Top 10 Monday.com CRM alternatives

In the software world, change is the only constant. Remember when cloud storage seemed revolutionary? Now it's as commonplace as email. This rapid evolution applies to all aspects of business technology, including Customer Relationship Management (CRM) tools.

What was cutting-edge just a few years ago might now be standard practice. More importantly, as your business grows and evolves, the tools that once met your needs perfectly might no longer be sufficient. It's crucial to regularly reassess whether your current CRM solution is still serving your business effectively or if it's time for an upgrade.

Here's the thing: Loyalty to a software tool is admirable, but not at the expense of productivity and growth. It's crucial to step back periodically and survey the landscape. Are you still getting the best bang for your buck? Is there a tool out there that could streamline your processes even further?

This doesn't mean jumping ship at every new shiny feature that comes along. It's about being aware, staying informed, and making decisions that benefit your team and your bottom line. The CRM market is constantly evolving, with new players entering the field and established ones innovating at breakneck speed.

Monday.com: Jack of all trades, master of... project management—not CRM

Let's talk about Monday.com. If you're in the project management game, you've probably heard the buzz. And for good reason—when it comes to organizing tasks, tracking progress, and keeping teams in sync, Monday.com is a force to be reckoned with.

But here's where things get a bit sticky. Monday.com has been pushing its CRM offering, and at first glance, it might seem like a one-stop solution for all your business needs. Project management and CRM in one neat package? Sounds perfect, right?

Well… it’s not that simple. While Monday.com excels in project management, its CRM functionality feels more like an afterthought. It's a bit like using a blunt knife to chop down a tree; it might get the job done, but there are better tools for the task.

Don't get us wrong—Monday.com isn't trying to deceive us. They're just doing what they do best: project management. But when it comes to the nuanced world of customer relationships, sales pipelines, and lead nurturing, there are specialized CRM tools out there that do a much better job than Monday CRM.

As we explore alternatives in the following sections, keep an open mind. The ideal CRM for your business should align with your unique sales processes, integrate seamlessly with your existing tools, and ultimately, make your team's life easier. Whether that's Monday.com or another solution, the key is finding the right fit for your needs.

Remember, it's about finding a tool that empowers your team to build stronger, more profitable customer relationships. Let's dive in and see some top Monday.com CRM alternatives.

What to expect in this article

In this detailed article, we take a deep dive into the top 10 alternatives to Monday.com's CRM currently available in the market. For each piece of software, we provide a detailed overview of its standout features to give you a clear picture of what sets it apart from the competition. We've also compiled real user feedback to highlight both the strengths and potential drawbacks of each platform as experienced by customers.

To help you make an informed decision, we've included pricing details for each option so you can weigh the features against your budget. Finally, we offer our expert verdict on each software, considering factors such as usability, scalability, and overall value. Whether you're a small business owner or part of a large enterprise, this article aims to guide you towards the CRM solution that best fits your unique needs and goals.

A quick overview

1. Bigin by Zoho CRM: An affordable, user-friendly CRM tailored for small businesses, that offers essential features like pipeline management and workflow automation.

2. Zoho CRM: A comprehensive, AI-powered CRM solution suitable for businesses of all sizes, that offers advanced features and seamless integration with other Zoho products.

3. Pipedrive: A sales-centric CRM designed by salespeople, that focuses on visual pipeline management and deal closure for small to medium-sized businesses.

4. Insightly: A versatile CRM that bridges sales and project management, with a smooth transition from closed deals to projects for small to medium-sized businesses.

5. HubSpot Sales Hub: A robust, all-in-one CRM platform with powerful automation and analytics tools, ideal for growing businesses and enterprises within the HubSpot ecosystem.

6. Salesforce: An industry-leading, highly customizable CRM powerhouse with extensive features and integrations, best suited for large enterprises and complex sales processes.

7. Copper CRM: A Google Workspace-centric CRM offering seamless integration with Google tools, ideal for small to medium businesses heavily invested in the Google ecosystem.

8. Less Annoying CRM: A straightforward, affordable CRM with unlimited contacts and pipelines, best suited for small businesses and solopreneurs seeking simplicity over advanced features.

9. Freshsales: An AI-enhanced CRM with a generous free plan, that offers automation and intelligent insights to streamline sales processes for small to medium-sized businesses.

10. Apptivo: A highly customizable, all-in-one CRM solution that caters to diverse business needs, from lead management to invoicing, ideal for businesses requiring flexibility in their CRM setup.

Top 10 Monday CRM alternatives - A detailed assessment

1. Bigin by Zoho CRM

To expand the services it already offers to over 100 million users globally, Zoho created Bigin as a specialized pipeline-centric CRM tailored specifically for customer-facing teams in small businesses. Since its worldwide launch in 2021, Bigin has rapidly become an integral part of the Zoho CRM family, transforming how small businesses manage their customer relationships. At its core, Bigin turns everyday customer interactions into streamlined, actionable pipelines. This innovative approach enables small businesses to handle everything from lead qualification to deal closure, and even post-sales operations.

By fostering collaboration between different teams, Bigin empowers small businesses to deliver outstanding customer experiences at every touchpoint, and it has had a profound impact on countless businesses. It's become the go-to platform for small businesses worldwide seeking to elevate their customer experience game.

