Top 7 CRM Platforms Comparison for 2024

Originally published May 10, 2021, updated September 27, 2024

CRM systems are a key strategy for businesses. They aim to improve customer interactions and sales processes. This year, we've curated a list of the top seven CRM platforms to consider for your business in 2024.

These selections cater to various needs. You might want a comprehensive solution, a free option, or specialized tools. The tools integrate seamlessly with Gmail or bolster sales automation. Dive into our detailed comparison. It will show which CRM system best fits your business goals. It can also help streamline your operations. Let's get started, shall we?

CRM Comparison Table

Choosing the right CRM is crucial for streamlining your sales and marketing efforts. Here's a CRM features list comparison to help you identify which system best meets your business needs in 2024.

Top 7 Best CRM Comparison

1. The best CRM for everything: NetHunt CRM

NetHunt CRM integrates directly with Gmail, offering a centralized platform to handle all your business needs. Renowned for its seamless inbox integration, NetHunt enhances CRM functionality on your favorite email platform, simplifying the sales process.

Key features of NetHunt CRM include:

• A flexible, customizable contact database for managing deals and contacts.
• Sales automation streamlines administrative tasks and data entry, saving time and increasing revenue.
• Lead generation tools with intuitive web forms and social media integrations, such as LinkedIn.
• Automatic drip campaigns and bulk email functionalities to nurture leads effectively.
• Reminder systems are needed to ensure follow-ups and prevent leads from being overlooked.

NetHunt CRM limitations:

• Dependence on Gmail for full functionality, limiting use with other email platforms.
• Potentially overwhelming for small businesses due to its extensive feature set.
• Limited offline capabilities, requiring internet access for optimal use.

This summary highlights NetHunt CRM’s capabilities to automate and enhance sales processes, while also acknowledging its limitations, helping you decide if it's the right tool for your business needs.

NetHunt CRM pricing

14 day free trial available.

Prices start at $24 per user, per month.

We gathered the list of top Gmail CRMs, here.

2. The best free CRM: HubSpot CRM

HubSpot CRM offers a perpetually free plan for unlimited users and up to one million contacts, making it an attractive option for smaller teams seeking growth. It facilitates relationship management with essential tools, and as businesses expand, they can access advanced features for a fee.

Key features of HubSpot CRM include:

• Chrome extension for integration with Gmail.
• Comprehensive tracking of deals and clients.
• Tools for building landing pages and chatbots.
• Basic email marketing functionalities.
• Integrations with third-party services and Zapier.
• A customer support ticketing system.

HubSpot Limitations:

• Not a fully-integrated Gmail CRM, which may limit some users.
• The free version serves as an introduction to more comprehensive paid upgrades.
• Relies heavily on internet connectivity for full functionality.

HubSpot is renowned in the CRM industry for its extensive online knowledge base, covering a wide array of topics beneficial to a vast user base. While the CRM system is straightforward, the broader HubSpot ecosystem offers a complex suite of services for growing businesses.

Hubspot CRM pricing

Free for unlimited users and unlimited time.

From $50/month if you add on the Marketing, Sales, or Service Hub.

3. The best big name CRM: Salesforce CRM

Salesforce CRM is celebrated as a global leader in the CRM industry, as evidenced not only by the iconic Salesforce Tower in San Francisco but also by its widespread adoption among the Fortune 100 companies. Renowned for its robust functionality, Salesforce caters to large enterprises as well as businesses of various sizes.

Key features of Salesforce CRM include:

• Sales Cloud's tiered delivery system is suitable for different business sizes.
• Advanced tools for opportunity tracking, lead scoring, and pipeline management.
• Comprehensive email marketing capabilities and a customizable email template library.
• Customizable dashboards and extensive integration options.

Salesforce Limitations:

• Primarily designed for large-scale enterprises, which may be overwhelming for smaller businesses.
• The complexity of features requires a steep learning curve.
• Higher cost compared to other CRM solutions, reflecting its enterprise-level positioning.

Salesforce has garnered acclaim from numerous reputable sources, including CRM Magazine, ZDNet, and Destination CRM, for its comprehensive services and capability to handle significant corporate demands.

Salesforce CRM pricing

Free trial available.

Prices start at $25 per user, per month.

4. The best conversational relationship platform: Intercom

Intercom positions itself as a conversational relationship platform, focused on enhancing customer interactions through a dynamic, messenger-based approach. This platform is designed to foster relationships throughout the customer journey, leading to a satisfied and loyal client base.

Key features of Intercom include:

• Business messenger that enables live-chat support directly on websites.
• Ability to handle significantly more customer support tickets efficiently.
• Extensive automation capabilities, including response automation.
• Centralized and accessible customer profiles, with comprehensive knowledge base and ticket management system.

