To help you succeed, let me introduce you to some of the top CRM software for consultants and then give you some advice on how to set one up and use it successfully.<\/p>\n
Here\u2019s what I\u2019ll cover in short: \ud83d\udc47<\/p>\n
- \n
- What makes a great CRM for consultants?<\/a><\/li>\n
- The 7 best CRMs for consultants ranked<\/a><\/li>\n
- How to set up and use a CRM as a consultant<\/a><\/li>\n
- Frequently asked questions<\/a><\/li>\n<\/ol>\n
\nCore features of CRM for consultants + ranking methodology<\/h2>\n
Here are 10 core features a CRM software solution for consultants can offer you to help better follow up your leads:<\/p>\n
- \n
- Visualize your leads in multiple drag-and-drop pipelines<\/li>\n
- Add and manage your leads from LinkedIn (personal & Sales Nav) with a Chrome extension<\/li>\n
- See who your colleagues know and how well, with \u201crelationship strength scores\u201d based on their email traffic<\/li>\n
- Be reminded of emails you haven\u2019t replied to and customer conversations that have gone quiet<\/li>\n
- Auto-create contacts for people you\u2019re emailing or meeting with<\/li>\n
- Automatically enrich your contact database by syncing your contacts\u2019 email signatures<\/li>\n
- Track whether people open your emails and click on the links in your emails sent from Gmail and Outlook<\/li>\n
- Live sync your email inbox & calendar meetings to the CRM<\/li>\n
- Send automated, personalized email sequences<\/li>\n
- Digitize contact information with a built-in business card scanner<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n
Now, these are all useful features that will help you (and your team) build better relationships and make more sales\u2026 but, to be honest, something else is even more important: whether you\u2019ll actually use the CRM (or not). \ud83d\udc48<\/p>\n
Getting a CRM system that you won\u2019t use for your consulting firm is pretty useless after all. And with many CRMs being overly complex, work intensive and difficult to navigate, it\u2019s clear that you have to look out for that just as much.<\/p>\n
Because of that, I included the current scoring for each software on G2 so you get a better idea of how they stack up. It\u2019s broken down as follows:<\/p>\n
- \n
- Ease of Use<\/li>\n
- Ease of Setup<\/li>\n
- Meets Requirements<\/li>\n
- Quality of Support<\/li>\n
- Ease of Doing Business With<\/li>\n
- Ease of Admin<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n
And to make sure the CRM also works well on the phone, as many consultants are quite heavy mobile phone users, I sourced a mobile score as well from Google Play.<\/p>\n
To finally rank the different top CRMs for consultants, I took the average of the G2 review scores<\/strong>, and then combined it with the mobile score<\/strong> and the consulting CRM feature score<\/strong>, to calculate\u2026 the final score! \ud83e\udd47<\/p>\n
\nThe 7 Best CRMs for Consultants ranked<\/h2>\n
To compile this ranking, I went through a list of around 600 possible CRMs to make a pre-selection. Then I tested every one of the 7 selected CRMs for consultants first hand and researched which of them offer which features and detailed this for you below.<\/p>\n
Don\u2019t want to read the whole comparison? \ud83e\udd13<\/p>\n
The top 7 best CRMs for consultants and consulting firms in 2026 are:<\/p>\n
- \n
- Salesflare: 9.7\/10<\/a> \ud83c\udfc6<\/li>\n
- HubSpot CRM & Sales Hub: 7.9\/10<\/a><\/li>\n
- Pipeliner CRM: 7.6\/10<\/a><\/li>\n
- Freshworks CRM: 6.9\/10<\/a><\/li>\n
- Zoho CRM: 6.7\/10<\/a><\/li>\n
- Salesforce Sales Cloud: 6.5\/10<\/a><\/li>\n
- Pipedrive: 6.4\/10<\/a><\/li>\n<\/ol>\n
Want to dig into the details? Read on!<\/p>\n
\n1. Salesflare [9.7\/10]<\/a><\/u> \ud83c\udfc6<\/h3>\n
<\/source> <\/source> ![\"Homepage](\"https:\/\/images.storychief.com\/account_481\/salesflare-new-homepage_f7ae91fcb03f8da6bca69d08cb24e93d_800.jpg\")
<\/picture>Salesflare is used and loved by 1000s of consultants \ud83d\udc96<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n If I ask our consulting customers what they\u2019re essentially using Salesflare for, the answer is usually: to better follow up our relationships<\/strong>.<\/p>\n
Salesflare\u2019s mission is to make following up leads super easy <\/strong>for you, without you having to input data <\/strong>to keep the system alive. And with a ton of built-in automation <\/strong>to make you more productive.<\/p>\n