Standout features

• Pipeline management: Streamline operations with Bigin's team pipelines and connected records to get a comprehensive view of customer data across all stages. Manage tasks directly within pipelines to enhance efficiency and provide a centralized hub for all business processes. Connect pipelines via seamless workflow automations and ensure smooth customer journeys across different stages.
• Customer management: Capture data efficiently across multiple channels using Bigin's customized forms. Receive real-time notifications via Signals for new emails, missed calls, and other activities. Easily import data from spreadsheets and export or back up your data as needed.
• Multichannel communication: Engage with customers across various channels via built-in telephony, email integrations, and WhatsApp connectivity. Never miss an opportunity to connect, analyze email campaign effectiveness, or maintain consistent communications from within your CRM. Incoming emails are automatically associated with relevant contacts to ensure all interactions are properly tracked and managed.
• Automation: Streamline operations with powerful workflow and stage automation capabilities. Set up email alerts, track deals, and trigger specific actions based on pipeline stage transitions. Automate routine tasks to save time, reduce errors, and enable your team to focus on high-value activities.

• Team collaboration: Foster seamless coordination with team pipelines, comprehensive activity management, and a Microsoft Teams integration. Get a complete overview of customer information and each team's operations. Manage tasks, calls, and events collaboratively, and use @mentions to notify teammates. Access and manage CRM data during calls, chats, and meetings to ensure your team stays in sync.

• Customization: Tailor Bigin to your specific needs with custom fields, modules, and multi-currency support. Set a home currency for your organization when dealing with international customers. These customization options ensure the CRM aligns perfectly with your unique business processes and workflows and enhances your overall efficiency.

 What users like about Bigin 

• Bigin has an intuitive interface and user-friendly design.

• It doesn't have a steep learning curve, instead enabling users to become proficient quickly—without any prior CRM experience.

• Bigin stands out as the most cost-effective CRM solution at just $7 per user per month (billed annually).

• The platform's sleek design ensures a seamless user experience across both web and mobile devices.

• Small business owners benefit from Bigin's diverse range of pipeline templates, providing the flexibility to meet various business and industry needs.

• Bigin has garnered acclaim for its extensive suite of integrations, which enhance its functionality and adaptability.

• Users frequently highlight the cohesive workflows between Bigin's CRM and sales pipeline functions.

 What users dislike about Bigin   

• Some users express a desire for more advanced reporting features to analyze their sales data at greater depth.

• Users would like direct LinkedIn lead import functionality. One workaround involves exporting LinkedIn connections to Excel and then using Bigin's bulk import feature.

• Users report limitations in adding custom fields to Contacts, Deals, and Companies modules, which potentially constrain their ability to tailor the CRM to specific business needs.

• Though it provides essential on-the-go access to key CRM functions, the mobile app has fewer features than the web platform.

 Pricing 

• Express - $7 per user per month (billed annually)

• Premier - $12 per user per month (billed annually)

Our take

Bigin stands out as an excellent choice for small businesses seeking an affordable and user-friendly CRM solution. Its intuitive interface, coupled with powerful features like pipeline management and workflow automation, makes it an ideal starting point for companies new to CRM. Moreover, the transition path to Zoho CRM as your business grows is a significant advantage. Bigin's focus on simplicity doesn't come at the cost of functionality; it offers robust customization options and integrations that rival more complex systems.

The pricing is particularly attractive, as it offers great value for small teams. While some users might find the reporting features limited, the overall package Bigin offers—from multichannel communication to team collaboration tools—makes it a top contender in the small business CRM space. If you're a small business looking for a CRM that can scale with you without breaking the bank, Bigin should be at the top of the Monday.com CRM alternatives shortlist you consider.

2. Zoho CRM

Zoho CRM is a powerhouse in customer relationship management, offering a scalable solution for businesses of all sizes. Whether you're a small startup or a large enterprise, Zoho CRM has you covered. Starting with Bigin, which is tailored for small businesses, Zoho provides an easy entry point to CRM. As your needs grow, transitioning to the full-fledged Zoho CRM is easy, and you'll never be short on features.

With a staggering 250,000+ customers worldwide, it's clear that businesses of all sizes are reaping the benefits of using Zoho CRM. This robust platform enables sales, marketing, and customer service efforts with its comprehensive set of functionalities, which include efficient lead and contact management, intelligent sales automation, comprehensive analytics, and seamless communication across multiple channels. Their tagline—"Convert more, build lasting relationships, and grow your business resiliently with the magic of contextual AI and thoughtful UI"—really hits the nail on the head. And they're not kidding about the magic: Zoho CRM harnesses the power of AI to serve up actionable insights and take the grunt work out of your day-to-day tasks. Whether you're starting small with Bigin or diving into the full Zoho CRM experience, you're setting yourself up for success.

Standout features 

• Sales force automation: Zoho CRM streamlines time-consuming sales tasks, which enables teams to focus on nurturing leads and closing deals. The system automates processes like appointment scheduling, follow-ups, and opportunity tracking, all while enabling the quick generation of estimates, proposals, and orders.
• AI: Zia, Zoho CRM's AI assistant, enhances customer relationship management by fetching information, taking dictated notes, predicting sales outcomes, and automating routine tasks. This intelligent companion helps users stay on top of activities and make data-driven decisions.

