In today’s business landscape, nurturing customer relationships is vital for small enterprises to thrive. Customer Relationship Management (CRM) software plays a pivotal role, empowering businesses to effectively organize customer data, monitor interactions, and optimize sales workflows. Despite the abundance of CRM choices, selecting the ideal solution demands careful consideration and research. To aid small businesses in this endeavor, we’ve curated a list of the five best CRM software options tailored explicitly to their needs.

Why You Can Trust Forbes Advisor Small Business

At Forbes Advisor Small Business, our mission is to deliver unbiased rankings and information, maintaining complete editorial independence. We meticulously analyze product data, employ strategic methodologies, and leverage expert insights to craft content that guides you in making informed decisions for your business journey.

In our quest to identify the best CRM software for small businesses, we extensively researched over 25 leading providers in the CRM space. From this pool, we curated a selection of 15 contenders, which underwent rigorous evaluation across five key categories and 17 diverse metrics. Our ratings are founded on considerations such as transparent pricing, user-friendly interfaces promoting employee self-sufficiency, compatibility with third-party integrations, accessibility of customer support, and overall user ratings. It’s important to note that all assessments are conducted impartially by our dedicated editorial team

The Best CRM Software for Small Businesses

  • Zoho CRM: Best for startups
  • Monday.com: Best for teams
  • Zendesk Sell: Best for customer support
  • Insightly: Best for project management
  • FreshSales: Best for lead management

Zoho CRM

Zoho CRM stands as a robust customer relationship management (CRM) solution crafted to empower businesses across all scales. Its primary objective is to facilitate efficient management of sales pipelines, automate marketing tasks, and elevate customer interactions. Sporting a user-friendly interface coupled with extensive customization options, Zoho CRM empowers
businesses to streamline sales processes, foster team collaboration, and foster overall growth.

Key Features:

.Sales Automation: Zoho CRM automates repetitive sales tasks, streamlines lead management and tracks sales activities to boost productivity effectively.

  • Contact Management: It centralizes customer data, efficiently manages contacts, and tracks interactions, providing valuable insights into customer behavior.
  • Email Integration: Seamlessly integrates with email platforms to monitor email communications, schedule follow-ups, and execute personalized email campaigns.
  • Analytics and Reporting: Generates customizable reports and dashboards for analyzing sales performance, monitoring key metrics, and facilitating data-driven decision-making.
  • Workflow Automation: Enables the creation of automated workflows to optimize business processes, trigger actions based on predefined conditions, and enhance overall efficiency.


Pros 

1. User-Friendly Interface: Zoho CRM provides an intuitive interface that facilitates easy navigation and customization to meet business needs.

2. Customization Options: Businesses can personalize Zoho CRM by adjusting fields, layouts, and workflows to align with their specific requirements.

3. Integration Capabilities: Zoho CRM seamlessly integrates with various Zoho applications and third-party tools, expanding its functionality and usability.

Cons
1. Learning Curve: Despite its extensive customization options, Zoho CRM may have a learning curve for new users during system configuration.

2. Limited Free Plan: The free plan of Zoho CRM has restrictions on features and user access, limiting its suitability for businesses with advanced CRM needs.

3. Pricing Complexity: Zoho CRM’s multiple pricing plans with differing features and limitations can be confusing for users to understand and compare.

Pricing Plans:

  •  Free Plan: Offers limited features for up to 3 users.
  •  Standard Plan: Starts at $12 per user per month (billed annually) and includes features like email integration and workflow automation.
  •  Professional Plan: Starts at $20 per user per month (billed annually) and offers advanced features such as sales forecasting and analytics.
  • Enterprise Plan: Starts at $35 per user per month (billed annually) and provides enhanced customization options and advanced CRM functionality.
  •  Ultimate Plan: Starts at $45 per user per month (billed annually) and includes additional support and security features.

monday.com

Monday.com is a cloud-based platform designed to streamline teamwork and project management processes. It offers intuitive tools and visual workflows to help teams collaborate effectively, track tasks, and manage projects from start to finish. With its customizable features and user-friendly interface, Monday.com empowers teams of all sizes to work more efficiently and achieve their goals

