Lorem Ipsum is simply dummy text of the printing and typesetting industry. Lorem Ipsum has been the industry's standard dummy text ever since the 1500s, when an unknown printer took a galley of type and scrambled it to make a type specimen book. It has survived not only five centuries, but also the leap into electronic typesetting, remaining essentially unchanged. It was popularised in the 1960s with the release of Letraset sheets containing Lorem Ipsum passages, and more recently with desktop publishing software like Aldus PageMaker including versions of Lorem Ipsum.
\r\nIt is a long established fact that a reader will be distracted by the readable content of a page when looking at its layout. The point of using Lorem Ipsum is that it has a more-or-less normal distribution of letters, as opposed to using 'Content here, content here', making it look like readable English. Many desktop publishing packages and web page editors now use Lorem Ipsum as their default model text, and a search for 'lorem ipsum' will uncover many web sites still in their infancy. Various versions have evolved over the years, sometimes by accident, sometimes on purpose (injected humour and the like).
\r\nContrary to popular belief, Lorem Ipsum is not simply random text. It has roots in a piece of classical Latin literature from 45 BC, making it over 2000 years old. Richard McClintock, a Latin professor at Hampden-Sydney College in Virginia, looked up one of the more obscure Latin words, consectetur, from a Lorem Ipsum passage, and going through the cites of the word in classical literature, discovered the undoubtable source. Lorem Ipsum comes from sections 1.10.32 and 1.10.33 of \"de Finibus Bonorum et Malorum\" (The Extremes of Good and Evil) by Cicero, written in 45 BC. This book is a treatise on the theory of ethics, very popular during the Renaissance. The first line of Lorem Ipsum, \"Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet..\", comes from a line in section 1.10.32.
\r\nThe standard chunk of Lorem Ipsum used since the 1500s is reproduced below for those interested. Sections 1.10.32 and 1.10.33 from \"de Finibus Bonorum et Malorum\" by Cicero are also reproduced in their exact original form, accompanied by English versions from the 1914 translation by H. Rackham.
\r\nThere are many variations of passages of Lorem Ipsum available, but the majority have suffered alteration in some form, by injected humour, or randomised words which don't look even slightly believable. If you are going to use a passage of Lorem Ipsum, you need to be sure there isn't anything embarrassing hidden in the middle of text. All the Lorem Ipsum generators on the Internet tend to repeat predefined chunks as necessary, making this the first true generator on the Internet. It uses a dictionary of over 200 Latin words, combined with a handful of model sentence structures, to generate Lorem Ipsum which looks reasonable. The generated Lorem Ipsum is therefore always free from repetition, injected humour, or non-characteristic words etc.
\r\nKeap, formerly known as Infusionsoft, is a strong contact management software application with robust marketing, sales and e-commerce tools built in. Keap is, based on our research and evaluation, the easiest CRM to use because of its straightforward tools and simple-to-understand interface. For a reasonable price, it provides numerous top-tier services that help you manage your business and customers with ease.
\r\n
View all of our recommendations for CRM software on our best picks page.
\r\nKeap is an excellent CRM with a price tag that matches its robust functionality. Each Keap plan offers one user per license and 500 contacts. Each additional user is $30 per month.
\r\nKeap is a true full-featured CRM with enough tools to serve large, even enterprise-level businesses. Here are the features that set Keap apart from other CRM solutions:
\r\nKeap is filled with a complete assortment of CRM features, including data points, form submission, a record of campaigns and purchases. It covers a range of data that helps sales representatives and marketing teams gather the information they need to help their clients.
\r\nIts customization offerings are also beneficial to users looking to create well-informed marketing campaigns. Users can create custom fields according to their needs, which helps make reporting an easier task.
\r\nAnother key aspect of Keap is its email builder. It offers a drag-and-drop tool that provides templates that makes email marketing a quick and painless task. Its automated sales correspondence messages help users avoid gaps in communication and move assignments along.
