Customer database software helps businesses organize, manage, and track customer relationships. We looked at a variety of customer database software solutions, including customer relationship management (CRM) platforms, and narrowed it down to the top 10. The software was then evaluated according to our scoring system to learn which six stood out and which is the best overall.
Customer Database CRM | Best For |
|---|---|
(Best overall) Businesses wanting the best combination of customer database features at an affordable price | |
Companies needing a free CRM with advanced customer management tools | |
Sales pros who want to organize data into customizable spreadsheets | |
Small businesses wanting workflow automation tools to help manage databases | |
Entrepreneurs and store owners wanting a database with built-in ecommerce tools. | |
Teams that want multiple ways to visualize data, including Kanban, charts, and calendar views |
How We Evaluated Customer Database Software
Customer database software and related types of CRM should include features to make data searchable, accessible, editable, and easy to import and export. It should also integrate with business apps as well as popular email marketing services for easy mass email campaigns. Customer database software should also be affordable, easy to use, and backed by reliable customer support.
Additional evaluation criteria included:
- Customizability
- Import and export tools
- File storage
- Email integration
- Data filters
- Built-in ecommerce tools
- Team collaboration features
Freshworks CRM: Best Overall Customer Database Software
Freshworks CRM’s contacts list
(Source: Freshworks CRM)
Freshworks CRM, also featured on our list of best CRM for operations, earned the top score on our list for its affordability, combination of features, and reliable customer service. Features include unlimited records, file storage, and app integration. Freshworks CRM offers a range of service plans for every budget, including a free tier for unlimited users.
Fit Small Business score: 4.96 out of 5
Freshworks CRM Pros | Freshworks CRM Cons |
|---|---|
Free plan for unlimited users | Limited deep customization |
Easily import and export data | Lacks built-in calendar |
Automatic profile enrichment | No live chat |
Freshworks CRM Pricing
- Free: Supports unlimited users
- Blossom: $12 per user, per month
- Garden: $25 per user, per month
- Estate: $49 per user, per month
- Forest: $79 per user, per month
- Free trial of paid plans: 21 days
Freshworks CRM Features
- Supports data migration from other CRMs
- Custom reporting tools
- Supports multiple currencies
- Built-in phone
- Supports mass email
Learn more: Freshworks CRM reviews page
HubSpot: Best Free Customer Database Software
HubSpot’s sales dashboard
(Source: HubSpot)
HubSpot is a CRM that supports unlimited users on its forever-free service plan. Robust contact management tools combined with service, sales, and marketing components round out the package of features that make this solution so great for sales professionals. However, HubSpot lost a few points for its limited phone features and expensive upgrades.
Fit Small Business score: 4.55 out of 5
HubSpot Pros | HubSpot Cons |
|---|---|
Forever-free service plan | Plan upgrades can add up quickly |
Gmail and Outlook integration | Limited mobile app features |
Contact website activity | User interface is a little dated |
HubSpot Pricing
- Free: Supports unlimited users
- Sales and Marketing add-ons: From $50 per month
HubSpot Features
- Company insights funneled into database
- Ad management tools
- Reporting dashboard
- Document storage
- Email tracking
Airtable: Best Customer Database for Organizing Data by Spreadsheet
Airtable database grid view
(Source: Airtable)
Airtable is customer database software with the flexibility of a spreadsheet. It features revision and snapshot history, real-time collaboration tools, app integrations, and batch record updating. Airtable earned a respectable score during our evaluation but lost points for limitations on important features like automated reminders and reporting dashboards.
Fit Small Business score: 4.46 out of 5
Airtable Pros | Airtable Cons |
|---|---|
Automated workflows | User interface is clunky |
Responsive customer support | Limited reporting tools |
Offers free plan | Limited guest access |
Airtable Pricing
- Free: Supports unlimited users
- Plus: $10 per user, per month
- Pro: $20 per user, per month
- Free trial of Pro plan: 14 days
Airtable Features
- Easy to build and integrate apps
- Real-time collaboration tools
- Unlimited databases with multiple tables
- Revision and snapshot history
- Mobile apps
Bitrix24: Best Customer Database for Automated Workflows
Bitrix24’s sales funnel automation
(Source: Bitrix24)
Bitrix24 is a comprehensive CRM and customer database with automation tools to manage the sales funnel, email campaigns, tasks, projects, and more. It also includes document management, sales and marketing intelligence tools, and a free customer contact center for providing multichannel customer support. While Bitrix24 is a robust CRM, it did lose points for its interface, which users say could be more intuitive.
Fit Small Business score: 4.28 out of 5
Bitrix24 Pros | Bitrix24 Cons |
|---|---|
Automated targeting on Facebook, Google, and Instagram | Limited customization |
Mass email | Limited number of dashboards |
List segmentation | Minimal mobile app features |
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
- Webform submission triggers
- Automated sales funnels
- Repeat sales automation
- Team collaboration tools
- Project planning and management
Shopify: Best Customer Database for In-person & Online Sales
Shopify customer analytics
(Source: Shopify)
Shopify is a point-of-sale (POS) system that also makes an excellent customer database thanks to a range of features that include customer management tools, reports, and unlimited file storage. Shopify tied with monday for fifth place, but a lack of team collaboration tools and calendar integrations cost this platform some points.
Fit Small Business score: 4.20 out of 5
Shopify Pros | Shopify Cons |
|---|---|
24/7 support | No USPS integration on Basic plan |
Data import/export | No free plan |
Bulk customer profile editing | Some customizations require HTML knowledge |
Shopify Pricing
- Basic Shopify: $29 per month
- Shopify: $79 per month
- Free trial: 14 days
Shopify Features
- Complete online store
- Supports unlimited products
- Unlimited file storage
- Supports multiple sales channels
- Basic reporting tools
monday: Best Customer Database With Multiple Data Views
monday’s sales pipeline
(Source: monday)
Fit Small Business score: 4.20 out of 5
monday is customer database software with over 20 custom modules for building personalized project boards. It also features cloud storage, email integration, advanced search, and custom tags. monday tied with Shopify for the fifth position on our list, but this solution is better suited for teams that want different ways to visualize data according to their preferred workflows.
monday Pros | monday Cons |
|---|---|
Data viewing includes Kanban, timeline, calendar, map, and chart | No free plan |
Share boards with guests at no additional cost | Minimum of three users required |
24/7 customer support | Basic plan lacks integrations |
monday Pricing
- Basic: $7 per user, per month
- Standard: $10 per user, per month
- Pro: $16 per user, per month
- Free trial: 14 days
monday Features
- Email integration
- Customizable tags
- Whiteboard collaboration
- Over 20 column types
- Unlimited boards
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