Top 10 Salesforce Alternatives for Small Business in 2023

You’re a savvy entrepreneur. You’ve heard of Salesforce – after all, who hasn’t? It’s a monolith, a behemoth in the world of CRM software. But does that mean it’s the best fit for your unique, blossoming small business? That’s the million-dollar question, isn’t it? You need a solution that’s efficient, affordable, and tailored to your business. A David among Goliaths, if you will.

My Promise

When you’ve finished soaking up the wisdom of from this article, I guarantee you’ll have a clear compass guiding your decision-making. No longer will you feel adrift in a sea of CRM options. Instead, you’ll confidently chart your course towards the software solution that’s just the right fit for your blooming business.

Understanding the Need for Salesforce Alternatives

At 19, I was fresh out of high school, wide-eyed, bursting with dreams, and eager to make my mark on the world. An opportunity came in the form of an internship at a local tech start-up, where my lifelong passion for technology and my aspirations of entrepreneurship could blend. Little did I know, this was going to be the start of an intense journey through the bewildering maze of Customer Relationship Management (CRM) systems.

The Turn

On my first day, the CEO dropped a bombshell – I was to help them choose a new CRM system from a pool of over a hundred. The reason for this was their Salesforce Classic turned out to be very outdated and they wanted to look at the Salesforce CRM alternatives, plus they needed to implement additional marketing tools.

The List

He handed me a list of Salesforce competitors – HubSpot, Pipedrive, Zoho, Freshworks, Bitrix24, Copper, and more. Each one boasted of unique features, competitive pricing, and irresistible offers. Some of them were free Salesforce Alternatives. It was a confluence of choices, each one sparkling brighter than the last. It was the vast symphony of options I had always yearned for.

One more thing…

Days turned into weeks as I plunged into the depths of each CRM system. I realized that every CRM had its strength. Microsoft Dynamics with its robust features, Zoho with its user-friendly interface, Freshworks with its compelling and marketing automation tools, and Pipedrive with its competitive pricing. The choice was complex, the symphony of CRM systems was indeed a bittersweet one. I began to understand the allure and the problem of multiple choices. Yet my eyes catched a few very interesting options I wouldn’t have discovered in other conditions.

Key Features to Consider in Salesforce Alternatives

Let’s go back to the beginning. I was just 19, eager to get my hands dirty in the exciting world of IT startups. I was keen and ready, but I also knew I needed some guidance. Thankfully, an experienced colleague was there to help. Before I even started looking into CRM systems, he gave me some valuable advice.

Simplicity is Key

The first point was about having an easy-to-use interface. I remember watching my colleagues struggling with their phones. It was clear they were having a hard time because they weren’t familiar with the software back in the day (not much have changed). I didn’t want our CRM system to be a hassle like that. Especially when it comes to data entry. I knew from the start that we needed a system that was simple and intuitive.

The Power of Personalization

The next tip was about customization. In a startup, different teams often have different needs. Our finance team, for instance, wanted the sales funnel, CRM and system to work in a particular way. So, we needed a system we could change to suit our needs. A CRM system that couldn’t be tailored to our specific needs wouldn’t work for us.

Smooth Integration is a Must

Ultimately, we were tasked with considering how the new CRM system, especially a Sales CRM, would merge with our existing infrastructure. Being an IT startup, we already had an array of applications and systems functioning cohesively. A CRM system, Salesforce or any of its alternatives, which failed to seamlessly integrate into this established structure, could potentially trigger operational hiccups. Hence, it was crucial to identify a premier Sales CRM solution that could effortlessly dovetail with our pre-existing systems, further enhancing our sales team’s efficiency and effectiveness.

Top 10 Salesforce Alternatives for Small Business

So what did I discover? Well, let’s have a closer look at each of them first.

HubSpot CRM

HubSpot CRM is a comprehensive CRM platform that integrates Marketing Hub, Sales Hub, Service Hub, and CMS, along with various available integrations, to optimize marketing, sales, and service processes. HubSpot offers a user-friendly product and a free plan that has unlimited users and supports an unlimited number of users, making it an attractive option for small businesses looking to manage their sales leads and contact data effectively.