Salesflare<\/a><\/u> (founded in 2014) is used by thousands of small and medium-sized businesses who sell B2B<\/strong> (mostly consultancies, agencies<\/a>, development houses, tech companies, \u2026). It\u2019s top ranked across review platforms and is the #1 consulting CRM software on Product Hunt, the leading community for product enthusiasts.<\/p>\n
Interestingly, Salesflare is the only CRM in this listing that is exclusively built for B2B sales<\/strong>. As it doesn\u2019t need to support B2C use, the software is more tailored and easier to use if you\u2019re a consultancy selling B2B<\/a><\/u>.<\/p>\n
The app is very tightly integrated with Gmail<\/a><\/u> (also within Google Workspace<\/a>), Outlook<\/a><\/u> and LinkedIn<\/a><\/u><\/strong>, so you don\u2019t need to switch between your inboxes and sales software while tracking sales leads<\/a><\/u>. Plus it adds some handy features like integrated email and website tracking<\/a><\/u>, email templates<\/a><\/u>, and email sequences<\/a><\/u>.<\/p>\n
A review by a fellow consultant<\/h4>\n
Here\u2019s what Juan Carlos A.<\/a>, a consultant, wrote about Salesflare:<\/p>\n
\u201cAs a solopreneur specializing in compliance consulting, having the right CRM tool is more than just a convenience\u2014it\u2019s essential. And for over 6 years now, Salesflare has been that essential tool for me. It\u2019s not just a part of my business operations; it\u2019s a cornerstone of my success.<\/p>\n
The intuitive and user-friendly nature of Salesflare is what initially drew me in. Its clean and straightforward interface makes managing clients as simple as it gets. The automation features are a lifesaver, freeing up valuable time that I can now invest in my clients rather than in repetitive administrative tasks.<\/p>\n
One feature that I particularly appreciate is Salesflare\u2019s seamless email integration. It allows me to keep track of all my conversations and interactions with clients with meticulous precision. This level of organization is invaluable in my line of work, ensuring that nothing slips through the cracks and that every client interaction is productive and meaningful.<\/p>\n
The customer support team at Salesflare is a cut above the rest. They\u2019re not just quick to respond, but also deeply knowledgeable and genuinely invested in my success. It feels like having an extended team dedicated to supporting my business.<\/p>\n
Salesflare\u2019s commitment to continuous improvement is something I deeply respect. They are constantly evolving, adding innovative features and refining the existing ones, showing a dedication to excellence that resonates with my business philosophy.<\/p>\n
In essence, Salesflare is more than a CRM for me. It\u2019s a steadfast partner in my consulting journey, empowering me to manage and grow my client base with unprecedented ease. I genuinely can\u2019t envision running my business without it.\u201d<\/p>\n
Scoring<\/h4>\n
Features Salesflare offers: 10\/10<\/p>\n
- \n
- Visualize your leads in multiple drag-and-drop pipelines<\/li>\n
- Add and manage your leads from LinkedIn (personal & Sales Nav) with a Chrome extension<\/li>\n
- See who your colleagues know and how well, with \u201crelationship strength scores\u201d based on their email traffic<\/li>\n
- Be reminded of emails you haven\u2019t replied to and customer conversations that have gone quiet<\/li>\n
- Auto-create contacts for people you\u2019re emailing or meeting with<\/li>\n
- Automatically enrich your contact database by syncing your contacts\u2019 email signatures<\/li>\n
- Track whether people open your emails and click on the links in your emails sent from Gmail and Outlook<\/li>\n
- Live sync your email inbox & calendar meetings to the CRM<\/li>\n
- Send automated, personalized email sequences<\/li>\n
- Digitize contact information with a built-in business card scanner<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n
Features Salesflare doesn\u2019t offer: none<\/p>\n
Salesflare\u2019s G2 review scores:<\/p>\n
- \n
- Ease of Use: 9.5<\/li>\n
- Ease of Setup: 9.5<\/li>\n
- Meets Requirements: 9.3<\/li>\n
- Quality of Support: 9.7<\/li>\n
- Ease of Doing Business With: 9.9<\/li>\n
- Ease of Admin: 9.5<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n
Salesflare\u2019s final scores:<\/p>\n
- \n
- Consultant CRM feature score: 10\/10<\/li>\n
- Overall score (G2): 9.6\/10<\/li>\n
