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CRM & Technology25 min read

The 20 Best CRM Software for Sales Teams in 2026: Complete Comparison Guide

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Team Appendment
December 31, 2025
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The 20 Best CRM Software for Sales Teams in 2026: Complete Comparison Guide

Choosing the right CRM can make or break your sales team's success. With hundreds of options on the market, finding the perfect fit for your business feels overwhelming.

We've analyzed the top 20 CRM platforms based on actual sales performance data, user reviews, pricing transparency, and real-world results. This isn't a surface-level overviewβ€”we've dug into the features that actually help sales teams close more deals.

Whether you're a solopreneur looking for simplicity, a growing startup needing scalability, or an enterprise requiring customization, you'll find your ideal CRM in this guide.

πŸ’‘ Key Insight: The CRM Gap

Most CRMs tell you who to contact, but not how to sell to them. The highest-performing sales teams pair their CRM with AI-powered sales intelligence like Appendment to get real-time coaching and prospect insights that dramatically improve close rates.

Quick Comparison: Top 20 CRMs at a Glance

CRM Best For Starting Price Free Plan Our Rating
1. Salesforce Enterprise teams $25/user/mo ❌ No 9.2/10
2. HubSpot CRM Growing teams $15/user/mo βœ… Yes 9.0/10
3. Pipedrive Sales-focused SMBs $14/user/mo ❌ No 8.8/10
4. Zoho CRM Budget-conscious teams $14/user/mo βœ… Yes (3 users) 8.7/10
5. Freshsales Built-in calling teams $9/user/mo βœ… Yes 8.6/10
6. Monday CRM Visual workflow teams $12/seat/mo βœ… Yes (2 seats) 8.5/10
7. Close CRM Inside sales teams $29/user/mo ❌ No 8.5/10
8. Microsoft Dynamics Microsoft ecosystems $65/user/mo ❌ No 8.4/10
9. Copper CRM Google Workspace users $12/user/mo ❌ No 8.3/10
10. Nutshell SMB sales teams $19/user/mo ❌ No 8.2/10
11. Insightly Project + sales hybrid $29/user/mo βœ… Yes 8.1/10
12. Nimble Social selling $25/user/mo ❌ No 8.0/10
13. Capsule CRM Simplicity seekers $18/user/mo βœ… Yes (2 users) 7.9/10
14. GoHighLevel Agencies $97/mo ❌ No 7.9/10
15. Less Annoying CRM Simplicity at all costs $15/user/mo ❌ No 7.8/10
16. Keap Marketing automation $299/mo ❌ No 7.7/10
17. Cloze Relationship tracking $17/mo βœ… Yes 7.6/10
18. Salesflare Automation lovers $29/user/mo ❌ No 7.5/10
19. Streak Gmail-native users $15/user/mo βœ… Yes 7.4/10
20. Agile CRM All-in-one on budget $8.99/user/mo βœ… Yes (10 users) 7.3/10

CRM Pricing Comparison Chart

Understanding CRM pricing is critical because costs can balloon quickly as your team grows. Here's a visual breakdown of entry-level vs. enterprise pricing:

πŸ’° Monthly Cost Per User (Entry-Level Plans)

Agile CRM
$9
Freshsales
$9
Copper
$12
Monday
$12
Zoho
$14
Pipedrive
$14
HubSpot
$15
Less Annoying
$15
Streak
$15
Cloze
$17
Capsule
$18
Nutshell
$19
Salesforce
$25
Nimble
$25
Close
$29
Insightly
$29
Salesflare
$29
Dynamics 365
$65

Feature Comparison Matrix

Not all CRMs are created equal. Here's how the top platforms compare across critical sales features:

