6 Best Salesforce Alternatives for Small Businesses

Salesforce is a powerful platform for small businesses. However, it can be expensive and difficult to manage. Here are some alternatives that may meet your needs more effectively, at a lower cost.

The “hubspot” is a Salesforce alternative that has been around for a while. It is a powerful tool that provides users with the ability to create and manage their own marketing campaigns. The “hubspot” also offers great integrations with other tools such as Slack, Google Analytics, and Twitter.

Because of its powerful sales tools, analytics, and lead management capabilities, Salesforce is one of the most popular customer relationship management (CRM) systems for small organizations. However, for others, its absence of a free plan, high customer service costs, and steep learning curve make it a secondary alternative. We looked at various leading suppliers and assessed the important features that small companies need to discover the best Salesforce replacement.

The top six Salesforce alternatives for small enterprises are as follows:

• Freshsales (previously Freshworks CRM): The best overall Salesforce alternative, giving users a complete picture of client interactions.
• Users who seek a Salesforce alternative with powerful reporting and analytics features can consider Zoho CRM.
• Pipedrive: For consumers who want to see visual representations of their accounts and transaction phases, Pipedrive is the way to go.
• Bitrix24: Excellent for those that need a free CRM that includes complete sales, marketing, project management, and ecommerce features.
• Apptivo: A great alternative to Salesforce for organizations searching for a more economical all-in-one CRM with industry-specific features.
• Copper is the best option for companies who utilize Google Workspace applications.

Other Salesforce options to explore if you’re searching for something more specific:

Freshsales: The Best Overall Salesforce Alternative With Comprehensive Customer Insights Freshsales is the best overall Salesforce alternative with comprehensive customer insights.

Freshsales

4.91 OUT OF 5 I I I I I I I I I I I Our ranking is based on our experts’ weighted assessment of hundreds of comparable items and services.

What We Enjoy

• Customer communication channels are numerous, including mobile and social messaging.
• In-app cloud telephony with a lot of features
• Provides a complete picture of a customer’s profile, including lead score, pipeline stage, and recent chats.

What Isn’t There

• The free plan has limited features.
• File storage limit per user
• There is no way to access data offline.

How Does It Measure Up to Salesforce?

• Freshsales has a free subscription that permits unlimited users, but Salesforce does not.
• Pricing options are often more reasonable, with the entry-level option costing $15 per user, per month.
• More complete lead management options are available, providing users with all relevant information for each contact.
• Customer communication channels are expanded to include WhatsApp, Apple Chat, Line, Facebook Messenger, mobile, and online apps.

Customer management features in Salesforce allow you to keep track of customer and contact information, including activity history, correspondence, and internal account conversations. Freshsales, on the other hand, gives more detailed customer information, such as conversation logs, transactions (open or closed, won or lost), corporate touchpoints, and the tasks and appointments associated with each client or contact.

While Freshsales is the finest Salesforce replacement overall, its free plan is lacking in crucial features and is mostly confined to contact management and email. Bitrix24 is a free, feature-rich CRM that users should examine.

A Quick Look at Freshsales Pricing*

• Free: Supports an infinite number of users.
• $15 per month per user growth
• Pro: $39 per month, per user
• Enterprise: $69 per month for each user
• 21-day free trial

*Based on a yearly billing cycle. Subscriptions are also available on a monthly basis for a little higher price.

Freshsales Lead Management Provides A 360-Degree View Of The Customer

Customer profiles provide current and historical information, enabling salespeople to provide more tailored service. (Image courtesy of Freshsales)

The lead management tool in Freshsales offers you a detailed picture of your customers’ activity, including how they engaged with your website and product. It may rate prospects based on their profile and amount of involvement, helping you to find sales-ready leads and improve your chances of closing a deal. It also adds publicly available information, such as social profiles, corporate data, and images, to leads, contacts, and account profiles.

Check out our Freshsales review to learn more about the platform’s other features.

Freshsales is a great place to start.

Zoho CRM: The Best Salesforce Alternative With Powerful Analytics

Zoho CRM

4.39 OUT OF 5 I I I I I I I I I I I Our ranking is based on our experts’ weighted assessment of hundreds of comparable items and services.

What We Enjoy

• Predictive analytics and analytics that are robust
• The user interface is simple and straightforward.
• Provides email, phone, live chat, and social media communication via an omnichannel platform.

What Isn’t There

• Three users are allowed on the free plan.
• The only way to get 24/7 service is to buy an Enterprise support package.
• Storage capacity is limited, necessitating the purchase of a monthly storage add-on.

How Does It Measure Up to Salesforce?

• There is a free plan available for up to three people.
• The most expensive package is just $52 per user, per month, compared to $300 per person, per month for Salesforce.
• Has just 50+ third-party connectors compared to Salesforce’s 100+.
• Has a user interface that is more beginner-friendly and straightforward.
• Customer behavior and spending analysis are among the wider analytics techniques available, in addition to sales forecasting.

