Customer relationship management (CRM) software helps businesses manage relationships with customers and prospects using sales pipelines and other organizational tools. We compared dozens of products to determine the 10 best CRMs for solopreneurs, startups, and growing teams in terms of price, features, integrations, and reporting, arriving at the best overall option for small businesses.
Top 10 CRMs for Small Business 2020
CRM for Small Business | Best For |
|---|---|
(Best Overall) Businesses needing a customizable, robust, and competitively priced CRM with built-in phone | |
Organizations that want a CRM with social media integration and order management tools | |
Teams looking for a user-friendly interface and visual pipeline to manage sales | |
Businesses wanting a free, no-frills CRM with basic features for unlimited users | |
Companies needing a CRM with enterprise-class sales and support features | |
Businesses looking for a solid CRM with a top-notch mobile app | |
Small businesses needing a CRM with built-in marketing and service desk capabilities | |
Organizations needing an inexpensive, all-in-one CRM | |
Businesses that want a CRM with built-in project management tools | |
Individuals and startups that want a simple CRM living directly in their Gmail inbox |
Which CRM Is Best for You?
Evaluating the Best CRM for Small Business
The best CRM software for small businesses should be relatively inexpensive and provide a simple process for managing and tracking customers and prospects. Upgrade plans should allow companies to expand efficiently and include features such as process automation, system integrations, email marketing, customization, and advanced reporting.
To learn more, check out our detailed list of evaluation criteria.
Freshsales: Best Overall Small Business CRM
Freshsales contact management (Source: Freshsales)
What it is: Freshsales is a fully featured and customizable CRM offering contact and lead management designed for businesses with long sales cycles.
Why it’s great for small business: Freshsales offers a variety of price plans to meet a range of budgets. Its comprehensive set of features includes multiple sales pipelines, configurable dashboards, and lead assignment rules. Users can even make calls and send emails without leaving the platform. Freshsales is ideal for small businesses that need a reliable solution to build long-term relationships with customers and clients.
Freshsales Pros | Freshsales Cons |
|---|---|
Free plan supports unlimited users | Lacks the ability to issue quotes, manage orders, and invoice directly |
Easy to learn | Doesn’t include pricing books or product statistics |
In-app calling | Limited social media integration |
Freshsales Pricing
- Free: Supports unlimited users
- Blossom: $12 per user, per month
- Garden: $25 per user, per month
- Estate: $49 per user, per month
- Free trial of paid plans: 21 days
Freshsales Features
- Rules-based scoring
- Territory management
- Lead scoring
- Multicurrency and multilanguage support
- Custom roles, reports, and sales activities
To learn more about how sales teams use this CRM, visit our Freshsales reviews page.
Zoho CRM: Best Small Business CRM for Social Media Management
Zoho CRM social dashboard (Source: Zoho CRM)
What it is: Zoho CRM is an all-in-one small business CRM with sales management tools and a robust social media suite.
Why it’s great for small business: Also named the best CRM for startups, Zoho CRM allow companies to incorporate social media into relationship management, tracking interactions, and publishable content on Facebook, Twitter, LinkedIn, and Instagram. It’s perfect for sales teams wanting an affordable way to prospect and connect with leads across several social media sites.
Zoho CRM Pros | Zoho CRM Cons |
|---|---|
Automatically add social leads to CRM | Free plan supports only three users |
Unlimited publishing on social media channels with paid tier | Social media connections not available on free plan |
Offers social media keyword tracking | Lacks native Instagram integration |
Zoho CRM Pricing
- Free: Supports three users
- Standard: $12 per user, per month
- Professional: $20 per user, per month
- Free trial of paid plans: 15 days
Zoho CRM Features
- Sales forecasting
- Scoring rules
- Lead and contact management
- Activity tracking feature
- Website visitor monitoring
For more information on this CRM’s social media tools and features, visit our Zoho CRM reviews page.
Pipedrive: Best CRM for Visual Pipeline Management
Pipedrive contact interface (Source: Pipedrive)
What it is: Pipedrive is a small business CRM designed to simplify the sales pipeline process with an intuitive and easy-to-use pipeline management tool.
Why it’s great for small business: Pipedrive’s visual sales pipeline lets teams see what is in the sales pipeline at a glance while also helping to manage sales of standardized products and services. Pipedrive is a terrific choice for teams wanting a CRM with unique pipeline views that help reps quickly determine next steps.