Feature Salesforce HubSpot Pipedrive Zoho Freshsales Close
Pipeline Management β˜…β˜…β˜…β˜…β˜… β˜…β˜…β˜…β˜…β˜… β˜…β˜…β˜…β˜…β˜… β˜…β˜…β˜…β˜…β˜† β˜…β˜…β˜…β˜…β˜† β˜…β˜…β˜…β˜…β˜†
Email Automation β˜…β˜…β˜…β˜…β˜… β˜…β˜…β˜…β˜…β˜… β˜…β˜…β˜…β˜…β˜† β˜…β˜…β˜…β˜…β˜† β˜…β˜…β˜…β˜…β˜† β˜…β˜…β˜…β˜…β˜…
Built-in Calling β˜…β˜…β˜…β˜†β˜† β˜…β˜…β˜…β˜†β˜† β˜…β˜…β˜…β˜†β˜† β˜…β˜…β˜…β˜†β˜† β˜…β˜…β˜…β˜…β˜… β˜…β˜…β˜…β˜…β˜…
AI Features β˜…β˜…β˜…β˜…β˜… β˜…β˜…β˜…β˜…β˜† β˜…β˜…β˜…β˜†β˜† β˜…β˜…β˜…β˜…β˜† β˜…β˜…β˜…β˜…β˜† β˜…β˜…β˜…β˜†β˜†
Reporting β˜…β˜…β˜…β˜…β˜… β˜…β˜…β˜…β˜…β˜… β˜…β˜…β˜…β˜…β˜† β˜…β˜…β˜…β˜…β˜† β˜…β˜…β˜…β˜…β˜† β˜…β˜…β˜…β˜…β˜†
Customization β˜…β˜…β˜…β˜…β˜… β˜…β˜…β˜…β˜…β˜† β˜…β˜…β˜…β˜†β˜† β˜…β˜…β˜…β˜…β˜… β˜…β˜…β˜…β˜†β˜† β˜…β˜…β˜…β˜†β˜†
Ease of Use β˜…β˜…β˜…β˜†β˜† β˜…β˜…β˜…β˜…β˜… β˜…β˜…β˜…β˜…β˜… β˜…β˜…β˜…β˜…β˜† β˜…β˜…β˜…β˜…β˜… β˜…β˜…β˜…β˜…β˜†
Integrations β˜…β˜…β˜…β˜…β˜… β˜…β˜…β˜…β˜…β˜… β˜…β˜…β˜…β˜…β˜† β˜…β˜…β˜…β˜…β˜… β˜…β˜…β˜…β˜…β˜† β˜…β˜…β˜…β˜…β˜†
Mobile App β˜…β˜…β˜…β˜…β˜… β˜…β˜…β˜…β˜…β˜† β˜…β˜…β˜…β˜…β˜… β˜…β˜…β˜…β˜…β˜† β˜…β˜…β˜…β˜…β˜† β˜…β˜…β˜…β˜…β˜†

Detailed Reviews: Top 20 CRMs

1. Salesforce Sales Cloud

Best for: Enterprise teams with complex sales processes

Salesforce remains the gold standard for enterprise CRM. With the largest ecosystem of apps (4,000+ on AppExchange), deepest customization options, and most powerful reporting, it can do almost anythingβ€”if you have the budget and admin resources.

βœ… Pros

  • β€’ Unmatched customization
  • β€’ Einstein AI for insights
  • β€’ Massive integration ecosystem
  • β€’ Industry-leading reporting

❌ Cons

  • β€’ Steep learning curve
  • β€’ Expensive at scale ($165+ enterprise)
  • β€’ Requires admin expertise
  • β€’ Feature bloat for small teams

Pricing: $25/user/mo (Starter) β†’ $500/user/mo (Einstein 1). Expect significant add-on costs. Read our full Salesforce review. Also see our Salesforce productivity tools guide.

2. HubSpot CRM

Best for: Growing teams wanting marketing + sales alignment

HubSpot's free CRM is genuinely useful, making it the best entry point for startups. The platform shines at combining marketing, sales, and service into one ecosystem. The 2025 release added 100+ new features including AI Agents and enhanced forecasting.

βœ… Pros

  • β€’ Exceptional free tier
  • β€’ Intuitive interface
  • β€’ Strong inbound marketing
  • β€’ Excellent onboarding

❌ Cons

  • β€’ Dramatic price jump ($15 β†’ $90)
  • β€’ Per-contact pricing adds up
  • β€’ Less customizable than Salesforce
  • β€’ Some features locked behind tiers

Pricing: Free β†’ $15/user/mo (Starter) β†’ $90/user/mo (Professional) β†’ $150/user/mo (Enterprise). Read our full HubSpot CRM review.