The pricing plans available for HubSpot CRM include Starter, Professional, and Enterprise, catering to different business sizes and requirements. With its robust features and cost-effective pricing, HubSpot CRM is an excellent Salesforce alternative for small businesses. Technology wise excellent…

Zoho CRM

Zoho CRM is another suitable option for small businesses, offering cost-effective pricing plans and a comprehensive free plan. This CRM software provides various features such as lead and deal management, various customer interactions, case tracking, and campaign deployment, allowing small businesses to manage their sales teams and customer service effectively.

Zoho CRM offers a 30-day free trial for all paid plans, giving small businesses the opportunity to test the software before committing to a paid plan. The paid plans for Zoho CRM begin at $14 per month and extend up to $52 per month when paid on an annual basis, making it an affordable alternative to Salesforce.

Freshworks CRM

Freshworks CRM is an easy-to-use CRM software that provides built-in phone and email capabilities, AI-based lead scoring, a visual deal pipeline, intelligent workflow automation capabilities, and customizable visual reports and dashboards.

Freshworks CRM offers a free plan that supports an unlimited number of users user month, making it an ideal option for small businesses looking for a cost-effective CRM solution. The pricing plans available for Freshworks CRM are Growth, Pro, and Enterprise, with the Enterprise plan priced at $69 per user per month when billed annually.

With its competitive pricing and user-friendly interface, Freshworks CRM is an excellent alternative to Salesforce for small businesses.

Pipedrive

Pipedrive is a CRM software that focuses on providing essential features such as lead management, deal tracking, and customer engagement at a fraction of the cost of other alternatives to Salesforce. Pipedrive’s pricing plans are more economical than most alternatives to Salesforce’s, making it an attractive option for small businesses on a budget.

One of the standout features of Pipedrive is its AI Sales Assistant, which helps streamline sales processes and improve lead management. Pipedrive also offers a Smart Contact Data tool, with a starting price of $24.90 per user per month. This cost-effective CRM software is an excellent alternative for small businesses looking to boost their sales and customer engagement.

Insightly

Insightly is a comprehensive CRM software that enables businesses to coordinate their sales, marketing, and customer support activities from a single platform. Insightly offers workflow automation, tailored emails and phone calls, powerful call analytics capabilities, and mobile versions for both iOS and Android.

The pricing plans for Insightly start at $29 per month, and the Enterprise plan is $99 per month when paid annually. With its robust features and competitive pricing, Insightly is an excellent Salesforce alternative for small businesses looking to improve their sales and customer support processes.

SugarCRM

SugarCRM is a CRM software that enables businesses to manage their sales, marketing, and customer support activities efficiently. It offers powerful reporting tools for more accurate, sales forecasting and revenue forecasting, as well as give sales and customer service teams the capability to respond to customer tickets promptly, thereby creating better customer experiences.

The pricing plans for SugarCRM range from $40 to $150 per user per month. With its competitive pricing and robust features, SugarCRM is an excellent alternative for small businesses seeking a CRM software that offers a better return on investment.

NetHunt CRM

NetHunt CRM is a robust CRM solution that enables businesses to centralize their emails and contacts. This CRM software offers a comprehensive knowledge base and powerful productivity tools. It is a great alternative to Salesforce.

Various pricing plans are available for NetHunt CRM, accommodating diverse requirements. NetHunt CRM provides a solid foundation and marketing and sales automation and platform for small businesses looking to manage their customer relationships and streamline their marketing campaigns sales processes effectively.

Bitrix24 CRM

Bitrix24 CRM is an efficient, free alternative to Salesforce. It offers great performance that can help small businesses boost their growth. It provides easy contact management, visualization of the sales process, sales pipeline and management, team performance monitoring, and goal setting as its most remarkable features.

Bitrix24 provides a free plan that allows an unlimited number of users. It also includes ecommerce capabilities, and human resources management tools. With its range of features and free plan, Bitrix24 CRM is an excellent option for small businesses looking for an affordable and reliable CRM software.

Copper CRM

Copper CRM is an alternative to Salesforce that offers Google integrations, project management features, a marketing automation platform and a simplified interface for lead and deal management. Copper CRM’s seamless integration with popular Google tools makes it an attractive option for small businesses that rely heavily on the Google Workspace ecosystem.

Copper CRM offers superior usability for data and lead management compared to its Salesforce competitor. Its recognizable interface and feel to Google apps make it an excellent alternative for small businesses that want a CRM software that integrates seamlessly with their existing tools.

