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Bitrix24 is a feature-packed customer relationship management (CRM) system, offering tools for contact and lead management, sales analytics, marketing automation, social media integrations, and a landing page builder. While it provides comprehensive functionalities, it also has a complex dashboard and outdated interface. To find the best Bitrix24 alternatives, we analyzed dozens of top providers and considered critical attributes small businesses need. The top options for alternatives to Bitrix24 and their best use cases are: : Best overall Bitrix24 alternative for teams wanting free CRM with built-in email marketing tools : Great for users looking for a CRM that offers a robust in-app caller and 360-degree customer views : Recommended for businesses wanting a more intuitive Bitrix24 competitor and has robust analytics tools : Ideal for users who need simple and straightforward sales pipeline management : Recommended for users who want advanced lead management tools : Best for organizations needing a Bitrix24 alternative with social media management tools Best Bitrix24 Alternatives Compared See fullscreen table × *Based on annual billing; monthly pricing is available at slightly higher rates, except for Salesforce Essentials. Bitrix24 also offers quarterly pricing. **Premier success plan costs 30% of the subscription price and adds 24/7 phone support, developer support, training sessions, and coaching. ***For Professional and Enterprise plans of CMS (content management system) Hub and Operations Hub only HubSpot CRM: Best Overall Bitrix24 Alternative With Excellent Email Marketing Tools offers email marketing tools, including in-app email, external email integration, and bulk email sending. However, all these are only available in its paid plans. , in contrast, offers useful email marketing features for free, including shared inboxes, mailing list and contact segmentation, team email, and email tracking. On top of these capabilities, it also boasts an intuitive and easy-to-use interface. All these combined make it the top option among the rest of the alternatives to Bitrix24. While HubSpot CRM offers a free version, its plan upgrades can be expensive. Customer support for its free plan is also limited to self-help resources and community support. Businesses that want more affordable paid plans should consider either or . Those who prefer access to technical support, even with a free version, should consider or Zoho CRM. HubSpot CRM Pricing at a Glance* Free: Supports an unlimited number of users Starter Sales Plan: $45 per month for two users Professional Sales Plan: $450 per month for five users Enterprise Sales Plan: $1,200 per month for 10 users *Based on annual billing; monthly subscriptions are also available at higher rates. HubSpot CRM Free Email Marketing Tools HubSpot CRM enables you to customize your email marketing outreach with access to its extensive library of customizable email templates. Other email marketing features include email reply tracking, email health reporting, bulk message sending, and follow-up form emails. It also offers an A/B testing and analytics function, helping you evaluate which types of emails convert and engage your customers most effectively. Read our HubSpot CRM review to discover the features and benefits it offers small businesses. You can also see how it compares with other CRMs in our comparison reviews of HubSpot vs Salesforce and HubSpot vs Insightly. Freshsales: Best Bitrix24 Competitor With Built-in Caller offers basic lead management features that let you add unlimited leads in all plans. In contrast, provides more comprehensive lead management tools. These include website activity tracking, communication logs, deal stages and statuses, and communication touchpoints with the company. You can also monitor tasks and appointments related to each lead or contact. Bitrix24 also offers an in-app phone with call routing and transfer, recording and transcription, as well as call interception features. Alternatively, Freshsales offers an in-app phone with even more advanced functionalities, such as agent conference calling (inviting other agents to join the call), the ability to purchase toll-free numbers, call masking, external number routing, and real-time queue visibility. One of the disadvantages of Freshsales is that its free plan lacks essential features such as sales forecasting, email tracking, and third-party integrations. Teams that want free, feature-rich CRM systems can consider alternatives to Bitrix24, such as or . Freshsales Monthly Pricing (per User) at a Glance* Free Plan: Supports unlimited users Growth: $15 Pro: $39 Enterprise: $69 Free trial: 21 days Freshdesk Contact Center Pricing** Free Plan: Supports unlimited users (no free minutes; includes local and toll-free numbers plus call metrics) Growth: $15 per agent, per month plus pay per minute (includes 2,000 incoming minutes per month plus number porting and call queues) Pro: $39 per agent, per month plus pay per minute (includes 3,000 incoming minutes per month plus Power Dialer and interactive voice response) Enterprise: Per agent, per month plus pay per minute (includes 5,000 incoming minutes per month plus voice bot and service level monitoring) Free trial: 21 days *Based on annual billing; monthly subscriptions are also available at slightly higher rates. **Check this page to see incoming and outgoing call rates. Freshsales Built-in Cloud Telephony Freshsales has an excellent in-app phone system that lets you efficiently handle calls, voicemails, and messages straight from your laptop or smartphone. It enables you to monitor phone usage to understand your team members’ ability to convert deals by reviewing analytics data associated with their calls. You also have the option to purchase virtual phone numbers in 90-plus countries for sales reps in varying locations. You can access more advanced call center features by signing up for (free or starting at $15 per agent, per month), which is part of Freshworks’ ecosystem of apps. It integrates seamlessly with Freshsales and offers expanded call center functionalities, such as international phone numbers, call blocking, and voice bots. Check out our Freshsales review to explore other features that this platform offers. You can also see head-to-head comparisons of this platform with other similar CRMs in our articles Freshsales vs Salesforce and Pipedrive vs Freshsales. Zoho CRM: Best Intuitive Alternative to Bitrix24 With Sophisticated Analytics Tools provides essential sales analytics tools that include consumer behavior analysis and deal closing reports, which may be enough for some businesses. However, offers more sophisticated analytics tools in a highly intuitive, simple interface. Its analytics tools include identifying high-quality leads that can potentially bring in more revenue, measuring ad spend return on investment (ROI), tracking lead conversion across sales reps, and conducting campaign revenue analysis. However, Zoho CRM’s free plan has an allocation for only three users. Those who want a free CRM with unlimited user allocation should consider . In addition, Zoho CRM’s 24/7 customer support is only available upon purchase of an add-on support plan. Businesses that prefer always-on technical support regardless of their plan subscription with no additional charges should consider . Zoho CRM Monthly Pricing (per User) at a Glance* Free plan: Up to three users Standard: $14 Professional: $23 Enterprise: $40 Ultimate: $52 Free trial: 15 days *Based on annual billing; monthly subscriptions are also available at slightly higher rates. Zoho CRM Analytics Tools Zoho CRM’s interface is simple and beginner-friendly. Its advanced analytics tools let you accurately visualize sales figures and access real-time reports. These include sales trends, marketing campaigns, and team performance. It also allows you to evaluate your sales reps, including the status of their outreach and the amount of revenue they bring in. Check out our Zoho CRM review to learn if it’s the right fit for your small business. You can also find out how it fares opposite other CRMs in our Zoho vs Salesforce and Pipedrive vs Zoho CRM reviews. Pipedrive: Best Bitrix24 Alternative for Simple & Easy-to-Use Sales Pipeline Management provides visual representations of sales pipelines customizable based on your business process. However, its interface can be hard to navigate, especially for novice users. , on the other hand, offers the same pipeline management tools in a sleeker format. It lets you visualize your sales process, create sales forecasts, and move deals along stages with unlimited, customizable pipelines in a user-friendly dashboard. Pipedrive doesn’t have a free plan, but the affordable paid plans offer limited in-app calling access. Its calling features include caller ID linked to deal activities, automatic call logging, and web-to-mobile calls. Teams that don’t have a budget for a paid plan can consider other Bitrix24 competitors like , , or . Meanwhile, those who want an in-app caller, even for lower-tier plans, should consider . Pipedrive Monthly Pricing (per User) at a Glance* Essential: $14.90 Advanced: $24.90 Professional: $49.90 Enterprise: $99 Free trial: 14 days Add-ons Monthly Pricing Lead Booster: $32 per month Web Visitor Analytics: $41 per month Smart Docs: $32.50 per month *Based on annual billing; monthly subscriptions are also available except for the Enterprise plan. Pipedrive Simple Pipeline Visualizations Pipedrive’s pipeline management tools provide a highly visual interface that prompts sales agents to take actions, such as converting a deal or initiating a follow-up call. It is simple for users to update lead information by entering new deals and contacts on desktop or mobile. They can easily drag and drop deals between stages and connect their email and third-party apps to create a single lead data location. Check out our Pipedrive review to learn more about this CRM and the features it offers small businesses. To see how it compares with other CRMs, take a look at our HubSpot vs Pipedrive and Pipedrive vs Zoho CRM reviews. Salesforce Essentials: Best Alternative to Bitrix24 With Advanced Lead Management Tools provides users with basic lead management tools, including lead status monitoring and unlimited lead creation. Its lead sales intelligence reporting is only available in its higher-priced plans. Meanwhile, provides more sophisticated lead management tools at a lower cost, including lead assignment and routing, lead duplicate blocking, and web-to-lead capture. Salesforce Essentials doesn’t have a free plan and has a complex dashboard better suited for experienced users. Businesses that don’t have a budget for a paid plan can consider Bitrix24 competitors or . Meanwhile, those who want a beginner-friendly interface should consider or . Salesforce Essentials Monthly Pricing (per User) at a Glance* Annual billing: $25 Monthly billing: $35 Add-on Premier Customer Success Plan: 30% of the subscription amount *Based on annual billing; monthly pricing is also available at slightly higher rates. Salesforce Lead Management Tools Salesforce Essentials offers various ways to efficiently manage and monitor the status of leads. It enables you to track, filter, and qualify prospective customers, as well as route hot leads to the most appropriate sales reps to increase the probability to convert. The platform allows you to generate leads with the data from your company’s website visitors. Its duplicate blocking feature lets you prevent redundant lead inputs, making data more reliable and relevant. Read our full Salesforce Essentials review to explore features included in this CRM well-suited for small businesses. You can also see how this provider stacks against another CRM by heading to our HubSpot vs Salesforce review. Agile CRM: Best Alternative to Bitrix24 With Social Media Management Tools social media function is limited to integrating social media networks and messengers, such as Telegram, Facebook, WhatsApp, and Instagram. takes this further by providing advanced social media features. These include social listening to monitor mentions of your brand across various social channels, tracking contacts’ social activities, and interacting with leads through Facebook and Twitter. Agile CRM’s free plan has a 10-user cap, and its customer support is limited to 24/5 email and phone support during standard business hours. Teams needing a free plan with unlimited user allocation should consider , while those who require 24/7 customer support should look at . Agile CRM Monthly Pricing (per User) at a Glance* Free plan: Up to 10 users Starter: $9.99 Regular: $39.99 Enterprise: $64 *Based on annual billing; monthly subscriptions are also available at slightly higher rates. Agile CRM Social Media Management Agile CRM’s social media management suite enables you to perform key social media activities straight from your CRM dashboard. These tasks include posting company updates to social media channels, monitoring your brand mentions, keeping your followers informed by answering questions, resolving issues, and capturing leads. It also helps maximize return on investment (ROI) on your marketing automation campaigns by tracking the social behavior of leads and customers. Ready to learn if this software if right for your team? Explore the platform’s robust feature set by reading our comprehensive Agile CRM review. How We Evaluated the Best Bitrix24 Competitors The best CRM alternative to should have comprehensive sales, marketing, and project management software tools. Ideally, it should also include specialized features, such as social media management and an in-app caller. It must also have a range of affordable pricing plans or a free version. In addition, we evaluated its ease of use, the quality and depth of customer service, and online reviews from users. We found is the best overall Bitrix24 alternative with an overall score of 4.69 out of 5. Its intuitive interface makes it easy for beginners to learn and use. It offers a free plan that supports an unlimited number of users. This comes with essential CRM features like contact management and customizable pipelines, plus a built-in caller and free marketing tools. Its paid plans start at $45 per month for two users, and additional users cost $23 each, per month, billed annually. The tabs below offer more insight into our evaluation process for selecting the best Bitrix24 alternative: You May Also Like… Do you want to leverage your CRM system’s case management features to boost customer satisfaction? Follow our step-by-step guide on how to use a CRM for customer service. Need a CRM with engagement tracking and social listening capabilities? Read our guide on the top social media CRM platforms. Looking for industry-specific CRM solutions? Check out this article to learn how to find a specialized CRM for your industry.

Sales follow-up emails enable you to reconnect with lapsed leads and nurture active prospects, and you can save time using premade templates. They help you streamline the process of re-introducing products or services, lead nurturing, or responding to a lead qualifying event such as someone submitting an online web form or signing up to receive newsletter updates. Download these 11 free sales follow-up email templates to save valuable time trying to craft your own. Each offers a unique message for a specific situation. With these templates, you can easily plug in your business information and customize messages to your needs. Click on the drop-down menu to navigate quickly through the templates below. How to Use Sales Follow-up Emails Before filling out our email templates or crafting your own, make sure you understand the purpose of various sales follow-up emails and how to use them. No matter the scenario, sending follow-up emails is an important part of your sales pipeline activities, depending on the current status of the lead. Keep in mind, a follow-up sales email is not used to make a cold introduction to someone who has had zero interaction with your business. Instead, use it to periodically touch base with an inactive lead or to nurture leads to move them to the next stage of the sales process. Here are the types of sales pipeline activities follow-up emails are most appropriate for: To (re)introduce products and services: For this pipeline activity, it is assumed you met the prospect at a trade show or some other networking event. It could also mean you previously contacted them through cold calling (or left a voicemail), received a sales inquiry, or it could be a lead that has gone cold. To qualify a lead: This means that a marketing qualifying event took place, such as a lead clicking on an email link you sent or they signed up for a newsletter from your business. You can use a follow-up email to see if they are sales-qualified or interested in pricing. To nurture a lead: Sending an email to nurture a lead can include following up on the status of information (such as pricing or plan features). It also covers following up after sending a business proposal, touching base with someone who took advantage of a free trial. Otherwise, this can be an effort to move a lead to the next phase of the sales funnel. To send a proposal: After delivering a sales presentation or having a conversation where a lead is interested in pricing and terms, a follow-up sales email can be used to send the proposal. Best Practices for Writing Sales Follow-up Emails It takes a lot of time, practice, and testing to craft the perfect sales follow-up email. Since these messages help move your prospects down your sales funnel, learning how to properly write one is essential for your business. There are some tweaks and practices that could make a big difference in how your prospect responds to you. Check out the six best practices for crafting the best follow-up emails for sales. Bottom Line Crafting effective sales follow-up emails can be time-consuming and challenging as each scenario is different, but having tools and templates as part of your sales plan can help streamline the process. Download our free sales follow-up email templates and use them to reconnect with cold leads and decision-makers and move active leads through the sales funnel. They also help you efficiently nurture prospects to close more deals.

