Zoho is a cloud-based customer relationship management (CRM) software that caters to businesses of all sizes. It’s part of the broader Zoho suite of business applications, offering a comprehensive ecosystem for sales, marketing, and customer support. Known for its affordability and extensive feature set, Zoho CRM aims to provide businesses with the tools they need to manage their customer relationships effectively, streamline sales processes, and improve overall customer satisfaction.

Zoho CRM Features

Zoho CRM boasts a wide range of features designed to enhance sales and customer management. Key features include:

• Lead Management: Capturing, tracking, and nurturing leads through various channels.
• Contact Management: Centralising customer information and interactions.
• Sales Automation: Automating repetitive tasks like follow-ups, workflows, and deal tracking.
• Marketing Automation: Integrating with marketing tools for email campaigns, social media management, and lead generation.
• Analytics and Reporting: Providing insights into sales performance, customer behavior, and other key metrics.
• Customisation: Allowing users to tailor the CRM to their specific business needs.
• Mobile Access: Enabling access to CRM data and functionalities on mobile devices.
• Integrations: Seamlessly integrating with other Zoho applications and third-party tools.
• AI capabilities: Zia, Zoho’s AI, helps with predictions, anomalies, and suggestions.
• Blueprint: A visual representation of your sales process that can be automated.

Here’s a summary of the key features included within each subscription tier of Zoho CRM:

Free Edition:

• Basic contact management
• Lead management
• Task management
• Limited customisation
• For up to 3 users

Standard:

• All Free Edition features
• Sales forecasting
• Workflow automation
• Custom views and reports
• Multiple pipelines
• Email insights

Professional:

• All Standard features
• Sales automation (Blueprint)
• Inventory management
• Google Ads integration
• Webforms
• Advanced reporting

Enterprise:

• All Professional features
• Advanced customisation
• Zia AI (AI-powered insights)
• Advanced analytics
• Role-based security
• Multi-departmental functionalities
• Advanced Zia features

Ultimate:

• All Enterprise features
• Highest level of features
• Dedicated support
• Advanced feature limits
• Zoho Analytics powered Advanced Analytics

Key Feature Differences

Automation: Progression from basic workflows in Standard to advanced sales automation (Blueprint) in Professional and beyond.
AI: Zia AI is a major differentiator, becoming increasingly powerful in the Enterprise and Ultimate editions.
Customisation & Reporting: Higher tiers unlock more advanced customisation options and in-depth analytics.
Integrations: More advanced integrations are made available as the tiers increase.
Support: Higher tiers include increased support options.

We’ve ranked the top ten CRMs for features and functionality. Take a look at how Zoho scored.

How Much Does Zoho CRM Cost (And Is It Worth It?)

Zoho CRM offers a tiered pricing structure, making it accessible to businesses with varying budgets. The plans typically include:

• Free Edition: A basic version for up to three users.
• Standard: Essential CRM features for sales teams.
• Professional: Advanced features for sales and marketing automation.
• Enterprise: Comprehensive CRM solution with advanced customization and reporting.
• Ultimate: The most comprehensive package, with the highest level of features.

Zoho’s pricing is generally considered competitive, especially compared to other major CRM providers.

Free Edition:

• This option is available for up to three users and provides basic CRM functionalities.
• Cost: Free.

Standard:

• This plan is designed for small teams and includes essential CRM features.
• Approximate price: From £12/user/month.

Professional:

• This plan caters to growing businesses and offers advanced sales and marketing automation capabilities.
• Approximate price: From £20/user/month.

Enterprise:

• This plan is suitable for larger businesses with complex CRM requirements and includes advanced customisation and reporting features, and Zia AI.
• Approximate price: From £35/user/month.

Ultimate:

• This is Zoho CRM’s most comprehensive plan, offering the full suite of features and capabilities.
• Approximate price: From £45/user/month.

Zoho CRM presents a compelling value proposition by offering a remarkably extensive feature set at highly competitive price points. Even the lower-tier plans provide robust functionalities like lead and contact management, workflow automation, and reporting, making it accessible for budget-conscious businesses.

As users scale, the higher-tier plans unlock advanced capabilities such as AI-powered insights from Zia, sophisticated sales automation with Blueprint, and deep customisation options, all while remaining significantly more affordable than many comparable CRM solutions. This balance of comprehensive features and cost-effectiveness makes Zoho CRM a particularly attractive option for small to medium-sized businesses seeking a powerful and scalable CRM solution without incurring exorbitant expenses.

You should carefully assess your requirements and compare Zoho’s pricing with other CRM providers to determine if it offers the best value for your specific situation. See how Zoho ranked in our top ten CRMs for value for money.

Zoho CRM: Strengths and Weaknesses

Here’s a breakdown of Zoho CRM’s strengths and weaknesses.

Strengths	Weaknesses
Affordable pricing, especially for SMBs	Steep learning curve for some users, particularly with advanced features.
Extensive feature set covering sales, marketing, and support.	User interface can feel dated at times.
Strong customisation options.	Support can be variable depending on the plan.
Seamless integration with other Zoho apps.	Advanced features require higher-tier plans.
Robust analytics and reporting.	Mobile app can be improved upon.
Strong Automation capabilities.	Initial setup can be time consuming.
Zia AI integration.

Our Analysis: What Type of Business is Zoho Best Suited For?

Zoho CRM is particularly well-suited for:

• Small to Medium-Sized Businesses: Its affordability and scalability make it an excellent choice for growing businesses.
• Businesses within the Zoho Ecosystem: Companies already using other Zoho applications will benefit from seamless integration.
• Businesses Seeking Customisation: Its robust customisation options allow businesses to tailor the CRM to their specific needs.
• Businesses Needing Strong Automation: The blueprint and workflow automation features are very strong.
• Businesses that are price sensitive.

It’s a strong contender for businesses that want a feature-rich CRM without the high cost of enterprise-level solutions. However, larger enterprises with highly complex requirements may find that they need more specialised solutions.

Conclusion

Zoho is a powerful and versatile CRM solution that offers a comprehensive suite of features at a competitive price. Its strengths lie in its affordability, customisation options, and integration capabilities.

Its tiered pricing structure, starting with a free option and scaling affordably, makes it accessible to businesses of all sizes. The strong feature set, particularly when compared to its cost, provides exceptional value for money. This is especially true for small to medium-sized businesses seeking a robust and scalable CRM solution that integrates seamlessly within the broader Zoho ecosystem, offering a powerful alternative to more expensive competitors.

While it may have a steeper learning curve for some users and its interface could use some modernisation, its overall value proposition is strong. For SMBs and businesses looking for a scalable and customisable CRM, Zoho CRM is definitely worth considering.

Zoho CRM Competitors

• Salesforce
• HubSpot
• ClickUp
• EngageBay
• Monday CRM
• Agile CRM
• Insightly
• Pipedrive
• Capsule

Check out our comparison of the best CRMs, and see where Zoho sits in the top ten.

Salesforce is a popular CRM choice, offering comprehensive features designed to help businesses manage their interactions with customers and prospects. But is it the right CRM for your business? This review will delve into Salesforce’s features, pricing, strengths, weaknesses, and ideal use cases to help you make an informed decision.

