Customer Relationship Management Software: What Is It?
A CRM can assist you in tracking, analyzing, and auditing every stage of a customer relationship, including the initial purchase, support calls, and notes from sales calls made by the regional sales team.
Any organization can benefit from customer relationship management (CRM) software. Even as a simple addition to contact monitoring, it can be beneficial, but when used properly, it gives much more utility.
Modern CRM systems provide a wide range of functions that are adequate to meet the requirements of even the most prominent businesses. The disadvantage is that these systems occasionally have complexity.
You can check a CRM created especially for small enterprises if you find the prospect of a challenging learning curve intimidating.
On the other hand, if you need a CRM’s complete set of features, we can help. Check out the CRMs we think are best for your company by clicking on the links below.
Customer Relationship Management Software Comparison Chart
| Product | Best For | Price |
| 1. Pipedrive | Visual sales pipeline management | $14.90 |
| 2. Fresh Sales | Communications/Small business | $18 |
| 3. HubSpot | Integrations | $40 |
| 4. Microsoft Dynamics 365 | Business intelligence | $20 |
| 5. Salesforce | Small business/ Small teams | $25 |
| 6. Zoho | Remote/Hybrid teams | $12 |
| 7. Insightly | Analytics & Reports | Contact support |
| 8. MailChimp | Marketing campaigns | $13 |
| 9. Less Annoying | Contact management | $15 |
| 10. Really Simple Systems | Small businesses | $18 |
| 11. Nimble | Small businesses | $19 |
| 12. Sugar CRM | Marketing Automation | $49 |
| 13. Net Suite | Sales and marketing automation | Contact support |
| 14. Keap | Marketing automation | $129 |
| 15. Apptivo | Workflow automation | $10 |
| 16. Zendesk | Complete customer lifecycle | $25 |
| 17. Creatio | Marketing automation | $25 |
| 18. Act! | Small businesses | $30 |
List Of The Best Customer Relationship Management (CRM) Software
1. Pipedrive
A CRM tool called Pipedrive aims to increase sales and revenue. The name is intended to re-create the sales pipeline and boost total sales.
Pipedrive allows you to keep track of every conversation you have with each customer, just like any other good customer relationship management system for sales. Software technologies are available to ensure that you uphold high levels of customer satisfaction throughout the client journey. It provides a number of capabilities to manage all of your leads and active deals.
You can automate monotonous operations with the aid of a variety of features. An extremely graphic platform is Pipedrive which applies to analytics and sales cycle tracking and related processes. Additionally, it has mobile apps for iOS, Android, and iPhone devices. Overall, Pipedrive receives praise for its usability.
Price Plan
You can try Pipedrive for 30 days
As you do activities and drive deals forward, Pipedrive monitors your performance like a coach.
2. Freshsales
One of Freshworks’ top CRM programs is Freshsales. Freshworks is a single CRM platform with distinct SaaS for customer service and marketing teams.
Freshsales uses AI to assist you in better understanding your leads and clients. Lead scoring highlights your finest opportunities, and salespeople can use built-in email and phone software from Freshsales. You receive precise client information and helpful advice on customer interactions, such as when and how to get in touch.
Email alerts regarding new engagements or follow-ups are also an option. This collection of tools integrates flawlessly with other Freshworks goods, such as the chatbot-equipped Freshmarketer.
Price Plan
Growth: $18 per user/month
Pro: $47 per user/month
Enterprise: $83 per user/month
3. HubSpot
Inbound marketing is how HubSpot got started. This CRM system helps businesses in user acquisition through content. Additionally, HubSpot provides generic CRM solutions, which are often among the best.
HubSpot has a very user-friendly interface. The HubSpot product line is organized into marketing, sales, service, and CMS categories. You can save time and grow your network if you use marketing to find leads.
In HubSpot’s sales section, you may find sophisticated CRM software and other tools, including a meetings scheduler. Customer feedback, help centers, tickets, and knowledge bases are part of the service. Through personalized communications, you may strengthen your customer relationships by using the information contained in your CRM database.
You manage your content with a CMS and deliver a fantastic client experience with HubSpot CRM. A HubSpot add-on is also available for Gmail or Office 365.