Pipedrive Pros | Pipedrive Cons |
|---|---|
Automated workflows | Lacks lead assignment and lead-based routing |
Unlimited customizable pipelines | Does not include lead scoring |
Drag-and-drop pipeline interface | Limited phone support |
Pipedrive Pricing
- Essential: $12.50 per user, per month
- Advanced: $24.90 per user, per month
- Professional: $49.90 per user, per month
- Free trial: 14 days
Pipedrive Features
- Unlimited cloud storage
- Cumulative revenue forecast
- Email tracking
- Contact data enrichment
- Customizable dashboards
For details on how sales pros use the CRM’s visual pipeline, head to our Pipedrive reviews page.
HubSpot: Best Lead Management CRM for Small Businesses
HubSpot CRM contact interface (Source: HubSpot)
What it is: HubSpot is a free contact management application with robust functionality to meet the CRM needs of sales teams on a limited budget.
Why it’s great for small business: HubSpot’s features include smartform lead capture, a chat widget, and customer support ticketing, as well as email tracking and deal management. It can also be integrated with the Sales and Marketing Hubs for additional automation features. This makes HubSpot a great option for budget-conscious businesses of any size needing free CRM software for contact and lead management.
HubSpot Pros | HubSpot Cons |
|---|---|
Contact enrichment via HubSpot Insights company database | Does not automatically log social media interactions |
Lead follow-up via Gmail and Outlook integration | Additional integrations may require paid subscriptions |
Automatic lead assignment | Limited customization options |
HubSpot Pricing
- Free: Supports unlimited users
- Sales Hub and Marketing Hub add-ons: $50 per month to $800 per month depending on the features selected
HubSpot Features
- Smartform lead capture
- Customer support ticketing
- Deal pipelines
- Reporting dashboards
- Meeting scheduler
Read more about this free CRM by visiting our HubSpot CRM reviews page.
Salesforce Essentials: Best Small Business CRM With Advanced Features
Salesforce opportunity management (Source: Salesforce)
What it is: Salesforce Essentials is an affordable small business CRM with advanced features like mass emails and ecommerce tools typically found with more expensive enterprise-level solutions.
Why it’s great for small business: Salesforce Essentials includes the Salesforce Inbox email client that extends the full power of the desktop app to also encompass email and calendaring. Salesforce Essentials is especially suited to small businesses that need advanced features like territory-based lead assignment and reporting.
Salesforce Essentials Pros | Salesforce Essentials Cons |
|---|---|
Includes case management for customer support | Lacks a free plan |
Offers territory management | Upgrades can be expensive |
Robust forecasting tools | Steep learning curve |
Salesforce Essentials Pricing
- Salesforce Essentials: $25 per user, per month for up to 10 users; includes both the sales and service modules
- Salesforce Professional: $75 per user, per month; includes advanced features like lead scoring, forecasting tools, and campaigns
- Free trial: 90 days (Essentials plan only)
Salesforce Essentials Features
- Deep integration with Gmail and Outlook via the Salesforce Inbox app
- Mass email tools
- Marketing automation
- Artificial intelligence analytics
- Lead scoring
Read more about this solution’s advanced tools and features by visiting our Salesforce Essentials reviews page.
Zendesk Sell: Best Small Business CRM for Mobile Teams
Zendesk Sell deal management (Source: Zendesk Sell)
What it is: Zendesk Sell is a well-appointed CRM that includes contact and deal management features as well as a one of the best mobile CRM apps on the market.
Why it’s great for small business: Zendesk Sell is part of the Zendesk suite of services, which includes a help desk, chat, analytics, and IT management. However, it’s the mobile app’s built-in voice-over-internet-protocol (VoIP) calling that sets this solution apart for sales pros who need a reliable phone on the go that ties directly into their CRM.
Zendesk Sell Pros | Zendesk Sell Cons |
|---|---|
Mobile app includes built-in calling | Does not offer a free plan |
Mobile app offers call recording | Lacks social media management tools |
Mobile app features offline access to CRM | No deal forecast or tracking |
Zendesk Sell Pricing
- Team: $19 per user, per month
- Professional: $49 per user, per month
- Free trial: 14 days
Zendesk Sell Features
- Unlimited email templates
- Unlimited custom fields
- Bulk email
- Mailchimp integration
- Sales prospecting tools
For more information on this CRM’s mobile app and desktop features, check out our Zendesk Sell reviews page.
Really Simple Systems: Best Small Business CRM for Service Tools
Really Simple Systems case management (Source: Really Simple Systems)
What it is: Really Simple Systems is a CRM platform with built-in marketing and service desk tools like campaign management, case management, and service level agreements (SLAs).
