Connect-CRM vs. Trengo: Inbox Plus CRM, or Inbox Alone?
Trengo is a strong inbox tool. It is not a CRM, and its AI pricing is one of the least predictable in the category.
14-day free trial on Scale, no credit card required
Communication-first CRM
- CRM Included
- Per-Seat Pricing
- Predictable AI
Trengo
Omnichannel inbox platform
- Shared Inbox
- Helpdesk
- Flat Packages
The Short Answer
Trengo solves inbox problems; it does not solve sales-pipeline problems. The two are not substitutes.
Choose Connect-CRM if…
- You need deals and pipeline, not just a shared inbox
- You want per-seat pricing instead of flat 10-seat packages
- You want AI billed at cost and itemized, not from a prepaid wallet
- You want contact-based limits instead of conversation quotas
Choose Trengo if…
- You only need an inbox and helpdesk, with no CRM layer
- You need deep DACH-market integrations like Shopify, JTL, Xentral, and Shopware
- Your team size matches the flat packages (about 10 to 20 users)
- Conversation quotas fit your predictable support volume
Side-by-Side Pricing
Connect-CRM is per user per month; Trengo sells flat team packages, so small teams pay for seats they do not use.
| Connect-CRM | Trengo | |
|---|---|---|
| Entry tier | €39 per user (Starter), scales per seat | €299/month flat, billed annually (Boost, 10 users) |
| Mid / top tier | €69-129 per user (Growth / Scale) | €499/month flat, billed annually (Pro, 20 users) |
| Native CRM (deals, pipeline) | Included | Not included, inbox and helpdesk only |
| AI pricing | Included allowance, then billed at cost and itemized | Suggested replies include a small allowance; other AI conversations cost €0.25-0.30 each from a prepaid wallet with auto top-up, and invoices can reach €9,500 each |
| Conversation limits | Based on active contacts | Fixed quotas per plan (6,000/year on Boost, 18,000/year on Pro); replies after a 7-day window count as new, billable conversations |
| Per-seat flexibility | Pay for the seats you use | Flat packages, a 3-person team pays the same as a 10-person team on Boost |
The Real Cost for a 5-Person Team
Trengo Boost
€299/month billed annually, whether you use 3 seats or 10
No CRM and no pipeline layer
AI wallet spikes are hard to budget, individual invoices can reach €9,500
€299/month, inbox only
Connect-CRM Growth, 5 seats
CRM and inbox in one subscription
AI cost itemized and predictable, not wallet-based
€345/month
When Trengo May Be the Better Fit
If you specifically need deep DACH-market integrations and do not need a CRM or pipeline layer at all, Trengo's ecosystem depth in that niche is real.
DACH Ecosystem Depth
Inbox-Only Simplicity
Team-Size Sweet Spot
Frequently Asked Questions
Get the Inbox and the CRM in One
Try the Scale plan free for 14 days: per-seat pricing, predictable AI costs, and a full pipeline built in.
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