Price Plan
HubSpot CRM is available at many different price points. The cost per user for a basic CRM and sales bundle is $40.
Transform your business into a revenue generating machine by creating delightful customer experiences.
4. Zoho
Zoho CRM is mainly used for sales-specific purposes. By expanding your network, you can collect more leads. Your leads are tracked through the sales lifecycle using opportunity management systems.
This system lets you see your client’s data and communicate with them through several avenues. Customers who interact with your business receive real-time notifications. Analytics on the ideal occasions and methods for contacting leads are provided to you.
There is also a chatbot tool that an AI-powered sales assistant supports. You can use it as customer support desk software in addition to sales.
Price Plan
There are four different price points for the Zoho CRM software. The price per user for the Basic Plan is $12.
A unique and powerful suite of software to run your entire business, brought to you by a company with the long-term vision to transform the way you work.
4. Less Annoying
Here is Less Annoying CRM, another customer relationship management software with a descriptive name. It’s simple to use and excellent for small businesses, startups, and entrepreneurs on a budget.
You can manage your contacts simply with this CRM platform. Customer profiles include notes, files, scheduling, task management, and to-do lists. Additionally, Google Calendar is synced.
To manage your pipeline, you get straightforward lead management. It sends follow-up notifications to keep your sales personnel alert to potential sales. Daily agenda emails are also available. This customer relationship management solution works well for team collaboration, and the learning curve is short.
Price Plan
There are no complicated price levels, hidden fees, or contracts. It only costs $15 per user per month
6. Microsoft Dynamics 365
When it comes to commercial SaaS, Microsoft takes business seriously. Dynamics 365 is a complete collection of CRM and ERP technologies.
Microsoft Dynamics 365 uses AI to assist businesses in identifying the ideal demographic and client base for their goods. With this best CRM software, you can see the whole customer base. The sales process can be automated using digital technologies. You even get tools to support coaching and performance improvement for your sales representatives.
New leads are found using marketing tools. Additionally, it offers trend monitoring and sales forecasting. A robust customer service suite and an API for customization are both included in Dynamics 365. Additional benefits include project management and accountancy.
Price Plan
The Basic Sales Professional starts at $20. You can also choose between First Dynamics 365 app or the Subsequent qualifying1 Dynamics 365 app.
7. Insightly
Project management and CRM applications are both included in Insightly. It’s a reputable platform for medium-sized and large businesses.
You can get a complete view of your customers using Insightly. It enables simple customer data sharing between sales, marketing, and project management. Audience segmentation-focused automated marketing funnels are possible.
Email tracking lets you see when sales lead read emails and how often they click on other links. The right sales agent is connected to a customer through lead routing. Excellent dashboards with customization possibilities are available in Insightly as well.
Price Plan
Contact Insightly for pricing information.
8. Mailchimp
Initially, Mailchimp operated as a SaaS for managing email newsletter subscriptions. For small business marketing teams, it is currently a full-featured CRM solution.
You can create email campaigns, social media advertisements, and landing pages for your brand with Mailchimp’s marketing tools. Automated marketing campaigns can be made using a straightforward graphic editor. Additionally, you receive tools like consumer surveys and A/B testing.
For each lead, Mailchimp may provide statistics like the chance of a purchase. They also have a ton of third-party integrations and a developer API to enhance your program. Overall, this SaaS is excellent for gaining marketing insights.
Price Plan
Essentials: $13 per month
Standard: $20 per month
Premium: $350 per month
9. Salesforce
One of the first names in CRM software tools is Salesforce. It now features a wide range of options and modules. Software for the “big three” departments of marketing, sales, and customer care is among them.
All of your business functions are covered by Salesforce. Salesforce provides software to create email marketing campaigns for marketing, and you can set up marketing automation. There are options for posting and listening on social media.
When sales teams use Salesforce, they get good customer relationship management. With Sales Cloud, you also get CRM software to speed up the sales lifecycle.
