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Top 10 Best CRM Software & Systems in 2024

Paul Kilinga
Top 10 Best CRM Software & Systems

As the lifeblood of any business, customers must be managed well, guided through the entire sales process, and given a wonderful experience at every point they engage with your business. Customer relationship management (CRM) software can be the key to taking care of your customers and prospects and increasing sales. 

CRM systems are software tools that enable you to collect prospects’ contact data, set up customer profiles, record client interactions with your company’s sales reps, and build customer relationships. Using this kind of software, managers can understand what happens at every step of the customer’s journey, while reports generated from the stored data can help to identify sales opportunities. Many CRM systems usually also contain features for marketing automation, running email campaigns, third-party integrations, and more.

Using CRM software can benefit large and small businesses in many ways: 

  • Streamlining processes for customer management

  • Improving the buyer experience

  • Generating more sales

This kind of software saves time recording customer details and helps you personalize their interactions with your company, helping create loyalty to your brand. Moreover, CRMs store and analyze data, enabling you to get valuable insights into what your business is doing well and what needs to improve. 

With so many CRM options available, we’ve reviewed several choices and concluded that Pipedrive is the best CRM software on the market. It’s straightforward to use if it’s your first time incorporating CRM into your business, and it has a free trial so you can confirm whether it meets your needs. Its paid plans are cost-effective and have plenty of features, providing value for money.

Our Top 10 Best CRM Software and Systems:

  • Pipedrive - Best CRM software overall
  • monday sales CRM - Best for its customizability
  • HubSpot - Best for startups and small businesses
  • Salesforce -
  • Capsule - Best for users seeking a simple solution
  • NetSuite - Best for enterprises
  • Quickbase - Best for new businesses
  • Less Annoying CRM - Best for small businesses
  • Zoho - Best for beginners and expert users
  • HoneyBook - Best for freelancers and solo entrepreneurs
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The Best CRM Software For Your Business in 2022

  • 1
    Pipedrive

    Pipedrive

    exceptional
    9.7
    • Best forSalespeople
    • Price $9.90 per month per user, billed annually
    • Free trial14-day trial

    Pipedrive is an award-winning CRM software designed by salespeople to enable sales teams to sell effectively. Plans include extensive CRM and security features, sales, email marketing, web visitor tracking, lead generation, automation, insights and reports, and more, making Pipedrive a value-for-money option, especially when you can save up to 17% on annual plans. It works for startups, small and medium-sized businesses (SMBs), and enterprises. It provides workflow automation, which saves time and boosts productivity by removing repetitive tasks. 

    Pipedrive has extensive customer relationship management features, a mobile app to serve clients on the go, and a marketplace filled with more than 350 apps and integrations to streamline operations, improve customer service, and generate greater revenue. It takes an activity-based selling approach, focusing on actions that will lead to deals and sales.

    You can take advantage of the 14-day trial to test Pipedrive, switching between different plans to figure out which one works best for your business. No credit card is needed, and you’ll get full access to the features. However, every plan, except Enterprise, has a feature usage limit that can be increased when you upgrade to a higher plan.

    Customer support is comprehensive, with support via phone, email, and live chat 24/7. You can also find FAQs, a blog, and other resources to guide beginners.

    Pros
    • Free trial available for 14 days
    • Comprehensive customer support
    • Extensive features plus apps and integrations
    Cons
    • Live chat only available for paying customers
    • Additional costs when you add more integrations
  • 2
    monday sales CRM

    monday sales CRM

    excellent
    9.3
    • Best forProject managers
    • PriceFrom $9/month
    • Free trial14-day trial

    monday sales CRM is a product of monday.com—a project management software—with many features for managing your team, contacts, tasks, and sales processes. A free-forever version is available with limited features; it offers two seats, up to 1000 contacts, and web forms to capture leads. Higher-tier plans have minimum seat requirements, meaning you might have to pay for more than you need. A free 14-day trial enables you to test its plans, although the software can be a bit complex for beginners. 