• Journey orchestration: CommandCenter, which features Zoho CRM's PathFinder and Journey Builder tools, helps businesses navigate complex, multichannel customer journeys and enables them to discover customer paths, understand their preferences, and create personalized experiences while maintaining brand consistency across touchpoints.
• Sales performance: Zoho CRM's robust sales monitoring tools offer insights that drive motivation and inform strategies. The platform helps businesses track performance, adapt to industry trends, and safeguard against economic fluctuations through data-driven decision-making.
• Analytics: With advanced analytics that cover leads, deals, activities, and emails, Zoho CRM offers comprehensive sales cycle monitoring. Users can create customized dashboards with various widgets, generate tailored reports, and leverage data intelligence to boost sales success.

• Customization: Zoho CRM offers extensive customization options to fit diverse business needs. Users can modify fields, buttons, layouts, and views, as well as relate information, test changes before implementation, and even localize languages and currencies to suit their specific requirements.

What users like about Zoho CRM  

• Sales teams enjoy better control over daily tasks, which are planned centrally instead of across multiple tools.

• Zoho's Business Solutions team analyzes and optimizes processes during CRM implementations.

• Management teams report having gained clearer visibility into current deals, which addresses previous challenges related to tracking.

• The 360-degree view across modules helps teams focus on prospecting the right leads and closing profitable deals.

• Consistent sales and communication processes facilitate easier onboarding of new sales reps.

• Users report saving up to two hours daily on contact management and status tracking.

• Users value Zoho CRM's ability to "think" for them, as it streamlines decision-making processes

What users dislike about Zoho CRM    

• Zoho occasionally releases feature updates without prior notification, which can disrupt workflows.
• Differences in naming conventions between Zoho CRM and Zoho Books can cause confusion.
• Users would like it to be easier to convert sales orders and purchase orders without re-entering vendor information.
• Some features can be tricky to navigate, especially for new users.
• Technical support can be slow to respond, which can be frustrating for users who need immediate assistance.

 Pricing 

• Standard - $14 per user per month (billed annually)

• Professional - $23 per user per month (billed annually)

• Enterprise - $40 per user per month (billed annually)

• Ultimate - $52 per user per month (billed annually)  

Our take 

Zoho CRM stands as a comprehensive and flexible CRM solution that caters to businesses of all sizes. Its standout features include robust sales force automation, AI-powered assistance, and advanced analytics. The platform's strength lies in its balance of powerful functionality and user-friendliness, making it accessible to both CRM novices and power users. The platform's seamless integration with the broader array of Zoho products is a significant advantage for businesses looking to create a unified business ecosystem.

While some users might find the occasional unannounced updates disruptive, Zoho CRM's overall value proposition is strong. It's particularly well-suited for small to medium-sized businesses looking for a scalable solution that can grow with them. Its competitive pricing and extensive customization options make it a versatile choice for a wide range of industries. If you're seeking a feature-rich CRM with room to grow, Zoho CRM should be your go-to choice.

3. Pipedrive

Pipedrive has carved out a niche in the CRM market by tailoring its platform specifically for sales professionals. This focus has paid off, with the company now boasting a customer base of more than 100,000 paying users worldwide—primarily small and medium-sized businesses.What sets Pipedrive apart is its origin story: It was developed by salespeople for salespeople. This insider perspective has resulted in a platform that truly resonates with sales teams. Users often praise its intuitive interface and visual approach, which simplify complex sales processes and boost productivity. The tool's emphasis on deal closure, pipeline management, and relationship building has made it a go-to choice for organizations looking to scale their revenue and expand their sales operations.

Standout features  

• Sales assistant: Pipedrive's AI-powered guidance offers personalized tips and insights to boost productivity. This intelligent feature analyzes user behavior and sales data to provide tailored recommendations, helping sales reps optimize their strategies and focus on high-potential opportunities.

• Smart contact data: Uncover valuable customer insights for informed decision-making and prospect qualification. This feature aggregates and analyzes data from various sources, providing a comprehensive view of each contact and enabling sales teams to prioritize leads effectively and offer personalized approaches.

• Scheduler: Effortlessly book meetings with an intuitive tool that respects everyone's availability. This time-saving feature integrates with calendar systems, thereby streamlining the appointment-setting process and reducing back-and-forth communications, which ultimately improves the efficiency of sales operations.

• Automations: Streamline workflows and focus on more important objectives by automating repetitive tasks. Pipedrive's automation capabilities enable users to create custom workflows, trigger actions based on specific events, and reduce manual data entry, all of which frees up time for higher-value activities.

• Automatic lead assignment: Efficiently distribute leads across your team for balanced workload management. This ensures fair and strategic lead allocation based on the expertise and capacity of individual team members to maximize the potential for successful conversions.

What users like about Pipedrive

• Pipedrive users appreciate the seamless email and calendar integration, along with effective follow-up reminder features.

• Customers highlight Pipedrive's excellent deal progression tools and highly customizable pipelines for various sales campaigns.

• Users have achieved significant efficiency improvements through Pipedrive's customizable fields, automations, and integrations.

• Pipedrive offers competitive pricing for its most essential features and automation capabilities relative to other CRM tools.

What users dislike about Pipedrive

• Navigation between contacts in the same list is inefficient and requires returning to the main page.

• Pipedrive's third-party integrations can be overly complex and frequently require additional Zapier subscriptions.

• Users struggle with Pipedrive's steep initial learning curve and find the repetitive data entry tasks to be tedious.

