14 Salesforce CRM Alternatives That Will Enhance Your Sales Process

Decision-making can be excruciating, especially when your livelihood is on the line. Choosing the right CRM is no different, whether you’re looking for a comprehensive tool or a Salesforce alternative.

So, how do you choose a technology that can impact your entire day today? Even the decision my husband and I face every weekend can be tough — what movie to watch and what to order for dinner — and it doesn’t have nearly the long-term impact.

As a sales leader, choosing the right CRM for your needs starts with comparing features that can enhance your sales process and increase your success rates.

Table of Contents

• Why Consider a Salesforce Alternative?
• Best Salesforce Alternative Tools
• Choose Your CRM

Why Consider a Salesforce Alternative?

Salesforce is a popular CRM platform. In fact, if you ask someone to come up with a list of CRMs, it will often top the list along with HubSpot and Microsoft Dynamics.

However, in my experience, Salesforce isn’t the best fit for every business, which is the most important part of choosing a CRM: making sure it works for you. With that in mind, there are several reasons to consider Salesforce alternatives.

• High costs: Salesforce pricing can add up fast when you factor in subscription costs, add-ons, and customization or maintenance.
• High learning curve: There are times when a high learning curve pays off. But sometimes, it can be hard to get your team to use it, especially if you don’t need all the bells and whistles.
• Lack of support: With something as complex as Salesforce and with lots of customization options, support is mandatory, and it’s often insufficient at the lower tiers.
• Tech stack integrations: If you use other tools and platforms that don’t play nicely with Salesforce, an alternate is probably a good option.

The good news is there are plenty of Salesforce alternatives out there, including HubSpot’s CRM, and we’re running through the top solutions below.

Best Salesforce Alternative Tools

If you're looking for Salesforce CRM alternatives, review our list below to find an option that will supercharge your sales process and eliminate friction.

1. HubSpot

Best for: Growing businesses needing all-in-one functionality

Price: Free, $45/mo (Starter), $450/mo (Professional), $1,200/mo (Enterprise)

HubSpot is a CRM platform that helps you align your internal teams, pull meaningful insights, and report on growth opportunities by combining Marketing Hub, Sales Hub, Service Hub, and Content Hub, along with hundreds of available integrations, to facilitate marketing, sales, and service processes. It’s ideal for all scaling businesses (SMB and enterprise alike) and any team (including marketing, sales, customer service, operations, or C-suite).

The CRM is exceptionally easy to use, automates manual tasks (data entry, data sync, and data updates) and it centers everything you do around your customers so you're able to create remarkable customer experiences and improve the buyer’s journey.

HubSpot syncs all interactions between you and any contact to that specific contact’s timeline. This creates a single source of truth for every member of your team, from sales to marketing to service to ops.

One of my favorite parts is how easily and completely the HubSpot CRM integrates with Gmail — it’s incredibly easy to set up with UX that is both intuitive and features resources to help.

[Video: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ihu9rr1wRa0&list=PLJF0lZ9q8zL3P4lNmlWg6gjsU7vtUOsfk]

Features

• CRM (Customer Relationship Management): Manage contacts, companies, deals, tasks, and activity timelines and track up to 1 million contacts.
• Marketing Hub: Use email marketing, landing pages, lead gen forms, marketing automation, and ad management, as well as blog and social media management.
• Sales Hub: A comprehensive CRM with meeting scheduling, email templates, pipeline management, and deal tracking, plus, get lead scoring, email tracking, and sales automations.
• Service Hub: Use a ticketing system for customer support, create your knowledge base, and use a shared inbox and live chat for customer service.
• CMS Hub: Everything you need for website and blog management, including SEO tools, content management, and drag-and-drop page builders.
• Operations Hub: Robust data synchronization between HubSpot and other platforms allows you to automate workflows and processes and ensure data quality.
• Analytics and reporting: Performance tracking, custom dashboards, and advanced reporting.
• Integrations: Connect with hundreds of third-party apps, including Gmail, Outlook, Zapier, Slack, and more, to ensure your whole tech stack works together.

Pros

• Generous free plan
• All-in-one platform
• Free, easy-to-use CRM
• Intuitive and user-friendly design
• Strong automation features
• Extensive educational resources
• Wide range of integrations
• Scalable with multiple plans
• Comprehensive reporting in higher tiers

Cons

• High pricing for advanced features
• Limited customization in free plan
• Complexity increases with advanced features
• Email send limits in free tier
• Sales tools restricted in free plan
• Basic reporting for free users
• Custom integrations may require technical expertise

Free Trial

HubSpot’s free trial is one of the best (and most generous) around, and I’m not just saying that; I’ve tried tons of them over the years. A free account unlocks the features you need to get started right now, including the Marketing, Sales, and Service hubs.

