, timeline view, the Interactions tab and connected records, available on paid plans.
For Standard and Professional Edition users : They gain teamspaces, team modules, connected records, public fields, chart view and a larger split view allowance. Timeline view and the Interactions tab are available on Enterprise and above. A use case for a Standard account: your sales lead can split the Deals list by stage and see every pipeline side by side, then drop a chart into the same list to check where the value is sitting, without opening a single report. Both are new, and both are available today.
For Enterprise, Ultimate and Bundles users : everything above applies, along with timeline view and the Interactions tab, which gives users a chronological record of every call, email and update against a customer.
Objections and how to handle them : FAQs
1. General
Why is the old interface being sunset?
The old Zoho CRM interface worked as started as a customisable and enterprise ready tool mainly for the sales team. CRM For Everyone opens it up beyond the sales team. Marketing, support, operations, finance, anyone who touches a customer's journey, can work in CRM alongside sales without needing a separate tool or a workaround.
When these teams are onboarded onto the platform the number of modules that will be created will significantly grow. The left panel navigation in the new UI can accommodate this growing number of module creation and introduces ease of module discovery and other configurations. Hence, we had to sunset to old UI.
When these teams are onboarded onto the platform the number of modules that will be created will significantly grow. The left panel navigation in the new UI can accommodate this growing number of module creation and introduces ease of module discovery and other configurations. Hence, we had to sunset to old UI.
When does this affect my account?
Free, Standard and Professional accounts between 15 and 17 July. Enterprise, Ultimate and Bundle accounts between 21 and 24 July.
Can I switch back to the old interface?
Until your editions's EOL stated date above, yes. Click the profile icon at the top right, then Switch to old version. After that date, you will automatically be moved to the new UI and the switch back the option is no longer available.
Do I need to retrain my team?
Most things have moved rather than changed. The article 'What's changed in the new Zoho CRM interface' maps the old locations to the new ones, and covers most questions people have in their first week.
It is slower than the old UI?
Check which screen or configuration takes time and report to the Dev team.
2. Finding things
Where has the Setup menu gone?
Top right. It opens onto a Setup homepage with settings grouped into categories.
Where is the search bar?
At the top of the screen, next to the plus icon.
I can't find the module I work in.
It is in your team's teamspace rather than the default one. Use the teamspace switcher in the sidebar to move across. If you are part of the onboarding team, you have to switch to the onboarding team and you find the module you've worked on.
What happened to my tab groups?
Tab groups you created in the old interface will be converted to Teamspaces. Once converted and edited, there will not be a sync meaning any changes you made to the tab groups in the old UI will not carry over to its converted teamspace in the new UI. Once old UI is removed, your tab group that was converted to a teamspace and will be available in the teamspace switcher option available in the sidebar.
3. Teamspaces and team modules
Can I create teamspaces on the Free edition?
You will keep your default CRM teamspace and everything inside it. Creating additional teamspaces is available on our paid plans.
How do I know if I've been made a teamspace admin?
You would have received an email. You can also tell by whether you are able to add users to a teamspace and add or remove its modules.
One of my users can't see a teamspace. What should I check?
Whether they have been added to it. A teamspace admin can add them by user, group, role or profile.
A user can see the module but not the records inside it. Who fixes that?
The team module admin. Missing modules are a teamspace admin question. Missing records or fields inside a visible module are a team module admin question.
Can I create teamspace in my sandbox?
Once every user in your organisation has moved to the new interface. Until then, sandbox teamspace creation is not available.
4. Editions and features
Why can't I see the Timeline view?
Timeline view is available on Enterprise and above.
Why can't I see chart view?
Chart view starts at Standard. Standard and Professional accounts get two charts, Enterprise and above get five.
Why can't I see the Interactions tab?
The Interactions tab is available on Enterprise and above.
What do I actually gain from the new interface?
It depends on your edition. Every edition gets the single sidebar, night mode, configuration shortcuts, grid view and split view. Standard and above add teamspaces, team modules, connected records, public fields and chart view. Enterprise and above add timeline view and the Interactions tab.
5. Licensing
Will the new interface change my bill?
No. The interface change costs nothing.
What does a team user licence cost?
US $9 per licence per month paid annually, or US $11 per month paid monthly. They are optional, and only needed if you want to add people who work within a single team's modules.
Do I need team user licences on Zoho One?
No. Zoho One does not use team user licences.
6. Data and permissions
Will I lose any data, workflows, permissions or custom functions?
No. Modules, records, workflows, roles, permissions and custom views all carry across. Only change is in Tab groups. Tab groups you created in the old interface will be converted to Teamspaces. Once converted and edited, there will not be a sync meaning any changes you made to the tab groups in the old UI will not carry over to its converted teamspace in the new UI. Once old UI is removed, your tab group that was converted to a teamspace and will be available in the teamspace switcher option available in the sidebar.
Does the new interface change who can do what?
Permissions have not changed. Instead, more flexibility has been introduced to streamline who can do what.
The screen feels emptier and I'm scrolling more. What can I do?
Switch to grid view for a spreadsheet-style list, and hide the sidebar for a wider workspace. You can also pin the custom views you use most as tabs.
Who controls what, now that there are three kinds of admin?
Now there is a Super admin, teamspace admins and team module admins. Super admins handle users, licenses and org-wide access. Teamspace admins decide who and what is in a space. Team module admins decide how a module behaves and which users to add to a team module and set permissions for each user.
Standard users can now reach workflow and automation setup from the sidebar?
We have introduced module-level permissions where a team module admin can assign a specific role to a user which have their own permissions. Module-level permissions include : Manager, Member, Partcipant and Requester.
For example, when a standard user has been assigned as team module admin, they can create configurations for that module. If they've been added as a Manager for that team module, they can also view and edit configurations. If they've been assigned as Members of a team module they cannot create new or edit existing configurations. When they've been added as Participants or a requesters, they cannot even view configurations set up for the team module.
For example, when a standard user has been assigned as team module admin, they can create configurations for that module. If they've been added as a Manager for that team module, they can also view and edit configurations. If they've been assigned as Members of a team module they cannot create new or edit existing configurations. When they've been added as Participants or a requesters, they cannot even view configurations set up for the team module.