\n
Core features of CRM for consultants + methodology for ranking CRMs<\/h2>\n
Here are 10 core features a CRM software solution for agencies 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 marketing agency 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 account managers at agencies 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 marketing agencies, I took the average of the G2 review scores<\/strong>, and then combined it with the mobile score<\/strong> and the agency CRM feature score<\/strong>, to calculate\u2026 the final score! \ud83e\udd47<\/p>\n
\nThe 7 Best CRMs for Marketing Agencies 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 marketing agencies 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 marketing agencies 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><\/picture> ![\"Homepage](\"https:\/\/images.storychief.com\/account_481\/salesflare-new-homepage_f7ae91fcb03f8da6bca69d08cb24e93d_800.jpg\")
<\/picture>Salesflare is used and loved by 1000s of agencies \ud83d\udc96<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n If I ask our marketing agency 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 agencies, consultancies, development houses, tech companies, \u2026). It\u2019s top ranked across review platforms and is the #1 agency 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 an agency 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 marketing agency owner<\/h4>\n
Here\u2019s what Steve B.<\/a>, a fellow marketing agency owner, wrote about Salesflare:<\/p>\n
\u201cThis is the first time I have a CRM that does not add more work to my plate. Salesflare integrates with Gmail, auto-populates everything, from account info, to contact info. To a point at which without moving a finger I can even see what has been the last social media posts from a new contact. This is what every other CRM should aspire to be.<\/p>\n
Adoption and ease of use are through the roof. Within a day and not longer than 20 minutes of training was needed.<\/p>\n
Another great thing is that this CRM is account-centric instead of opportunity-centric. This means that even when a new sales member comes in or any person wants to know what has happened historically, they would just go into the account and see everything. Instead of having to do a million filters to see every opportunity.\u201d<\/p>\n
Testing it out<\/h4>\n
When you start using Salesflare, the first thing you\u2019ll notice is how seamlessly it integrates with your existing tools, particularly Gmail, Outlook, and LinkedIn. The setup is intuitive, requiring minimal effort to get started. You connect your accounts, and Salesflare begins automatically populating your contacts with data pulled from your emails, meetings, and social media interactions. This automation feels like a relief, as you no longer have to worry about manually entering contact information or updating records.<\/p>\n
The user interface is clean and straightforward, making it easy to navigate through your pipelines, track leads, and manage your customer relationships. The CRM\u2019s automated tracking features stand out as particularly helpful. You\u2019ll see every interaction with your contacts logged automatically, from emails to meetings, giving you a comprehensive view of your relationships without lifting a finger.<\/p>\n
One of the most valuable aspects of Salesflare is how it keeps you on top of follow-ups. You receive reminders for leads that have gone cold and emails that haven\u2019t been replied to, ensuring no potential opportunity slips through the cracks. Overall, using Salesflare feels like having an assistant who manages your CRM for you, so you can focus more on building relationships and less on data entry.<\/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
- Agency 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)\u00a0on the Salesflare Pro plan:<\/span><\/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 doing work for other businesses (i.e. for 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
I guarantee you won\u2019t find any better CRM for your marketing agency! \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
To get functionality that is comparable to what you\u2019re getting with the other agency 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 first tried HubSpot CRM combined with the Sales Hub, the platform\u2019s all-in-one approach was immediately apparent. HubSpot prides itself on being a comprehensive solution for marketing, sales, service, and operations, and that was clear from the start. The initial setup was relatively straightforward, though there were moments when I felt overwhelmed by the sheer number of features and customization options available.<\/p>\n
Once everything was configured, I found that the CRM excelled in its ability to centralize all my business activities. The drag-and-drop pipelines were visually appealing and easy to manage, which made tracking leads across different stages a breeze. However, the need to frequently switch between the CRM and the Sales Hub to access all necessary functionalities became a bit cumbersome. It was clear that HubSpot\u2019s strength lies in its broad feature set, but that also comes with a steep learning curve.<\/p>\n
The automation tools for email tracking and meeting scheduling worked well, but I noticed that to unlock the full potential of these features, I had to navigate through various settings and integrations. Overall, HubSpot provided a robust experience, but it required a significant investment of time to get everything running smoothly. It\u2019s a platform that feels powerful, but you have to be prepared to dig into its depths and pay its high costs to make the most of it.<\/p>\n
\u201cIt\u2019s the source of truth for the agency I worked with. It\u2019s a really helpful system that I use day to day, hand in hand with my daily tasks. Excellent system!\u201d writes Ivana T.<\/a>, executive assistant at an agency, about HubSpot Sales Hub.<\/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