Simple customer relationship management (CRM) software allow startups and small businesses to streamline sales processes without paying extra for technical support and advanced features your business might not need. Instead, the best simple CRM solutions focus on core functionalities like contact and lead management, making these tasks as efficient as possible. They also feature a more intuitive interface, making them beginner-friendly. We compared dozens of easy-to-use CRM programs and narrowed it down to our top six. The top options and their best uses cases are: : Best overall for businesses and organizations wanting a CRM with an emphasis on visual sales management tools : Top choice for teams wanting intuitive, easy-to-use CRM software with a built-in dialer : Solid option for businesses seeking a free, no-frills basic CRM system for unlimited users : Excellent choice for companies requiring simple pricing and easy-to-use basic CRM tools : Top recommendation for small businesses needing a basic CRM with built-in marketing and service desk capabilities : Great for teams looking for a CRM with gamification tools to increase user engagement Best Simple CRM Systems Compared See fullscreen table × *Based on annual billing. Monthly pricing is available at slightly higher rates. Less Annoying CRM only offers a monthly subscription. **$23/month for each additional user ***(Content management system, or CMS, & Operations Hubs only) Pipedrive: Best Overall Simple CRM for Small Business *Based on annual billing. Monthly pricing is also available at slightly higher rates. Compared to other types of CRMs, makes it easier to understand CRM data because of its visualization tools. This simple CRM for sales features Kanban-style drag-and-drop pipelines and customizable dashboards. Aside from that, this platform offers in-app calling and integration with more than 250 services and tools from its Marketplace. Using its Smart Docs feature, you can send trackable quotes, proposals, and contracts to your clients. What’s lacking from Pipedrive are built-in lead generation and web tracking tools, as you need to pay extra for these features. In addition, while its plans are affordable, it does not have a free option. includes web visitor tracking and lead generation in its higher-tier plans, while offers them at no cost. Both of these alternatives also offer free plan options. Pipedrive Features Lead and deal management: Unlimited number of deals, custom fields, and reports; customizable pipelines, product catalog, custom fields, lead inbox, deal rotting, data import and export, and merge duplicate data Contact and activity management: Unlimited contacts, mentions and comments, file attachments, contacts map, calendar view and activity management, and activity reminder notifications Collaboration and communication: Email inbox, email tracking, customizable email templates, dialer, video call, e-signatures, document tracking, and meeting scheduler Smart Docs: Trackable quotes, proposals, and contracts Automation: Artificial intelligence (AI) powered Sales Assistant, workflows, application programming interface (API) access, and webhooks (push notification to endpoint of choice) Reporting: Deals and activities, company and user goals, visual dashboards, recurring revenue, subscription revenue, revenue forecast, and team goals Mobile apps: iOS and Android apps; calls, meetings, emails, activities, search bar, find lead and contact information, contact history, deal timelines, notes, automatic call tracking, caller ID, contact location, and offline access Help and support: Access to blogs, Pipedrive community, , and help center; 24/7 support via email, live chat, and phone (Enterprise only) For more details on this solution’s features and capabilities, check out our Pipedrive review. Freshsales: Best Simple CRM With Built-in Caller *Based on annual billing. Monthly pricing is also available at slightly higher rates. is an easy-to-use sales automation tool with a robust built-in cloud telephony system. It features toll-free numbers, call recording and masking, virtual hold, and bring your own carrier (BYOC). It has rich contact management, auto-profile enrichment, and mobile app capabilities. Freshsales has a free plan that supports an unlimited number of users. Moreover, all plans offer 24/5 customer support via phone, chat, and email. What Freshsales is missing is more robust email management features and third-party integration options. Also, its free plan does not include reporting tools, and advanced metrics (like won deals and emails delivered) are only available in the more expensive tiers. offers these tools for free, although its calling features are not as robust as Freshsales’. Freshsales Features Core CRM features: Contact management, account management, contact lifecycle stages, activity timeline, auto profile enrichment, tasks, appointments, notes, custom sales activities, and sales and marketing home dashboard CRM customization: Renaming modules, custom fields, profile avatar for contact and account, record tags, product catalog, email template tags, workflows, auto-assignment rules (contacts, accounts, and deals), and custom modules Sales pipeline management: Deal management, visual sales pipeline, collaboration via , rotten deals, multiple sales pipelines, sales goals, sales forecasting, deal teams, and sales teams Sales emails: Two-way email sync, sales sequences, personalized bulk emails, and team inbox Phone: Built-in phone dialer, buy local and toll-free numbers, inbound caller ID, call masking, call recording, voicemails and voicemail drop, call queues, Bring Your Own Carrier (BYOC), conference calling, holiday routing, virtual hold, and warm transfer Chat: Chat widget, conversation threads, mobile software development toolkit (SDK), chat assignment rules, private notes, frequently asked questions (FAQs), chat auto-resolve rules, IntelliAssign (auto-assign chats based on availability and workload), and chat campaigns Messaging channel integrations: SMS (short message service), Facebook Messenger, WhatsApp, and Apple Business Chat Freddy AI insights: Predictive contact scoring, lead generation bot, deduplication, answer bot, deal insights, out-of-office detection, and forecasting insights Website integration: Classic forms, smart forms, and website tracking Reports and dashboards: Default reports, custom reports, and advanced metrics (won deals and emails delivered) Mobile app: iOS and Android apps; contact, account, and deal management, voice notes, book Uber, Google Maps, caller ID, location check-in, automatic call logging, documents, and offline access Help and support: Case study, product, tours, product updates, and access to 24/5 customer support via phone, chat, and email Read our Freshsales review for a closer look at the features and benefits of this simple sales CRM platform. HubSpot CRM: Best Simple, Free CRM for Unlimited Users *Based on annual billing. Monthly pricing is also available at slightly higher rates. is our pick as the best free CRM for unlimited users because it offers many features typically included with paid solutions. Some of its free tools include pipeline management, email integration, marketing automation, reporting dashboards, email tracking, ticketing, and ad management. This easy sales CRM also has a user-friendly interface that allows reps to manage their customers. Unlike and , HubSpot CRM’s free plan only offers self-help resources like community support and a knowledge base. Another setback for this CRM platform is its limited reporting and analytics capabilities, which generally cover team activity and performance. In comparison, although does not offer a free tier, it provides insights on deals, individual and group goals, revenues, and forecasts. HubSpot CRM Features CRM tools: Contact management, contact website activity, companies, deals, tasks, activities, company insights, and sales documents Marketing tools: Forms, email marketing, ad management, landing pages, shared inbox, and list segmentation Service tools: Ticketing, email scheduling, and ticket closed reports Integrations: , , Messenger, and App Marketplace Email tools: Shared inbox, email tracking, email templates, and canned snippets Calling: In-app calling via voice over internet protocol (VoIP) Reporting: Dashboard for activity and performance metrics Mobile app: iOS and Android apps; tasks, events, reminders, deals, contacts, activity feed, email, caller ID, live chat, voice notes, meetings, file attachments, and offline access Help and support: Access to community support, knowledge base, and ; extended tier-based support via email, chat, and phone (7 a.m. to 8 p.m. Eastern time, Monday to Friday) Read our HubSpot CRM review for in-depth knowledge of what this solution can do for your business. Less Annoying CRM: Best Simple CRM With Straightforward Pricing *Monthly pricing only When it comes to pricing schemes, rises above the rest of the providers on this list because of its single-tier pricing. As its name implies, it is less annoying because it has a flat fee of $15 per user monthly, and has no contracts or usage limits. It also offers excellent contact and task management features. While this simple CRM is ideal for small teams, it also provides an enterprise option for businesses with more than 10 users. Less Annoying CRM offers a no-frills pricing model and a short learning curve, but this basic CRM software also has its own list of limitations. For instance, it doesn’t have a mobile app and has limited options for customization and integrations. In contrast, base plan is more affordable and provides these features. You can also try for a more customizable yet free alternative. Less Annoying CRM Features Core CRM features: Contact management, notes, files, tasks, events, calendar and tasks, and data import and export Reports: Leads and pipeline reports, including status and priority Collaboration: Data sharing permissions and access control Customization: Custom fields, contacts, companies, and pipelines Mobile access: Mobile-optimized web app Help and Support: Access to help center with guide articles; customer support via email and phone, Monday to Friday from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. Central time For a deeper understanding of this platform’s capabilities, check out our Less Annoying CRM review. Really Simple Systems: Best Simple CRM With Built-in Marketing & Service Tools *Based on annual pricing. Monthly pricing is also available at slightly higher rates. **Either Simple Marketing or Service Desk can be included for free with five or more users on the Enterprise plan. Both tools can be included for free with 10 or more users. lives up to its name as simple CRM software with easy-to-learn sales tools, such as contact and pipeline management, quotes, tasks, email integration, reports, and sales forecasts. It also offers add-on tools for marketing and customer service. Its simple interface makes it easy to set up and navigate, even for beginners. Nevertheless, those who have trouble with it can take advantage of its free guides and customer support. Aside from being the easiest CRM system to use, it also has robust customization capabilities. Even with the free plan, you can customize this system according to your business needs. Customizable data fields, dashboards, table grids, drop-down menus, and CRM page designs exist. One of the disadvantages of Really Simple Systems is the additional monthly costs for those who want to add marketing and service tools to their CRM package. Aside from that, advanced reporting (with more details and summaries) is only available for Enterprise users. While it does not have a mobile app for Android and iOS, it offers a mobile responsive website optimized for mobile screens. If you are looking for an all-in-one CRM provider that offers a mobile app, try . Better yet, choose a free solution like that supports unlimited users. Really Simple Systems Features Sales CRM: Contact management, pipeline management, quotations, opportunities history, sales weighting and probability, sales stages, product lines, tasks, events, calendars, timelines, linked accounts, document storage, search and filter, merge records, geolocation, email integrations, and sales group permission levels Marketing CRM: Campaign wizard, email designer, design templates, personalization, email attachments, mailing lists, scheduling, unsubscribe option, response tracking, database segmentation, lead management, campaign stages, website integration, web forms, automated campaigns, drip marketing campaigns, and manage return on investment (ROI) Service Desk CRM: Case management, service level agreements (SLAs), case prioritization, custom dashboard, web forms, custom reports, and email integration Reporting: Listing and forecast reports, custom reports, advanced reports (with subtotals and