Salesforce CRM Features

Salesforce offers a potentially overwhelming array of features, categorised into “Clouds” tailored to specific business needs:

• Sales Cloud: Automates sales processes, manages leads and opportunities, forecasts sales, and tracks sales performance.
• Service Cloud: Provides tools for customer support, including case management, knowledge bases, and live chat.
• Marketing Cloud: Enables marketers to create and manage email campaigns, social media marketing, and personalised customer journeys.
• Commerce Cloud: Facilitates online commerce, including product management, order processing, and customer engagement.
• Experience Cloud (formerly Community Cloud): Allows businesses to build online communities for customers, partners, and employees.
• Analytics Cloud: Provides powerful reporting and analytics tools to track key performance indicators (KPIs) and gain insights into customer behavior.

Beyond these core clouds, Salesforce offers a vast ecosystem of apps and integrations through its AppExchange marketplace, extending its functionality even further.

Let’s break down the key features you’ll find within Salesforce Sales Cloud. It’s designed to streamline and automate sales processes, helping your team close deals faster and more efficiently.

1. Lead Management

Lead Capture: Capture leads from various sources (website forms, events, etc.) and automatically route them to the right sales reps.
Lead Qualification: Score and prioritise leads based on their potential value.
Lead Conversion: Seamlessly convert qualified leads into opportunities.

2. Opportunity Management

Deal Tracking: Track the progress of deals through different sales stages.
Sales Forecasting: Forecast future revenue based on current opportunities.
Deal Collaboration: Enable sales teams to collaborate on deals.

3. Contact and Account Management

Centralised Contact Database: Store all customer information in one place.
Account Management: Manage information about your customer accounts, including their interactions and purchase history.
Relationship Tracking: Visualise relationships between contacts and accounts.

4. Workflow Automation

Automated Tasks: Automate repetitive tasks like sending follow-up emails.
Approval Processes: Streamline approval processes for quotes and deals.
Process Builder: Create custom workflows to automate complex sales processes.

5. Sales Collaboration

Chatter: A social collaboration tool within Salesforce that allows sales teams to communicate and share information.
File Sharing: Share sales documents and presentations with colleagues and customers.

6. Reporting & Analytics

Dashboards: Visualise key sales metrics and performance indicators.
Customisable Reports: Create custom reports to track specific sales activities.
Sales Forecasting: Generate accurate sales forecasts based on historical data and current opportunities.

7. Mobile Access

Salesforce Mobile App: Access and manage your sales data from anywhere with the Salesforce mobile app.

Advanced Sales Cloud Features (Often in Higher Editions)

Salesforce Einstein: Integrates AI into sales processes, offering insights and recommendations.
CPQ (Configure, Price, Quote): Automates the creation of complex quotes.
Territory Management: Assign sales reps to specific territories.
Gamification: Motivate sales teams with gamification features.

Read our analysis and comparison of the features of the top ten CRM platforms.

How Much Does Salesforce Cost? (And Is It Worth It?)

Salesforce’s pricing is subscription-based and varies significantly depending on the chosen edition and the number of users. They offer tiered pricing plans, with each tier unlocking more features and capabilities. While basic plans can start relatively affordably, costs can quickly escalate as you add more users and features. We recommend contacting Salesforce directly for a personalised quote, but have included approximate pricing for the Sales Cloud below.

Essentials: Starting at £20/user/month (limited to 10 users)
Professional: Starting at £60/user/month
Enterprise: Starting at £120/user/month
Unlimited: Starting at £240/user/month

Why Is It So Complicated?

Editions: Each “Cloud” has different editions (like those listed for Sales Cloud), each with more features.
Users: The number of users impacts the price per user, and sometimes there are minimum user requirements.
Features: Add-ons and specific features you choose will increase costs.
Customisation: Salesforce is highly customisable, but that often comes at a cost.

Salesforce can be a powerful tool, but it’s not always the best value for every business. For small businesses with basic CRM needs, the cost might be prohibitive. There are more affordable alternatives available. However, for larger businesses with complex sales processes, extensive customer support needs, and a desire for deep analytics, Salesforce’s robust features and scalability can justify the investment. The key is to carefully assess your specific requirements and choose the edition that aligns with your needs and budget. Don’t pay for features you won’t use.

Take a look at where Salesforce sits on our ranking of the most cost-effective CRMs.

Salesforce: Strengths and Weaknesses

To give you a clearer picture, here’s a quick rundown of Salesforce’s key strengths and weaknesses:

Strengths	Weaknesses
Comprehensive Feature Set: Offers a wide range of functionalities, including sales automation, marketing automation, customer service, analytics, and partner management. This breadth allows businesses to manage nearly all customer-facing operations within a single platform.	Complexity & Customisation: The sheer number of features and customisation options can be overwhelming for some users, especially smaller businesses with limited technical expertise. Implementation and ongoing maintenance can require significant effort and resources.
Cloud-Based & Accessible: Being cloud-based allows for easy access from anywhere with an internet connection. This enhances collaboration and flexibility for remote teams. Automatic updates ensure you’re always on the latest version.	Cost: Salesforce can be expensive, especially for larger organisations or those requiring extensive customisation. Pricing is tiered and can quickly escalate as you add users, features, and support levels. Hidden costs related to implementation, training, and ongoing support can also be significant.
Strong Ecosystem & Integrations: A vast network of partners, developers, and third-party applications allows for seamless integrations with other business tools. This extensibility enables businesses to tailor Salesforce to their specific needs.	Steep Learning Curve: The platform’s complexity often translates to a steep learning curve for users. Proper training and ongoing support are crucial for maximising its potential. Lack of user adoption can hinder ROI.
Scalability & Flexibility: Salesforce can scale to accommodate businesses of all sizes, from small start-ups to large enterprises. Its flexible architecture allows for customisation and adaptation to changing business requirements.	Performance Issues: While generally reliable, Salesforce can experience occasional performance issues, such as slow loading times or downtime. These can disrupt business operations and impact productivity.
Robust Security & Compliance: Salesforce invests heavily in security measures to protect customer data. It complies with various industry regulations and certifications, ensuring data privacy and security.	Customer Support: While Salesforce offers various support options, some users have reported challenges in getting timely and effective assistance, particularly with complex issues. The tiered support system can also be costly.
Powerful Reporting & Analytics: Provides comprehensive reporting and analytics tools to track key performance indicators, gain insights into customer behaviour, and make data-driven decisions. Dashboards and visualisations offer real-time insights.	Customisation Limitations: While highly customisable, there are limitations to how much you can truly customise the platform. Certain core functionalities cannot be altered, and complex customisations may require significant development effort.
AppExchange Marketplace: Offers a vast marketplace of pre-built apps and components that can extend the functionality of Salesforce and address specific business needs. This accelerates development and reduces the need for custom coding.	Vendor Lock-in: Implementing Salesforce can create a significant vendor lock-in. Migrating to another CRM platform can be complex and costly.

Our Analysis: What type of business is Salesforce best suited for?

Salesforce is best suited for businesses that:

• Have complex sales processes and require robust sales automation.
• Need a comprehensive CRM solution that integrates sales, service, and marketing.
• Require advanced reporting and analytics capabilities.
• Are experiencing rapid growth and need a scalable platform.
• Have the budget and resources to invest in training and implementation.

