Customer Relationship Management (CRM) platforms have become indispensable for businesses aiming to thrive in today’s competitive landscape. The CRM market is experiencing explosive growth, reflecting its crucial role in enhancing sales efficiency and driving revenue. Industry analysts at Forbes note that “By 2023, 62% of CRM will be cloud-based, and the cloud computing market will reach $127.5B,” underscoring the shift towards cloud-based solutions and the increasing market value. For businesses looking to optimize operations and boost profitability, understanding and comparing CRM platforms is a critical first step towards selecting the right tool. This guide provides a detailed comparison of leading CRM software to help you make an informed decision.
Comparison Table of Popular CRM Software
| CRMs | Minimum price | Maximum price | Free plan | Free trial |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Salesforce | $25 | $300 | ❌ | 30 days |
| HubSpot | $50 | $3,600 | ✅ | 30 days |
| Creatio | $25 | $85 | ❌ | 14 days |
| Insightly | $29 | $99 | ✅ | 14 days |
| Zoho | €14 | €52 | ✅ | 15 days |
| Pipedrive | €12.50 | €59.90 | ❌ | 14 days |
| monday sales CRM | €10 | €24 | ✅ | 14 days |
| Freshsales | $15 | $69 | ✅ | 21 days |
| Zendesk | $55 | $115 | ❌ | 14 days |
| Capsule | £14 | £60 | ✅ | 14 days |
In-depth Comparison of Top CRM Platforms
monday sales CRM
Let monday sales CRM handle the complexities of sales operations, allowing your team to concentrate on strategic initiatives such as creative projects, business development, and nurturing client relationships. While every CRM has a learning curve, monday sales CRM stands out with its intuitive interface, making it accessible to team members regardless of their technical background.
This platform empowers users to engage with customers effectively, gain insights from customer data through visualization and analysis, and streamline workflows using customizable dashboards and templates. monday sales CRM is designed for scalability, supporting businesses from startups to large enterprises in managing diverse workflows. Its visual nature simplifies navigation and task management, ensuring ease of use without compromising on robust functionality. CRM software is now an affordable and essential tool for businesses of all sizes, from burgeoning startups to established corporations. Pricing options are diverse, ranging from free versions to premium plans, enabling businesses to select a CRM that aligns with their specific needs and budgetary constraints.
Pros:
- User-friendly visual interface
- Highly scalable for growing businesses
- Customizable dashboards and templates
Cons:
- Learning curve common to all CRM systems
- Mass email functionality limited in lower-tier plans
- Lacks built-in lead scoring in standard plans
Salesforce
Salesforce is often recognized as the leading CRM solution in the market, designed to empower businesses to enhance sales strategies and improve deal closure rates. With an extensive suite of features and over 600 add-ons, Salesforce caters to a wide array of business needs, particularly excelling with larger organizations that have complex sales processes.
Salesforce offers a 30-day free trial and provides four main pricing tiers, designed to accommodate different business sizes and requirements:
- Lightning Essentials: Priced at $25 per user per month (billed annually), this plan offers core CRM functionalities including account, contact, opportunity, and task management, along with a customizable sales process, activity feed, calendar creation, offline mobile access, and a mobile inbox app.
- Lightning Professional: At $75 per user per month (billed annually), this plan builds upon the Essentials plan by adding features such as sales data integration with other apps, personal accounts, product and price books, quotes, topics, recommendations, and Google Apps integration.
- Lightning Enterprise: For $150 per user per month (billed annually), this plan includes all features of the Professional plan, plus advanced capabilities like Einstein lead scoring (additional cost), a sales console app, Einstein automated contacts, sales teams, opportunity splits, and enterprise territory management.
- Lightning Unlimited: The most comprehensive plan at $300 per user per month (billed annually), it offers unlimited CRM capabilities and support, encompassing all features from the previous plans along with full sandbox environments and additional options available at extra cost.
Salesforce does not impose a setup fee, and the listed prices are per user for basic monthly access, with potential additional costs for adding more users or advanced features.
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Pros:
- Robust cloud-based solution
- Highly customizable and flexible settings
- Extensive data access and integration capabilities
- Strong integration with social networks and third-party applications
- Comprehensive customer support
Cons:
- Higher price point, especially for premium plans
- Service Level Agreement (SLA) complexities
- Analytics limitations in lower-tier plans
- May be less accessible for very small businesses
- Concerns about data processing center locations
HubSpot CRM
Introduced in 2014, HubSpot CRM has quickly become a significant player in the CRM market, often considered a strong competitor to established platforms like Salesforce and SugarCRM. HubSpot is praised for its user-friendly interface and broad accessibility, offering over 100 integrations with popular tools including Zapier, Nimble, and Netsuite.
