The 10 best CRM for small business in 2025

Looking for the best CRM for your small business? Here’s a quick breakdown of the top 10 options in 2025, tailored to help you manage customer relationships, automate tasks, and boost sales:

• HubSpot CRM: Free plan available; great for scalability and marketing automation.
• Zoho CRM: Budget-friendly with AI tools and deep customization options.
• Salesforce Essentials: Enterprise-level features for small teams at $25/user/month.
• Pipedrive: Visual sales pipeline and AI insights, starting at $14/user/month.
• Freshsales: AI-powered lead scoring and built-in phone system, with a free plan for up to 3 users.
• Insightly: Combines CRM and project management, starting at $29/user/month.
• Nimble: Social media integration and contact management for $24.90/user/month.
• Less Annoying CRM: Simple, flat-rate pricing at $15/user/month.
• Agile CRM: All-in-one sales, marketing, and service automation, with a free plan for up to 10 users.
• Capsule CRM: Easy-to-use CRM with integrations, starting at $18/user/month.

Quick Comparison Table

Each CRM offers unique features and pricing to fit various business needs. Start with a free trial or plan to find the one that works best for your team.

Top 5 BEST CRM For Small Business – Best Picks Reviewed

1. HubSpot CRM

HubSpot CRM offers a range of easy-to-use tools designed with small businesses in mind. It’s a great option for companies looking to manage customer relationships effectively without added complexity.

Pricing Options

HubSpot provides plans that cater to growing businesses, offering flexibility as your needs expand:

This range of pricing options ensures businesses can start small and upgrade as they grow.

Core Features

Here’s what makes HubSpot CRM a solid choice:

• Contact Management: Create detailed profiles, organize customer data, and segment audiences effectively.
• Sales Pipeline: Track deals visually, monitor progress, and keep your sales process organized.
• Marketing Automation: Run email campaigns, manage social media, and nurture leads with ease.

Integration Capabilities

HubSpot CRM works seamlessly with tools you likely already use, such as Google Analytics, email services, social media platforms, and SEO tools.

Performance Benefits

With these features, HubSpot CRM helps businesses:

• Simplify sales workflows
• Generate and manage leads more effectively
• Make better decisions using data
• Automate repetitive customer service tasks

For those just starting out, the free plan is a great way to explore the essential tools without spending a dime. As your business grows, HubSpot CRM can scale alongside you, offering more advanced features to meet your needs.

2. Zoho CRM

Zoho CRM is a budget-friendly option packed with useful features for small businesses in 2025.

Pricing Structure

Zoho offers a range of pricing plans to suit different needs:

For very small businesses, Zoho also provides Bigin, a simplified CRM, starting at $7/user/month.

Integration Ecosystem

Zoho CRM connects seamlessly with popular platforms like Google Workspace, Microsoft 365, RingCentral, Twilio, QuickBooks, and MailChimp.

"Zoho CRM has all the features of the big companies for a great price. The integrations are next-level with the great support they offer. It is a great alternative to the big company solutions." – Chris Hurst, MID Communications Ltd

AI-Powered Features

The platform leverages AI to handle repetitive tasks, predict sales trends, and spot potential leads. These insights work hand-in-hand with its flexible tools.

Customization Options

While customization might take some time to master, it’s a strong asset for businesses looking to scale. Users can adjust:

• Sales pipelines
• Workflow automation
• Custom fields and modules
• Reports and dashboards
• Email templates

Zoho CRM earns a 4.6/5 rating on G2 . Its Professional plan, priced at $23/user/month, competes directly with similar offerings from HubSpot and Salesforce .

3. Salesforce Essentials

Salesforce Essentials brings the power of enterprise-level CRM to small teams at a budget-friendly price. With over 18% of the CRM market share , Salesforce has tailored its platform to meet the needs of smaller businesses without compromising on quality.

Pricing and Value

Salesforce Essentials is priced at $25 per user/month (annual plan) or $35 per user/month (monthly plan) for up to 10 users. It includes both Sales Cloud Essentials and Service Cloud Essentials, offering a comprehensive set of tools at a competitive price.

Core Features

Real Results

A survey shows that 58% of users see a return on their investment within the first year .

"We have visibility into our deals now and our pipeline is tight. That has been a huge change of pace for our sales team. This small investment has really opened up what’s possible for us with CRM."
– David Perrett, VP, Direct Mail Technology, Sandy Alexander

Learning Resources

Getting started is made easier with Trailhead, Salesforce’s free online learning platform . This resource simplifies onboarding and helps teams make the most of the platform.

Limitations

While Salesforce Essentials is packed with features, there are a few drawbacks to consider:

• No built-in tools for billing or price quoting
• Limited options for analytics and forecasting
• Basic workflows and restricted roles/permissions

Expert Opinion

"Salesforce Essentials offers small businesses affordable access to one of the largest and most powerful CRMs on the market."
– Max Freedman, Senior Analyst

For businesses anticipating growth, Salesforce Professional, priced at $75 per user/month, adds advanced features. However, Salesforce Essentials is a solid choice for most small business needs.

