With all the different lead tracking platforms out there however, it can be hard to figure out exactly what you need to up your success rate and productivity. So first, I\u2019ll tackle that for you and give you a list of useful features<\/strong> to look out for. \ud83d\udc40<\/p>\n After this, I\u2019ll use this same feature list as well as review scores<\/strong> from G2 to compare 7 different top lead management software platforms in detail, including pricing<\/strong>.<\/p>\n Let\u2019s dig in! \ud83d\udc47<\/p>\n Lead management software helps you organize and track new leads throughout the sales process. It ensures that every potential customer is properly managed, from their first contact to a successful sale. By organizing leads within a funnel, it makes it easier to prioritize follow-ups, manage tasks, and keep things moving efficiently.<\/p>\n Here are 10 core features<\/strong> a lead management & tracking software platform can offer to help you better follow up leads:<\/p>\n There\u2019s a lot of useful features in there that you won\u2019t be able to get just from an Excel sheet<\/a> \ud83d\ude04 I\u2019ll detail below which of these features come with each lead management software.<\/p>\n If you\u2019re looking for good software to manage and track your leads, the above set of features can significantly boost your success rate and up your productivity<\/strong>.<\/p>\n To compile this ranking, I went through a list of around 600 possible apps to make a pre-selection. Then I tested every one of the 7 selected lead management software platforms first hand and researched which of them offer which features and detailed this for you below.<\/p>\n Next to this, it is important to keep the bigger picture in mind when comparing software, because you need to make sure your team will actually use the system<\/strong> as well. Getting lead management software that nobody uses is pretty useless \ud83d\ude0f<\/p>\n Because of that, I\u2019ve included the current scoring for each software on G2<\/strong> so you get a better idea of how they each stack up. It\u2019s broken down as follows:<\/p>\n I\u2019ve then taken the average of the G2 review score, and combined it with the lead management feature score, to calculate\u2026 the final score<\/strong>! \ud83e\udd47<\/p>\n Don\u2019t want to read the whole comparison? \ud83e\udd13<\/p>\n The top 7 best lead management software in 2026 are:<\/p>\n Want to dig into the details with me? Read on!<\/p>\n If I ask our customers what they\u2019re essentially using Salesflare for, the answer is usually: to better follow up our leads<\/strong>.<\/p>\n Our goal at Salesflare 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> (founded in 2014) is used by thousands of small and medium-sized businesses who sell to other businesses<\/strong> (incl. agencies<\/a>, consultancies<\/a>, development houses, tech companies, \u2026). It\u2019s top ranked across review platforms and is the #1 CRM software on Product Hunt, the leading community for product enthusiasts.<\/p>\n It\u2019s very tightly integrated with Gmail<\/a> (also within Google Workspace<\/a>) and Outlook<\/a><\/strong>, so you don\u2019t need to switch between your inbox and sales software while tracking leads. Plus it adds some handy features like integrated email and website tracking, email templates, and email sequences.<\/p>\n And, on top of that, it\u2019s great for lead generation<\/a> too, as it has a series of handy lead generation tools<\/a> built in!<\/p>\n \u201cSalesflare has all the tools I need to track my sales without extra features I don\u2019t use. It\u2019s easy to use and has great customer support. I like how it integrates with Gmail and Google Calendar so I can easily track my contacts with my leads.\u201d writes Suzanne D.<\/a>, founder of a coaching company, about Salesflare.<\/p>\n When you test out Salesflare, the first thing you notice is how intuitive and automated the system feels. Upon connecting your email and social media accounts, Salesflare starts pulling in data, creating comprehensive profiles for each lead without any manual input. The automated data entry is seamless, instantly gathering contact information, company details, and social media profiles.