\r\nKeap doesn't offer phone support at night or on the weekends – the customer service line is open from 6 a.m. and 7 p.m., Monday through Friday. The company does offer live chat 24 hours a day, seven days a week. So, while you might not be able to speak with a representative directly, you can reach someone when you need it.
\r\nTo test the level of customer support offered, we contacted Keap posing as a small business owner interested in their software.
\r\nThe representative we spoke with was very helpful. He described each feature in detail and reminded us that they would be available every step of the way if we needed assistance. The rep also talked about the common struggles small businesses experience with CRM solutions and how Keap's CRM filled those gaps. Overall, we were very impressed with the care we received from Keap. The representative was extremely patient and offered to call back and set up a demo so we understood every aspect of the software.
\r\n\r\n
Editor's note: Looking for the right CRM solution for your business? Fill out the below questionnaire to have our vendor partners contact you about your needs.
\r\n"},"url":"http://www.keap.com/","docType":"service","title":"Keap","thumbnail":{"path":"https://staging.business.com/images/rz/5e5955e85a215edd7d8b4568/keap_logo.png"},"pricing":{"isCapped":false,"isFeatured":true,"primary":true,"selected":"affiliate-widget","widgetId":"10725","widget":{"id":"10725","cta":"Compare Quotes","isExclusive":false},"affiliate":{"cta":"Visit Site","link":"https://businesscom.go2cloud.org/aff_c?offer_id=794&aff_id=1000&source=crm-software&aff_sub3=deal|Keap&aff_sub4=revenue|QT&url_id=1","name":"QT Program"}}}},{"fullTitle":"Featured Sponsor","bullets":["Four pricing plans","Click-to-call service","SMS integration"],"isFeaturedBestPick":true,"isJumpLink":true,"tabTitle":"Featured Sponsor","review":{"isReview":true,"adsense":false,"canonical":"https://staging.business.com/reviews/freshsales/","review":{"fullReview":"With a comprehensive dashboard that combines all the important information and metrics, FreshWorks CRM, formerly FreshSales, is a good, modern CRM. It's has three pricing tiers to choose from, so you can choose the one that works best for your business. The pricing is reasonable, ranging from $29 per user per month to $149. Based on Freshworks' pricing and support plans, as well as its versatility as a CRM solution, it's a good CRM for small business.
\r\nView all our recommendations for CRM software on our best picks page.
\r\nFreshworks provides a 21-day free trial to its customers. Some companies we reviewed offer 14-day trials, while others offer no trial at all. There are three plans to choose from with Freshworks: Growth, Pro and Enterprise. Freshworks provides a good variety in plans and features for its customers.
\r\nHere is a full breakdown of each plan.
\r\nFreshworks has several features that are ideal for SMBs. All four plans include contact and pipeline management, several intelligent workflows, basic reporting features, Gmail add-ons, and multiple sales campaigns per user. Here are some other standout features Freshworks offers:
\r\nAccording to the plan breakdown, Freshworks' report dashboard is not available until the Estate plan, the second most expensive plan. It's not clear if users who have other subscriptions are able to view pertinent dashboards, but the reporting dashboard is an important aspect of CRM software. Withholding this feature until the Estate plan means many small businesses will miss out on this functionality.
\r\nAnother minor limitation comes during the customer service process. We struggled to get a customer service representative on the phone, despite calling in the middle of the afternoon. While this shouldn't be a deal-breaker for any company, it's something you may encounter if you pursue Freshworks' services.
\r\nMona Bushnell contributed to the researching, reporting and writing of this article.