4. Pipedrive

Pipedrive is a web-based CRM designed to simplify sales pipeline management. Trusted by over 100,000 customers in 179 countries , it’s a go-to solution for small businesses aiming to streamline their sales efforts.

Pricing and Plans

Each plan comes with a 14-day free trial .

Core Features

Pipedrive stands out with tools that focus on visualizing and improving sales processes:

• Visual Sales Pipeline: Fully customizable stages tailored to your workflow.
• Contact Tracking: Helps you manage and track progress with potential clients.
• AI-Powered Insights: Offers data-based recommendations to improve sales outcomes.
• Mobile Access: Full functionality on your smartphone or tablet.
• Security: Provides enterprise-grade protection for your data.

Integration Capabilities

Pipedrive’s Marketplace includes over 500 integrations , connecting with widely-used tools to improve productivity:

• Productivity: Google Apps, Slack, Asana
• Finance: QuickBooks
• Project Management: Trello
• Marketing: Mailchimp
• Custom Solutions: Open API for tailored integrations

These integrations make it easy to connect Pipedrive with your existing tools, boosting overall efficiency.

Real-World Impact

"Pipedrive has an easy-to-use interface at a cost we could afford." – Oliver Lee, Sales Director, CreativeRace

Small business users particularly value Pipedrive’s practical features:

"The workflow is perfect for our event management business, recording all booking information and giving reminder alerts. Being able to email clients via the app is great too." – Graeme Smith, Area Manager, Wedding Jam

Limitations

While Pipedrive is excellent for sales-focused teams, there are a few drawbacks to consider:

• Limited marketing tools (though the 2022 Campaigns add-on has improved this) .
• Additional costs for features like LeadBooster and Smart Docs.
• Lacks robust customer service tools compared to all-in-one CRMs .

Expert Opinion

"Pipedrive has clarified our sales process and proved indispensable. My favorite features are the reports and activity notifications. Pipedrive ensures no rock goes unturned." – Garrett Winder, Managing Partner, Good Work

5. Freshsales

Freshsales is a CRM solution trusted by over 72,000 businesses worldwide . It’s designed to help small businesses streamline their sales process with ease.

With its mix of AI-powered tools and practical features, Freshsales delivers a solution that supports growing teams and simplifies sales workflows.

Pricing and Plans

All prices are based on annual billing .

Core Features

Freshsales uses Freddy AI to power several key tools:

• Smart Lead Scoring: Automatically identifies and prioritizes high-value leads.
• Intelligent Workflow: Automates repetitive tasks, saving time and effort.
• AI-Powered Communication: Offers email drafting assistance and response suggestions.
• Built-in Phone: Provides access to local phone numbers in over 90 countries .

Real Business Impact

Here’s what users have to say about their experience with Freshsales:

"Over the last year, we’ve acquired 10X more customers and are rapidly scaling. Through this busy phase, the time spent on administrative tasks by teams dropped by 20%."
– Alexandra, CRM Operations Manager, Humn

"Reducing our no-show rate was important to have higher utilization of our sales team. With Freshsales, we brought it down to about 20%, and time is money."
– Mike Hopkins, Senior VP, Sales and Service, Blue Nile

Integration Capabilities

Freshsales integrates seamlessly with tools like MailChimp, Google Apps, Freshdesk, and Zapier, making it easier to connect with your existing tech stack .

Performance Metrics

• User Rating: 4.7/5 stars from 201 reviews
• Small Business Feedback: 166 positive reviews from small business users
• Platform Confidence: 97% user confidence, well above the category average

These numbers highlight Freshsales’ strong performance, though there are a few areas where it could improve.

Limitations

While Freshsales is packed with features, there are a few drawbacks:

• The free plan is limited to three users.
• Advanced features are only available in higher-tier plans.
• Configure, Price, Quote (CPQ) functionality costs an extra $19 per user/month .

Expert Opinion

"We were able to gather intent data from email engagement and profile our audience and market to niches better. In a nutshell, the CRM became integral to our organization, rather than a supporting force."
– Arun Rajamani, Head – Digital Sales, Sify

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6. Insightly

Insightly brings together CRM and project management tools to help small businesses manage their operations more efficiently.

Pricing Structure

Prices are based on annual billing

Core Capabilities

Insightly stands out by converting closed-won opportunities into projects, ensuring smooth handoffs between teams . Key features include:

• Custom Fields: Adjust the CRM to fit your unique business needs.
• Mass Email Campaigns: Simplify and scale customer outreach.
• Drag-and-Drop Tools: Make managing workflows straightforward.
• Advanced Segmentation: Target customers more effectively.

