5 of the Best CRM Platforms

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In total, 91% of companies with at least 10 employees use some type of customer relationship management (CRM) solution. There is a slew of CRM platforms on the market, and which one is ideal for each company can vary. However, by looking at some of the top performers in the category, choosing the one that’s perfect for your organization is easier. Here’s an overview of the five best CRM platforms on the market today.

Salesforce

Salesforce is a definitive leader in the CRM space, boasting more than 150,000 companies as customers. It’s a versatile solution with a wide array of components, making it easier for businesses of all sizes to customize the solution to meet their needs. Plus, it’s intuitive to use, has a variety of integration options, and receives regular updates to enhance features or add new tools. Some of the more advanced capabilities even include AI assistants and predictive forecasting, giving companies access to tools that aren’t necessarily available with all competitors.

HubSpot

Hubspot is another leader in the CRM space, with an estimated 167,000 customers. There’s a free plan available, making it an excellent spot for newer or smaller companies that need a simple solution quickly, as well as other plans that offer enhanced capabilities. Data centralization and automation help streamline operations, while metrics tracking makes assessing performance easy. There are also plenty of integration options available, including message syncing to capture data from nearly any customer interaction.

Freshworks

Freshsales by Freshworks is a CRM platform that offers more than you may expect. It’s got excellent built-in communication tools, including VoIP phone capabilities that can reduce your telecommunications costs. Plus, there’s an AI assistant that can make it easier to gather insights, even if your employees aren’t as tech-savvy. There are also forecasting tools that let companies plan ahead, as well as deal management, email marketing, and automated prospect profile creation capabilities wrapped into the solution.

ClickUp

ClickUp is a project management tool that can help streamline workflows and improve communication and collaboration. It’s highly intuitive to use and very customizable, and the free plan is surprisingly comprehensive, making it a solid choice for budget-conscious small businesses. There’s also an automation builder that can reduce workloads by allowing the system to handle repeated, tedious tasks on its own. While it doesn’t include everything you’d find with a more well-rounded CRM, it’s an option that could work surprisingly well for companies with relatively simple organizational needs.

Pipedrive

For those who prefer data visualizations that make complex information easier to understand, Pipedrive is a solid option. The interface is also highly visually based, relying on drag-and-drop mechanics to keep everything simple and clear visual cues to highlight critical tasks or outline workflows. Companies don’t need an in-house tech team to get started with Pipedrive either, making it a solid choice for smaller businesses without IT employees. As a bonus, the companion mobile app is also extremely capable, making working while on the go a breeze.