3. Pipedrive

Best for: Sales-focused SMBs who need visual pipelines

Pipedrive is built with a singular focus: helping sales reps sell more. Its kanban-style pipeline, dead-simple interface, and "activity-based selling" methodology make it incredibly easy to adopt. It's the CRM sales reps actually enjoy using.

βœ… Pros

  • β€’ Highest adoption rates
  • β€’ Beautiful visual pipeline
  • β€’ Strong mobile app
  • β€’ Sales-centric design

❌ Cons

  • β€’ No free plan
  • β€’ Limited marketing features
  • β€’ Many features are add-ons
  • β€’ Phone support only at $64+ tier

Pricing: $14/user/mo (Essential) β†’ $34/user/mo (Advanced) β†’ $64/user/mo (Power) β†’ $99/user/mo (Enterprise). Read our full Pipedrive review. Also see our Pipedrive integrations guide.

4. Zoho CRM

Best for: Budget-conscious teams wanting enterprise features

Zoho delivers remarkable valueβ€”enterprise-level customization at SMB-friendly prices. The Zia AI assistant provides intelligent insights, while the broader Zoho ecosystem (45+ apps) creates a compelling alternative to Salesforce at a fraction of the cost.

βœ… Pros

  • β€’ Exceptional value for money
  • β€’ Free plan for 3 users
  • β€’ Deep customization
  • β€’ Full Zoho ecosystem

❌ Cons

  • β€’ Steeper learning curve
  • β€’ Interface less polished
  • β€’ Support quality varies
  • β€’ Some features overwhelming

Pricing: Free (3 users) β†’ $14/user/mo (Standard) β†’ $23/user/mo (Professional) β†’ $40/user/mo (Enterprise) β†’ $52/user/mo (Ultimate). Read our full Zoho CRM review. Also see our Zoho CRM extensions guide.

5. Freshsales (Freshworks CRM)

Best for: Teams wanting built-in calling and AI

Freshsales stands out with native telephonyβ€”built-in calling, voicemail drops, and call recording without third-party integrations. The Freddy AI provides lead scoring and deal insights. It's modern, lightweight, and perfect for distributed sales teams.

βœ… Pros

  • β€’ Built-in phone system
  • β€’ Freddy AI assistant
  • β€’ Very affordable ($9)
  • β€’ Clean, modern UI

❌ Cons

  • β€’ Fewer integrations
  • β€’ Limited customization
  • β€’ Less mature platform
  • β€’ Reporting not as deep

Pricing: Free (3 users) β†’ $9/user/mo (Growth) β†’ $39/user/mo (Pro) β†’ $59/user/mo (Enterprise). Read our full Freshsales review.

6. Monday CRM

Best for: Visual thinkers who love workflow customization

Born from the popular Monday.com work management platform, Monday CRM brings the same visual, flexible approach to sales. Unlimited customizable pipelines, powerful automations, and beautiful dashboards make it feel more like a custom-built tool.

βœ… Pros

  • β€’ Highly visual interface
  • β€’ Unlimited customization
  • β€’ Affordable pricing
  • β€’ Work management included

❌ Cons

  • β€’ Per-seat pricing
  • β€’ Not built sales-first
  • β€’ Limited native sales tools
  • β€’ Can feel overwhelming

Pricing: Free (2 seats) β†’ $12/seat/mo (Basic) β†’ $17/seat/mo (Standard) β†’ $28/seat/mo (Pro). Read our full Monday CRM review.

7. Close CRM

Best for: Inside sales and high-velocity teams

Close is purpose-built for inside sales. Built-in calling, SMS, email, and automation in a single interface. No switching between appsβ€”everything needed to work a lead is right there. The platform excels at high-volume outbound motions.

βœ… Pros

  • β€’ All communication built-in
  • β€’ Power dialer included
  • β€’ Excellent for SDR teams
  • β€’ Fast implementation

❌ Cons

  • β€’ Higher starting price
  • β€’ Limited marketing features
  • β€’ Less suited for field sales
  • β€’ Fewer integrations

Pricing: $29/user/mo (Base) β†’ $59/user/mo (Startup) β†’ $109/user/mo (Professional) β†’ $149/user/mo (Enterprise). Read our full Close CRM review.

