5 Best CRM for Startups

So, you are in the market for a CRM that suits startups.

Ideal, because in this article we have our compilation list for our top picks, and we compare the features and pricing for you. 

If you just want the best choice, we’ve added that right at the top of the article as this was what is most requested by our customers. So, that’ll be the “can’t go wrong” option. 

Otherwise, feel free to explore all the options we’ve reviewed on the market to find something that might fit you a little better.

Enjoy the list!

What CRM would you recommend?

In short, It’s Monday.com CRM

It’s very well rounded, well priced, feature-rich with a large community of support and a very top-notch set of tutorials for every use case. You can’t go wrong with Monday.com. It’s the software we use with our clients at our ad agency.

“🚀Try Monday.com CRM For Free, It’s my favorite webinar software to use and recommend.” -Scott Max

Monday.com is a user-friendly CRM platform that provides advanced solutions with its robust marketing tools. It allows larger companies with complex workflows to perform efficiently and produce nifty results. Monday.com has you covered for your: Service, Sales, CMS, Operations, and Marketing needs.

For more details, read our Monday.com Review.

The best CRM specifically for startups

Startups have a low workforce and are usually looking for investment opportunities or entice customers towards their business, so the focus should be on picking a CRM that boost your marketing campaigns and ensures maximum engagement with clients rather than employee management. Have a look at the products below to choose the most suitable CRM for your Startup:

1. FreshSales

FreshSales currently has more than 10,000 satisfied customers with its refreshing interface, which offers – at a glance – everything needed on the customer flow. You will be able to have information about conversations with customers, agreements, tasks and scheduled appointments with them, as well as find out how they have interacted with the website and the product, among many other functions. In addition, it allows you to control potential customers to know when it is the key moment to impact them.

Get Started with FreshSales🔥

Freshsales Features

Freshsales provides a modern-day sale engagement solution to users that want to expand their business and maximize their marketing efforts. Managing leads takes up a lot of effort and hours of scouring through various sources, but Freshsales eases that with a smooth transition of Incoming leads onto the next phase.

Here are some dedicated features of Freshsales:

• Marketing Automation: Freshsales lets you set conditions to see desired customer leads and automate the marketing tasks for prompt communication. Moreover, you can create alerts for the sales team whenever there is progress in negotiations or; the clients respond positively to marketing activity. You can set up chatbots to deal with incoming inquiries and reach out to the client via Whatsapp, Gmail or other network sources with Marketing automation.
• Deals Management: Freshsales lets you manage and visualize the sales process to convert potential leads into permanent clients. You can prioritize leads that are most likely to come to fruition and analyze the conversion rate to forecast sales for similar deals in the future. 
• Workflow automation: Sales process involves many repetitive tasks that are essential to the working of the company. Workflow automation handles routine operations to reduce manual dependency and boosts sales efficiency by breaking complex processes into simple ones.
• Cloud Telephony: Calling is a vital part of the sales process: to update clients about the latest advancements and offers regarding new products. With Freshsales, users can get over 90 virtual phone numbers for employees: to connect with the customers over the computer. You can create notes and record a conversation to provide full context and reassign a task without any problem.
• Freddy AI: Freshsales identifies leads and organizes them to make sales tasks easier. You can set up instructions, and Freddy AI will cohere to them while processing client information. It provides you insight into the likelihood of closing the lead; so you know what the next step should be and approach the opportunity effortlessly.
• Product CPQ: You can maintain an updated product catalog on Freshscales to give clients and the sales team a reference about intrinsic features along with pricing details. Moreover, you can track individual unit sales and see which products are in demand and what audience you should target.

Freshsales Pricing

Freshsales has 4 pricing options available for businesses looking to expand their sales through CRM. The “Free” version provides basic management services free of cost. The “Growth” plan is a CRM tool with automation that can boost your sales and prevent respective tasks; It is priced at ₹999/user if billed annually. The “Pro” subscription will help you customize the tools to your liking and increase sales revenue; It costs ₹2799/user if billed annually. The “Enterprise” plan gives you the AI forecasting to know the shortcomings and modify the strategy accordingly; It is priced at ₹4999/user if billed annually.

2. Pipedrive 

The Pipedrive CRM tool is intuitive and easy to use, providing a wealth of data of interest and future forecast for your customers and their interactions. It is a tool very focused on the sales area, not so much on marketing, and has a paid subscription. Currently, some of your customers are Amazon, Skyscanner or Vimeo. We have tested it to make an educational video on Youtube and have raised a special offer for readers of Marketing4eCommerce 1 month free trial (usually 14 days) and 25% discount on the first purchase. You can take advantage of it at this link.

