CRM Alternatives: Top 5 Tools to Use

Current Salesforce alternatives are emerging, and they’re taking the market by storm. These tools will help you manage your sales process without breaking a sweat or spending an arm and a leg.

The “zoho crm” is a CRM system that can be used by businesses. It has many features, including email marketing and analytics. Zoho offers a free trial for 30 days.

CRM Alternatives: Top 5 Tools to Use

CRM software acts as a consolidated database for customer information, sales and opportunities, and communications history. While it’s a useful tool for client management, some companies don’t need most of its functions or aren’t ready to deploy one. Learn about the tools that may be used instead of CRM in this post. We’ll also go through the benefits and drawbacks of each tool, as well as how it compares to a CRM system.

Here are our top CRM options, as well as their finest use cases:

  • For Gmail users, Google Workspace is a service provided by Google. is the best CRM option.
  • Trello is a CRM alternative with visual collaboration capabilities that is recommended for teams.
  • Asana is a great option for companies looking for a CRM solution for project management.
  • Airtable is a task automation tool that may be used instead of a full-fledged CRM system.
  • monday.com is a great alternative for firms looking for a platform that can handle leads but doesn’t need more advanced customer relationship management tools.

Are you ready to make the switch to CRM software? Learn about the top free CRMs for small companies in our guide. Freshsales, for example, has a free subscription that allows unlimited users and has a comprehensive range of CRM tools. Contact and deal management capabilities, as well as a built-in dialer and a mobile app, are all included.

Why Should You Use CRM Alternatives?

CRM solutions simplify your sales process and customer contacts by using sophisticated features and automation techniques. However, not every company is ready to use them right now. Here are a few examples of how you may manage your client interactions without utilizing CRM software:

  • You have a tiny sales team of one to two people: If you simply have a few sales people, you can keep track of your leads and transactions without using a CRM.
  • You’re looking for a simple solution to manage your contacts and deals: CRMs are excellent data management tools, but they often include a slew of additional functions that you may not want. CRMs come with a slew of marketing tools, dialers, and chatbots.
  • If you’re a sole proprietor, you may still keep track of your income sources using a simple approach. You don’t need CRM capabilities like activity dashboards, Automation of work processes, or collaboration tools if you have a one-man team.

If your team is still not ready to start utilizing CRM software, consider the following alternatives for managing customer interactions and sales processes:

For Gmail users, Google Workspace is a service provided by Google. is the best CRM option.

Google Workspace is a service provided by Google.

1633365103_918_6-Legit-Ways-to-Get-a-Free-Business-Email-Address

What We Enjoy

  • Contact segmentation features are available.
  • File storage, forms, chat, video calling, and a calendar are all included.
  • Compatible with a variety of major sales and CRM applications.

What Isn’t There

  • Doesn’t have a sales funnel or deal tracking system.
  • There are no metrics or automatic reporting.
  • Daily email sends and a limited amount of contacts

What Does It Have in Common With CRM Software?

  • Provides more cost-effective premium plans.
  • Features such as sales monitoring and job automation are not included.
  • Number of contacts is limited.
  • Contacts also includes audience segmentation options.
  • Basic email marketing functions

Google Workspace is a service provided by Google. is a suite of office, business, and collaboration tools for Google account users. It offers various apps for file storage, contact segmentation, email marketing, and team collaboration. You can use Google Spreadsheets to organize your customer records and interactions. This integrated platform also has tools for creating documents, spreadsheets, slides, survey forms, and team sites.

Although Google Workspace is a service provided by Google. offers many useful features, it is difficult to use it as a CRM system if your business grows beyond a one- or two-person team. It does not provide sales pipeline management, deal tracking, or daily task automation features. Its contact limit and email marketing capabilities pale in comparison to a lot of CRMs that offer unlimited contacts and higher daily email sends.

Google Workspace is a service provided by Google. Pricing at a Glance*

  • Google Workspace is a service provided by Google. for Everyone: Free
  • Business Starter costs $4.20 per month per user.
  • Google Workspace is a service provided by Google. Individual: Starts at $7.99 per month
  • Standard Business: $9.60 per user, each month
  • Business Plus costs $18 per month per user.
  • Customized pricing for business enterprises
  • 14-day free trial for premium plans

*Pricing is based on a monthly basis. This introductory discount is only available for the first 20 customers who sign up for a 12-month period. Following then, all users will be charged at a higher rate.

Google Workspace is a service provided by Google. Features & Benefits

CRM-Alternatives-Top-5-Tools-to-Use

Google Workspace is a service provided by Google. apps can be accessed from within Gmail (Source: Google Workspace is a service provided by Google.)

