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Top 6 Best CRMs For SMS & Texting In 2024

Searching for a CRM that masters the art of SMS and texting? You've arrived in the right place. In this in-depth guide, we're spotlighting the top CRMs of 2024, specially designed for businesses looking to harness the power of text message communication. These aren't your standard CRMs; they all excel in automating your businesses text messaging, ensuring compliance with global texting regulations, and enabling dynamic two-way SMS. We delve into the nitty-gritty of their SMS capabilities, assessing everything from WhatsApp support to the underlying technology powering SMS delivery. Our aim is to unravel how these CRMs stack up in terms of pricing, value and SMS features. Without further ado let’s jump into the crux of it. 

Klaviyo Logo

Klaviyo

Effective SMS marketing automation platform with user-friendly workflows.

$45+/mo

Pricing scales as you add more users and credits.

Top Choice

shape-logo-color

Shape

Overall best CRM for SMS & texting with robust features for seamless sales and marketing communication. 

$119/user/mo

Fixed pricing plan

Agile CRM logo

Agile CRM

A good sales and marketing platform with keyword text messaging.

$29.99+/mo

Price increases per plan and with credits

5 essential features every good SMS CRM should have

So, what makes a good CRM for SMS and texting? Below are some of what we believe to be the key features that define an effective tool. Each of these elements plays a crucial role in making managing text-based customer engagement efficient and effective.

5 ways SMS and text message CRMs can add value to your sales and marketing function

Having a CRM with texts and SMS capability can be a significant asset for any business, but what other advantages do they offer? The features below demonstrate just how much value adding a decent CRM with an array of messaging features can add. 

1. Seamless outreach with automation

With text message automation, businesses can send out messages effortlessly. For instance, a clinic can set up automatic appointment reminders, saving time and reducing no-shows.

2. Staying compliant with regulations

For businesses operating in multiple countries, CRMs that ensure compliance with SMS regulations like TCPA and GDPR are essential. They can tailor their text message campaigns to meet diverse legal requirements, avoiding penalties.

3. Engaging customers with two-way texting

CRMs with two-way SMS capabilities turn messages into interactive conversations. A retail store, for example, can quickly address customer inquiries via text, enhancing the overall customer service 

4. Quick feedback collection

Companies are using messaging capabilities in CRMs for rapid feedback collection. A restaurant, for example, might send a text survey to diners after their visit, encouraging immediate responses while their experience is fresh, leading to higher response rates and more actionable feedback.

5. Dual-channel outreach for increased reach

Companies are adopting a strategy that combines email with SMS maximize their chances of reaching customers or leads. For instance, if a marketing email goes unread, the same message can be followed up with a text, significantly increasing the likelihood of engagement. Texts have a much higher open rate, with some studies suggesting that texts are opened up to 98% of the time compared to emails' 20%, thereby doubling the chances of your message being seen and acted upon.

Alright, now that we've covered the essentials, let's delve a little deeper! In this section of the article, we’ll cover 6 of the best CRMs designed specifically for SMS and texting in 2024. 

Quick comparison of the top 6 best CRMs for SMS & Texting in 2024

Software Intro Price Differentiator
Shape
$119
Comprehensive and effective CRM for SMS with personalized message automation, bulk texting, and adherence to compliance rules
Klaviyo
$60
Advanced marketing automation platform with dynamic SMS subscribe links and cross-channel automation
Agile CRM
$8.99
Sales and marketing CRM with SMS automation, keyword texting, and GDPR compliance.
Close
$49
Features a built-in one-click SMS for on-the-go communication
ActiveCampaign
$29
Comprehensive SMS marketing automation with features like pre-built SMS recipes and two-way communication.
Keap
$45
Automates customer interactions through SMS, supporting personalized and bulk messaging campaigns.

1. Shape

Founded: 1999
HQ: Irvine, California, United States
Key info
Price: $119 per month
Free plan: No
Support: 24/7 (In-product support + email)
Best for
Businesses looking for a CRM with robust, efficient, and cost-effective SMS and texting capabilities.
Pros
+ Easily manage calls, texts, emails, and mass marketing campaigns all from one seamless platform.
+ Effortlessly prospect via email, text, and phone campaigns on large datasets.
+ Easy to track and manage all message conversations. 
Cons
- Some users may experience a steep learning curve, requiring extra time and effort.
- Although customer support is quick and helpful, it lacks phone support.
Integrations
Zapier, Salesmsg, ClickSend SMS, TextMagic, and many more.
Pricing Model
Sales & Marketing CRM: $119/user/mo
Point of Sale: $47/user/mo
Lead Funnels: $299/mo

Shape CRM is an easy to use, all-in-one system packed with CRM features designed to help small and medium-sized companies centralize their sales and marketing processes. These include SMS, texting and other communication tools that ensure you are always connected with clients.

Shape’s SMS automation particularly stands out for being very robust. With features like personalized bulk texting, automated texting campaigns, pre-built templates, and voice dictation, you can reach more prospects and convert more deals in a shorter time. 

Bulk messages are personalized in Shape through segmentation. Within the CRM, you can segment your contacts based on criteria like customer behavior, purchase history, or demographics and send them bulk messages that are relevant to each group. 

To add an extra layer of personalization, you can add relevant personal details such as recipient name, location, etc through placeholders, and each recipient will receive a version of the message that includes their specific information.

Shape CRM texting inbox

Shape doesn't just roll out messages indiscriminately, it also ensures your messages are delivered by adhering to compliance rules. This includes using throttling to regulate the rate of your bulk messages to one every 4 seconds in order to mimic normal human texting patterns.

Apart from throttling your messages, Shape is also compliant with 10 DLC Texting Compliance in North America and automatically handles opt-out and opt-in when a recipient replies with specific keywords.

This SMS CRM system also prioritizes your user experience with its text messaging inbox that allows you to see all your messages in one place so you can easily track all your conversations. But Shape’s text messaging inbox is more than just a centralized location, it supports 2-way communication, allowing you to text your customers directly from the list page. 

Shape CRM MMS template management

All you have to do is click on a chat, and a popup with your previous chat history will appear. You can reply either by creating a new message, choosing from an available template, or using the microphone for voice-to-text dictation. 

Despite all its packed features, Shape does not overlook the little details that capture your recipients’ attention such as photos, GIFs, and videos, and audio. You can attach these multimedia elements with MMS so your messages are not bland and you don't lose your recipient’s interest at first glance.

Shape’s pricing is straightforward. The Sales & Marketing CRM costs $119 per month and requires the communications package as an add-on at just $39 per month for call, text, and email marketing functionalities. 10DLC texting also attracts additional fees but considering the CRM’s comprehensive SMS capabilities, it is good value for money.

Ultimately, thanks to its packed features and ease of use, executing mass marketing via texts, calls, and emails on Shape is seamless. However, as expected from an all-in-one CRM system, some users experience a steep learning curve, requiring time and effort. But from user reviews, the quick and helpful customer support team quickly resolves this even though no phone support is available.

2. Klaviyo

Founded: 2012
HQ: Boston, Massachusetts, USA
Key Info
Price: Starts at $0
Free plan: Yes; Trial: No
Support: Email, Live Chat, Community
Best For
Small to medium businesses requiring advanced segmentation and automation capabilities in their SMS communications.
Pros
+ Carrier fees are built into the pricing
+ Offers auto-segmentation that categorizes customers based on data and attributes for efficient targeting.
+ The comprehensive SMS templates streamline messaging for convenience and effectiveness.
Cons
- Message credits do not roll over
- Billing can be complex
- Configuring settings like opt-ins can be hard for businesses that operate in several geographies.
Integrations
Zembula, Gorgias, Zendesk, etc
Pricing Model
Email & SMS: $20/month (Scales with usage)
Email: $35/month (Scales with usage)

Klaviyo is a marketing automation platform designed to help you engage with your customers where they are most active. Whether it’s over text or emails, it connects you with your most valuable customers faster. This CRM for texting includes features like subscription links, MMS, cross-channel automation, and more to help you build and strengthen customer relationships. 

With Klaviyo, adding customers to your sales pipeline is easy. It allows you to create shareable SMS subscribe links so you can gather new sign-ups through email CTAs, social media campaigns, and QR codes. And since many of your customers will be on mobile, Klaviyo provides dynamic text blocks that allow you to create one SMS sign-up form that automatically optimizes for mobile visitors. 

Once you have your list you can start sending prompt, personalized text messages in response to customers’ real-time behavior and data. Automating these responses is easier with the CRM’s 20+ prebuilt automation flows for multiple scenarios.

But what truly simplified the text messaging automation when we tested Klaviyo was its drag-and-drop flow builder. It is not only easy to use but also gives you complete control over your message sequences, allowing you to easily lay out each of your automation.

Klaviyo form creation window

That’s not all. Like Shape, Klaviyo ensures your texts are personalized by properly segmenting your customers. It has a segment builder that allows you to group your list and send your messages based on factors like predicted lifetime value, previous purchases, discount code usage, and other data. These segments update in real time so your messages are always relevant.

Klaviyo does not just send messages, it supports 2-way conversations by allowing you to respond to each customer in real-time whether directly through the CRM or through third-party integrations with Gorgias and Zendesk.

As expected from any credible CRM for SMS, Klaviyo is compliant with texting regulations across several countries, including GDPR, CCPA, TCPA, and PECR, as well as the Canadian, Australian, UK, and New Zealand Anti-spam legislation. 

Its SMS delivery technology operates via API which ensures seamless integration and reliable message delivery. This also supports the platform's broad compliance with several texting regulations.  