While Salesforce can be used by small businesses, it’s often a better fit for medium to large enterprises with significant customer interaction and a need for powerful CRM functionality. Smaller businesses might consider simpler, more affordable alternatives until their needs grow.

Conclusion

Salesforce is a powerful and versatile CRM platform that offers a wealth of features and capabilities. Its flexibility and scalability make it a popular choice for businesses of all sizes. However, its complexity and cost can be significant drawbacks.

Before investing in Salesforce, carefully evaluate your business needs and budget. If you require a comprehensive, customisable, and scalable CRM solution and are willing to invest the time and resources for implementation and training, Salesforce can be a valuable asset. However, if your needs are simpler, there are likely more affordable and easier-to-use alternatives available. A thorough trial and assessment of your specific requirements are crucial before committing to Salesforce.

Salesforce CRM Competitors

• HubSpot
• Zoho CRM
• ClickUp
• EngageBay
• Monday CRM
• Agile CRM
• Insightly
• Pipedrive
• Capsule

Check out our comparison of the best CRMs, and see where Salesforce sits in the top ten.

Pipedrive is a CRM that’s especially popular with smaller businesses, and we’re going to dive in and see what all the fuss is about. We’ll break down its key features, talk about pricing (because, let’s face it, that’s important), and give you our honest opinion on whether it’s worth the money. So, if you’re a startup just getting going or a more established business looking to tidy up your sales process, stick with us. We’ll help you figure out if Pipedrive is the right tool to help you grow.

Pipedrive CRM Features

Pipedrive’s visual interface, automation features, and mobile app make it a valuable tool for sales teams. While it might not be the most customisable CRM on the market, its value for money and focus on sales effectiveness make it a strong contender for many businesses.

• Visual Sales Pipeline: Pipedrive’s core strength lies in its intuitive pipeline view. You can easily drag and drop deals across stages, providing a clear overview of your sales process.
• Contact Management: Store and organise contact details, track interactions, and segment customers for targeted campaigns.
• Email Integration: Send, receive, and track emails directly within Pipedrive, associating them with specific deals for context.
• Activity Tracking: Schedule and manage calls, meetings, and tasks, ensuring no follow-up is missed.
• Automation: Automate repetitive tasks like sending follow-up emails or creating deals, freeing up time for selling.
• Reporting & Analytics: Generate reports on sales performance, identify bottlenecks, and make data-driven decisions.
• Mobile App: Access your CRM on the go with Pipedrive’s mobile app for iOS and Android.
• Integrations: Connect Pipedrive with other business tools like email marketing platforms, accounting software, and communication apps.

See how Pipeline scored on our ranking of the CRMs with the best features and functionality.

How Much Does Pipedrive CRM Cost? (And Is It Worth It?)

Pipedrive offers tiered pricing plans designed to cater to different business needs and budgets. They operate on a per-user, per-month basis, with discounts often available for annual subscriptions.

Essential: This is usually the most basic plan, suitable for businesses just starting out with CRM. It typically includes core features like contact management, deal pipeline management, activity tracking, and basic reporting. It’s a good entry point for smaller teams with straightforward sales processes.

• From around £12.50 per user per month (billed annually)

Advanced: This tier builds upon the Essential plan, adding more features like email marketing integration, workflow automation, and more detailed reporting. It’s often a popular choice for growing businesses that need more sophisticated tools.

• From around £25 per user per month (billed annually)

Professional: This plan typically includes everything in the Advanced tier, plus additional features like custom fields, team collaboration tools, and enhanced reporting and analytics. It’s often geared towards larger teams and businesses with more complex sales processes.

• From around £40 per user per month (billed annually)

Enterprise: This is usually the most comprehensive plan, offering all the features of the Professional plan, plus advanced customisation options, dedicated support, and potentially more integrations. It’s designed for larger enterprises with specific needs and complex workflows.

• From around £75 per user per month (billed annually)

We have looked at Pipedrive’s features vs cost, and we think it offers good value for money, especially for SMBs with straightforward sales processes. Its ease of use and visual pipeline make it easy to adopt and get started quickly. However, larger enterprises with complex requirements might find its customisation options limited compared to more robust (and expensive) CRMs like Salesforce.

Take a look at where Pipedrive sits on our ranking of the most cost-effective CRMs.

Key Things to Remember About Pipedrive Pricing:

• Per-user, per-month: The price you see is usually the cost per user, per month. So, if you have a team of 5, you’ll multiply the per-user price by 5 to get your monthly cost.
• Billed annually vs. monthly: Pipedrive often offers discounts for annual subscriptions. Paying annually upfront can save you money compared to paying month to month.
• Free trial: Pipedrive typically offers a free trial period, allowing you to test the platform before committing to a paid plan. This is a great way to explore the features and see if it’s a good fit for your business.
• Add-ons: Pipedrive may offer add-ons for specific functionalities, like additional storage or advanced reporting. These add-ons will incur extra costs.
• Check the website: Pricing can change, so visit Pipedrive’s official website for the most current pricing information and detailed feature comparisons between plans.

Pipedrive CRM: Strengths and Weaknesses

To give you a clearer picture, here’s a quick rundown of Pipedrive’s key strengths and weaknesses:

Strengths	Weaknesses
Intuitive Interface & Ease of Use: Drag-and-drop pipeline, clear visual representation of deals, and straightforward navigation make it easy to learn and adopt. Reduces ramp-up time for sales teams.	Limited Customisation: While flexible, Pipedrive’s customisation options are not as extensive as some enterprise-level CRMs. Complex workflows or highly specific business processes might require workarounds or integrations.
Visual Sales Pipeline: The core strength. Provides a clear overview of the sales process, allowing sales reps and managers to quickly identify bottlenecks and prioritise deals.	Reporting Limitations: While Pipedrive offers reporting features, they can be basic for complex sales analysis. Advanced reporting may require integrations with other tools.
Activity-Based Selling Focus: Encourages a proactive approach to sales by emphasising activity tracking (calls, emails, meetings). Helps ensure consistent follow-up and improves sales discipline.	Pricing Can Be a Factor: While competitive for smaller businesses, the pricing can scale quickly as your team grows or you require more advanced features. Consider the per-user cost and feature tiers carefully.
Mobile App: Provides access to critical CRM data and functionality on the go, enabling sales reps to manage deals and communicate with clients from anywhere.	Contact Management Limitations: While good for sales contacts, it may not be ideal for managing large volumes of marketing leads or complex customer relationships requiring in-depth segmentation and nurturing.
Integrations: Offers a wide range of integrations with other business tools, such as email marketing platforms, accounting software, and communication tools, extending its functionality.	Customer Support: While generally helpful, some users have reported occasional delays or inconsistencies in the support provided. This can be crucial when dealing with urgent issues.
Sales Automation: Includes features like automated email sequences, deal stage triggers, and workflow automation to streamline repetitive tasks and improve efficiency.	Limited Marketing Automation: While some integrations offer marketing automation capabilities, Pipedrive itself doesn’t have robust built-in marketing automation features. Businesses needing comprehensive marketing automation may need to look elsewhere.
Deal & Lead Management: Provides robust features for managing deals, leads, and contacts, including lead scoring, deal tracking, and opportunity management.	Can Feel Basic for Enterprise Needs: For large enterprises with complex sales processes, multiple teams, and extensive reporting needs, Pipedrive might lack the depth and scalability of more enterprise-focused CRMs.
Affordable for SMBs: Offers competitive pricing plans that are suitable for small and medium-sized businesses with budget constraints.	Learning Curve for Advanced Features: While the basic functionality is easy to grasp, mastering some of the more advanced features, like workflow automation and reporting, can take some time.