- Mobile app score: 4.8\/5 \u2192 9.6\/10<\/li>\n
- FINAL REVIEW SCORE: 9.7\/10<\/strong><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n
Pricing<\/h4>\n
Pricing to get all the above (10 of 10 features):<\/p>\n
- \n
- $49\/user\/month<\/strong> (billed annually)<\/li>\n
- $64\/user\/month<\/strong> (billed monthly)<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n
Try Salesflare<\/h4>\n
If you\u2019re not consulting other businesses (e.g. coaching consumers instead) and don\u2019t actively follow up your relationships, one of the below CRMs might then be a better fit for you. But, if you do, give Salesflare a try<\/u><\/a>.<\/p>\n
It only takes a few minutes to start a Salesflare trial<\/a><\/u><\/strong> and follow up your leads in a better way.\ud83d\udc48<\/strong><\/p>\n
We guarantee you won\u2019t find any better CRM for your consultancy! \ud83d\udc4c
\n\n\n \n \n \n \n ![\"Salesflare](\"https:\/\/lib.salesflare.com\/images\/salesflare-awards-transparent-2024-800.png\")
\n <\/picture>\n <\/a>\n \n Some of the awards Salesflare has received for its ease of use, ease of implementation, and quality of support.\n <\/figcaption>\n <\/figure> \n \n \n\n
\n2. HubSpot CRM + Sales Hub [7.9\/10]<\/a><\/h3>\n
<\/source> <\/source> ![\"HubSpot](\"https:\/\/images.storychief.com\/account_481\/hubspot-homepage_359b97163ae375e19fe8fe786e8206e3_800.PNG\")
<\/picture><\/figure>\nHubSpot is a marketing automation platform turned everything platform. It was founded in 2005 to make marketing automation easier.<\/p>\n
Nowadays, HubSpot\u2019s main selling point is offering an all-in-one solution, including marketing, sales, service and operations. If you don\u2019t like using different apps and integrating them (using tools like Zapier and native integrations), then HubSpot might be what you\u2019re looking for.<\/p>\n
\u201cHubSpot is known for its clean and intuitive interface. Whether you\u2019re new to sales software or an experienced user, it\u2019s easy to navigate and quickly find the tools you need.\u201d writes Gadam L.<\/a>, a systems administrator, about HubSpot Sales Hub.<\/p>\n
To get functionality that is comparable to what you\u2019re getting with the other consulting CRM software in this ranking, you need to get two HubSpot products: its CRM and its Sales Hub.<\/p>\n
That makes the pricing to get all this handy functionality (8 features) a little steep, starting at $90-100\/user\/month plus an extra required fee of $1470 for onboarding.<\/p>\n
Testing it out<\/h4>\n
When I tested HubSpot CRM and Sales Hub, I found the setup process fairly straightforward, especially given the range of features on offer. The platform\u2019s user interface is clean and intuitive, making it easy to navigate between different tools like the pipeline manager, email tracking, and meeting scheduler.<\/p>\n
One of the standout features for me was the email integration. HubSpot automatically logged all my emails and provided useful analytics, such as open rates and link clicks. The meeting scheduler was another strong point, allowing me to easily set up and manage client meetings directly from the CRM.<\/p>\n
However, I did encounter some limitations. While the CRM is robust, some of the more advanced features are locked behind additional paywalls, which could add up quickly. The need to also get the Sales Hub to unlock the full suite of features might be financial overkill for smaller consulting firms.<\/p>\n
Scoring<\/h4>\n
Features HubSpot CRM + Sales Hub offers: 6\/10<\/p>\n
- \n
- Visualize your leads in multiple drag-and-drop pipelines<\/li>\n
- Automatically enrich your contact database by syncing your contacts\u2019 email signatures<\/li>\n
- Track whether people open your emails and click on the links in your emails sent from Gmail and Outlook<\/li>\n
- Live sync your email inbox & calendar meetings to the CRM<\/li>\n
- Send automated, personalized email sequences<\/li>\n
- Digitize contact information with a built-in business card scanner<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n
Features HubSpot CRM + Sales Hub doesn\u2019t offer:<\/p>\n
- \n
- Add and manage your leads from LinkedIn (personal & Sales Nav) with a Chrome extension<\/li>\n
- See who your colleagues know and how well, with \u201crelationship strength scores\u201d based on their email traffic<\/li>\n
- Be reminded of emails you haven\u2019t replied to and customer conversations that have gone quiet<\/li>\n
