CRM Software
Customer relationship management tools for tracking leads, deals and customer relationships.
CRM Software compared: browse and filter
Filters and search update this list on the page and do not create new URLs.
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Close CRM
Close · Inside-sales CRM with built-in calling (SaaS)
An inside-sales CRM with built-in calling, SMS and email, tiered per-user plans from $9 and the Chloe AI sales agent.
- Free trial
- Cloud
- AI features
- Vendor-sourced
Key capabilities- Calling, SMS and email in the CRM
- Power dialer
- Predictive dialer
- Call recording and notes
PricingNo free plan; Solo from $9 per user per month billed annually ($19 billed monthly).Prices from a vendor-published source -
Freshsales
Freshworks Inc. · Sales CRM (SaaS)
A sales CRM from Freshworks with a free plan for three users, built-in phone and email, and Freddy AI features that scale by plan and add-on.
- Free plan
- Free trial
- Cloud
- AI features
- Independent sources
Key capabilities- Contacts, deals and visual pipeline
- Built-in phone and email
- Custom fields and lifecycle stages
- Sequences, multiple pipelines and time-based workflows
PricingFree for up to 3 users; Growth reported at $9 per user per month billed annually.Figures reported consistently by independent sources; vendor page not reviewed directly -
HubSpot
HubSpot, Inc. · CRM and sales platform (SaaS)
A customer platform built around Smart CRM, with Sales, Marketing, Service and other Hubs and a free entry tier.
- Free plan
- Free trial
- Cloud
- AI features
- Vendor-sourced
Key capabilities- Contacts, companies and deals
- Multiple pipelines
- Email and calendar tools
- Sequences
PricingFree tools; Sales Hub from $9 per seat per month billed annually (Starter).Prices from a vendor-published source -
Microsoft Dynamics 365 Sales
Microsoft Corporation · CRM and sales force automation platform (SaaS)
Microsoft's sales CRM, sold as Professional, Enterprise and Premium editions per user, with Microsoft 365 and LinkedIn integration and AI sales agents.
- Free trial
- Cloud
- AI features
- Vendor-sourced
Key capabilities- Core sales force automation
- Sales playbooks
- Case management for sales
- Sequences
PricingNo free plan; reported list prices from $65 per user per month (Professional), $105 (Enterprise) and $150 (Premium).Figures reported consistently by independent sources; vendor page not reviewed directly -
Pipedrive
Pipedrive · Sales CRM (SaaS)
A pipeline-focused sales CRM sold per seat in four plans (Lite, Growth, Premium and Ultimate), with automations starting at Growth.
- Free trial
- Cloud
- AI features
- Independent sources
Key capabilities- Customisable pipelines and deal tracking
- AI-powered reports
- Reporting limits by plan
- Workflow automations
PricingNo permanent free plan; plans reported from $14 per seat per month billed annually (Lite).Figures reported consistently by independent sources; vendor page not reviewed directly -
Salesforce Sales Cloud
Salesforce, Inc. · CRM and sales platform (SaaS)
Salesforce's CRM for sales teams, sold in editions from Starter Suite to Unlimited, with a customisation-heavy platform behind it.
- Cloud
- AI features
- Vendor-sourced
Key capabilities- Opportunity and campaign tracking
- Salesforce Meetings
- Editions for different team sizes
- Flows
PricingPer user per month by edition; Salesforce directs buyers to contact sales for detailed pricing.Structure only; figures not recorded -
Zoho CRM
Zoho Corporation · CRM and sales platform (SaaS)
A per-user CRM from Zoho with a free edition for three users and four paid editions that add automation, AI and higher limits.
- Free plan
- Free trial
- Cloud
- AI features
- Independent sources
Key capabilities- Leads, contacts, accounts, deals and tasks
- Multiple pipelines
- Sales forecasting and reminders
- Workflow rules and scoring rules
PricingFree for up to 3 users; paid editions reported from $14 per user per month billed annually.Figures reported consistently by independent sources; vendor page not reviewed directly
No listings match these filters.
Listings are ordered alphabetically by default. They are not ranked, and there are no user ratings or paid placements.
What is CRM Software?
CRM software is a system of record for customer-facing work: it stores contacts, companies, conversations and deals, tracks pipeline stages, and automates routine follow-up. Most products add reporting, forecasting, email and calendar sync, and increasingly AI assistants that draft messages or summarise activity.
Customer relationship management (CRM) software gives sales, marketing and service teams one shared record of every contact, company and deal, so that follow-ups, forecasts and handovers do not depend on spreadsheets or individual inboxes.
The CRM market ranges from free, lightweight tools that organise contacts and a single pipeline to configurable platforms that model complex sales processes, territories and approvals. The right choice depends less on feature counts than on how your team sells, how many people need full access, and how much configuration you can support.
The profiles below summarise vendor-published information with sources and verification dates. They are research aids, not rankings, and they do not replace a trial with your own data.
The complete guide to CRM Software
CRM Software compared on key criteria.