Our Analysis: What Type of Business is Pipedrive CRM Best Suited For?

Pipedrive is a solid CRM choice for SMBs that prioritise sales pipeline management and ease of use.

• Small and Medium-sized Businesses (SMBs): Its user-friendly interface and affordable pricing make it ideal for businesses with limited resources and technical expertise.
• Sales-focused Teams: Pipedrive’s strength lies in its sales pipeline management, making it a good fit for teams that prioritise closing deals.
• Businesses with Simple Sales Processes: If your sales process is relatively straightforward, Pipedrive’s visual approach can be highly effective.
• Companies Looking for Quick Implementation: Pipedrive is known for its easy setup and fast adoption, allowing businesses to get up and running quickly.

Conclusion

Pipedrive is a pretty solid CRM, especially if you’re a smaller business. Its super-easy interface and focus on visualising your sales pipeline make it a breeze to use, which means your sales team can spend less time messing with software and more time actually selling. Sure, it might not be the most bells-and-whistles CRM out there, but it covers the essentials – managing contacts, emails, tasks, and automating bits and pieces. The pricing is also pretty reasonable, which is always a plus.

Bottom line? If you’re looking for a user-friendly, sales-focused CRM that won’t break the bank, Pipedrive is definitely worth a look. Just weigh up what you need from a CRM and see if Pipedrive ticks the right boxes. Hopefully, this has given you a clearer picture and helps you make the right choice for your business.

Pipedrive CRM Competitors

• Salesforce
• HubSpot
• Zoho CRM
• ClickUp
• EngageBay
• Monday CRM
• Agile CRM
• Insightly
• Capsule

Check out our comparison of the best CRMs, and see where Pipedrive sits in the top ten.

Monday.com, initially known for its project management software, has expanded its offerings to include a robust Customer Relationship Management (CRM) solution. Monday CRM is designed to streamline sales processes, enhance customer interactions, and provide a centralised platform for managing leads and deals. With its visually appealing interface and customisable features, it aims to cater to a wide range of businesses, from startups to larger enterprises. This review will delve into the features, pricing, strengths, weaknesses, and suitability of Monday CRM for different business types.

Monday CRM Features

Monday CRM is built on the flexible Monday.com Work OS, meaning it’s highly adaptable. Features are organised into “boards” that can be tailored to specific workflows.

1. Lead Management:

• Lead Capture: Monday CRM allows you to capture leads through customisable web forms, email integrations, and manual entry. These leads are then automatically added to your designated lead board.
• Lead Qualification: You can create custom columns to track lead status, contact information, company details, and any other relevant data. This helps qualify leads and prioritise follow-ups.
• Lead Tracking: The platform provides a clear overview of all leads in your pipeline, allowing you to track their progress through each stage of the sales process.
• Automated Lead Assignment: Automations can be set up to automatically assign leads to specific sales representatives based on predefined criteria, such as territory or product interest.

2. Contact Management:

• Centralised Contact Database: Monday CRM acts as a central repository for all your contact information, ensuring that everyone on your team has access to the latest data.
• Contact Activity Tracking: You can log all interactions with contacts, including emails, calls, and meetings. This provides a complete history of each contact’s engagement.
• Contact Segmentation: You can segment contacts based on various criteria, such as industry, location, or purchase history. This allows you to target your communications and marketing efforts more effectively.
• Email Integration: Integrations with email providers like Gmail and Outlook allow you to seamlessly log emails and track communication directly within the CRM.

3. Deal Management:

• Pipeline Management: Monday CRM provides a visual pipeline view that allows you to track the progress of deals through each stage of the sales process.
• Deal Tracking: You can track key deal information, such as deal value, close date, and probability of closing.
• Sales Forecasting: The Pro and Enterprise tiers offer sales forecasting features, allowing you to predict future sales revenue based on your current pipeline.
• Customisable Deal Stages: The Deal stages can be fully customized to match your companies sales process.

4. Automation:

• Workflow Automation: Monday CRM’s automation capabilities allow you to automate repetitive tasks, such as sending follow-up emails, creating tasks, and updating deal statuses.
• Trigger-Based Automations: Automations can be triggered by specific events, such as a lead being assigned or a deal reaching a certain stage.
• Custom Automation Recipes: Users can build custom automation recipes to suit their specific workflows.

5. Integrations:

• Email Integrations: As mentioned, integration with email platforms is crucial for seamless communication tracking.
• Calendar Integrations: Integrating with calendar apps like Google Calendar and Outlook Calendar helps you schedule meetings and manage your time effectively.
• Third-Party Integrations: Monday.com offers a wide range of integrations with other business tools, such as Slack, Zapier, and various marketing automation platforms. This allows you to connect your CRM with your existing workflow.
• API Access: For more advanced integrations, Monday.com provides API access, allowing developers to build custom integrations.

6. Reporting & Analytics:

• Dashboards: Monday CRM’s dashboards provide a visual overview of key sales metrics, such as lead conversion rates, deal pipeline value, and sales performance.
• Customisable Reports: You can create custom reports to track specific metrics and gain insights into your sales performance.
• Data Visualisation: Charts and graphs provide a clear and concise way to visualise your sales data.

7. Customisation

• Custom Fields and Columns: You can create custom fields and columns to track any data that is relevant to your business.
• Custom Boards and Workflows: Monday CRM’s board-based structure allows you to create custom boards and workflows to match your specific sales process.
• Custom Forms: create custom forms to gather information from potential clients.

How It All Fits Together

Monday CRM’s strength lies in its ability to connect these functionalities within the Monday.com Work OS. This creates a unified platform where sales, marketing, and project management teams can collaborate seamlessly. For example, when a deal is closed, a project can be automatically created in the project management board, ensuring a smooth handoff between teams.

Here’s a breakdown of key features and their availability across subscription tiers:

Basic

• Unlimited customisable boards.
• Lead management.
• Contact management.
• Customisable forms.
• Mobile app.
• Up to 2 users.

Standard

• All Basic features, plus:
• Timeline and calendar views.
• Guest access.
• Automations (250 actions per month).
• Integrations (250 actions per month).
• Dashboards (combining up to 5 boards).

Pro

• All Standard features, plus:
• Private boards.
• Chart view.
• Formula column.
• Automations (25,000 actions per month).
• Integrations (25,000 actions per month).
• Dashboards (combining up to 10 boards).
• Sales forecasting.

Enterprise

• All Pro features, plus:
• Enterprise-grade security and compliance.
• Advanced reporting and analytics.
• Automations (100,000 actions per month).
• Integrations (100,000 actions per month).
• Premium support.