"},"url":"https://www.freshworks.com/crm","docType":"service","title":"FreshWorks CRM","thumbnail":{"path":"https://staging.business.com/images/rz/6042728d5a215e82498b4567/freshworkscrm_logo.jpg"},"pricing":{"isCapped":false,"isFeatured":true,"primary":true,"selected":"affiliate","widgetId":null,"widget":null,"affiliate":{"cta":"Visit Site","link":"https://businesscom.go2cloud.org/aff_c?offer_id=227&aff_id=1000&source=crm-software&aff_sub3=deal|FreshWorks&aff_sub4=revenue|QT&url_id=1","name":"QT Program"}}}},{"fullTitle":"Best CRM Overall for Small Businesses","bullets":["Easy customization options","Multiuser portals","Real-time reports"],"isFeaturedBestPick":false,"isJumpLink":false,"tabTitle":"Best Overall","review":{"isReview":true,"adsense":false,"canonical":"https://staging.business.com/crm-software/zoho/","review":{"fullReview":"Affordable and beautifully designed, Zoho CRM is the best overall CRM for small businesses. This breezy software-as-a-service (SaaS) solution looks and feels like a lightweight cloud product, but it packs in a surprising number of high-end features and customization options for serious business users on a budget.
\r\n
View all of our recommendations for CRM software on our best picks page.
\r\nZoho CRM has four subscription tiers and two payment options. For each tier, except its highest one, Ultimate, users can pay on a month-to-month basis (rather than annually), for a slightly higher per-user cost. Paying a higher monthly rate may be a viable option for small businesses that are wary about committing to an annual plan for a CRM; however, in general, it's best to make an informed decision from the start and opt for the money-saving annual payment. You can always take advantage of the Free Edition, which is completely cost- and obligation-free for up to three users, to get a sense of what this CRM can do for your company.
\r\nThe Standard plan, which is the entry-level Zoho CRM subscription, starts at $12 per user, per month. The next step up is the Professional level, which costs just $20 per user, per month and includes valuable features like email integrations, unlimited records, and Google AdWords integration.
\r\nZoho's Enterprise CRM plan is affordable, too, with a starting price of $35 per user, per month. Plus, it includes advanced features like custom modules and buttons and conversational AI, which are typically only available at higher-cost subscription levels.
\r\nThe Ultimate plan is $45 per user, per month. It comes with advanced customer support, enhanced storage, data enrichment and dedicated database clusters.
\r\nZoho CRM is a feature-rich CRM with a surprisingly affordable price tag. This is just a sampling of Zoho's features:
\r\nZoho CRM is a stellar solution that's surprisingly easy to implement, making it an ideal choice for small teams that want a product that works right out of the box. Of course, the more customizations you opt for and the more integrations you need, the longer the implementation process will be, but getting the basics up and running is easy, even if you don't have an in-house tech team. Zoho's online documentation takes new users through the setup process step by step, and while nearly all SaaS products claim to do this, Zoho really delivers when it comes to easy-to-follow guides.
\r\nThe SaaS CRM provider also makes it easy to add extensions and integrations to the primary system through the Zoho Marketplace. Users can search categories like Finance, Sales, Productivity, Telephony and Collaboration to find the best extensions available, or search based on specific product names or industries. Many of the extensions are available at no cost with zero coding required for integration, but some outside third-party integrations require admins to touch the Zoho CRM API. Of course, if it's an absolute necessity, you can enlist customization assistance (for an additional fee) from the Zoho team – just inquire in advance, so you can plan your implementation accordingly.
\r\nOnce the setup process is complete, Zoho CRM offers users an unbelievably easy-to-use product that requires very little training. The user interface is the ideal modern interpretation of a cloud business tool, combining easy-to-interpret menus and familiar dropdown menu layouts with a clean design and visual notifications. Across the top of the screen, users will see familiar options like Home, Feeds, Leads, Accounts, Contacts and so on. Once a user selects an item, filtered options automatically appear on the left side of the screen, making it easy to sort and view only what's needed at the time. Meanwhile, in the upper right corner of the screen, users can keep an eye on notifications, access email without navigating away from other tasks, utilize the search function and more. Zoho CRM also makes it easy for users to do things like create custom email templates and use existing templates, create dashboards that showcase real-time analytics and access the document library.
\r\nAdmins will find Zoho CRM intuitive to use, too. The visual interface makes it easy to create and manage groups with different permissions, even if the admins you choose have never been administrators for a software product before. From documentation and setup to daily use, it's clear that Zoho CRM was built with real small businesses in mind.