Get Started with Pipedrive🔥

Pipedrive Features

Pipedrive makes sales-related tasks easier by fetching leads 24/7 and emphasizes the right opportunity so you can convert it into a deal from the sales pipeline. Pipedrive has a flexible and user-friendly interface that simplifies the transition to the CRM tool for businesses, lessening the workload of the sales team.

Here are some features offered by Pipedrive:

• Lead Management: Pipedrive offers an unsophisticated sales pipeline with several functionalities that provide a fully visual sales experience to improve efficiency and close deals faster. Users can track opportunities through all stages of the sales funnel and customize the dashboard to move all leads at one place for smoother interaction and prioritization. Moreover, Pipedrive provides users with an AI-powered sales mentor for personalized insights.
• Communication Tracking: Pipedrive allows businesses to manage contacts and group them into “People” and “Organization” so the sales representative knows the clients’ role in the company and approaches them accordingly. Pipedrive provides a visual representation of call history and other modes of communication with the client giving a cutting edge to your business in negotiations. You can also make outbound phone calls within the Pipedrive and auto-link them with the relevant contacts.
• Sales Automation System: Pipedrive allows users to automate every sales process and take their business to the next level. You will be notified: at the earliest about any changes to the lead phases and account settings to prevent misuse of your CRM. Pipedrive’s Automation sends customized notifications to the clients at the right time to increase the chances of getting engagement and successfully closing a deal.
• Insights and Reports: You can create customizable fields for analytical reports regarding deals, leads, revenue, activities and add them to the dashboard for quick access. Pipedrive also offers employee management services to create goals for teams and individuals. It helps in evaluating the performances and assigning the tasks based on merit, which increases the chances of getting a positive outcome for every sales opportunity.
• Privacy and Security: Pipedrive offers a dedicated security dashboard to give users complete control and transparency over user permissions and privacy settings. You can see how many users are logged in to the Pipedrive account and prevent mischievous entities from getting hold of your data. Moreover, you can see how recently the password has been altered, devices using your account and whether there has been any attempt to change the admin settings.

Pipedrive Pricing

Pipedrive has 4 pricing options for users to choose between depending on their requirements.

The “Essential” plan is priced at $15/month, giving users access to pipeline management, customer support, and data importation.

The “Advanced” plan is priced at $29/month, providing all features of “Essential” plus email scheduling, click tracking, and workflow creation.

The “Professional” plan is priced at $59/month, providing all features of “Advanced” plus call tracking, document creation, and revenue forecasting.

The “Enterprise” plan is priced at $119/month and gives access to all features of Pipedrive.

You can get add-ons to get the most out of the Pipedrive CRM subscription.

LeadBooster add-on starts at $32.5/month upon annual billing and helps large businesses to engage with leads more frequently.

Web Visitors add-on starts at $41/month upon annual billing and helps you recognize how your clients found out about services that can improve your marketing strategy.

3. Zoho CRM

Zoho CRM is a tool quite similar to Salesforce, integrated by different tools and functionalities that you can use according to the needs of your company. It has a number of free options and paid PRO versions, which you can evaluate according to your needs. One of its great advantages is that it can be integrated with a multitude of other tools that are not necessarily complementary to its use.

Get Started with ZohoCRM🔥

Zoho CRM Features

Zoho CRM is a robust software that fulfils all your business requirements, from closing the deal and managing company data to collaborating with your colleagues. It provides CRM solutions according to the niche and size of your organization for an ideal sales experience which makes it one of the most coveted CRM tools in the market. Zoho CRM thrives in solving unique business scenarios with a quick turnout time and produces compelling results.

Here’s a wide range of features offered by Zoho CRM:

• Canvas design studio: Every business has different requirements, so it’s weird why you should not be able to personalize your software experience. Zoho CRM allows users to makeover their homepage, tabs and menu bar with Canvas design studio. You can add aesthetic background to your CRM software and work efficiently by placing the frequently accessed; tabs on your homepage.
• Journey orchestration: Zoho CRM allows users; to create flowcharts that will determine the next step in the customer journey depending upon the response. Zoho Command Centre provides a unique interactive experience to potential clients and existing customers by analyzing the customer’s intentions.
• Omnichannel: Zoho CRM integrates all of your communications sources in one platform and smoothens proceedings with incoming leads. Moreover, you can hold web conferencing, set up service portals and live chat, collaborate with colleagues, and get real-time updates within the Omnichannel.
• Sales Enablement: Zoho CRM provides surfeit options for sales tools and lets you conduct every sales-related activity with comfort. It increases visibility into the client interactions and empowers your business portal by constantly adhering to the pre-entered commands. You can prioritize specific leads, get alerts regarding opportunities and build up a document library to assist the sales rep in negotiations.
• Performance management: Zoho CRM allows you to set targets for your employees to provide added motivation and track their performance with the SPM tool. You can also classify clients according to region, budget, and services required. Moreover, it lets you deal with multiple currencies and see exchange rates that can bolster your business.
• Developer platform: Zoho CRM’s developer platform helps you make custom solutions; for your business needs without much coding. You can integrate and unify your data from various applications, create automation, and run deluge codes to configure the CRM. It’s a perfect platform to help your developers get familiar with CRM services and build exciting products.

Zoho CRM Pricing

Zoho CRM offers subscription plans for every business, whether small, medium, or large.

The ” Standard” plan is priced: at ₹1300/month/user. It offers custom dashboards, multiple pipelines, and 1 canvas design creation.

The “Professional” plan is priced: at ₹2100/month/user. It offers SalesSignals, validation rules, and inventory management.

The “Enterprise” plan is priced: at ₹3000/month/user. It offers CommandCenter, a Multi-user portal, and advanced customization.

The “Ultimate” plan is priced: at ₹3200/month/user. It offers Enhanced feature limits, Zoho Analytics, and 25 customizable canvas designs.

Small businesses can opt for “Bigin” by Zoho, priced at ₹550/month/user.

There’s also a free edition of Zoho CRM which offers essential management tools.

4. SumaCRM

SumaCRM allows you to visualise at a click of a button complete user files of all the company’s contacts at the same point, with information on conversations, calls, negotiations, etc… It is a perfect tool for those companies whose activity consists of providing services, as the CRM allows you to save, in a simple way, information on negotiations and the management of pending activities. In addition, it has a free 30-day demo despite the fact that it is subsequently paid for.

Get Started with SunaCRM🔥

SumaCRM Features

SumaCRM is a Madrid-based CRM service that was launched: in 2015. It gathers all of your client information in one place where you can access the entire team detail. SumaCRM avoids time wastage by automatically arranging emails and lead sources for your business while collecting every piece of information from integrated sources. It solves the problems related to the lack of internal communication in the company and makes sure that everyone is in touch with the ongoing operations.

Here are some features offered by SumaCRM that make it a perfect match for your CRM requirements:

• GDPR compliance: It is mandatory for every company in the EU to abide by the GDPR rules and disclose how the customer data is being stored, used, and shared. SumaCRM anonymizes your data to prevent it from being exploited by malicious entities. It ensures that the client data stored inside the system has a finite lifespan and stops the distribution if the client has been inactive for three years.
• Efficy integration: SumaCRM was recently acquired; by Efficy, one of the most efficient CRM service providers. It has made SumaCRM amenable to SaaS mode and On-Premise hosting. Users can decide which one to choose; based on their company’s infrastructure and data restoration requirements while being in complete control of assets.
• Calendar Synchronization: SumaCRM allows users to optimally manage time by creating tasks and making deadlines or pivotal events in the in-built calendar. You can set alerts and avoid missing out on promising business opportunities. Moreover, the administrator can create polls to determine the best time for a meeting by consulting all relevant members within the SumaCRM.
• Management of areas of Interest: SumaCRM can ease the tasks of your marketing department by categorizing the client database with domains of interest and providing a personalized communication experience. Your clients can choose which notifications they want to receive with an extranet account, or your marketing department can add areas of interest to the customer’s profile.
• Multi-Cargo Management: SumaCRM avoids sending a package to the same client holding positions in different organizations. It is done by identifying similar responses and eliminating the recurring contacts so that it is only counted once. Imagine a potential client fills up a web form multiple times by mistake; SumaCRM will bracket such instances and ensure that only the initial response is taken into context.

SumaCRM Pricing

SumaCRM offers 4 pricing options:

The “Starter” plan is priced at €20/month/user upon annual billing and offers simple email marketing along with task scheduling.

The “SMB” plan is priced at €40/month/user upon annual billing and offers high configuration ability, marketing campaign management alongside customer segmentation.

The “Enterprise” plan is priced at €60/month/user upon annual billing and offers Extranet integration, advanced tracking tools alongside gamification.

The “Corporate” plan is priced at €80/month/user upon annual billing and offers BPM automation, multi-channel marketing alongside form creation tools.