Klaviyo segment builder

Unlike several other providers we tested, Klavioy’s carrier fees are built into its pricing so before sending your messages, you know exactly how many credits you’ll use. However, this cost can run high causing several small business and startup users to point this challenge out in reviews. 

Credit costs per text message vary with location. For example, users in the US require 1 credit per SMS and 3 per MMS while those in Canada require 3 credits per SMS and 5 per MMS. 

When you are starting, it offers a generous free plan perfect for getting familiar with all the workings of the CRM. The free plan includes 150 free monthly SMS/MMS credits and any applicable carrier fees. 

Subsequently, you can upgrade to the E-mail and SMS plan that starts at $45 for up to 1500 contacts, 150 SMS and MMS credits, and at least 15,000 monthly email sends. This fee increases as you add more credits.

Altogether, Klaviyo shines for its auto-segmentation for efficient targeting, comprehensive SMS templates, as well as its built-in carrier fees. However, one major drawback is that message credits do not roll over. You can only use them within the designated period which is not ideal considering the high cost. Also, if your business operates in several geographical locations, configuring settings like opt-ins can be difficult

3. Agile CRM

Founded: 2013
HQ: HQ: Dallas, Texas, United States
Key info
Price: $8.99 per month
Free plan: Yes
Support: Phone & Email
Best for
Managing SMS workflows 
Pros
+ User-friendly interface allows easy navigation and quick access to crucial features
+ The CRM's advanced automation schedules targeted offers, boosting customer trust and attracting potential clients.
Cons
- Limited product training materials available for user education.
- Agile CRM isn't regularly updated, and the launch of 500apps may affect future developments. 
Integrations
Twilio, Plivo
Pricing Model
Starter: $8.99 per month
Regular: $29.99 per month
Enterprise: $47.99 per month

Agile is a comprehensive sales and marketing CRM designed specifically for small and midsize businesses. Powered by Twilio, Agile provides mobile marketing functionalities such as phone calls and SMS within the CRM to its customers.

It also provides SMS sales automation features like autoresponders, drip campaigns, and message scheduling as well as personalized messages.

To set up autoresponders, Agile CRM provides triggers to automatically send responses to leads and customers who display already specified behaviors. This could be follow-up messages, welcome messages, or confirmation messages. 

You can even define your campaigns to engage with your contacts throughout their life cycle. Building these workflows during our test was generally straightforward thanks to the drag-and-drop visual designer.  

Agile CRM dashboard

Personalizing your text messages on Agile can be done through custom fields, contact data, and customer behavior. The CRM comes with a variety of custom fields, such as first name, last name, company, and location that you can include to add a personal touch that yields a high response rate. 

Contact data like products owned and customer behavior are also helpful when segmenting your list. The CRM can automatically segment your customers based on these attributes and send relevant bulk messages to everyone in each segment. 

As we tested Agile, one of its clearly distinct features was the keyword text messaging. As the name implies, the CRM takes specified action once you receive a text message containing a certain keyword. It could be to immediately send a response based on that keyword or trigger a follow-up action for the support or sales rep. 

Agile CRM triggers setup

Despite being full-featured, Agile >integrates with 50 external applications, including email services and social media apps to extend its functionalities. It also houses all these features and integrations on a clean and simple CRM that doesn't feel cluttered. However, for a CRM that is feature-packed, Agile isn’t regularly updated which limits its adaptability to new market trends.

But what it lacks in frequent updates, it compensates by being compliant. Agile CRM is GDPR Compliant and generally puts compliance at the fore by implementing the required security requirements and tracking any changes in the GDPR implementation policy to ensure constant adherence Additionally, the CRM also sends you suggestions to help you understand and enforce the compliance obligations required for your business within Agile.

Agile has a free plan which unfortunately does not include mobile marketing. The three premium plans include a Starter, Regular, and Enterprise plan at $8.99, $29.99, and $47.99 per month respectively. However, SMS is only supported only in the $29.99 regular plan and upwards. It charges SMS based on credits and 1000 credits cost an additional $2 on your subscription plan.

Overall, with its user-friendly interface for easy navigation and feature-packed marketing automation, Agile well deserves a spot among the best CRM for SMS. However, getting started can be a little challenging because there are limited product training materials available for user education. The lack of regular updates can also affect its overall performance.

4. Close

Founded: 2013
HQ: San Francisco, California, United States
Key info
Price: Starts at $49 per month/user
Free plan: No; Trial: 14 days
Support: Phone, email & chat
Best for
Sales teams prioritizing efficient customer follow-ups through SMS
Pros
+ SMS, email, and calling functionalities are seamlessly integrated, reducing task management challenges
+ Easily track calls, SMS, and emails for all team members.
+ It can set reminders based on triggers for efficient follow-up processes.
Cons
- SMS feature is only available for the USA and Canada.
- Lack of proper notifications for incoming messages impacts real-time responsiveness.
Integrations
Zapier, TextMagic, Octopush SMS, StartADAM, HubSpot CRM and more.
Pricing Model
Startup: $49 per month/user
Professional: $299 per month/user
Enterprise: $699 per month/user

Next on our list of best CRMs with text message functionalities is Close. As a CRM built for sales teams, Close comes with a built-in one-click SMS feature that allows your sales teams to send SMS on the go. 

You don’t even have to switch between windows or multiple texting apps, you can read and respond to all your text messages without leaving your Close Inbox. In one click, you can start sending your SMS using a template or by crafting your message from scratch

Close also supports scheduling and campaigns. You can delay the send date and time until the best moment when your leads are most likely to engage. Additionally, you can leverage API bulk texting, multi-step workflows, follow-up triggers to take your outreach further.

Close is GDPR, CCPA, and SOC 2 Type 2 compliant so your data is safe. However, it not only complies with these regulations but also ensures that you meet the requirements as well. It requires you to register for A2P 10DLC before you can send text messages to the U.S.

Close CRM templates

Provisions like strong data protection controls to prevent unintended disclosure or misuse, industry-standard best information security practices, and rigorous testing to proactively fix bugs and vulnerabilities ensure this.

Close ensures bi-directional communication with customers through its Inbox. It also integrates limitedly with WhatsApp. Although it doesn’t offer a full WhatsApp integration, you can use a Close internal number as a WhatsApp number and create a WhatsApp workflow via Custom Activities.

Pricing within this CRM for texts is straightforward. SMS is automatically enabled for all users on any subscription plan which starts at $49. Close also provides activity insights, that give you an overview of your entire team’s usage and spending. We found this analytics feature particularly insightful when we evaluated CRM as it not only provides a clear understanding of your team’s strategies but also helps you optimize your resources. 

Costs per SMS start at $0.01 for each outgoing message in the U.S. and Canada which are the currently the only supported locations. However, these costs grow rapidly which quickly becomes a challenge for small businesses. 

That’s not all, most of the advanced features that make Close CRM worth a try are only available in the top-tier pricing plans adding to the already high expense for small businesses. For example, the $49 Startup plan is limited to 5 workflows. 

Close CRM phone and voicemail

More workflows require upgrading to the Professional at $299 which itself is limited to $25. When your business’s needs grow and you need more workflows, your next option is a $699 Enterprise plan.

Nevertheless, the platform has a 14 day free trial that gives you a feel of what to expect before deciding if it’s worth the commitment. 

Like Agile CRM, Close’s SMS provider is Twilio so it integrates SMS, email, and telephony functionalities seamlessly, reducing your chances of experiencing multitasking challenges when using the CRM platform. You can easily track your team members’ calls, emails, and text messages while also setting reminders for efficient follow-ups on other customer activities.

However, Close CRM’s SMS feature is only available for users in the USA and Canada. So, if you are located elsewhere or run a global business, you'll need to go for another option. The costs can also go up rapidly as you need more features which is a significant drawback for small businesses with limited budgets. 

5. Active Campaign

Founded: 2003
HQ: Chicago, Illinois, United States
Key info
Price: Starts at $29 per month
Free plan: No; Trial: 14 days
Support: Knowledge Base, Webinars, Email, Live Chat
Best for
Setting up complex SMS marketing sequences 
Pros
+ ActiveCampaign excels in creating complex marketing sequences with email, SMS, push notifications, and site messages.
+Intuitive UI and very easy to setup
Cons
- Unused credits do not carry over to the next period
- The SMS functionality can be problematic, with instances of inactive campaigns still sending messages
- The SMS feature does not support some important functionalities like scheduling
Integrations
Salesmsg, BulkSMS, 46elks, HubSpot CRM and many more. 
Pricing Model
Lite: $29 per month
Plus: $49 per month
Professional: $149 per month
Enterprise: $259 per month

ActiveCampaign’s major selling points are its comprehensive features and functionalities designed to help you engage with your customers and prospects effectively. 

These features include SMS marketing automation, pre-built SMS recipes, custom forms, and integrations with other marketing tools that make your marketing campaigns more efficient. For example,ActiveCampaign’s integration with Salesmsg enables two-way SMS and MMS communication.

Salesmsg is a bi-directional business text messaging platform that helps you send, receive, and manage SMS conversations either online or from your mobile device. With this integration, you can receive and send SMS and MMS messages, personalize your text messages, send bulk texts from your CRM automation, and record text messages and calls using Notes. 

These features and integrations are presented on ActiveCampaign’s user-friendly interface which is intuitive enough to help you create and manage large customer databases, segment your audience, and send them personalized campaigns.