\r\nThe drawbacks to adopting Zoho as your CRM may not be negatives to all users, but they are worth noting. Tiered levels of service mean users may have to opt for a more expensive subscription just to get one relevant feature. For example, while the $12 level is enticing at first glance, integration with Google AdWords only kicks in at the $20 tier.
\r\nSome clients have complained about slow connections at times. While your own experience will likely differ, this is worth keeping in mind.
\r\nIn general, there aren't a lot of drawbacks to Zoho CRM as long as you adopt it for the right reasons. Zoho CRM is an alternative to high-cost, implementation-heavy products, so don't expect it to perform exactly like one. As long as Zoho's features meet your needs, it's a safe bet, but if you want a powerhouse of a system, opt for something heavier duty, like Salesforce.
\r\nZoho CRM has a decent online reputation, with four-star reviews on several websites like Capterra and Software Advice. Zoho scored a D-minus with the Better Business Bureau (BBB). It's not an accredited business and scored a 1 out of 5 stars. Keep in mind that the grade from the BBB is a reflection of the entire Zoho corporation and not just Zoho CRM.
\r\nIn our own customer service testing with the company, we initially found it difficult to get a clear understanding of the features included in each plan. When we reached out a second time, we had a better experience. The representative was very patient, knowledgeable, and even set up a time to speak with us further about the program.
\r\nOne area where Zoho shines, however, is with its online documentation. If you're interested in working with Zoho CRM, you can find a wealth of instructions and documentation online about how to accomplish what you want using the software.
\r\nEditor's note: Looking for the right CRM for your business? Fill out the below questionnaire to have our vendor partners contact you about your needs.
\r\n"},"url":"https://www.zoho.com/crm/","docType":"service","title":"Zoho CRM","thumbnail":{"path":"https://staging.business.com/images/rz/5b5a2b4651ee475e428b45ac/zoho.png"},"pricing":{"isCapped":false,"isFeatured":false,"primary":true,"selected":"affiliate-widget","widgetId":"10725","widget":{"id":"10725","cta":"Compare Quotes","isExclusive":false},"affiliate":{"cta":"Visit Site","link":"https://businesscom.go2cloud.org/aff_c?offer_id=238&aff_id=1000&source=crm-software&aff_sub4=revenue|QT&aff_sub3=deal|Zoho&url_id=1","name":"QT Program"}}}},{"fullTitle":"Best for Contact Management","bullets":["Lead reports ","Drag-and-drop features","Live demo option"],"isFeaturedBestPick":false,"isJumpLink":true,"tabTitle":"Contact Management","review":{"isReview":true,"adsense":true,"canonical":"https://staging.business.com/reviews/less-annoying-crm/","review":{"fullReview":"As the name implies, Less Annoying CRM is a product that aims to provide an alternative to large and complicated CRM systems. The result is a lightweight user-friendly CRM with just one affordable subscription level ($15 per user, per month), but somewhat limited functionality. This contact relationship management software allows users unlimited contacts, the ability to collaborate with teams, lead and pipeline management, and some project management. Even the tiniest business with no internal tech support can get this system up and running in a matter of hours, but it lacks many integrations larger systems offer, and isn't intended for big businesses.
\r\nView all of our recommendations for CRM software on our best picks page.
\r\nThe CRM industry is dominated by large companies with extensive solutions that seem to meet the needs of any business owner. The sleek and clean interfaces are often drag and drop and require a significant amount of time to learn how to use. This can be ideal for larger businesses, and even some mid-size companies, but for small businesses looking to get up and running quickly on a new CRM platform, the effort can outweigh the benefits.
\r\nLess Annoying CRM fills an important gap in CRM solutions. Instead of creating a massive solution with all the features of an endlessly capable modern CRM system, Less Annoying CRM focuses on being, well, less annoying. It's a small business tool that's actually geared toward small businesses – owners will benefit from getting everything up and running in just a few hours, regardless of past CRM experience. This non-nonsense approach makes Less Annoying CRM a refreshing, simple company in a field of sparkling behemoths. Its pricing structure mirrors its approach to service: The company only offers one tier of services. Small businesses can also benefit from a 30-day free trial to see if it's the right solution for them.