HubSpot's Free CRM Software

Free CRM Software & Tools for Your Whole Team

• Sales
• Marketing
• Operations
• Customer Service

Get free CRM

2. ActiveCampaign

Best for: Companies focused on email marketing and marketing automation

Price: $15/mo (Starter), $49/mo (Plus), $79/mo (Professional), $145/mo (Enterprise)

ActiveCampaign is a sales CRM that‘s ideal for businesses looking to automate time-consuming tasks such as lead prioritization, email marketing, and contact management. Contact data will be automatically updated, and you can view your entire interaction and conversation history with any of your contacts in the CRM’s records.

The CRM also helps you determine which leads to focus most on with automated lead scoring — it uses win probability and segmentation to more easily identify those leads for you. There are also over 350 tools you can integrate to seamlessly combine your current sales tools and data with your ActiveCampaign CRM.

Features

• CRM (Customer Relationship Management): Manage contacts, pipelines, deals, and customer interactions with advanced segmentation and lead scoring.
• Marketing automation: Create sophisticated automated workflows, including triggers for emails, SMS, and site messaging. Advanced segmentation for personalization and targeting.
• Email marketing: Send personalized emails based on user behavior, with features for split testing, conditional content, and campaign tracking.
• Sales automation: Automate deal pipelines, follow-up tasks, and lead management. Integrate with email and CRM for seamless communication.
• Customer experience automation: Use automation to engage customers through their entire journey, from acquisition to retention, with personalized experiences.
• Landing pages: Build custom landing pages and forms to capture leads and track conversions.
• Messaging (Conversations): Communicate with customers via live chat, SMS, and Facebook Messenger, all integrated within the platform.
• Integrations: Connect to over 870 third-party apps, including Shopify, WordPress, and Zapier, for a seamless workflow across your tech stack.
• Analytics and reporting: Track campaign performance with in-depth reports on email, automation, and sales performance, plus engagement and conversion metrics.

Pros

• Advanced marketing automation tools
• Powerful segmentation and targeting features
• Customizable email marketing options
• CRM with integrated sales automation
• Great for small to medium-sized businesses looking to scale
• High level of personalization in campaigns
• Extensive integrations with other tools
• Strong customer support and resources
• Easy to scale workflows as your business grows

Cons

• Pricing increases significantly with advanced features
• Steep learning curve for beginners due to complexity
• Limited customization options for landing pages
• CRM features not as robust as dedicated CRM platforms
• Email builder could be more intuitive
• No free plan (only a 14-day free trial)
• Can become expensive with additional contacts

Free Trial

Yes, 14 days.

3. Zoho

Best for: Businesses of all sizes needing a CRM with lots of customizations

Price: Free, $14/mo (Standard), $23/mo (Professional). $40/mo (Enterprise), $52/mo (Ultimate)

Zoho CRM comes with an AI-powered assistant, lead management tools, and reporting dashboards that provide insight into the sales metrics you care most about via desktop or mobile app. If your team conducts online sales meetings, Zoho has a feature that allows you to video conference as well as conduct webinars and other virtual meetings and conversations directly from the CRM.

The CRM's Common Feeds feature makes it easy to collaborate with your team within the software — ask and answer questions, share reports and dashboards, and send deal-related updates so everyone stays in the loop. You can also select to receive notifications whenever your target audience members interact with your business so you can reach out when leads are already engaged.

Features

• CRM (Customer Relationship Management): Manage customer interactions, leads, and sales pipelines. Includes AI-powered sales predictions, workflow automation, and advanced segmentation.
• Email marketing: Use Zoho Campaigns for targeted email marketing with automation, templates, and detailed tracking for open rates and engagement.
• Sales automation: Automate sales processes with lead nurturing, follow-up tasks, and deal tracking. AI-driven insights for sales predictions and customer behavior.
• Marketing automation: Create multichannel marketing campaigns across email, social media, SMS, and webinars. Set triggers and actions for personalized workflows.
• Helpdesk and customer support: Use Zoho Desk for ticketing, knowledge bases, and real-time chat with customers, all integrated with CRM.
• Analytics and reporting: Customizable reports and dashboards with in-depth analytics on sales, marketing, and customer support activities.
• Project management: Zoho Projects integrates with CRM and offers task management, project timelines, and collaboration tools.
• Integrations: Connect to over 500 third-party apps, including Google Workspace, Office 365, and other Zoho products, for a complete business suite.
• Social media management: Zoho Social allows for managing and scheduling posts across platforms, with engagement tracking and analytics.

Pros

• Comprehensive suite of tools across CRM, marketing, and customer support
• Affordable pricing, especially for small businesses
• Highly customizable platform with flexibility to fit various needs
• Integrates well with other Zoho apps and third-party tools
• Strong marketing automation features
• AI-powered tools for sales and customer behavior insights
• Scalable for businesses of different sizes
• Free plan available with basic features
• Strong analytics and reporting capabilities

Cons

• Steeper learning curve due to many features
• User interface can feel overwhelming or cluttered
• Some integrations require additional setup time
• Email marketing not as advanced as standalone tools
• Customer support can be slow at times
• Customization may require technical expertise
• CRM is not as intuitive as other platforms like HubSpot or ActiveCampaign

Free Trial

Yes, 15 days.