ActiveCampaign automation

Automating your SMS marketing is as easy as adding in an SMS block as a step in your automation workflows to automatically send scheduled text notifications, campaigns, and follow-ups. By defining the precise delivery date and time schedule, you ensure that the messages roll out at the optimal day and time. 

ActiveCampaign also provides SMS Recipes such as New Subscribers, Event Reminders, Referral Generator, etc to save you valuable time in creating these sequences from scratch. All you have to do is import these recipes into your account and add a few changes to tailor them to your preference.

However, ActiveCampaign’s intuitive interface could not fully compensate for the core SMS functionality challenges we experienced during our test. For instance, there were instances of inactive campaigns still sending messages which could lead to confusion and miscommunication with your clients. 

Regarding CRM data security, ActiveCampaign constantly improves measures to adhere to and even exceed several compliance standards. It is compliant with A2P, 10DLC, GDPR, SOC 2, and HIPAA regulations so your customer information is safe.

ActiveCampaign workflows

Starting at $49 per month, you can access ActiveCampaign’s SMS add-on by subscribing to its Plus plan. This add-on costs an additional $21 and provides 1000 credits. It is also available as an add-on to the Professional and Enterprise plans that start at $149 and $259 per month respectively.

 Users on the Plus and Professional plans receive 25 free credits per month while Enterprise users receive 1,000 free credits per month. Like Klaviyo, these credits are only available for that month and do not roll over.

Ultimately, ActiveCampaign excels in setting up complex marketing sequences through email, SMS, push notifications, and site messages. Its intuitive UI makes these sequences very easy to set up. However, it is not very cost-effective as SMS functionality is only available on higher tier plans and unused credits do not carry over to the next period. The SMS functionality can also be problematic, with instances of inactive campaigns still rolling out messages. 

6. Keap

Founded: 2001
HQ: Chandler, Arizona
Key info
Price: Starts at $29 per month
Free plan: No; Trial: Available
Support: Webinars, Community, Livechat, Email, Phone
Best for
Tracking and reporting SMS campaign performance
Pros
+ Keap provides small business owners with systems for growth and scalability
+ It offers secure tracking of text conversations without reliance on the phone.
+ Robust automation capabilities
Cons
- Does not support photos, videos, or gifs (MMS)
- Has limited integrations
- Pricing is higher than most other products on the market
Integrations
Zapier, TextMagic, Gmail
Pricing Model
Pro: $159 per month
Max: $229 per month
Ultimate; $279 per month

Keap is a CRM with text messaging features tailored to help marketers and salespersons automate their customer interactions and increase their SMS response rates. 

It triggers automated SMS based on customers’ actions and ensures your messages are sent as early as possible by leveraging the customizable templates and automatic options. These messages are personalized to increase engagement using tag segmentation and merge fields that are automatically filled with specific data from customer records.

Keap can also help you send bulk messaging campaigns and track their results through its reporting tools. Like other text CRM software on this list, it supports two-way communications with contacts so as you receive replies to your automated and bulk messages, you can continue the conversation one-on-one. 

Keap dashboard

This feature is available in Keap’s Pro and Max plans at $159 and $229 per month each. They come with 150 and 250 monthly text message credits after which you are charged $0.015 per text message. These credits do not roll over to the following month. 

With the base plan starting at $159 monthly, Keap’s pricing is on the high side and not a cost-effective option for small or midsize businesses. Still, you can try the 14-day free trial to try out its functions before making a decision. 

Keap’s SMS feature is only available in the US and Canada and is compliant with both countries’ prohibitions on contents like sale or promotion of controlled substances, debt and credit relief offers, secret shopper advertisements, etc. 

Keap contacts

It also complies with the opt-in and opt-out regulations by providing a clear way for your recipients to provide or revoke consent to receive your text messages. This ensures the deliverability of all your messages. 

One aspect that Keap CRM truly excels at, as we noticed while evaluating it, is user-friendliness. All its features are easy to set up and use, from sending trigger-based messages and bulk SMS to tracking conversations. 

Although Keap is designed to provide small business owners with a scalable CRM solution, its pricing is higher than most other products on the market, which arguably contradicts its aim of catering to small businesses. Additionally, it does not support photos, videos, gifs, or any MMS elements. This tiny detail can limit the versatility and appeal of your text messages for certain marketing strategies.

Wrapping up

As we conclude our exploration of the best CRMs for SMS and texting in 2024, we've offered you a comprehensive overview of the top tools in this space, each boasting unique capabilities such as text message automation, compliance with regulations, and two-way communication. What's next? We suggest diving into demos or free trials, and meticulously going through user reviews to identify the CRM that aligns best with your business requirements. This hands-on experience will provide a clearer understanding of each tool's features and user experience, aiding you in making a well-informed decision. In today's fast-paced business environment, the right CRM for SMS and texting can significantly enhance your communication strategies and keep you a step ahead. We hope this guide serves as a valuable resource in your search for the perfect CRM solution.

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Our Top Pick - Shape

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4.8/5 - from 2,000+ reviews

All-in-one software for marketing, sales, customer service, CRM, and operations. Improve communication and maximize your business.

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Please note: All pricing mentioned in this article is based on information available as of 04-02-2024 and sourced from the respective companies' public pricing pages. While we strive for accuracy, we recommend verifying with the specific company for the most up-to-date details.

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Top 6 Best CRMs For iOS (iPhone & iPad) in 2024

Looking for a CRM that works great with your iOS device? You've come to the right place! In this extensive guide, we’ll spotlight the CRMs that are not just available on iOS, but are finely tuned to thrive on your Apple devices. We're delving into CRM apps that offer more than just compatibility – they bring a seamless, integrated experience whether you're on an iPhone or iPad. Our focus here is on user-friendly interfaces that make managing customer relationships a breeze on the go. We’ll also evaluate the effectiveness of push notifications to keep you updated with crucial CRM tasks, and the efficiency of data synchronization across your Apple devices and other platforms. Plus, we're diving into user reviews and ratings on the Apple App Store to give you the real scoop on how these apps perform in the hands of actual users.

Logo of Nutshell CRM

Nutshell CRM

Robust iOS CRM for field sales teams

$16+/mo

Price increases per plan

Top Choice

shape-logo-color

Shape

Comprehensive mobile CRM for on-the-productivity

$119/user/mo

Fixed pricing plan

Logo of Zoho CRM

ZOHO CRM

Customizable mobile CRM for small businesses

$0-45+/mo

Free plan available, premium starts at $12

5 features every iOS CRM app should include

So, what makes a good CRM for iOS? Below are some of what we believe to be the key features that define an effective iOS CRM app. Each of these elements plays a crucial role in ensuring the CRM app not only fits into the iOS ecosystem but also makes life managing your business on the go just that much easier on iOS. 

5 benefits of using a CRM with a dedicated iOS app

Having access to your CRM from your pocket is clearly a massive productivity booster, but what other benefits can have a portable CRM provide? Let's explore how an efficient iOS CRM app not only enhances productivity but also enriches client interactions, ensures real-time data accuracy, and streamlines your workflow, even when you're on the move.

1. On the go access

With an efficient CRM app for iOS, you can access crucial customer data anytime, anywhere. For example, your salespeople in the field can instantly retrieve a client's history or update deal status right from their iPhone, ensuring they're always informed and responsive.

2. Real-time data updates

An iOS CRM app allows for immediate updating and retrieval of data. When a team member adds new client information on their iPad, it's instantly available across all devices. This feature is crucial for teams who need the most current data at their fingertips, whether they're in the office or on the move.

3. Enhanced customer interaction

iOS CRM apps facilitate better customer engagement by providing all necessary client information on the spot. For example, before a meeting, you can quickly review client details on an iOS device to personalize the conversation, making each client interaction more effective and meaningful.

4. Immediate data entry and retrieval

Sales teams can enter data into the CRM immediately after a client meeting, while details are still fresh. This means more accurate and comprehensive handling of data capture, improving the quality of information in the CRM.

5. Streamlined workflow

With functionalities like push notifications, iOS CRM apps keep users updated with important tasks and deadlines. A manager might receive an alert for a pending approval or an upcoming client meeting, helping to streamline workflow and prioritize tasks effectively while on the go.

Quick comparison of the 6 Best CRMs for iOS in 2024

Software Intro Price Differentiator
Shape
$119
All-in-one CRM, excelling in mobile capabilities for seamless on-the-go productivity.
Nutshell
$16
Interactive map view for lead tracking on the go.
Zoho CRM
$0
Feature-rich iOS app, offering interactive interfaces, offline access, and seamless data synchronization.
Pipedrive
$9.90
Flexible CRM allowing customization of multiple sales pipelines.
Freshsales
$0
Comprehensive iOS app offering desktop-level features for on-the-go sales management
Salesforce Sales Cloud 
$25
Streamlined iOS app enriched by Einstein Analytics for intelligent pipeline management

1. Shape

Founded: 1999
HQ: Irvine, California, United States
Key Info
Price: $119/user/mo
Free plan: No
Support: 24/7 (In-product support + email)
Best For
Professionals needing efficient mobile client management and integrated communication on iOS devices
Pros
+ The mobile app efficiently handles daily tasks and appointments, ensuring a seamless user experience.
+ Receive instant notifications to stay informed about everything relevant to your needs.
+ The app's user-friendly interface ensures ease of use for all users.
Cons
- Steep learning curve
- The app currently lacks task management support, but it is in the development roadmap
Integrations
Outlook, Gmail, Quickbooks, Zapier, Calendly, and many more
Pricing Model
Sales & Marketing CRM: $119/user/mo
Point of Sale: $47/user/mo
Lead Funnels: $299/mo

Shape is an all-in-one, industry-wide CRM using advanced automation to simplify and organize everyday work. It offers an iOS app with all the important CRM features from the desktop version to help maintain productivity even when you’re on-the-go. Your prioritized views, notes, contacts, and messages are all accessible on the app even without Wi-Fi so you are always on top of your leads.

