The Freshsales suite, part of the Freshworks platform, is a well-known customer relationship management (CRM) tool for its simple interface and reasonable starting price. However, as with any software, Freshsales isn’t going to be right for everyone.
More useful features like workflow automation, custom reporting and AI insights are only available in paid tiers. Freshsales also has limited integrations (around 36), so it may not connect with the other tools you depend on.
In this article, we’ll look at some of the best Freshworks alternatives for salespeople, including both all-in-one services and standalone CRM software.
Pipedrive
Pipedrive is the CRM platform designed by sales teams for sales teams, making it ideal for sales-focused startups and small to medium-sized businesses (SMBs).
Once you’ve set up and customized your sales pipeline to match your process, Pipedrive will help you to keep deals moving smoothly down the funnel, automatically alerting you when you need to take action.
Pipedrive’s user-friendly and intuitive interface enables your team to quickly familiarize themselves with the platform and get started.
Pipedrive’s key features
Pipedrive has numerous standout features that optimize your sales process, including:
Visual pipeline management to get a full overview of your sales at a glance
Fully customizable CRM processes to reflect your unique sales cycle
Team collaboration tools with shared goals and performance tracking
Activities and goals reminders so you never miss a follow-up
Sales automations to save time and improve efficiency
AI sales assistant that provides actionable insights and recommendations
Insights and reports for tracking key metrics and improved performance
Sales forecasting, automatically updated as deals move through the pipeline
You also get access to the Pipedrive Marketplace, a collection of over 400 integrations that connect your CRM with other sales and marketing tools.
Pipedrive also offers different add-on packs, meaning you only pay for the features you need, like Pipedrive’s email marketing software Campaigns. The Campaigns add-on extends your CRM’s functionality so you can create effective email marketing campaigns using your CRM data. The add-on includes features like:
Email builder with proven templates and a drag-and-drop editor
Email segmentation to tailor emails to individual customer preferences
Email analytics to measure success and optimize future campaigns
Pipedrive named the number one lead management tool
SoftwareReviews named Pipedrive the number one solution for lead management, based on criteria like user satisfaction, product features and vendor experience.
How much does Pipedrive cost?
Pipedrive’s five pricing plans (Essential to Enterprise) range from $14 to $129 per seat per month in the US, with discounts of up to 42% for annual payments.
New users can get a free 14-day trial on any Pipedrive plan.
Find out how Pipedrive compares to Freshworks in our in-depth comparison.
The bottom line: Pipedrive
An affordable CRM with award-winning lead management functionality, comprehensive features and 400+ integrations.
Salesforce is popular with enterprise-level clients. The platform serves big businesses with sales, marketing, customer support and other functions. Its Sales Cloud solutions combine AI and data to help businesses close deals.
Some businesses may find they need more Salesforce products than initially expected to have access to a CRM tool with the functionality they need. One user reported on G2:
For organizations equipped with the necessary resources and technical expertise, Salesforce’s customization capabilities allow you to tailor the setup and align it with your specific business requirements.
How much does Salesforce cost?
Salesforce’s Sales Cloud has five pricing plans (Starter Suite to Unlimited+) ranging from $25 to $500 per user per month, billed annually. New users can sign up for a free 30-day trial.
Read our detailed comparison of Salesforce and Pipedrive.
The bottom line: Salesforce
A wide range of products and functionality suitable for enterprise clients.
Zendesk positions itself as the complete customer service solution. Its Zendesk Sell platform caters to sales teams with features such as lead generation, contact management and activity tracking.
By gathering lead details and customer information in one platform, Zendesk Sell can give you a complete view of your contacts. The software includes productivity tools, with a “task player” to move your sales team through its daily processes.
The platform is also currently trialing early access to AI-based features, including generative AI for bot replies and knowledge base article creation.
While Zendesk Sell offers a user-friendly interface, some reviewers have found tool integration with the CRM more complex than expected. Here’s one user review on G2:
How much does Zendesk Sell cost?
Zendesk Sell has four pricing plans (Team to Enterprise), starting from $19 per agent per month and going up to $169 per agent per month, when paying annually.
New users can sign up for a 14-day free trial.
The bottom line: Zendesk
A simple CRM with productivity and AI tools, plus some integration options
Zoho offers business management solutions alongside its sales and marketing tools, with features including route planning and loyalty programs.
For those already using Zoho, its CRM system integrates with the rest of the software.