A key differentiator for HubSpot CRM is its pricing model: it offers a free version for unlimited users, allowing storage for up to 1 million contacts and companies. The free CRM includes core functionalities such as:
- Contact management
- Contact and company insights
- Gmail and Outlook integration
- Deals tracking
- Companies database
- Task management
- Lead analytics dashboard
- Lead flows
- Email scheduling
For businesses requiring advanced features, HubSpot offers paid extensions to its free CRM, making it particularly suitable for small to mid-sized businesses with straightforward sales processes and basic CRM needs.
Pros:
- Completely free version available for unlimited users
- Versatile platform suitable for various business types
- Predictive lead scoring option in paid tiers
- Comprehensive contact and deal management
- Meeting scheduling and omnichannel communication approach
Cons:
- Paid versions can become expensive at higher tiers
- Some features can be complex for new users
- Advanced functionality may be needed for larger enterprises
Creatio
Creatio delivers a unified platform designed to automate industry-specific workflows and enhance customer relationship management (CRM) through a no-code approach, offering exceptional flexibility. Its product suite includes Studio Creatio, a no-code development platform, and CRM applications for marketing, sales, and service. Creatio also provides tailored workflows for 20 industries and a marketplace for add-ons.
Marketing Creatio facilitates marketing campaign automation and lead management; Sales Creatio automates end-to-end sales processes; and Service Creatio is an omnichannel platform that streamlines customer service workflows. Studio Creatio offers a no-code environment for workflow automation and application development with maximum customization.
Pros:
- Unified platform encompassing marketing, sales, service, and workflow automation.
- No-code platform enabling users to design and modify workflows without coding.
- Industry-specific workflows available for 20 sectors like banking and healthcare.
- Omnichannel capabilities for consistent customer support across various channels.
Cons:
- Can be a pricier option, especially for smaller businesses.
- Requires time investment for users to learn the platform and its features effectively.
Insightly
Insightly is designed to cater to businesses of all sizes, with a strong focus on small and medium-sized businesses. Its flexibility and user-friendly design have attracted customers across diverse industries.
Insightly offers a free plan for up to two users, which includes fundamental CRM features such as lead and sales management, custom reporting, task and project management, and email templates. Additionally, Insightly provides three paid plans:
- Plus: At $29 per user per month (billed annually), it includes all features of the free edition, plus integrations, custom branding, scheduled reports, and calendar and contact synchronization.
- Professional: Priced at $49 per user per month (billed annually), it adds enhanced security with SSO and workflow automation.
- Enterprise: For $99 per user per month (billed annually), it offers unlimited records, priority support, and SAML-based SSO.
Pros:
- Free plan available for up to two users.
- Wide range of features suitable for businesses of all sizes.
- Responsive and helpful customer support.
Cons:
- Advanced marketing features are limited to higher-tier plans.
- Occasional issues with integration stability between some apps.
- Plan feature inclusions can be unclear at times.
Keap CRM (formerly Infusionsoft)
Keap, previously known as Infusionsoft, is a cloud-based CRM system established in 2004. It integrates with over 112 platforms, including Zapier, Xero, and MailChimp. Keap is tailored for small to medium-sized businesses, providing features aimed at supporting business growth.
Keap’s pricing is structured based on the number of contacts and includes a $299 onboarding fee for new users. Pricing tiers include:
- Up to 500 contacts: $80/month for the first 3 months, then $99/month
- Up to 1,500 contacts: $104/month for the first 3 months, then $129/month
- Up to 2,500 contacts: $144/month for the first 3 months, then $179/month
- Up to 5,000 contacts: $184/month for the first 3 months, then $229/month
- Up to 10,000 contacts: $240/month for the first 3 months, then $299/month
- Up to 25,000 contacts: $280/month for the first 3 months, then $349/month
- Up to 50,000 contacts: $304/month for the first 3 months, then $379/month
- Pricing for more contacts is available upon request from Keap experts.
These plans include one user account, contact management, marketing automation, and unlimited emails. Additional features like sales pipeline management and e-commerce tools are available for an extra monthly fee.
Pros:
- Strong marketing automation capabilities
- Intuitive interface and effective lead generation tools
- Wide range of integrations
- Personalization features
Cons:
- Relatively expensive compared to some competitors
- Performance can be slow at times, requiring optimization
Zoho CRM
Zoho CRM is a cloud-based platform known for its extensive feature set and competitive pricing. It allows users to manage leads, accounts, and contacts through distinct modules, and supports automation, analytics, and inventory management.