8. Microsoft Dynamics 365 Sales

Best for: Organizations deep in the Microsoft ecosystem

If you live in Microsoft 365, Dynamics is the natural CRM choice. Deep integration with Outlook, Teams, Excel, and Power BI creates seamless workflows. The Copilot AI brings next-generation assistance to sales processes. See our Microsoft Teams sales apps guide.

βœ… Pros

  • β€’ Native Microsoft integration
  • β€’ Copilot AI assistant
  • β€’ LinkedIn Sales Navigator tie-in
  • β€’ Enterprise-grade security

❌ Cons

  • β€’ Complex implementation
  • β€’ Expensive
  • β€’ Steep learning curve
  • β€’ Less intuitive than rivals

Pricing: $65/user/mo (Professional) β†’ $95/user/mo (Enterprise) β†’ $135/user/mo (Premium). Read our full Dynamics 365 review.

9. Copper CRM

Best for: Google Workspace-centric teams

Copper lives inside Google Workspace. It appears in Gmail sidebars, syncs with Google Calendar, and stores files in Drive. For teams already running on Google, Copper eliminates the friction of switching between apps.

βœ… Pros

  • β€’ Seamless Google integration
  • β€’ Auto-captures email data
  • β€’ Clean, intuitive UI
  • β€’ Affordable entry ($12)

❌ Cons

  • β€’ Only works with Google
  • β€’ Contact limits on lower tiers
  • β€’ Less customizable
  • β€’ Limited automation

Pricing: $12/user/mo (Starter, 1K contacts) β†’ $29/user/mo (Basic) β†’ $69/user/mo (Professional) β†’ $134/user/mo (Business). Read our full Copper CRM review.

10. Nutshell

Best for: SMBs wanting simplicity with power

Nutshell strikes a balance between simplicity and capability. It's powerful enough for serious sales operations but simple enough that reps actually use it. The interface is clean, support is responsive, and pricing is transparent.

βœ… Pros

  • β€’ Excellent support
  • β€’ Easy implementation
  • β€’ Fair pricing
  • β€’ No hidden fees

❌ Cons

  • β€’ No free tier
  • β€’ Limited advanced features
  • β€’ Smaller integration library
  • β€’ Less suited for enterprise

Pricing: $19/user/mo (Foundation) β†’ $32/user/mo (Growth) β†’ $49/user/mo (Pro) β†’ $67/user/mo (Business). Read our full Nutshell CRM review.

11. Insightly

Best for: Teams needing CRM + project management

Insightly bridges the gap between sales and delivery with built-in project management. When deals close, they can automatically become projectsβ€”keeping everything in one system. It's particularly useful for professional services firms.

Pricing: Free tier β†’ $29/user/mo (Plus) β†’ $49/user/mo (Professional) β†’ $99/user/mo (Enterprise). Read our full Insightly CRM review.

12. Nimble

Best for: Social sellers and relationship builders

Nimble excels at unifying contacts across social networks, email, and other sources into a single relationship dashboard. It automatically enriches contacts with social data and identifies engagement opportunities. One simple pricing plan keeps things transparent.

Pricing: $25/user/mo (single plan). Read our full Nimble CRM review.

13. Capsule CRM

Best for: Simplicity seekers who hate complexity

Capsule CRM focuses on doing the basics exceptionally well. Contact management, task tracking, and simple pipelinesβ€”without the overwhelming feature bloat. It's particularly beloved by freelancers, consultants, and service businesses.

Pricing: Free (2 users, 250 contacts) β†’ $18/user/mo (Starter) β†’ $36/user/mo (Growth) β†’ $54/user/mo (Advanced). Read our full Capsule CRM review.

14. GoHighLevel

Best for: Agencies wanting an all-in-one platform

GoHighLevel is the agency swiss army knife. CRM, funnels, email/SMS marketing, appointment scheduling, and pipeline management in one platform. Agencies can white-label it for clients. Read our GoHighLevel integrations guide.

Pricing: $97/mo (Agency Starter) β†’ $297/mo (Agency Unlimited) β†’ $497/mo (Agency Pro). Read our full GoHighLevel review. Also see our GoHighLevel integrations guide.