\r\nLess Annoying CRM is ideal for contact management because of its seamless integrations with Excel and its simplicity once you've imported your data into the software. You can move contacts directly from Excel into this software quickly and easily. As a true product for small business and little-to-no learning curve, Less Annoying CRM is our best pick for basic contact management in 2019.
\r\nOf all the CRM solutions we reviewed, Less Annoying CRM has the simplest terms and pricing structure. Once users complete their 30-day free trial, the SaaS is $15 per user, per month. There are no contracts, and additional users can be added at will. Less Annoying CRM's pricing structure pushes its reputation as a simple, effective CRM tool. Most companies in this industry have several tiered plans while others offer free services and then charge when you use certain functionalities. With one subscription plan, Less Annoying CRM is combatting the industry trend to be everything to everyone (and thus nothing to no one). As a service, Less Annoying CRM is great, and its pricing model is simple and no-nonsense.
\r\nLess Annoying CRM has lots to offer small business users. Here are a few key features:
\r\nLess Annoying CRM offers some of the best customer service of any company we reviewed in this industry. Many companies we reviewed route you through live chat features and call waiting bureaus before you interact with someone to get the answers you need. Less Annoying CRM is one of the few companies we reviewed where we were immediately able to speak with someone and ask questions. The representatives we worked with answered all our questions and helped us better understand the services.
\r\nOne of Less Annoying CRM's greatest features is its simplicity. The way the company approaches customer service mirrors this mission – offering help and good service is just a simple fact; there are no hoops this company needs to jump through.
\r\nIn the software, which is intuitive and easy to use, there are training videos embedded for quick and easy reference. Less Annoying CRM also has a good online reputation. It's one of the only companies we reviewed in this industry that scored an A+ with the Better Business Bureau, although the rating agency has yet to accredit the business. The company has no customer reviews on the website, but it doesn't have any complaints either.
\r\nLess Annoying CRM is a relative newcomer to the customer relationship management scene, and as such, it lacks some of the comprehensive features other (higher priced) solutions provide. Reporting and analytics are extremely limited. Forecasting tools are virtually nonexistent compared to the competition; there are also some lead management limitations. Additionally, you can incorporate click-to-call services, but Less Annoying CRM does not have call center dialing capabilities built in. At present, it's unclear if that's on the horizon.
\r\nPart of Less Annoying CRM's draw is that it's a very manual, simple system. Part of that draw means it lacks some aesthetic features that higher-priced CRM systems offer. For example, if you're looking for a system with a drag-and-drop pipeline, Less Annoying CRM doesn't offer this feature. It's still, however, a manual, easy-to-use platform.
\r\nMona Bushnell contributed to the researching, reporting and writing of this article.
\r\nEditor's note: Looking for the right CRM for your business? Fill out the below questionnaire to have our vendor partners contact you about your needs.
"},"url":"https://www.lessannoyingcrm.com/","docType":"service","title":"Less Annoying CRM","thumbnail":{"path":"https://staging.business.com/images/rz/5db753767b43746f2e8b4573/lacrm_logo.png"},"pricing":{"isCapped":false,"isFeatured":false,"primary":true,"selected":"affiliate-widget","widgetId":"10725","widget":{"id":"10725","cta":"Compare Quotes","isExclusive":false},"affiliate":{"cta":"Visit Site","link":"https://businesscom.go2cloud.org/aff_c?offer_id=237&aff_id=1000&source=crm-software&aff_sub3=deal|GetApp&aff_sub4=revenue|Network&url_id=1","name":"Genius"}}}},{"fullTitle":"Best Industry Leader for Enterprise","bullets":["Market share leader","24/7 support","Numerous popular integrations"],"isFeaturedBestPick":false,"isJumpLink":false,"tabTitle":"Enterprise","review":{"isReview":true,"adsense":false,"canonical":"https://staging.business.com/salesforce/","review":{"fullReview":"Salesforce is the best CRM application for growing businesses because of the sheer number of features, third-party integrations and add-on options it offers. Once implementation is complete, Salesforce offers users a beautifully designed product that's speedy, powerful and highly customizable. All of this and more makes this CRM ideal for businesses with diverse and evolving needs.