Zoho offers four paid plans and a free version for up to 10 users. Pricing plans (billed annually) include:
- Standard: €14/user/month, including core CRM features like contact, lead, account management, reporting, forecasting, mass email, and dashboards.
- Professional: €23/user/month, adding unlimited records, workflow management, and email integration to the Standard plan.
- Enterprise: €40/user/month, including territory management, conditional fields, custom modules, and multi-currency support.
- Ultimate: €52/user/month, providing all Enterprise features plus priority support, a dedicated database cluster, advanced customization, and enhanced storage.
These prices are based on annual subscriptions; month-to-month payments are available at a higher rate.
Pros:
- Cost-effective pricing structure
- Wide range of features and integrations
- Comprehensive client history tracking
- Integrated telephony and distribution capabilities
Cons:
- Paid mobile access
- Mobile interface could be improved
- Limited capability for managing complex structures and sales departments
Pipedrive
Pipedrive is designed specifically for small sales teams, providing tools to manage deals, generate detailed sales reports, and identify areas for sales process improvement.
Pipedrive offers five paid plans with functionality that scales with each tier (prices billed annually):
- Essential: €12.50/user/month, including core sales management features, 30 custom fields, 15 reports, unlimited pipelines, and email inbox integration.
- Advanced: €24.90/user/month, adding meeting scheduling, email scheduling, one email sync per user, 100 custom fields, 30 reports, and 30 automations to the Essential plan.
- Professional: €49.90/user/month, providing full sales management, lead routing, revenue forecasting, two email syncs per user, 300 custom fields, 50 reports, 60 automations, and document management.
- Power: €59.90/user/month, offering personalized onboarding, phone support, three email syncs per user, 500 custom fields, 250 reports, 90 automations, project management, and extra teams features.
- Enterprise: €74.90/user/month, providing unlimited Pipedrive experience with advanced reporting, support, and customization.
Annual subscriptions offer cost savings compared to month-to-month options, and plan upgrades or downgrades are easily managed.
Pros:
- Quick setup with video tutorials
- Competitive pricing
- Strong integrations
- Sales-focused statistics and reporting
- Helpful customer support
Cons:
- Some users find the functionality and design not fully satisfactory
Pipeline CRM
Pipeline CRM, launched in 2006, integrates with 37 solutions including MailChimp, G Suite, and Zapier. It is well-suited for small and mid-sized organizations, offering a user-friendly interface and efficient operation.
Pipeline CRM offers three paid monthly plans (billed annually):
- Start: $25/user/month, including unlimited leads, deals, and companies, along with email tracking.
- Develop: $33/user/month, adding reporting on multiple revenue sources, key contact highlighting, and tracking of major customer milestones to the Start plan.
- Grow: $49/user/month, including all Develop features plus smart automation, multi-currency support, and two-way email sync.
Pros:
- Unlimited contacts, deals, and companies in all plans
- Simple import and export of data
- Cloud-based for easy setup and speed
- Mobile compatible with iOS and Android devices
Cons:
- No free plan option
MS Dynamics CRM
MS Dynamics CRM is a versatile solution suitable for freelancers, small to medium-sized businesses, and large enterprises. It can be deployed in the cloud, on-premises, or hosted by partners, and users can switch deployment types as needed.
MS Dynamics CRM offers several pricing plans (per user/month):
- Dynamics 365 Plan: From $210, including access to all applications.
- Unified Operations Plan: From $190, for applications focused on business operations management.
- Customer Engagement Plan: $115, for applications designed to build and improve customer relationships.
Additional features can be accessed through these offers:
- Full User: From $40, providing full access to application functionality.
- Team Members: From $5, for executing necessary processes and light tasks.
- Extra applications and offers: $40 – $170.
Pros:
- Seamless integration with Microsoft Outlook and Office 365
- Robust reporting capabilities
- Easy export to Excel
- User-friendly interface
Cons:
- Can be complex to set up initially
- Limited number of integrations compared to some competitors
- Lacks built-in auto-mailing features
SuiteCRM
SuiteCRM is an open-source CRM platform focused on small and medium-sized companies, offering sales, marketing, and support automation, and facilitating collaboration across departments. Its “Advanced OpenWorkflow” add-on allows for automation of tasks ranging from security management to contract reminders.
SuiteCRM offers two main pricing models:
- SuiteCRM On-Site: Free to download and use, requiring self-hosting.