• The limited feature set in Pipedrive's entry-level plans—namely, its lack of workflow automations, email syncing, and custom field options—disappoints some customers.

 Pricing 

• Essential - $12 per user per month

• Advanced - $24 per user per month

• Professional - $49 per user per month

• Power - $59 per user per month

• Enterprise - $79 per user per month

Our take

Pipedrive's sales-centric approach makes it a solid choice for businesses focused on optimizing their sales processes. Its visual pipeline and deal management features are particularly strong and cater well to sales teams of various sizes. Its AI-powered sales assistant and smart contact data features are notable advantages for businesses looking to leverage data-driven insights. However, the learning curve and complex integrations might be challenging for some users. Pipedrive seems best suited for small to medium-sized businesses with dedicated sales teams.

While it offers competitive pricing, some users might find the feature limitations in lower-tier plans restrictive. Overall, if your primary focus is streamlining your sales pipeline and you're willing to invest time in setup, Pipedrive could be a valuable asset to your sales strategy.

4. Insightly

 Insightly brings a breath of fresh air to the world of CRM and pipeline management. This cloud-based platform is designed to make life easier for teams of all sizes, offering a collaborative space that's accessible from anywhere. With its intuitive interface and colorful, easy-to-read dashboards, Insightly turns complex data into actionable insights without any headache. It's not just another CRMl; it's a scalable solution that grows with your business, whether you're managing sales, marketing, or projects. Small businesses worldwide have found their CRM match in Insightly, and appreciate its flexibility, affordability, and knack for streamlining operations.

 Standout features 

• Sales lead tracking: Capture, prioritize, and distribute leads with customizable criteria and real-time deal progress views. This feature enables sales teams to manage their pipelines efficiently and ensure that they don't overlook any opportunities. Customizable criteria enable businesses to align lead prioritization with specific sales strategies.

• Workflow automation: Streamline operations by automating repetitive tasks, reducing errors, and freeing up time for high-value activities. Insightly's automation capabilities enable users to create sophisticated workflows and trigger actions based on specific events or conditions, thereby increasing overall productivity and consistency in sales processes.

• Data integrity controls: Ensure data accuracy with validation rules and advanced permissions for proper access management to maintain the quality and reliability of your CRM data—which is crucial for informed decision-making.

• Quote management: Optimize deal velocity with product catalogs, price books, and branded PDF quote generation. This integrated approach to quote management streamlines the proposal process, enabling sales reps to create professional, accurate quotes that align with company pricing strategies.

• Seamless project transition: Convert closed opportunities to projects to maintain all relevant details and tasks. This ensures a smooth handoff from sales to project delivery teams, preserves critical information, and maintains continuity in customer relationships.

 What users like about Insightly 

• Customers appreciate Insightly's responsive and helpful customer support team.

• Users find that Insightly is user-friendly and enables them to manage their business operations effectively.

• Insightly customers also praise the Visual Project Runway feature, which provides clear visibility into project management.

• Many power users appreciate its task list functionality, as it enables guidance and organization for daily team member activities.

 What users dislike about Insightly 

• Some customers report having experienced frustrating glitches in certain Insightly modules, particularly the Service module.

• Users report having to refresh the screen sometimes to see updates.

• Some have flagged inconsistencies in Insightly's bulk editing functionality, which can hinder their workflows.

• Some users have shared dissatisfaction with the lack of automatic population for the Actual Close Date field in lost or abandoned requests.

• Insightly's significantly limited free plan disappoints some customers due to its restricted record and storage capacity.

 Pricing 

• Plus - $29 per user per month (billed annually)

• Professional - $49 per user per month (billed annually)

• Enterprise - $99 per user per month (billed annually)

Our take

Insightly offers a well-rounded CRM solution that bridges the gap between sales and project management. Its standout feature is its ability to seamlessly transition opportunities from closed to projects, which makes it particularly attractive for businesses that handle both sales and project delivery. The platform's user-friendly interface and robust task management capabilities are definite pluses. However, the reported glitches in certain modules and the limitations of its free plan might be significant drawbacks for some users.

Insightly seems best-suited for small to medium-sized businesses looking for an all-in-one solution for customer relationship and project management. While it may not have the depth of features found in some specialized CRMs, its versatility and ease of use make it a solid contender for businesses seeking a balance between functionality and simplicity.

5. HubSpot Sales Hub  

HubSpot, the Massachusetts-based software giant, has seen remarkable growth over the past decade, with its Sales Hub playing a significant role in this success. HubSpot's Sales Hub is a robust CRM platform designed to enhance sales team efficiency. It offers a suite of tools for lead management, deal tracking, email integration, and task automation. The user-friendly interface and real-time data synchronization features enable sales reps to access up-to-date customer information and insights and offer customers personalized outreach. HubSpot also provides advanced sales analytics and reporting capabilities, which empower teams to monitor performance and refine their strategies effectively.  

 Standout features 

• Sales automation: HubSpot's automation tools combat inefficiencies by enabling sales reps to automate personalized emails, conduct A/B testing, and set up follow-up tasks for each prospect, all of which ensure consistent outreach and minimal missed opportunities.

• Lead management and prospecting: HubSpot's prospecting module offers a personalized workspace where sales reps can access the data and tools they need to qualify leads efficiently and convert leads into deals, thanks in part to its consolidated task view.