The CRM’s timely and customizable push notifications also ensure you don't miss any important updates and can respond in real time. This, along with the ability to sync across all your iOS devices in real-time when connected to the internet means you can switch between devices without any interruption in your workflow. Shape does a good job operating with many iOS devices. It is compatible with iPhone, iPad, and iPod touch with iOS 12.0 or later, Mac with macOS 11.0 or later, as well as a Mac with Apple M1 chip or later.

Shape mobile App leads view

One of the defining features of Shape’s iOS app is the built-in communications center, which includes in-app calls, text messages, and email integration. This feature allows you to make calls, view missed calls, record conversations, and check voicemail messages, all within the app, removing the need for a separate phone system. Not just calls, you can also manage your incoming and outgoing text messages and emails in one centralized location.

What’s more? Shape is soon to add task management functionality within the iOS app. In the upcoming app update, task and project management features will be added, allowing you to organize projects, set deadlines, and update task statuses directly on Shape CRM for iOS.

All the features are easily accessible through the app’s sleek, intuitive, and user-friendly interface. Many users find the mobile app helpful and convenient for on-the-go use, generally describing it as user-friendly and easy to navigate. They especially appreciate how easy it is to log calls and enter leads within the app. 

Shape mobile app calling page

This ease of use in addition to its wide range of features earned it a 4.2 rating on the App Store. Summing up the app’s performance, a satisfied user said 

“The Shape mobile app is a lifesaver! I can easily call, text, and email my customers. I especially use the texting feature more than anything and also to follow up on my newly updated accounts in the prioritized pipeline views. My internet went out recently and I was able to pick up my work right from my phone while the internet connection was being fixed”

At $119 monthly, you’ll have access to Shape’s complete sales and marketing CRM as well as the iOS app at no additional charge. Ultimately, with Shape’s CRM for iOS, you can seamlessly handle daily tasks and appointments, receive instant notifications, and stay informed on everything relevant to your needs, while also enjoying its ease of use. 

In the words of one of its many users, it is the perfect software for organizing and managing contacts and projects. Although the app doesn't support task management at the moment, the feature is in the roadmap.

2. Nutshell

Founded: 2009
HQ: Michigan, USA
Key Info
Price: $16 per user per month
Free plan: No; Trial: 14 Days
Support: Live chat (All Users), Phone support (Enterprise Users only)
Best For
Field sales agents needing mobile lead tracking, business card scanning, and seamless iOS integration.
Pros
+ Mobile App features an interactive map for viewing leads.
+ Seamless integration between mobile App and desktop CRM.
+ Simplifies contact addition via business card scanning.
Cons
- The mobile app doesn't display all CRM information, limiting its overall usability.
- Adding leads involves multiple steps, impacting the efficiency of simple tasks.
- App navigation is not intuitive
Integrations
Zapier, Microsoft Outlook, Gmail, HubSpot CRM and several others
Pricing Model
Foundation: $16 per user per month
Pro: $42 per user per month
Power AI: $52 per user per month
Enterprise: $67 per user per month

Nutshell is another customer relationship management software with an iOS app that helps you stay on top of every lead regardless of your location. It has a great map visualization feature that is perfect for tracking your hottest leads by viewing your saved lead lists on a smooth-scrolling and zoomable map.

Once you are logged into the app, you can instantly view and edit your contact and lead information, start new calls and emails in one click, and even create new leads using the business card scanner. The business card scanner is one of Nutshell’s iPhone CRM app’s standout features. All you have to do is scan a business card using your phone’s camera, and the app will automatically capture and add the contact's details to your lead database. 

Nutshell mobile app is also compatible with many iOS devices including iPhones and iPod touch with iOS 12.4 or later, Macs with macOS 11.0 or later and Macs with Apple M1 chip or later. You can sync all your activities across all these supported iOS devices as long as you are connected to the internet. Unfortunately, Nutshell is not compatible with iPad devices but the website has a responsive design and can be accessed from iPads. Additionally, the Nutshell iOS app supports mobile notifications and gives you control over the types of updates you receive so you are always responsive even when on the move. 

Nutshell mobile app home page

Comparing Nutshell’s PC version to the mobile app during our test, it was clear that the desktop version greatly outshines the mobile app. The iOS app is not as intuitive and non-tech-savvy users may find it hard to use. 

On the app store, it has a 3.4/5 score with many users saying the mobile app is not as powerful as the desktop version. 

A user said “The nutshell mobile app definitely isn’t as powerful as the desktop but the biggest annoyance for me is that it doesn’t have the emails functionality built in like the emails tab in the bottom left of the desktop nav bar. If you open a contact and click their email address, nothing happens. Wish nutshell would bring full email functionality including open tracking to the app.”

Nutshell mobile app maps view

Nutshell offers a 14-day trial after which you’ll need to commit to a paid plan starting at $16 monthly to retain your access. 

Overall Nutshell Mobile App’s interactive map view of leads, effortless business card scanning, and seamless integration between the mobile and desktop CRM make it one of the best CRM app for iphone. But when compared to the PC version, the mobile app is not as intuitive. Simple tasks like adding leads take several steps and it does not display all the information from the CRM, limiting its usability. 

3. Zoho CRM

Founded: 2005
HQ: Austin, Texas, United States; Chennai India
Key Info
Price: Starts at $0
Free plan: Yes; Trial: 14 days
Support: Phone, email & chat
Best For
Small businesses needing mobile CRM with customizable modules and seamless data synchronization.
Pros
+ App can be customized to meet specific business requirements.
+ Can access records remotely for on-the-go information retrieval.
+ Ensures seamless data synchronization, reducing manual sync needs.
Cons
- Users encounter bugs and frequent crashes, affecting the app's stability.
- The app lacks visual graphics, such as charts, in the analytics section.
- Limited features and capabilities, especially on iPad, reduce the mobile app's utility.
Integrations
Salesforce, SugarCRM, OneDrive, and many more
Pricing Model
Standard: $12 per user/month
Professional: $20 per user/month
Enterprise: $35 per user/month
Ultimate: $45 per user/month

Zoho’s straightforward user interface, customizable modules, and automation tools make it a great fit for small businesses of any kind. Their iOS app offers a dynamic, interactive interface, push notifications, offline access, and the ability to sync data across all your devices making it perfect for field sales.

Due to how hectic and time-sensitive sales reps' activities are, tracking sales activities can be quite challenging. Zoho simplifies this by making crucial information such as deal details, relevant customer data, and contact history for tactical sales pitches, readily available with just a quick look at the app. 

However, when we evaluated Zoho’s CRM for iphone, we noticed that it lacked visual graphics like charts and graphs in the analytics section which can hinder decision-making. But what it lacks in visual data representation, it makes up for in contact management and ‘Nearby Me’ search features.

Zoho Mobile CRM leads view

Zoho has a powerful global search feature that helps you look up any contact information within the app and put through a call to them instantly. These calls can be logged, and you can jot down important details by adding notes. Alternatively, you can record voice notes and convert them to text. 

As the name implies, the nearby me search feature helps you locate prospects near you. The feature shows you who they are, their organization's location on the map, website links, and other necessary information you’ll need to analyze before reaching out. It even shows the best sales route to reach their location so your team don't spends much time on the road and more time selling.

Zoho CRM for iOS is compatible with iPhones, iPads, and iPod touch with iOS 14.0 or later. Although it offers many of the features from the desktop version, like Nutshell CRM, its performance also falls behind the desktop app, especially on iPad.  

Zoho Mobile CRM account management view

Zoho's desktop CRM system provides a comprehensive experience due to its integration with over 40 different applications. Replicating this in the CRM for ipad is challenging which explains why the iOS app does not have all the functionalities available on the desktop. 

Despite this, the app remains highly functional, especially with features like map functionality and activity feeds. Additionally, it pulls majorly positive reviews from users who are not trying to mirror every aspect of the desktop experience on mobile device as reflected in its 4.4/5 score on the app store.

As a CRM for small businesses, Zoho offers a free CRM as well as paid plans between $12 to $45. With the most expensive below $50 monthly, it is an affordable choice for small businesses.

Altogether, the Zoho iOS app offers important features like remote access to records, seamless data synchronization between different systems, and customization to suit your specific business needs. On the flip side, it falls short in features and capabilities, especially on iPad, and there have been several reports from users about bugs and frequent crashes.

4. Pipedrive

Founded: 2010
HQ: New York, United States
Key info
Price: Starts at $14.90
Free plan: No; Trial: 14 Days
Support: 24/7 Email and Chat
Best for
Businesses on the move that need advanced mobile deal management.
Pros
+ Effortlessly manage deals on the go with user-friendly features.
+ Pipedrive mobile app grants access to the sales pipeline.
+ Teams collaborate conveniently with on-the-go status updates and notes.
Cons
Users face app freezes, crashes, and slow syncing issues.
- Limited search capabilities are reported by users.
- The mobile app's intuitiveness falls short compared to the desktop version.
Integrations
Zapier, Xero, Quickbooks, QuarterOne, and many more
Pricing Model
Essential: $9.90 per month (one user)
Advanced: $19.90 per month (one user)
Professional: $39.90 per month (one user)
Power: $49.90 per month (one user)
Enterprise: $59.90 per month (one user)

Pipedrive is a flexible CRM that allows you to create multiple sales pipelines. Each of these sales pipelines can be customized with adaptable stages making them suitable for different products or services.