\r\n
View all of our recommendations for CRM software on our best picks page.
\r\nSalesforce's cloud CRM comes in four different subscription tiers: Essentials, Professional, Enterprise and Unlimited.
\r\nEssentials is designed for up to five users and costs $25 per user, per month. It offers account, contact, lead, and opportunity management, email integration with Gmail or Outlook, and the Salesforce mobile app.
\r\nProfessional can be used for different team sizes; it starts at $75 per user, per month. It includes all of the Essential features in addition to lead registration, rules-based lead scoring and collaborative forecasting.
\r\nEnterprise has all the Professional plan features and workflow and approval automation functions. It starts at $150 per user, per month.
\r\nThe Unlimited edition offers everything included in the aforementioned plans and 24/7 support and configuration services for $300 per user, per month.
\r\nSalesforce is a massive product with lots of optional add-ons and customizations, so the subscription costs listed here should be considered jumping-off points. It is possible to spend considerably more on this product depending on what you need through useful add-ons like CPQ&Billing, which allow you to quickly configure, price, and quote complex solutions for $75 a month per user. Other add-ons include Pardot, Quip and myTrailhead, all of which are sold separately. There are additional costs if you opt for training or help with implementation help.
\r\nRelative to the other CRM products we reviewed, Salesforce is pricey. Many other SaaS products offer free versions as well as low-cost, entry-level subscriptions that can be used indefinitely. While $25 per user, per month isn't exactly price gouging, it's not a realistic long-term option for most small businesses, since only five users are supported at that level. The next level available jumps to a whopping $75 per user, per month, which is significantly more expensive than the competition.
\r\nUsers will be hard-pressed to find another CRM with as many optional features as Salesforce. Besides offering all the standard CRM, sales, and marketing tools you'd expect, this solution sports beautiful dashboards and high-level reporting and analytics in a customizable package. Here are just a few outstanding Salesforce features:
\r\nSalesforce CRM was built to meet the needs of enterprises and large businesses, but as the SaaS world exploded and small business solutions became more common, Salesforce expanded its scope with streamlined options that were easier and more affordable to get up and running. Today, the CRM giant offers users of every ilk access to powerful business software with plenty of customization options. The pricing scale Salesforce uses makes it easy for growing businesses to build out highly advanced systems, piece-by-piece, as they grow.
\r\nThe sheer scalability of Salesforce makes it an excellent choice for companies that are quickly expanding. The Salesforce AppExchange store is one way in which CRM users can build out customizable systems. Through the store, Salesforce offers third-party integrations for thousands of apps and software products that range from in-house Salesforce add-ons to third-party solutions (both paid and free).
\r\nOther CRM software companies we reviewed have similar online stores for add-ons, but Salesforce's is far more comprehensive. The company also makes it easy to search add-ons based on product name and view industry-specific product bundles. Because Salesforce is such a huge company, the offering of industry-specific add-ons available is expansive, and there's even a separate section for small business specific add-ons, many of which are free.
\r\nDue to the breadth of customization options, the implementation process for Salesforce CRM varies drastically. But once the system is set up, users will quickly see it is worth the effort. Thanks to the intuitive design and overall sophistication of the product, the learning curve isn't steep for non-admin users. Eschewing the trendy while maintaining a modern look, Salesforce CRM keeps the navigation process simple, like it should be. The upper tab-style layout is typical across business and personal software, making it intuitive to grasp, and categories like Home, Contacts, Accounts, Leads, Campaigns and Opportunities bear no explanation.
\r\nFor in-house admins, more training may be required, but Salesforce offers excellent admin controls. Setting up different permissions based on groups or on individual users (some systems only allow for admin settings by group) is simple, as is creating different displays and workflows for various departments/employees. If you have even moderate technical expertise and admin experience, you should have no trouble managing Salesforce day to day, onboarding users or updating permissions.