- Auto-create contacts for people you\u2019re emailing or meeting with<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n
HubSpot CRM + Sales Hub\u2019s G2 review scores:<\/p>\n
- \n
- Ease of Use: 8.6<\/li>\n
- Ease of Setup: 8.3<\/li>\n
- Meets Requirements: 8.5<\/li>\n
- Quality of Support: 8.5<\/li>\n
- Ease of Doing Business With: 8.7<\/li>\n
- Ease of Admin: 8.6<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n
HubSpot CRM + Sales Hub\u2019s final scores:<\/p>\n
- \n
- Consultant CRM feature score: 6\/10<\/li>\n
- Overall score (G2): 8.5\/10<\/li>\n
- Mobile app score: 4.6\/5 \u2192 9.2\/10<\/li>\n
- FINAL REVIEW SCORE: 7.9\/10<\/strong><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n
Pricing<\/h4>\n
Pricing to get all of the above (6 of 10 features)\u00a0<\/span>on the HubSpot Sales Hub Professional plan<\/span>:<\/p>\n
$90\/seat\/month<\/strong>\u00a0(billed annually)<\/span>
\n$100\/seat\/month<\/strong> (billed monthly, but with annual commitment)<\/span>
\n+ an extra required fee of $1500 for onboarding<\/strong><\/p>\nHubSpot offers a free trial of 14 to 30 days.<\/span><\/p>\n
\n3. Pipeliner CRM [7.6\/10]<\/a><\/h3>\n
<\/source> <\/source> ![\"Pipeliner's](\"https:\/\/images.storychief.com\/account_481\/pipeliner-crm-leads-pipeline_992d6d3c5414d10332d312463e3c27d7_800.png\")
<\/picture><\/figure>\nPipeliner CRM (formerly Pipelinersales) is a software company founded in 2009 with the goal of building better software for salespeople.<\/p>\n
Although Salesflare hardly ever gets compared to Pipeliner by people who want to follow up their relationship in a better way, I decided to include them in this comparison because the software is used by many consultancies and focuses on \u201cputting the \u201cR\u201d back into CRM\u201d.<\/p>\n
The software is relatively feature rich compared to the other platforms in this comparison, although also a little dated and not too easy to use.<\/p>\n
Pipeliner\u2019s pricing rises quite steeply as you need more functionality, which probably makes it a better fit for mid-sized companies with deeper pockets.<\/p>\n
\u201c[I like the] account hierarchy functionality, social media profile import, ease of use, [and the] many customizable features.\u201d writes Jeremy M.<\/a>, business development director at a store decoration company, about Pipeliner CRM.<\/p>\n
Testing it out<\/h4>\n
Testing Pipeliner CRM felt like stepping into a platform designed with a strong focus on visual data representation. The pipeline view is particularly striking, offering a clear and colorful drag-and-drop interface that makes it easy to track the status of each lead.<\/p>\n
As I worked through the CRM, I noticed that it excels in visualizing the sales process. You can customize the pipeline stages to fit your specific workflow, which is a nice touch. The ability to track email engagement was also handy, as it provided insights into which prospects were interacting with my emails.<\/p>\n
That said, the user interface felt a bit dated and cluttered, especially compared to more modern CRMs. The abundance of features, while powerful, can be overwhelming at times, requiring a steeper learning curve. Additionally, as I explored more of the advanced functionalities, I found that the pricing scaled up quickly, making it a better fit for larger teams with bigger budgets.<\/p>\n
Scoring<\/h4>\n
Features Pipeliner CRM offers: 5\/10<\/p>\n
- \n
- Visualize your leads in multiple drag-and-drop pipelines<\/li>\n
- Track whether people open your emails and click on the links in your emails sent from Gmail and Outlook<\/li>\n
- Live sync your email inbox & calendar meetings to the CRM<\/li>\n
- Send automated, personalized email sequences<\/li>\n
- Digitize contact information with a built-in business card scanner<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n
Features Pipeliner CRM doesn\u2019t offer:<\/p>\n
- \n
- Add and manage your leads from LinkedIn (personal & Sales Nav) with a Chrome extension<\/li>\n
- See who your colleagues know and how well, with \u201crelationship strength scores\u201d based on their email traffic<\/li>\n
- Be reminded of emails you haven\u2019t replied to and customer conversations that have gone quiet<\/li>\n
- Auto-create contacts for people you\u2019re emailing or meeting with<\/li>\n
- Automatically enrich your contact database by syncing your contacts\u2019 email signatures<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n