- SuiteCRM On-Demand: A hosted solution with a flat fee of $10/user/month for all editions:
- SuiteCRM Sales: Focused on sales process optimization.
- SuiteCRM Service: Designed for delivering customer service.
- SuiteCRM Max: Comprehensive suite for businesses needing all features.
Pros:
- Highly flexible platform rather than just an application
- Option to host the system in the cloud or on-premises
- Modern user interface
- Wide range of possible integrations
- Extensive customer support resources, guides, and APIs
Cons:
- Calendar synchronization issues reported by some users
- Built-in email client interface is underdeveloped
- Integration with third-party software can sometimes present interface problems
SugarCRM
SugarCRM is recognized as a leading CRM system, offering a broad spectrum of features from project and activity management to integration with over 104 apps. It automates core sales, marketing, and customer support processes.
SugarCRM provides three on-demand plans (annual subscription required):
- Sugar Professional: $40/user/month, offering sales and support automation, lead management, reporting, and unlimited customization.
- Sugar Enterprise: $65/user/month, adding opportunity management, forecasting, phone support, and activity streams.
- Sugar Ultimate: $150/user/month, including a dedicated technical account manager, private cloud environment, and round-the-clock support.
SugarCRM requires an annual subscription commitment, unlike some CRMs that offer month-to-month billing.
Pros:
- Open-source platform
- Modular design for scalable feature adoption
- Multilingual support
- Customizable desktop interface
Cons:
- Limited features in the open-source version
- Additional features often require extra payment
Vtiger
Vtiger CRM is ideally suited for small to mid-sized businesses, offering both on-demand and on-premise versions. Pricing starts at $10/user/month with editions including:
- Sales Starter: $10/month/user, including contact, document, and workflow management, advanced reporting, web-to-lead forms, quote builder, and 24/7 support.
- Sales Professional: $20/user/month, adding multiple currencies, sales forecasting, autoresponder campaigns to Sales Starter features, and 24/7 support.
- Free: Available for up to 10 users with basic features.
- Help Desk Starter: $10/month/user, including case and contact management, web and email to ticket conversion, document management, reporting, and 24/7 support.
- Help Desk Professional: $20/month/user, adding insights and custom modules and records to Help Desk Starter features, and 24/7 support.
Pros:
- Flexible and expandable platform
- Wide range of functionalities
- Instant access to comprehensive customer information
Cons:
- Mobile version is available but less convenient than the desktop version
- More tailored for small or medium-sized businesses
Nutshell
Nutshell CRM distinguishes itself with robust sales and marketing automation features, making it a strong option for businesses focused on improving lead conversion rates. It offers customizable reports, email templates, and seamless web form integrations, providing effective contact and pipeline management.
Nutshell offers a 14-day free trial and several pricing plans (per user/month):
- Foundation: $16, including core CRM features, contact management, email sync, pipeline tracking, and business reporting.
- Pro: $42, adding advanced automation flows, email sequences, in-app calling, and detailed reports to the Foundation plan.
- Power AI: $52, incorporating artificial intelligence to enhance CRM efficiency and effectiveness.
- Enterprise: $67, offering unlimited access and comprehensive features without significant cost overhead.
Pros:
- Ready-made templates to streamline communication
- Web form integration for improved data accuracy
- Automated lead nurturing sequences
Cons:
- New users may need time to learn the full feature set
- Cloud-based, requiring stable internet connectivity
Freshsales
Freshsales CRM is a comprehensive platform designed to enable sales teams to effectively manage leads from initial contact to final purchase. Known for its user-friendly and reliable interface, Freshsales aims to streamline operations, strengthen customer relationships, increase close rates, and enhance team performance.
Freshsales offers several pricing plans:
- Free: For up to 3 users, offering built-in chat, email, and phone features.
- Growth: $15/user/month, including CRM automation to reduce repetitive tasks.
- Pro: $39/user/month, adding multiple sales pipelines, time-based workflows, auto-assignment rules, and AI-powered insights.
- Enterprise: $69/user/month, offering advanced customization, governance, and controls.
Pros:
- Automation of mundane tasks, freeing up sales team time
- Intuitive and easy-to-learn interface
- Free trial available
Cons:
- Fewer integrations with third-party systems compared to larger CRM platforms
Zendesk
Zendesk is a robust CRM software focused on improving customer interactions, offering features for customer support, live chat, and messaging. It helps businesses organize customer data and ensure a seamless customer experience.
Zendesk offers various pricing plans tailored to different organizational needs (per agent/month):
- Suite Team: $55
- Suite Growth: $89
- Suite Professional: $115
- Suite Enterprise: Custom pricing, contact vendor for details.