Key Features of Monday.com:

  • Visual Workflows: Monday.com provides a Kanban-style board view, allowing users to visualize tasks, projects, and workflows clearly and intuitively.
  • Collaboration Tools: The platform offers various collaboration tools like comments, file attachments, and @mentions, facilitating effective communication and information sharing among team members.
  • Task Tracking: Users can monitor the progress of tasks and projects in real-time, track deadlines, and efficiently allocate resources to ensure timely completion.
  • Customizable Templates: Monday.com provides customizable templates for different project types and workflows, enabling teams to start quickly and customize the platform according to their specific requirements.
  • Automation: With automation capabilities, Monday.com streamlines repetitive tasks, automates workflows, and enhances overall efficiency, allowing teams to focus on more strategic activities.

Pros
1. Free Forever Plan Access to basic CRM features at no cost.

2. Low-Cost Paid Plans: Starting at INR 659.51 ($8) per user per month, offering more advanced functionalities.

3. Very Flexible CRM: Zoho CRM provides extensive customization options to adapt to various business needs.
Cons
1. Three-User Minimum: Paid plans require a minimum of three users for a subscription.

2. Learning Curve: Users may encounter a learning curve when getting accustomed to the platform’s features and functionalities.

3. Lead Scoring Limitation: The lead scoring feature is only available with the Enterprise CRM plan, restricting access for lower-tier plans.

Pricing plans

Free Plan:

   Cost: Free forever

 Features: Basic project management tools, including unlimited boards, items, and storage, for up to 2 seats.

Basic Plan:

 Cost: Starting at INR 659.51 ($8) per user per month

 Features: Basic project management features, unlimited boards, items, and storage, for teams of 3-10 users.

Standard Plan:

   Cost: Starting at INR 1319.01 ($16) per user per month

 Features: Advanced project management features, including timeline, calendar, and automation, for teams of 3-10 users.

Pro Plan:

  Cost: Starting at INR 2875.26 ($35) per user per month

 Features: Advanced project management and CRM features, including time tracking, dependencies, and priority support, for teams of any size.

Enterprise Plan:

  Cost: Custom pricing

   Features: Tailored solutions, premium support, and advanced security features, suitable for large organizations with specific requirement

Zendesk Sell


Zendesk Sell is an ideal choice for businesses prioritizing customer support. This CRM platform seamlessly integrates ticketing and help desk features, allowing centralized customer management. From a unified dashboard, users can efficiently track leads and opportunities in their pipelines, maintain communication logs, assign tasks for team collaboration, and receive real-time notifications for inquiries. With a 14-day free trial, pricing starts at INR 1,566.33 ($19) per user per month and extends to INR 8,161.39 ($99) per user per month for advanced plans. Paid subscriptions unlock benefits like unlimited users, customizable fields, robust reporting tools, collaborative features, automated workflows, and actionable customer insights

Key Features of Zendesk Sell:

  • Integrated Ticketing and Help Desk: Manage customer inquiries and support tickets seamlessly within the CRM platform.
  • Pipeline Management: Track leads and opportunities efficiently through customizable pipelines, ensuring a streamlined sales process.
  • Communication History Logging: Maintain a comprehensive record of customer interactions, including calls, emails, and messages, for enhanced transparency and accountability.
  •  Task Assignment and Collaboration: Assign tasks to team members, collaborate on deals, and track progress in real-time to ensure effective teamwork.
  • Real-Time Notifications: Receive instant notifications for new inquiries or important updates, enabling timely responses and proactive engagement.

    Pros 

1. Calendar Integration: Zendesk Sell allows users to integrate their calendars, enabling efficient scheduling and management of appointments and meetings.

2. Connect to Zendesk Support: Seamlessly connect Zendesk Sell with Zendesk Support, facilitating smooth communication and collaboration between sales and support teams.

3. Call Tracking and Recording: Users can track and record calls directly within Zendesk Sell, ensuring comprehensive documentation of customer interactions and enabling effective follow-up actions.

Cons

1. No Free Plan: Zendesk Sell does not offer a free plan, requiring users to opt for one of the paid subscription options.

