The 10 best CRMs for small businesses to choose from in 2025

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Small businesses often struggle with growing their client base, mainly due to a lack of proper client management. Keeping track of client interactions and managing them across every channel is a hassle, even for large companies. Customer relationship management (CRM) systems address these issues and help small businesses reach their full potential.

The best CRM for small businesses maximizes efficiency using limited resources, automates routine tasks, and helps organizations scale up even with limited staff.

This post reviews the 10 best CRMs for small businesses to help you find the one that works best for your company. We’ll examine features, benefits, pricing, and even shortcomings to unveil the winning platform for your team.

• Zoho — cheapest CRM
• HubSpot — best sales CRM
• ServiceTitan — best CRM for the service industry
• Pipedrive — best CRM for integration
• Monday.com — best CRM for ease of use
• Shopify — best CRM for e-commerce integration
• ActiveCampaign — best CRM for marketing automation
• Salesforce Essentials — best customization CRM
• Wealthbox — best CRM for financial services
• Insightly — best CRM for remote teams

Why small businesses need CRMs

Let’s explore the numerous benefits CRMs have for small businesses and how each ultimately impacts your bottom line.

• Improved customer relationships: Centralizing customer data allows you to gain a deeper understanding of your customers’ needs, preferences, and behaviors. You can better manage and nurture customer relationships to foster long-term loyalty.
• Enhanced data organization and accessibility: CRMs organize data in one place, making it accessible to everyone in your company. Small companies struggle with growing, varied data, so CRMs help support reps manage urgent inquiries quickly.
• Streamlined processes and automation: CRMs automate repetitive tasks such as sending follow-up emails, scheduling appointments, and managing leads. This saves time and reduces the risk of human error.
• Optimal communication: Small businesses struggle with consistent communication. CRM systems prevent leads from slipping through the cracks by scheduling communication in advance. The right messages reach your clients at the right time.
• Increased sales and customer retention: Small businesses often struggle to track the customer journey. CRMs offer detailed insights into every touchpoint, which leads to higher retention and increased sales as a result of targeted marketing campaigns.
• Comprehensive analytics: Another major problem is tracking and centralizing marketing efforts. Using a CRM system is essential for determining customer segments and tracking the performance of your campaigns.

Key features to look for in a small business CRM

In case you don’t know where to start when choosing your CRM platform, we made a list of essential features for driving growth and streamlining operations:

Pricing

Go for a CRM platform that tailors its pricing plans for small businesses as well, considering that options must stay flexible as the team grows. Stay within budget without cutting back on features you require. Always test before committing — choose platforms with free trials or freemium versions, and watch out for hidden fees.

User-friendliness and ease of setup

An effective CRM must have a clean, easy-to-navigate interface. Combine that with quick, hassle-free setup processes that require no prior training, and you have a winner. Tutorials help, too, especially for team members who are visual learners.

Scalability

As your business grows, you will need more advanced features and a higher user capacity. Choose the platform that can scale up or down, depending on your needs, and pricing models to match. Go with flexible plans that don’t overcharge in case you register a surge in profit and expand your business on short notice.

Integration capabilities

If you’re an online vendor, basic integrations should include email marketing platforms, accounting software, and e-commerce systems. Application programming interfaces work best for more advanced integrations with very specific tools or systems, like tailor-fit loyalty programs or in-house inventory systems.

Mobile accessibility

Your team should be able to access and modify client information from any device at any time. Choose a platform that supports cross-device compatibility and includes real-time synchronization. Once you take on a task on your desktop at work, for instance, you should be able to continue it from any other device with no time or data loss.

Customization options

A CRM platform may be way less effective without customization. Every business has different needs that require custom fields, modules, personalized workflows, and specific automation rules. Reports are equally important, as each business looks into different metrics. Make sure that your platform covers all this.

User support

The basics you’re looking for in support involve multiple contact channels, including chat, mail, SMS, and phone. 24/7 support is nice to have, and a user community where you can ask questions directly to existing users is also a bonus. To make the most of the platform, look for an extensive knowledge base that includes tutorials and guides.

Small business CRM comparison

The 10 best CRMs for small businesses

We considered the criteria below when we tested the CRM software for small businesses available on the market. We also looked at user reviews and ratings on trusted platforms like G2, Capterra, and Trustpilot to get a better assessment, so we suggest you do the same.

• Specificity: We chose CRMs tailored for various industries, like financial services, home service industries, etc.
• Ease of use: Only CRMs that had intuitive interfaces made the cut.
• Cost efficiency: Small businesses have a harder time adopting CRMs mainly due to budget restrictions, so we selected platforms that offered high value without putting a major dent in their budget.
• Extensive customization: We included platforms that allow you to customize your workflows to fit your company’s profile and internal processes.

Here are the CRM solutions that provide the best mix of features, flexibility, and ease of use.

1. Cheapest CRM for small businesses: Zoho CRM

Zoho CRM is a versatile and affordable solution tailored for small to medium businesses. It offers an extensive range of features for sales, marketing, and customer support, all within an easy-to-use platform. Zoho CRM excels in its scalability and integrations, making it an ideal choice for businesses looking to grow without the complexity or cost of larger CRMs.

Key features 

• Streamlines routine tasks via customizable workflows
• Automates lead management, follow-ups, and sales processes
• Integrates with popular apps like Google Workspace, Mailchimp, and Slack

Pricing

• A free trial is available
• Paid plans start from $14 per user per month

2. Best sales CRM for small businesses: HubSpot CRM

HubSpot CRM is a popular, user-friendly CRM designed to help you manage sales operations effectively. It’s known for its powerful features and intuitive interface. Its seamless integration with other HubSpot tools allows for scalable growth, making it a cost-effective solution that simplifies sales processes while supporting business expansion.