Sales forecasting, lead scoring, and sales agent opportunity matching are just a few of the sophisticated analytics features available to Salesforce customers. Zoho CRM, on the other hand, provides the same powerful analytics capabilities and more—at a substantially lesser cost. Identifying high-quality leads that may bring you more income, examining sales funnels, and monitoring advertising and marketing return on investment are all capabilities of Zoho CRM’s analytics (ROI).

One thing to keep in mind is that Zoho’s free plan has a restricted number of users. It also has a finite amount of file storage. Freshsales or Bitrix24 are two CRMs that provide unlimited users in their free plans, while Apptivo is a good option for consumers that need more storage capacity.

A Quick Look at Zoho CRM Pricing*

• Up to three users are free.
• Standard: $14 per month per user
• Professional: $23 per month for each user
• Enterprise: $40 per month for each user
• Ultimate: $52 per month per user
• 15-day free trial

*Based on a yearly billing cycle. Subscriptions are also available on a monthly basis for a little higher price.

Analytics Tools for Zoho CRM

From reviewing sales progress vs objectives to tracking lead conversion rate, Zoho CRM’s dashboard demonstrates the strength of its analytics features. (Image courtesy of Zoho CRM)

Zoho CRM offers cognitive analytics solutions for displaying accurate sales numbers and assisting teams in taking data-driven decisions. It generates real-time reports that include information on sales trends, marketing strategies, and team performance. It also contains capabilities for analyzing consumer activity, such as identifying top consumers and spenders, the most often bought items, and the most frequently engaged with channels.

Check out our Zoho CRM review to learn more about the platform’s other features.

Go to the Zoho CRM website.

Pipedrive: The Best Salesforce Alternative With Visual Sales Pipelines Pipedrive is the best Salesforce alternative with visual sales pipelines.

Pipedrive CRM (Customer Relationship Management)

4.34 OUT OF 5 I I I I I I I I I I I Our ranking is based on our experts’ weighted assessment of hundreds of comparable items and services.

What We Enjoy

• Excellent visual representation features that make it simple for users to grasp their pipeline’s overall state.
• Revenue prediction reports are available.
• Customer service is available 24 hours a day, 7 days a week by live chat and email.

What Isn’t There

• There is There is no free plan available. available.
• Only the two most costly subscriptions provide in-app calling capabilities.

How Does It Measure Up to Salesforce?

• Starting at about $12.50 per month per user, this is a great deal.
• Has 150+ third-party integrations compared to Salesforce’s 100+.
• In comparison to Salesforce’s very complicated dashboard, it has a simplified UI that is easier to grasp.
• Offers 24/7 assistance for all plans, although Salesforce only does so when a premium customer support package is purchased.

Users may monitor critical facts regarding each transaction, such as stage, quotations, and goods, using Salesforce’s opportunity management tools. Pipedrive combines all of these features in a user-friendly, highly graphic interface. With configurable pipelines in Kanban view, you can see your sales process and move transactions through phases. It also tells you which accounts to prioritize, as well as ensuring that no leads are missed.

Pipedrive does not provide a free plan and only allows for restricted in-app calls. Users that do not have the financial means to pay for a commercial plan might look into the free versions of Bitrix24, Zoho CRM, or Apptivo. Meanwhile, even on entry-level subscriptions, consumers who want an in-app caller might choose Freshsales.

A Quick Look at Pipedrive Pricing*

• $12.50 per month per user is required.
• Advanced: $24.90 per month for each user
• Professional: $49.90 per month for each user
• Enterprise: $99 per month for each user
• 14-day free trial

Add-ons:

• $32 per month for Lead Booster
• $41 per month for web visitor analytics

*Based on a yearly billing cycle. Except for the Enterprise package, monthly subscriptions are also available.

Visual Pipeline Management with Pipedrive

Pipedrive’s Kanban view pipelines provide a simple yet relevant picture of users’ sales processes. (Image courtesy of Pipedrive)

Pipedrive’s sales pipeline management has a simple visual interface with easy-to-understand action points for sales representatives. Its offers are organized by sales stage, allowing users to see how far down the pipeline they are and which phases need attention. It also allows you to apply filters to get more detailed and particular pipeline data, as well as adapt and add as many sales stages as you need to meet your own sales procedures.

Check out our Pipedrive review to learn more about the platform’s other features.

Go to Pipedrive.com.

Bitrix24: Best Free Alternative With Lead & Project Management Tools

Bitrix24

Overall Score: 4.05 OUT OF 5 iOur score is based on our experts’ weighted analysis of hundreds of comparable items and services.

