Siebel CRM vs Salesforce – Which To Pick in 2025

Choosing between Siebel CRM vs Salesforce can be a tough choice. Let’s discuss the benefits and drawbacks of each one to help you decide which is a better option for your business!
Alina
July 8, 2025

When we talk about CRM (customer relationship management) software the first names that pop up in mind are Salesforce and Siebel. The Siebel CRM vs Salesforce debate has been going on for years. Surely, both tools help you store and organize information to streamline fundamental business processes. However, they come with their own pros and cons which can make it hard for you to pick the right one. 

Therefore, to save you the trouble we have done the research for you. In this Siebel CRM vs Salesforce guide we will tell you everything you need to know about the two platforms. We have covered it all, from their similarities and differences to the pricing. 

So, let’s dig right in!

What is Salesforce?

Salesforce is a cloud based CRM for businesses to track and manage their sales. It is owned by Salesforce.com which is a San Francisco based SaaS and cloud computing company. Basically, Salesforce was founded in March 1999 by Marc Benioff, a former executive at Oracle. 

Particularly the main feature of Salesforce is that it allows employees across various departments to collaborate and track workflows. Also, you can build new applications and totally customize the platform to your specific needs.

Stats-of-salesforce

What is Siebel?

Siebel CRM Systems was a software company founded in 1993 by Thomas Siebel and Patricia House. In fact, it is one of the first CRM applications to offer such a wide range of features and tools. Well, Siebel is now owned by the Oracle Corporation and offers many resources for all types of industries. 

In addition to being a CRM tool, Siebel also offers many other applications. For example, partner relationship management (PRM) and enterprise resource management (ERM). It is mostly popular among businesses that have a huge customer base. 

stats-of-siebel

Similarities Between Siebel and Salesforce

Given that Salesforce and Siebel are both CRM platforms, there are bound to be some similarities. These include: 

  1. Comprehensive CRM Functions

Both platforms offer extensive tools for sales, marketing, and customer service. They provide features like sales forecasting, opportunity management and customer service portals.

  1. Customization and Flexibility

Siebel can be customized to meet specific business requirements. Similarly, Salesforce has many customization features as well. For instance, your team can create personalized workflows, user interfaces and data models. Hence, both of them can adapt to the unique operational needs. 

  1. Integration Capabilities

You get support integration with various third-party applications and services in Salesforce and Oracle Siebel. These integration services provide smooth data flow across different systems. Hence, businesses can maintain cohesive and organized operations. Notably, there will no longer be communication barriers or data silos. 

  1. Scalability 

Salesforce and Siebel can scale to support a high number of users and data volumes. Therefore, both tools are designed to accommodate business growth. This makes them suitable for all businesses whether it’s a small enterprise or a large corporation. 

  1. Mobile Accessibility

Salesforce and Siebel have mobile applications as well. This enables sales and service teams to access the CRM data right on their smartphones even on the go. Thus, employees can manage customer relationships easily from any location. 

  1. Security and Compliance

Data protection is very important which is why both Salesforce and Siebel have strong security features. For example, you get role-based access control and encryption protocols for data integrity. Additionally, they comply with all industry standards and regulations. 

  1. Support and Community Resources

Finally, both these CRMs have extensive support networks and active users. You can access documentation, training materials and forums to get help. Overall, you become part of a global CRM community with a collaborative environment. 

