Salesforce likes to call itself the #1 CRM platform on the market. I know, a lot of companies say that, but this time, it’s probably true. They are a force (see what I did there?) to be reckoned with. Not only do they have a ton of features, but it’s incredibly robust and versatile, too.
This cloud-based solution builds collaboration between marketing, customer service, and sales teams so that you can build stronger relationships with all of your leads and customers. With the right processes in place, you’ll deliver even better customer experiences, which is what it’s all about.
However, Salesforce isn’t the only CRM on the market. As a business owner, I’ve used quite a few CRM platforms in my day, and they’re all unique. Some serve different purposes and are tailored to a specific type or size of business. So how does Salesforce stack up against the competition? Let’s find out in this Salesforce competitors analysis!
Bottom Line Up Front
If you’re looking for a robust, all-in-one CRM solution, Salesforce is probably the best option. But there are a lot of really good competitors out there that can do what you need them to do for a fraction of the price.
About Salesforce
As we put several CRM platforms head to head with Salesforce, you’ll soon see where everyone shines. Salesforce seems large and capable, but there’s no perfect solution. Here’s a rundown of what Salesforce has to offer so we can better compare the others.
Advanced features
If you’re truly looking for robust features, you won’t find anyone better than Salesforce. You’ll get access to 24/7 customer support, marketing automation, contact management, and advanced account management. With a holistic view of every customer, you’ll see key contacts, all communications, and activity history.
Ease of use
Because Salesforce is so intuitive, you will worry less about how big and complicated it is. It helps you focus on your business. There’s a dedicated mobile app so you can log in from all of your devices, which makes it a great solution for busy entrepreneurs on the run. Navigating modules and collaborating with team members is a cinch.
Integrations
It will be tough to find any other CRM that has as many third-party app integrations as Salesforce. These integrations are perhaps my favorite thing about Salesforce. I get butterflies just thinking about a useful integration that makes processes seamless.
There are some obvious ones like Slack, but there are some even more useful ones like Pitcher Impact and Formstack. With the former, you can access all of your marketing materials offline. With the latter, you can build forms without any code.
Automation
Automating business processes makes things go so much faster. Who doesn’t want to ditch all of the busy administrative work? Salesforce has a point-and-click interface that makes it easy to create automations like email alerts, assigning tasks, filling orders, or creating proposals.
Customization
Despite its size, it’s still remarkably customizable. You create custom tabs, fields, reports, email templates, and dashboards to suit your needs. As with everything, it’s not a completely custom solution, but it offers a lot of flexibility.
See also: Subway Competitors Analysis
The Competition
That was a down and dirty review of Salesforce, but you get the idea. Now you’re better positioned to understand how these competitors may or may not outshine the biggest and most popular CRM on the market. Bigger isn’t always better.
1. HubSpot Sales CRM
The first thing you should know about HubSpot is that it’s free. Yep, you read that right. If you’re a small business owner on a tight budget, this could be the solution for you. Even if you’re not, the fact that it doesn’t cost anything to use is pretty appealing. HubSpot Sales CRM is designed to be used by sales teams of all sizes.
One of the worst things about Salesforce is the price. When compared with other solutions (even the ones that aren’t free), Salesforce is very expensive. And when it comes to adding customizations and integrations, it adds up fast. Even the basic features are priced per user per month, and the only option is to be billed annually.
HubSpot Sales CRM offers a number of features, including contact and account management, activity tracking, email integration, and deals and tasks. One of the things I like best about HubSpot Sales CRM is the visual interface. It makes it easy to see where you are in the sales process and what needs to be done next. HubSpot Sales CRM is also very user-friendly and easy to set up.
2. Pipedrive
Pipedrive is another CRM that’s designed with sales teams in mind. It’s a great solution for small businesses because it’s very affordable. You can get started with the basic plan for just $14 per user per month (billed annually).
Pipedrive offers all of the features you would expect from a CRM, including contact and account management, activity tracking, email integration, and deals and tasks. One of the things that sets Pipedrive apart is the visual interface. It’s very easy to see where you are in the sales process and what needs to be done next.
Pipedrive is also very user-friendly and easy to set up. One of the things I like best about Pipedrive is that it offers a free trial so you can try it out before you commit to anything. Salesforce does this, too, but again, they’re about double the price for the cheapest plan.
3. Insightly
Insightly is a CRM that’s designed for small businesses. The problem is, their price doesn’t reflect it. At $29 per user per month, it’s more than Salesforce. However, their features stack up nicely. You can manage leads, track and manage customer relationships, work from any device via the mobile app, create and deliver projects, view business insights, collaborate with your team, automate processes, and integrate with many third-party apps.