Why it’s great for small business: Really Simple Systems features pipeline management and enables teams to view entire product catalogs, access quotes, and create custom pricing for prospective customers. Its all-in-one combination of CRM, marketing, and service capabilities makes Really Simple Systems ideal for small businesses that want an affordable CRM for managing the entire customer journey.
Really Simple Systems Pros | Really Simple Systems Cons |
|---|---|
Natural language search function | Lacks mobile apps |
Task management to keep teams on track | No option to automate workflows |
Quote and custom pricing tools with the Professional package | Free plan is limited to two users |
Really Simple Systems Pricing
- Free: Supports up to two users
- Starter: $14 per user, per month
- Professional: $30 per user, per month
- Free trial of paid plans: 14 days
Really Simple Systems Features
- Custom dashboards, reports, and pages
- Case management tools
- Advanced reporting
- Lead segmentation and management
- Outlook and Google Calendar sync
To learn more about this CRM’s features, visit our Really Simple Systems reviews page.
Bitrix24: Best Low-cost, All-in-One Small Business CRM
Bitrix24 contact interface (Source: Bitrix24)
What it is: Bitrix24 is a CRM with a free tier that offers all of the basic features needed to run a small business.
Why it’s great for small business: Features on Bitrix24’s free plan include contact and project management, invoicing, help desk, telephony, and live chat. Paid plans add features such as email and text marketing, CRM automations, and unlimited pipelines. Bitrix24 is the best CRM for small businesses that want a free, all-in-one CRM that scales as their business grows.
Bitrix24 Pros | Bitrix24 Cons |
|---|---|
Free plan supports unlimited users | Most paid plan have user limits |
Free plan includes telephony features to support call center environments | Paid plan for unlimited users is expensive |
Free multichannel support center to serve your customers | Free plan lacks marketing tools |
Bitrix24 Pricing
- Free: Supports unlimited users
- Start+: Supports two users for $19 per month
- CRM+: Supports six users for $55 per month
- Project+: Supports 24 users for $55 per month
- Standard: Supports 50 users for $79 per month
- Professional: Supports unlimited users for $159 per month
- Free trial of paid plans: 30 days
Bitrix24 Features
- Contact and project management for unlimited contacts
- Live chat
- Social media integration
- Pipeline management
- Sales automation
To find out what small business owners think about this CRM, head to our Bitrix24 reviews page.
Insightly: Best Small Business CRM for Project Management
Insightly project management (Source: Insightly)
What it is: Insightly is a competitively priced CRM with powerful project management functionality and sales pipeline customization options.
Why it’s great for small business: Insightly features tools to help teams manage vendors, prospects, and customers, and has numerous custom reporting options. This is a great choice for businesses looking for CRM software that can help them manage both sales and projects.
Insightly Pros | Insightly Cons |
|---|---|
Vendor and customer management | Free plan limited to two users |
Customizable project pipelines | Small business plans lack quotes and order management |
Milestone tracker | No inventory management |
Insightly Pricing
- Free plan: Supports up to two users
- Plus plan: $29 per user, per month
- Professional plan: $49 per user, per month
- Free trial of paid plans: 14 days
Insightly Features
- Relationship linking and tracking
- Voice notes
- Bulk email campaigns
- Customizable reporting
- Opportunity management
Read more about how sales teams use Insightly on our Insightly reviews page.
Streak: Best CRM With Direct Gmail Integration
Streak pipeline view (Source: Streak)
What it is: Streak CRM is fully embedded software that works directly inside Gmail’s inbox rather than requiring a separate CRM platform installation.
Why it’s great for small business: Streak CRM is beneficial for sales professionals wanting a streamlined solution that allows them to work from their inbox instead of switching back and forth between apps. There is a free plan for individuals and an affordable, single-user paid plan that adds additional features. Service plans for larger teams are expensive, however, making this the best solution for solopreneurs and very small businesses that want to manage contacts and deals directly from Gmail.
Streak Strengths | Streak Weaknesses |
|---|---|
Free plan never expires | No reporting with the free plan |
Email tracking and mail merge available with all plans | Can be expensive for larger teams |
Integrates with all G Suite apps | Limited business app integrations beyond G Suite |
Streak Pricing
- Free: Supports one user and offers limited features
- Solo: $15 per user, per month for expanded features but no pipeline sharing
- Pro: $49 per user, per month
- Free trial: 14 days (Pro plan only)
Streak Features
- Custom columns and fields
- Variety of templates for support ticket tracking, job applications, event bookings, project management, and other business uses
- Tracks call logs and meeting notes
- Auto-fill capabilities
- Supports file attachments
To read more about pairing Streak CRM with Gmail, visit our Streak CRM reviews page.