2. Automated Distribution Limitation: The lowest-tier plan lacks automated distribution features, potentially hindering efficiency for certain sales processes.

3. Clunky Interface: Some users may find the interface of Zendesk Sell to be less intuitive or streamlined compared to other CRM platforms.


Pricing plans 

  • Essential: Starting at INR 1,566.33 ($19) per user per month, this plan includes basic CRM functionality.
  • Advanced: Starting at INR 4,560.48 ($55) per user per month, this plan offers additional features such as workflow automation and custom reporting.
  • Professional: Starting at INR 8,161.39 ($99) per user per month, this plan provides advanced CRM capabilities including AI-powered insights and sales forecasting.
  • Enterprise: For pricing, users must contact Zendesk’s sales team. This plan offers extensive customization options, dedicated support, and advanced security features.

Insightly


Insightly is tailored for small businesses needing project management capabilities. It provides oversight of sales pipelines and project progress via a Gantt chart view, alongside time and expense tracking. The platform supports customization with custom fields, data imports, and automated reminders for lead follow-ups.

A 14-day free trial is available, with pricing starting at INR 2,390.71 ($29) per user per month, increasing to INR 8,161.39 ($99) per user per month for annual billing. Plans offer advanced reporting, automation rules, custom branding, data import, and comprehensive project management features.

Key Feature

  • Project Management: Insightly offers robust project management tools for tracking tasks, deadlines, and milestones, facilitating efficient collaboration among team members.
  • Sales Pipeline Management: Insightly provides a visual representation of the sales pipeline, allowing users to manage leads, track opportunities, and forecast sales accurately. The pipeline stages are customizable to align with specific sales processes.
  • Customization Options: Users can customize fields, layouts, and workflows in Insightly to tailor the CRM system to their business requirements. This flexibility ensures adaptability across various industries and business processes.
  • Integration Capabilities: Insightly seamlessly integrates with a wide range of third-party applications and tools, including email marketing platforms, accounting software, and productivity tools. This integration enhances Insightly’s functionality and enables smooth data flow between different systems.
  • Automation Features: Insightly offers automation features that streamline repetitive tasks, automate workflows, and trigger actions based on predefined conditions. This automation functionality saves time, reduces manual effort, and enhances overall productivity.


Pros

1. Project Management and Delivery: Insightly facilitates efficient project management and delivery by providing tools to track tasks, deadlines, and milestones throughout the project lifecycle.

2. Lead Management: Insightly enables businesses to effectively manage leads by capturing and organizing lead information, tracking interactions, and nurturing leads through the sales funnel.

3. Opportunity Management: With Insightly, users can track and manage sales opportunities, allowing for better forecasting and decision-making in the sales process.

Cons

1 No Lead Assignment and Routing in Plus Plan: Insightly’s Plus plan lacks lead assignment and routing capabilities, which may limit its suitability for businesses requiring efficient lead management and distribution.

2. Limited Outbound Email Scheduling: Only Insightly’s Professional or Enterprise plans allow users to schedule outbound emails, potentially restricting communication automation for users on lower-tier plans.

3. Higher Cost Compared to Alternatives: Insightly’s pricing may be comparatively higher than alternative CRM solutions, which could impact its affordability and attractiveness for budget-conscious businesses.

Pricing plans

  • Plus Plan: Starts at INR 2,390.71 ($29) per user per month, billed annually. Includes lead and project management, customizable reports, and integration capabilities.
  • Professional Plan: Starts at INR 4,784.11 ($59) per user per month, billed annually. Features advanced sales automation, email scheduling, and workflow automation.
  • Enterprise Plan: Starts at INR 8,161.39 ($99) per user per month, billed annually. Offers advanced customization, role-based permissions, and priority support.
  • Free Trial: Insightly offers a 14-day free trial for users to explore the platform before subscribing to a paid plan.

Freshsales


Freshsales simplifies lead capture with built-in forms, enabling effortless data collection from potential customers online. Seamlessly track leads as they progress through your sales pipeline, seamlessly converting them into valuable opportunities and customers.