Salesforce offers CRM capabilities for building self-service resources for customer support. Its contact information can also help customer service representatives and customer service agents assist clients more quickly, and it is incredibly good at generating leads and keeping customers. The main drawback is that Salesforce has a learning curve.
Price Plan
A basic plan for CRM software costs $25. A professional CRM plan costs $75.
10. Really Simple Systems
Before, Really Simple Systems CRM was easy to use. However, the software has developed and now offers a variety of cutting-edge CRM applications.
The usual three departments of marketing, sales, and service are all covered by a set of features in Really Simple Systems. Lead management and campaign management are provided by marketing. Email marketing and automation are further options.
Management of customers and pipelines is a feature of sales software. It also includes tasks, calendars, and sales forecasts. Case management, SLAs, and case reports are also part of customer service.
Price Plan
Starter: $18 per user/ month, billed monthly.
Professional: $38 per user/ month, billed monthly.
Enterprise: $55 per user/ month, billed monthly.
11. Nimble
For its usability, Nimble CRM receives high marks. Teams using Office 365 and G Suite can utilize this CRM solution.
Web-based Nimble can be used with programs like Excel and Microsoft Teams or inside web browsers. Nimble has a good way of keeping track of contacts. You can manage jobs and projects and get a complete history of all your interactions across all your channels.
Typical sales process management allows you to view all of your open opportunities. Additionally, integrated team calendars are excellent. Nimble also provides apps for iOS and Android.
Price Plan
Nimble charges $19 per user/ month, billed annually.
12. Sugar CRM
A single platform for marketing, sales, and customer service is SugarCRM. This CRM application is hosted on-site.
SugarCRM offers social media advertising solutions for marketing, including SEO advice. With a drag-and-drop editor and templates, creating campaigns is simple. It can automate marketing efforts to nurture contacts into leads.
The SugarCRM enables you to trace emails and keep tabs on every lead as they move through the sales funnel. Smart routing is used by customer service software to match users with the best agent.
Price Plan
Sell Plan: $49 per user/ month for 3 users minimum, billed annually.
Serve Plan: $80 per user/ month for 3 users minimum, billed annually.
Market Plan: $1,000/ month for 10K Contacts, billed annually.
13. NetSuite
Oracle makes NetSuite, which is a group of SaaS. Software for ERP and CRM is included. It is not the CRM solution for small teams with limited resources.
The CRM from NetSuite has comprehensive customer data. When clients update their social profiles, you receive real-time updates. Software for automating sales forces is available in NetSuite CRM. Some of them are making quotations, overseeing orders, and projecting sales.
Features for campaign management and marketing automation are available. Web-to-lead forms and analytics on the effectiveness of your marketing initiatives are provided.
Price Plan
Contact their customer support to learn how much NetSuite CRM costs per user.
14. Keap By Infusionsoft
Two commercial SaaS that integrates well is Keap and Infusionsoft. Keap expands your company. The all-in-one marketing and sales software is called Infusionsoft.
Customer relationship management software, the foundation of Infusionsoft, keeps track of all activity and prompts you to follow up. You can connect Outlook or Gmail to it. Automating targeted email campaigns is possible, and there are effective email marketing templates to get you started.
The dashboard for managing leads is quite intuitive and adaptable. To ensure a sales representative stays on top of the customer experience, you can set up trigger emails.
Price Plan
Pro Plan: $129/ month, billed annually
Max Plan: $199/ month, billed annually
15. Apptivo
Cloud-based SaaS Apptivo has a ton of functionality. It features a flexible customer relationship management system for companies of all sizes.
All of Apptivo’s CRM software is adaptable. There are technologies available to automate data entry and other repetitive jobs. Customer relationship management comes first, followed by lead generation and sales planning.
You receive analytics on your opportunity management data and sales pipeline. Email is integrated with Apptivo using programs like Gmail from Google. Apptivo email templates can be used for marketing or communicating with regular customers.
Even statistics on how your rivals are doing are provided with this CRM tool.
Price Plan
Lite Plan: $10 per user/month
Premium Plan: $15 per user/month
Ultimate Plan: $25 per user/month
16. Zendesk
Help desk software is where Zendesk started, but it later expanded into CRM. Because of this, it is closely integrated with Zendesk for Service, and more so than some other CRMs we examined, its features lean more toward help desks. However, it has enough features to be used by any firm as a general-purpose CRM.