  • Gmail, video conferencing, team chat, a shared calendar, and Google Drive are just a few of the Google services available.
  • Documents, spreadsheets, presentations, survey forms, and team sites may all be created and managed.
  • Per user, 15GB to an infinite amount of Drive storage space is available.
  • Up to 25,000 contacts may be saved.
  • Per day, a maximum of 500 emails may be sent.
  • Data, themes, and debates about your firm can all be found with a smart search.
  • Platform for employee engagement
  • Customer portal, help center, status dashboard, customer forum, and Google Cloud Community provide self-service online assistance.
  • Support is available 24 hours a day, 7 days a week by phone, chat, and email.

Go to Google Workspace to learn more. is a service provided by Google.

Trello: The Best Visual Collaboration CRM Alternative

Trello

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What We Enjoy

  • Drag-and-drop interface that is simple to use
  • Templates for CRM and sales pipelines are available.
  • Integrations are simple to set up.

What Isn’t There

  • There are no advanced sales metrics available.
  • Only the board design may be customized.
  • Twitter is the only social media platform supported.

What Does It Have in Common With CRM Software?

  • Paid plans are less expensive.
  • It is easier to utilize.
  • Advanced Analytics and reporting aren’t built-in.
  • Third-party integration is used to add contacts.
  • Storage capacity is limited.

Trello is a visual collaboration application that organizes tasks and projects into Kanban-style cards. Trello cards may be used to monitor leads and deals as they go through the sales funnel. You may also communicate with team members using cards, which enable you to tag them and provide changes in the comments area. When you connect it to Crmble, you’ll have access to a CRM and sales pipeline management template.

While simplicity is one of Trello’s biggest strengths, it is also its greatest disadvantage. This app lacks essential CRM features like contact management, advanced reporting, and social media integration. Most of its CRM-like capabilities can only be activated if you integrate Trello with third-party apps. It is also not suited for storing large quantities of customer data and communication history because of its Storage capacity is limited..

Trello Pricing in a Nutshell*

  • There are no restrictions on how many people may join.
  • Standard: $5 per month per user
  • Premium: $10 per month per user
  • Enterprise: $17.50 per month for each user
  • 14-day free trial of the Premium plan

*Based on a yearly billing cycle. Monthly rates are also available at a little greater cost.

Trello Features & Benefits

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Crmble-powered Trello board example (Image courtesy of Trello)

  • Cards, members, boards, file attachments, and storage are all unlimited (up to 250MB per file)
  • Workflows that are automated
  • Templates for several sectors are available for free.
  • Crmble Power-Up provides a CRM and sales pipeline template (integration)
  • Checklists
  • Fields that may be customized
  • Dashboard, timeline, workspace table, calendar, and map are examples of views.
  • Exporting data is simple.
  • Apps for iOS and Android
  • Support is available via a knowledge base, a user community, and email (weekdays from 9:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. only)

Trello is a project management tool.

Asana: The Best CRM Alternative for Project Management

Asana

1648385915_523_CRM-Alternatives-Top-5-Tools-to-Use

What We Enjoy

  • Automation of work processes is available.
  • All team interactions are recorded.
  • Collaboration characteristics that are robust

What Isn’t There

  • There is no client database.
  • There are no email options available.
  • There are a maximum of 15 team members on the free plan.

What Does It Have in Common With CRM Software?

  • Even without a tutorial, it’s simple to use.
  • Doesn’t allow you to send emails or monitor your customers.
  • Project and task tracking capabilities that are more robust

Users may automate tasks and processes using Asana, a project management and collaboration application. You may monitor the development of your client interactions and possibilities using the Project or Task feature, much as in Trello. You may also use the notes and comments area to keep track of every client contact and create subtasks that function as sales process phases.

The absence of a client database and email features are Asana’s key drawbacks as a CRM option. It also lacks the ability to monitor client preferences and actions. While you may use it to keep track of client interactions, this work must be completed manually. As a result, it is unable to serve as a full-fledged CRM.

A Quick Look at Asana Pricing*

  • Basic: For up to 15 team members, it’s free.
  • Premium: $10.99 per month for each user
  • $24.99 per month per user for businesses
  • For pricing on Asana Enterprise, please contact sales.

*Based on a yearly billing cycle. Monthly rates are also available at a little greater cost.

Asana Features & Benefits

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The timeline view of tasks and projects in Asana (Photo courtesy of Asana)

  • Tasks, projects, communications, activity logs, file storage (up to 100MB per file), and dashboards are all unlimited.
  • Board, list, timeline, and calendar views are available.
  • The name of the assignee, the due date, the commencement date, and the time
  • Custom templates, rules, and forms
  • Integrations for time tracking
  • Reporting on an unlimited number of projects
  • Apps for iOS and Android
  • Help desk, community forum, tutorials, and courses are all available.

Pay a visit to Asana.