    Top features include advanced account management, an unlimited contact database, and app integrations. Communications are centralized and tracked, and customer data can be imported or merged automatically if duplicates exist. Your sales team can view deals, progress reports, and sales forecasts, generate and score leads, and set up unlimited customizable sales pipelines and dashboards. You can automate sales processes without any code.

    The software also provides insights on team performance, tracks activities, and keeps call and meeting logs. Customer support is available 24/7 through the help center, which has learning resources, community forums, and an online form to get in touch via email. However, there’s no live chat or AI chatbot as a point of contact.

    Pros
    • Team tracking and insights
    • Customizable features
    • Unlimited contacts
    Cons
    • Plans require you to pay for a minimum number of seats
    • Training on CRM implementation may be inadequate
  • 3
    HubSpot

    HubSpot

    excellent
    9.2
    • Best forStartups and small businesses
    • PriceFree
    • Free trialN/A

    HubSpot is a free CRM with enough features for individuals, startups, and small businesses to manage up to one million contacts and generate sales. However, as your company grows, you may need to scale HubSpot by using its premium options, which offer extensive functionality and 24/7 user support.

    If you need a bit of mobility in your business, HubSpot free CRM has an app for the sales team to contact leads via mobile, video call customers, and message them through email and integrated live chat. You can also scan business cards and obtain contact data, take notes outdoors, or set reminders.  

    HubSpot Free CRM tracks sales activity in real time and displays a dashboard to visualize the entire sales pipeline. You can compile data on your business and obtain detailed reports on team performance and sales activities. Moreover, you can personalize and send emails, make calls directly from the CRM, or get alerts when a lead opens your email.

    Finally, Hubspot enables you to automate many functions—such as email campaigns—and streamline your operations. There are tools for lead generation automation, contact management, ad management, and task management, plus 1160 app integrations to boost your productivity and marketing.

    Pros
    • Free CRM
    • Unlimited users
    • 1160 app integrations
    Cons
    • Advanced features only in the premium versions
    • Costly premium options
  • 4
    Salesforce

    Salesforce

    excellent
    9.0
    • Best forCustomer service
    • Price $25/user/month, billed annually
    • Free trialYes

    Salesforce’s CRM solution—Customer 360—goes beyond customer relationship management to provide solutions for marketing, sales, commerce, and customer service. Its extensive features and customization capabilities help you manage your contacts, automate your workflow, connect with team collaboration tools, and give customers the best experience. Most top features are only available in higher plans, but you can still get good features on the basic plan.

    Customer 360 shows activity histories, key contacts, and communications. It integrates with Outlook email and Google apps, and Slack is used as its communications solution for employees, partners, and customers. You can also manage tasks and view customer engagement in one place.

    Automate and customize processes using tools like the Lightning Flow Automation process builder. Get multiple insights through the company’s AI-powered analytics. Sales teams can collaborate on deals and see the entire pipeline. Furthermore, the Salesforce mobile app makes it possible to sell from anywhere and get real-time forecasting.

    Salesforce customer support is available on the Learning page. It features blogs, success centers with expert guidance, digital learning and discussion events, and more. However, live chat has been unavailable, and was replaced by a chatbot that didn’t resolve the issue that I asked about.

    Pros
    • Extensive features
    • Adaptive and customizable software
    • All-in-one solution for marketing, sales, and commerce
    Cons
    • High plan prices
    • Inadequate implementation support
  • 5
    Capsule

    Capsule

    good
    8.4
    • Best forBeginners seeking a simple solution
    • Price $18/user/month
    • Free trial14-day trial

    Capsule is a simple CRM with basic features that can help you reach some of your targets in contact management, sales and marketing, and project management. It has a limited free version, with up to 250 contacts, 50MB of file storage per account, and 1,000+ Zapier integrations and automations. The Professional, Teams, and Enterprise plans contain additional features, like up to 200,000 contacts and up to 40GB of file storage.