What We Enjoy

• Unlimited leads, deals, contacts, and businesses are available with the free plan.
• Project management, marketing, and sales automation are among the many functions included.
• Within the CRM, there are several contact methods, including phone, social media messaging applications, and live chat.

What Isn’t There

• The number of users on paid plans is limited.
• Because the UI is complicated, new users will confront a high learning curve.
• Storage space on the internet is limited.

How Does It Measure Up to Salesforce?

• Provides a free plan that can handle an infinite number of users.
• The most economical option for two users begins at $19 per month.
• Paid subscriptions provide comprehensive lead management and analytics, as well as sales and marketing automation technologies that are comparable to Salesforce’s at a lower cost.
• Provides customers with a wide range of project management features, including time monitoring, task grading, and staff burden management.

Salesforce charges more than many of its rivals for powerful lead management and analytics solutions like lead scoring and collaborative forecasting. Bitrix24, on the other hand, provides a free set of powerful lead management features, including automated lead assignment and lead qualifying analysis. Its free plan also includes work and project management tools, a calendar planner, and email marketing.

Bitrix24’s interface is complicated, and most of its commercial plans have a user limit. Zoho CRM, Freshsales, and Copper are all good options for teams looking for more straightforward CRMs. Users that want an unlimited number of users may look into Zoho CRM or Pipedrive.

A Quick Look at Bitrix24 Pricing*

• Free: Supports an infinite number of users.
• $19 per month for two users with Start+.
• CRM+ costs $55 per month for a total of six users.
• $55 per month for 24 users with Project+
• For 50 users, the standard price is $79 per month.
• Professional: $159/month for an unlimited number of users
• 15-day free trial of premium plans

*The aforementioned pricing options are for Bitrix24’s cloud-hosted plans, which are invoiced on a yearly basis. Subscriptions are also available on a monthly basis for a little higher price.

Bitrix24 Lead & Project Management Tools

The lead management features provided by Bitrix24 enable users to monitor the status of all their existing leads at a glance. (Image courtesy of Bitrix24)

Its project management tool shows projects and subtasks on a Gantt chart, along with their status, responsible person, and chronological link. (Image courtesy of Bitrix24)

Bitrix24 offers a comprehensive set of lead and project management features, including limitless leads and deals, automated lead assignment, and a lead qualifying function that allows users to track lead status, score leads, and exclude non-converting prospects.

Task planning, checklists, reminders, workflows, and time tracking are among the project management capabilities. It also enables users to examine projects in Kanban and Gantt chart forms, as well as view and rate tasks from sales managers. Users may cooperate with external users and exchange tasks.

Check out our Bitrix24 review to learn more about the platform’s other features.

Bitrix24 is a website that you should check out.

Apptivo: The Best Salesforce Alternative With Specialized Business Tools Apptivo is the best Salesforce alternative with specialized business tools.

Apptivo

Overall Score: 4.01 OUT OF 5 iOur score is based on our experts’ weighted analysis of hundreds of comparable items and services.

What We Enjoy

• Reports and opinions that you create yourself
• Contract management and e-signatures are among the specialized business tools available.
• Setup and operation need just rudimentary technical knowledge.

What Isn’t There

• One user is allowed on the free plan.
• Customer service is only accessible during business hours.
• The dashboard interface seems to be obsolete.

How Does It Measure Up to Salesforce?

• Offers a free plan that may be used by one person.
• The most inexpensive plan costs $8 per user per month, while the most expensive plan costs $20 per person each month.
• Only offers 40+ third-party connectors compared to Salesforce’s 100+.
• All of its programs include live chat, email, and phone assistance at no extra cost.

Salesforce and Apptivo both provide a comprehensive set of CRM features, including lead and deal management, as well as sales and marketing automation. Apptivo, on the other hand, offers specific business features like as field service management, procurement, expenditure management, invoicing, and ecommerce in addition to standard CRM services.

Apptivo’s free subscription is restricted to one user and has an out-of-date dashboard. Bitrix24 is a good option for growing teams that require unlimited user allocation on a free plan, whereas Pipedrive, Freshsales, and Copper are good options for users that want a cleaner dashboard experience.

Apptivo’s Pricing in a Nutshell*

• One user is supported for free.
• Lite: $8 per month per user
• Premium: $12 per month, per user
• Ultimate: $20 per month per user
• Enterprise: Tailored
• 30 day free trial of premium plans

*Based on a yearly billing cycle. Subscriptions are also available on a monthly basis for a little higher price.