summaries), scheduled reports, and custom chart widgets Custom features: Fields, tables, drop-down lists, dashboards, pages, and charts Mobile access: Mobile responsive website optimized for mobile screens Help and support: Access to in-page help information, online customer portal, video tutorials, live webinars, annual CRM review, account manager, and team training; customer support is available during business hours UK time via phone (for Professional and Enterprise tiers only), email, and live chat. Find out if this platform is the right fit for your business requirements by reading our Really Simple Systems review. Agile CRM: Best Simple CRM for Increasing User Engagement *Based on annual billing. Monthly pricing is also available at slightly higher rates. offers sales, marketing, and service automation tools in one platform. It also features email and phone support in all of its paid tiers. This simple CRM tool helps improve user engagement and motivates sales teams to deliver results using gamification tools, friendly competition, and team collaboration. There are custom leaderboards that show the performance and ranking of each rep. However, Agile CRM lacks the robust integration options and reporting capabilities of . Its telephony feature is available only for Regular and Enterprise subscribers, while incorporates this tool into all of its plans. Moreover, all but its Enterprise plan cap the number of contacts you can store. If you are looking for a free CRM that supports unlimited contacts, try . Agile CRM Features Sales tools: Contact management, lead scoring, appointment scheduling, custom deal milestones, custom data fields, email tracking, project management, and gamification Marketing tools: Email marketing, newsletters, email tracking, multichannel campaigns, form builder, landing page builder, social monitoring, and web-to-lead forms Service tools: Help desk, groups, labels, canned responses, knowledge base, service level agreements (SLAs), and live chat Telephony: Two-way calling, post-call automation, call recording, automated voice calls, call scripts, and audio conferencing Reporting and analytics: Custom reports, scheduled reports, growth reports, funnel and cohorts analysis, customer behavior, website performance, and team performance Mobile apps: iOS and Android apps; mobile dashboard, contact management, deal tracking, events, tasks, and Google Calendar sync Help and support: Access to setup guides, training workshops, onboarding coach, and dedicated account manager (Enterprise); 24/5 customer support via live chat, email, and phone To explore if it is the right CRM solution for you, read more about its features and benefits in our Agile CRM review. How We Evaluated Simple & Easy CRM Software The best simple CRM system for small businesses should include core CRM features and have straightforward pricing. It should also offer reliable customer service, a user-friendly interface, a robust mobile app, and reporting features. Understandably, some will require minimal technical skill and setup for users. With an overall score of 4.88 out of 5, is our top choice for small businesses needing a simple and easy CRM system that features drag-and-drop functionalities. It has excellent reporting capabilities, customizable pipelines, as well as robust third-party integrations and mobile apps for Android and iOS devices. While it does not have a free option, it offers affordable paid plans that range from $14.90 to $99 per user monthly, billed annually. Pipedrive offers 24/7 email and live chat support across all plans, while phone support is available for Enterprise plan subscribers. In addition, it got mostly positive user reviews who rated its features, value for money, and ease of use. The tabs below offer more insights into our evaluation process for selecting the simplest CRM system:

The best customer engagement strategy focuses on the customers’ interests and needs. It is ideally an all-in-one solution that provides customers with value, addresses their common concerns, and makes them want to interact more with your brand. Below, we identify the best customer engagement strategies that can help businesses boost their sales and enumerate customer engagement metrics that businesses must follow. 1. Identify Your Ideal Customers Before you develop any customer engagement activities, you first need to know who your ideal customers are and how they interact with your business. Start by mapping your customer journey and develop a customer persona to guide your lead generation and marketing efforts. Then, you can come up with customer engagement ideas to engage every persona in a way that appeals to them. 2. Build a Brand Voice Differentiate your business from others by building a unique brand voice, which personifies your business and makes it more relatable to your customers. When building your brand voice, you need to consider some important factors. These include your mission statement, company values, target audience, best-performing content, and top competitors. For example, if you are promoting sportswear, it is best to adopt a friendly, positive, and motivating brand voice. If you sell glamorous jewelry, you might build a brand voice that is both elegant and sweet to get your audience to engage with your brand. They might promote it on Instagram with the help of a young model dressed in an elegant gown, for example. Once you determine the right brand personality, use it whenever you share content and engage with your customer base on social media. 3. Create Valuable Content Provide your customers with helpful and relevant content to address their needs and challenges. You can publish videos, blogs, and social posts that contain practical tips and product updates your customers will find useful. For instance, software companies could regularly publish new features added to their products. Creating valuable content like this can help ensure that your existing customers seek you out when they are looking for answers. CRM providers, like , offer free downloadable templates for your content marketing campaigns. You can choose from various types of templates for blog posts, e-books, memos, press releases, social media graphics, and infographics. 4. Personalize the Customer Experience Use customer data and surveys to gain insights into how you can personalize customer interactions. These could include their preferred cadence of communication, message format, and location-based recommendations. You could also speed up the checkout experience by using saved payment information and preferences. Providing unique touches like these let them know that you are paying attention to their likes and needs. When customizing client interactions, it is vital to strike a balance between personalization and privacy. Before anything else, use your email marketing to send out a survey asking your customers which data they are willing to share with you in exchange for a tailored experience. This move helps assure customers that their information is secure and builds trust with them. For example, a clothing company asks customers what their favorite clothing items and accessories are. Based on the survey responses, the company sends them monthly or quarterly recommendations that feature the latest products for the season. You can use the Journey Builder of to create unique engagement techniques for every client. It has a journey template gallery with a number of marketing flows to choose from. In addition, you’ll save time by using its pre-designed templates to create personalized messages for your customers. 5. Streamline Your Engagement Process Use the right tools to streamline your engagement process. Customer relationship management (CRM) systems, like , offer tools for engaging with customers and enable you to organize and automate your strategies to create a seamless customer experience across various channels. Salesforce helps your sales, marketing, service, commerce, and IT departments work more efficiently by providing an integrated platform called Customer 360, where they can all engage with customers. You can also personalize customer experiences using artificial intelligence. Plus, the sales automation and enablement tools help boost your team’s productivity. 6. Provide Benefits to Loyal Customers Start a loyalty program to reward your loyal customers and to help boost customer retention. You could give them discounts or freebies on their future purchases. Some companies offer buyers points for every transaction, and these could be accumulated and redeemed as discounts or small accessories. As part of your loyalty program, you could also offer other free benefits like access to exclusive webinars on topics they might be interested in. 7. Gather & Address Customer Feedback Customer feedback is a great way to gauge how satisfied your customers are with your product or service. Use your CRM or sales engagement platform to collect technical, quantitative, and qualitative data to help you better understand your customers’ experience. Don’t be afraid to encounter negative feedback because it allows you to learn how to improve your product or service. Another way to gather feedback is to encourage your customers to leave honest reviews about your company. You can send them a Google review link that leads to your Google My Business page, then you can share these reviews on your website or add them to your purchase confirmation email. Reviews serve as a form of social proof that can help establish trust with your customers. has a built-in Customer Satisfaction Survey functionality you can use with every support ticket. With the platform, you can create and send up to 10 satisfaction surveys per account to your customers. It also provides you with reports that you can use to analyze agent performance. 8. Hold Social Media Contests Social media is a valuable platform for active engagement with customers. You can host photo contests that people can share across multiple social platforms. Reward winners with giveaways from a product line you are currently promoting to boost your engagement and product visibility. For instance, a shoe company could host a contest for the best outfit coordinated with their latest pair of loafers. The winner with the most “likes” gets a free pair of footwear from your company. 9. Set Up a Customer Success Center According to HubSpot, 69% of customers try to resolve issues on their own first before asking for help from an agent. Unfortunately, only a few companies offer self-service options like a knowledge base or a page for frequently asked questions (FAQs). Setting up a customer success center allows customers to get timely access to their most pressing questions and helps them gather information about your product before making a sound buying decision. A program like offers a Service Hub that allows you to create a knowledge base your customers can access. It features a drag-and-drop editor that allows you to organize the order of categories and articles in your knowledge base. You can also improve article search results by tagging the articles with keywords or phrases that readers commonly use to find helpful articles. 10. Support Your Service Team A HubSpot Customer Acquisition Study found that 93% of consumers are more likely to make repeat purchases at companies with excellent customer service. Aside from implementing creative customer engagement ideas, it is crucial to support your customer service reps and team, as they are the ones who primarily interact with your consumers. Some of the things that you can do to keep your team happy and motivated include providing them with the right technology and training and rewarding high performance. When team members are well taken care of and feel both appreciated and supported, they are better able to deliver excellent customer experiences. How to Measure Customer Engagement We monitor certain metrics to measure the relationship between your client engagement activities and customer reactions. The set of metrics that you use to define customer engagement may vary depending on the nature of your business. However, the ones enumerated below are relevant across various industries. Bottom Line Implementing the right customer engagement strategy will improve customer experiences, lead to higher customer retention rates, and help you attract more new customers in the long run. You should also measure the success of your customer engagement activities to determine areas for improvement in your strategies. You May Also Like … Want to learn strategies to earn customer loyalty? Read our article on how CRM helps increase customer retention. Did you know that CRM software can help boost customer satisfaction? Follow these steps on how to use a CRM for customer service. Unsure which software to use for your support team? Check out our guide on how to choose customer service software.