Pipeliner CRM\u2019s G2 review scores:<\/p>\n
- \n
- Ease of Use: 9.4<\/li>\n
- Ease of Setup: 9.2<\/li>\n
- Meets Requirements: 9.3<\/li>\n
- Quality of Support: 9.3<\/li>\n
- Ease of Doing Business With: 9.4<\/li>\n
- Ease of Admin: 9.3<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n
Pipeliner CRM\u2019s final scores:<\/p>\n
- \n
- Consultant CRM feature score: 5\/10<\/li>\n
- Overall score (G2): 9.3\/10<\/li>\n
- Mobile app score: 4.3\/5 \u2192 8.6\/10<\/li>\n
- FINAL REVIEW SCORE: 7.6\/10<\/strong><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n
Pricing<\/h4>\n
Pricing to get all of the above (5 of 10 features) on the Pipeliner Business plan:<\/p>\n
$85\/user\/month<\/strong> (billed annually)
\n$100\/user\/month<\/strong> (billed monthly)<\/p>\nPipeliner offers a free trial of 14 days.<\/span><\/p>\n
\n4. Freshworks CRM [6.9\/10]<\/a><\/h3>\n
<\/source> <\/source> ![\"Freshworks](\"https:\/\/images.storychief.com\/account_481\/freshworks-homepage_d148c8bb7ca06ddbbe3d58293632ce33_800.PNG\")
<\/picture><\/figure>\nFreshworks CRM (formerly known as Freshsales) is a popular CRM from Freshworks, the company behind \/ initially called Freshdesk. Freshworks was founded in 2010 to provide a better, cheaper solution for customer service teams.<\/p>\n
The CRM\u2019s main selling point is its feature depth. It has also managed to offer this range of functionality through an easier to use interface than its competitor\/predecessor from the same city, Zoho.<\/p>\n
What makes Freshworks strong is also its weakness: the interface is full of so many little buttons that common side-effects of using the platform include a mild headache, fatigue and dizziness. \ud83d\ude05<\/p>\n
Testing it out<\/h4>\n
When I tested Freshworks CRM, the interface immediately struck me as both feature-rich and a bit overwhelming. The CRM offers a broad range of tools, from lead management to email tracking, all within a single platform. However, navigating through these features required a bit more effort than I expected.<\/p>\n
One of the highlights was the email tracking feature, which provided real-time insights into whether recipients opened my emails and clicked on links. The pipeline management tool also proved to be quite functional, allowing me to drag and drop leads between different stages with ease.<\/p>\n
On the downside, the sheer number of features and buttons on the interface led to some initial confusion. While the CRM offers depth, it\u2019s easy to feel lost if you\u2019re not already familiar with its layout. This could potentially slow down your workflow, especially if you\u2019re handling multiple clients or projects simultaneously.<\/p>\n
Scoring<\/h4>\n
Features Freshworks CRM offers: 4\/10<\/p>\n
- \n
- Visualize your leads in multiple drag-and-drop pipelines<\/li>\n
- Track whether people open your emails and click on the links in your emails sent from Gmail and Outlook<\/li>\n
- Live sync your email inbox & calendar meetings to the CRM<\/li>\n
- Send automated, personalized email sequences<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n
Features Freshworks CRM doesn\u2019t offer:<\/p>\n
- \n
- Add and manage your leads from LinkedIn (personal & Sales Nav) with a Chrome extension<\/li>\n
- See who your colleagues know and how well, with \u201crelationship strength scores\u201d based on their email traffic<\/li>\n
- Be reminded of emails you haven\u2019t replied to and customer conversations that have gone quiet<\/li>\n
- Auto-create contacts for people you\u2019re emailing or meeting with<\/li>\n
- Automatically enrich your contact database by syncing your contacts\u2019 email signatures<\/li>\n
- Digitize contact information with a built-in business card scanner<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n
Freshworks CRM\u2019s G2 review scores:<\/p>\n
- \n
- Ease of Use: 9.1<\/li>\n
- Ease of Setup: 8.9<\/li>\n
- Meets Requirements: 8.9<\/li>\n
- Quality of Support: 9.0<\/li>\n
- Ease of Doing Business With: 9.1<\/li>\n
- Ease of Admin: 9.0<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n
Freshworks CRM\u2019s final scores:<\/p>\n
- \n
- Consultant CRM feature score: 4\/10<\/li>\n
- Overall score (G2): 9.0\/10<\/li>\n
- Mobile app score: 3.8\/5 \u2192 7.2\/10<\/li>\n
- FINAL REVIEW SCORE: 6.9\/10<\/strong><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n
Pricing<\/h4>\n
