“If Salesforce hits you with steep price increases… just mention the word ZOHO” says Sridhar Vembu, mocking their 35% renewal hike

Zoho co-founder Sridhar Vembu has taken a swipe at rival Salesforce after a Reddit user revealed that the company had increased its contract renewal prices by nearly 35 percent in two years. 

Vembu suggested that customers could simply mention “Zoho” as an “official discount code” to get Salesforce to drop its prices, a comment that quickly drew attention online.

Vembu’s Swipe at Salesforce

The discussion began on Reddit, where a user managing 250 to 300 accounts shared frustration over Salesforce’s rising costs. 

According to the post, the company had raised prices by more than 20 percent last year and was now imposing another hike that pushed the overall increase to almost 35 percent. Many users debated whether such hikes were common or if specific customers were being targeted, while also sharing negotiation tips.

It was against this backdrop that Vembu chimed in on X, formerly Twitter.

“If Salesforce hits you with steep price increases like mentioned in this Reddit, just mention the word ‘ZOHO’ and they will drop their prices. That is their official discount code,” he wrote. 

His remark highlighted Zoho’s positioning as a more affordable alternative in the crowded enterprise software market.

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Netizens React

Vembu’s post drew a wave of responses, ranging from praise for Zoho to criticism of both platforms. 

One user highlighted the challenges faced by large enterprises, noting, 

“Large enterprises need customization to the lowest level. Plug and play approach won't work for them. That's why Salesforce thrives even though product quality is mediocre. It's also a trap for large enterprises. After spending so much they can't easily migrate.”

Another user offered strong support for Zoho, writing, “I’ve been a ZOHO user since 2016, and not once have I felt the need to migrate the services I use to any other platform. Looking forward to seeing more groundbreaking products from ZOHO in the future.”

However, not all reactions were favorable. One user criticized the platform, saying,

“Zoho is nowhere near Salesforce, lots of UI issues.”

Another added a note of skepticism, asking,

“I am not sure about Zoho product and offering, but Salesforce has different suites which are available to customers in their range and capacity and allow good productivity. Will you compete anytime with Salesforce?”

Although Vembu’s statement was lighthearted, it brought serious attention to the growing debate on enterprise software costs. With Salesforce facing criticism for steep renewal hikes, Zoho’s reputation as a cost-effective option is gaining visibility. 

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