    There are few sales features on Capsule, and workflow automation—which streamlines the sales process by automating it—is still in the Beta stage of development. You can customize your sales pipeline, track potential deals, and assign tasks to the sales reps. Moreover, you can get insights into sales conversion rates and pipeline milestones or reports on lost opportunities and pipeline growth. 

    Team collaboration is possible through shared mailboxes. Capsule’s mobile app for iOS and Android enables you to work from anywhere.

    Customer support involves a video library, an online query form, and blog posts. It may take a few hours for a Capsule customer to get an answer through the customer support channels. Capsule also limits customer training and implementation support to those using the Enterprise plan.

    Pros
    • Straightforward to use
    • Introducing new features, like email marketing
    • Integration with accounting platforms
    Cons
    • Workflow automation still in Beta
  • 6
    NetSuite

    NetSuite

    very good
    8.7
    • Best forEnterprises
    • PriceQuote-based
    • Free trialYes

    NetSuite CRM is an Oracle product providing unified solutions for customer management, transactions, sales and marketing, and analytics for enterprises. You can access the site via desktop or mobile to update data on sales, customers, calendars, timesheets, etc. NetSuite pricing is quote-based; it involves a setup fee, an annual license fee, a per-user price, the core platform, and selected module fees.

    NetSuite software gives a 360° view of the customer, outlining their preferences and pain points. Built-in reporting and analytics provide insights into buyer engagement, sales metrics, and lead activities. Partner relationship management tools enable the exchange of information between partners in real time. NetSuite also measures customer service metrics such as call resolution and satisfaction to ensure customer experience remains high.

    NetSuite automates sales and marketing and provides forecasts to boost team performance and build predictability into the sales process. You can analyze actual sales or projections to identify opportunities in the sales pipeline. It uses native app integrations, which means additional tools, such as payment processors, are built into the CRM software.

    Customer support is available 24/5, Monday to Friday, from 8am to 5pm. Other customer resources include webinars, data sheets, detailed blogs, and more. 

    Pros
    • Built-in tools and features
    • Customizable CRM
    • Free product tour
    Cons
    • Too many personal details required on online forms
    • Pricing is not readily available without a quote
  • 7
    Quickbase

    Quickbase

    good
    8.4
    • Best forNew businesses
    • Price$500
    • Free trial30 days

    QuickBase’s cloud-based CRM lets you build business apps and customize your own experience. No coding knowledge is needed; you can choose from a number of templates, upload your own sheets, and create workflows with an easy point-and-click process. Other features include full API integration, role-specific dashboards, and ready-made apps for custom reports. In spite of—or more likely because of—QuickBase’s DIY capabilities, there’s an active online community where users trade tips and creative solutions.

    Pros
    • Build your own business apps
    • No coding needed
    • Lively community discussion boards
    Cons
    • No service automation
    • More suited to autonomous users
  • 8
    Less Annoying CRM

    Less Annoying CRM

    good
    8.2
    • Best forSmall businesses
    • Price$15/User/Month
    • Free trial30 days

    Less Annoying CRM is a customer relationship management tool that works hard to keep things simple for users. You won’t find any fancy AI automation or highly detailed reports on your sales, and there are no marketing tools to speak of. But many small business owners don’t need all those extras and indeed will prefer Less Annoying CRM’s stripped-down approach.

    Larger businesses will find Less Annoying CRM’s lack of integration options and deeper customization frustrating. However, the straightforward pricing and excellent on-boarding experience make Less Annoying CRM perfect for those who just want a central place to manage their tasks, contacts, events, and calendar.