Comparing Pricing Plans of Salesforce Alternatives

When comparing pricing plans of the best Salesforce alternatives around, it’s important to evaluate the number of users, storage, integrations, customer support, and the different pricing plans available. By considering these factors, you can find the most cost-effective CRM software for your small business.

For example, HubSpot CRM offers a free plan that supports an unlimited number of users, while Zoho CRM provides a 30-day free trial for all paid plans. SugarCRM, on the other hand, offers pricing plans ranging from $40 per user month up to $150 per user per month. By comparing these pricing plans, you can find the ideal CRM software that fits your small business’s budget and requirements.

Ultimately, the cost-effectiveness of each Salesforce alternative depends on the features provided to ensure they meet your business needs. By evaluating the number of users, storage, integrations, customer support, and available pricing plans, you can find the perfect CRM software and best salesforce alternative that offers the best value for your small business.

Who’s the winner?

Indeed, I’ve often hinted at a particular “one thing” – a significant discovery that emerged from my painstaking research into CRM systems. It’s high time I lift the veil.

The enlightening truth is, there’s little to no technological gap between these systems. That’s right – be it Salesforce, HubSpot, Zoho, or any of the others, the technological distinctions are pretty minute. What you get in terms of features, the bells and whistles, they are pretty much on par. Surprised?

But don’t take this as a sign to just pick any CRM system and call it a day. Here’s the clincher – while the systems themselves may not be worlds apart, their respective ecosystems can be as different as night and day.

Training & Industry Experience

This, my fellow entrepreneurs, is where you need to focus your attention and your judgment. The ecosystem enveloping a CRM is a dynamic, expansive entity. It’s a thriving microcosm of training materials, case studies offering invaluable insights from other companies’ experiences, certified consultants, developers, and an abundance of ready-to-roll applications. These resources, while not strictly a part of the CRM, can enhance, extend and completely transform your CRM experience.

Integrations

Let’s not forget about integrations. A robust ecosystem usually harbors a host of system integrations that can amplify your CRM capabilities manifold. Having an open API and a large community building apps means it’s more likely the CRM will seamlessly integrate with the web forms and software you are already using.

Compare ecosystems

This ecosystem is what separates a decent CRM system from an exceptional one. But every ecosystem is unique, catering to different needs and niches. So, the pivotal question isn’t just about comparing CRM systems based on their features. It’s also about how well their ecosystem aligns with your specific needs, your industry, your business size, and your future growth plan.

This understanding completely shifted my perspective. Now, I see the futility in merely comparing CRM systems without taking their respective ecosystems into account. So, I urge you to do the same. Look beyond the system, and evaluate the ecosystem. It’s not just about what your own CRM tool can do today, but what it can do for you in the future with the help of its ecosystem.

Take this nugget of wisdom, and tread forth in your CRM journey. Look at the larger picture. Unearth the ecosystem that will not just serve your present, but also fuel your future.

Summary

In the end, it all comes down to your unique business needs and how well they align with the ecosystem of the CRM system you choose. Salesforce, with its mighty ecosystem, offers a comprehensive suite of business intelligence, tools and resources that are both robust and scalable for businesses of all sizes. But how do you navigate this expansive ecosystem? That’s where we come in.

As a Salesforce consultancy dedicated to small businesses, we understand the challenges you face. Our mission is to guide you, not just to a CRM system, but towards an ecosystem that supports your growth today and prepares you for the opportunities of tomorrow.

So, as you embark on this journey to find the perfect CRM system, don’t feel overwhelmed by the vastness of the Salesforce ecosystem or the multitude of other CRM platforms and choices. Instead, consider us your trusted guide, your interpreter to translate the complex world of the CRM industry into a clear roadmap tailored for your business.

Final word

Remember, the world of the CRM market is no longer about just technology; it’s about creating the right environment for your business to thrive. And this is precisely what our experts excel in – helping you find the best environment for your business.

We invite you to reach out to our team of seasoned Salesforce professionals. Allow us to lend our expertise to your decision-making process and help you make the most of Salesforce’s vast ecosystem. Your journey towards finding the perfect salesforce CRM, doesn’t have to be a solitary one. Let’s navigate the landscape of Salesforce together, turning complexity into simplicity, and ensuring that your choice is the best fit for your flourishing business.

Reach out to us today. Let’s make the most of your Salesforce journey together!

Cheers, J.