Zoho CRM has different automation features, including automated workflows available on all plans. There’s also a variety of AI functionality on its enterprise plan. Features include data enrichment, sales forecasts, image validation and conversation intelligence.
Zoho positions itself as a user-friendly solution, with dedicated migration, deployment and training programs to help managers set up their teams.
The platform’s analytics feature provides insights into the user’s sales pipeline, offering both via standard and customizable report options. Small businesses can also use Zoho’s developer platform to create their own custom solutions and integrations.
When it comes to client relations, one user said on G2:
How much does Zoho CRM cost?
Zoho CRM has four pricing plans (Standard to Ultimate) costing between $14 and $52 per user per month, billed annually. Zoho notes on its pricing page that it charges additional local taxes, such as VAT, on top of this.
New users can sign up for a free 15-day trial. There’s also a free basic version supporting up to three users.
See how Zoho CRM compares with Pipedrive in our comprehensive analysis.
The bottom line: Zoho
A part of the Zoho software suite that includes AI-powered features on the enterprise plan.
Microsoft Dynamics 365 is an enterprise resource planning (ERP) and CRM applications suite. Its integrated solutions cover various aspects of business operations.
Dynamics 365 suits large organizations invested in the Microsoft ecosystem as it works well with other Microsoft products and services.
The CRM has customization options to tailor it to your business needs. However, it may be less intuitive than others on this list. For instance, a user on G2 commented:
How much does Dynamics 365 cost?
Dynamics 365 Sales, Microsoft’s sales-led CRM platform, has four pricing plans (Sales Professional to Microsoft Relationship Sales), starting at $65 and going up to $162 per user per month.
Microsoft Copilot for Sales, a role-based assistant that combines data and AI for improved sales productivity, features on the Enterprise plan and above. You can also purchase Copilot as an add-on to the Professional plan for $40 per user per month.
The bottom line: Dynamics 365
A customizable CRM for those looking to continue using within Microsoft products.
HubSpot’s all-in-one customer platform provides software solutions for marketing, sales, service and content management.
Its Sales Hub comes with extensive CRM features, including contact management, email tracking and a reporting dashboard.
HubSpot has different packages with core CRM functionality and other tools for customer-facing departments, such as chat options.
However, some users find the features they need aren’t available on their business-tier plans. One user on G2 reported:
How much does HubSpot Sales Hub cost?
HubSpot Sales Hub has three pricing plans (Starter to Enterprise) ranging from $20 per month to $1,500 per month with an annual commitment, allowing two to 10 users – depending on your tier.
HubSpot charges per user after the tier allowance, with prices ranging from $10 to $150 per new user per month. There’s also a free plan available.
Discover how HubSpot compares to Pipedrive in our detailed CRM analysis
The bottom line: HubSpot CRM
The free tool is a good basic CRM for individuals starting out but a larger budget is needed for full functionality.
Oracle NetSuite is another widely used ERP solution with an optional CRM module allowing enterprise clients to manage different business aspects from a single platform.
If you’re already using other NetSuite tools, NetSuite CRM can streamline your workflows and prevent data silos.
Built for large organizations with high user volumes, NetSuite CRM can scale as you grow. The platform also offers reporting and analytics to give your customer-facing departments data access.
NetSuite CRM includes partner relationship management features, enabling real-time information sharing and campaign collaboration.
While the platform’s customizability serves those who require it, a reviewer on G2 noted:
How much does Netsuite CRM cost?
Users subscribe to NetSuite for an annual license fee, calculated on the base package, service tier, optional modules (including the CRM) and number of users. You’ll also have to pay a one-time implementation fee for the initial setup.
To find out the pricing, contact NetSuite directly.
The bottom line: Oracle Netsuite
A part of Netsuite’s ERP solution for larger businesses that require partnership resource management and those already using Netsuite products.
Copper focuses on businesses that use Google Workspace. The software therefore suits sales teams that already use Gmail, Google Calendar and Google Drive.
For example, Copper integrates with Gmail to automatically add leads, update deals and collate past interactions. You can create events and follow-up reminders in Google Calendar, while the platform automatically adds contextual details for your meetings.
Some customer relationship management core features, such as workflow automation, reporting and app integrations are available on the Professional plan.
The Business plan introduces marketing automation functionality like lead scoring, web tracking and email campaigns.
Copper offers live chat support on all plans. Here is how one user on G2 reviewed the after-sales service:
How much does Copper cost?