    Pros
    • Simple to use
    • Clear pricing model
    Cons
    • Few advanced features
    • No automated workflows
  • 9
    Zoho

    Zoho

    very good
    8.7
    • Best forBeginners and expert users
    • Price$12/user/month, billed annually
    • Free trial15-day free trial

    Zoho CRM is a feature-filled sales software for all types of business sizes, offering solutions in automation, product customization, marketing, CRM data security, and sales analytics. Its many features can be overwhelming to a new user. Its pricing plans are cost-friendly, but you must pay for the higher tiers to access extended features. You can, however, save up to 34% by paying for the annual plans instead of the monthly ones. A mobile app is available to stay on top of your business on the go.

    The software saves time for your sales team and boosts productivity by handling mundane and repetitive sales tasks, freeing your reps to focus on nurturing leads and closing deals. Zoho CRM automates lead generation, captures customer information from social media, websites, and other sources, and directs customers to the ideal sales reps. Its AI-powered analytics engine helps you visualize your sales pipeline and get insights on lost deals.

    Account management is straightforward, as you can manage contacts and track conversations throughout the buyer’s journey. Customer support is top-notch, with many resources to explore: guided tours, documentation, guides, FAQs, tutorials, ebooks, and more. The live chat response was instant, and the agent was informed and friendly.

    Pros
    • Extensive feature suite
    • Comprehensive customer resources
    • Flexible contracts with no hidden costs
    Cons
    • Most features only available in higher-tier plans
    • Software features can be overwhelming
  • 10
    HoneyBook

    HoneyBook

    very good
    8.6
    • Best forFreelancers and solo entrepreneurs
    • PriceFrom $16 per month
    • Free trial7-day free trial

    HoneyBook positions itself as an all-in-one CRM that you can use to track leads, communicate with clients, and share documents. The tool has an intuitive workflow, allowing you to manage your clients through to invoicing and payments. There are some automation features and basic integrations like email, Calendly, and Zoom, but some enterprise users may find these options lacking. That means, although it offers unlimited team members with its subscription plan, it’s a platform best suited to freelancers and small businesses.

    HoneyBook provides a hands-on, free migration and set-up service when you subscribe. This means that HoneyBook has a low technical barrier to entry for first-time CRM users. We found the platform easy to use, and the customer support via live chat knowledgeable and helpful. There is a knowledge base and a weekly live educational webinar that can help you get the most out of the platform. So even though there’s no phone support, there are plenty of other support channels if you encounter technical issues. 

    Why we chose HoneyBook: For its user-friendly and intuitive workflow and end-to-end pipeline system. 

    Pros
    • Unlimited team members
    • Project management, invoicing, and payment features
    • Easy to use
    Cons
    • Lack of 3rd party integrations
    • No phone support options

What Types of CRM Software Exist

There are several types of CRM software on the market providing different solutions. The most common types are analytical, collaborative, and operational CRM systems. Analytical types focus on reviewing customer data to gather insights and spot customer behavioral trends. An example would be Salesforce CRM.

Collaborative types focus on connecting sales reps and other departments and granting them access to up-to-date customer data to guide their decision-making. Monday.com is an excellent example of an all-in-one solution, with sales, CRM, and project management tools available. 

Operational CRM types help to streamline customer relationships and the buyer journey and offer automation for marketing campaigns and other features. Hubspot is an industry-specific example of an operational CRM.

How Much Does CRM Software Cost?

On average, CRM Software costs begin around $10 per user per month and can rise to much higher, up to $30+ per user per month.

There are several factors that may affect this cost. Some CRM vendors require that you pay a mandatory fee for onboarding, others charge to remove contact list limits, others put a premium on customer support, and others charge to unlock additional features. Implementation costs may be calculated separately, which makes packages more expensive. Another factor taking the price higher will be if the minimum user requirement has more users than your current number of employees.

You can usually lower your CRM software expenses by paying annually, which will have a lower per-month and per-user cost. You can also take advantage of discounts and special offers or opt for a custom CRM package with only the tools you need.