\r\nFinally, Salesforce offers a major advantage to both organizations that rely heavily on legacy software and those that have unique compliance needs, like those in the healthcare, financial services or communications fields. Salesforce is large and established enough that it already offers compliance solutions and integration services, even for legacy and proprietary systems. When you work with Salesforce, the odds that you'll have a use case the company has never heard of or cannot address are extremely slim.
\r\nPricing options with Salesforce can quickly become complicated, and many users complain about a lack of clarity when it comes to what is included and what costs extra. Users who defect from Salesforce often cite this type of confusion.
\r\nWhile Salesforce is a market leader in terms of its CRM technology, integrations and capabilities, in our experience, it falls short in the customer service department. When we reached out for information about the company's services, we weren't provided with quick feedback.
\r\nWhen we did get in contact with them, they were very helpful and used real-life situations to explain its features and answer our questions about the program. They were very clear and offered several solutions to help further our understanding. Compared to other CRMs we called, their answers could have been more in depth but overall, they gave us a clear understanding of the program.
\r\nIt has a D-minus rating with the Better Business Bureau (BBB) and also isn't an accredited business. It earned a 1 out of 5 stars and closed 34 complaints within the last three last years.
\r\nEditor's note: Looking for the right CRM for your business? Fill out the below questionnaire to have our vendor partners contact you about your needs.
\r\n"},"url":"https://www.salesforce.com/","docType":"service","title":"Salesforce","thumbnail":{"path":"https://staging.business.com/images/rz/5b5a2a9a92a3a473688b45a4/salesforce.png"},"pricing":{"isCapped":true,"isFeatured":false,"primary":true,"selected":"widget","widgetId":"10725","widget":{"id":"10725","cta":"Compare Quotes","isExclusive":false},"affiliate":{"cta":"Visit Site","link":"https://www.salesforce.com/","name":""}}}},{"fullTitle":"Best Free Version","bullets":["G Suite integration","Variety of email templates","Ideal for sole proprietorships"],"isFeaturedBestPick":false,"isJumpLink":true,"tabTitle":"Free","review":{"isReview":true,"adsense":false,"canonical":"https://staging.business.com/reviews/hubspot-crm/","review":{"fullReview":"In our research and testing process, HubSpot CRM was consistently competitive with other highly recommended customer relationship management solutions. We've named HubSpot the best CRM for very small businesses due to its all-around functionality, incredible online resources, and robust free version, which is ideal for tiny businesses and sole proprietorships. Even the free version connects with Gmail, G Suite and most versions of Outlook, making it ideal for email marketing.
\r\nView all our recommendations for CRM software on our best picks page.
\r\nHubSpot CRM offers additional paid services, like the Marketing Hub and Sales Hub. What's unique about this setup is that HubSpot allows businesses to opt in to those paid services based on specific users, while everyone else on the team uses the completely free version. This ability to combine paid and free subscriptions is ideal for tiny businesses that want to gradually scale products without purchasing more service than necessary.
\r\nWhile quite a few CRMs we reviewed offer a free version of the software, on either a temporary or indefinite basis, most have built-in restrictions that necessitate upgrades over time. HubSpot's free CRM solution is surprisingly comprehensive, though; there's no expiration date or user limit on the free version, and up to 1 million contacts can be stored before any upgrades kick in. This gives HubSpot a huge edge over competitors that place time limits, user limits and low contact caps on free software trials, and it gives solopreneurs and tiny business owners the ability to start building out a CRM without paying a cent.
\r\nThe setup process is ideal for small businesses too. Syncing the customer relationship system with Outlook or Gmail is just a click away (no coding required), and the primary task dashboard is intuitive to navigate, thanks to the clear labels like Contacts, Companies, Deals, Tasks, Sales Tools and Settings. Users can easily filter and view contact cards and communication timelines, keep track of live notifications, make and record calls directly in the system, and utilize helpful templates for building out email campaigns, websites and blogs, and for formatting invoices. Standard features small businesses require from a CRM are present too, like automatic sales logging, contact and lead management, and customizable sales pipelines.