4. Freshsales (formerly Freshworks)

Best for: SMBs wanting a simple, intuitive CRM with AI features

Price: $0 for three users, $9/mo (Growth), $39/mo (Pro), $59/mo (Enterprise)

While the overall company is still Freshworks, the CRM is now called Freshsales and features pipelines, tasks, and quotes. It has contract management tools as well as collaboration features that make teamwork, marketing and sales alignment, and internal communication simple. Streamline and automate tasks with the CRM's AI-powered features including activity capture, lead scoring, and email.

Built-in phone and email allow you to conduct conversations with leads without ever having to leave the CRM. There are also lead insights that help you determine the engagement level of specific contacts and get context about their interest so you can more effectively tailor your sales pitches and conversations to their needs.

The free plan isn’t quite as robust but is perfect for small teams of up to 3 users ready to add CRM functionality to their tech stack. Free plan features include Kanban views, email templates, built-in phone, and live chat, so you can increase productivity and engage with customers seamlessly.

Features

• CRM (Customer Relationship Management): Manage customer relationships, track deals, and automate sales processes with built-in AI-powered lead scoring, sales forecasting, and pipeline management.
• Email marketing: Create personalized email campaigns, track performance, and use automation to send targeted emails based on customer behavior.
• Sales automation: Automate lead capture, nurturing, follow-ups, and sales workflows. Includes a visual sales pipeline for tracking deals.
• Marketing automation: Design customer journeys, set triggers for automated workflows, and personalize communication across multiple channels, including email, SMS, and chat.
• Customer support (Freshdesk): Ticketing system with multichannel support (email, phone, chat, and social). Use AI to route tickets and automate repetitive tasks.
• Messaging (Freshchat): Real-time chat and messaging with customers, including bots for automated conversations and customer engagement.
• Integrations: Connect to over 600 apps, including Google Workspace, Microsoft 365, Slack, and Shopify for seamless workflows.
• Analytics and reporting: Detailed reporting on sales performance, customer interactions, marketing campaigns, and support tickets. Create custom dashboards for at-a-glance insights.
• AI (Freddy AI): AI assistant helps with predictive lead scoring, customer behavior insights, deal insights, and automating repetitive tasks.

Pros

• Easy-to-use interface with a minimal learning curve
• AI-powered tools for sales and customer insights
• Strong automation features across sales, marketing, and support
• Affordable pricing for small to medium-sized businesses
• Unified platform for sales, marketing, and customer support
• Integrations with a wide range of third-party apps
• Customizable workflows and reporting
• Multichannel support (email, chat, phone, social)
• Scalable for growing businesses

Cons

• Some advanced features require higher-tier plans
• Marketing automation tools not as advanced as competitors like HubSpot or ActiveCampaign
• Limited customization options for email templates
• CRM lacks some deep customization found in other platforms
• Customer support can be slow during peak times
• AI features may not be as sophisticated for larger enterprises
• Integrations sometimes require extra configuration

Free Trial

There’s an always free plan for up to 3 users.

HubSpot's Free CRM Software

Free CRM Software & Tools for Your Whole Team

• Sales
• Marketing
• Operations
• Customer Service

Get free CRM

5. Pipedrive

Best for: Sales teams looking for a pipeline-centric CRM

Price: $14/mo (Essential), $34/mo (Advanced), $49/mo (Professional), $64/mo (Power), $99/mo (Enterprise)

Pipedrive‘s CRM makes it easy to visualize and manage your sales pipeline. Organize your deals in pipelines and then customize those pipelines so they’re tailored to your unique sales cycle. There are also deal pipeline collaboration features such as easy-to-make, shareable pipeline goals and reports.

Sync your email (Gmail, Outlook, etc.) with Pipedrive to handle email communication and keep records of those conversations in a single location with all of your other contact data. There are also over 200 integrations you can pair with your CRM to improve its functionality.

Features

• CRM (Customer Relationship Management): Manage leads, deals, contacts, and activities with a visual sales pipeline. Includes drag-and-drop deal management and activity reminders.
• Sales automation: Automate repetitive tasks such as follow-ups, deal updates, and lead assignments. Use custom workflows to streamline your sales process.
• Email marketing: Integrated email features to send personalized messages, track opens and clicks, and sync with your email provider (Gmail, Outlook, etc.).
• Lead and deal management: Easily track and manage leads with lead scoring, customizable stages, and visibility into deal progress.
• Reporting and analytics: Generate sales reports, measure performance, and track individual or team goals. Customizable dashboards for tracking KPIs and performance metrics.
• Integrations: Connect with over 250 apps, including Zapier, Slack, Gmail, Mailchimp, and Trello, to streamline workflows.
• Mobile app: Manage your sales pipeline and contacts on the go with a full-featured mobile app.
• LeadBooster (Add-on): A chatbot and live chat feature to engage with website visitors, capture leads, and add them directly to your sales pipeline.
• Smart Docs (Add-on): Create, send, and track proposals and contracts. Allows for eSignature integrations for faster deal closures.