5. CRM base

Base CRM is a CRM that puts at our disposal all kinds of functionalities that allow us to operate in an easy and simple way in our day to day. All its functions can be configured to achieve automation and simplicity in the most routine tasks, such as automatic call records. In addition, it is a tool that has a high frequency of updates and improvements.

Get Started with CRMbase🔥

CRMBase Features

CRMBase is a splendid platform for new users to get acquainted with CRM software. It also provides CRM consultancy services for start-ups looking; to boost their sales by providing marketing strategies and high-powered solutions. CRMBase is a user-friendly platform and offers discrete features to businesses and individuals looking for a career option in the CRM sector.

CRMBase for career options: CRM software is used- by businesses worldwide to gain more clients and organize the workflow efficiently. It has unlocked several career opportunities in the sales and marketing sector, which has led to a surge of individuals looking to explore how CRM works. Here’s how CRMBase can help you to make a career in sales and marketing:

• Bootcamp: It contains relevant courses which can be very beneficial to understand CRM software. You can learn Salesforce online through a 12 weeks course with no coding knowledge. CRMBase constantly adds new content according to the latest requirements in the CRM category.
• Community Forums: Here, you can connect with professionals and ask queries regarding CRM tools. You also get access to several CRM related topics and learn to unlock the true potential of CRM software.
• Learning Paths: CRMBase makes learning fun and easy by giving hands-on experience along with the study material. You can track your progress through Learning paths and earn badges that are highlighted: in your Profile. 
• Short Courses: You can get a crash course under the supervision of instructors and earn certifications by passing the exam. It’ll increase your profile level and soar the chances of getting employed through CRMBase.

CRMBase for Start-ups: CRMBase can help corporate organizations with the recruitment process and manage CRM related activities such as lead generation and AI tools initiation. Here are the specialized features exclusively for new businesses:

• Corporate Training: CRMBase provides customized CRM educational programs as per your company’s requirements. It’s a great tool to condition new employees virtually and promote CRM adoption across your organization.
• CRM Consultancy: CRMBase can help start-ups manage the leads and marketing across various CRM platforms by providing skilled professionals who are well-versed with the CRM work. It can vastly improve your company’s ROI through CRM implementation.
• Progress Tracking: You can check your employee’s progression on the CRMBase and assign tasks accordingly. CRMBase continuously updates the profiles based on the evolvement and boosts productivity.

CRMBase Pricing

CRMBase has different payment plans for businesses and individuals looking to make a career in CRM. 

Learners residing in the US can opt for a “Deferred Tuition agreement” and pay a fixed amount once they bag a $40k/year job through CRMBase or go for the “Upfront Tuition or Instalments” and pay $12k to cover Bootcamp costs.

Businesses looking for consultancy services can choose between the “Starter” plan, which costs $2000 per month, the “Optimize” plan priced at $4000 per month and the “Enterprise” plan, where you can get customized services. The “Enterprise” plan’s cost depends upon your company’s CRM service requirements.

Importance of CRM for Startups

In the fast-paced world of startups, establishing strong client relationships and managing interactions effectively is crucial for growth. A Customer Relationship Management (CRM) system serves as the backbone of this process, bringing numerous benefits that are especially vital for startups. Here are some key reasons why CRM is indispensable for emerging businesses:

1. Centralized Customer Data

Startups often juggle multiple roles, making it essential to have a central repository for customer information. A CRM consolidates all client interactions, purchase history, and preferences in one place. This centralized data streamlines communication and makes it easier for your team to access critical information, ensuring that no lead or client falls through the cracks.

2. Enhanced Sales Efficiency

With limited resources, startups need to make every sales opportunity count. CRM software helps automate daily sales activities, such as follow-ups, reminders, and appointment scheduling. These automated processes save time, allowing sales teams to focus on building relationships and closing deals rather than getting bogged down by administrative tasks.

3. Improved Customer Retention

Acquiring new customers can be significantly more expensive than retaining existing ones. A CRM helps foster long-term relationships with clients by enabling businesses to track interactions and preferences

Key Features of Startup CRM Solutions

When choosing a Customer Relationship Management (CRM) solution, startups should prioritize features that address their unique challenges and enhance their operational efficiency. Here are the essential features that every startup CRM should offer:

1. Sales Pipeline Management

A robust sales pipeline is crucial for tracking opportunities from initial contact to closing the deal. Startup CRMs should allow users to customize their pipelines according to their specific sales processes. This feature enables teams to visualize their sales stages, prioritize leads, and allocate resources effectively.