Integration Strengths

Insightly works exceptionally well with Google Workspace, Microsoft Office, and a variety of third-party apps. These integrations create a central hub for operations, making it especially useful for small businesses .

Real Business Impact

"By leveraging Insightly, we were able to shave 50% off our timelines. Insightly allows us to seamlessly push data to each project directly, which empowers us to move onto the next step in our process instantly."
– Joanna Falcone, VP Systems and Process Development

"We use projects to manage complex client reporting on campaign performance and audience insights. Insightly’s flexibility and functionality has empowered our teams to double the number of projects we deliver weekly."
– Maud Levasseur, Director, Platform Operations, Adsquare

Best Suited For

Insightly works well for teams of 10–50, particularly in professional services, manufacturing, and technology. It’s a great fit for businesses that need reliable project tracking.

Limitations

While Insightly offers a lot, there are some additional costs to consider:

• Marketing tools are sold separately.
• AppConnect setup comes with a $3,000 fee.
• Premier support requires 20% of the license cost, with a $3,000 annual minimum.

7. Nimble

Nimble combines social media insights with contact management to help businesses build stronger relationships.

Pricing Structure

Web forms are available for $12/month per team after a 30-day trial .

Core Features

Nimble enriches contact profiles automatically by pulling in social media and business data. Its browser extension lets you manage contacts directly from your browser, making lead generation and relationship management effortless.

• Automatically adds social and business data to contacts
• Group messaging with tracking for engagement
• Tools for managing tasks and projects
• Prebuilt workflows and templates
• Customizable reports for performance tracking

Integrations

Nimble connects with over 140 business apps , offering seamless integration with Microsoft 365 and Google Workspace. Key benefits include:

• Automatic syncing of emails, contacts, and calendars
• Direct access to CRM data from your inbox
• Relationship management via social media platforms
• Smoother workflows across multiple tools

User Success Stories

"Nimble has generated a couple of thousands of dollars worth of work in the first two weeks of using it simply by reminding me and prompting me to engagement opportunities."
– Marc Scott, CEO & Founder at VOpreneur

"We now have a 100% deliverability rate and an 85% open rate thanks to tracking our group messaging metrics and adjusting based on feedback."
– Sandra Karamitelios, Director at Recruitment Central

Industry Recognition

In 2024, Nimble received several awards:

• G2 Leader in Spring 2024
• Capterra Shortlist for CRM, Lead Management, and Contact Management
• Software Reviews Champion in CRM Software
• GetApp Category Leader in Contact Management
  (Source: )

Best For

Nimble is a great fit for small businesses that:

• Want strong social media integration
• Benefit from automated data updates
• Use Microsoft 365 or Google Workspace
• Prefer a simple setup and easy-to-use interface

Things to Keep in Mind

• The base plan includes only 2GB of storage per seat
• Expanding contact lists comes with extra fees
• Web forms require a separate subscription

Up next, discover another solution tailored for small business customer management needs.

8. Less Annoying CRM

Less Annoying CRM (LACRM) keeps things simple for managing customer relationships. Named the top CRM for small businesses by U.S. News & World Report from 2020 to 2023 , it’s built for companies that want a no-frills, easy-to-use tool.

Pricing Structure

Core Features

LACRM delivers the basics to help small businesses stay organized. With a 4.9/5 rating on G2 , users praise its user-friendly design and fast setup. Here’s what you get:

• Contact and lead management
• Task tracking with reminders
• Calendar integration
• Custom pipeline creation
• Email integration
• Basic reporting tools

These features are designed to simplify daily operations and improve efficiency.

Business Impact

LACRM’s value speaks through user experiences and data. Attorney Evan Simpson from the Law Office of Evan Simpson shares:

"For the cost, LACRM is the best investment in software that I have made."

This aligns with industry stats showing that 61% of small and medium-sized businesses see better retention rates after implementing a CRM solution .

Unique Approach

Unlike many competitors, LACRM is self-funded and averages 2.5 users per account. This allows the company to focus entirely on customer needs instead of catering to investor demands .

Expert Support

LACRM’s customer service stands out, offering direct access to experienced CRM coaches who provide immediate, knowledgeable assistance.

Limitations to Consider

• No mobile app
• Lacks advanced features for larger or more complex businesses
• No 24/7 support

Best For

LACRM works best for:

• Small businesses looking for simplicity
• Teams needing a quick setup
• Companies with basic CRM requirements
• Businesses on a budget
• Those who prefer clear, flat-rate pricing

Its straightforward approach makes it a great fit for small businesses that want to avoid unnecessary complexity.

9. Agile CRM

Agile CRM combines sales, marketing, and service automation into one platform. With a user base of over 170,000 and more than 15,000 customers , it’s a popular choice for small businesses.