Pricing to get all the above (4 of 10 features) on Freshsales Enterprise plan*:<\/p>\n
- \n
- $59\/user\/month\u00a0<\/span><\/strong>(billed annually)<\/li>\n
- $71\/user\/month<\/strong>\u00a0<\/span>(billed monthly)<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n
* Sequences with stricter limits also available on Pro plan<\/p>\n
\n5. Zoho CRM [6.7\/10]<\/a><\/h3>\n
<\/source> <\/source> ![\"Zoho](\"https:\/\/images.storychief.com\/account_481\/zoho-homepage_4912880cf89f3fccb59863650c808225_800.PNG\")
<\/picture><\/figure>\nZoho is a true household name in the CRM industry, so I couldn\u2019t omit them from this ranking.<\/p>\n
The company launched its small business CRM product in 2005 and has historically been positioning itself as a cheaper alternative to Salesforce. That is immediately its main selling point.<\/p>\n
If you\u2019re looking for a consulting CRM software, Zoho has many tiers (and products even: Zoho CRM, Zoho CRM Plus, Zoho One, \u2026). Most of the four features below come on Zoho CRM\u2019s Standard plan, which offers the lowest pricing of the platforms in this comparison.<\/p>\n
Testing it out<\/h4>\n
Testing Zoho CRM, I found it to be a solid, budget-friendly option with a comprehensive feature set for its price point. The platform\u2019s interface is straightforward, and I was able to set up my pipelines and start managing leads relatively quickly.<\/p>\n
Zoho CRM\u2019s email tracking and pipeline management tools performed well, with the system automatically logging emails and providing a visual representation of my sales process. The drag-and-drop functionality in the pipeline made it easy to move leads through different stages.<\/p>\n
However, I did notice some limitations. The platform\u2019s design feels somewhat dated, and navigating through the various features was less intuitive than with other CRMs. Additionally, while Zoho CRM offers a wide array of tools, many advanced features require higher-tier plans, which could diminish its appeal as a low-cost solution.<\/p>\n
Scoring<\/h4>\n
Features Zoho CRM offers: 4\/10<\/p>\n
- \n
- Visualize your leads in multiple drag-and-drop pipelines<\/li>\n
- Track whether people open your emails and click on the links in your emails sent from Gmail and Outlook<\/li>\n
- Live sync your email inbox & calendar meetings to the CRM<\/li>\n
- Digitize contact information with a built-in business card scanner<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n
Features Zoho CRM doesn\u2019t offer:<\/p>\n
- \n
- Add and manage your leads from LinkedIn (personal & Sales Nav) with a Chrome extension<\/li>\n
- See who your colleagues know and how well, with \u201crelationship strength scores\u201d based on their email traffic<\/li>\n
- Be reminded of emails you haven\u2019t replied to and customer conversations that have gone quiet<\/li>\n
- Auto-create contacts for people you\u2019re emailing or meeting with<\/li>\n
- Automatically enrich your contact database by syncing your contacts\u2019 email signatures<\/li>\n
- Send automated, personalized email sequences<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n
Zoho CRM\u2019s G2 review scores:<\/p>\n
- \n
- Ease of Use: 8.1<\/li>\n
- Ease of Setup: 7.6<\/li>\n
- Meets Requirements: 8.2<\/li>\n
- Quality of Support: 7.4<\/li>\n
- Ease of Doing Business With: 7.9<\/li>\n
- Ease of Admin: 7.8<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n
Zoho CRM\u2019s final scores:<\/p>\n
- \n
- Consultant CRM feature score: 4\/10<\/li>\n
- Overall score (G2): 7.8\/10<\/li>\n
- Mobile app score: 4.2\/5 \u2192 8.4\/10<\/li>\n
- FINAL REVIEW SCORE: 6.7\/10<\/strong><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n
Pricing<\/h4>\n
Pricing to get all of the above (4 of 10 features) on Zoho CRM Professional plan:<\/p>\n
- \n
- $23\/user\/month\u00a0<\/span><\/strong>(billed annually)<\/li>\n
- $35\/user\/month<\/strong>\u00a0<\/span>(billed monthly)<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n
+20% if you want to get \u201cPremium support\u201d<\/strong>\u00a0<\/span>(i.e. comparable support to what you get in other places)<\/p>\n
\n6. Salesforce Sales Cloud [6.5\/10]<\/a><\/h3>\n
<\/source> <\/source> ![\"Salesforce's](\"https:\/\/images.storychief.com\/account_481\/salesforce-homepage_03a0839b28c2153b547df8459fd9eca7_800.PNG\")
<\/picture><\/figure>\nSalesforce is by far the biggest CRM company in the world, controlling about 25% of the market in 2026. It was founded in 1999 in California by an ex-Oracle executive.<\/p>\n