Explore Freshsales with a free 21-day trial. Pricing options range from a free plan to INR 4,999 per user per month. Paid packages offer extensive features including multicurrency support, advanced analytics, business process workflows, comprehensive deal management, and holiday routing capabilities.

Key feature

  • Lead Capture Forms: Simplify the process of gathering information from potential customers on your website with built-in lead capture forms.
  • Sales Pipeline Management: Track leads seamlessly as they progress through your sales pipeline, facilitating smooth conversion into opportunities and customers.
  • Multicurrency Support: Manage sales operations globally without hassle, thanks to Freshsales’ support for multiple currencies.
  • Advanced Reporting and Analytics: Gain valuable insights into your sales performance through advanced reporting and analytics features, enabling data-driven decision-making for business growth.
  • Business Process Workflows: Automate repetitive tasks and streamline sales processes with customizable business process workflows, enhancing overall efficiency and productivity.

    Pros 

1. Free Forever Plan: Enjoy access to Freshsales’ essential features with no expiration date, providing a perpetual solution for basic CRM needs.

2. Low-Cost Paid Plans: Choose from affordable paid plans starting at INR 999 per user per month, offering enhanced functionalities for growing businesses without breaking the bank.

3 No Minimum User Requirement: Benefit from Freshsales’ flexibility, as there’s no minimum user requirement, allowing businesses of any size to utilize the platform effectively

Cons

1. File Storage Limits: Users may encounter restrictions on file storage capacity, potentially limiting the amount of data that can be uploaded and stored within the platform.

2. Call Masking: The Free plan does not include call masking functionality, which may be necessary for concealing caller identities during phone interactions.

3. Warm Transfers: Warm transfers are not accessible on the Free or Growth plans, restricting users from seamlessly transferring ongoing calls between agents or departments.

Pricing plans

  • Free Forever Plan: Basic CRM features suitable for small teams or startups, including contact management, lead capture forms, and deal management.
  • Growth Plan: Starting at INR 999 per user per month (billed annually), offering advanced CRM functionality like email tracking, phone integration, and workflow automation.
  • Pro Plan: Starting at INR 1,999 per user per month (billed annually), includes additional features such as lead scoring, advanced reporting, and AI-based insights.
  • Enterprise Plan: Pricing available upon request, tailored for large enterprises with advanced customization, dedicated account management, and premium support.
  • – 21-day free trial available for users to test the platform before subscribing.

FAQs

Q:. How did Forbes Advisor Small Business select the best CRM software for small businesses?

A: Forbes Advisor Small Business conducted extensive research on over 25 leading CRM providers, evaluating them across five key categories and 17 metrics. The assessment included considerations such as pricing transparency, user-friendly interfaces, compatibility with third-party integrations, accessibility of customer support, and user ratings.

Q: What are the key features of Zoho CRM?

Zoho CRM offers sales automation, contact management, email integration, analytics and reporting, and workflow automation features.

Q: Does Monday.com offer a free plan?

A: Yes, Monday.com provides a Free Forever Plan with basic project management tools for up to 2 seats.

Q: What pricing plans does Zendesk Sell offer?

A: Zendesk Sell offers Essential, Advanced, Professional, and Enterprise plans, with pricing ranging from INR 1,566.33 ($19) to custom pricing.

Q: What is the standout feature of Insightly?

A: Insightly’s standout feature is its robust project management tools, allowing users to track tasks, deadlines, and milestones efficiently.

Q: Is there a free trial available for Freshsales?

A: Yes, Freshsales offers a free 21-day trial for users to explore the platform before subscribing to a paid plan.

Conclusion

Choosing the appropriate CRM software is pivotal for small businesses aiming to efficiently handle customer relationships and stimulate growth. After thorough investigation, Zoho CRM emerges as the premier selection for startups due to its inclusive feature set, intuitive interface, and adaptable pricing structures. Nevertheless, for businesses emphasizing project management functionalities, Insightly stands out as a compelling option. Ultimately, determining the optimal CRM software hinges on the individual needs and preferences of each small business.

stay in touch for more updates in keep visiting :clonebuzz.com!