Pros

• Easy-to-use and highly visual sales pipeline
• Customizable workflows and deal stages
• Excellent sales automation features
• Affordable pricing for small and medium businesses
• Strong mobile app for managing sales on the go
• Integrates with a wide range of popular apps
• Simple, intuitive interface with minimal learning curve
• Detailed reporting and sales analytics
• LeadBooster add-on enhances lead capture and engagement

Cons

• Limited marketing automation compared to platforms like HubSpot or ActiveCampaign
• No free plan (only a 14-day free trial)
• Advanced features like email templates and reporting are locked behind higher-tier plans
• Customization options are not as robust as competitors
• Lacks a dedicated customer service hub (requires external tools for full-service support)
• Add-ons like LeadBooster and Smart Docs come with additional costs
• Not ideal for businesses with complex sales processes

Free Trial

Yes, 14 days.

6. Zendesk Sell

Best for: Businesses needing sales and customer service functions

Price: $19/mo (Sell Team), $55/mo (Sell Professional), $115/mo (Sell Enterprise)

While Zendesk is known for its customer support software, it also offers a sales-focused CRM meant to enhance productivity and automate day-to-day sales tasks. Gain visibility into your sales process by creating pipelines that are tailored to your specific business.

Zendesk Sell is also an ideal software for businesses looking to align sales and customer service teams. For example, if a service rep is speaking with a customer who has an issue, and that conversation then turns into more questions about a new product you sell, that rep can hand the conversation off to a sales rep from within Zendesk. This makes collaboration easy for your team but also offers a seamless experience for your customers.

Features

• CRM (Customer Relationship Management): Manage customer interactions, track deals, and centralize communication with an easy-to-use sales pipeline. Access customer data, past interactions, and deal history in one place.
• Sales automation: Automate tasks like follow-ups, lead assignments, and deal updates. Set triggers and workflows to streamline the sales process and reduce manual tasks.
• Email integration: Sync with your email provider (Gmail, Outlook, etc.) to send, track, and manage emails directly from Zendesk Sell. Access templates, track email opens, and view engagement history.
• Lead and deal management: Track leads and deals through the sales pipeline. Use lead scoring to prioritize prospects and customize stages for your specific sales process.
• Reporting and analytics: Get insights into sales performance with detailed reports, track KPIs, forecast revenue, and view team activity in customizable dashboards.
• Mobile app: Manage leads, deals, and communications from anywhere using the mobile app, with access to real-time data and activity tracking.
• Integrations: Integrates with other Zendesk products and 50+ third-party apps, including Slack, Mailchimp, and QuickBooks.
• Calling and texting: Built-in calling and SMS features allow you to contact leads directly within the platform and track communication history.
• Lead enrichment (Reach): Automatically enrich your lead data with company and contact details to help with prospecting and personalization.

Pros

• Simple and intuitive interface
• Strong integration with other Zendesk products
• Automation tools for sales and lead management
• Built-in calling and texting features
• Lead enrichment for better prospecting
• Good mobile app for on-the-go management
• Customizable reporting and dashboards
• Efficient task management to streamline workflows

Cons

• Pricing increases with advanced features and users
• Limited marketing automation compared to other CRMs like HubSpot or ActiveCampaign
• Basic reporting features in lower-tier plans
• Fewer integration options compared to competitors
• Add-ons like Reach (lead enrichment) are available at an extra cost
• Limited customization for complex sales processes
• Lacks a dedicated customer support system

Free Trial

Yes, 14 days.

7. LeadSquared CRM

Best for: Companies needing to track and convert high lead volumes

Price: Contact for pricing

LeadSquared CRM is a sales execution and marketing automation platform that helps you and your teams track, monitor, and optimize your business and customer operations.

The platform is an entirely no-code workflow automation with out-of-the-box integrations that can help simplify your lead management. Automated lead capture, distribution, and tracking ensure that all activities and interactions are updated in real time, which decreases response time and boosts sales productivity.

The marketing suite offers access to plenty of tools to design and schedule personalized campaigns at scale. LeadSquared provides in-depth reports and analytics to give a complete view of forecasts, your targets, and the progress that you’ve made.

Overall, LeadSquared is a customizable platform that is easy to use and implement. It is a great option for businesses that aim to align their sales and marketing efforts on a single platform.