Customer relationship management (CRM) call center software tools not only offer tools for contact and lead management—they also have telephonic features that allow you to manage and track calls, as well as generate call-centric analytics reports. The best CRM for call centers offer these features at an affordable price point. We compared dozens of call center CRM systems and narrowed it down to our top seven. Our top picks and their best uses cases include: : Best overall for businesses wanting essential calling features for sales enablement combined with an easy-to-use, customizable CRM : Ideal option for small businesses looking for a low-cost, operational CRM with call center functionalities : Great call center solution for companies that want robust call center automation tools : Recommended option for an easy-to-use contact center CRM with workflow automation and call routing : Top CRM for call centers with conversational intelligence features : Excellent choice for companies looking for call center CRM systems with advanced features like an auto-dialer, phone surveys, and call routing : Suitable for businesses that want call center features combined with project management tools Best CRM Call Center Software Compared See fullscreen table × *Based on annual billing Take our quiz to find out which CRM call center software can help you manage and track calls. Freshsales: Best Overall CRM Call Center Software *Per user, per month pricing is based on annual billing. Monthly pricing is also available at slightly higher rates. by is an intuitive CRM with built-in cloud telephony tools, such as automatic inbound call routing, click-to-call functions, call recording, and call queues. Its easy-to-use call center tools include sales call and team performance analytics. It also comes with a mobile app that lets you take calls on the go, log calls, and link them with a contact, deal, or account. If you want access to more advanced call center features, you can sign up for (free or starting at $15 per agent, per month). This smart call center software within the Freshworks platform offers expanded call center functionalities, such as international phone numbers, vanity numbers, call blocking, voice bots, and abandoned call metrics. For small businesses, Freshsales offers a great price point for a CRM system with solid basic call center features. However, the cost of many agents, number of calls, call duration, and subscription to both Freshsales and Freshdesk Contact Center could soar. Check out its Call Center Estimator to learn more about the specifics of your total operational costs. Alternatively, consider or for basic CRM for call center options with more budget-friendly pricing schemes. Freshsales Features Core CRM: Contact management, account management, contact lifecycle stages, activity timeline, auto-profile enrichment, sales activities (tasks, appointments, and notes), and activity home dashboard CRM customization: Rename modules, custom fields, profile avatar for contact/account, record tags, product catalog, email template tags, workflows, and auto-assignment rules Sales pipeline management: Deal management, visual sales pipelines, collaboration with Slack, rotten deals, multiple sales pipelines, sales goals, and sales forecasting Cloud telephony: Built-in phone, buy local and toll-free numbers, inbound caller ID, call masking, call recording, voicemails and voicemail drop, call queues, bring your own carrier (BYOC), conference calling, holiday routing, virtual hold, and warm transfer Chat: Chat widget, conversation threads, chat assignment rules, canned responses, private notes, FAQs (frequently asked questions) articles, auto-resolve rules, IntelliAssign (auto-assign chats based on agent availability and workload), and chat campaign Freddy AI (artificial intelligence) assistant: Predictive contact scoring, lead gen bot, smart matches (deduplication of data), chatbot, deal insights (close rate, trending, at risk, or cold), and forecasting insights Integrations: Messaging channels (short message service, Facebook Messenger, WhatsApp, and Apple Business Chat), website (classic forms, smart forms, and website tracking), application programming interface (API) access, and Freshworks Marketplace Mobile app: Android and iOS apps, contact, account, and deal management, voice notes, book Uber from CRM, Google Maps integration, caller ID, location check-in, automatic call logging, documents, and offline access Help and support: 24/7 support via phone, chat, and email; access to dedicated account manager for Enterprise users Read our Freshsales review to discover how this software can benefit your growing business. Zoho CRM: Best Cost-effective CRM With Call Center Features *Per user, per month pricing is based on annual billing. Monthly pricing is also available at slightly higher rates. offers a free option with basic features and robust yet affordable paid plans. It has a built-in telephony system, allowing you to buy local or toll-free numbers and assign unique outgoing numbers to your agents. This solution integrates with , so you can access email ticketing and help desk capabilities at no additional cost. You can also connect it with other telephony and PBX programs, such as , , and . One of the challenges of using Zoho CRM is navigating around its robust features since this is an all-inclusive sales solution that offers a broad suite of tools. If you prefer using call center software that is not as complicated as a full-featured CRM, consider choosing or . Zoho CRM Features Sales force automation: Leads, contacts, accounts, deals, tasks, events, call logs, notes, sales forecasting, email insights, multiple currencies, scoring rules, assignment rules, email parser, and multiple pipelines CRM customization: Page customization, rename tabs, custom fields, custom modules, page layouts, and custom list views Telephony: PBX integration, single-click dialing, reminders for upcoming and missed calls, automate scheduling of calls and post-call activities, auto-log calls, update call status, and save notes Zia (artificial intelligence): Data enrichment, conversational AI assistant, reminders, best time to contact, smart automations, assignment suggestions, AI for emails, and best recommendations Reports and analytics: Standard and custom reports, scheduled reports, charts, key performance indicators (KPIs), funnels, target meter, comparator, cohorts, anomaly detector, dashboard, webform analytics, webform A/B testing, and workflow reports Social: Enrich data with Twitter and Facebook profiles, social tabs, automated lead generation from social media, and social interaction with leads and contacts Marketing automation: Email templates, email opt-out, mass email, marketing campaigns, customer segmentation, and auto-responders Web forms: Web-to-lead, web-to-contact, and web-to-case forms Team collaboration: Motivator (gamification), calendar, status updates, direct messages, attach file to leads, tagging, and groups for team collaboration Inventory management (for Professional and higher plans only): Products, price books, sales quotes, sales orders, invoices, vendors, and purchase orders Integrations: Apps for online meetings, telephony and PBX, team collaboration, office productivity, storage, analytics, email marketing, customer service, finance, business operations, website visitor tracking, and maps and route planning Mobile app: Android and iOS apps manage deals, contacts, tasks, analytics dashboards, RouteIQ (route planning), and mobile card scanner (convert business cards into CRM contacts) Customer support: Knowledge base, FAQs, community forum, training, videos, webinars, e-books, and Zia on-screen tips; tier-based customer support via email (24/7), phone (critical cases only or 24/5), and live chat (24/5) If you want to learn more about this software’s features and capabilities, read our Zoho CRM review. Nextiva: Best for Automating Call Center Functionalities *Per user, per month pricing is based on annual billing. Monthly pricing is also available at slightly higher rates, while 24-month, 36-month, and pre-pay 36-month agreements are available at lower rates. offers business communication plans that consolidate phone, video, chat, and collaboration tools into a single app. Its features include unlimited HD calling, call routing, screen sharing, and custom caller ID. While it does not function like a traditional CRM, it has excellent automation features that allow you to automatically deploy surveys after calls, prioritize cases with poor customer feedback, and direct emails to new leads. Nextiva is an excellent tool for business communication management, but it may not be the best choice for you if your business requires robust customer support features. In that case, consider or , which both offer free and affordable call center CRM software options. Nextiva Features Voice calling: Unlimited calling within the U.S. and Canada, free local and toll-free number, 1,500 to 12,500 toll-free minutes, high-definition (HD) voice, auto-attendant, unlimited internet fax, and free number porting Voice productivity: Call pop (complete customer information view), voice-to-email notifications, voice-to-SMS notifications, voicemail transcription, team presence (agent status and availability), shared line appearance, professionally recorded greeting, single sign-on, hold music, and call group Meetings: Unlimited conference