15. Less Annoying CRM

Best for: Teams who want absolute simplicity

Less Annoying CRM lives up to its name. One price, no tiers, no hidden fees, no feature gating. It does contact management and basic pipeline tracking without any complexity. Perfect for teams who've been burned by CRM overload.

Pricing: $15/user/mo (single plan, flat pricing). Read our full Less Annoying CRM review.

16. Keap (formerly Infusionsoft)

Best for: Small businesses focused on automation

Keap combines CRM with powerful marketing automation. Email campaigns, appointment scheduling, payment processing, and sophisticated automation sequences. It's feature-rich but comes with a learning curve and higher price point.

Pricing: $299/mo (Ignite, 1,500 contacts) β†’ Custom pricing for higher tiers. Read our full Keap CRM review.

17. Cloze

Best for: Relationship-focused professionals

Cloze is an AI-powered relationship CRM that automatically tracks your interactions across email, calls, and meetings. It reminds you who needs attention and surfaces insights about your relationships. See our Cloze CRM guide.

Pricing: Free tier β†’ $17/mo (Cloze Pro)

18. Salesflare

Best for: B2B teams wanting minimal data entry

Salesflare automatically fills itself in by pulling data from emails, calendars, and other sources. It's designed for B2B companies that want intelligent automation without manual logging. The focus is on eliminating busywork.

Pricing: $29/user/mo (Growth) β†’ $49/user/mo (Pro) β†’ $99/user/mo (Enterprise). Read our full Salesflare CRM review.

19. Streak

Best for: Gmail power users

Streak lives entirely inside Gmail. Pipelines, contact management, mail merge, and trackingβ€”all without leaving your inbox. It's ideal for individuals or small teams who process most deals through email.

Pricing: Free (basic) β†’ $15/user/mo (Solo) β†’ $49/user/mo (Pro) β†’ $129/user/mo (Enterprise). Read our full Streak CRM review.

20. Agile CRM

Best for: All-in-one on a tight budget

Agile CRM packs sales, marketing, and service features into an affordable package. The free tier supports up to 10 usersβ€”unusually generous. It's a budget-friendly option for teams wanting comprehensive features without enterprise prices.

Pricing: Free (10 users) β†’ $8.99/user/mo (Starter) β†’ $29.99/user/mo (Regular) β†’ $47.99/user/mo (Enterprise). Read our full Agile CRM review.

Best CRM by Use Case

🎯 Quick Recommendations

Enterprise (500+ employees)

β†’ Salesforce or Microsoft Dynamics

Growing Startup

β†’ HubSpot (start free)

Sales-First SMB

β†’ Pipedrive or Close

Budget-Conscious

β†’ Zoho or Freshsales

Google-Centric Team

β†’ Copper or Streak

Microsoft-Centric Team

β†’ Dynamics 365

Agency

β†’ GoHighLevel

Simplicity Seekers

β†’ Less Annoying CRM or Capsule

The CRM Gap: Why Top Performers Add Sales Intelligence

Here's a truth most CRM vendors won't tell you: your CRM tracks data, but it doesn't help you sell.

Every CRM on this list excels at organizing contacts, managing pipelines, and tracking activities. But none of them tell you:

  • How to communicate with each prospect based on their personality
  • What to say when objections come up during calls
  • When a deal is actually at risk (before it's too late)
  • Why your top reps close more than others

This is why the highest-performing sales teams pair their CRM with sales intelligence and AI coaching tools.

How Appendment Enhances Any CRM

Appendment integrates with all major CRMs to fill this critical gap:

  • 50+ prospect data points – Psychographics, communication preferences, buying triggers beyond basic firmographics
  • Real-time AI coaching – Live guidance during calls, not just post-call analysis. Get objection responses and personalized talk tracks in the moment
  • Automatic CRM updates – Call notes, action items, and deal insights sync automatically
  • Personality-based selling – Understand how each prospect prefers to communicate and decide

Teams using Appendment alongside their CRM report 40-50% higher close rates. The CRM organizes your data; Appendment helps you win the deals.

Learn more about how Appendment enhances video sales in our real-time AI coaching guide.