By offering a high degree of customisation, Monday CRM empowers businesses to tailor the platform to their unique needs and workflows, making it a versatile and powerful CRM solution.

Read our analysis and comparison of the features of the top ten CRM platforms.

How Much Does Monday CRM Cost? (And Is It Worth It?)

Monday CRM’s pricing is based on the number of users and the chosen tier. Here are approximate starting prices (per user, per month, billed annually):

Basic: Approximately £8-£10 per user/month.
Standard: Approximately £10-£12 per user/month.
Pro: Approximately £16-£18 per user/month.
Enterprise: Contact Monday.com for a bespoke quote.

Monday CRM presents a compelling value proposition, particularly for businesses seeking a highly adaptable and integrated CRM solution. Its strength lies in its exceptional flexibility, allowing users to tailor workflows, fields, and dashboards to precisely match their unique processes. The seamless integration with Monday.com’s broader Work OS is a significant advantage for those already utilising its project management tools, fostering enhanced collaboration and a holistic view of operations. The robust automation features further contribute to its value, streamlining repetitive tasks and boosting productivity.

However, the per-user pricing model can become a significant cost factor for larger teams, and access to advanced features is often restricted to higher-tier plans. The platform’s extensive customisation, while a strength, also introduces a steeper learning curve, requiring an investment in onboarding and training. For businesses with very basic CRM needs, the platform’s complexity might be excessive, and more cost-effective alternatives may exist.

Monday CRM offers excellent value for businesses prioritising flexibility, customisation, and integration, but a thorough evaluation of specific needs and a trial run are essential before committing. Take a look at where Monday CRM sits on our ranking of the most cost-effective CRMs.

Monday CRM: Strengths and Weaknesses

To give you a clearer picture, here’s a quick rundown of Monday CRM’s key strengths and weaknesses:

Strengths	Weaknesses
Highly customisable and flexible.	Can be overwhelming for simple CRM needs.
Visually appealing and user-friendly.	Steeper learning curve than basic CRMs.
Strong project management integration.	Pricing can escalate with more users.
Robust automation capabilities.	Advanced features are limited to higher tiers.
Good range of integrations.	Reporting, while good, can be improved.
Strong Collaboration tools.	Customer support can sometimes be slow.

Our Analysis: What type of business is Monday CRM best suited for?

Monday CRM is particularly well-suited for:

• Small to medium-sized businesses (SMBs) with growing sales teams: The customisable nature of the platform allows SMBs to tailor it to their specific needs, and the scalable pricing means that they can grow into the software.
• Businesses that require a strong integration between CRM and project management: If your sales process is closely linked to project delivery, Monday CRM’s integration with the Work OS is a significant advantage.
• Businesses that rely on visual workflows: The board-based interface is intuitive and easy to understand, making it ideal for teams that prefer visual representations of their data.
• Companies needing high levels of automation: Companies that need to automate repetitive tasks within their sales process will benefit from the automation features.
• Businesses that need a CRM that can grow with them: Due to the scaling of features, and user numbers, the software can grow as the companies needs grow.

It might not be the best fit for very small businesses with extremely basic CRM needs or those seeking a very simple, out-of-the-box solution.

Conclusion

Monday CRM offers a powerful and flexible platform for managing customer relationships. Its customisable boards, robust automation, and strong project management integration make it a compelling choice for a wide range of UK businesses. While the pricing can increase with more users and advanced features, the benefits of a tailored CRM solution often outweigh the costs. If your business values customisation, visual workflows, and seamless integration, Monday CRM is certainly worth considering. Before purchasing, it is always best to utilise the free trial, to ensure that the product is a good fit.

Monday CRM Competitors

• Salesforce
• HubSpot
• Zoho CRM
• ClickUp
• EngageBay
• Agile CRM
• Insightly
• Pipedrive
• Capsule

Check out our comparison of the best CRMs, and see where Monday CRM sits in the top ten.

Insightly CRM is a cloud-based customer relationship management platform designed to help businesses manage their sales, marketing, and project management processes. It aims to provide a unified platform for businesses to streamline their operations and improve customer engagement. With a focus on integration and flexibility, Insightly caters to a range of businesses, from small startups to growing enterprises. This review will delve into its features, pricing, strengths, weaknesses, and suitability for different business types.

Insightly CRM Features

Insightly aims to provide a comprehensive CRM solution that empowers businesses to build stronger customer relationships, streamline sales processes, and improve overall efficiency. We have taken a detailed look at how it handles key aspects of customer relationship management.

1. Contact & Organisation Management:

• Unified View: Insightly provides a central repository for all contact and organisation information. You can store details like contact names, titles, email addresses, phone numbers, social media profiles, and company information.
• Relationship Linking: A key strength of Insightly is its ability to link contacts and organisations, creating a clear picture of relationships within your network. This is crucial for understanding how different people and companies interact.
• Custom Fields: You can create custom fields to capture specific information relevant to your business, ensuring that your CRM aligns with your unique needs.
• Email Integration: Insightly integrates with popular email platforms like Gmail and Outlook, allowing you to track email communication directly within the CRM. This ensures that all interactions are recorded and easily accessible.
• Contact Activity Tracking: Insightly automatically tracks contact activity, such as emails, calls, and meetings, providing a comprehensive history of interactions.

2. Lead Management & Opportunity Tracking:

• Lead Capture: Insightly allows you to capture leads from various sources, such as website forms, email campaigns, and social media.
• Lead Scoring: You can assign scores to leads based on their activity and demographics, prioritising the most promising leads.
• Opportunity Tracking: Insightly enables you to track sales opportunities through different stages of the sales pipeline. You can record deal values, estimated close dates, and probability of closing.
• Sales Pipeline Management: You can visualise your sales pipeline with customisable stages, providing a clear overview of your sales progress.
• Lead Assignment Rules: In the professional tier and above, leads can be automatically assigned to sales representatives based on predefined rules, ensuring that leads are followed up promptly.

3. Workflow Automation:

• Automated Tasks and Reminders: Insightly allows you to automate repetitive tasks, such as sending follow-up emails or creating reminders, freeing up time for your sales team.
• Workflow Rules: You can create workflow rules to trigger actions based on specific events, such as a lead reaching a certain stage in the sales pipeline.
• Email Automation: Insightly enables you to create automated email sequences to nurture leads and engage with customers.
• Customisable Workflows: The complexity of the workflows that can be created increases at the professional and enterprise levels.

4. Reporting & Analytics:

• Customisable Dashboards: Insightly provides customisable dashboards that allow you to visualise key metrics and track performance.
• Reports: You can generate reports on various aspects of your sales and marketing activities, such as lead conversion rates, sales pipeline progress, and customer activity.
• Data Export: Insightly allows you to export data in various formats, such as CSV, for further analysis.
• Reporting Complexity: Some users have reported that creating complex reports can be a bit challenging, requiring some familiarity with the platform.

5. Project Management (Integrated with CRM):

• Project Tracking: Insightly allows you to track project progress, manage tasks, and collaborate with team members.
• Task Management: You can create and assign tasks, set deadlines, and track task completion.
• Project Linking: Projects can be linked to contacts and organisations, providing a unified view of customer interactions and project activities.
• Milestones: Projects can have milestones created to track larger sections of the project.