Salesforce offers a huge platform to enterprises that basically consists of a set of building blocks with which you can build anything, gives the possibility to customize everything, and the promise to connect to whatever other software you\u2019re using.<\/p>\n
A Salesforce implementation typically requires a(nother) consulting company to map the business needs and workflow, build all this in Salesforce, connect with other software, train the employees and follow up with additional changes afterwards.<\/p>\n
While the software is not a great match for small and medium-sized consultancies nor really built for sales follow up, no comparison is complete without mentioning the market leader.<\/p>\n
Testing it out<\/h4>\n
When I tested Salesforce Sales Cloud, it was clear that the platform is built for large-scale, complex operations. The setup process was thorough, with a wide array of customization options available to tailor the CRM to specific business needs.<\/p>\n
One of the most impressive aspects of Salesforce is its ability to integrate with virtually any other software, making it a powerhouse for companies with complex tech stacks. The email tracking and calendar sync features worked well, automatically logging communications and meetings.<\/p>\n
However, I found that using Salesforce Sales Cloud for a smaller consulting firm felt like overkill. The platform is incredibly feature-rich, but this also makes it more challenging to navigate. Additionally, the need for third-party consultants to fully implement and customize the CRM<\/a> can be a significant barrier for smaller teams, both in terms of time and cost.<\/p>\n
Scoring<\/h4>\n
Features Salesforce Sales Cloud offers: 3\/10<\/p>\n
- \n
- Visualize your leads in multiple drag-and-drop pipelines<\/li>\n
- Track whether people open your emails and click on the links in your emails sent from Gmail and Outlook<\/li>\n
- Live sync your email inbox & calendar meetings to the CRM<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n
Features Salesforce Sales Cloud doesn\u2019t offer:<\/p>\n
- \n
- Add and manage your leads from LinkedIn (personal & Sales Nav) with a Chrome extension<\/li>\n
- See who your colleagues know and how well, with \u201crelationship strength scores\u201d based on their email traffic<\/li>\n
- Be reminded of emails you haven\u2019t replied to and customer conversations that have gone quiet<\/li>\n
- Auto-create contacts for people you\u2019re emailing or meeting with<\/li>\n
- Automatically enrich your contact database by syncing your contacts\u2019 email signatures<\/li>\n
- Send automated, personalized email sequences<\/li>\n
- Digitize contact information with a built-in business card scanner<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n
Salesforce Sales Cloud\u2019s G2 review scores:<\/p>\n
- \n
- Ease of Use: 8.1<\/li>\n
- Ease of Setup: 7.5<\/li>\n
- Meets Requirements: 8.8<\/li>\n
- Quality of Support: 8.2<\/li>\n
- Ease of Doing Business With: 8.3<\/li>\n
- Ease of Admin: 8.0<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n
Salesforce Sales Cloud\u2019s final scores:<\/p>\n
- \n
- Consultant CRM feature score: 3\/10<\/li>\n
- Overall score (G2): 8.2\/10<\/li>\n
- Mobile app score: 4.2\/5 \u2192 8.4\/10<\/li>\n
- FINAL REVIEW SCORE:6.5\/10<\/strong><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n
Pricing<\/h4>\n
Pricing to get all of the above (3 of 10 features) on the Salesforce Sales Cloud Pro Suite plan:<\/p>\n
$100\/user\/month<\/strong>\u00a0<\/span>(only billed annually)<\/p>\n
Salesforce offers a free trial of 30 days.<\/span><\/p>\n
\n7. Pipedrive [6.4\/10]<\/a><\/h3>\n
<\/source> <\/source> ![\"Pipedrive](\"https:\/\/images.storychief.com\/account_481\/pipedrive-homepage_e79ef31b376c107844e7c89d4a98fe43_800.PNG\")
<\/picture><\/figure>\nPipedrive is an easy-to-use and easy-to-setup CRM software for small businesses and startups<\/a>, including many consultancies, and is therefore compared to Salesflare very often.<\/p>\n
The company was founded in 2011 to launch a counterreaction to enterprise systems like Salesforce, which are built more for enterprise needs than they are for sales teams. Pipedrive set out to change that.<\/p>\n
While the company is focused on helping you manage your sales in a better way, it keeps missing some of the more modern functionality offered by other platforms in this area, which unfortunately makes it land at the bottom of this ranking.<\/p>\n