Insightly also offers a free trial so you can try it out before you commit to anything. Overall, Insightly is a good CRM, but the price is a bit steep for small businesses.
See also: Barry Sternlicht Bio
4. Zoho CRM
Zoho CRM is another CRM that’s designed for small businesses. Their basic plan starts at $12 per user per month (billed annually). For that price, you get contact and lead management, account management, sales pipeline automation, activity tracking, email integration, and deals and tasks.
Zoho is relatively new to the CRM game, but they’re quickly making a name for themselves. They’re known for their user-friendly interface and easy-to-use features. Plus, they have other business solutions, too. They have a customer service desk tool, email hosting, and an applicant tracking system.
Zoho CRM is very user-friendly and easy to set up. One of the things I like best about Zoho CRM is you can pay monthly. Sure, you save money by paying yearly, but that’s a big chunk of change. Plus, if you don’t like it, you can cancel anytime and you’re not out the money.
5. Less Annoying CRM
You read that right. It’s the Less Annoying CRM. Despite their clever name, they lack a few features. But that may be what makes them less annoying. They don’t have all of the bells and whistles that the other CRMs have. But what they do have is simple and easy to use. They have contact management, lead management, opportunity tracking, task management, document storage, and email integration.
They try to focus more on the tools you’ll use every day, which makes their solution indispensable once you get used to using it. You’ll get live updates with an integration with Google Calendar while your Mailchimp integration will send daily reports and remminders.
Exporting is always a challenge when you use CRM software, but with just a single click, you can export everything into a CSV. You can also share your data with other users with their “Groups” feature.
6. Intercom
Intercom calls itself a customer engagement platform. While technically not a CRM, they designed the software to bring sales, support, and marketing together, which is pretty much the definition of a CRM if you ask me.
I absolutely love Intercom for its scalability. For very small businesses, you get the most basic solutions for customer engagement for a single low price, no matter how many users you have. That includes chat and email support, targeted outbound emailing, in-product messaging, a shared inbox for support, help center, conversation routing, reporting dashboards, conversation ratings and tags, and integrations with more than 250 other software solutions, including Salesforce.
As your company grows, Intercom grows with you. You can add solutions as you need them and take them away if they don’t work for you. Intercom is flexible, highly customizable, and easy to set up and use. The real magic starts when you add multi-channel campaigns and A/B testing. Intercom is a real partner in growing your business.
7. NetSuite CRM+
If you’re looking for a CRM with enterprise-level features, NetSuite CRM+ is worth considering. It starts at $129 per user per month (billed monthly). That gives you contact and lead management, sales pipeline automation, opportunity tracking, forecasting and reporting, customer service and support, campaign management, and social CRM.
NetSuite CRM+ is a great choice for companies that are growing quickly and need a CRM that can scale with them. The software is highly customizable and can be tailored to fit the specific needs of your business. Plus, it integrates with NetSuite’s ERP solution, which makes it a good choice for companies that are using or considering NetSuite ERP.
FAQ – Salesforce Competitors Analysis
When choosing the right CRM for your business, it’s no surprise that Salesforce came to mind. Here are some frequently asked questions when it comes to Salesforce and other CRM solutions.
Question: Who is Salesforce’s main competitor?
Answer: A lot of CRMs strive to compete with Salesforce, but let’s be honest. Being exactly like someone else isn’t always the best thing. Every company on this list is a great competitor to Salesforce because their offerings are just a little bit different. NetSuite CRM may be their main competitor in terms of enterprise features, but you’ll find a lot of great value in the smaller solutions.
Question: What is the highest-rated CRM?
Answer: While Salesforce may be one of the most popular CRM solutions on the market, it’s not always the highest-rated. In fact, some of the CRMs on this list have higher ratings than Salesforce. However, it’s important to keep in mind that not all CRMs are created equal and that one CRM may be a better fit for your business than another.
Question: What is the best CRM?
Answer: The best CRM for your business is the one that fits your specific needs the best. That’s why it’s important to take the time to evaluate each CRM and see which one offers the features and functionality that you need. With so many great CRMs on the market, you’re sure to find one that’s a perfect fit for your business.
Final Thoughts
Salesforce is a great CRM, but it’s not the only CRM on the market. There are plenty of other great CRMs that offer similar features and functionality. If you’re looking for an alternative to Salesforce, any one of these CRMs would be a great choice.
While Salesforce is probably the best enterprise solution, Intercom is the most scalable, and Pipedrive offers the best value. No matter which one you choose, you’re sure to find a CRM that’s a perfect fit for your business.
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