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Salesforce Alternatives and Competitors Comparison
Oh Salesforce.
The software we all love to hate.
If you’ve had the pleasure of working hand-on with this magnificent and intimidating piece of software, then you likely deserve a trophy.
It’s not at all intuitive and it has an entire language of it’s own.
There are even Universities and certification programs that people pay to attend, just so they can learn how to use it.
Salesforce is Customer Relationship Management (CRM) software.
And if you’re a tech company with lots of customers, there’s no doubt that you need CRM software to keep track of it all.
Salesforce is definitely the largest CRM solution — they even built the largest skyscraper on the west coast…
But that does not mean that Salesforce is right for every business.
This is particularly true for smaller businesses with smaller budgets who don’t need a complex suite of features.
Fortunately there are many alternatives and competitors to choose from.
We created this comparison to show you some of the best Salesforce alternatives and competitors on the market.
Table of Contents
Salesforce Alternatives and Competitors For Every Business Size
Large companies and enterprises have dedicated sales teams and a need for in-depth and sophisticated features. CRMs for large and enterprise businesses are generally more expensive, feature-rich, and part of product bundles that go beyond CRM.
However not every business needs the fanciest tech. Some businesses just need a simple, easy to use, and affordable solution. We made sure to include Salesforce alternatives and competitors that cover businesses of all sizes.
Here it goes…
Freshsales
Overall, compared to all the other many many Salesforce alternatives, Freshsales is probably my favorite for businesses of all sizes. With Freshsales you can easily understand where leads come from. This advantage makes it a good option for small and midmarket businesses, but it is also solid for large businesses and enterprises.
Pros:
- Simple interface
- Integrates with everything
- Highly customizable
- Great for sales funnels
- Direct and internal call transfers
- Event tracking
Cons:
- Not optimized for mobile
- Can load slowly at times
Freshsales pricing (per user per month, billed annually):
- Blossom ($12)
- Garden ($25)
- Estate ($49)
- Forest ($79)
Freshsales website
Freshsales video overview
Pipedrive
Pipedrive is A CRM I’ve used first hand and a highly recommend. It’s so easy to use I set it up for my mom and her business and even SHE got the hang of it! I promise you, that says something. It’s specifically designed for small businesses and sales teams. As the name implies, it excels in its pipeline features. As a whole, its features are not super in-depth, but is very easy to use.
Pros:
- Intuitive
- Customizable web forms
- Multiple pipelines
- Simplicity
Cons:
- Some limitations
- Customer service could be faster
Pipedrive pricing (per user per month billed annually):
- Silver ($12.50)
- Gold ($24.20)
- Platinum ($49.17)
Pipedrive website
Pipedrive video overview
Bpm’online CRM
Bpm’online is designed specifically for midsize companies and large enterprises. Where it shines is custom reporting and digital marketing automation.
Pros:
- BPM and CRM under the same roof
- Simple customization
- Customizable pricing
Cons:
- Coding skills required for some tools
- Short trial period
Bpm’online pricing is somewhat ala carte and the cost depends on which products are included in your bundle. They have an online calculator to help estimate pricing.
Bpm’online website
Bpm’online video introduction
Oracle NetSuite OneWorld
Oracle netsuite is a comprehensive package for enterprise resource planning that includes CRM. It is mostly marketed to mid-size companies, but I think it is best for enterprises.
Pros:
- Expansive features
- Suitable for many business types
- Easy to navigate
Cons:
- Broad features may seem overly complex
- Difficult to configure specific roles
Oracle Netsuite pricing is not fully disclosed as it depends on various add-ons. Their base software package starts at $999 per month plus $99 per month per user.
Oracle netsuite CRM website
Oracle netsuite video demo
Infor CRM (Formally Saleslogix)
Infor CRM is a comprehensive suite of CRM tools with a focus on sales force automation. It runs on Microsoft SQL and is excellently integrated with Microsoft products like Exchange and Outlook.
Pros:
- Add as many users as you like
- Extensive features
- Program is fast
Cons:
- Likely requires full-time administrator
- Less intuitive
- Not aesthetic
Infor CRM pricing is quote based.
Infor CRM website
Infor CRM video
Infusionsoft
Infusionsoft is a small business CRM, e-commerce, email and social marketing solution all in one place.
Pros:
- Widget based dashboards
- “My Day” dashboard helps planning
Cons:
- Reporting is basic
- More costly than competitors
- Mandatory start up training fees
Infusionsoft pricing:
- Basic ($199; 3 users)
- Plus ($299; 5 users)
- Premium ($399; 10 users)
- All plans have a one-time coaching fee with three options: Kickstart ($499), Plus ($999), and Pro ($1,999)
Infusionsoft website
Infusionsoft video
Microsoft Dynamics 365
Microsoft Dynamics 365 is designed to accompany other Microsoft software for finance, business, and operations.
