Top 8 Pipedrive Alternatives for 2024

Pipedrive is known for its user-friendly interface and efficient sales management features, and has been a go-to platform for many. However, factors like cost, feature set, and scalability can push businesses to explore alternatives to Pipedrive CRM. Let’s explore some alternatives in more detail.

What is Pipedrive CRM?

Pipedrive CRM is a tool designed to streamline the sales process. As one of the most popular CRM solutions, it allows sales teams to manage their pipelines, track deals, and analyze performance with an intuitive interface.

Key features

• Customisable sales pipelines: Tailor your sales stages to fit your process.
• Automated workflows: Reduce manual work by automating repetitive tasks.
• Comprehensive reporting and analytics: Gain insights into sales performance with detailed reports.
• Centralized communication hub: Manage all your communications from a single platform.
• Lead and deal management: Organize and track your sales leads and deals efficiently.
• Mobile app: Access your CRM on the go with a fully-featured mobile application.
• Pipedrive Marketplace: Connect a plethora of apps with Pipedrive for a complete solution.

Why seek alternatives to Pipedrive?

Pipedrive has earned its place for its accessible sales management system. But some businesses might need to explore alternatives for several reasons:

1. Customisation limitations

While Pipedrive offers customisation, it may not fully accommodate the unique requirements of all business processes, making it less flexible for those with specialized needs.

2. Reporting and analytics

Pipedrive's reporting and analytics capabilities, though powerful, may not provide the depth and granularity required by organizations that rely heavily on data-driven decisions.

3. Mobile app functionality

Pipedrive’s mobile application may lack some functionalities found in the desktop version, impacting efficiency outside the office.

4. Integration challenges

Integrating Pipedrive with other essential business tools can sometimes be problematic, leading to disjointed workflows and increased administrative work.

5. Scalability concerns

Growing businesses are likely to find Pipedrive’s features and capacity insufficient. Scaling up requires capable solutions – and Pipedrive may cause performance bottlenecks.

6. Customer service issues

Some users report delays or difficulties in obtaining the support needed to resolve issues promptly, affecting their overall user experience.

7. Billing and pricing

Unexpected billing practices and pricing structures can cause budgeting challenges, prompting businesses to seek more transparent pricing models.

8. Implementation hurdles

Setting up and customizing Pipedrive to fit specific business processes can be complex and time-consuming, especially for companies with an intricate sales cycle.

Top 8 alternatives to Pipedrive

There are hundreds of CRM tools on the market. Choosing the right one for your business can be challenging so, to simplify your search, we've curated a list of the top 8 alternatives to Pipedrive.

We focused on diverse needs ranging from scalability and customization to advanced analytics and integration capabilities.

1. Capsule CRM

Capsule CRM, a cloud-based customer relationship management platform, is designed for small and medium-sized businesses.

It offers features such as contact management, sales pipeline tracking, and task organization, which can be especially appealing for those looking for alternatives to Pipedrive due to its user-friendly interface and customisation capabilities. There's more to it than that, though!

Key features:

• Sales pipeline management: Offers a detailed view of sales opportunities, including pipeline stages and a visual tracking system.
• Task management: Integrates tasks and calendar for managing appointments and follow-ups, complemented by task reminders.
• AI content assistant: Automates and personalized email content, saving time while maintaining a high level of personalisation in communications.
• Automation tools: Equips businesses with tools to automate sales processes and communications.
• Contact management: Features a comprehensive system with search capabilities, profile enrichment, and easy import options.
• Email marketing tools: CapsuleCRM increases its CRM capabilities with Transpond for creating, sending, and analyzing email campaigns.
• Sales analytics: CapsuleCRM offers tools to track and analyze sales data, providing insights into business growth, conversion rates, and sales activities.