With task automations, Airtable is the best CRM alternative.

Airtable

1633368560_798_6-Best-Customer-Database-Software-for-2021

What We Enjoy

  • Provides a CRM template for sales.
  • Tools for Automation of work processes are available.
  • Features for importing and tracking contacts

What Isn’t There

  • The learning curve is steep.
  • Customization and integration possibilities are limited.
  • Collaboration isn’t centralized in any way.

What Does It Have in Common With CRM Software?

  • It’s possible to classify it as a light CRM.
  • Automation capabilities are limited.
  • There isn’t a centralized communication and cooperation system in place.
  • There are no email templates available.

Airtable is a platform that allows you to create collaborative applications and solutions. Airtable may be used to create a sales CRM and combine it with email marketing, internal chat, and scheduling tools. You may also import contacts, create deals and chances, and keep track of client interactions. Aside from that, you may automate a variety of tasks, such as sending an email, generating or updating a record, scheduling a social network post, and so on.

One of the disadvantages of Airtable is its The learning curve is steep.. It also offers limited options for customization and third-party app integrations. Moreover, its Collaboration isn’t centralized in any way., so you have to comb through a lot of records before you can locate the right one you want to comment on. Lastly, there are common reports of load speed issues, especially when you start using a lot of features. In sales and marketing, a fast response time is very important.

A Quick Look at Airtable Pricing*

  • Unlimited records are available for free.
  • In addition, there is a monthly fee of $10 per seat.
  • Pro: $20 per month for each seat
  • Enterprise: For price, please contact sales.

*Based on a yearly billing cycle. Monthly rates are also available at a little greater cost.

Airtable Features & Benefits

1648385918_656_CRM-Alternatives-Top-5-Tools-to-Use

The CRM template for sales by Airtable (Source: Airtable)

  • There are no limits to the number of records you can (up to 1,000GB per database)
  • Grid, calendar, form, Kanban, Gantt, and gallery views are available.
  • Capabilities for real-time cooperation and commentary
  • Automation of work processes
  • CRM template for sales
  • Pivot tables and graphs
  • Apps for iOS and Android
  • On-demand webinars, a knowledge library, and email support are all available.

Visit Airtable for more information.

monday.com: Lead Management’s Best CRM Alternative

monday.com

1633368562_403_6-Best-Customer-Database-Software-for-2021

What We Enjoy

  • Management of leads, contacts, and deals
  • Automation of work processes is available.
  • Has a well-designed mobile app

What Isn’t There

  • Lower levels have fewer automations and integrations.
  • On a per-seat basis, it’s pricey.
  • Only the Enterprise package gives you access to performance data.

What Does It Have in Common With CRM Software?

  • Paid plans are more costly.
  • Basic CRM functions are available.
  • Most CRMs don’t have as many customization possibilities as this one.
  • There is no centralized communication inside the company.

monday.com is primarily known as a project management platform. However, it is packed with features that can help your business improve sales performance. These features include lead management, customer interaction tracking, Automation of work processes, analytics, and reporting. You can also send emails to your clients directly from your monday.com board.

While monday.com is hailed as a good sales CRM, its lower-tier plans do not offer Automation of work processes and third-party integrations. They also do not have advanced Analytics and reporting capabilities. The pricing scheme can be expensive for small teams, as you are required to pay for a minimum of three seats. Plus, some of the best CRM features, like forecasting and sales insights, are only available in the higher tiers (Pro and Enterprise).

monday.com A Quick Look at Pricing

  • Individual: Up to two tickets are free.
  • Basic: $8 per month for each seat
  • Standard: $10 per month for each seat
  • Pro: $16 per month for each seat
  • Enterprise: For price, please contact sales.
  • 14-day free trial for the Pro plan

monday.com Features & Benefits

1648385920_26_CRM-Alternatives-Top-5-Tools-to-Use

Overview of Monday.com’s project (Source: monday.com)

  • Unlimited boards, documents, contacts, Fields that may be customized, and visual sales pipelines
  • Management of leads, contacts, and deals
  • Management of documents
  • Analytics and reporting
  • Forecasting and setting sales targets
  • Automation of workflows and approvals
  • Management of marketing activities
  • Apps for iOS and Android
  • A knowledge base, video tutorials, community forums, webinars, and trainings are all available.
  • Email help is available 24 hours a day, 7 days a week

Monday may be found at monday.com.

Conclusion

CRM solutions serve organizations of all sizes by streamlining sales operations and storing client data and interactions in a single database. If you’re uncertain about switching to a CRM, Freshsales is a good place to start to explore how it might assist your company. It provides a user-friendly solution with a variety of free and low-cost options to pick from. You may also join up for a free 21-day trial to test out its features and functions.

Freshsales is a great place to start.

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