Copper has three pricing plans (Basic to Business) at $23 to $99 per user per month, paid annually.
New users can opt for a 14-day free trial.
Find out how Copper fares against Pipedrive in our detailed analysis.
The bottom line: Copper
A user-friendly CRM designed to integrate with the Google Workspace tool suite.
Close advertises itself as the CRM for growing teams. Sales managers can use the CSV import tool to import leads and contacts or the one-click migration tool to transfer data from another CRM.
The platform comes with built-in calling, email, SMS and Zoom integration. You can also create outreach workflow automations with a sequence of calls and emails.
Connecting outreach tools to the CRM allows sales teams to manage activities directly from the CRM. Meanwhile, the Call Assistant add-on transcribes and summarizes phone calls for review.
Enterprise plans also open up access to other outreach features, such as call coaching and a predictive dialer.
Close’s customer support help desk is known for its fast response times. The software can be less speedy, as one user on G2 remarked:
How much does Close cost?
Close’s three pricing plans (Startup to Enterprise) range from $49 to $699 per month, billed annually, for between one and five users.
New users can sign up for a free 14-day trial.
See how Close compares to Pipedrive in our in-depth analysis.
The bottom line: Close
A CRM positioned for growing teams that includes built-in outreach features
Nutshell calls itself an all-in-one CRM for stress-free sales and marketing. It includes core features to suit users looking for a simpler CRM. Optional add-ons provide more functionality, such as website visitor tracking and an online meeting scheduler.
The dedicated “Power AI” plan summarizes timelines and unlocks Zoom transcription summaries.
The Foundation plan enables automated lead assignment, while the Pro plan opens up sales automation with its guided sales process builder and automated lead advancement.
Generally, users tend to find Nutshell intuitive. One user on G2 observed:
How much does Nutshell cost?
Nutshell has four pricing plans (Foundation to Enterprise) spanning $16 to $67 per user per month, billed annually.
There’s a 14-day free trial option for new users.
Find out how Nutshell compares to Pipedrive in our head-to-head analysis.
The bottom line: Nutshell
A CRM with sales and marketing functionality, including a dedicated AI-focused plan.
What to look for in a CRM
The right CRM system can drive sales and improve the customer experience, helping businesses close more deals and grow faster.
There are certain core features that every CRM should have, such as:
Contact management. Efficiently organize customer information and interactions
Sales lead management. Capture and track leads through the sales pipeline
Sales automation. Automate key sales tasks to increase efficiency
Marketing functionality. Tools to execute, track and analyze marketing campaigns
Customer service support. Handle inquiries and improve customer satisfaction
Reporting and analytics. Gain insights from data to make informed decisions
Beyond these essential features, finding the right CRM will depend on your unique needs.
As you explore different CRM alternatives, consider what your team needs both right now and as it grows in the future.
If you’re uncertain about which solution to choose, create a shortlist of potential CRMs. Take advantage of the free trials to see how they work in practice, paying close attention to the following factors.
Customization and connections
A CRM should be adaptable to fit your specific business processes and workflows. When a platform is flexible and customizable, it can evolve alongside your business as strategies and requirements change.
You should also consider how any potential CRM would fit in with your existing tech stack. The ability to smoothly integrate with your other tools and systems – such as email platforms, social media and accounting software – makes for a more productive sales team.
When information is easily shared between your different tools, you save time and cut down on errors caused by copy-pasting data from one source to another.
Pricing and privacy
Pricing is always a practical consideration for any business. Assess the CRM’s pricing structure to ensure it aligns with your budget and delivers value for the investment. Don’t forget to look out for hidden costs, such as additional charges for premium support or initial setup.
Finally, privacy and security are paramount. Customer data can be highly sensitive and should be properly safeguarded at all times. Opt for security features such as two-factor authentication (2FA), data encryption and secure APIs.
Final thoughts
There are hundreds of CRM options out there, ranging from small niche products to enterprise-level solutions. Finding the best alternative to the Freshworks CRM to fit your unique needs and budget can feel overwhelming.
For most teams, Pipedrive’s sales-focused approach provides everything that’s needed to manage different sales processes and close more deals. Its cost-effective pricing plans are accessible for a wide range of budgets, making it an attractive option for many sales operations.
Finding the right CRM match will require some time and effort, but the payoff is worth it. With the right CRM in place, you can be more productive, improve customer engagement and ultimately drive more revenue for your business.
Try Pipedrive today with a 14-day free trial.