Summaries come from each profile; open a profile for sources and caveats.
| Product | Pricing model | Free plan | Customisation | Automation | AI features |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Close CRM | Per user by plan; usage-based calling and AI extras | No free plan; trial available | Custom activities and API on higher plans | Workflows from Growth | Chloe AI agent and AI credits on every plan |
| Freshsales | Per user per month; AI add-ons extra | Yes, up to three users | Custom fields; custom modules on Enterprise | Basic workflows; sequences on Pro | Freddy AI scoring, insights, Copilot and Agent add-ons |
| HubSpot | Per seat, by Hub and tier | Yes, up to two users | Custom objects on Enterprise only | Workflows rise from basic to 1,000 by tier | AI tools plus Breeze assistant and agents listed |
| Microsoft Dynamics 365 Sales | Per user by edition; device licences exist | No free plan; 30-day trial | Custom apps and flows in the same environment | Sequences (up to 1,500 records a month on Enterprise) | Qualification, Research and Close agents; Copilot Studio |
| Pipedrive | Per seat by plan; add-ons extra | No permanent free plan; trial available | Customisable pipelines | Automations from Growth | AI reports and LeadBooster add-on (reported) |
| Salesforce Sales Cloud | Per user per month by edition, add-ons extra | Not documented in sources reviewed | Edition-dependent custom apps, record types, sandboxes | Flows with edition-dependent limits | Generative AI in top edition; agent add-ons |
| Zoho CRM | Per user per month by edition | Yes, up to three users | Custom modules, up to 500 on Ultimate (reported) | Workflow rules, scoring, Blueprint by edition | Zia AI from Enterprise (reported) |
Which CRM Software option fits which situation.
- Close CRMMay suit: Founders and small outbound sales teams that live on the phone and email.
- FreshsalesMay suit: Startups and small teams that want an affordable CRM with a dialer.
- HubSpotMay suit: Small teams that want to start on a free CRM and upgrade gradually.
- Microsoft Dynamics 365 SalesMay suit: Organisations already standardised on Microsoft 365 and Outlook.
- PipedriveMay suit: Small sales teams that want a pipeline-first CRM.
- Salesforce Sales CloudMay suit: Organisations that expect to customise their sales process extensively.
- Zoho CRMMay suit: Very small teams that want a free CRM with no expiry.
Based on each profile's documented strengths and limits. These are fit notes, not rankings: test options against your own requirements.
Who uses CRM Software and what problems it solves.
Founders and small sales teams
Replace spreadsheets and shared inboxes with a single pipeline, and want low upfront cost and fast setup.
Growing sales organisations
Need consistent stages, sequences, forecasting and reporting across several reps and managers.
Enterprises with complex processes
Need granular permissions, custom data models, approvals and integration with finance and support systems.
Teams combining sales, marketing and service
Look for one customer record shared across departments, which often favours platforms with several product modules.
Features and criteria to evaluate in CRM Software.
Pricing model and total cost
Check whether pricing is per seat, per module or per contact, which seat types exist, and whether onboarding or implementation fees apply.
Customisation depth
Look for custom fields and objects, record types and permission models, and note which plan unlocks each.
Automation and reporting limits
Workflow, sequence and report allowances often differ sharply between plans.
Integrations and ecosystem
Confirm native connectors for your email, calendar, telephony, billing and support tools, and the availability of an API.
AI capabilities
Separate AI assistants included in plans from agents or add-ons billed separately, and check what data they can access.
Administration and security
Review roles and permissions, SSO options, audit capabilities and data-handling documentation.
How to choose CRM Software: a step-by-step approach.
Map how your team sells
Write down your pipeline stages, handoffs and who needs full access versus view-only access. A CRM should fit that process, not the other way round.
List your must-have data and customisation
Decide which custom fields, objects, record types and permissions you need, then check which plan unlocks each one.
Price the real setup
Count seats by type, onboarding fees, add-ons and AI usage, and model your headcount over the next two years rather than today's.
Check integrations and the API
Confirm connectors for your email, calendar, phone, billing and support tools, and whether the API limits on your plan fit your needs.
Trial with your own data
Import a sample of real contacts and deals, rebuild one workflow, and have two or three reps use it for a week before committing.
Plan for exit
Check data export options, contract terms and how hard it would be to move your data and automation later.
Common mistakes when choosing CRM Software.
Choosing on headline price
Seat types, onboarding fees and add-ons can change the total cost far more than the entry price.
Over-customising too early
Heavy configuration before the sales process is stable creates rework and slows adoption.
Ignoring data quality
Reports, forecasts and AI features are only as good as the data your team enters consistently.
Skipping the integration check
A CRM that does not connect to the tools your team already uses leads to manual entry and incomplete records.
Underestimating adoption
A powerful CRM that reps avoid delivers little value, so involve users in the trial and plan training.
CRM Software key terms explained.
- Pipeline
- The set of stages a deal moves through from first contact to closed, used to track progress and forecast revenue.
- Lead scoring
- A method of ranking leads by how likely they are to buy, using fit and behaviour signals, sometimes with AI.
- Custom objects
- User-defined record types, beyond standard contacts, companies and deals, used to model data specific to your business.
- Sequence
- A series of scheduled follow-up emails or tasks sent to a prospect until they reply or meet.
- Sales forecasting
- Projecting expected revenue from the deals in the pipeline, usually weighted by stage or probability.
- Seat
- A licence for one user. Vendors may offer different seat types with different levels of access and price.
CRM Software questions and answers
What is the difference between a CRM and a spreadsheet?
A CRM links every contact, company, email and deal in one shared record, enforces pipeline stages, and automates reminders and reporting. A spreadsheet can store the same fields but does not keep activity history, permissions or automation consistent across a team.
Do small teams need an enterprise CRM?
Not necessarily. Teams with one pipeline and a handful of users often start with a free or low-cost plan and upgrade when they need automation, forecasting or custom data models. The cost of switching later is worth weighing early.
Why do CRM prices differ so much between sources?
Vendors change plans, run promotions, and price by seat type, module, region and billing period. Third-party summaries often disagree for this reason, so confirm current prices on the vendor's own pricing page.
Should I choose a CRM with built-in AI?
Check what the AI does, which plans include it, and whether agent or credit-based usage is billed separately. AI features are most useful when your CRM data is already clean and consistently entered.
Narrow your CRM Software shortlist.
Open a profile for sources and pricing, compare two products side by side, or read how others approach the decision.
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