Pipedrive’s iOS app is full of useful CRM features like a mapping feature, calendar view, email marketing templates, sales automation, activities list, call logs, and more.

The mapping feature and calendar view stood out during our test. The former displays deals or contacts with physical addresses on a virtual map using the Google Maps API while the latter provides an interesting way of viewing all of a salesperson’s CRM activities. 

Pipedrive mobile App calendar view

The calendar view saves you time on planning as you can easily see important information like upcoming phone calls, meetings, unread emails, and be able to manage your schedule better. The CRM also has a search bar that provides quick access to any information. This could come in handy when preparing for meetings or looking up specific lead, deal, or contact information.

That’s not all. You can stay updated on any owned or followed deals, people, and organizations’ progress in real-time just by enabling push notifications. These notifications are not intrusive. You can choose which notifications you receive and how they are delivered.

However, our test revealed that Pipedrive’s iPhone and iPad app has the same limitations as many mobile CRMs on this list. It is less intuitive compared to the desktop version as several tasks require several clicks impacting our overall user experience.

Pipedrive is compatible with iPhones and iPads with iOS 16.0 or later as well as Macs with macOS 13.0 or later and those with Apple M1 chip or later. You can sync across all these devices when you are connected to the internet. 

Pipedrive CRM - Deals

Pipedrive has a 3.8 out of 5-star rating on the App Store, with many users noting that despite its efficiency, it doesn't get a 5-star rating due to the lack of some important features, such as “activities custom filtering”.

The software offers a generous 14-day free trial, after which you’ll have to subscribe for one of their paid subscription plans between $9.90 and $59.90 per month. 

Overall, Pipedrive’s iOS CRM software is effective for managing deals and encouraging team collaboration on the go, thanks to its ability to conveniently update status and notes. However, it comes with limited search and filtering capabilities and is overall less intuitive when compared to the desktop version.

5. Freshsales

Founded: 2010
HQ: San Mateo, California, United States
Key Info
Price: Starts at $0
Free plan: Yes; Trial: 15 days
Support: Email, phone, chat
Best For
Businesses seeking a versatile mobile CRM offering insights, customizable alerts, and user-friendly interface
Pros
+ The interface is clean and functional, avoiding unnecessary features overload.
+ Provide easy access to client contact information.
+ The mobile app is available in the free plan.
Cons
- Users report various bugs and glitches affecting the app's performance.
- The reporting feature lacks accuracy and reliability.
- Contact and call tracking features are not robust.
Integrations
Google workspace, Zapier, Segment, Shopify, Typeform and many more
Pricing Model
Growth: $15/month
Pro: $39/month
Enterprise: $69/month

Freshsales’ iOS app offers an impressive range of desktop features for managing your contacts, deals, and accounts on the go, while also staying in touch with your prospects and team. 

These features include sales activities, push notifications, key metrics, and reports. With the Freshsales mobile app, you can track all your sales activities and identify those that lead to more conversions through reports. 

Freshsales calendar view

The insights from these reports help you streamline your sales process and close deals faster. You are also updated on all your deal’s details even when offline through push notifications so you can schedule follow-up activities immediately regardless of where you are.   

To prevent getting overwhelmed by numerous notifications, you can configure your app to only send alerts for specific events. 

The key metrics dashboard stood out when we tested Pipedrive. It gives you instant access to relevant information on your assigned deals and also removes the need to scroll through long lists of deals and leads when trying to identify who to contact. 

You can easily use filters to pinpoint the right set of contacts and ensure that they don’t slip off. For example, it shows you your warmest deals so you can send emails or make calls at the right time to move them to the next stage.

Freshsales Mobile CRM app UI

Freshsales also offers other features that add an extra touch and increase its versatility, such as the ability to make voice recordings. This can come in handy during meetings when you are unable to type summaries on your keyboard.

This iOS app is compatible with multiple devices such as iPhones, iPads, and iPod touch with iOS 13.0 or later. 

Despite all its features, Freshsales is user-friendly, thanks to its clean and functional interface, which is not overloaded with unnecessary features. However, users have reported several bugs, causing the app to be slow at times.

Pricing starts at $0, as it offers a free plan with limited sales and communication features for small teams with a maximum of 3 users. To accommodate more users and access more advanced features like multiple sales pipelines and custom sales activities, you’ll need to upgrade to one of the paid plans between $15 to $69 monthly.

Altogether, Pipedrive's clean interface, easy access to contact information, and a free plan that includes access to the mobile app earn it a spot on this list. It also boasts of a 4.5/5 rating on the App Store, as a testament to its ease of use and effectiveness. 

However, like other iOS CRMs, it has its drawbacks. Many users report experiencing various bugs and glitches, which negatively affect the overall user experience and can cause the app to run slowly. Additionally, the reporting feature sometimes produces inaccurate results making it unreliable.

6. Salesforce Sales Cloud

Founded: 1999
HQ: San Francisco, California, United States
Key Info
Price: Starts at $25
Free plan: No; Trial: 30 Days
Support: Phone & Email
Best For
Data driven businesses that want to optimize their sales process with AI powered automation and analytics
Pros
+ The user-friendly app is easy to navigate, ensuring a seamless experience.
+ Captures real-time data from clients efficiently.
+ Organizes and provides real-time client information effectively.
Cons
Users report frequent app crashes, impacting overall user experience.
- Limited offline access is noted by users.
- Challenges in uploading documents/photos have been reported by users.
Integrations
isolar and over 3000 other apps
Pricing Model
Essentials: $25 per month for one user
Professional: $75 per month for one user
Enterprise: $150 per month for one user
Ultimate: $300 per month for one user

Salesforce Sales Cloud has a simple mobile version designed to offer a streamlined user experience. With the partnership with Einstein Analytics, you can leverage AI to manage your pipelines and sell products smartly.

The software also has a Sales Inbox that automates several administrative tasks and helps your sales reps focus on selling and maximizing each opportunity that comes their way. For instance, it suggests follow-ups for emails so that you never miss a chance to exploit important deals. 

Salesforce lead filtering

Then with the ability to create custom push notifications, you can receive timely reminders and alerts related to these follow-ups, and other activities that are crucial to your sales process. 

Many users who already use the Salesforce Sales Cloud desktop version appreciate the accessibility the Salesforce mobile app provides. In fact, some say that the mobile layouts support more customization.

However, like every Salesforce product, the major drawback with the iPhone app is that the price goes up with each added feature. For instance, to access Salesforce’s mobile mapping features, you’ll need to subscribe to Salesforce Maps, which starts at an extra $75 per user per month.

It also has many third-party apps to scan business cards but they come with a lot of unnecessary features and cost at least $8 a month.

Salesforce opportunity view

Although all the apps on Salesforce’s AppExchange are also accessible from the iOS app, their functionalities may vary due to the limitations of the mobile CRM experience. Only a few tasks allow offline access as activities such as global search list views, and creating Salesforce events, require internet access

Available on iPhone, iPad, and iPod touch with iOS 15.0 or later, the Salesforce iOS app boasts of a 4.7/5 rating on App Store. It is user-friendly and easy to navigate, captures real-time data from clients, and organizes it effectively to provide up-to-date client information. 

However, during our testing, we experienced difficulties in uploading documents and photos which could pose a problem when updating client records. Additionally, the app offers limited offline challenges which restricts its usability when you are in locations without internet access. 

Wrapping up

As we wrap up our guide to the best CRMs for iOS in 2024, we've given you a snapshot of the most efficient CRM apps on the market, each offering unique features like offline access, integrated communication, and real-time synchronization. Next steps? We recommend you dive deep into demos or free trials, and scour through user reviews on the App Store to find the perfect match for your business needs. This hands-on approach will give you a real feel for each app's interface and functionality, helping you make an informed decision. In the ever-mobile world of business, the right iOS CRM can be a game-changer in managing your customer relationships and staying ahead of the curve. We hope this article has been useful to you!

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Our Top Pick - Shape

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4.8/5 - from 2,000+ reviews

All-in-one software for marketing, sales, customer service, CRM, and operations. Improve communication and maximize your business.

Please note: All pricing mentioned in this article is based on information available as of 02-02-2024 and sourced from the respective companies' public pricing pages. While we strive for accuracy, we recommend verifying with the specific company for the most up-to-date details.

Need more business advice? Take your pick from one of our many well-researched articles

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Top 6 Best CRMs For Customer Service in 2024

In the fast-paced and often hectic realm of customer service, utilizing a good CRM system is essential, going beyond simple email and ticket management to become a vital tool for streamlined and organized customer interactions. A quality customer service CRM should offer advanced ticket management, adeptly tracking and resolving customer issues, while also integrating a comprehensive view of customer interactions across various channels. In this extensive guide, we'll explore 6 CRMs that provide agents with features like integrated knowledge base articles, real-time communication tools like live chat and team wide support tickets and macros, ensuring prompt and effective customer engagement. A top-tier CRM should also excel in multi-channel support, seamlessly managing interactions whether through email, phone, or social media, all within a unified platform. Furthermore, in the age of AI and machine learning, a good CRM should come with features like smart chatbots and predictive analytics. It is vital for a CRM to not just react to customer needs but proactively enhance the customer service experience. In this extensive article, we’ve done the hard work for you and delve into the top 6 CRMs that stand out in these areas, offering insights to help you find the ideal tool to elevate your team’s customer service game.