Access to Insightly’s range of features varies based on the subscription tier. Here’s a breakdown:

Free Tier (Limited)

• Basic contact management
• Limited project management
• Up to two users

Plus Tier:

• All Free Tier features
• Advanced contact and organisation management
• Opportunity tracking
• Task and event management
• Email integration
• Workflow automation (basic)

Professional Tier:

• All Plus Tier features
• Advanced workflow automation
• Lead assignment rules
• Customisable dashboards and reports
• Project Management tools with more depth

Enterprise Tier:

• All Professional Tier features
• Advanced security and permissions
• API access
• Priority support
• Increased storage space

Insightly’s functionality offers a robust, interconnected platform, making it a powerful tool for businesses needing to bridge sales, marketing, and project management. Its key advantage lies in its ability to link contacts, organisations, and projects, providing a holistic view of customer interactions. Customisation options and strong integration capabilities further enhance its appeal.

However, the platform’s complexity can present a learning curve, particularly for advanced features and reporting. While offering a free tier, its limitations are significant, and the cost of higher tiers can become substantial for larger teams.

Therefore, while Insightly delivers comprehensive CRM functionality, businesses should carefully weigh its complexity and cost against their specific needs. Take a look at our analysis of the functionality of the best CRMs to see how Insightly compares.

How Much Does Insightly CRM Cost (And Is It Worth It?)

Insightly’s pricing is structured on a per-user, per-month basis, billed annually or monthly. Please note that these are approximate starting prices, and it is best to check the Insightly website for the most up to date information.

Free: £0 (Limited features, up to 2 users)
Plus: Approximately £24 per user/month (billed annually)
Professional: Approximately £45 per user/month (billed annually)
Enterprise: Contact Insightly for a quote.

Insightly CRM offers a compelling value proposition for businesses seeking a unified platform that integrates sales, marketing, and project management. Its strength lies in its ability to link data across these functions, providing a holistic view of customer interactions. Customisable features and strong integration capabilities further enhance its appeal, particularly for SMEs. Scalability through tiered pricing allows businesses to grow within the platform. However, the cost can accumulate with larger teams, and the complexity of advanced features and reporting may present a learning curve.

Ultimately, Insightly’s value depends on individual business needs. For companies prioritising integrated functionality and scalability, it can be a worthwhile investment. Take a look at where Insightly sits on our ranking of the most cost-effective CRMs.

Insightly CRM: Strengths and Weaknesses

Here’s a breakdown of Insightly’s strengths and weaknesses.

Strengths	Weaknesses
Strong integration capabilities.	The free tier is very limited.
Flexible and customisable.	The learning curve for advanced features can be steep.
Good project management features.	We found the reporting to be complex.
Robust workflow automation (Professional and Enterprise).	Pricing can become costly for larger teams.
Mobile application available.

Our Analysis: What Type of Business is Insightly CRM Best Suited For?

Insightly is particularly well-suited for:

• Small to medium-sized enterprises (SMEs): Businesses that require a flexible and scalable CRM solution to manage their sales, marketing, and project management needs.
• Project-based businesses: Companies that rely on project management, such as consulting firms, agencies, and construction businesses, will find Insightly’s project management tools valuable.
• Sales-focused businesses: The opportunity tracking and lead management features are ideal for businesses with a strong sales focus.
• Businesses that rely on integrations: Insightly’s ability to integrate with various third-party applications makes it a good choice for businesses that use multiple software tools.

In the UK market, Insightly’s flexibility and integration capabilities are particularly advantageous for businesses that need to adapt to changing market conditions and customer demands.

Conclusion

Insightly CRM offers a comprehensive suite of features that can benefit a wide range of businesses. Its flexibility, integration capabilities, and project management tools make it a strong contender in the CRM market. While the pricing can be a consideration for larger teams, the value offered by the Professional and Enterprise tiers is significant. For SMEs in the UK looking for a robust and scalable CRM solution, Insightly is definitely worth considering. We would recommend trying the free tier before the paid tiers, to ensure that the software is a good fit for your business.

Insightly CRM Competitors

• Salesforce
• HubSpot
• Zoho CRM
• ClickUp
• EngageBay
• Monday CRM
• Agile CRM
• Pipedrive
• Capsule

Check out our comparison of the best CRMs, and see where Insightly sits in the top ten.

Looking for a CRM that can handle everything from contact management to marketing automation? HubSpot CRM is a popular choice, and for good reason. But is it really all it’s cracked up to be? If you’re trying to figure out if HubSpot is right for you, or if you’re already using it and wondering if you should upgrade (or maybe even downgrade!), this is the place to be.

HubSpot CRM Features

HubSpot offers a suite of tools for contact management, deal tracking, email marketing, and more, all integrated into a single platform. HubSpot’s free CRM offering is often a starting point for many businesses, allowing them to experience the platform’s core functionalities before potentially upgrading to paid tiers. Here is our handy breakdown of what each HubSpot Sales Hub tier offers.

Sales Hub Starter

This is your entry-level option, perfect for small teams or solo sellers getting started with sales automation. Think of it as the foundation:

• CRM Integration: Seamlessly connects with the free HubSpot CRM, which is a huge plus. You get a central place to manage contacts, deals, and interactions.
• Contact & Deal Management: Track your contacts and deals through the pipeline. It’s basic, but it gets the job done for simple sales processes.
• Email Tracking & Notifications: Know when your emails are opened and clicked. This gives you valuable insights into prospect engagement.
• Meeting Scheduling: Eliminate the back-and-forth with scheduling links. Prospects can book meetings directly on your calendar.
• Tasks & Activities: Stay organised with task management features. Keep track of what needs to be done and when.
• Live Chat: Engage with website visitors in real-time. This can be a great way to capture leads and answer questions.
• Quotes: Create and send simple sales quotes.

Sales Hub Professional

Now we’re talking. This tier is designed for growing businesses that need more robust automation and reporting. You get everything in Starter, plus:

• Workflows: Automate repetitive tasks and processes. Think lead nurturing, follow-up emails, and internal notifications. This is where things start to get really efficient.
• Sequences: Automate personalised email sequences to nurture leads and move them down the sales funnel.
• Custom Reporting: Build your own reports and dashboards to track the metrics that matter most to your business. Get deeper insights into your sales performance.
• Multiple Pipelines: Manage different sales processes with multiple pipelines. Useful for businesses with complex sales cycles.
• Forecasting: Predict your sales revenue with forecasting tools. Get a better understanding of your future performance.
• Conversation Intelligence: Analyse sales calls to identify areas for improvement. This can be a game-changer for sales coaching.
• Playbooks: Create and share best practices with your sales team. Ensure everyone is following the same successful strategies.
• Salesforce Integration: If you use Salesforce, you can integrate it here.