• Email templates: HubSpot simplifies email creation with an intuitive interface so businesses can build personalized templates quickly. Users can leverage pre-made designs that align with their brand and content requirements to save valuable time in crafting sales emails.

• Playbooks: Integrated interactive cards provide guidance and structure for sales
  conversations. Sales reps can access these playbooks during lead engagements to create detailed notes, which are then made available across the entire HubSpot customer platform.

• Payments: HubSpot's payment links enable you to collect credit, debit, or ACH payments directly from customers. This streamlined process accelerates payment collection, saves time, and ultimately increases revenue.

 What users like about HubSpot Sales Hub 

• Users appreciate the tool's seamless integration with Gmail, which ensures a cohesive workflow for those primarily using this email system.

• New businesses find HubSpot easy to set up and implement, which positions it as a cost-effective yet capable solution.

• Users praise the activity feed feature for facilitating proactive outreach to engaged contacts, improving customer relationships, and increasing conversion rates.

• HubSpot's integration capabilities with other sales tools are straightforward, and users value having access to the customer service team for problem-solving.

What users dislike about HubSpot Sales Hub 

• Some users find subscription management challenging, particularly when upgrading customer subscriptions.

• Transferring sequence ownership when team members change roles is not user-friendly, as there's not a simple way for new reps to continue sequences.

• The platform doesn't offer the option to purchase additional calling minutes separately, which forces users to upgrade to a higher plan when minutes are depleted.

• Users feel overwhelmed by the numerous default fields on deals, which they feel can potentially cause inefficiencies in deal creation.

• Some users find HubSpot's automation tools lacking in customization options compared to their expectations.

 Pricing for small teams and individuals 

• Sales Hub Starter - $15 per user per month (billed annually)
• Sales Hub Professional - $150 per user per month (billed annually)

Pricing for businesses and enterprises

• Sales Hub Professional - $90 per user per month (billed annually)
• Sales Hub Enterprise - $150 per user per month (billed annually)

Our take  

HubSpot Sales Hub offers a robust and feature-rich CRM solution that's particularly appealing for businesses already invested in the HubSpot ecosystem. Its strength lies in its comprehensive toolset, which covers everything from lead management to advanced analytics. The platform's user-friendly interface and extensive integration capabilities are definite pluses. However, the complexity of some features and the steep price increase for higher tiers might be challenging for smaller businesses.

HubSpot Sales Hub seems best suited for growing businesses and enterprises that can leverage its full feature set and have the budget to support it. While it offers a free tier, to truly benefit from HubSpot's capabilities, businesses often need to invest in higher-tier plans. If you're looking for a scalable, all-in-one solution and are willing to invest in a comprehensive CRM system, HubSpot Sales Hub is a strong contender.

6. Salesforce

Any "top CRMs" list would be incomplete without a mention of Salesforce. The San Francisco-based software behemoth has been a dominant force in the CRM industry for over two decades, having played a pivotal role in revolutionizing the software-as-a-service business model. As a pioneer in the CRM market, Salesforce offers a comprehensive suite of tools designed for various industries, business functions, and customer types. Moreover, Salesforce's AppExchange marketplace offers thousands of pre-built applications and components, enabling businesses to extend the platform's functionality easily and integrate with a wide range of third-party tools and services. They're one of the biggest players in the CRM space worldwide and have been known to innovate and go the extra mile to delight their customers.

Standout features 

• Dynamic lists: Dynamic lists update automatically and help users target the right audience with messaging that resonates. This saves small business owners the hassle of manually sorting out target lists for campaigns.

• Case management: Customer service reps have a 360-degree view of customers, including past interactions, open cases, and upcoming renewals. This enables reps to deliver personalized experiences with every interaction.

• Enhanced pipeline visibility and forecasting: Advanced forecasting helps you predict sales revenue and get a deeper understanding of your team's sales performance. Get visibility into your pipeline, identify opportunities, and access insights that will help you maintain your sales cycle momentum.

• Predictive AI (Enterprise plans): Salesforce's advanced artificial intelligence provides predictive insights to enhance sales processes. AI-powered tools forecast sales outcomes, identify high-potential leads, and suggest next best actions for sales reps.

• Conversation Intelligence (Enterprise plans): This feature automatically captures and analyzes customer calls and offers valuable insights to improve sales strategies by providing real-time coaching for sales reps, identifying key discussion topics, and extracting critical information from conversations.

 What users like about Salesforce 

• Users appreciate Salesforce's quick and efficient customer support.

• The platform provides comprehensive and interactive training resources that facilitate user onboarding and skill development.

• Salesforce boasts an extensive network of professionals, including administrators, developers, and specialists, all of whom contribute to a vibrant support community.

• The high degree of customization enables businesses to tailor the platform to their specific operational requirements.

• Users value the ability to track clients' purchase history automatically, as it eliminates the need for manual record-keeping.

What users dislike about Salesforce

• The extensive array of features and capabilities can be daunting, particularly for those new to the platform.

• Implementation often requires significant time and expertise, which leads many organizations to seek assistance from Salesforce specialists for setup and staff training.

• Users report that modifying certain default processes can be cumbersome, often requiring formal requests through the ticketing system.

• The platform's complexity necessitates substantial ongoing IT support, which can strain resources—especially for smaller businesses.

• While Salesforce offers extensive customization possibilities, fully leveraging these options often demands a high level of technical proficiency, which can be challenging for some users.

