As a CRM expert, I have witnessed firsthand the positive impact that a good CRM can have on a business. From automating workflows to improving customer relationships, a CRM is an essential tool for any sales team, regardless of the company's size. However, with the plethora of options available, it can be overwhelming to choose the right CRM for your business needs. One common issue that many businesses face is that some CRMs are packed with features that they don't need or use. This can make the software complex and difficult to navigate, leading to frustration and wasted time.
That's why I always recommend simple CRMs that offer only the basic tools, automation, and reports necessary for effective customer management. In this article, I will share my expertise and knowledge on the best simple CRM solutions available today. As a member of the Forbes Advisor Small Business team, I am committed to providing unbiased ratings and information with complete editorial independence. Our team uses product data, strategic methodologies, and expert opinions to guide our content and help businesses make informed decisions.
Zoho CRM
Zoho CRM is a top choice for businesses looking for a simple yet powerful CRM solution. Its user-friendly interface makes it easy for anyone to use, although there may be a slight learning curve when it comes to configuration.Once set up, Zoho CRM's automated workflows work seamlessly in the background, reducing manual tasks and freeing up time for more important tasks. One of the best things about Zoho CRM is its scalability. With several plans available, businesses can start with the free plan and upgrade as their needs grow. The free plan offers unlimited lead, contact, account, and deal management, making it a great option for individual operations or small companies. While the free plan may lack some advanced features, it still offers useful tools such as workflow automation and customizable pages and tabs. The only downside is the limited file storage of 1 GB, but overall, I consider Zoho CRM to be the best free CRM on the market.
Freshsales
Freshsales is another popular choice for businesses of all sizes, thanks to its integrations with popular apps and affordable pricing.While it can be used by any department or team, Freshsales was specifically designed with sales teams in mind. The interface is clean and easy to navigate, with customizable columns that can be shown or hidden as needed. The free plan offers basic CRM features such as contact and account management, tasks, appointments, and notes. However, businesses may find themselves limited by the lack of automated workflows at this level. To access more advanced features such as automation and visual sales channels, businesses can upgrade to a paid plan. Freshsales also offers messaging integrations like SMS, Facebook Messenger, and WhatsApp, as well as an AI-powered chatbot that can be a game-changer for sales teams.
noCRM
As the name suggests, noCRM is a CRM solution that focuses on lead management.Its Kanban-style view of opportunities and drag-and-drop method make it easy to track potential customers and their progress in the sales process. The app also allows for easy contact import and synchronization with calendars, as well as notifications on both the app and mobile devices. The Professional plan offers unlimited contacts and deals, visual deal management, email synchronization, and a business card scanner. For more advanced features like email tracking and multiple pipelines, businesses can opt for the Business plan. One unique feature of noCRM is its AI-assisted route planner, which helps sales teams plan their face-to-face meetings more efficiently.
Choosing the Best Simple CRM for Your Business
At Forbes Advisor, we understand the importance of finding a CRM that is not only user-friendly but also affordable and functional.That's why we have narrowed down a long list of options to the top 10 most user-friendly CRMs on the market. Our team analyzes each CRM's ease of use and affordability, as well as its support and integration capabilities. We also prioritize CRMs that offer at least the basic tools necessary for sales teams, without becoming too complex. While advanced features can be useful, they are only beneficial if they are actually used. Some of these features include pipeline management tools, a document library, and sales dashboards. Another crucial factor to consider is integration with other applications such as email and calendars.
We highly recommend CRMs that offer a wide range of integrations to provide businesses with more contact information and useful data.