Tips for Choosing the Right CRM Software for Your Business 

Choosing the right CRM software for your business can feel overwhelming due to the many available options. Here are some tips that may make the decision easier.

  • Define your goals and needs

Figure out what your business aims to achieve, such as funneling more prospects or automating your marketing. Consider whether your organization needs a scalable software that can grow with the company, or one that suits small businesses in a local area with no expansion plans.

  • List the features and technologies you require

Review your business needs to find the CRM software with the outstanding features and technologies you require. Make a list of what features would be most helpful to your business and what you can live without, and shop based on your list. Online reviews and referrals can help you make a decision.

  • Choose based on which departments will be using the CRM software

Different CRM software will have features that work well for different departments, be it the sales team, the marketing team, project management, etc. Make sure to choose software with tools that are relevant to the correct departments. 

  • Consider third-party integrations

Third-party integrations elevate CRM software by providing additional features and management tools. Your analysis of your business and needs will let you know which applications to add to your software for effectiveness and a more seamless experience. Integrations with tools you are already using may be especially helpful.

  • Factor in the cost of the CRM software and integrations

CRM software is available at various price points with different feature sets. Once you determine what your business needs, you’ll be able to check whether your budget can deliver the features you want. Otherwise, you can opt for a custom or pared-back option.

  • Don’t forget customer support

A breakdown in your CRM system can cost you customers and revenue. Therefore, you can’t wait days to get a response from your CRM provider. Search for a company that offers adequate training, a knowledge base, live chat, and 24/7 customer support.

Important Features to Look For in a CRM Solution

The best CRM software should have the following features.

  • Customer and lead management

These essential tools enable you to store customer details and contact data, check their history and purchases, and view their interactions with sales reps. 

You can also use searchable databases to find and review customer data before meeting them, enhancing customer service. Finally, you should be able to identify, qualify, and guide prospects throughout the buyer’s journey.

  • Third-party integrations

Additional features can enhance CRM systems and improve efficiency for your team. Common options include email integration, project management tools, and connections to related company systems, such as Point-Of-Sale (POS) platforms. CRM software may also enable you to connect social media channels to your system.

  • Automation

Top CRM software saves time for your employees by automating workflows and streamlining your company’s operations. You’ll get marketing automation, automated data collection and analysis, lead follow-up through email campaigns, and more, which make it easier to guide the customer through the sales funnel.  

  • Sales management

Sales teams should be able to view customer profiles, update details, track their interactions, and convert high-quality prospects into customers. The best CRM solutions provide information for sales forecasting to determine whether your efforts match the output you’re getting. These tools may also track calls and log time spent on a prospect. 

  • Analytics

CRM software analytics should provide valuable reports after automatically collecting customer data and tracking sales activity. The insights are likely to show sales team output, sales reports, and data on past marketing campaigns. 

Furthermore, you should be able to identify customer and sales management weaknesses, forecast revenues, and create customizable dashboards to visualize insights more simply.

How Did We Choose and Rate the Best CRM Software Tools?

We signed up to review each CRM software independently and put each one through its paces. We rated the best CRM tools using several criteria, with Pipedrive emerging as the best overall for user-friendliness and value for money. What we looked at included the following.

  • Pricing: Whether the CRM features are worth the price

  • Ease of use: Whether the software is suitable for beginners and advanced users 

  • Customization: Whether the software can be tailored to your preferences

  • Features: Whether the software has extensive options and third-party integration capabilities

  • Implementation: Whether the software is easy to understand and apply

  • Customer Support: Whether the CRM vendor offers comprehensive customer support, live chat, and other training resources

  • Free trial: Whether you can access a free trial to test the product

Why Your Business Needs CRM Software

No matter the size, every business needs CRM software to manage its most valuable asset: its customers. Here are some of the benefits you’ll get from a CRM system.

  • Improved Customer Relationships

CRM software helps you record a customer’s contacts and information, making it easier to personalize your interactions and customize the solutions you provide them. These connections will breed loyalty to your brand and increase customer retention. 