 Pricing for SMBs

• Starter suite - $24 per user per month (billed annually)

• Pro suite - $100 per user per month (billed annually)

• Enterprise - $165 per user per month (billed annually)

 Pricing for enterprises 

• Enterprise - $165 per user per month (billed annually)

• Unlimited - $330 per user per month (billed annually)

• Einstein 1 sales - $500 per user per month (billed annually)

Our take 

Salesforce remains a powerhouse in the CRM world, offering unparalleled customization and scalability. Its vast array of features and robust ecosystem of apps make it suitable for businesses of all sizes, though it truly shines in enterprise settings. The platform's strength lies in its ability to handle complex sales processes and provide deep analytical insights. However, this power comes with complexity; the learning curve can be steep, and implementation often requires significant time and resources.

Smaller businesses might find Salesforce overwhelming and potentially over-engineered for their needs. Pricing can also be a concern, especially for SMBs. That said, for larger organizations or rapidly growing businesses that need a highly customizable and scalable CRM solution, Salesforce remains a top choice. If you have the resources to leverage its capabilities fully, Salesforce can be a game-changer for your business.

7. Copper CRM 

 Copper is the CRM that feels like it was tailor-made for Google Workspace aficionados. It's not just another tool in your tech stack; it's the smooth operator that seamlessly blends into your daily workflow, from lead capture to project delivery and beyond. Whether you're in consulting, finance, construction, tech, real estate, or corporate development, Copper adapts to your industry's rhythm. And for those who practically live in Google's ecosystem? You're in for a treat. As the only CRM recommended for Google Workspace, a Chrome Enterprise Partner, and one backed by Google itself, Copper speaks fluent Google. It's like having a CRM that's been through Google finishing school: polished, integrated, and ready to make your work life a whole lot smoother.

Standout features 

• Contact management: Copper seamlessly syncs with Google Workspace so you can ensure contacts are always up-to-date across all tools. This integration eliminates manual data entry and reduces the risk of outdated information, which enables sales teams to focus on building relationships rather than managing contact details.

• Pipeline analysis: Track and analyze key sales metrics to boost performance and hit targets. Copper's analytical tools provide insights into pipeline health, conversion rates, and team performance, enabling data-driven decision-making and strategy refinement.

• Opportunity management: Visualize deal progress from lead to deal with customizable pipelines. This feature enables teams to tailor their sales process, track deal stages, and identify bottlenecks so as to optimize sales cycles and improve closure rates.

• Sales forecasting: Access built-in reports that display potential revenue by expected close dates so you can make informed decisions about resource allocation and set realistic targets based on pipeline data.

• Email sequences and drip campaigns: Automate nurture sequences and follow-ups to save time and maintain engagement. This feature enables sales reps to create personalized and timely communications at scale to ensure consistent touchpoints throughout the customer journey without manual intervention.

What users like about Copper CRM

• People appreciate Copper's customizable messaging capabilities.

• Users value Copper's flexible CRM customization options.

• The platform's intuitive and efficient sales opportunity management functionality is another draw for users.

• Users praise Copper's seamless integration with Gmail for contract and task management.

• Users highlight Copper's user-friendly relationship management features and comprehensive pipeline view as major positive aspects.

What customers dislike about Copper CRM

• Copper's live support options have left users dissatisfied, as the company has shifted towards a ticket-based and self-service approach.

• Some find Copper's pricing to be too steep, particularly for small businesses or those with limited budgets.

• Users also express disappointment with Copper's limited report generation features, especially for tracking weekly deal progress.

• The lack of robust filtering capabilities and true integrated CPQ (configure, price, quote) tools are additional pain points for users.

• Some users feel that Copper's community implementation needs improvement in aggregating and addressing similar issues.

 Pricing 

• Starter: $9 per user per month (billed annually)

• Basic: $23 per user per month (billed annually)

• Professional: $59 per user per month (billed annually)

• Business: $99 per user per month (billed annually)

Our take

Copper CRM shines brightest for businesses deeply integrated with Google Workspace. Its seamless Gmail integration and Google-like interface make it a natural fit for teams already comfortable with Google's ecosystem. The platform's strength lies in its simplicity and focus on relationship-building rather than complex sales processes. This makes it particularly suitable for small to medium-sized businesses in service-based industries.

However, the limited reporting features and lack of robust filtering capabilities might be limiting for businesses requiring in-depth analytics. Pricing could be a concern for smaller teams or those with tight budgets. Overall, if your business runs on Google Workspace and you're looking for a CRM that feels like a natural extension of your existing tools, Copper CRM is worth considering.

8. Less Annoying CRM 

Less Annoying CRM is a popular CRM platform designed with a focus on usability and affordability. It stands out for its inclusion of unlimited contacts, pipelines, and custom fields, which make it an appealing choice for small businesses. Tyler, a software engineer, created the platform out of frustration as he struggled to set up a complex CRM for his boss. Recognizing the need for a simpler solution, Tyler built Less Annoying CRM, which now offers a streamlined contact management system, customizable pipelines, and intuitive collaboration features. Less Annoying CRM presents a no-nonsense approach to CRM and caters to those seeking a straightforward and user-friendly CRM.

 Standout features 

• Contact management: Less Annoying CRM's contact management dashboard provides a clean interface for easy searching, filtering, and viewing of contacts. This intuitive design simplifies customer information organization and retrieval during interactions.