Pros of Capsule CRM:

• User-friendliness: Known for its straightforward interface that allows for quick adaptation and optimisation of an entire sales cycle.
• Great customisation: Offers extensive customisation to fit various workflows and needs. Your perfect workflow is just a few clicks away.
• Robust integration: Capable of integrating with numerous tools and platforms, facilitating seamless workflows.
• Excellent customer service: Provides responsive and helpful support. Users can maximize the platform's capabilities and resolve issues swiftly.
• Comprehensive reporting: Delivers in-depth analytics and customisable reporting options so that businesses can track performance and make data-driven decisions.
• Top-notch security: Features two-factor authentication, options to restore deleted records, GDPR compliance, and customisable user roles – all to protect business data integrity and comply with regulatory standards.
• Dedicated account manager: The Ultimate plan offers account management which can help utilize the platform to its maximum potential.

User reviews

Mark V. (Small Business): "We moved to Capsule CRM from Pipedrive when they dropped native Xero integration and have not looked back. We loved the simplicity of the setup and the interface is effortless to navigate. The Xero integration works seamlessly and we have true two-way availability of our financial information in the CRM. We also use Help Scout for support tickets and Capsule integration is very useful."

James B. (Small Business): "I am thoroughly impressed with this CRM! Easily integrated (like 5 minutes!) and using it with almost every transaction/action in the workplace. Its intuitive interface simplifies workflow, making managing contacts a breeze. They have a great pipeline set up that enables us to manage and organize sales stages. The standout feature, however, is the exceptional customer support."

Alison K. (Small Business): "Capsule CRM is an incredibly user-friendly and efficient solution for managing your business on a day-to-day basis. One of its greatest strengths is the ability to customize different sections according to your specific requirements. It is not only a cost-effective CRM, but it also exceeds expectations by seamlessly integrating with popular tools like Outlook, Xero, and other essential business software."

For more customer reviews visit G2.

Best for

• Small to medium-sized businesses (SMBs): Those seeking a CRM that combines ease of use with powerful functionality without the complexity or cost of larger systems.
• Startups: Relatively young companies needing to establish solid sales processes and customer management practices from the ground up.
• Sales teams: Sales professionals looking for detailed pipeline management and reporting tools to amplify their productivity and reach sales targets.
• Freelancers and consultants: Individuals who manage multiple clients and projects and need to keep track of communications, proposals, and follow-ups efficiently.
• Marketing teams: Marketers requiring seamless integration with email marketing tools like Mailchimp and automation capabilities to run campaigns effectively.
• Service providers: Businesses in service sectors (e.g., IT services, marketing agencies, consulting) that benefit from task management, project automation, and contact management features to deliver consistent customer experiences.

Pricing plans

You can try Capsule CRM for free with up to 2 users and 250 contacts. The Starter plan is just $18 per month which is quite inexpensive compared to other CRM solutions. The Professional plan includes even more features and it's also competitively priced. Check the pricing plans here.

2. Zoho CRM

Zoho CRM is a complex customer relationship management platform designed to assist businesses in managing sales, marketing, and customer support in a single system. Like Pipedrive, it's versatile, offering a wide range of features that are suitable for small to large businesses across various industries.

Key features

• Automating sales tasks
• Customizing CRM interfaces
• Streamlining sales funnel
• Orchestrating personalized customer journeys
• Providing unified communication across channels
• Offering advanced data analytics for insights
• Improving resource accessibility for sales enablement

Considerations and obstacles

• Data access and segmentation: Users face challenges with restricting access and effectively segmenting accounts or territories among sales reps, which might affect data privacy and management efficiency.
• Support responsiveness: The responsiveness of Zoho CRM's support team does not always meet user expectations, which may delay critical issues from being resolved.
• License flexibility: There's a noted lack of granularity in licensing, particularly concerning the allocation of templates and other features without upgrading to a more costly license tier.
• Rigid interface: Limited customisation and an outdated interface are concerns with Zoho CRM software, as some users express the need for more modern aesthetics and the ability to tailor the platform more closely to their preferences.
• Confusing pricing: Many users find Zoho CRM's pricing model to be complex, with feedback indicating difficulty understanding the various tiers and options.