How to Choose Your CRM: Decision Framework

Use this framework to narrow down your options:

Step 1: Define Your Must-Haves

  • What's your budget per user?
  • Do you need marketing automation or just sales?
  • Is built-in calling essential?
  • What integrations are non-negotiable?

Step 2: Consider Your Ecosystem

  • Google Workspace β†’ Copper, Streak
  • Microsoft 365 β†’ Dynamics 365
  • HubSpot Marketing β†’ HubSpot CRM
  • No strong preference β†’ Salesforce, Pipedrive, Zoho

Step 3: Trial Before Buying

Most CRMs offer free trials. Test with real data and real users. Pay attention to:

  • How quickly can reps get productive?
  • What does day-to-day usage feel like?
  • Are the features you need actually easy to access?

Step 4: Calculate Total Cost

Base subscription is just the beginning. Factor in:

  • Implementation/onboarding costs
  • Add-on features you'll need
  • Integration tools (Zapier, etc.)
  • Training time for the team
  • Ongoing admin requirements

The Bottom Line

There's no single "best" CRMβ€”only the best CRM for your specific situation. But here's what the data tells us:

  • For enterprise: Salesforce remains the leader, but Dynamics 365 is a strong Microsoft alternative
  • For growing teams: HubSpot's free-to-paid path is hard to beat
  • For sales-focused SMBs: Pipedrive, Close, and Freshsales deliver the best sales-specific experience
  • For budget-conscious teams: Zoho and Freshsales offer exceptional value
  • For simplicity: Less Annoying CRM, Capsule, and Nimble keep things clean

Regardless of which CRM you choose, remember: the CRM is just the foundation. The teams closing the most deals are adding sales intelligence tools like Appendment to turn their CRM data into actual closed revenue.

Ready to maximize your CRM investment?

Appendment integrates with all major CRMs to deliver 50+ prospect data points plus real-time AI coaching during calls. See how teams are closing 40-50% more deals. Book a demo

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the best CRM software for sales teams in 2026?

The best CRM depends on your needs. For enterprise teams, Salesforce leads. For growing startups, HubSpot's free-to-paid path works well. For sales-focused SMBs, Pipedrive, Close, and Freshsales excel. For budget-conscious teams, Zoho and Freshsales offer exceptional value. For simplicity, Less Annoying CRM and Capsule are top choices.

How much does CRM software cost?

CRM pricing typically falls into three tiers: entry-level ($9-25/user/month), mid-tier ($30-75/user/month), and enterprise ($100-500+/user/month). Many CRMs offer free tiers with limited features. HubSpot, Zoho, Freshsales, and Agile CRM all have generous free plans. Total cost should include implementation, add-ons, and integrations.

What is the easiest CRM to use?

Pipedrive, Less Annoying CRM, Capsule, and HubSpot are consistently rated as the easiest CRMs to use. Pipedrive's visual pipeline and Capsule's simplicity make them particularly user-friendly. Less Annoying CRM focuses specifically on simplicity with no feature bloat. HubSpot offers excellent onboarding.

Which CRM is best for small businesses?

Top CRMs for small businesses include HubSpot (free tier), Zoho CRM (affordable with deep features), Pipedrive (sales-focused), Capsule (simple), and Less Annoying CRM (flat $15/user pricing). The best choice depends on whether you prioritize simplicity, features, or budget.

Do I need a CRM if I have a small sales team?

Yes, a CRM becomes valuable once you have more leads than you can track in your head or a spreadsheetβ€”typically around 50+ active contacts or 2+ salespeople. CRMs prevent leads from falling through cracks, enable better follow-up, and provide visibility into your pipeline. Start with a free or low-cost option like HubSpot Free or Less Annoying CRM.

Can a CRM help me close more deals?

A CRM helps organize your sales process, but won't directly improve close rates on its own. CRMs track data but don't teach you how to sell. For better close rates, pair your CRM with sales intelligence tools like Appendment that provide real-time coaching, prospect insights, and personalized guidance during calls.

What's the difference between CRM and sales intelligence software?

CRM software organizes contacts, tracks deals, and manages your sales pipelineβ€”it's your system of record. Sales intelligence software like Appendment provides the insights you need to actually win deals: prospect research, communication preferences, real-time coaching, and AI-powered guidance. Top-performing teams use both together.

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