Sales Hub Enterprise

This is the big leagues. Designed for large organisations with complex sales needs and a focus on advanced customisation and analytics. You get everything in Professional, plus:

• Custom Objects: Tailor HubSpot to your specific business needs with custom objects. Track unique data points relevant to your industry.
• Predictive Lead Scoring: Prioritise your leads based on their likelihood to convert. Focus your efforts on the most promising prospects.
• Advanced Custom Reporting: Dive even deeper into your data with advanced reporting features. Get granular insights into your sales performance.
• Recurring Revenue Tracking: Track and manage your recurring revenue. Essential for subscription-based businesses.
• Team Management & Permissions: Control access to different features and data with advanced user permissions.
• Single Sign-On (SSO): Enhance security and streamline login processes with SSO.

We’ve ranked the top ten CRMs for features and functionality. Take a look at how HubSpot scored.

How Much Does HubSpot Cost? (And Is It Worth It?)

HubSpot’s pricing structure is tiered, with various “Hubs” (Sales, Marketing, Service, CMS, Operations) offering different functionalities and pricing levels. The free CRM is a great entry point, but as your businesses grows and requires more advanced features, you’ll likely need to upgrade.

Sales Hub Starter

Paid plans start relatively affordably and add features like more contacts, marketing automation, and reporting.

Price: from £14 per user per month
Minimum Users: No minimum
Key Features:

• Basic sales automation
• Meeting scheduling links
• Email tracking and task management
• Basic reporting dashboards

Sales Hub Professional

Offers advanced functionalities like workflows, sequences, and deeper reporting, targeting growing businesses.

Price: £400 per month for 5 users, then £80 per additional user per month
Minimum Users: 5
Key Features:

• Full sales automation (workflows and sequences)
• Custom reporting dashboards
• Multiple sales pipelines
• Forecasting tools for revenue and sales

Sales Hub Enterprise

Provides the most comprehensive suite of tools, including custom objects, advanced reporting, and higher limits, designed for large organisations.

Price: £1,100 per month for 10 users, then £120 per additional user per month
Minimum Users: 10
Key Features:

• Advanced permissions and team hierarchies
• Custom objects for tailored data management
• Predictive lead scoring
• Advanced custom reporting
• Recurring revenue tracking
• Advanced forecasting tools

Please note pricing is subject to change. We recommend visiting HubSpot directly for an accurate quote.

The value proposition of HubSpot CRM depends heavily on the specific needs and budget of the business. The free CRM is excellent for getting started. However, the paid tiers can become expensive quickly, especially as you add more hubs and contacts. For businesses that heavily utilise all the integrated sales and marketing tools, and value the ease of use and integrations, then the value is easier to justify.

You should carefully assess your requirements and compare HubSpot’s pricing with other CRM providers to determine if it offers the best value for your specific situation. See how HobSpot ranked in our top ten CRMs for value for money.

HubSpot: Strengths and Weaknesses

To give you a clearer picture, here’s a quick rundown of HubSpot’s key strengths and weaknesses:

	Starter	Professional	Enterprise	Strengths	Weaknesses
Pricing	Affordable entry point	Good value for growing businesses	Powerful, but premium priced	Starter tier offers excellent entry-level value. Professional provides a strong feature set at a reasonable price point.	Enterprise tier is a significant price jump and might not be justifiable for all businesses.
Sales Automation	Basic automation (tasks, email sequences)	Robust automation (workflows, sequences, lead scoring)	Advanced automation (custom objects, predictive lead scoring)	Automation features across all tiers, with increasing sophistication at higher tiers. Saves time and improves efficiency.	Starter tier automation is limited.
Deal Management	Basic deal tracking	Multiple pipelines, deal forecasting	Custom objects, recurring revenue tracking, advanced forecasting	Clear deal tracking and management tools. Professional and Enterprise offer more advanced features for complex sales processes.	Basic deal tracking in Starter might be insufficient for larger teams.
Reporting & Analytics	Basic dashboards	Custom dashboards, reporting tools	Advanced reporting, custom objects, predictive analytics	Comprehensive reporting capabilities, allowing for data-driven decision-making.	Starter tier reporting is limited. Enterprise reporting can be complex to set up.
Email Marketing	Basic email marketing features	Integration with HubSpot Marketing Hub	Integration with HubSpot Marketing Hub	Strong integration with HubSpot’s marketing tools allows for aligned sales and marketing efforts.	Sales Hub itself doesn’t offer full-fledged marketing automation like the Marketing Hub.
Sales Enablement	Meeting scheduling, document tracking	Playbooks, conversation intelligence	Conversation intelligence, advanced permissions	Tools to empower sales teams with content, insights, and best practices.	Some advanced sales enablement features are only available in higher tiers.
User Experience	Generally intuitive	Generally intuitive	Generally intuitive	User-friendly interface makes it easy for sales teams to adopt and use the platform.	Can become complex to navigate with advanced features in Enterprise.
Integrations	Limited integrations	Growing number of integrations	Wide range of integrations	Integrates with many popular business tools.	Some key integrations might require higher tiers or add-ons.
Customer Support	Standard support	Enhanced support	Priority support	HubSpot offers various support options, including knowledge base, community forums, and direct support.	Support levels can vary depending on the subscription tier.
Scalability	Suitable for small businesses	Suitable for growing businesses	Suitable for large enterprises	Can scale with businesses of all sizes, with features and pricing tailored to different needs.	Enterprise tier can become expensive as the team grows.
Customisation	Limited customisation	More customisation options	Highly customisable	Offers increasing levels of customisation across tiers, allowing businesses to tailor the platform to their specific needs.	Starter tier offers limited customisation.

Our Analysis: What Type of Business is HubSpot Best Suited For?

HubSpot CRM is particularly well-suited for:

• Small to medium-sized businesses (SMBs): The free CRM and tiered pricing plans make it accessible to businesses of varying sizes.
• Businesses focused on inbound marketing: HubSpot’s strength lies in its integrated marketing automation tools.
• Businesses that require a comprehensive CRM solution: The platform offers a wide range of features across sales, marketing, and customer service.
• Businesses seeking a user-friendly platform: HubSpot’s intuitive interface makes it easy for teams to adopt and use.
• Businesses that value integrations: HubSpot’s ability to integrate with other business tools enhances its functionality.

Conclusion

So, there you have it – the lowdown on HubSpot CRM. It’s a solid platform with a lot to offer, especially if you’re into inbound marketing and want everything integrated. Just remember to keep an eye on the pricing as you scale. Ultimately, the best CRM is the one that works best for you, so give HubSpot a try (especially the free version!) and see if it’s a good fit.

HubSpot CRM Competitors

• Salesforce
• Zoho CRM
• ClickUp
• EngageBay
• Monday CRM
• Agile CRM
• Insightly
• Pipedrive
• Capsule

Check out our comparison of the best CRMs, and see where Hub Spot sits in the top ten.

Freshsales CRM, developed by Freshworks, is a sales-focused customer relationship management system designed to streamline sales processes and enhance team productivity. It aims to provide a user-friendly interface with powerful features to manage leads, deals, and customer interactions. With a focus on ease of use and affordability, Freshsales has become a popular choice for businesses of various sizes looking to improve their sales performance. This review will delve into its features, pricing, strengths, weaknesses, and suitability for different business types.

Freshsales CRM Features

Freshsales CRM provides a robust set of functionalities aimed at streamlining sales processes and improving customer relationship management.