Features

• CRM (Customer Relationship Management): Manage leads, track activities, and nurture customer relationships with lead scoring, segmentation, and a visual sales pipeline.
• Marketing automation: Automate email campaigns, trigger workflows, and set up personalized communication based on user behavior. Use landing pages, forms, and SMS to capture and engage leads.
• Sales automation: Automate lead assignments, follow-ups, and sales processes. Includes lead prioritization, task management, and AI-powered insights.
• Lead management: Capture, track, and manage leads from multiple sources such as websites, email campaigns, social media, and phone calls. Lead scoring helps prioritize and nurture prospects.
• Mobile CRM: Manage sales on the go with a mobile CRM that includes features like lead capture, geo-tracking, and task management.
• Analytics and reporting: In-depth analytics on sales, marketing campaigns, and team performance. Customizable reports and dashboards to track KPIs and metrics.
• Integrations: Connect with over 100 third-party apps, including Salesforce, Zapier, Mailchimp, and Google Workspace, to streamline operations.
• Landing pages and forms: Create customizable landing pages and lead capture forms to drive engagement and capture leads effectively.
• Customer support (Helpdesk): A built-in support module that allows tracking customer issues with ticketing and resolution management.

Pros

• Strong lead capture and management features
• Robust marketing automation tools
• Effective lead scoring and prioritization
• Mobile CRM with geo-tracking for field sales
• Customizable workflows and automation
• In-depth analytics and performance tracking
• Integrates with a variety of third-party apps
• Easy-to-use interface and simple setup
• Great for businesses focused on lead generation and sales

Cons

• Higher pricing for advanced features and more contacts
• Limited customization options compared to more advanced CRMs
• Some users report a steep learning curve for more complex features
• Customer support can be slow at times
• Limited functionality for non-sales departments (e.g., customer service)
• Email builder could be more intuitive
• Fewer integrations compared to competitors like HubSpot or ActiveCampaign
• Pricing hidden behind demo/sales call

Free Trial

Contact for details.

8. Less Annoying CRM

Best for: Solopreneurs and small businesses needing a simple CRM

Price: $15/user/mo

Perhaps it can be intuited from the name, but Less Annoying CRM's goal is to provide an easy-to-use CRM for small businesses to manage contacts and track leads. All of your contact information is kept on a single dashboard where you can also add notes, files, events, tasks, and more.

The CRM includes a calendar — which integrates with Google Calendar — with tasks that you can set to stay organized and keep track of your conversations and follow-ups with leads. To ensure you stay on top of your conversations and interactions with leads, the CRM's pipeline will provide the priority of each lead, their contact details, and any information from previous interactions you had with that lead.

Features

• CRM (Customer Relationship Management): Simple contact and lead management with centralized customer data, including tasks, notes, and follow-ups. Track all customer interactions in one place.
• Lead and pipeline management: Organize leads and sales opportunities with customizable pipelines to track deal progress and prioritize follow-ups.
• Task management: Create tasks and to-do lists linked to specific contacts, deals, or calendar events, ensuring you never miss an important follow-up.
• Calendar and reminders: Built-in calendar with appointment scheduling and automatic reminders for follow-ups and tasks.
• Email integration: Sync with your email account to send and receive emails directly within the CRM, keeping all communication with leads and contacts in one place.
• Customizable fields: Tailor the CRM to your specific needs with customizable fields, pipelines, and lead stages.
• Collaboration tools: Share information and collaborate with team members, including shared contacts, leads, and pipelines.
• Mobile access: Fully accessible via mobile, allowing users to manage leads and tasks on the go with no separate app required.
• Simple reporting: Generate basic reports to track sales performance, task completion, and lead management.

Pros

• Extremely simple and easy to use
• Affordable, flat-rate pricing
• Great for small businesses and solo entrepreneurs
• No long learning curve; intuitive interface
• Customizable pipelines and fields
• Accessible on both desktop and mobile browsers
• No unnecessary features, keeping it streamlined
• Excellent customer support
• Focused on lead and task management

Cons

• Limited advanced features (no marketing automation or advanced sales automation)
• Basic reporting and analytics
• No email marketing tools
• Not ideal for larger businesses or teams with complex needs
• Fewer integrations compared to other CRMs
• Lacks advanced customization options found in larger CRMs
• No built-in customer support module for tickets or issues management

Free Trial

Yes, 30 days.

HubSpot's Free CRM Software

Free CRM Software & Tools for Your Whole Team

• Sales
• Marketing
• Operations
• Customer Service

Get free CRM

9. Thryv

Best for: Local businesses that book appointments

Price: $228/month/location (Plus); $382/month/location (Professional); $533/month/location (Unlimited)

Thryv is a CRM that's ideal for small businesses. It combines sales automation, marketing automation, and reputation management. All of your contacts are centrally located with easy-to-use filtering, tagging, searching, and tracking features to help you manage those contacts.

The CRM shows you which channels leads came to you from so you can then engage them wherever they are. There's also a dedicated customer portal through which your clients can complete payments, send your team messages, and share files. Your team can then respond through the portal to streamline all interactions and use one tool versus multiple.

