Best CRM software tools platforms comparison of 2023

Updated on May 30th, 2023

The top CRM software platforms comprehensively reviewed and compared for you.

What is the best CRM tool?

Customer Relationship Management (CRM) has become an essential part of running a modern business.

With the rise of digital communication and the increasing need for effective customer management, the demand for the best CRM tools is more prominent than ever.

In my blog post, I will discuss seven of the best leading CRM software platforms, their key features, ease of use, pricing, unique benefits, unorthodox information, etc, to help you make an informed decision on which CRM tool is best suited for your business needs.

Whether you are a professional or new to using systems for customer relationship management, you will find one good for you in this article.

A quick note on how the list was selected.

I compiled this list of top CRM software providers based on all or combination of many factors, including but not limited to personal use, in-depth research, trial testing, trends, and ratings and reviews from both experts and users.

7 best CRM tools in 2023 to grow and manage your customers effectively!

1. Salesflare CRM – Best software for small businesses looking for simplicity

First on this top CRM software platforms review is the Salesflare CRM.

This is a straightforward and easy-to-use CRM software platform designed to help small businesses automate their sales process. The platform focuses on simplifying sales pipeline management and reducing manual data entry.

Pricing:

• Basic: $29/m per user
• Pro: $49/m per user

Standout features:

Salesflare’s unique attributes include automated contact and company information retrieval, email tracking, and seamless integration with popular apps such as Gmail, Outlook, and Slack.

Its innovative Account Timeline provides a visual overview of your interactions with a customer, making it easy to see the history and prioritize follow-ups.

Ease of use:

With its intuitive interface, Salesflare allows for a smooth onboarding experience, even for CRM beginners.

Why use it:

If you’re a small business looking for a simple, automation-focused CRM, Salesflare is a great option.

Rating: 4.7/5 on G2

Clients:

Skedify. TimeTac, Apicbase, Teamleader

Unorthodox info:

Salesflare was founded by two Belgians who wanted a CRM that would help them spend more time selling and less time managing their pipeline.

2. Salesforce CRM – Great software for sales teams

Salesforce is an industry leader in CRM software, providing a comprehensive platform that caters to businesses of all sizes.

With its robust and scalable features, Salesforce is suitable for a wide range of industries.

Pricing:

• Essentials: $25/m per user
• Professional: $75/m per user
• Enterprise: $150/m per user
• Unlimited: $300/m per user

Standout features:

Salesforce boasts advanced qualities like AI-driven sales insights through Einstein, customizable sales processes, and a vast ecosystem of third-party apps in their AppExchange.

One of the things I love about this CRM tools platform and that makes it stand out is the Salesforce Trailhead, a fun interactive learning portal that helps users master the CRM faster.

Ease of use:

Salesforce was the first CRM software platform I used when I was working as a digital marketing consultant at Thomson Reuters.

I won’t lie to you, it wasn’t easy to learn compared to some of the other platforms.

Although it has a steeper learning curve, its vast capabilities make it worth the investment.

Why use it:

Businesses and sales teams looking for a powerful, scalable CRM with a strong focus on customization and integration should consider Salesforce.

Rating: 4.0/5 on G2

Clients:

Adidas, Amazon Web Services, T-Mobile, Unilever

Unorthodox info:

Salesforce was the pioneer in the CRM industry and introduced the concept of Software as a Service (SaaS) back in 1999.

3. ActiveCampaign CRM – Best software for email marketing too

Another top CRM software on this list of my best CRM tools platform is the ActiveCampaign for Sales.

The app started off as an email marketing software tools platform.

And a few years back, they started offering a powerful CRM with a strong focus on marketing automation and customer engagement. It provides a holistic view of the customer journey, from lead generation to conversion.

Their software offers one of the best CRM automation that saves the sales team a lot of valuable time.

In fact, a Harvard Business Review article titled, “Customer Relationship Automation Is the New CRM,” highlights the importance of embracing automation in CRM systems.

By leveraging advanced automation technologies, ActiveCampaign for Sales enables businesses to streamline their customer management processes, reduce manual tasks, and deliver more personalized experiences to their clients. This innovative approach to CRM helps set ActiveCampaign apart from the crowded CRM tools providers market.

Pricing:

• Lite: $9/m
• Plus: $49/m
• Professional: $129/m
• Enterprise: $229/m

Standout features:

Some of the best ActiveCampaign’s unique features include advanced email marketing, marketing automation, and sales and CRM automation.

Its powerful Site Tracking feature allows you to monitor your leads’ activity on your website live, enabling personalized follow-ups based on their interests.

Ease of use:

ActiveCampaign is user-friendly and offers a great balance between advanced features and usability.

Why use it:

ActiveCampaign is best suited for businesses looking to combine their CRM and marketing automation needs into one powerful platform.

Rating: 4.3/5 on G2

Clients:

Avant, Bonfire, Hireology. SparkReaction

Unorthodox info:

ActiveCampaign’s CEO, Jason VandeBoom, initially created the company as a side project to provide marketing services for small businesses.