2. Customer Interaction Tracking

Understanding customer interactions is vital for building strong relationships. A good startup CRM should provide comprehensive tracking of all communications with customers, including emails, calls, and meetings. This feature helps ensure that no lead falls through the cracks and enables personalized follow-ups.

3. Lead Management and Automation

Startups often juggle multiple leads simultaneously. A CRM that automates lead routing to the appropriate team members can significantly enhance productivity. Additionally, automation tools for follow-up reminders and lead nurturing campaigns can save time and streamline the sales process.

4. Integrated Marketing Tools

Marketing automation capabilities are essential for startups looking to accelerate growth. A startup CRM should include tools for creating and managing email campaigns, social media integration, and lead scoring. These features enable startups to target their marketing efforts effectively and engage potential customers at various stages of the buyer journey.

5. Reporting and Analytics

Data-driven decision-making is critical for startups aiming to scale. A CRM should provide customizable dashboards and reports that track key performance indicators (KPIs), sales activities, and customer interactions. This insight enables startups to measure their performance, understand market trends, and adapt their strategies accordingly.

6. Mobile Accessibility

As many startups operate with remote teams, having a mobile-friendly CRM is essential. A great startup CRM should offer mobile applications that allow team members to access customer data, update opportunities, and manage tasks while on the go. This feature increases flexibility and ensures that teams remain productive, regardless of their location.

7. User-Friendly Interface

Startups often have limited resources and need to onboard team members quickly. A user-friendly interface that requires minimal training can facilitate faster adoption across teams. Look for CRMs that emphasize intuitive design and offer seamless data import functionalities to make transitioning from spreadsheets or other systems easier.

8. Collaboration Tools

A startup CRM should foster collaboration among team members, regardless of their roles. Features such as shared dashboards, notes, and task assignments can help keep everyone aligned and informed about customer interactions and project statuses. This connectivity promotes a stronger team dynamic and ensures that everyone works towards common goals.

9. Flexible Scalability

As startups grow, their needs will evolve. A CRM solution should be flexible and scalable, allowing businesses to customize features, integrate with other applications, and upgrade capabilities as required. This adaptability ensures that the CRM remains a valuable asset throughout the startup’s lifecycle.

Why use a CRM at all?

CRM tools gather all incoming leads from several sources and arrange them meticulously to help businesses convert prospects into sales. Moreover, you can automate operations to process the data quickly and get insights into your sales and marketing ventures which can help you overcome the shortcomings.

With a CRM, you can track the progress of each opportunity individually and provide top-quality customer support to build up clients’ trust in your services. It allows you to be flexible with the creative strategies and even suggests potential target areas for your business so you can allocate your funds in the right direction.

Why should you use a CRM with startups?

Startups are not established business entities, meaning they have to work their way up and become relevant among the masses.

No matter how brilliant and exceptional your services are, you still have to put your name out in the market to make yourself known to the clients.

A CRM can help with that by letting you develop quirky campaigns and sourcing leads all within a single platform. It reduces the workload of your sales team and ensures that they are ready to perform the task that they are actually meant to do, i.e. making the sales pitch.

You can automate a CRM to separate the investor leads from sales inquiries saving hours of scouring through call logs, social media accounts and emails. Moreover, it constantly monitors the interactions and negotiations to assist your sales representatives in future.

As a Startup, it is necessary to stay in touch with the clients and notify them regarding offers or new products.

With a CRM, you can create templates and send personalized emails or messages to everyone by automating the tasks: so the work will actually be done by your CRM, and you’ll just have to enter some instructions.

Moreover, A CRM also transforms the way you deal with customer complaints. It allows you to access every ticket and see who is working on the issue.

You can escalate a case or reassign it to a more suitable customer representative for a quick resolution: and satisfy the client with quality servicing.

With a CRM, you’re sure to be, updated regularly regarding your business relations and see how effective your services are by getting regular analytical reports on several attributes.

You can identify your target audience and surpass your limits to achieve stability.

CRM for Startups, A Summary

A CRM will help you attract new clients and investment opportunities; by letting you know which lead to prioritize. As a Startup, you can’t afford to waste resources chasing an irreparable relation, and a CRM will make sure you’re always pursuing the right option.

Freshsales offers a budgeted solution to satisfy your requirements as a Startup and provides all necessary tools to turn prospects into sales. It offers scalable solutions: so you can easily adjust to the rise in demand which makes it our suggested pick for startups. Visit the website now to get started and grow your Startup immensely.