To get the CRM, you’ll need the Thryv Business Center. While at first it looks expensive, it’s priced per location, not per user. So if you have at least 5 users, it’s right in line with some of the other options.

Features

• CRM (Customer Relationship Management): Manage customer data, track interactions, and enhance customer relationships through customizable dashboards, lead management, and reminders. Thryv also offers a client portal for seamless communication and self-service options.
• Appointment booking: Automated appointment scheduling with reminders to reduce no-shows. Customers can book, reschedule, and cancel appointments without needing to contact the business.
• Marketing automation: Automate email, social media, and SMS marketing campaigns with built-in templates. Segment customers for personalized outreach and automated follow-ups.
• Reputation management: Monitor and respond to online reviews in real time. Thryv helps businesses manage their online reputation by responding to reviews across platforms like Google, Facebook, and Yelp.
• Invoicing and payments: Create and send invoices and accept online payments through the client portal. Supports secure payment processing and tracking of financial transactions.
• Social media management: Manage, schedule, and automate posts across social media platforms like Facebook, Instagram, and Twitter, all from one dashboard.
• Document sharing: Securely store, share, and manage files with customers through the client portal, helping streamline communication.
• Integrations: Integrate with popular apps like QuickBooks, Mailchimp, Stripe, Google Workspace, and Zapier to enhance functionality and automate workflows.
• Analytics and reporting: Generate reports on customer interactions, marketing campaign performance, sales, and revenue. Customizable dashboards provide real-time insights for data-driven decision-making.

Pros

• Comprehensive all-in-one business management solution
• Great for small businesses looking to improve customer relationships and automate marketing
• Easy-to-use client portal for seamless communication and self-service
• Strong reputation management tools for handling reviews
• Simplifies invoicing, payments, and appointment booking
• Supports multi-channel marketing (email, SMS, social media)
• Integrates with popular third-party apps like QuickBooks and Google Workspace
• Customizable dashboards and reporting features

Cons

• Limited customization options
• Steeper learning curve
• Fewer integrations than competitors
• Price may cause sticker shock

Free Trial

Contact for details.

10. Salesflare

Best for: B2B teams needing an automated CRM

Price: $29/mo (Growth), $49/mo (Pro), $99/mo (Enterprise)

Salesflare is an easy-to-use CRM meant for small businesses selling B2B products and services. With a visual pipeline feature, it reminds sales reps about upcoming tasks so prospects don't fall through the cracks.

The CRM pulls all contact information it can — from email signatures, social media profiles, emails, and past conversations — and automatically adds it into your records so you have all of the details about each of your contacts at your fingertips. It also connects with your calendar and mobile phone to help you manage and log your meetings and calls with leads and customers.

Features

• CRM (Customer Relationship Management): Automated contact and company data management, tracking interactions across multiple channels like email, phone, and social media, reducing manual data entry.
• Sales pipeline management: Visualize your sales pipeline through customizable Kanban-style boards, track opportunities, and manage multiple pipelines efficiently.
• Lead scoring and tracking: Automatically score leads based on interactions to prioritize sales efforts and improve lead conversion.
• Workflow automation: Automate repetitive tasks like data entry, lead nurturing, and follow-up emails triggered by customer actions.
• Email and website tracking: Track when emails are opened, links clicked, and website visits, allowing for real-time notifications to react proactively.
• Document management: Store and manage customer-related documents in a central location, helping teams collaborate and share relevant files.
• Third-party integrations: Connect with popular tools like Gmail, Outlook, Zapier, Slack, and QuickBooks, as well as offering an API for custom integrations.
• Analytics and reporting: Customizable dashboards provide insights into sales performance, deal stages, and customer interactions, though reporting features may be limited compared to competitors.
• Mobile access: Native mobile apps for iOS and Android allow access to CRM functionalities from any device.

Pros

• User-friendly interface, easy to adopt for teams
• Intelligent automation saves time and reduces manual work
• Powerful pipeline management with visual tools
• Real-time engagement tracking for emails and website visits
• Strong integrations with Gmail, Outlook, and third-party apps
• Lead scoring helps prioritize sales efforts
• Great for small and medium-sized businesses, especially B2B

Cons

• Reporting features are basic and could be improved
• Limited customization for advanced business needs
• Integration options with non-native apps can be limited

Free Trial

Yes, 30 days.

11. NetHunt CRM

Best for: Companies using Google Workspace wanting an integrated CRM

Price: $24/mo (Basic), $34/mo (Basic Plus), $48/mo (Business), $68/mo (Business Plus), $96/mo (Advanced)

NetHunt CRM is unique because it completely integrates with your Gmail account. Meaning, all of your CRM data and functionality is paired with your Google email account so you can view and manage customer information, deal opportunities, email tracking, and email campaigns all from your CRM.

The CRM also easily integrates with your other Google Workspace apps. Additionally, NetHunt comes with a variety of common CRM functionality such as task and follow-up automation, reporting and analytics, and forecasting.