4. Monday CRM – Best for project management

A comparison and review list of the best CRM tools won’t be complete without mentioning the Monday Sales CRM.

It is a part of the Monday.com suite with a visually appealing and customizable CRM solution that helps teams collaborate, manage leads, and track sales pipelines.

Pricing:

• Basic: $8/m per seat
• Standard: $10/m per seat
• Pro: $16/m per seat
• Enterprise: Custom pricing

Standout features:

As a great CRM tool, Monday’s CRM comes with customizable boards, visual sales pipeline management, and seamless collaboration between team members.

A unique aspect of Monday CRM is its automation feature, which helps you streamline repetitive tasks and save time on manual work.

Ease of use:

Monday CRM offers an intuitive interface that is easy to navigate and configure to meet your business requirements.

Why use it:

If you value a visually driven, customizable, and team-focused CRM platform, Monday CRM is a strong contender.

Rating: 4.2/5 on G2

Clients:

Carlsberg Group, Adobe. Hulu. Fiverr

Unorthodox info:

Monday.com was initially designed as an internal tool for a startup called Wix, which later evolved into a standalone project.

5. Keap (Infusionsoft) CRM – Best software for small business sales automation

Keap CRM, formerly known as Infusionsoft, is an all-in-one CRM, sales, and marketing platform aimed at small businesses.

Pricing:

• Lite: $56/m
• Pro: $105/m
• Max: $140/m

Standout features:

Keap CRM’s qualities include advanced marketing automation, e-commerce capabilities, and a built-in appointment scheduler.

One of their innovations that makes the app different is its powerful Smart Forms, which help capture and segment leads automatically based on their preferences.

Ease of use:

Keap CRM has a moderate learning curve, but its comprehensive features and support make it manageable.

Why use it:

Small businesses looking for an all-in-one sales and marketing solution should consider Keap CRM.

Rating: 3.8/5 on G2

Clients:

Signarama, BumperDoc, The Rocket Company, Fit Body Boot Camp

Unorthodox Info:

Keap was originally founded in 2001 as a custom software shop called eNovasys.

6. Oracle NetSuite CRM – Enterprise level solution

Oracle NetSuite CRM is a cloud-based CRM platform that offers a wide range of capabilities, including sales force automation, marketing automation, and customer service management.

Pricing:

This CRM provider pricing is quote-based, depending on the specific needs of your business.

Standout features:

NetSuite CRM’s attributes are advanced sales forecasting, order management, and a robust ecosystem of third-party integrations.

The company offers SuiteAnalytics, which provides real-time insights and customizable reporting capabilities to drive data-driven decisions.

Ease of use:

While the platform has a learning curve, its comprehensive features and customization options make it a powerful choice for growing businesses.

Why use it:

Businesses looking for a scalable, feature-rich CRM platform with strong integration capabilities should consider them.

Rating: 3.9/5 on G2

Clients:

GoPro, Land O’Lakes, Billabong, Shaw Industries

Unorthodox info:

NetSuite was acquired by Oracle in 2016 for a whopping $9.3 billion.

7. Zoho CRM – Good software for customization and scalability

Zoho Sales CRM is a popular CRM platform known for its affordability, rich features, and integration with other Zoho apps. It is one-of-a-kind software for the management of customer relationships without a doubt.

Pricing:

The costs are based on per user.

• Free Edition: Limited tools
• Standard: $14/m
• Professional: $23/m
• Enterprise: $40/m
• Ultimate:
• Plus: $57/m

Standout features:

Zoho CRM’s special qualities include AI-powered conversational assistance Zia (Zia is a really cool feature that I love. You can interact with it through both voice and text) , social media integration, and a wide range of third-party app integrations.

Its innovative Canvas feature allows you to design a personalized CRM interface tailored to your business needs.

Ease of use:

Zoho CRM software is user-friendly and offers extensive customization options, making it easy to adapt to various business requirements.

Why use it:

Zoho CRM is an excellent choice for businesses looking for a cost-effective, feature-rich CRM platform with a strong focus on integrations.

Rating: on G2 they are rated 4.0/5 for other plans but 4.5/5 for the Plus package.

Clients:

Netflix, Amazon, Renault, Suzuki

Unorthodox info:

Zoho Corporation started as a network management software company called AdventNet in 1996 before pivoting to its current focus on business software.

My final thought on selecting the best CRM tool provider

With the wide variety of CRM software platforms available, it’s essential to find the one that best aligns with your business needs and objectives.

Each of the seven best CRM tools: Salesflare, Salesforce, Activecampaign, Monday, Keap, Oracle Netsuite, and Zoho discussed in this article offers unique features and advantages, catering to different types of businesses.

By carefully evaluating their different functionality, cost, simplicity, their story, etc, you can make an informed decision to select the best CRM tool for your organization.

As each platform offers powerful and innovative features, it’s important to consider how these functionalities will complement your existing processes and help you achieve your business goals.

By investing in the right CRM platform, you can optimize customer relationships, streamline your sales process, and drive business longer-term growth.