Key Differences Between Salesforce and Siebel CRM

Now, let’s discuss the main differences between Oracle Siebel CRM vs Salesforce. Here's a detailed comparison between Siebel and Salesforce:

Factors Siebel CRM Salesforce CRM
Engine Business process engine Process oriented workflow engine
Main Features
  • Sales
  • Enterprise Marketing Suite
  • Quote and Order Capture
  • Contact Center and Service
  • Sales Analytics
  • Self Service and E-billing
  • Partner and Channel Management
  • Lead Management
  • File Sync
  • Sales Data
  • File Sharing
  • Opportunity Management and Score
  • Account and Contact Management
  • Sales Forecasting
  • Contact Manager
  • Real Time Visibility
  • Visual Workflow
  • Dashboards
  • Deployment Primarily on-premise but also offers cloud-hosted options through Oracle Cloud 100% cloud-based and accessible from anywhere with an internet connection
    Customization You get deep customization to fit specific needs. Unfortunately, it requires major technical expertise which is mostly costly and time taking High customization through its ecosystem including the AppExchange marketplace and user-friendly configuration tools
    Scalability Scalability often demands additional infrastructure investment and skilled IT support Highly scalable with cloud-native architecture that grows with the business without additional infrastructure
    User Interface (UI) Legacy design that can appear outdated compared to modern platforms and has a steep learning curve for new users Modern interface with user friendly dashboards and layouts to improve usability for users and admins
    Integration Seamlessly integrates with Oracle’s product ecosystem and other legacy systems but needs effort to integrate with non-Oracle products Extensive ecosystem with AppExchange and integrations with other business applications like SAP, Outlook, WhatsApp, etc.
    Industry Focus Pre-built applications to handle complex business processes for industries like financial services, healthcare, telecommunications, etc. Widely adopted across multiple industries and sectors such as retail, technology, healthcare, and education
    Cost Structure Typically involves higher upfront costs due to on-premises infrastructure and customization efforts. Also needs ongoing maintenance which adds to the total cost Subscription based pricing model starting at $25/month only offering a lower total cost of ownership over time
    Updates and Innovation Updates are less frequent and have longer cycles between new features and improvements Regularly introduces new features and automatic updates with the latest functionalities
    User Adoption May face challenges due to complex interface and customization requirements Designed for ease of use even for non technical users with comprehensive support resources for higher adoption rates
    Cross Platform Accessibility Windows, Mac, Android, iPhone, Web based Windows, Mac, Linux, Android, iPhone, Web based
    Free Trial No Yes


    Siebel vs Salesforce Pros and Cons

    We have talked about the commonalities and differences between Salesforce and Siebel CRM. But we have to look at the individual strengths and weaknesses of each platform as well. To provide clarity, here are the pros and cons of Oracle Siebel CRM vs Salesforce Sales Cloud:

    Feature Oracle Siebel CRM Salesforce
    Pros
  • Comprehensive CRM Features:
  • Offers a wide range of functionalities for sales, marketing, and customer service.

  • Industry-Specific Solutions:
  • Provides tailored capabilities for various industries, such as financial services and healthcare.

  • Customizability:
  • Highly customizable to fit unique business processes and workflows.

  • Robust Data Management:
  • Excels in handling complex data sets, ensuring comprehensive data integration.
  • User-Friendly Interface:
  • Known for its intuitive and modern user interface, enhancing user adoption.

  • Scalability:
  • Designed to grow with businesses, supporting teams of all sizes.

  • Extensive App Marketplace:
  • Offers a vast ecosystem of third-party applications for extended functionality.

  • Cloud-Based Accessibility:
  • Fully cloud-based, allowing access from anywhere with an internet connection.
    Cons
  • Complexity:
  • Implementation and maintenance can be complex, requiring significant IT support.

  • User Interface:
  • Perceived as less intuitive and outdated compared to newer CRM systems.

  • Cost:
  • Higher total cost of ownership, including licensing fees and ongoing maintenance

  • Adaptability:
  • Slower adoption of the latest technological trends, especially in cloud computing.
  • Complexity for New Users:
  • The extensive functionality can be overwhelming for new users, leading to a steeper learning curve.

  • Performance Issues:
  • Users have reported occasional slow performance, especially when handling large amounts of data.

  • Customization Limitations:
  • While highly customizable, certain industry-specific needs may require additional development.

  • Cost Considerations:
  • Subscription-based pricing can become expensive as additional features and users are added.