Features

• CRM (Customer Relationship Management): Manage contacts and companies directly within Gmail, allowing for seamless email integration and easy access to customer information. NetHunt organizes all communication history and helps track customer interactions efficiently.
• Email automation: Automate email campaigns, send personalized bulk emails, and track performance, including email opens and clicks, directly within Gmail.
• Sales pipeline management: Visualize sales pipelines, manage multiple stages, and track opportunities and deals as they progress through the sales cycle.
• Lead management: Capture, track, and prioritize leads with built-in lead scoring to focus on high-potential customers.
• Task and project management: Manage tasks and projects within the CRM, helping teams stay organized and on top of deadlines.
• Reporting and analytics: Generate detailed reports and analytics, providing insights into sales performance, lead conversion, and task completion. Customizable dashboards make tracking KPIs easier.
• Google Workspace integration: Seamlessly integrates with Gmail, Google Calendar, and other Google Workspace apps, making it a natural extension for teams already using Google products.
• Marketing automation: Automate marketing campaigns across email and other channels to engage leads and customers at the right time.
• Mobile access: Access CRM functionalities on the go with mobile apps available for both Android and iOS.

Pros

• Smooth integration with Gmail and Google Workspace
• Cost-effective for small to medium-sized businesses
• Automates email communication and sales workflows
• Customizable pipelines and workflows to fit business needs
• Offers lead scoring and task management tools
• Easy to use, with a simple interface suitable for Gmail users
• Good mobile access for managing CRM on the go

Cons

• Limited advanced features compared to more comprehensive CRMs
• Mobile app functionality could be improved
• Reporting tools are not as robust as some competitors
• Lacks native integration with non-Gmail email clients (requires API setup for other services)
• Steeper learning curve

Free Trial

Yes, 14 days.

12. Microsoft Dynamics 365 Sales

Best for: Large enterprises needing customizable CRM and ERP functions

Price: $65/user/mo (Sales Professional), $105/user/mo (Sales Enterprise), $150/user/mo (Sales Premium), contact for pricing (Microsoft Relationship Sales)

Microsoft Dynamics is a CRM and ERP software with social insights, cloud-based campaign management, and business intelligence (BI). The CRM can be delivered by cloud, it can be hosted, or it can be on-premises.

Microsoft Dynamics has a variety of apps that you can integrate to help you manage relationships with customers via a mobile device and sync data from social media and other business tools with your CRM. Real-time, AI-powered insights help you acquire qualified leads and understand your audience on a deep level. Dynamics bases these insights on behavioral, demographic, transactional, feedback, and engagement data to ensure they're accurate and actionable.

Features

• CRM (Customer Relationship Management): A robust CRM with sales, marketing, and service functionalities, including lead scoring, customer insights, and omnichannel communication (email, social, phone, etc.). It integrates seamlessly with other Microsoft products like Outlook, SharePoint, and Teams for enhanced collaboration and document sharing.
• Sales automation: Manage the entire sales pipeline with AI-driven insights, predictive lead scoring, deal risk notifications, and sales analytics. Users can track customer interactions, forecast sales, and automate workflows for follow-ups and nurturing.
• Marketing automation: Build and automate marketing campaigns across multiple channels such as email, social media, and web, supported by AI-powered audience segmentation, customer journey tracking, and A/B testing.
• Customer service automation: AI-driven self-service tools like chatbots, customer portals, and automated ticket routing improve customer support. Provides real-time agent collaboration tools through Microsoft Teams.
• Field service and project management: Manage field service operations and project lifecycles, including scheduling, forecasting, resource management, and time tracking with interactive Gantt charts and Kanban boards.
• Integrations: Deep integration with the Microsoft ecosystem (Office 365, Power BI, Outlook, etc.) and third-party tools like Salesforce, Marketo, and HubSpot.
• Mobile access: Available on iOS and Android for remote work and field service support, with offline capabilities.

Pros

• Comprehensive, all-in-one business solution with CRM and ERP functionalities
• Seamless integration with Microsoft products (Outlook, Power BI, SharePoint)
• AI-driven insights for marketing, sales, and service
• Highly customizable workflows and apps (PowerApps and Flow)
• Strong reporting and analytics capabilities with built-in Power BI dashboards
• Scalable for businesses of all sizes, from small businesses to enterprises
• Effective field service and project management tools

Cons

• Can be complex to implement and has a steep learning curve for new users
• High cost, especially for small businesses, and additional fees for advanced modules
• Features may require specialized training
• Setup, customization, and maintenance may require significant time and resources
• Mobile apps could benefit from improved functionality for certain users
• Only a good option if you’re already using the Microsoft platform

Free Trial

Yes, 30 days.