Pricing Structure

Core Features

Agile CRM offers a range of tools designed to streamline marketing efforts, earning it a 4.8/5 rating . Key features include:

• Drag-and-drop campaign builder
• Behavior-based audience segmentation
• Email personalization with A/B testing
• Social media marketing integration
• Automated lead scoring
• Tools for web engagement

These tools are designed to help businesses achieve measurable results.

Business Impact

"Excellent support. You all are the best I have ever seen in my 30 years working in technology." – Gary R Wagner, MD from Annapolis

Marketing Automation Tools

Agile CRM supports advanced workflows like drip campaigns, autoresponders, custom popups, targeted surveys, and detailed email tracking. These capabilities make it easier to execute sophisticated marketing strategies.

Integration Capabilities

The platform bridges marketing and sales by automatically moving qualified leads through the sales pipeline. This ensures consistent customer engagement and helps improve conversion rates.

Key Advantages

Agile CRM offers flexibility for managing complex business processes, outperforming tools like HubSpot CRM in this area . Its marketing automation tools are particularly well-suited for small businesses, and the free plan (up to 10 users) provides an easy way to get started.

Limitations to Consider

• Advanced features are only available with paid plans
• The free version has limited functionality

Best For

Agile CRM is ideal for:

• Small businesses seeking automation tools
• Teams needing integrated sales and marketing solutions
• Companies aiming to enhance customer engagement
• Organizations looking for affordable marketing automation

With its mix of features, competitive pricing, and scalability, Agile CRM is a strong option for small businesses looking to streamline their customer relationship management.

10. Capsule CRM

Capsule CRM has been a reliable and straightforward CRM solution since 2009, serving over 40,000 customers . It offers the core features businesses need without unnecessary complexity.

Pricing Structure

Capsule CRM offers annual billing plans with approximate pricing in USD:

Core Features

Capsule CRM focuses on three main areas: contact management, sales pipeline tracking, and task coordination.

Integration Ecosystem

Capsule CRM connects with popular business tools, making it easy to integrate into your existing workflows:

Business Impact

"Capsule has revolutionized our business, allowing us to add key company information in one place and make it available to everyone within the business."
– Matt C, G2 Reviewer

Key Advantages

• Easy Setup: Designed for quick deployment and user-friendly navigation.
• Flexible Customization: Includes options like custom fields, tags, and milestone tracking.
• Affordable Growth: A budget-friendly choice compared to larger enterprise CRMs.
• Positive Feedback: Consistently rated 4.7/5 on G2 .

Limitations

• Lower-tier plans cap the number of contacts.
• Restrictions on pipelines and projects in basic plans.
• Limited template options for lower-priced tiers.
• Lacks some advanced features available in enterprise-level CRMs.

Best For

Capsule CRM is a great fit for:

• Small businesses looking for a simple, no-frills CRM.
• Teams focused on managing contacts and sales pipelines efficiently.
• Organizations that value ease of use over advanced functionalities.
• Companies seeking an affordable CRM with essential integrations.

This breakdown of Capsule CRM highlights its strengths and limitations, helping you decide if it’s the right tool for your business.

How to Choose Your CRM

Picking the right CRM means looking at your needs, budget, ease of setup, data handling, integrations, and support options.

Assess Your Core Requirements

Research shows CRM software can boost sales productivity by 34% and improve lead conversions by up to 47% .

Once you know the features you need, compare them with your budget.

Budget Considerations

CRM pricing typically ranges from $10 to $50 per user, per month :

• Entry-level: Free or under $10/month
• Mid-tier: $15–$30/month
• Premium: $50+/month

After setting your budget, focus on what it takes to implement the CRM.

Evaluate Implementation Requirements

Think about training, technical skills, vendor support, and data migration. Angela Green Urbaczewski emphasizes:

"If it’s your first CRM setup, or you’re not an expert in this part of your business, investing in solid setup support can accelerate your business growth much faster than unfocused paid ads or marketing."

Plan for Growth

Your CRM should not only meet your current needs but also grow with your business. With 70% of small businesses expected to use a CRM by 2025 , scalability is non-negotiable.

"Don’t just think about what your business needs now. Consider where you want to be in five years and choose a CRM that is capable of scaling and evolving as your business grows."

Data Quality and Management

Bad data can drain at least 20% of your annual revenue . Look for CRMs with features like data validation, duplicate detection, easy import/export, and reliable backup systems.

Integration Capabilities

A well-integrated CRM simplifies your workflow. Popular integration options include:

Support and Training Resources

Check what kind of support the vendor offers, such as documentation, live help, and training.

"A CRM is only as good as how well you can use it, so invest in your team to build the skills and workflows to maximize its impact."

With 61% of small businesses reporting higher customer retention after adopting a CRM , it’s worth exploring free trials to find a solution that fits your team’s needs and processes.

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