Intercom Limitations:

• Primarily based on messenger interactions, which might not suit all business types.
• Dependency on web-based engagement can limit offline customer service capabilities.
• May require technical know-how to fully leverage its automation and customization features.

Intercom is celebrated for its communication-centric features, allowing businesses to significantly increase their engagement and efficiency in handling customer queries and support issues.

🌟 Did you know… The best CRM for everything, NetHunt CRM, features a native Intercom integration. That means you’ve got all your client interactions, from emails, meeting notes, and live chats within your CRM dashboard. Nothing gets missed; nobody slips through the cracks.

Free trial available.

5. The best email marketing CRM: MailChimp

MailChimp stands as a premier email marketing platform, simplifying the way businesses communicate with prospects, leads, and clients via beautifully crafted emails. It offers a robust web-based platform for all marketing automation needs, making it a go-to service for both small businesses and large enterprises.

Key features of MailChimp include:

• Extensive customization, automation, and personalization options for email campaigns.
• User-friendly tools for designing engaging emails and personalizing them with client-specific details.
• Ability to segment email lists to ensure targeted communication.
• Advanced reporting dashboard to track the effectiveness of campaigns.

MailChimp Limitations:

• Primarily focused on email marketing, which may not suffice for businesses looking for an all-in-one CRM solution.
• Some users may find the platform's extensive features overwhelming.
• While it offers a free version, scaling up with more advanced features can become costly.

MailChimp has evolved from a tool aimed at small businesses to a solution capable of serving well-known organizations, offering a straightforward approach to complex email marketing strategies.

MailChimp pricing

Free version available.

Prices start at $9.99 per user, per month.

6. The best open source CRM: Odoo

Odoo sets itself apart as an open source CRM, established in 2005, which allows full customization and redistribution of its code to fit specific business needs. This flexibility makes it an ideal choice for businesses looking to tailor their CRM systems extensively.

Key features of Odoo include:

• Open source nature that allows users to modify and enhance the system.
• Extendable architecture with a modular dashboard, enabling customization of features.
• A wide range of integrations due to its open framework.
• Specialized applications like a point-of-sale app that supports various business operations including inventory and sales management.

Odoo Limitations:

• Requires technical expertise to fully exploit its customization capabilities.
• Might involve additional costs for development and maintenance.
• Its broad capabilities can be overwhelming for businesses that need a simple CRM solution.

Odoo's approach offers unmatched flexibility and personalization, catering especially to businesses that require a tailored CRM system, including those in the retail sector with its comprehensive point-of-sale solutions.

Odoo pricing

Free trial available.

Prices start at $24 per user, per app, per month.

7. The best CRM for project management: Zoho CRM

Zoho CRM has been a trusted name in the CRM industry since 1996, consistently developing tools to simplify sales and marketing processes. It offers a free version for small businesses, which supports up to three users, making it accessible for startups.

Key features of Zoho CRM include:

• Free Gmail CRM for up to three users, ideal for small businesses.
• Comprehensive tools for organizing contact databases and executing targeted campaigns.
• Advanced project planning capabilities with real-time updates for enhanced team collaboration.
• Integrated file sharing, chat features, notes, and 1GB of shared storage.

Zoho Limitations:

• The free version is limited to three users, which may not suffice as businesses grow.
• While robust, it may require additional training to fully leverage its more advanced features.
• The focus on small businesses might mean it lacks some of the enterprise-level features found in other CRM systems.

Zoho CRM stands out for its effectiveness as a project planning tool, centralizing operations and ensuring all team members are synchronized, which is especially beneficial for small to medium-sized businesses.

Zoho CRM pricing

Free version available, capped at three users.

Prices start at $12 per user, per month.

Bonus CRM review: EngageBay

EngageBay, founded in 2017, is a dynamic and free CRM tool designed specifically for small businesses. It has quickly gained recognition in the marketing world, endorsed by influencers like Neil Patel and Jeff Bullas, for its comprehensive features and unlimited user capacity.

Key features of EngageBay include:

• Unlimited users with no additional cost, making it scalable for growing businesses.
• A complete suite of tools for marketing, sales, and support teams, enhancing collaboration.
• 360-degree customer view for efficient management and tracking of all interactions.
• Advanced pipeline visualization with capabilities for managing and moving deals through various stages.

EngageBay Limitations:

• As a relatively new and free tool, it may lack some of the advanced features of more established CRM platforms.
• The focus on small businesses might limit its applicability for larger organizations needing more complex CRM solutions.
• Dependence on internet connectivity for accessing and operating the cloud-based platform.

EngageBay's integration of sales and marketing functions onto one platform facilitates seamless communication and efficient deal closure, making it a valuable asset for small businesses aiming to streamline their CRM processes.

EngageBay Pricing:
Free forever for 15 users.
There are also three paid plans.

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