<\/p>\n Email and meeting tracking are equally impressive. Salesflare logs every email you send and receive, tracking opens and link clicks, giving you a clear view of lead engagement. Scheduled meetings are added to the timeline automatically, complete with notes and action items, ensuring you never miss a follow-up. The platform\u2019s tight integration with Gmail and Outlook means you can manage leads directly from your inbox, making your workflow more efficient and productive.<\/p>\n Without further ado, here\u2019s an analysis of how Salesflare stacks up:<\/p>\n Features Salesflare offers: 10\/10<\/p>\n Features Salesflare doesn\u2019t offer: none<\/p>\n G2 review scoring:<\/p>\n Final result:<\/p>\n Pricing to get all of the above (10 of 10 features) on the Salesflare Pro plan<\/span>:<\/p>\n $49\/user\/month<\/strong> (billed annually) Salesflare offers a free trial of up to 30 days.<\/span><\/p>\n Want to see it all in action? You can try Salesflare for free<\/a><\/strong><\/u>. \ud83d\udc48<\/p>\n It only takes a few minutes to sign up and get started with a Salesflare tria<\/a>l.<\/p>\n I guarantee you won\u2019t find easier and more automated lead management software! \ud83d\udc4c HubSpot<\/a> 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 \u201cIt\u2019s easy to find the leads and to track the lead\u2019s progress for sales. It is also easy to integrate all the leads from our pipeline to the HubSpot.\u201d writes Izzaidi M.<\/a>, financial advisor at an insurance company, about HubSpot CRM & Sales Hub.<\/p>\n To get functionality that is comparable to what you\u2019re getting with the other lead management software in this ranking, you need to get two HubSpot products: its CRM and its Sales Hub<\/a>.<\/p>\n That makes the pricing to get all this handy functionality (8 features) quite steep, starting at $90-100\/user\/month plus an extra required fee of $1470 for onboarding.<\/p>\n When I tested HubSpot CRM and Sales Hub, the seamless integration of marketing, sales, and service tools stood out. Setting up the system was straightforward, and I appreciated how it visualized leads in customizable drag-and-drop pipelines. Sending automated email sequences until leads responded was easy, allowing me to maintain consistent communication without manual effort.<\/p>\n Although HubSpot\u2019s interface was clean and user-friendly, I found some advanced features like automatic follow-up reminders and live activity tracking missing, which could have further enhanced my lead management experience.<\/p>\n Features HubSpot CRM + Sales Hub offers: 8\/10<\/p>\n Features HubSpot CRM + Sales Hub doesn\u2019t offer:<\/p>\n G2 review scoring:<\/p>\n Final result:<\/p>\n HubSpot offers a free trial of 14 to 30 days.<\/span><\/p>\n Pricing to get all of the above (8 of 10 features) on the HubSpot Sales Hub Professional plan<\/span>:<\/p>\n $90\/seat\/month<\/strong>\u00a0(billed annually)<\/span> Pipeliner 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 leads in a better way, I decided to include them in this comparison because of their clear dedication to lead management and sales management<\/a>.<\/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 deep pockets.<\/p>\n \u201c[I like] being able to move customers along the sales pipeline with a drag and drop interface. The raft of features for contacts, including social media profile connectivity. [And] being able to see where every one of my customers in my sales pipeline.\u201d writes Jon T.<\/a>, a communication coach, about Pipeliner CRM.<\/p>\n Testing Pipeliner CRM was a mixed experience. On the positive side, the software provided robust lead visualization through its drag-and-drop pipelines. Tracking the source of leads and analyzing lost reasons was straightforward, helping me understand where my leads were coming from and why some didn\u2019t convert.<\/p>\n However, the interface felt dated, and navigating through its features was less intuitive compared to other platforms. Despite its rich feature set, the absence of automated email sequences and lead enrichment from public sources was noticeable. Overall, Pipeliner CRM required a bit more effort to manage leads effectively, especially for someone used to more modern, automated systems.