Intercom_logo

Intercom

A comprehensive CRM offering seamless customer experience

$39+/mo

Has several pricing tiers

Top Choice

shape-logo-color

Shape

Most powerful, feature packed CRM for customer service

$119/user/mo

Fixed pricing plan

HubSpot

Robust CRM for optimizing customer service processes

$18+/mo

Pricing scales as you increase number of contacts and features

Top 5 most effective ways to utilize a customer service CRM

CRMs open up a myriad of possibilities for enhancing workflow and boosting customer service efficiency. In this section, we'll explore the five most common and impactful ways to utilize a customer service CRM. Each method is designed not just to streamline your customer service operations but to transform them into a more customer-centric and effective process. 

10 key features of a high-performance customer Service CRM

Each of the features below will not only streamline various customer service processes but also significantly enhance overall efficiency and effectiveness. From sophisticated ticket management systems to seamless multi-channel communication and real-time analytics, these features work together to create a harmonious and productive customer service environment. Whether you're in the market for a new CRM or looking to upgrade your current system, understanding these key components will help you make an informed decision and ensure your CRM is a powerful ally in delivering exceptional customer service.

1. Ticket management system

Let’s start with the basis, ticket management features allow for efficient tracking and resolution of customer inquiries. By categorizing and prioritizing tickets, a CRM streamlines the workflow, ensuring timely responses and better issue tracking, leading to increased customer satisfaction.

2. Multi-channel communication

A good CRM should integrate various communication channels like email, phone, social media, and live chat. This creates a unified approach to customer interactions, allowing your service teams to switch between channels seamlessly and maintain conversation histories for better context.

3. Automated responses and workflows

Automation features help in responding to common queries instantly and managing repetitive tasks efficiently. This reduces the workload on customer service teams and ensures consistent communication with customers.

4. Customer interaction history

Keeping a comprehensive log of all past interactions with customers enables service agents to provide more personalized and informed support. This feature streamlines the process of retrieving CRM data, saving time and enhancing the quality of customer interactions.

5. Knowledge base integration

Access to a well-organized knowledge base within the CRM allows agents to quickly find solutions and information, speeding up the resolution process and ensuring consistent and accurate responses to customer inquiries.

6. Customizable dashboards and reporting

Dashboards that can be tailored to show key metrics and reports help in monitoring performance, tracking customer service trends, and making data-driven decisions. This feature brings efficiency by providing insights into areas needing improvement.

7. Mobile accessibility

A CRM with mobile support ensures that service teams can access information and respond to customers on the go. This increases flexibility and responsiveness, essential in today’s fast-paced business environment.

8. Real-Time analytics

Real-time analytics provide immediate insights into customer interactions and service efficiency. This feature helps in quick decision-making and adapting strategies to meet customer needs more effectively.

9. Collaboration tools

Features that facilitate collaboration among team members, such as shared inboxes or note-taking capabilities, enhance the efficiency of handling customer inquiries. This ensures a coordinated approach and prevents duplication of efforts.

10. Customer feedback and survey integration

Having a system to collect and analyze customer feedback directly within the CRM enables businesses to gauge customer satisfaction and identify areas for service improvement. This feature is vital for continuous improvement and maintaining high service standards.

So no you know how to get the most out of your CRM, let’s get to the good stuff! Our top picks for 2024.

Quick comparison of the top 6 CRMs for customer support

Software Intro Price Differentiator
Shape
$119
Advanced AI powered CRM offering instant and personalized customer support
Intercom
$39
Provides consistent brand experience with customizable messenger and omni channel support
HubSpot CRM
$0
Offers insights for ongoing customer service improvement by capturing voice data with Conversation AI.
Engagebay
$0
Offers a free service bay with a comprehensive ticketing system for small businesses
Zoho CRM
$0
Enhances self-service and reduces the support team's workload through its community feature
GIST
$0
Integrates conversation management, a knowledge base, and AI bot for rapid issue resolution and decreased response times

The top 6 best CRMs for customer service in 2024 are: 

1. Shape

Founded: 1999
HQ: Irvine, California, United States
Key info
Price: $119 per month
Free plan: No
Support: 24/7 (In-product support + email)
Best for
Businesses seeking an efficient CRM for customer service across multiple channels with AI-driven solutions.
Pros
+ Shape Software streamlines tasks, creating custom workflows for time efficiency.
+ Seamless out-of-the-box functionality.
+ Features include call tracking and power dialer for enhanced communication.
Cons
- Some users may feel a learning curve
Integrations
Quickbooks, GMail, Outlook, Zapier, Calendly, WordPress, and more
Pricing Model
Sales & Marketing CRM: $119/user/mo
Point of Sale: $47/user/mo
Lead Funnels: $299/mo

Shape CRM is an all-in-one marketing, sales, and service solution that lets you manage all your customer service interactions across multiple channels, including emails, calls and text messages. It provides detailed activity logs of all these interactions across all these channels so you can track, analyze, and get full context on them when coming up with your response. 

Although the CRM has no ticket management features for tracking customer issues, the complete context your detailed activity log adds to every support query makes up for it.

Customer inquiries can arise anytime, and the absence of a 24/7 service can leave them stranded until business hours resume. This can be a major problem if you have a global client base across multiple time zones. 

Shape CRM partner management

Shape gets ahead of this concern by providing a searchable knowledge base you can integrate into your CRM. It can contain articles, guides, tutorials, etc, that give your customers instant access to information without directly contacting or waiting on a customer service agent, reducing your workload and leading to faster resolutions.

Even with a knowledge base, many customers might prefer the personalization that comes with real-time and one-on-one service, and Shape also comes to the rescue. The CRM includes real-time communication features like instant messaging and outbound dialing for phone calls. 

You can respond to customer phone call requests either through a web phone or via call forwarding. The former involves dialing from within your internet browser, while call forwarding involves routing their calls to an external desk or cell phone. Once you log into your CRM, a webphone popup automatically launches through which you can make and receive calls. 

Shape CRM AI suite

With AI being all the rage, it is only logical for the best CRM for customer service to integrate this advanced technology into its platform. Many customers are already familiar with the instant solutions AI tools offer and would expect the same level of service from their service providers. 

Shape caters to these needs through AI chatbots. Backed by an extensive database from your knowledge base and analytical ability, these AI chatbots provide instant, accurate answers to your customers’ queries. 

Shape AI takes speedy resolutions another step further. Your customers would not need to peruse long articles before they locate the answers to their questions. Instead, they can get insights, solve problems, and make informed decisions in a few minutes.

At $119 per month, Shape CRM does a great job at increasing your efficiency across multiple channels and is worth the investment. The CRM's 24/7 knowledge base and AI chatbots resolve the need for round-the-clock service, especially for global clients. Although you might encounter a steep learning curve when setting up the CRM platform, Shape’s interface is famous for being user-friendly, and the customer support has a 4.7/5 rating on G2. You’re in good hands!

2. Intercom

Founded: 2011
HQ: San Francisco, California, United States
Key info
Price: Starts at $39 per month
Free plan: No; Trial: 14 days
Support: Email & chat
Best for
Contact centers handling customer interactions across various channels, with a focus on simplicity and automation.
Pros
+ Facilitates team collaboration with many useful features.
+ Manages customers effortlessly, with a simple and adaptable UI.
+ Ensures organizational efficiency even while managing hundreds of customers.
Cons
- Additional charges apply for omni-channel communications based on usage.
- Mobile app lacks key features, such as chat subject line and limited notes capability.
- System occasionally glitches, exhibiting some bugs.
Integrations
Zapier, Mailchimp, Salesforce, Pipedrive, and many more
Pricing Model
Essential: $39 per seat/mo
Advanced: $99 per seat/mo
Expert: $139 per seat/mo

Intercom's customer service CRM solution uses its automation and messaging capabilities to improve both customer experience and the support team’s efficiency. Upon testing the platform, we immediately found the conversational interface and workflows simple and easy to navigate, making communicating with customers both easy and natural. 

The platform includes a customizable Intercom Messenger, a feature that complements your existing support tools and integrates seamlessly with your website, app, or product. This integration allows customers to easily send requests through the messenger, enabling your support team to track, collaborate, and promptly resolve these requests in one centralized location. 

Apart from Messenger, Intercom also accommodates customers who reach out through other communication channels like WhatsApp, Instagram, email, and SMS. You can link these channels to your CRM system, directing all messages to the Intercom smart inbox where service agents can view the customer's full interaction history across multiple channels. Having a complete view of all the customer’s interactions ensures that you are providing them with a consistent brand experience at every touch point.

For DIY customers, Intercom provides self-service options through the knowledge base. The knowledge base reduces the load on your support team by providing users access to reliable answers and information even outside business hours. So, even when your team is away, your customers are not left stranded. 

The best part is if you have a global audience, you can create translated versions of your articles in multiple languages and the platform automatically matches these content to your customer's browser language. That way, language is not a barrier in serving your audience.

Intercom CRM inbox

The content in your knowledge base can be optimized for the various channels your customers use, including your website, mobile app, or in-product messages, and with Messenger integrated into each article, customers can easily start a conversation if they need additional help. If it’s a complex issue, you can instantly convert this conversation into a ticket and manage it efficiently with Intercom’s robust ticket-handling system. 