calls, unlimited video calling, and HD video calling Collaboration: Team messaging and collaboration, private group messaging, screen sharing, mobile SMS and MMS (multimedia messaging service) Voice analytics and reports: Call history, call log reports, and voice analytics Voice administration: Admin portal, user portal, dashboard, real-time system status alerts, and call recording Phones: Bring your own device (BYOD), desk and conference phone rental options, desk phone, and conference phone Integrations: Nextiva CRM, , Microsoft Outlook, Google Contacts, , , NetSuite, ServiceNow, ConnectWise, and Mobile app: Android and iOS apps; Nextiva Anywhere (inbound and outbound calls from your own mobile device) Customer support: Multisite support, real-time system alert status, professional implementation, and 24/7 support via email, chat, and phone Check out our Nextiva review to find out if this is the right solution for your growing business. Pipedrive: Best Call Center CRM With Workflow Automation *Per user, per month pricing is based on annual billing. Monthly pricing is also available at slightly higher rates. has its own contact center CRM software that allows you to easily import contacts and automate your call management workflows. You can automatically route or assign incoming calls to specific agents and add important data to contact records. It also allows you to schedule follow-up activities based on the nature and outcome of your last call. You can use its built-in dial pad or integrate it with third-party phone systems like and to place calls to your customers. Aside from that, it comes with call recording features and storage for your call scripts. While Pipedrive is a solid option for call center CRM software, it lacks some native out-of-the-box sales and marketing features in its basic plan. For instance, email templates and workflow automation are not included in its Standard plan. However, and offer the same features across all tiers. You can also use if you need a multichannel business communication solution with call routing and unlimited HD calling. Pipedrive Features Sales CRM: Offers lead and deal management features that include customizable pipelines, products catalog, leads inbox, deal rotting, and custom fields Call center software: Includes features for automatic call recording and logging, making and receiving calls, auto-assign inbound calls, and automatically store callers’ data Communication tracking: Tools for tracking updates on leads and deals, activities, and email opens; includes automatic scheduling of emails, meetings, and video calls Smart Docs: Built-in document management tools for monitoring quotes, proposals, and electronic signature gathering Built-in appointment booking tool: Sends calendar links to leads via live chat, then syncs meetings to the sales rep’s calendar through Pipedrive Scheduler Smart contact data feature: Provides extensive information on leads using email addresses and publicly available data such as Google+ and LinkedIn AI sales assistant: Gives sales representatives tips for improving performance based on past customer behavior and data within the CRM Check out our Pipedrive review to explore the other benefits that your company can gain from using this software. HubSpot CRM: Best Contact Center CRM With Conversational Intelligence *Based on annual billing. Monthly pricing is also available at slightly higher rates. offers powerful yet easy-to-use call center software in the form of its Service Hub. It helps your team improve the quality of customer service with its advanced automation tools and insightful analytics reports. In addition, it comes with a shared email inbox, live chat software, call tracking, and self-service features. Its seamless integration with (plans start at $30 per user, per month) lets you provide phone support to your customers. This platform enables team managers to coach their reps efficiently through its conversation intelligence. This feature automatically takes notes of commonly mentioned keywords and provides transcription for voice data in your CRM. Using the insights it produces, managers can identify performance patterns, leave feedback, coach reps, and help them overcome objections and close more deals. One of the disadvantages of HubSpot CRM is its lack of project management tools. If your business requires a CRM system with integrated project management features, consider using . If you are looking for more affordable alternatives that are also equipped with advanced call center management tools, subscribe to or . HubSpot CRM Features Sales Hub: Tools for managing and segmenting contacts, sending emails, deal tracking, creating sales documents, chatting with visitors, and making voice-over-internet-protocol (VoIP) calls Marketing Hub: Attract leads through blogs and social media; convert visitors into customers using landing pages and email marketing automation, and run inbound marketing campaigns Service Hub: Deliver quality customer service with conversational tools, help desk automation, knowledge base functionality, customer surveys, and reporting Call center software: Automatically track and log sales calls, make outbound calls, conversational intelligence Custom workflow automations: Create tasks based on lead-triggering activities Quotes: Easily generate professional quotes using click-to-quote tools Communication features: Built-in telephone and email communication tools Event management feature: Data from marketing events can be stored and managed through integrations with event planning and scheduling applications like Eventbrite, atEvent, and Attendease Appointment setting tools: Built-in meeting scheduling tools for leads to set appointments Read our in-depth HubSpot CRM review to learn more about how this platform helps small businesses grow. Plus, check out how HubSpot CRM compares to another robust CRM product in our comparison review of Insightly vs HubSpot. Voicent: Best for Advanced Call Center Features *Based on annual billing. Monthly pricing is also available at slightly higher rates. is a communication platform that offers a built-in CRM with basic contact and lead management functionalities. It is equipped with call center-specific tools that help improve agent productivity, such as automated outbound phone surveys, IVR, and an auto-dialer. It also integrates with other CRM platforms, including , , and . Among the glaring disadvantages of Voicent are its lack of a mobile app, few third-party integrations, and limited customization options. It also does not offer online marketing campaign tools. You have to pay extra for other call center features like inbound call center caller ID, workflow automation, and email campaigns. If you need a CRM with phone capabilities and more customization options, choose or . Voicent Features CRM: Contact management, CRM import wizard, save search filters, custom fields, custom sales pipeline categories, custom displays, agent access management, and custom agent roles and permissions Business automation: Capture leads (via phone, email, and web), track website visitors and web forms, workflow triggers, contact activity tracking, record daily sales and potential deals, agent performance and activity, custom caller experience, and automatic CRM pop-up on phone calls Call center tools: Auto-dialer, predictive dialer, PBX phone system, outbound call center, inbound and outbound IVR, email and SMS marketing, phone and SMS surveys, and inbound call center Help and support: Product usage self-help module and YouTube tutorials; paid support includes product training, standard setup, professional support, remote login, and free upgrades, license transfers, remote support services, maintenance, and email and phone support Bitrix24: Best for Combined Call Center & Project Management Tools *Based on annual billing. Monthly and quarterly pricing are also available at slightly higher rates. is a CRM system with integrated project management features that can be used for specific call center functions. For example, you can assign inbound calls as tasks within a project. You can also automatically generate leads for answered and missed calls logged in the contact center. In addition, you can connect your phone to your CRM to link calls to deals. This solution is excellent if you need additional tools for human resources and website design. Its telephonic features allow you to call your staff or clients directly from your CRM app. You can also easily access relevant contact data, such as company position or order details before you start a call. Much like Bitrix24, also offers tools for managing human resource tasks. When it comes to project management features, Bitrix24 has the edge because of its Gantt chart generation and Kanban board functionality. However, it does not offer phone customer support, and its user interface can be overwhelming for beginners. , on the other hand, offers unlimited support and has an easy-to-use interface. Bitrix24 Features CRM: Unlimited leads, deals, contacts, quotes, and invoices; lead and deal conversion, product catalog, sales pipelines, sales automation tools, custom fields, document generator, custom stages, client profile, activity timeline, recurring deals and invoices, automatic duplicate detection, payment and delivery, and inventory management Contact Center: Connect different channels (phone, email, live chat, and social media