Testing it out<\/h4>\n
When I tested Pipedrive, I immediately noticed how visually oriented the platform is. The pipeline view is central to the experience, offering a clear, drag-and-drop interface that made it easy to manage deals. Moving deals through stages felt intuitive, and I appreciated how I could customize the stages to reflect my specific consulting process.<\/p>\n
One feature that stood out was the activity management. Pipedrive prompts you to set a follow-up activity for every deal, ensuring that nothing slips through the cracks. This focus on action made it feel like I was always moving forward with my leads and clients, rather than letting deals stagnate.<\/p>\n
However, I found that Pipedrive\u2019s email integration was somewhat basic compared to other CRMs. While it does allow for tracking and basic automation, it didn\u2019t automatically log emails as thoroughly as I would have liked, requiring a bit more manual input to maintain accurate records.<\/p>\n
Overall, Pipedrive provided a solid, straightforward CRM experience, especially for someone who prefers a visual approach to managing their sales pipeline. The focus on activities and ease of use makes it a strong contender, though I did miss some of the more advanced automation features available in Pipedrive alternatives<\/a>.<\/p>\n
Scoring<\/h4>\n
Features Pipedrive offers: 4\/10<\/p>\n
- \n
- Visualize your leads in multiple drag-and-drop pipelines<\/li>\n
- Track whether people open your emails and click on the links in your emails sent from Gmail and Outlook<\/li>\n
- Live sync your email inbox & calendar meetings to the CRM<\/li>\n
- Send automated, personalized email sequences<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n
Features Pipedrive doesn\u2019t offer:<\/p>\n
- \n
- Add and manage your leads from LinkedIn (personal & Sales Nav) with a Chrome extension<\/li>\n
- See who your colleagues know and how well, with \u201crelationship strength scores\u201d based on their email traffic<\/li>\n
- Be reminded of emails you haven\u2019t replied to and customer conversations that have gone quiet<\/li>\n
- Auto-create contacts for people you\u2019re emailing or meeting with<\/li>\n
- Automatically enrich your contact database by syncing your contacts\u2019 email signatures<\/li>\n
- Digitize contact information with a built-in business card scanner<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n
Pipedrive\u2019s G2 review scores:<\/p>\n
- \n
- Ease of Use: 8.9<\/li>\n
- Ease of Setup: 8.7<\/li>\n
- Meets Requirements: 8.4<\/li>\n
- Quality of Support: 8.4<\/li>\n
- Ease of Doing Business With: 8.7<\/li>\n
- Ease of Admin: 8.6<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n
Pipedrive\u2019s final scores:<\/p>\n
- \n
- Consultant CRM feature score: 4\/10<\/li>\n
- Overall score (G2): 8.6\/10<\/li>\n
- Mobile app score: 3.3\/5 \u2192 6.6\/10<\/li>\n
- FINAL REVIEW SCORE: 6.4\/10<\/strong><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n
Pricing<\/h4>\n
Pricing to get all of the above (4 of 10 features) on the Pipedrive Premium plan:<\/p>\n
$49\/user\/month<\/strong> (billed annually)
\n$79\/user\/month<\/strong> (billed monthly)<\/p>\nPipedrive offers a free trial of 14 days.<\/span><\/p>\n
\nHow to set up and use a CRM as a consultant<\/h2>\n
Here are some basic tips on how to set up your CRM and use it successfully.<\/p>\n
They are based on my vast experience supporting consultancies and independent consultants with their relationship management and sales processes.<\/p>\n
- $35\/user\/month<\/strong>\u00a0<\/span>(billed monthly)<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n
- $23\/user\/month\u00a0<\/span><\/strong>(billed annually)<\/li>\n
- $71\/user\/month<\/strong>\u00a0<\/span>(billed monthly)<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n
- $59\/user\/month\u00a0<\/span><\/strong>(billed annually)<\/li>\n
- $64\/user\/month<\/strong> (billed monthly)<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n
- $49\/user\/month<\/strong> (billed annually)<\/li>\n
- HubSpot CRM & Sales Hub: 7.9\/10<\/a><\/li>\n
- Salesflare: 9.7\/10<\/a> \ud83c\udfc6<\/li>\n
- The 7 best CRMs for consultants ranked<\/a><\/li>\n
![\"Salesflare](\"https:\/\/lib.salesflare.com\/images\/salesflare-awards-transparent-2024-800.avif)
\n <\/picture>\n <\/a>\n