Pros:
- Seamless integration with Outlook and Office 365
- Launch screen provides useful overviews of data
Cons:
- Only available in North America
- Lacking payroll, HR, and project management features
Microsoft Dynamics 365 pricing (per user per month; some plans can add features ala carte):
- Customer engagement ($115)
- Unified operation ($190 and up)
- Dynamics 365 ($210 and up)
- Applications and offers (from $40 to $170; handpick features and upgrade as you go)
Microsoft Dynamics 365 website
Microsoft Dynamics 365 video
Flexible Salesforce Alternatives (mid-sized, small and growth focused, or large companies)
Some CRM tools have the flexibility to be used for companies of any type, even enterprises. Here is my list for options good for everybody.
Zoho CRM
Zoho CRM has great tools for both small businesses and large enterprises. There is also a free version designed for home businesses. Zoho CRM is generally better for starters looking to save on costs.
Pros:
- Cheaper than Salesforce
- Real-time data
- Integration with Google apps
Cons:
- Not as advanced as Salesforce
Zoho CRM pricing as billed per month per user with annual commitment.
- Free ($0)
- Standard ($12)
- Professional ($20)
- Enterprise ($35)
- Ultimate ($100)
Zoho CRM website
Zoho CRM video review
SAP Digital CRM
SAP provides a number of enterprise level products, but SAP Digital CRM is intended for individuals and small teams. Despite that, it hosts enterprise-level features. It is flexible and could be used for smaller or larger businesses.
Pros:
- Can use SAP Digital CRM independent from a sales team (unlike other SAP products)
- Relatively easy to use
Cons:
- No third-party Integrations
- Limited support
SAP Digital CRM pricing just has one plan, which is $25 per user per month.
SAP Digital CRM website
HubSpot CRM
HubSpot CRM is a lightweight and free tool best for growing businesses and businesses new to CRM.
Pros:
- Free
- Integrates with Salesforce and other CRMs
- Live chat
Cons:
- Less flexible
- Relatively basic
HubSpot CRM pricing: Free. As users grow, they will probably want to get access to more advanced tools such as Sales, Marketing, and Service Hubs, which have different pricings.
HubSpot CRM website
HubSpot CRM video introduction
Zendesk Sell (Formerly Base)
Zendesk Sell is a simple CRM package, but it does have some advanced analytical and reporting tools relative to competitors. Still, it is probably best for small businesses.
Pros:
- Free training webinars
- Predictive analytics
Cons:
- Limited customization
- In depth automation and reporting require significant price increases
Zendesk Sell pricing (per user per month):
- Team ($19; three users maximum)
- Professional ($49)
- Enterprise ($99)
- Elite ($199)
Zendesk Sell website
Zendesk Sell video
SugarCRM
SugarCRM is open source. This makes it the best pick for developers, tech savvy teams, or businesses with highly unique needs. If customization is highly important, and you have the skills, SugarCRM is for you.
Pros:
- Extremely customizable
- Extensive third-party Integrations
Cons:
- Short trial period (7 days)
- Minimum of 10 users
SugarCRM pricing – per user per month, billed annually (multiply by 10 for minimum cost):
- Sugar professional ($40)
- Sugar Enterprise ($65)
- Sugar ultimate ($150)
SugarCRM website
SugarCRM video
Copper (formerly ProsperWorks CRM)
Copper focuses on ease-of-use particularly for businesses who operate using Google apps for productivity. With most ease-of-use approaches, Copper is a little cheaper and a little less feature-rich. Best for small to medium-sized businesses who use Google apps.
Pros:
- Complete integration with Google products
- Direct access to Copper features Within Google products
Cons:
- Short trial period (14 days)
- No qualified leads in pipelines
Copper pricing (per user per month, billed annually):
- Basic ($19)
- Professional ($49)
- Business ($119)
Copper website
Copper video
Teamgate
Teamgate is a web based CRM platform designed for all levels of users. It has two-way integration with many useful apps. Sales teams and individuals can accomplish a lot with Teamgate.
Pros:
- Import LinkedIn contacts
- Build lead capture forms
- Share key performance indicators across teams
Cons:
- Cannot customize dashboard
- Somewhat lacking in automation
Teamgate pricing (per user per month):
- Starter ($9)
- Professional ($22)
- Enterprise ($65)
Teamgate website
Teamgate video
OnContact
OnContact offers both cloud-based and on-premise software packages. It is a thorough and robust CRM package.
Pros:
- Comprehensive
- Contact center is fully functional, no need for integrations
- Plenty of integrations otherwise
Cons:
- 3 user minimum
- Extensive features might be overwhelming for some
OnContact pricing:
- Cloud CRM ( $65 per user per month, billed annually)
- On-premise CRM ( $1,295 per user, one time petual licensee, plus annual maintenance)
OnContact website
OnContact video
Capsule
Capsule specializes in tracking relationships and pipelines. It sacrifices some functionality for ease of use. This is a solid option for small to midsize business.