Customer service will also improve, since you can get insights and feedback on what is and isn’t working.

  • Increased Sales and Revenues

CRM systems increase sales by gathering customer data automatically, automating responses, and easily capturing details from potential leads, and directing them through the sales funnel. 

Moreover, sales reps can collaborate with other departments to get more information about a customer, which may help them close more deals. Customers’ orders and purchases are also recorded by the system to be used for marketing purposes.

  • Advanced Reporting

Most CRM software analyzes the data it collects to provide insights and reports on the state of your business. These reports make it easy to visualize your company’s operations and where there are weak points or opportunities for more revenue.

  • Manual and Automated Marketing Tools

Marketing teams benefit from CRM software because it contains tools for planning and executing marketing and email campaigns. Automation capabilities can further enhance these campaigns, working around the clock to generate leads and guide them to the sales funnel. Sales data insights and customer data reviews can deliver a higher conversion rate.

  • Streamlining Operations

CRM software helps cut operational costs by performing repetitive tasks seamlessly, saving employees time to focus on more important tasks. The software enhances mobility by offering mobile solutions, enabling your company to serve customers from anywhere. 

Finally, CRM systems can help make your company agile through the digital enhancements they provide.

How to Integrate CRM With Your Existing Systems

The best way to integrate CRM with your existing systems is by using Application Programming Interfaces (APIs). These are tools that act as a bridge for two software to connect and transfer information. 

Some CRM software, like Pipedrive, offers a marketplace where you can download APIs for email integration, communications and messaging, video calling, accounting, lead generation, and more. 

Summary

The variety of CRM options makes it challenging to select the best one. Our review provides several choices and unique selling points, with Pipedrive as our top contender. 

Consider the tips on how to choose a CRM for your business and select the option that closely matches your needs. Through free trials and some research, you’ll be prepared to find a CRM solution that will integrate seamlessly with your company. 

Frequently Asked Questions
What Does CRM Stand For?+-

CRM stands for customer relationship management. It involves managing customer interactions or collecting and using customer data to improve business relationships. This process improves the customer’s experience, increases sales, and boosts profits.

Is CRM difficult to learn?+-

Learning CRM can be straightforward or complex, depending on the technology you’re using and/or the courses you’re taking. Some solutions are more complex, while others focus on simple usability, but most offer plenty of resources and tutorials to help the learning process.

What does a good CRM look like?+-

A good CRM will have excellent customer service options, real-time data, third-party integrations, and customizable features to meet your needs.

What is CRM maintenance?+-

CRM maintenance is the process of auditing, validating, securing, and updating the data stored in your CRM to keep it current, relevant, accurate, and of high quality. It also involves tuning the performance of CRM infrastructure and systems and reviewing authentications and integrations to streamline and enhance CRM effectiveness.

What does a CRM system do?+-

A CRM system is a technological tool that enables you to manage customer conversations, process prospects, record client data, build relationships, automate operations, identify sales opportunities, and more.

Should I consider a free CRM?+-

A free CRM could be ideal for personal use, but it’s likely to be limited in nature and vulnerable to intrusion. If you want advanced functionality, privacy, security, and support, it’s better to pay for a professional CRM software solution.

What are the disadvantages of CRM software?+-

The primary problems with CRM software include pricing, cost of use and upgrades, dependency on proper implementation, and vulnerability to bad data collection and usage. Staff will also need training to use the software effectively, contributing to costs.

Paul Kilinga
Paul contributes to Top10.com as a technology and business writer. He has over 5+ years of experience crafting informative, research-driven articles for B2B and B2C audiences. Paul's work has appeared on such websites as TechRadar Pro, Tom's Guide and Southeast Asia's Tech Collective in domains as diverse as cybersecurity, eCommerce and entrepreneurship, in addition to gracing the blogs of a slew of private B2B SaaS and tech start-ups.