• Pipelines: Create custom pipelines or choose from nine pre-built templates for various scenarios like orders and job applications. This flexibility enables businesses to tailor sales processes while offering quick-start options for common needs.

• Calendar: Get a comprehensive view of tasks and events, all linked to specific contacts and companies. This integrated approach helps sales reps stay organized and prioritize activities effectively, as it syncs seamlessly with other features.

• Stage tracking: Less Annoying CRM's lead report enables users to track leads from initial contact to final sale, with the option to set reminders for follow-ups.

• Team collaboration: Offering unlimited user access with controllable permissions, the platform promotes data sharing across teams. This fosters better communication and alignment within sales teams and enables seamless hand-offs and shared insights while maintaining data security.

 What users like about Less Annoying CRM 

• Customers appreciate its usability, particularly its ability to access the CRM via mobile devices and its voice-to-text functionality.

• Users value the flexibility and simplicity of customizing fields for contacts and companies.

• Less Annoying CRM's unlimited contacts and pipelines are a major draw for users.

• Customers are attracted to Less Annoying CRM due to its positive online reputation.

 What users dislike about Less Annoying CRM 

• Some customers find the lack of a comprehensive pipeline view frustrating, as it requires that they update contact profiles manually.

• Users believe that competing CRM solutions have better reporting and analytics capabilities.

• Users can at times face difficulty in associating contacts with multiple businesses.

• Some users find the lack of AI automation features in Less Annoying CRM disappointing.

• Many customers dislike the platform's lack of built-in email capabilities.

• Customers feel that Less Annoying CRM's single pricing plan may not suit all budgets.

 Pricing 

• $15 per user per month (plus tax)

Our take

True to its name, Less Annoying CRM offers a straightforward, no-frills approach to customer relationship management. Its simple interface and affordable pricing make it an attractive option for small businesses and solopreneurs new to CRM. The unlimited contacts, pipelines, and custom fields at a single price point offer excellent value. However, the lack of advanced features like comprehensive pipeline views and built-in email capabilities might be limiting for growing businesses with more complex needs.

Its lack of AI automation features also puts it behind some competitors in terms of cutting-edge functionality. Less Annoying CRM is best suited for small teams or individual entrepreneurs who prioritize ease of use and affordability over advanced features. If you're looking for a basic, user-friendly CRM to get started with, this could be a good fit.

9. Freshsales

 Freshsales, part of the Freshworks suite, is an AI-enhanced CRM designed to streamline sales processes and boost team efficiency. At its core is Freddy AI, which acts as a tireless digital assistant that helps manage leads, automate follow-ups, and provide valuable insights that help reps close deals more effectively. Whether you're a startup looking to establish your sales processes or a growing mid-sized company aiming to scale your operations, Freshsales provides tools to meet your needs. For those already using other Freshworks products, Freshsales integrates seamlessly to create a cohesive ecosystem for your business operations. The platform offers a generous forever-free plan, which makes it accessible for small teams or those just starting out. When you're ready to scale, its paid plans offer excellent value.

Standout features 

• Territory management: This feature enables businesses to segment and prioritize prospects based on specific rules, which helps them identify key territories using built-in metrics and enables sales teams to optimize their coverage and focus resources on high-potential areas.

• IntelliAssign: This is an AI-powered tool that automatically routes conversations to the most appropriate customer expert or team based on factors like skill level and conversation limits to prevent burnout. This system ensures that customer inquiries are addressed by the most appropriate reps, which enhances response quality and efficiency.

• Deals insights: Freddy AI provides valuable insights based on historical sales data, engagement, and activities to enhance predictions related to deal closure and strategic decision-making.

• Weighted pipeline: This functionality enables users to assign probabilities across stages, track deal conversions, and forecast revenue, all of which enhances sales pipeline management and predictability.

• Activity goals: Improve team accountability by defining and tracking goals based on closed deals and revenue, with options for daily, weekly, or quarterly assessments. This feature motivates sales teams by setting clear, measurable objectives and provides managers with real-time visibility into individual and team performance.

 What users like about Freshsales 

• Users appreciate its powerful filtering capabilities and landing page, which enables precise lead segmentation according to specific workflow needs.

• The user experience is generally positive, with most users finding the system effective and easy to navigate.

• Freshsales excels in visualizing sales processes and enabling teams to create intuitive pipelines that streamline the path to closing deals efficiently.

• The robust free plan, which includes unlimited users and support, is particularly beneficial for high-functioning and fast-growing sales teams.

 What users dislike about Freshsales 

• Some users report frustration with the inability to sync email accounts according to a salesperson's territory, which limits customization options.

• The lack of a direct export option for views necessitates the manual re-creation of contact views as segments for exporting purposes, which users find time-consuming.

• Inconsistent customer support chat performance—with reported instances of conversations failing mid-session and a loss of chat history—has led to user dissatisfaction.

• Limited export functionality for contacts, including restrictions on the number of exports per day and filtering options, has been a pain point for some users.

• The task feature lacks a Kanban-style board for work tracking, which some users prefer for managing their workflows visually.

 Pricing for small teams and individuals 

• Growth: $9 per user per month

• Pro: $39 per user per month

• Enterprise: $59 per user per month

Our  take

Freshsales stands out with its AI-enhanced features and intuitive interface, which make it a strong contender for businesses looking to leverage artificial intelligence in their CRMs. The platform's strength lies in its ability to automate routine tasks, provide AI-driven insights, and potentially boost team efficiency. The generous free plan is a significant advantage for small teams or startups. However, some users might find the limited export functionality and occasional support issues frustrating.