This CRM is most likely for you if you’re already a Zendesk client. If a help desk is your primary use case, it’s also worth a look. On the other hand, you should generally go elsewhere if you require marketing automation services over customer care support.
Price Plan
Starting at $19 a month per seat.
17. Creatio
Sales Creatio has gone by several names, but it is still a top CRM option. Larger sales organizations are its area of expertise, and it does a fantastic job of fulfilling their expectations. Additionally, Creatio provides tools for marketing automation, help desks, and business processes, allowing customers to address various business goals in a coordinated manner.
Regardless of the salesforce size, Creatio can scale to suit their demands. However, because of its intricacy, it could be frustrating for smaller firms with less demanding requirements. But if you’re ready to take the risk and have special needs, Creatio’s low-code development tools offer virtually infinite customizability.
Price Plan
You can try it for free for 14 days.
18. Act!
Act! was once the industry leader in contact management software. Although it still reveals its ancestry in an outdated UI, it has now developed into a more complete, cloud-based CRM. Act! may be connected to Gmail or Outlook and includes integrated marketing automation features with configurable workflows.
Only those with prior Act! Contact management knowledge will likely find Act! CRM was appealing. Its user interface is simply too unusual for the current SaaS era. Small teams are the best fit, as new personnel will likely object to its quirks.
Price Plan
On-premises: $37.50 per user/month, billed annually
Cloud-based: $30 per user/month, billed annually
FAQs
How Challenging Is It To Learn CRM?
In general, the top CRM programs are simple to use. Most CRMs have tools that make it easy to import customers from other programs. CRM platforms have very graphical interfaces that may be easily customized using drag and drop. Sales pipelines and marketing automation both include visual and easy interfaces.
Is A Free CRM Worth It To Me?
Using a free CRM has the apparent benefit of being cost-free. Regarding the benefits of no-cost CRM software, systems like HubSpot shift the needle by enhancing corporate operations and organization.
Free programs frequently include restrictions on the number of users, integrations, and campaign design options. Enough features are provided to clarify that you require more. So, until you decide what you want, you can utilize them as good beginner programs.
But you might find that the security features aren’t very suitable or that there aren’t any automatic backups. Free programs are vulnerable to theft or breach and provide insufficient assistance for expanding businesses.
What Comes First In The CRM Procedure?
The CRM process starts with research. Consider how you should approach your target audience and give it some thought. It’s essential to understand your audience’s interests, preferred methods of contact, demographics, and select channels of communication.
Afterward, organize your targets so that you can directly market to them based on their preferences. Gathering and categorizing your leads is a crucial first stage in the CRM process since it helps you understand the marketing plan you need to develop to convert them into customers successfully.
How Do CRM Systems Usually Manage Automation?
Within your CRM, you can automate three types of workflows: the marketing, sales, and service roles. With CRM automation, your program can do specific tasks repeatedly, so employees don’t have to do them by hand.
CRM software is beneficial for advancing customers from the knowledge-gathering stage of the buyer experience to the point where they can convert into clients. It also saves time and improves the workflow of your staff, which can increase the overall productivity of your business.
How Can I Convince My Employees To Use CRM Software?
A CRM system has several advantages, which you should make clear to your workforce. To identify a solution that works for everyone, involve your workers in the search process. Ensure that your team receives the proper training before and throughout the program’s implementation to be confident in using it.
Educate your employees to voice their concerns to the training representative to address them. It is essential that your team feels competent and confident when using the CRM solution.
Conclusion
Really Simple and Less Annoying CRM are lovely solutions if you want something uncomplicated. Consider Microsoft Dynamics 365 and Oracle’s NetSuite if you manage a larger company with more extensive requirements and a more generous spending capacity. MailChimp and Apptivo are worth a try if your small or individual business is on a tight budget.
We hope one of these top CRM ideas stood out as you read this list. Now go out and professionally manage your consumer interactions. Visit our blog for more business solution tool articles like CRM software.