13. Keap

Best for: Small businesses looking for an all-in-one CRM

Price: $249/mo for two users and 1500 contacts

Keap, formerly known as Infusionsoft, is a CRM with a number of sales and marketing tools to help you personalize all interactions, make appointments, track lead and contact data, and manage quotes. Personalize your outreach and customize and automate follow-up reminders and communication to ensure you're reaching out (via email, phone, or SMS) when you need to.

The CRM's Activity Stream is automatically updated whenever you interact with a contact, so all interactions are up-to-date, accurate, and centrally located.

Features

• CRM (Customer Relationship Management): Manage contacts, segment them using tags and custom fields, and track customer interactions. Keap offers a visual sales pipeline to manage leads and move them through different stages.
• Sales pipeline management: Easily track leads from initial contact to deal closure with an intuitive drag-and-drop pipeline feature.
• Marketing automation: Automate email marketing, lead nurturing, and follow-up tasks. Users can create detailed workflows with A/B testing and SMS marketing.
• Ecommerce tools: Manage invoices, accept payments, and track transactions through integrations with PayPal, Stripe, and Shopify.
• Appointment scheduling: Integrated scheduling tools sync with Google and Outlook calendars, making it easy for clients to book appointments online.
• Analytics and reporting: Customizable dashboards to monitor sales performance, marketing campaigns, and customer engagement, providing insights to help drive business decisions.
• Mobile access: Keap's mobile app allows users to manage tasks, appointments, and CRM activities on the go.
• Integrations with over 2,500 apps with Zapier and native integrations for tools like Google, Microsoft 365, and Zoom.

Pros

• User-friendly interface, minimizing the learning curve
• Comprehensive automation for both sales and marketing
• Competitive pricing tailored for small businesses
• Robust marketing tools, including email and SMS marketing
• Strong ecommerce features with invoicing and payment processing

Cons

• Lacks dedicated customer service tools
• Can experience performance issues with large amounts of data
• Limited customization compared to competitors
• Can feel pricy

Free Trial

Yes, 14 days.

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14. Bitrix24 CRM

Best for: Businesses needing a full suite of collaboration tools

Price: Free, $49/mo (Basic), $99/mo (Standard), $199/mo (Professional), $399/mo (Enterprise)

Bitrix24 CRM tracks all of your interactions with leads, contacts, customers, partners, and more — all of this data is updated and kept in the tool's contact database for you. Easily create and share reports and contacts, and segment your target audience with ease.

Choose to spread out all incoming contacts among your sales reps so there's a steady workflow. Use the Activity Stream feature to take notes, send emails, place phone calls, create tasks, make meetings, and more, all without ever leaving the CRM. Lastly, choose whether to host your CRM on your server or in the cloud.

Features

• CRM (Customer Relationship Management): Manage contacts, companies, and deals with automated lead tracking and management. The system includes sales pipelines, custom fields, and tools for segmenting and nurturing leads.
• Sales automation: Automate your entire sales funnel, from lead capture to conversion, with customizable workflows and sales pipelines. Includes automatic lead assignment and follow-up reminders.
• Project and task management: Organize projects with task assignments, Gantt charts, and Kanban boards. Built-in time tracking and performance reports help manage team tasks effectively.
• Marketing automation: Automate email campaigns, manage bulk SMS, and run web forms to capture leads. The platform supports marketing tools integrated into the CRM for seamless customer engagement.
• Ecommerce: Manage an online store with tools for product management, order tracking, payment processing, and inventory management.
• Collaboration tools: Includes internal communication tools such as instant messaging, video calls, document sharing, and activity streams for team collaboration.
• Integrations: Bitrix24 integrates with popular apps like Google Workspace, Microsoft 365, and ecommerce platforms like Shopify. The open API allows further customization

Pros

• Comprehensive all-in-one platform for CRM, project management, and team collaboration
• Free plan available with many essential features, including CRM and task management
• Project and task management tools with Gantt charts and Kanban boards
• Extensive automation features for both marketing and sales processes
• Ecommerce capabilities with payment processing and order management
• Strong collaboration tools for team communication and file sharing
• Flexible pricing plans to suit businesses of all sizes
• Flat rate pricing per organization

Cons

• Steep learning curve due to the wide range of features
• User interface can feel cluttered and overwhelming for new users
• Customer support can be slow, especially for free-tier users
• Advanced features like reporting and CRM customizations are only available in higher-tier plans
• Limited customization options compared to other CRMs

Free Trial

Yes, there’s an always free plan that covers your basic needs.

Choose Your CRM

Choosing a CRM can be a daunting task — I know firsthand. I’ve tested lots of CRMs in my business, in my clients’ businesses, and for articles like this.

The best place to start is by making a list of your must-haves, nice-to-haves, and want-to-avoids, and then narrow your options. From there, test a few of the top solutions or even schedule demos with the sales teams, and then dive in to the best option across the board.

Editor's note: This post was originally published in May 2020 and has been updated for comprehensiveness.

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• Sales
• Marketing
• Operations
• Customer Service

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