Pricing plans

Zoho CRM offers various pricing plans tailored to different business needs, including a free version for up to three users. The paid plans include the Standard, Professional, Enterprise, and Ultimate editions, with prices ranging to accommodate the varying requirements of businesses of all sizes.

3. Salesforce

With Salesforce, you will find a comprehensive set of CRM functionalities that cover several aspects of your business, including sales, customer service, and marketing. They're especially suited for large organizations – as they have a steep learning curve and huge scalability potential.

Key features

• Opportunity and pipeline management
• Partner relationship management
• Desktop integration & email marketing
• Customer contract and order management
• Product and price list management
• Reporting and analytics
• Customer support
• Mobile & social
• Cloud services
• Marketing Cloud

Considerations and obstacles

• Steep learning curve: According to reviews, users find Salesforce complex and time-consuming to learn – highlighting the platform's extensive features and customisation options as challenging to get used to without prior experience.
• Setup and customisation difficulties: Setting up Salesforce to meet specific business needs and requirements is not straightforward, and this can make customisation tricky.
• Report generation: Some users report confusion and difficulty in generating the reports they need, making it difficult to pull relevant information.
• Complexity and intuitiveness: The platform's complexity and counterintuitive workflows can limit efficient use, especially for those new to Salesforce.

Pricing plans

Salesforce offers a "Starter" package tailored for small teams, focusing on sales, service, and email outreach. Priced at €25 per user per month (billed annually), it includes email marketing and analytics, out-of-the-box sales processes, and seamless customer service features.

4. HubSpot CRM

HubSpot is an all-in-one marketing, sales, and service platform that helps businesses attract visitors, convert and manage leads, and close deals. It offers a comprehensive suite of tools to enhance inbound marketing strategies and improve customer relations through automation, analytics, and personalized communication.

Key features

• Sales CRM
• Email marketing
• Lead management
• Marketing automation
• Reporting/analytics
• Sales pipeline management
• Contact management
• Appointment scheduling

Considerations and obstacles

• Cost: HubSpot's pricing can rise rapidly as businesses select more comprehensive package options. There are some setup costs for higher plans which might go up to several thousand dollars.
• Workflow setup difficulty: Users find setting up workflows somewhat challenging, with sales account planning and stakeholder mapping functionalities being particularly complicated.
• Onboarding and support issues: The onboarding process can be time-consuming, with support sometimes being slow to respond, especially frustrating during central setup stages.

Pricing plans

Since HubSpot is one of the most advanced marketing platforms on the market, it's reflected in its price. Their professional plan starts from €1062 per month, which is considerably more expensive than the competitors like Pipedrive and its other alternatives.

5. Freshsales

Freshsales is a dynamic CRM platform designed by Freshworks that provides businesses with a variety of tools for managing their entire sales process – from lead generation and tracking to closing deals. It offers automation, analytics, and communication features to help teams streamline their workflows and engage with customers effectively. Like Pipedrive and Capsule CRM, it's dedicated mainly to SMBs.

Key features

• Email integration
• Chat campaigns
• Phone (Holiday Routing)
• Workflows
• Sales sequences
• Multiple sales pipelines
• Contact scoring
• Sales forecasting
• Reports and dashboards

Considerations and obstacles

• Product bugs and feature limitations: Technical glitches and shallow features frustrate users, and reveal a gap in product depth and functionality.
• Integration challenges: Integrating Freshworks' products can be problematic, with systems often not communicating effectively.
• Limited free plan: The free version is seen as too restrictive for effective business operations. It doesn't include key features like basic workflow automation and custom fields.
• Customer service issues: Reports of unresponsive support, with difficulty resolving issues and lack of continuity in assistance.
• API and migration limitations: Users believe API development needs to be improved, and migration from platforms like HubSpot often comes as a challenge.