Key features

• Easily tracks leads and deals
• Monitors email open rates, clicks, and responses
• Provides access to comprehensive reports and analytics
• Automates routine sales tasks like follow-ups and task assignments

Pricing

• A free plan is available
• Paid plans start from $15 per user per month

3. Best CRM for the service industry: ServiceTitan

Image source: servicetitan.com

ServiceTitan is a powerful CRM built for the service industry, including plumbing, electrical, and HVAC businesses. It offers tools to streamline operations, provide actionable insights, and enhance profitability. Scalable and adaptable, ServiceTitan grows with your business, making it an ideal solution for small businesses looking to expand.

Key features

• Manages and tracks service contracts
• Schedules and dispatches technicians to designated jobs
• Simplifies billing with easy invoicing and payment collection
• Enhances customer interactions with automated communication and follow-ups

Pricing

• Customized based on business needs
• You will need to request a pricing quote on their site

4. Best CRM for integration: Pipedrive (with Zapier)

Pipedrive is a sales-focused CRM known for its user-friendly interface, powerful automation, and seamless integration with apps like Zapier. It’s ideal for small businesses, offering advanced reporting and affordability. Designed to streamline sales processes, it supports growth without overwhelming resources.

Key features

• Allows you to tailor dashboards
• Seamlessly integrates with email platforms
• Easily tracks deals with a clear, visual sales pipeline
• Automates repetitive tasks and integrates with over 2,000 apps

Pricing

• A free trial is available
• Paid plans start from $14 per user per month

5. Best CRM for ease of use: Monday.com

Monday.com is a versatile CRM that integrates seamlessly with project management tools. Its user-friendly interface allows teams to quickly adapt the platform to their needs without extensive training. With robust collaboration features like visual project tracking, the CRM improves team efficiency, offering a flexible solution that grows with your business.

Key features

• Includes customizable workflows that fit individual processes
• Allows you to track progress and manage tasks through clear dashboards
• Seamlessly integrates with popular apps like Slack, Zoom, and Google Workspace
• Facilitates collaboration in the workplace with shared boards and real-time updates

Pricing

• A free plan is coming soon
• Paid plans start at €12 per user per month (minimum three users required)

6. Best CRM for e-commerce integration: Shopify

Image source: apps.shopify.com

Shopify CRM is built for e-commerce, integrating with Shopify stores to manage customer relationships, sales, and marketing in one place. It’s ideal for small businesses due to its automation features and powerful tools like personalized marketing and customer segmentation. It helps businesses grow without the need for deep technical expertise.

Key features

• Tracks orders and manages inventory directly from the platform
• Allows you to create and manage email campaigns within the platform
• Helps build detailed customer profiles with purchase history and preferences
• Provides access to sales reports showing performance and customer behavior

Pricing

• A free trial is available
• Paid plans start from €24 per month

7. Best CRM for marketing automation: ActiveCampaign

ActiveCampaign is a powerful CRM that combines email marketing, marketing automation, and sales automation. It allows for easy creation of personalized customer journeys and precise audience segmentation, driving better engagement and conversions. The platform offers small businesses advanced CRM tools without the complexity or high costs of enterprise solutions.

Key features

• Organizes contacts into segments for targeted marketing
• Automates follow-ups, deal management, and lead scoring
• Provides access to analytics on campaign performance and customer engagement
• Creates automated email campaigns based on customer behavior and segmentation

Pricing

• A free trial is available
• Paid plans start from $15 per month

8. Best customization CRM: Salesforce Essentials

Image source: pcmag.com

Salesforce Essentials is a robust, entry-level CRM tailored for small businesses. It offers a simplified version of Salesforce’s top-tier tools, making it easy to manage customer relationships, track sales, and automate tasks. Salesforce Essentials provides the perfect balance of power and simplicity — ideal for small businesses looking to scale efficiently.

Key features

• Automates workflows for repetitive tasks and processes
• Includes comprehensive reporting with customizable criteria
• Has customizable dashboards to display the metrics that matter most
• Boasts a vast marketplace of apps to extend and customize your CRM

Pricing

• A free trial is available
• Paid plans start from $25 per user per month

9. Best CRM for financial services: Wealthbox

Wealthbox is a modern CRM designed specifically for financial advisors and wealth management firms. It stands out for its robust features like task management and secure data storage, making it an ideal choice for enhancing efficiency and client satisfaction in smaller financial practices.

Key features

• Offers workflow automation for repetitive tasks
• Integrates with financial tools like Orion, Redtail, and Zapier
• Monitors compliance with robust tracking and reporting features
• Provides advanced client management with detailed profiles and activity tracking

Pricing

• A free trial is available
• Paid plans start from $59 per user per month

10. Best CRM for remote teams: Insightly

Image source: capterra.ca

Insightly is a robust CRM and project management platform ideal for small to medium businesses. Designed for remote teams, Insightly ensures secure, real-time collaboration from anywhere, making it a top choice for growing businesses seeking an efficient, user-friendly solution.

Key features

• Allows for seamless coordination of tasks and deadlines
• Integrates with popular tools like Gmail, Outlook, and Slack
• Allows you to access CRM features on the go with a powerful mobile app
• Automates workflows to streamline operations and keep remote teams aligned

Pricing

• A free trial is available
• Paid plans start from $29 per user per month

The best CRM is the one that fits your needs

The right CRM will definitely impact your business’ success. Whether that impact is negative or positive depends on how thorough you are when choosing the platform. Take your time considering factors like pricing, features, scalability, and user-friendliness.

A CRM that aligns with your business goals can increase sales performance by up to 75%, so choose wisely. Once you’ve decided on your platform, calibrate it to fit your growing business needs, ensuring it keeps fueling growth.