\r\nAll this built-in functionality is impressive, especially since it's all included in the free version of HubSpot CRM, but there are lots of ways to build out the product as well. HubSpot offers all its users access to comprehensive online resources that cover everything from training and implementation to expanding into the paid HubSpot products, like the Marketing Hub and Sales Hub. The SaaS provider even has a learning portal complete with courses and certification information, making it a great fit for DIY-capable small businesses that want to grow a CRM organically over time, without investing a lot of cash before it's necessary.
\r\nHubSpot strikes an excellent balance between offering a lightweight product that's free to use and quick to adopt and providing serious business users with a fully scalable CRM solution.
\r\nHubSpot's completely free CRM service may be robust enough to meet the needs of very small businesses and independent contractors. If you want to expand the system's functionality, you can build out either the Marketing Hub, Sales Hub or both – just pay close attention to how each product is billed. The overall pricing structure for HubSpot can be confusing at times, as your need for certain services will edge you into either the marketing or sales paid plans. This can get expensive, so it's important to stay in contact with your HubSpot representatives throughout the duration of your service.
\r\nThe Marketing Hub has a free level, Starter ($50 a month), Basic ($200 a month), Professional ($800 a month) and Enterprise ($2,400 a month). Each is billed annually, and unlike most CRMs, there are no minimums or maximums for number of users. Billing for the Marketing Hub is based entirely on the level of product and not the size of your team, which is highly unusual.
\r\nThe Sales Hub is billed based on number of users you have, which also determines the level of service you get. Like the Marketing Hub, it has a free option, Starter ($50 per month for one user) and Professional ($400 per month for five users). For additional services for more team members, you must request a price quote.
\r\nHubSpot operates on an a la carte basis, which makes it a great CRM for small businesses and growing startups that want something lightweight and inexpensive with the ability to scale over time. However, the pricing structure is needlessly complicated, which makes it hard to determine affordability. For example, if just one user signs up for the Starter package for both the Marketing and Sales Hub, the cost is a whopping $100 a month, which is extremely expensive for an entry-level CRM subscription. If, on the other hand, a company has a small number of users who require access to paid Marketing or Sales Hub services, and a lot of employees who need access to the system in general (i.e., the free version), HubSpot may be a money-saver.
\r\nA free CRM isn't all HubSpot brings to the table. This SaaS solution offers business users some serious benefits. Here are a few of the most notable features HubSpot CRM delivers.
\r\nWe had good interactions with HubSpot's customer service team. When we initially reached out, they were quick to respond and explained how to view an online demo. This was a transparent and helpful interaction, as other CRM software companies we reviewed weren't this willing to provide demos.
\r\nCompared to other companies, HubSpot also has a solid reputation with the Better Business Bureau. It's an accredited business with an A+ rating. However, it scored 1 out of 5 stars on seven customer reviews and has 17 customer complaints. For a company as big and impactful as HubSpot, this is not concerning, but that's still a low customer score.
\r\nOne of HubSpot's biggest strengths is its online training resources. If you need to learn how to do something in the software, or even just need a refresher on how to use something, HubSpot has drafted an impressive library of online training resources for you to tap into. This level of instruction separates it from other providers. Overall, HubSpot has a strong customer service offering compared to many other companies in this category.
\r\nHubSpot offers great customer service and lots of educational resources that are ideal for self-starter types, but for small businesses that are short on tech talent, the sheer number of options in the pricing structure and vast library of resources may be overwhelming. HubSpot is best for businesses that aren't afraid to dig into resources on their own and connect with the online community.
\r\nHubSpot's confusing pricing structure is also a weak point. Small businesses that intend to move beyond the free CRM and into the paid sphere should do the math on their own first to make sure this CRM will still be a good deal once they upgrade.
\r\nMona Bushnell contributed to the researching, reporting and writing of this article.
\r\nEditor's note: Looking for the right CRM for your business? Fill out the below questionnaire to have our vendor partners contact you about your needs.
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