<\/p>\n Features Pipeliner CRM offers: 5\/10<\/p>\n Features Pipeliner CRM doesn\u2019t offer:<\/p>\n G2 review scoring:<\/p>\n Final result:<\/p>\n Pricing to get all of the above (X of 10 features) on the Pipeliner Business plan:<\/p>\n $85\/user\/month<\/strong> (billed annually) Pipeliner offers a free trial of 14 days.<\/span><\/p>\n Freshworks CRM (formerly known as Freshsales) is a sales CRM<\/a> 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 Freshworks\u2019 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 Using Freshworks CRM, I found the platform packed with features but somewhat overwhelming. The lead visualization in drag-and-drop pipelines was efficient, and sending automated email sequences helped maintain lead engagement. The CRM tracked lead sources and provided a live overview of lead activities, which was useful for timely follow-ups.<\/p>\n However, the interface was cluttered with numerous buttons and options, making it challenging to navigate. Freshworks did not offer automatic lead enrichment or reminders for inactive leads, which are crucial for efficient lead management. Despite its feature depth, the user experience felt less streamlined compared to other platforms.<\/p>\n Features Freshworks CRM offers: 5\/10<\/p>\n Features Freshworks CRM doesn\u2019t offer:<\/p>\n G2 review scoring:<\/p>\n Final result:<\/p>\n Pricing to get all of the above (5 of 10 features) on Freshsales Enterprise plan*:<\/p>\n $59\/user\/month\u00a0<\/span><\/strong>(billed annually) * Sequences with stricter limits also available on Pro plan<\/p>\n Freshworks CRM offers a free trial of 21 days.<\/span><\/p>\n
\nWhat is lead management software?<\/h2>\n
\nCore features of lead management software<\/h2>\n
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\nRanking lead management software: our methodology<\/h2>\n
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\nThe 7 Best Lead Management & Tracking Software ranked<\/strong><\/h2>\n
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\n1. Salesflare: best for B2B sales [9.8\/10]<\/a> \ud83c\udfc6<\/h3>\n
![\"manage](\"https:\/\/images.storychief.com\/account_481\/desktop-gmail-plugin_fb5890f313e262945e292af774a24bcb_800.jpg)
<\/picture>![\"manage](\"https:\/\/images.storychief.com\/account_481\/desktop-gmail-plugin_fb5890f313e262945e292af774a24bcb_800.jpg\")
<\/picture>Testing it out<\/h4>\n
Scoring<\/h4>\n
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Pricing<\/h4>\n
\n$64\/user\/month<\/strong> (billed monthly)<\/p>\nTry Salesflare<\/h4>\n
\n\n ![\"Salesflare](\"https:\/\/lib.salesflare.com\/images\/salesflare-awards-transparent-2024-800.avif)
\n <\/picture>\n <\/a>\n
\n2. HubSpot CRM + Sales Hub: best for marketing [8.3\/10]<\/a><\/h3>\n
![\"overview](\"https:\/\/images.storychief.com\/account_481\/hubspot-crm-lead-followup_d69397210e41595286b7d9c2fdc5bece_800.png\")
<\/figure>\nTesting it out<\/h4>\n
Scoring<\/h4>\n
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Pricing<\/h4>\n
\n$100\/seat\/month<\/strong>\u00a0(billed monthly)<\/span>
\n+ an extra required fee of $1500 for onboarding<\/strong><\/p>\n
\n3. Pipeliner CRM: best for sales management [7.2\/10]<\/a><\/h3>\n
![\"track](\"https:\/\/images.storychief.com\/account_481\/pipeliner-crm-leads-pipeline_992d6d3c5414d10332d312463e3c27d7_800.png\")
<\/figure>\nTesting it out<\/h4>\n
Scoring<\/h4>\n
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Pricing<\/h4>\n
\n$100\/user\/month<\/strong> (billed monthly)<\/p>\n
\n4. Freshworks CRM: best for feature depth [7.0\/10]<\/a><\/h3>\n
![\"manage](\"https:\/\/images.storychief.com\/account_481\/freshworks-crm-lead-tracking_5df3c82e4246e3fbe7e69f11123356b5_800.jpg\"){kind=tracking}
<\/figure>\nTesting it out<\/h4>\n
Scoring<\/h4>\n
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Pricing<\/h4>\n
\n$71\/user\/month<\/strong>\u00a0<\/span>(billed monthly)<\/p>\n
\n5. Pipedrive: best for small startups [6.3\/10]<\/a><\/h3>\n
![\"lead](\"https:\/\/images.storychief.com\/account_481\/pipedrive-leads-list-view_a6b9381ec5f13e69e41d5b5a0c7cd0aa_800.png\")
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![\"a](\"https:\/\/images.storychief.com\/account_481\/salesforce-sales-cloud-lead-view_868655574b29feef1b0b8a0ba8a8c6f5_800.png\")
<\/figure>\n![\"the](\"https:\/\/images.storychief.com\/account_481\/zoho-leads-management-overview_868686498e372360c1d6a44b1253c4dd_800.png\")
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