This ticketing system facilitates back-office collaboration, and team communication, and provides real-time updates to customers. So all hands can be on deck with your back office team to efficiently resolve complex issues without losing context.

That’s not all, Intercom also offers real-time communication through its AI chatbot, Fin. According to Intercom, Fin can resolve 50% of your support questions instantly by providing accurate, automated responses from your knowledge base, allowing your team to concentrate on more complex interactions.

You can also automate repetitive tasks through the no-code visual automation builder using building blocks such as triggers, conditions, bots, rules, and Fin. If you're wondering where to start with this automation feature, there's no need to stress. Intercom's Workflows come with numerous pre-built templates that cater to a variety of important use cases, making it easy to get started.

Intercom chatbot

While Intercom generally offers robust features, it also has its limitations. During our test, we noticed the mobile app doesn't mirror important desktop features like the ability to add subject lines in chats and some note-taking capabilities. This means you’d have to switch to the desktop version to access these functionalities.

The platform doesn't offer a free plan but it provides a 14-day free trial for you to explore its features. After the trial, you can choose from three plans: Essential at $39, Advanced at $99, and Expert at $199 per month. All these plans include access to Intercom’s AI chatbot and communication channels but are subject to additional usage charges.

Overall, Intercom's robust features and integrations facilitate team collaboration and organization, even for hundreds of customers. Its user-friendly interface also makes onboarding easy. 

Starting at $39, this CRM for customer success is an affordable option, but the cost can increase with additional usage-based charges for some functions. Additionally, the inconsistencies between the desktop and mobile app features are another downside to consider before making a decision. Despite these factors, Intercom's high rating of 4.5/5 on G2 confirms its effectiveness. 

3. HubSpot

Founded: 2006
HQ: Cambridge, Massachusetts, United States
Key info
Price: Starts at $18 per month
Free plan: Yes
Support: Knowledge base, community, email, chat & phone
Best for
Best for small to medium-sized teams seeking a comprehensive CRM with a free plan and robust ticketing system.
Pros
+ Effortlessly tracks team communications.
+ Surveys and reporting tools gauge customer support experience.
Cons
- Knowledge base lacks design features, potentially misaligned with brand themes.
- Onboarding challenges due to limited training materials, clunky mobile app for tickets.
Integrations
Zapier, WordPress, Stripe, Better Proposals, and many more
Pricing Model
Starter: Starts at $18
Professional: $450 per month
Enterprise: $1200 per month

HubSpot is a comprehensive CRM with Marketing, Sales, and customer service software, the latter being specifically designed to support customer service teams. The Service Hub provides tools and features like ticketing systems, customer feedback tools, a knowledge base, and advanced reporting that help you manage customer interactions effectively. 

HubSpot's Service Hub includes a Free Help Desk software and ticketing system that centralizes customer requests, ensuring you don't miss issues as your client base grows and workload becomes more cumbersome. 

With this ticketing system, you can track, and organize all customer issues and get detailed customer insights. That way, every member of the support team has the right context to provide helpful and personalized resolutions. You’ll also be able to track vital support metrics, such as response times and ticket volumes, which is crucial for effectively managing demand and enhancing the support team’s performance and training. 

The best support is no support! HubSpot Service Hub also allows you to create a knowledge base that promotes self-service through a library of helpful articles where users can find the information they need independently. This feature allows you to categorize your articles for easy browsing and optimize them for search engines and different devices. 

HubSpot CRM ticket managment

However, the design customization options for this section are limited so you may not be able to fully customize your knowledge base to match your brand theme. This can be a problem if your brand relies heavily on a distinct visual identity, as the inability to fully align the knowledge base with your brand's aesthetic could affect the consistency of your customer's experience across different touchpoints.

For complex issues not covered in your knowledge base, customers can choose to reach out to you through channel that works for them. The omnichannel messaging functionality in HubSpot Service Hub enables your team to seamlessly switch between channels such as email, chat, and Facebook Messenger, and meet your customer where they are. 

These channels are also connected to your CRM records providing enough context to deliver a consistent experience across all touchpoints. The CRM's Conversations Inbox feature makes handling these complex issues faster as it allows you to respond to conversations in real time. Plus when queries get repetitive, you can easily set up chatbots to handle repetitive queries, allowing your team to focus on more significant conversations.

Despite these robust features, what stood out the most for us while evaluating HubSpot service Hub was the Conversation AI. This tool automatically captures voice data in HubSpot Smart CRM and gives you insights into major customer objections, competitive trends, and more. You can leverage these insights to coach your customer service management team and continuously improve your support strategy to stay ahead of the competition.

HubSpot CRM inbox

HubSpot's comprehensive nature, while a notable strength, also brings its challenges. We found the onboarding process challenging due to the huge HubSpot Academy which makes it difficult to find suitable training material. Getting started with the platform comes with a steep learning curve and will require some time to get used to it.

Compared to other support software on this list, HubSpot is quite expensive with plans starting at $18 and going as high as $1200 a month. However, it makes up for this with a free plan. The free plan provides all the basic customer service features you need including ticketing, live chat, bots, and more. 

As your business and team grow and you need functionalities like automation, knowledge base, feedback surveys and more, you will have to upgrade to a premium plan or go for a less expensive CRM option on this list that offers these features.

To wrap up, HubSpot is a great choice if you are in the market for a free customer service CRM that is suitable for small to medium-sized teams as shown by the many positive reviews and its 4.4/5 score on G2. However, the challenging onboarding process and the expensive costs that come with scaling can have you reconsidering this choice. 

4. EngageBay

Founded: 2018
HQ: Wilmington, Delaware, United States
Key info
Price: Starts at $0 per user/month
Free plan: Yes
Support: Phone, email & chat
Best for
Tailored for small businesses needing an easy-to-use CRM with live chat, AI bot, and knowledge base features.
Pros
+ The customer service bay has all the automations and workflows required by a small business
+ Comprehensive set of tools at an affordable price
+ Provides prompt chat notifications so that no chat goes unresponsed
Cons
- lacks advanced reporting.
- Some features require workarounds for expected functionality.
Integrations
DocuSign, Zapier, QuickBooks, Xero, Shopify
Pricing Model
Basic: $13.79 per user/month
Growth: $45.99 per user/month
Pro: $91.99 per user/month

Engagebay is another all-in-one CRM solution with a sales, marketing and free service bay designed for small businesses. The free service bay includes a comprehensive ticketing system capable of collecting and managing customer support requests from various sources through one dashboard. 

Engagebay's omnichannel approach enhances this capability, bringing your customers closer through email, phone, live chat, social media, and web forms. You can create and prioritize customer tickets, assign them to agents for quick resolution, collect feedback, and analyze performance all in one window.  

If your team consists of field agents, Engagebay also ensures you can serve your customers on the go, with its user-friendly Android and iOS mobile apps. You can quickly assign tickets to field agents based on geographic location and schedule meetings. 

Engagebay Ticket management

It even gets better with the free Live Chat Software. Engagebay's free Live Chat Software offers customers quicker and more personalized responses through real-time communication. To save more time, you can create shortcuts for frequently used answers and replies and they’ll be accessible with just a click from the Live Chat. That's not all, the CRM's AI bot can further speed up your response time using pre-set canned responses for common questions. 

However, not all customer queries can be resolved instantly via live chat as some issues may need escalation to more experienced team members. To cater to these scenarios, EngageBay ensures you can transfer live chats swiftly to specialized agents for prompt resolution. This CRM for support teams also helps you focus on urgent and critical matters by allowing you to build a knowledge base of self-help articles through the Help Center. These articles can be translated in multiple languages so there are no language constraints when customers access the content.

Since EngageBay is tailored for small businesses, it lacks some advanced features such as advanced workflows, analytics and reporting tools, as well as customization that are often necessary for larger organizations or more complex customer service demands. However, you can integrate the platform with multiple third-party applications to extend its functionality. 

Engagebay help center

Opting for the EngageBay service bay alone is free but you also have the option to access its all-in-one features, combining your marketing, sales, and support efforts into a single platform. The all-in-one suite has a completely free plan which includes access to the help desk and premium plans starting at $12.74.

Overall, EngageBay is popular for its ease of use and excellent customer service. Getting started with the platform was fairly easy when we tested the CRM and the responsive customer service team made the onboarding process more seamless. The CRM has a rating of 4.6/10 on G2 with many users praising it for a great user experience. 

However, some reviews also point out that certain features are not smooth and require some workarounds for full functionality. Regardless, EngageBay's offerings are generally sufficient for small businesses with basic customer service demands, but as the business grows and the needs become more complex, you might require a more robust support software.

5. Zoho CRM

Founded: 2005
HQ: Austin, Texas, United States; Chennai India
Key info
Free plan: Yes
Support: 24/7 (phone + email & chat)
Best for
Businesses looking for an affordable CRM with comprehensive customer service features.
Pros
+ Customizable tickets and automation rules for swift responses.
+ Feature-rich with comprehensive analytics and reporting tools.
Cons
- Steep learning curve
- limited key feature customization for non-enterprise users.
- Clunky mobile app experience for streamlined usage.
Integrations
Salesforce, SugarCRM, OneDrive, and many more
Pricing Model
Standard: $12 per user/month
Professional: $20 per user/month
Enterprise: $35 per user/month
Ultimate: $45 per user/month

Next on our list of best CRM for customer service is Zoho CRM. Zoho is another comprehensive CRM that manages sales, marketing campaigns and support functions. Although it does not have a dedicated customer service suite, its Zoho Desk product efficiently fills this role. Zoho Desk helps you simplify customer service operations, boosts service agents’ productivity, and ensures you’re delivering memorable customer experiences. It is fully mobile so you can assist customers and close tickets even when you're away from your desk. 