messaging) to your CRM; built-in telephony call back widget, website widget, and email copy storage Telephony: PBX integration, unlimited incoming and outgoing lines, call routing, call transfer, VoIP integration, internal extensions, work hour settings, voicemail and greetings, call-to-all distribution mode, missed call forwarding, export call details, automatic dialer, client conversation rating, interactive voice response (IVR) menu, queue groups, automatic call transcription menu, and call recording Communication: Chat, HD video calls, video conferencing, company drive, calendar, company social network, newsfeeds, workgroups, extranet (private network with controlled access for outsiders), announcements, polls, appreciation badges, video announcements, company knowledge base, and smart search Tasks and projects: Tasks, Kanban boards, project management, autofocus mode (automatically sort tasks based on priority), scrum, efficiency KPI, task automation, attach files from drive, integration with workflows, access permissions, and report builder Sites and landing pages: Visual website builder, connect sites to call tracking, free website hosting, website widget, customer journey tracking, and site import/export Ecommerce: Online store builder, products, orders, checkout scripts, order processing, payment processing, access rights, coupons, cumulative discounts, automation rules, fixed shipping costs, shipping cost calculator, and inventory management CRM marketing: Customer segmentation, segment-based email marketing, audience search, Facebook advertising, advertising automation rules, and email templates Sales intelligence: Automatic customer journey tracking, analytical reports, automated ad management, call tracking, and offline ad tracking Human resources (HR) tools: Company social network, employee profile page, company structure, employee directory, quick employee search, work time tracking, absence management, work reports, company knowledge base, and meetings Mobile app: Android and iOS apps; deals, contacts, companies, invoices, offers, products, tasks, and projects Customer support: Help desk, online training (tooltips, FAQs, video tutorials, and webinars), chat with tech support, and email support We have created this Bitrix24 review to help you decide if this solution fits your business needs. How We Evaluated the Best CRM Call Center Software Excellent call center CRM software provides state-of-the-art features specific to phone calling activities within the platform or through a third-party app integration. The software should also offer users reporting functionality to track call logs and call center activity. Additionally, great CRM providers deliver solid customer support, are easy to use, and offer attractive pricing options—some of the core CRM features that small businesses need. Based on our evaluation, Freshsales is the best CRM software for call centers because of its ability to offer unique call center features like Queue Callback (virtual hold), Bring Your Own Carrier, and supervisor call center controls, all in addition to CRM sales and marketing tools. The tabs below offer more insight into our evaluation process for selecting the best free customer service software:

Really Simple Systems is one of our highly recommended, easy-to-use customer relationship management (CRM) software for sales, marketing, and service teams of startups and small businesses. We evaluated this provider and it scored high in pricing, ease of use, customer service, and expert scores. However, it got a lower score in general features because it lacks a mobile app and third-party integration options. is an easy-to-use CRM platform with a centralized set of tools for managing sales, marketing, and customer service activities. It provides traditional sales enablement features for contact and pipeline management, and customization capabilities for reports, data fields, dashboards, and charts. It also offers a free-forever plan. This software is best for startups and small businesses wanting a simple yet customizable CRM solution. Really Simple Systems Deciding Factors Really Simple Systems Alternatives If this platform doesn’t meet your business needs, below are some highly rated alternatives to consider: *Based on annual billing; monthly pricing is also available at slightly higher rates **Monthly billing only pricing nabbed a perfect score because of its free-forever plan for up to two users and affordable paid options. Its paid subscriptions cost between $14 and $46 per user on a monthly basis (billed annually), with options to add marketing, a service desk, and advanced customization capabilities. It comes out of the box with tools for contact and pipeline management, sales forecasting, products, document storage, reporting, and field customization. Get started for free or sign up for its 14-day free trial to see how this CRM system works before you commit to a paid plan. For more information on Really Simple Systems CRM pricing options, select a plan from the drop-down menu below: Really Simple Systems Features In this CRM review, we gave this provider a score of 3.88 out of 5 for its general features. Its sales CRM allows your business to manage customer, prospect, and supplier contacts by organizing information, monitoring interactions, and managing tasks associated with specific contacts. On the higher-tiered plans, you can also integrate your business email and VoIP phone system into the CRM, and synchronize contact data and communications. This program has pipeline management tools that allow your business to create and track sales opportunities. You can customize sales opportunities by adding deal values and probabilities of closing the deal. This helps you generate more accurate sales forecasting reports for your business. Professional and Enterprise plan users have access to built-in quote generation tools from an opportunity record. Your sales reps can create, download, and send a business proposal to a prospect. Check out this platform’s general features below: Sales CRM Contact and pipeline management Quotes Sales weightings and probability (assigning a percentage to the likelihood of a successful sale) Opportunities Product lines Tasks, events, and calendars Document storage Geolocations via Email integration This provider got a score of 2.5 out of 5 for its specialized features mainly because of the additional fees required to access its marketing and service tools. Its other standout features include sales forecasting, user permission levels, and customized reports and dashboards. This platform provides customer support during standard business hours by phone, email, and live chat. In addition to its customer support channels, there are also supplemental tools you and your team can access. These include webinars, a blog, tutorial videos, and a customer support hub with step-by-step instructions and how-to guides. No review would be complete without noting that it’s an excellent product for users new to operating a CRM. At most, a minimal skill level is needed to set up and use the platform. It’s also easy to navigate because the interface only uses a few buttons on the vertical left tab: Sales, Marketing, Service & Support, and History. The CRM reviews left by customers are fairly consistent across the board. For the most part, users give relatively high marks when reviewing this system’s ease of use, value for money, and customer support. They also like the high level of customization that it offers. At the time of this publication, we noted the following scores from Really Simple Systems reviews posted on popular user review sites: Capterra: 4.4 out of 5 based on 369 reviews G2: 4.4 out of 5 based on 144 reviews TrustRadius: 7.6 out of 10 based on 43 reviews Most of the poor reviews of this provider stem from a functional element of the platform, such as the fact that it lacks a mobile application. Some noted that it could not integrate with social media platforms like LinkedIn and Twitter. Others wished that it came with out-of-the-box supplemental tools for marketing and customer service. However, most users say it’s an intuitive platform that’s easy for an entire sales team to adopt. Methodology: How We Evaluated Really Simple Systems To evaluate this program against other CRM software, we tested each system ourselves. We examined different crucial areas, such as pricing, core CRM features, quality of customer support, and ease of use. We also looked at recent CRM ratings about this platform from credible review sites. Click through the tabs below for our Salesforce Essentials evaluation criteria: Bottom Line Based on our review, we find it is a low-cost (or even free) CRM that provides the basic features of most sales CRMs. The lack of a mobile app and additional costs for add-ons is offset by the robust customization and the easy-to-use CRM tools. Plus, with optional add-ons for managing marketing and customer service operations, you can decide when to make the investment for the more advanced features as your business scales. You Might Also Like… Are you looking for a CRM that comes at no cost? Check out our picks for the best free CRM software for small businesses. Looking to make the most out of your CRM investment? Here are some CRM best practices for small businesses. Do you want to save time creating sales projections? Download our free sales forecast templates for small businesses.