1. Core CRM Functionality

Lead Management:

• Captures and organises leads from various sources.
• Lead scoring to prioritise high-potential prospects.
• Lead lifecycle tracking to monitor progress.
• Automated lead assignment to sales reps.

Contact Management:

• Centralised repository for customer contact information.
• 360-degree view of customer interactions.
• Contact segmentation and filtering.
• Automatic profile enrichment with publicly available data.

Deal Management:

• Visual sales pipeline to track deal progress.
• Deal stage management and forecasting.
• Deal activity tracking and reporting.
• Ability to create and manage multiple sales pipelines.

Activity Management:

• Task management, including task creation, assignment, and tracking.
• Appointment scheduling and calendar integration.
• Call logging and recording (if integrated with telephony).
• Note-taking and activity history tracking.

2. Communication & Engagement

Email Integration:

• Email syncing and tracking to monitor email opens and clicks.
• Email templates for personalised communication.
• Bulk email capabilities for targeted outreach.

Phone Integration:

• Built-in phone functionality for making and receiving calls within the CRM.
• Call logging and recording.

Chat Integration:

• Integration with chat platforms for real-time customer communication.

Sales Campaigns:

• Ability to create, send, and track personalized outbound campaigns from within the CRM.

Whatsapp Business and Apple Business Chat:

• Integrations that allow for communication through those platforms.

3. Automation & Productivity

Workflow Automation:

• Automate repetitive tasks and processes.
• Create custom workflows based on triggers and actions.
• Automate lead routing, task assignment, and notifications.

Sales Sequences:

• Automate sequences of sales actions, such as emails and calls.

AI-Powered Features (Freddy AI):

• AI-based lead scoring and insights.
• Predictive analytics to forecast sales

4. Reporting & Analytics

Customisable Dashboards:

• Create dashboards to visualise key sales metrics.

Reporting & Analytics:

• Generate reports on sales performance, lead conversion, and other metrics.
• Sales forecasting tools.

5. Customisation & Integrations

Custom Fields & Modules:

• Customise the CRM to fit specific business needs.
• Create custom fields and modules to capture relevant data.

Third-Party Integrations:

• Integrate with various business applications, such as email, calendar, and accounting software.
• API access for custom integrations.

Mobile App:

• Mobile apps for IOS and Android, that allow for sales work to be conducted remotely.

Access to Freshsales’ comprehensive set of features varies based on the chosen subscription tier. Here’s a breakdown:

Free Tier (Free):

• Contact management
• Deal management
• Built-in chat
• Mobile app
• Basic reporting

Growth Tier (£12 per user/month, billed annually):

• All Free tier features
• Bulk email
• Sales sequences
• Custom fields
• Workflow automation
• Advanced reporting

Pro Tier (£39 per user/month, billed annually):

• All Growth tier features
• Multiple sales pipelines
• Time-based workflows
• AI-powered insights (Freddy AI)
• Advanced customisation

Enterprise Tier (£59 per user/month, billed annually):

• All Pro tier features
• Custom modules
• Advanced security features
• Dedicated account manager
• IP whitelisting

How Much Does Freshsales Cost? (And Is It Worth It?)

Here’s a summary of Freshsales’ pricing, with approximate starting prices:

Free: £0
Growth: £12 per user/month
Pro: £39 per user/month
Enterprise: £59 per user/month

Please note that these are starting prices for annual billing, and monthly billing options are also available at a higher cost.

Freshsales’ tiered pricing structure, including a free tier, allows businesses to scale their CRM usage according to their evolving needs and budgets. We think the Growth and Pro tiers strike a good balance between cost and functionality, encompassing essential features like lead and deal management, automation, and reporting. The inclusion of AI-powered capabilities, such as Freddy AI, in higher-tier subscriptions further enhances its value, providing valuable insights and automation to drive sales performance.

Our Thoughts on Freshsales Free CRM Subscription

We found the free subscription option of Freshsales to be a very strategic and beneficial offering, particularly for very small businesses, startups, and individuals.

Excellent Entry Point: It serves as a fantastic entry point for businesses that are new to CRM or have limited budgets. It allows them to experience the core functionalities of Freshsales without any financial commitment. This “try before you buy” approach is incredibly valuable.

Essential Functionality: Even in its free version, Freshsales provides essential CRM features, such as contact and deal management, and built-in chat. This means that even without paying, users can effectively manage their basic sales processes.

Lead Generation: The free tier acts as a powerful lead generation tool for Freshworks. By offering a functional free version, they attract a large pool of potential customers who may eventually upgrade to paid plans as their businesses grow.

Learning & Familiarisation: It allows users to become familiar with the Freshsales interface and features, which can make the transition to a paid plan smoother. This reduces the risk of investing in a CRM that doesn’t meet their needs.

Limitations:
Of course, the free version has limitations. It lacks advanced features like automation, bulk email, and AI-powered insights. Therefore, it’s best suited for very basic CRM needs.

Value for Solopreneurs:
For solopreneurs and very small businesses, the free version can be a valuable tool for organizing contacts and managing sales pipelines.

In our opinion, the free Freshsales subscription is a smart move by Freshworks, and a useful tool for those just starting out. It provides real value and encourages users to explore the full potential of the platform.

Take a look at our comparison of the best free CRMs.

Freshsales CRM: Strengths and Weaknesses

To give you a clearer picture, here’s a quick rundown of Freshsales’ key strengths and weaknesses:

Strengths	Weaknesses
User-friendly interface and easy setup.	Advanced customisation is limited.
Strong automation capabilities.	Integration with some niche applications is lacking.
Effective lead and deal management.	Freddy AI features are primarily in higher tiers.
Good mobile app.	Some users report occasional performance issues.
Competitive pricing, especially for SMEs.	Reporting, while good, could be more granular.

Our Analysis: What Type of Business is Freshsales Best Suited For?

Freshsales is particularly well-suited for small to medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) in the UK. Its intuitive design and affordable pricing make it an excellent choice for businesses looking to implement a CRM system without a steep learning curve or significant upfront investment. Sales teams that prioritise efficiency and automation will find Freshsales’ features beneficial.

• Startups and Small Businesses: The Free and Growth tiers provide essential CRM functionalities at a reasonable cost.
• Sales-Driven Companies: Businesses with a strong focus on sales pipelines and lead management will appreciate the automation and reporting tools.
• Businesses needing mobile access: The mobile app allows for sales on the go.
• Companies looking for ease of use: The interface is very user friendly.

However, larger enterprises with highly complex sales processes and specific customisation needs might find the Enterprise tier necessary or may require a more robust, highly customisable CRM solution.

Conclusion

Freshsales CRM offers a solid balance of features, ease of use, and affordability, making it a viable option for UK businesses seeking to improve their sales operations. Its tiered pricing structure allows businesses to scale their CRM usage as they grow. While it might not be the most advanced CRM on the market, its strengths in lead management, automation, and user-friendliness make it a valuable tool for SMEs. Before making a decision, it’s recommended to take advantage of the free trial or free tier to assess if Freshsales meets your specific business requirements.

Freshsales CRM Competitors

• Salesforce
• HubSpot
• Zoho CRM
• ClickUp
• EngageBay
• Monday CRM
• Agile CRM
• Insightly
• Pipedrive
• Capsule