- Agency 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 the above (6 of 10 features) on the HubSpot Sales Hub Professional plan<\/span>:<\/p>\n
- \n
- $90\/seat\/month<\/strong> (billed annually)<\/span><\/li>\n
- $100\/seat\/month<\/strong> (billed monthly, but with annual commitment)<\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n
+ an extra required fee of $1500 for onboarding<\/strong><\/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 agencies 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
\u201cI really like Pipeliner because creating tasks is super easy and efficient, it offers variable exclusive sales records for the files since it saves all the data, studies the evaluation and its processes carried out at the time of the sale. Also, I like that you can create multiple pipelines for different needs or \u2026\u201d writes Akshay K.<\/a>, digital marketing specialist at an events agency, about Pipeliner CRM.<\/p>\n
Testing it out<\/h4>\n
Testing out Pipeliner CRM was an interesting experience. The platform prides itself on being visually oriented, and that was clear from the moment I logged in. The pipeline view is one of the most visually detailed I\u2019ve seen, with drag-and-drop functionality that allows for easy customization of stages and processes. However, the interface did feel a bit dated compared to more modern CRMs, and navigating through the different features took some getting used to.<\/p>\n
One thing that stood out was Pipeliner\u2019s focus on making relationship management more intuitive. The CRM offers robust visual tools for tracking leads and managing customer data, but I found that it required more manual input than some of the other CRMs I\u2019ve tested. While the drag-and-drop pipelines were helpful, setting up and maintaining them was more time-consuming than I expected.<\/p>\n
The platform offers a decent range of features, but it felt like it was better suited for teams that are already accustomed to working within a structured, visual environment. Pipeliner seems ideal for users who value a visual approach to CRM but are willing to spend the time needed to set up and customize their workflow.<\/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
- Agency 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 the above (5 of 10 features) on the Pipeliner Business plan:<\/p>\n
- \n
- $85\/user\/month<\/strong>\u00a0<\/span>(billed annually)<\/li>\n
- $100\/user\/month<\/strong>\u00a0<\/span>(billed monthly)<\/li>\n<\/ul>\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 started using Freshworks CRM, I was immediately struck by its extensive feature set. The platform offers a lot of functionality, which is impressive at first glance, but I soon found myself feeling a bit overwhelmed. The interface is packed with buttons and options, which, while powerful, made it challenging to navigate smoothly.<\/p>\n
Setting up the CRM was relatively straightforward, but customizing it to my needs took longer than expected due to the sheer number of options. Freshworks CRM does a good job of integrating various tools, such as email tracking and meeting scheduling, but I found the interface to be less intuitive than I would have liked. The abundance of small icons and tabs made it difficult to quickly find what I was looking for, which sometimes resulted in frustration.<\/p>\n
Despite the cluttered interface, the CRM performed well in terms of functionality. The automation features worked effectively, and the email tracking provided valuable insights. However, using Freshworks CRM felt like a trade-off: I had access to a lot of powerful tools, but at the cost of a steeper learning curve and occasional headaches from trying to navigate the complex interface.<\/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
- Agency 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 an agency 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 out Zoho CRM was a mix of convenience and frustration. The platform is known for being a budget-friendly alternative to more expensive CRMs like Salesforce, and it shows in both positive and negative ways. Setting up Zoho CRM was easy enough, and I appreciated the range of customization options available right from the start. However, as I began using the CRM, I found that it lacked the polish and user-friendliness of some of its competitors.<\/p>\n
The interface is serviceable, but it feels somewhat clunky and outdated. Navigating through the CRM required more clicks than I would have liked, and some of the features felt buried under layers of menus. Zoho CRM does offer a good selection of tools, such as email tracking and pipeline management, but they often required manual input and didn\u2019t integrate as seamlessly as I had hoped.<\/p>\n
Despite these drawbacks, Zoho CRM does offer a lot of value for the price. It\u2019s a solid option for agencies on a budget, but you have to be willing to deal with a less intuitive user experience. If you\u2019re looking for a CRM that gets the job done without breaking the bank, Zoho CRM is worth considering, but be prepared for some trade-offs in ease of use and efficiency.<\/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
- Agency 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
- $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
- $100\/user\/month<\/strong>\u00a0<\/span>(billed monthly)<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n
- $85\/user\/month<\/strong>\u00a0<\/span>(billed annually)<\/li>\n
- $100\/seat\/month<\/strong> (billed monthly, but with annual commitment)<\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n
- $90\/seat\/month<\/strong> (billed annually)<\/span><\/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
![\"Homepage](\"https:\/\/lib.salesflare.com\/images\/salesflare-awards-transparent-2024-800.avif)
<\/picture>![\"Pipedrive](\"https:\/\/images.storychief.com\/account_481\/pipedrive-homepage_e79ef31b376c107844e7c89d4a98fe43_800.PNG\")
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