Salesforce Essentials is one of our recommendations for the best customer relationship management (CRM) systems for small businesses. Based on our evaluation of the best CRMs, this platform scored high in general features, specialized features, customer service, and expert score. However, it received lower scores in pricing because of the lack of plan options. It also scored lower in ease of use because of its overwhelming layout and menu display. is a CRM system for small businesses that integrates with the overall ecosystem of Salesforce apps. You can customize its contact management, sales opportunities, mass emailing, and customer service ticketing features to fit your business requirements. It is best for small sales and support teams looking for highly customizable CRM software. Salesforce Essentials Deciding Factors Salesforce Essentials Alternatives If this platform doesn’t meet your business needs, below are some highly rated alternatives to consider: *Based on annual billing; monthly pricing is also available at slightly higher rates Salesforce Essentials pricing scored 2.5 out of 5, mainly because of the lack of other plan options. It offers a single subscription plan that costs $25 per user, each month (billed annually), and supports up to 10 users. This package includes tools for managing contacts, accounts, leads, and opportunities. Other features include lead assignment, email templates, custom reports and dashboards, and case management. You may sign up for its 14-day free trial to see how this CRM system works before you commit to its paid plan. Salesforce Essentials Features In this Salesforce Essentials review, we gave this provider a score of 3.75 out of 5 for its general features. It has excellent tools for managing accounts, contacts, leads, and opportunities. You can also customize your sales processes, as well as manage tasks and activities. Additionally, it has mobile apps for Android and iOS devices that offer full offline functionality. Plus, there’s a built-in software called Chatter for communication, file sharing, and team collaboration. Other standout features include real-time sales insights and configurable reports and dashboards with drag-and-drop functionality. However, it does not offer forecasting, cross-filters (filters that let you identify a record with or without a related record), or history tracking features. If these features are essential to your business, try or upgrade to a higher tier. Check out this platform’s general features below: Account management Contact management Lead management Opportunity management Campaign management Customizable sales process Task management and activity feed Email templates Mobile app Chatter We gave the edition a score of 5 out of 5 for its specialized features because it provides separate consoles for sales and service within the same platform. This is a unique feature that is not offered in most CRM solutions for small businesses. Aside from that, it comes with a Lightning Flow Automation tool for automating and managing your organization’s sales and support processes. We gave this CRM a score of 4.25 out of 5 for customer service. offers three levels of support under its Success Plans: Standard, Premier, and Signature. All types of licenses—including the Salesforce Essentials edition—offer Standard Success support. This gives you access to self-guided resources, a help portal, demos, events, and community advice. It also includes a two-day email response time for technical support cases submitted online. The Premier Success plan costs 30% of the net price of the software subscription. It adds 24/7 phone support and developer support on top of the inclusions in Standard Success. You also receive access to the following services: Expert coaching and training sessions Personalized recommendations and resources 25% discount on Salesforce classes and certifications Business value reviews by Salesforce experts Technical health reviews by Salesforce experts Under the Signature Plan, a technical account manager (TAM) assigned to your account documents your needs and prioritizes solutions to issues you encounter. You also get predeployment support, 24/7 automated solution monitoring, and key event management services. The cost of this plan depends on the complexity and scale of your business solution. When it comes to ease of use, this provider got a score of 1 out of 5. This platform is best suited for users with intermediate level technical skills. There is a bit of a learning curve to it, it takes several clicks to accomplish an action, and the number of display options can be overwhelming for beginners. However, it offers many video tutorials, in-app prompts, and self-help resources for users who need assistance in using the software. In this review, we gave it a score of 3.75 out of 5. Most of its users like its out-of-the-box setup and its robust contact and lead management features. They also appreciate its collaboration tools, mobile app, and straightforward reporting tools. Many users commended the platform’s deep customization options. However, many shared that its extensive customization and automation features make it overwhelming and confusing, especially for new users. Some find Salesforce Essentials pricing to be a bit expensive for the set of features it offers. Others said that it is hard to reach the customer service team and get direct answers from them. Despite these downsides, most users consider it worth the effort to learn how to use the program. As of this writing, it has earned the following scores from the most popular review sites: Capterra: 4.3 out of 5 based on 160 reviews G2: 4.2 out of 5 based on 643 reviews TrustRadius: 8.8 out of 10 based on 70 reviews How We Evaluated Salesforce Essentials To evaluate against other CRM software, we tested each system ourselves. We examined different crucial areas, such as pricing, core CRM features, quality of customer support, and ease of use. We also looked at recent CRM ratings about this platform from credible review sites. Click through the tabs below for our Salesforce Essentials review evaluation criteria: Bottom Line is a scaled-down version of sales and support CRM editions. While it has a 10-user limit, it is equipped with powerful sales automation, lead management, and customer support tools. Sign up for a 14-day free trial to see Salesforce Essentials in action. You Might Also Like… Do you want to save time creating sales projections? Download our free sales forecast templates for small businesses. Do you want to refine the way you make business decisions to improve your customer relationships? Follow our step-by-step guide on how to create an effective CRM process. Are you ready to create your own CRM strategy? Read our guide on how to formulate one and download our free CRM strategy worksheet.

Sales funnels visualize where prospects are in the buying journey of a sales process and assist in lead generation and sales forecasting. Creating a sales funnel involves understanding your company’s sales process and breaking it down into stages. You also have to design your funnel visual before entering customer data. Here, we show you how to create a sales funnel for your business in four easy steps, and give you four downloadable sales funnel templates based on different business types. Free Customizable Sales Funnel Templates To create a custom sales funnel for your business, download our free sales funnel templates. Each file comes with a prefilled version and a blank one that you can customize with your company’s major stages and corresponding sales process activities. Your sales funnel outline will visualize the journey that leads take with your business, from becoming a prospect to buying and becoming your customer. In this article, we dive into four essential steps to creating your own sales funnel: Step 1: Define Your Sales Pipeline First, determine what your sales pipeline stages are by evaluating your sales process. The sales pipeline stages are internal activities that occur in the process grouped into larger categories, such as generating, qualifying, and nurturing leads. For example, the sales funnel outline typically starts by identifying prospects and introducing them to your business, solution, or offering. You would then define a sales pipeline stage around the groups of activities you need to complete to generate a lead. Step 2: Consider How Each Pipeline Stage Relates to the Buyer’s Journey Once the sales pipeline is established, think about how each stage helps move a lead closer to making a buying decision. Below are some examples of stages of the buying journey and how they relate to common activities found in a sales pipeline. Creating awareness: This is the top of the funnel when the lead becomes aware of your brand and what your company offers. Pipeline activities like researching prospects, cold calling, and generating online leads yield this stage, and this is where prospects enter your sales funnel. Fostering interest: This is when you get new leads interested and guide them as they learn more about your business. Pipeline activities like introducing products or services, qualifying leads, and nurturing leads using email marketing or direct mail can move prospects to this stage. Pitching your offer: The lead gives your business the opportunity to make an offer. Pipeline activities like setting up and delivering a sales presentation or offering a free trial move leads to this stage. Considering a purchase: The lead has all the information required to make a decision and shows intent to buy. Pipeline activities like sending proposals, generating quotes, and negotiating terms move leads to this stage. Decision-making: The lead elects to purchase from your business. Pipeline activities associated with closing a deal and onboarding customers lead to this stage. Alternatively, if the lead decides not to buy, they may fall out of your sales funnel altogether or revert to a previous stage, such as pitching your offer or considering the purchase. Step 3: Design the Funnel Visual Once your funnel’s stages are established, create a sales funnel template as a visual for your business. Add funnel stages in chronological order from the top going down. The initial stage, where leads are generated, is at the widest part on top, whereas the final stage, where the lead becomes a customer, is at the narrowest part at the bottom. Many customer relationship management (CRM) systems help you save valuable time by doing this for you. CRMs aggregate the data in your system and visualize it with displays, including sales funnel charts. For example, check out the customized sales funnel chart from below. After you have configured the stages of the sales process you want to track, the platform generates this chart, which shows changes in the percentage value of every stage. The top of the funnel shows how many accounts you currently have, which is visualized in the widest shape at the top. It then narrows as the total number of leads at each stage gets smaller. Step 4: Add Customer Data Into the Sales Funnel Template Now that your sales funnel template is created, use prospective customer information to create a real-time sales funnel for each prospect. To do this, you’ll need to monitor the status of each lead and track your interactions with them. You can do this manually or via spreadsheet apps, like or , but a CRM is the most efficient way to manage customer data and generate visual sales funnels. A CRM stores prospect information, aggregates it, and generates visual charts showing how many leads are in each stage of the funnel, corresponding revenue opportunities, and where individual prospects are in the funnel. Sales Funnel Examples & Templates Sales funnels vary by industry, product and service offerings, and operational structure. Small businesses also find that certain sales funnel stages last much longer than others. For example, creating customer awareness can be quickly accomplished through one phone call or email, while gauging the customer’s interest may take multiple follow-ups and long-term nurturing to accomplish. Here are four examples and sales funnel templates based on varying business types: Important Sales Funnel Statistics Bottom Line Download our free sales funnel templates and personalize them to visualize your customers’ journey from start to finish. It can also help you improve your sales processes, better forecast revenues, and set and manage sales goals more effectively. Any of the sales funnel examples we provided may be a more accurate depiction of your sales process’ buying journey. You can take inspiration from them to identify the activities needed to move leads through your sales funnel.