Freshsales seems well-suited for small to medium-sized businesses that want a balance of powerful features and user-friendliness. Its integration with other Freshworks products could be a deciding factor for businesses already using or considering other tools in the Freshworks ecosystem. Overall, if you're looking for an AI-powered CRM with a strong free tier, Freshsales is worth exploring.

10. Apptivo 

 Apptivo stands out in the CRM market as a versatile, cloud-based solution. This on-demand CRM tool streamlines sales, marketing, and customer support processes in one platform. Apptivo caters to over 200,000 businesses of all sizes and offers a unified business system designed to drive growth. What sets Apptivo CRM apart is its combination of utility and user-friendliness. The platform provides a 360-degree customer view with easy-to-use collaboration tools. For businesses with field teams, Apptivo's mobile CRM enables on-the-go customer management and data-driven decision making. Plus, its custom CRM features allow for tailored experiences without requiring technical expertise. With Apptivo, users can expect streamlined processes, faster outcomes, and increased revenue potential.

Standout features 

• Leads management: Streamline your lead acquisition and nurturing process with Apptivo's robust lead management system. Benefit from automated round-robin assignment methods to distribute leads fairly, integrate seamlessly with Google Suite and Outlook 365, and leverage lead scoring to prioritize your most promising prospects.
• Contact management: Get a 360-degree view of your contacts with Apptivo's contact management system. Use its task management and email sequencing features to stay on top of follow-ups, as well as its Google Map integration to visualize your customer base geographically. Automation features for email and SMS communications keep your outreach consistent and timely.
• Opportunities: Transform leads into sales with Apptivo's opportunity management tools. Take advantage of workflow automation to streamline your sales process and gain insights from the intelligent sales dashboard. The system supports multiple sales cycles and adapts to your unique business needs.
• Quotes: Create professional quotes quickly with custom templates and an integrated item catalog. The e-signature feature accelerates deal closure, while single- and multi-rate tax options cater to diverse pricing structures. Approval workflows ensure oversight on all outgoing quotes.
• Invoices: Design personalized invoice templates, integrate with popular payment gateways, and sync with accounting software like Xero and QuickBooks. Apptivo even lets you set up recurring invoices and subscription billing for consistent cash flow management.

What users like about Apptivo 

• Users appreciate the high degree of customization that enables them to tailor nomenclature and module structure to their specific industry and workspace needs.

• Apptivo users have welcomed the availability of both web and mobile-based views, as it allows them to access and use the product easily while on-the-go.

• Customers consistently highlight Apptivo's exceptional customer service and note the support team's responsiveness and helpfulness in addressing complex issues.

• Users value the platform's ability to integrate with other tools, such as Google Forms, to streamline their workflows.

• Many users find Apptivo to be a cost-effective solution that works well for businesses of various sizes and types.

What users dislike about Apptivo 

• Some users feel the platform is too focused on software sales and lacks flexibility for more complex sales cycles or industries with unique needs.

• The lead-to-contact conversion process doesn't suit all business models, particularly those dealing more with opportunities from existing clients rather than individual leads.

• Users report that the connections between different data areas aren't always intuitive and require time to understand and set up properly.

• The sheer number of options and features can be overwhelming for new users and lead to a steeper initial learning curve.

• Some customers find limitations in adapting the system for custom services or products, such as learning and development programs.

• The relationship management aspect sometimes feels more company-centric than individual-centric, which doesn't align with all business models.

 Pricing 

• Lite - $15 per user per month (billed annually)

• Premium - $25 per user per month (billed annually)

• Ultimate - $40 per user per month (billed annually)

• Enterprise - You need to contact sales to get a quotation

Our take 

Apptivo stands out as a versatile and highly customizable CRM solution. Its strength lies in its ability to adapt to various business models and industries, which makes it a good fit for businesses with unique needs. The platform offers a comprehensive set of features, from lead management to invoicing, that serve as an all-in-one solution for many business processes. The mobile accessibility and integration capabilities are definite pluses.

However, the sheer number of options can be overwhelming for new users and lead to a steeper learning curve. Apptivo seems best-suited for small to medium-sized businesses that require a high degree of customization in their CRM. While it offers competitive pricing, some users might find the connections between different data areas less intuitive. Overall, if you're looking for a flexible CRM that can be tailored to your specific business processes and don't mind investing time in the setup, Apptivo could be a valuable addition to your toolkit.

Wrapping up

As we've seen, the CRM landscape offers a wealth of alternatives to Monday.com, each with its own strengths and unique features. When choosing a CRM for your business, it's crucial to consider factors like usability, customization options, integration capabilities, and scalability. Think about your team's specific needs, your budget, and your long-term business goals.

Remember: The right CRM can significantly boost your productivity and customer relationships. Take the time to evaluate your options, perhaps by utilizing free trials when available.

If you're a small business looking for a user-friendly, affordable CRM solution with powerful features, we recommend giving Bigin by Zoho CRM a try. With its intuitive interface, robust pipeline management, and seamless integration capabilities, Bigin offers an excellent starting point for businesses new to CRM, with a clear path for growth as your needs evolve.

See how Bigin compares with other Monday.com CRM alternatives

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