Pros:
- Affordable
- Tagging tools
- Teams function helps organization
- Very intuitive
Cons:
- Weak user permissions
- Google Apps do not auto-sync
Capsule pricing (per user per month, no annual discounts):
- Free
- Professional ($18)
- Teams ($36)
Capsule website
Capsule video
Apptivo
Apptivo checks all the CRM boxes and beyond (includes project management, invoicing, and other apps). It is especially well-suited for smaller businesses as it is easy to get started quickly.
Pros:
- Low cost
- Covers a lot of ground
- Very customizable
Cons:
- Fewer integrations
- Somewhat difficult to switch to from another CRM
Apptivo pricing (per user per month, billed annually)
- Starter (free)
- Premium ($8)
- Ultimate ($20)
- Enterprise (must contact them for custom pricing)
Aapptivo CRM website
Apptivo video introduction
Insightly
Insightly is a popular option for small businesses. They have some additional tools that don’t come along with many other CRMs. It is a solid option.
Pros:
- Email tracking and templates
- Excellent reporting capabilities
- Can create web forms
Cons:
- No automatic email forwarding
- No pipelines for leads
Insightly pricing (per user per month, billed annually):
- Free (up to 2 users)
- Plus ($29)
- Professional ($49)
- Enterprise ($99)
Insightly website
Insightly video demo
Ascend by WIX
Wix is a do-it-yourself website design tool. They now have CRM tools to go with their sites. Using Ascend is great for individuals and small businesses already using Wix.
Pros:
- Fully integrated with Wix with additional integrations
- Unlimited users with the unlimited plan
- Helps implement SEO best practices
Cons:
- Can only be used through Wix
Ascend pricing (per month):
- Basic ($9; one user)
- Professional ($22; 5 users)
- Unlimited ($45; unlimited users)
Ascend by Wix website
Ascend by Wix video
amoCRM
AmoCRM is another package designed for small business seeking to grow. Despite the design, it might not be the right choice for businesses that expect huge growth. Both B2C and B2B businesses can use amoCRM.
Pros:
- Powerful analytics
- Business card scanner
- User-friendly
Cons:
- Might not scale with a business
- Limited disk space
AmoCRM pricing (per user per month, billed annually):
- Base ($15)
- Advanced ($25)
- Enterprise ($45)
AmoCRM website
AmoCRM video overview
Nutshell CRM
Nutshell is built for ease-of-use. It has a nice user interface and easy workflow. Nutshell is good for sole proprietors and small businesses, but there is not a lot of room to grow with the software.
Pros:
- Customisation of reporting and dashboards
- Easy importing
- No user storage limits
Cons:
- Might not accommodate growth
- Limited social media
Nutshell pricing (per user per month, billed annually):
- Starter ($19)
- Pro ($35)
- Pro Plus (quote based)
Nutshell website
Nutshell video
OnePageCRM
OnePageCRM has a specialty in driving sales and is designed to be quick to learn. It is an excellent option for startups and people new to CRM software.
Pros:
- Easy learning curve
- Excellent sport
- Numerous cross-platform Integrations
Cons:
- Cumbersome set up hand importing
- Fewer features than Salesforce
OnePageCRM pricing simply offers one plan, which is $12 per user per month. Annual subscribers can save $1 per month.
OnePageCRM website
OnePageCRM video
Less Annoying CRM
Less Annoying CRM is designed to be simple and easy to use. It is successful in this and certainly lives up to its name.
Pros:
- Simple and easy to use
- Low cost
- Excellent lead management tools
Cons:
- Reporting is basic
- Oversimplified for some businesses
Less Annoying CRM pricing has only one option. It costs $10 per user per month.
Less Annoying CRM website
Less Annoying CRM video overview
Really Simple Systems
The name says it all. They provide an interface that is easy-to-understand for non sales experts, and provide excellent tech support. Really Simple Systems is great for small to medium-sized businesses.
Pros:
- Simple and intuitive
- Excellent user support
- Built in email integration
Cons:
- Lead management features are limited
- Cannot track calls for individual contacts
Really Simple Systems pricing (per user per month billed annually):
- Free (up to two users)
- Starter ($14)
- Professional ($30)
- Enterprise ($46)
Really Simple Systems website
Really Simple Systems video
Our Picks
Here’s our selection of best picks by category.
- Overall top pick: Freshsales
- Best for an Enterprise: bpm’online
- Best for midsize business: Freshsales
- Best for small business: Pipedrive
- Best for customization: SugarCRM
- Best value: HubSpot CRM
- Most comprehensive: OnContact