Pros:
- Efficient customer data processing for seamless experiences
- Specialized solutions tailored to unique business needs
- Streamlined customer interactions to drive business growth
Cons:
- Fewer third-party integrations compared to some CRM solutions
- Initial learning curve for new users
Capsule
Capsule CRM is a cloud-based CRM platform focused on contact, lead, and sales pipeline management, known for its simplicity and user-friendliness, making it suitable for small to medium-sized businesses.
Capsule provides five pricing plans:
- Free: Basic features for up to 2 users and 250 contacts.
- Starter: £14/user/month, core tools for contact and lead management.
- Growth: £27/user/month, adding customization, workflows, and detailed reports.
- Advanced: £42/user/month, enhanced flexibility for business growth.
- Ultimate: £60/user/month, premium onboarding and dedicated account management.
Pros:
- Intuitive and user-friendly design
- Effective contact management
- Visual sales pipeline representation
- Affordable option for small businesses
Cons:
- May lack advanced features for larger businesses
- Limited customization compared to more robust platforms
Close CRM
Close CRM, or Close.io, is a sales-focused CRM designed to streamline communication and enhance sales processes, popular among sales teams and small to medium-sized businesses.
Close CRM offers several paid plans (billed annually):
- Startup: $49/month for 1 user, additional users at $49/month each.
- Professional: $299/month for 3 users, additional users at $99/month each.
- Enterprise: $699/month for 5 users, additional users at $139/month each.
Pros:
- Unified sales communication across email, calling, and messaging
- Visual and customizable sales pipeline
- Smart lead organization and robust reporting tools
- Email automation features for effective lead engagement
Cons:
- Limited marketing features compared to sales functionality
- Scalability may be a concern for very large enterprises
Agile CRM
Agile CRM is an all-in-one CRM platform providing comprehensive solutions for sales, marketing, and customer service, integrating contact management, automation, analytics, and telephony.
Agile CRM offers several pricing plans (billed annually):
- Free: More than basic features for up to 10 users.
- Starter: $9.99/user/month.
- Regular: $39.99/user/month.
- Enterprise: $64.99/user/month.
Pros:
- Broad range of features in one platform
- Strong marketing automation capabilities
- Efficient sales process streamlining
- Built-in telephony system
Cons:
- Steeper learning curve for some users
- Customization can be challenging for complex workflows
- User interface may not be as modern as some competitors
Apptivo
Apptivo is a cloud-based business management suite including CRM, project management, and invoicing, designed as an integrated solution for small and medium-sized businesses.
Apptivo offers affordable pricing plans (per user/month):
- Lite: $8, for small sales teams focused on deal and quote management.
- Premium: $12, for fast-growing teams needing an all-in-one CRM.
- Ultimate: $20, for large teams requiring automation and integrations.
- Enterprise: Custom pricing, contact vendor for details.
Pros:
- Comprehensive suite of applications
- Cost-effective pricing
- Good level of customization
- Responsive customer support
Cons:
- Feature depth may not match specialized CRM tools in certain areas
- Analytics and reporting capabilities may be limited for advanced users
Maximizer
Maximizer CRM is designed to help businesses manage contacts, leads, and customer interactions, offering features for sales automation, marketing, and customer service.
Maximizer offers two pricing options (per user/month):
- Base Edition: €58, offering core CRM for sales team efficiency and revenue growth.
- Sales Leader Edition: €63, adding tools for sales leader team monitoring to the Base Edition.
Pros:
- Integrations with various third-party applications
- User-friendly interface
- Customization options for different business needs
Cons:
- Mobile app functionality may be limited compared to desktop version
- Reporting features can be complex for some users
Conclusion
Choosing the right CRM tool is a critical decision for any business looking to enhance customer relationships, streamline sales processes, and boost overall efficiency. As the CRM market continues to expand and diversify, businesses have access to a wide range of platforms, each with unique strengths and pricing models. From free, entry-level options suitable for startups to enterprise-grade solutions designed for large corporations, there is a CRM available to meet every need and budget. The comparison provided in this guide highlights the key features, pros, and cons of some of the leading CRM tools, empowering you to make an informed choice that best aligns with your business objectives. Importantly, CRM systems are no longer exclusive to large enterprises; they are now accessible and beneficial for businesses of all sizes, including non-profit organizations. Small nonprofits, in particular, can leverage CRM to streamline fundraising, manage volunteers, organize events, and enhance donor communications, ultimately supporting their mission and operational sustainability.
