The Best CRM Software of 2024: A Comprehensive Guide
In today’s fast-paced business environment, managing customer relationships effectively is crucial for success. The best Customer Relationship Management (CRM) software integrates seamlessly with various aspects of your business, helping you track customer interactions, streamline processes, and ultimately boost sales. With the rise of artificial intelligence (AI), many CRM solutions now offer additional functionalities such as email marketing and helpdesk support, making them even more valuable.
Our team of experts has dedicated hundreds of hours to testing the top CRM software on the market. We’ve explored every feature, assessed value for money, and compiled comprehensive reviews. This article distills that information into a concise guide, highlighting the best-in-class options for various categories of businesses.
Our Top 3 Best CRM
1. Salesforce: Best Overall CRM
Specifications:
- Price: From $25 per user/month
- Free Plan: No
- Trial: 30 days
- Support: Email ticketing and phone
Reasons to Buy:
- Comprehensive core capabilities
- Extensive integration options
- Frequent updates and feature releases
Reasons to Avoid:
- High cost compared to competitors
- Complexity in setup and navigation
- Limited customer support for standard users
Salesforce is a global leader in CRM, offering advanced, customizable functionality and user-friendly design. Its core product, Salesforce Sales Cloud, can be integrated with various tools, including Marketing Cloud for email automation and Einstein Analytics for AI-powered insights. While the pricing can escalate with additional features, the platform’s robust capabilities make it a top choice for businesses of all sizes.
2. Workbooks: Best for Midsize Businesses
Specifications:
- Price: From $34 per user/month
- Free Plan: Yes (up to 2 users)
- Trial: 30 days
- Support: Email, phone, Knowledge Base
Reasons to Buy:
- Involved and supportive onboarding
- Low price for the number of features
- Free consulting days available
Reasons to Avoid:
- Free version limited to two users
- No large third-party app marketplace
Workbooks excels in providing solutions for customer service, sales, marketing, and operations teams, making it an excellent choice for midsize businesses. Its Shared Success program offers free consulting hours and workshops, ensuring alignment with business goals. However, its limited third-party integrations may not suit all users.
3. HubSpot: Best Free CRM Plan
Specifications:
- Price: From $45 for two users/month
- Free Plan: Yes
- Trial: 14 days
- Support: Live chat, phone, online meeting
Reasons to Buy:
- Competitive free-forever plan
- Simple to use and understand
- Over 300 third-party app integrations
Reasons to Avoid:
- Premium plans can become expensive
- No telephone support with free plan
HubSpot stands out for its powerful free plan, which covers essential CRM functionalities like contact management, deal tracking, and email integration. While the transition to paid plans can be steep, the platform’s ease of use and extensive features make it a favorite among startups.
The Best CRM Software of 2024 in Full
Best CRM Software Overall: Salesforce
Salesforce remains the go-to CRM for businesses seeking comprehensive features and integrations. Its user-friendly interface and advanced reporting tools make it a favorite among sales teams. However, the complexity of setup and potential costs for additional features can be a drawback for some.
Best CRM Software for Midsize Businesses: Workbooks
Workbooks offers a supportive onboarding experience and a range of features tailored for midsize businesses. Its pricing is competitive, but the limitations of its free version and lack of third-party integrations may deter some users.
Best Free CRM Plan: HubSpot
HubSpot’s free plan is unmatched in functionality, making it an ideal choice for startups. While the transition to paid plans can be costly, the platform’s extensive features and integrations provide significant value.
Best CRM Software for Small Business: Freshsales
Specifications:
- Price: $15 per user/month
- Free Plan: Yes
- Trial: 21 days
- Support: Phone and email (Mon-Fri)
Freshsales is designed for small to medium businesses, offering an intuitive interface and advanced AI forecasting tools. Its affordability and ease of use make it a strong contender, although lead generation tools are limited to higher-tier plans.
Best CRM Software for Customer Support: Apptivo
Specifications:
- Pricing: From $10 per user per month
- Free Plan: No
- Trial: 30 days
- Support: Email and Telephone
Apptivo is known for its simplicity and scalability, making it a great choice for businesses focused on collaboration. However, initial setup can be challenging, and its free starter plan is very limited.
Best CRM Software for Project Management: Monday.com
Specifications:
- Pricing: From $12 per user/month
- Free Plan: Yes
- Trial: Free trial available
- Support: Knowledge base; live chat, email, call
Monday.com offers a visually appealing project management interface that integrates well with CRM functionalities. While it excels in project visualization, some advanced features are only available in higher-tier plans.
Best CRM Software for Business Tool Integration: Zoho CRM
Specifications:
- Price: From $14 per user a month
- Free Plan: Yes
- Trial: 15 days
- Support: Email (Mon-Fri)
Zoho CRM is highly regarded for its integration capabilities with other Zoho applications. It offers a solid set of features for sales management, but its tiered pricing structure can become expensive.
Best CRM Software for Simple Pricing: Keap
Specifications:
- Price: From $40 per user/month
- Free Plan: No
- Trial: 14 days
- Support: Online chat, phone, community
Keap combines CRM with email marketing and workflow automation, making it a unique offering. However, its pricing can be a barrier for smaller businesses.
Best CRM Software for Automation: Insightly
Specifications:
- Price: From $29 per user/mo
- Free Plan: Yes
- Trial: 14 days
- Support: Email and phone (at additional cost)
Insightly is ideal for businesses looking to automate their sales processes. Its integration capabilities and user-friendly interface make it a strong choice, though it lacks a free plan.
Best CRM Software for Communication: Bitrix24
Specifications:
- Pricing: From $49 per user per month
- Free Plan: Yes
- Trial: 30 days
- Support: Email, live chat, and Telephone
Bitrix24 offers a comprehensive suite of tools for managing customer relationships and communication. While its free plan is generous, the learning curve can be steep for new users.
Best CRM Software for User Experience: Pipedrive
Specifications:
- Pricing: From $10 per user per month
- Free Plan: No
- Trial: 14 days
- Support: Email and live chat
Pipedrive is designed with user experience in mind, offering an intuitive interface and customizable sales pipelines. However, it lacks advanced features found in other CRMs.
How We Tested the Best CRM Software
When reviewing CRM software, we evaluate several key indicators, including feature set, interface usability, pricing plans, and support options. A high level of automation in managing leads and workflows is crucial, as is a user-friendly interface that allows quick access to essential features. We also consider the pricing structure, ensuring that higher subscription costs are justified by unique features.
How to Choose the Best CRM for You
Choosing the right CRM involves assessing your business needs and priorities. Here are some factors to consider:
- Features: Identify the specific functionalities you require, such as project management, marketing automation, or lead generation.
- Price: Compare pricing plans and ensure you choose one that fits your budget while offering the necessary features.
- Integrations: Look for a CRM that integrates seamlessly with your existing business tools to enhance efficiency.
Best CRM Software FAQs
What is a CRM?
A CRM helps manage relationships with business prospects, close deals, and enhance internal productivity. It allows you to store contact data, assign tasks, and analyze sales effectiveness.
How does CRM software integrate with the sales pipeline?
CRM software streamlines the sales process by allowing users to manage leads, track communications, and automate follow-up tasks within a single platform.
How much does the best CRM software cost?
CRM software pricing varies widely, typically ranging from $8 to $150 per user per month, depending on features and capabilities.
What can a CRM do?
A CRM can store customer data, track interactions, automate workflows, and generate reports to improve sales and marketing efforts.
Does my small business need a CRM?
If your business relies on managing customer relationships and sales processes, a CRM can significantly enhance efficiency and productivity.