Specialized Business Tools from Apptivo

Users may record and track expenditures from a variety of sources, including activity-related charges, suppliers, customers, and workers, using Apptivo’s expense management application. (Image courtesy of Apptivo)

Users may also generate quotations and estimations based on current transactions and leads. (Image courtesy of Apptivo)

Apptivo also has an e-sign feature that makes it simple for users and customers to finish agreements and complete contracts. (Image courtesy of Apptivo)

Apptivo provides a variety of useful business solutions that allow you to execute several tasks on one platform. This features contract management, which allows you to construct agreements straight from the app, as well as an e-signature tool for digitally signing contracts. It also includes ecommerce administration features to help you manage your online business, as well as an expenditure management tool that allows you to see exactly how much your staff members are spending.

Go to Apptivo to learn more.

With Google Workspace Integration, Copper is the best Salesforce alternative.

Copper

3.62 OUT OF 5 I I I I I I I I I I I Our ranking is based on our experts’ weighted assessment of hundreds of comparable items and services.

What We Enjoy

• The UI is intuitive and easy, similar to Google Workspace.
• Integration through Chrome Extension or Google Workspace add-on allows for a simple system setup.
• All emails, calls, meetings, tasks, and calendar events may be tracked in a single activity stream.

What Isn’t There

• There is There is no free plan available. available.
• Three users are allowed on the Basic plan.
• Some key reporting tools are missing, such as marketing campaign reports and performance reports for sales reps.

How Does It Measure Up to Salesforce?

• Copper and Salesforce’s cheapest plan are both $25 per user, per month; however, Copper has a three-user restriction.
• All of its plans include 24/7 live chat customer support, which Salesforce does not; Copper also provides email support in the same way as Salesforce does.
• In contrast to Salesforce’s complicated and advanced dashboard, it is user-friendly and has a Google-like interface.

Salesforce and Copper both allow users to link their Google accounts to their CRM accounts.

Salesforce customers may sync their Google Workspace productivity tools, such as Gmail, Calendar, Sheets, and Slides, with Salesforce. Copper, on the other hand, goes a step further by providing users with a Google-like experience. Contacts, Calendar, Drive, Hangouts Chat, Data Enrichment, and Data Studio are just a few of the Google products it works with.

Copper doesn’t provide a free plan, and its reporting options are restricted to sales forecasts, activity reports, and sales insights. Users looking for a free CRM might look at Zoho CRM or Bitrix24. Users that want more extensive reporting capabilities may look into Zoho CRM or Pipedrive.

Copper Pricing in a Nutshell*

• Basic: $25 per month per user (maximum of three seats)
• Professional: $59 per month for each user
• $119 a month, per user, for business
• 14-day free trial of premium plans

*Based on a yearly billing cycle. Subscriptions are also available on a monthly basis for a little higher price.

Gmail Integration with Copper

Users may link an email to any Copper record with an activity log and match it to the proper lead thanks to Copper’s interface with Gmail. (Photo courtesy of Copper)

Copper is a Chrome extension or Google Workspace add-on built exclusively for Google Workspace users. Copper integrates with Google Calendar to automatically generate meetings and tasks for leads and customers. With its Custom Report Builder, which links directly to Google Sheets and allows users to export information from Copper and generate reports and charts, it also converts raw data into insights.

Copper is worth a visit.

How We Decided Which Salesforce Alternatives Are Best for Small Businesses

The ideal Salesforce CRM replacement should have a comprehensive set of capabilities, including lead management, sales forecasting, and analytics. It must provide good customer service, be mobile-friendly, and be easy to use.

Freshsales is the best overall Salesforce alternative, according to our research, since it provides users with a 360-degree view of all their leads and customers, as well as vital CRM capabilities, simplicity of use, and inexpensive price choices.

More information about our selection method for the best Salesforce replacement may be found in the tabs below:

40% of the overall score

Because total expenses and numerous price choices are often the most essential factor for any small company selection, they were highly examined when evaluating the top CRM alternatives for Salesforce. We looked at whether or not there was a free plan, different membership levels, and whether or not there were monthly pricing alternatives.

20% of the overall score

Any CRM is designed to give practical solutions for sales, marketing, customer care, and project management. We sought for comparable capabilities among Salesforce’s rivals since it is best recognized for lead management, analytics, and automation.

15% of the overall score

When evaluating a software’s ease of use, we look for two things: user-friendliness and intuitiveness. We looked at whether the program is user-friendly for beginners or whether it required some prior expertise to bring users up to speed.

15% of the overall score

Assistance is an important aspect of maintaining a CRM system, particularly for small organizations without in-house technical support. We looked at how these companies handled customer service through live chat, email, and phone.

10% of the overall score

We looked at existing customer evaluations on reputable websites to see how satisfied current customers are and what difficulties they often face. Our ideas and expert opinions on essential features, value for money, and popularity were also included.

*Percentages based on total score

Zoho CRM is a great alternative to Salesforce. It costs less and has more features than Salesforce. Zoho CRM is a perfect option for small businesses that don’t need the level of customization offered by Salesforce. Reference: zoho crm.

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