Pricing plans

Freshsales has a free plan which can include up to 3 users. Their Growth plan starts at $9 per month per user, billed annually. However, the starter plan doesn't have many important features like sales sequences or contact scoring. These are available in the Pro plan for $39/month.

6. Insightly

Insightly is widely recognised for its CRM and project management capabilities, particularly its ease of use, integration with a wide range of apps, and features that support managing customer relationships, sales, and projects from a single platform.

Key features

• CRM and project management
• Email tracking
• Lead routing
• Workflow automation
• Customisable reports and dashboards
• Mobile app
• Integration options
• Custom fields and filters

Considerations and obstacles

• API instability: API changes in Insightly can lead to integration errors that impact businesses relying on seamless data connectivity.
• User interface: Insightly's steep learning curve proved difficult for some, even with good customer support.
• Learning curve: The platform's cost structure poses a hurdle for small businesses, with essential features locked behind higher-tier plans.

Pricing plans

Insightly offers a free plan with up to two users and basic features. However, they also have a free trial where you can try out their paid plans. The Starter Plus plan is $29 per month per user.

7. Nimble

Nimble is a CRM designed to help solopreneurs and business teams efficiently organize contacts and find sales opportunities. It combines relationship management, sales, and marketing tools with powerful integrations like Microsoft 365 and Google Workspace.

Key features

• Relationship management
• Prospect marketing & outreach
• Sales, pipelines, & reporting
• Inbox, mobile, social CRM
• Workflows & automations
• Web forms
• Microsoft 365 integration
• Google Workspace integration
• Mobile app functionality

Considerations and obstacles

• Feature limitations and upselling: Long-awaited features like multiple pipelines, when introduced, required an unexpected subscription upgrade.
• Calendar reminder feature: Nimble's calendar reminders are somewhat challenging to set up (but once configured, work well!).
• Email campaign limitations: A batch of only 300 emails can be sent out at a time.
• UX issues and inconsistencies: Nimble may inaccurately log self-opened emails as read, which users should be aware of.

Pricing plans

The starter plan is $24.90 per seat/month, billed annually. This plan includes up to 25,000 contact records, 2 GB of storage per seat, and integration with Microsoft 365 & Google Workspace. It also features Nimble Prospector and offers a 14-day trial period for new users to explore its capabilities.

8. Salesmate

Key features

• Contact management
• Prospect marketing & outreach
• Sales pipelines & reporting
• Inbox, mobile, social CRM
• Workflows & automations
• Web forms
• Microsoft 365 integration
• Google Workspace integration
• Mobile CRM

Considerations and obstacles

• Learning curve & UX improvement: Users find Salesmate complex initially, and suggest that a better user experience could raise accessibility.
• Quirks and bugs: Minor issues and navigation challenges, like finding specific sections or managing integrations.
• Customer feedback appreciation: Salesmate's receptiveness to user feedback is highly valued.
• Integration & marketplace enhancements: Beyond current Zapier workarounds, the users would welcome a more robust marketplace and direct integrations.

Pricing plans

The starter plan is $23 per month per user. This plan includes fundamental sales features such as contact, company, and deal management, email synchronization, tracking, templates, multiple pipeline management, standard dashboards and reports, workflow automation, built-in calling and text, web forms, and a layout builder. A free trial option is available for those looking to explore the features before committing.

Key takeaways

1. Capsule CRM comes across as a standout alternative to Pipedrive, as it is appreciated for its user-friendliness and extensive customisation options.
2. Leveraging free trials offered by CRM platforms like Capsule CRM can help businesses assess which CRM tool best fits their needs before making a financial commitment.
3. Consider CRM solutions that offer various integration capabilities, scalability, and a responsive customer support team to make for a hassle-free transition and long-term usability.

Making the right CRM switch for your business

Even though Pipedrive is one of the best CRM solutions out there, it might not be the best fit for every company. Now that you know its challenges, considerations, and also possible alternatives, you can make an informed decision. Good luck!