How We Selected the Best CRM for Small Business
There are a number of factors to consider when selecting which types of CRM for small business are worth checking out and which one we believe is best overall. Here’s an in-depth look at our evaluation criteria:
- Price
- Ease of use
- Contact management tools
- Deal and opportunity management features
- Workflow automation
- Reporting tools
- Customization capabilities
Bottom Line
Small business CRM software is essential for managing contacts and the sales process. Most vendors also bundle other business applications, such as marketing, project management, and service features, into their plans. The best CRM software for your small business depends largely on the number of users, use needs, and budget.
Freshsales is an affordable CRM for small businesses that features 360-degree customer insights, activity tracking, and appointment and lead management capability. Its suite of additional business applications also makes it attractive as a do-it-all platform for growing companies. Visit Freshsales and sign up for their risk-free, 21-day free trial.
Mathew Campisi
Why didn’t you add Velocity 360 CRM. In my opinion they are truly focused on what a CRM Should be and not a sales tool. A client of mines was using it and I switched from salesforce to Velocity 360 and it has been Awesome ever since. Just saying you should really check them out if you decide to update this article!
Amanda Norman
Hi Matthew,
Thanks for suggesting Velocity360 CRM. We review our buyers guides approximately once per year and can take a look at it then.
You can also suggest a software via our Reviews page. Just scroll down to the bottom, fill out the form, and we’ll get back to you.
Thanks for stopping by!
Mandy, Moderator
Jan Brychta
If you used to work in Outlook, you can try fully implemented eWay-CRM…
Nikhita Habib
Hi, Great list. very helpful.
However, I think you should add ADOHM in the list too. It’s an AI-based Digital marketing tool that makes Marketing simpler. Have a look adohm.com
Let me know if we can talk further
Amanda Norman
Hi Nikhita,
Glad you like the article, and thanks for the suggestion.
We typically review and update our buyer’s guide once per year and will take a look at it then.
Thanks for stopping by!
Mandy, Moderator
Ben Rover
Pretty interesting article I must say. Enjoyed how you detailed the shortcomings and features of all of them. We used similar articles from other website in deciding the appropriate CRM for our company. It has been a rough road as we got stuck with Salesforce (because of their annual plan not because we liked it). Then later switched to Sugar at the end of that. Then a few months later to Zoho. None met our taste. We recently switched to Tapdesk in February and we are currently sticking with it cos everyone on both our sales and marketing team absolutely love it. Must say it should be on top of the list here. I think Tapdesk CRM is one of the best business tools our company has ever invested in.
Amanda Norman
Hi Ben,
Glad you enjoyed the article, and thank you for suggesting Tapdesk CRM. We review and update our articles approximately once per yer and will take a look at it then!
You can also submit the software for review here. Just scroll to the bottom of the page.
Thanks for reading!
Mandy, Moderator
Joel Frankel
Chris,
Thanks for the recent review of 6 CRMs for Small Businesses. I work at one very small business and OnePageCRM was recommended and we use it. It has a great way of helping people become more productive. Anthony Iannarino, a sales trainer who actually uses another CRM himself talked about interviewing David Allen (OnePageCRM is based a lot on Allen’s ideas)
“Yesterday I interviewed David Allen, the author of a book called Getting Things Done, or GTD as it is known to people who care about being productive. While we were speaking, I shared with him what I believe to be the critical mistake that most people make when it comes to productivity and results, namely the fact that they start with a to-do list. A to-do list is necessary to be productive, but it’s also a significant hindrance because all tasks appear to be equal, i.e., they all need to be completed, and they require your time and effort…….”
Are you familiar with OnePageCRM or another Mac productivity product also mentioned called Omnifocus? Thanks. Joel
Chris Hawkins
Hi Joel,
Thanks for the context and question. I like “GTD” and have pulled some things out of it to use for getting organized over the years. Also enjoy Anthony Iannarino; he always has an anecdote that I find interesting, especially when he talks about a subject we both enjoy: music.
I’ve come across OnePageCRM in my web travels, but that’s as far as it goes for me. I perused their site and it looks like a solid, no-frills CRM. I will keep it my back pocket for future CRM reviews. I’ve never heard of Omnifocus (part of that might be because I’m a PC guy).