    Categories and Ranking

    PeerSpot created a detailed Siebel CRM vs Salesforce report based on actual user experience and feedback. On the whole, here’s how both the applications scored on various scales. This will help you get a better understanding of which of the two CRMs is performing better among actual real users. 

    Note: View the full report here.

    CRM Software Salesforce Sales Cloud Siebel CRM
    Mindshare(%) 9.9% 6.8%
    CRM Ranking 1st 6th
    Average Rating 8.4 7.8
    Reviews Sentiment 7 6.3%
    Market share (%) 24.20% 1.33%
    Customer Base [Source:6Sense] 118,884 Customers 6,529 Customer


    Does Salesforce beat Siebel?

    Based on our analysis, Salesforce has an edge over Siebel or any other CRM. In essence, here are the main reasons why: 

    • Vast Ecosystem of Partners and Apps

    First, Salesforce is easy to change and adapt. It works well with other apps, so businesses can make it fit their needs. Conversely, Siebel is harder to change and set up which can be a problem for some users.

    • Updated and Evolving

    Salesforce is also always improving as it was one of the first to offer cloud-based CRM. It keeps adding new features like artificial intelligence, cloud computing and mobile tech. Sadly, Siebel doesn’t update as often and still lacks many modern CRM features. 

    • True To Its Word

    Salesforce delivers what it says and that’s why it’s gaining more customers over time. It’s a CRM that will streamline your business processes and sales funnel. Furthermore, even customer reviews and feedback show that Salesforce improves tasks and speeds up decisions. 

    Which is Better: Siebel or Salesforce?

    After looking at the different aspects we have concluded that Salesforce is better than Siebel. As a result, it is a clear winner. We compared them on different aspects like overall user satisfaction, pricing, features and flexibility. 

    To summarize, here’s is a quick highlight of why Salesforce has the upper hand: 

    • Flexible subscription model with lower initial costs
    • Integrated sales, marketing and customer service tools.
    • Extensive app marketplace for customization and integration 
    • Continuous growth without huge additional investments
    • Frequent updates and new features to meet evolving business needs

    However, this doesn’t mean that Siebel isn’t worth the investment. After all, Siebel remains a leading CRM solution for mid-sized and large enterprises. Altogether, its capabilities and data management make it a great choice for established organizations.  

    Conclusion

    In the Siebel CRM vs Salesforce battle, we have concluded that both are great tools for companies to manage their customer relations. They are both cloud-based with a wide range of comprehensive tools and features. But while both are good, Salesforce is usually seen as better than Siebel. 

    All in all, the decision to choose between two depends on your specific business needs and goals. Oracle Siebel is the right pick if you have lots of custom needs and can handle a more complicated setup. In contrast, Salesforce is ideal if you want a flexible and updated system that’s easy to use. 

    If you’re drawn to Salesforce then reach out to us. PixelConsulting is a well known CRM consultant covering all things Salesforce. We offer a range of services like Salesforce adoption, implementation and customization. Contact us today!

    Read Also: Easy Guide To Adopting Salesforce

    FAQs

    Q. Can one switch from Siebel to Salesforce?

    Yes, you can migrate from Siebel to Salesforce. There are many tools that allow you to to transfer critical data from one CRM to another without manual intervention.

    Q. Is Salesforce the #1 CRM in the world? 

    Yes, Salesforce is the #1 ranked CRM platform in the world for the 11th consecutive time. It got the top position in Worldwide Semiannual Software Tracker by IDC 2023 Revenue Market Share Worldwide.

    Author Insights:
    Alina
    Hi, I’m a content marketer with over 7 years of experience in content strategy, copywriting and editing. Currently, I’m exploring the world of Salesforce and aim to break down the ins and outs of this complex tool in simple, relatable ways. With these blogs, I’ll provide valuable insights to help businesses grow and use this CRM to their advantage. In my free time you'll find me unwinding with a good book and a cup of coffee!
    July 8, 2025

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