The omnichannel ticketing system in Zoho Desk gathers support tickets from various channels like email, social media, live chat, telephone, and web forms into a single interface, enabling agents to respond more quickly and stay organized. Additionally, the ticketing system lets you use filters like priority, urgency, customer type, or ticket status to simplify ticket management, helping your team prioritize tasks effectively. 

The Zoho Desk’s automated ticket assignment rules and round-robin automation further streamline the ticketing process by ensuring speedy ticket distribution to the right department. This feature makes managing the customer service team easier, saving you time and energy to focus on more pressing tasks.

Zoho CRM ticket management

Since Zoho Desk comes with built-in integration with Zoho CRM, it can pull relevant customer information from the CRM and display it inside the ticket screen, making your interactions context-aware. The platform also has a live dashboard that displays essential real-time metrics like ticket traffic, most threaded tickets, and customer happiness ratings. That way, you can monitor your team's performance, and quickly identify when metrics are trending downwards and intervene immediately. These real-time insights help you stay ahead of the curve.

In addition to these features, Zoho stands out with its robust self-service options with a knowledge base builder, a multi-brand help center, a community feature, and more. 

The Community feature stood out for us while evaluating this CRM as it allows you to build a network of customers and enthusiasts who support each other in resolving issues, reducing the burden on your service agents. It’s like having a supplementary support team. The best part is you have full moderation controls so you can add other moderators to help you monitor content quality and reduce spam.

Zoho CRM community management

Like other customer relationship management software on this list, Zoho also has an AI-powered support assistant, Zia. Zia can engage in direct chat with your customers through Zoho Desk, analyze the sentiments behind every ticket, and suggest relevant solutions from your knowledge base articles. 

Despite these comprehensive features, Zoho is highly affordable, with plans starting at just $12 and the most expensive plan priced at $35. Additionally, Zoho Desk offers a free plan that accommodates up to 3 users and is suitable for minimal support needs. 

As your business grows, you can easily scale up to one of the paid plans especially if you need advanced features like custom reports, multichannel support, and customizations. We’d recommend the enterprise plan at $35 per month though since it’s the only plan that offers access to live chat and the AI feature.

Generally, customer reviews consistently praise Zoho for its packed features such as the comprehensive analytics and reporting tools considering the affordable pricing. However, when starting out, you may experience a steep learning curve. The platform has a 4.4/5 score on G2.

6. GIST

Founded: 2020
HQ: Newark, Delaware, United States
Key info
Price: Starts at $0 per month
Free plan: Yes
Support: Email & chat
Best for
Businesses aiming to deliver great customer experiences through a comprehensive chat automation system.
Pros
+ Straightforward chatbot setup for quick integration.
+ Enables businesses to integrate without extensive technical knowledge.
+ Comprehensive chat automations enhance user experience.
Cons
- Customization may demand technical expertise or support assistance.
- Steep learning curve
- UI can feel crowded by excessive features.
Integrations
Google Calendar, WordPress, Gmail, Mailchimp, and many more
Pricing Model
Professional: $29 per month
Premium: $99 per month

GIST CRM is a customer service CRM that helps support teams deliver great customer experiences at every stage of the customer lifecycle. Although it has no comprehensive ticketing system, its conversation management functionality brings all communications with leads and customers into one dashboard. You can receive messages from any channel whether GIST messenger, Facebook, email, etc and manage them directly in the CRM’s team inbox.

GIST’s messenger software allows you to integrate live chat into your product, app, or website and communicate with your customers in real-time. You can access the customer history in Messenger so you know who you’re talking to and how to personalize your interactions. 

Customers are not the only ones with a profile, GIST also groups every member of the support team by expertise and assigns conversations to the best fit, ensuring that customer queries are addressed by the right person.

Gist inbox

Like any reliable customer service CRM, GIST ensures that you can resolve basic customer issues even when no member of the support team is available through self-service options. It allows you to create a searchable library of tutorial articles explaining how to use all of the features your products have to offer. Your customers can also indicate whether they found an article helpful and highlight the articles that need an update helping you keep your knowledge base relevant and up-to-date.

To ensure your customer service team stays proficient, you should continuously look for methods to expedite issues resolution. Leveraging GIST’s AI Bot, Emma can help you achieve this. Emma is designed to provide instant answers from your knowledge base to site visitors and customers around the clock. 

So you can engage with your customers continuously and at their convenience. It doesn’t stop there. Emma is sophisticated enough to predict and suggest answers as soon as customers begin typing their queries, even before they even hit the send button. 

This combination of the knowledge base and the Emma AI stood out for us during our test as it remarkably reduces response times.

Gist's emma AI

GIST’s robust CRM features are housed in its three three pricing plans: Free, Professional, and Premium, supporting 2, 5, and unlimited seats, respectively. 

The Professional plan costs $29, and the Premium plan is priced at $99. The Free plan includes core features like Live Chat, Team Inbox, and conversation history. However, only an upgrade to a paid plan will give you access to additional features such as a knowledge base, automated chat triggers, custom chatbots, and multi-channel integration, an upgrade to the Professional or Premium plan is necessary.

Today, over 10,000 businesses are using GIST, and its comprehensive chat automation is a major factor. However, as expected with a comprehensive CRM, we experienced a steep learning curve while getting acquainted with its wide range of products as the interface felt a bit cramped with many features. 

Customizing the software may also require some technical expertise or support assistance. Despite these challenges, GIST still holds predominantly positive reviews and a 4.6/5 rating on G2.

In summarizing our comprehensive review of the best CRMs for customer service, it's evident that selecting the right CRM is a balancing act of various factors. Key considerations include the efficiency of ticket management, the depth of customer interaction history, ease of integration with knowledge bases, the availability of real-time communication tools, and the extent of multi-channel support. Additionally, the sophistication of AI and machine learning capabilities can significantly differentiate one CRM from another.

Take aways

When deciding on the best CRM for your business, it's essential to weigh these features against your specific needs. Consider the size and scope of your customer service operations, the diversity of communication channels you use, and the level of automation and analytics you require. Budget constraints and the potential for growth and scalability are also crucial factors.

A practical next step in your decision-making process is to engage with free trials or demo versions of the CRMs that seem to align with your business needs. This hands-on experience will provide valuable insights into the user interface and functionality of each system, helping you assess how well they integrate into your existing workflows.

Remember, the goal is to choose a CRM software that not only addresses your current customer service challenges but also has the potential to scale and evolve as your business grows. The ideal CRM should streamline your customer service processes, enhance the efficiency of your team, and ultimately lead to improved customer satisfaction and loyalty.

Ultimately, the goal is to select a CRM that not only fits your current needs but also has the scalability to grow with your business. The right CRM should be a tool that not only manages your sales pipeline but also enhances your sales strategy, leading to improved efficiency, better customer relationship management, and increased sales performance.

shape-logo-color

Our Top Pick - Shape

stars-yellow

4.8/5 - from 2,000+ reviews

All-in-one software for marketing, sales, customer service, CRM, and operations. Improve communication and maximize your business.

Need more business advice? Take your pick from one of our many well-researched articles

Please note: All pricing mentioned in this article is based on information available as of 31-1-2024 and sourced from the respective companies' public pricing pages. While we strive for accuracy, we recommend verifying with the specific company for the most up-to-date details.

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Top 6 Best CRMs For Pipeline Management In 2024

In the exciting and ever-evolving landscape of sales, finding the right CRM for Pipeline Management is like discovering a secret weapon for your sales strategy. It's all about customization – a CRM that molds perfectly to your unique sales stages and processes, complete with the freedom to add your own custom fields. We're diving into a world where CRMs aren't just about contact management but are pivotal in streamlining your entire sales pipeline. Think seamless integration with your favorite sales tools, from email marketing wizards to savvy call tracking systems. And let's not forget the magic of automation, where routine pipeline tasks are handled with a snap of your fingers, leaving more room for the real sales action. For the sales teams that live life in the fast lane, mobile accessibility in a CRM isn't just nice, it's necessary, keeping you connected wherever your deals take you. And when it comes to data, these CRMs turn numbers into narratives with dashboards and reports that speak volumes, providing clear and actionable insights at a glance. Get ready to zoom into the best CRM systems for Pipeline Management, each one a game-changer in its own right, ready to turbocharge your sales process and drive your success sky-high.

Pipedrive-Logo

Pipedrive

Affordable CRM for optimizing pipeline workflows

$9.90+/mo

Pricing scales as per tier

Top Choice

shape-logo-color

Shape

Advanced all-in-one CRM for streamlined sales pipeline management

$119/user/mo

Fixed pricing plan

salesflare CRM-logo

Salesflare

Efficient CRM with robust features enhancing pipeline management

$29+/mo

Pricing scales as per tier

10 key features any top pipeline management CRM should have

Whether it's harnessing the power of data insights to fine-tune your sales approach or leveraging collaborative tools for a united team effort, these key features are the ingredients for a successful sales recipe. Get ready to discover what makes a Sales Pipeline Management CRM indispensable in the competitive arena of sales.

Top 5 most effective ways to utilize any sales pipeline CRM

From harnessing data insights to personalizing your sales approach, to embracing the power of mobile management for dynamic, on-the-go access, these strategies are designed to enhance efficiency and drive results. Get ready to unlock the full potential of your pipeline management software and elevate your sales game.

1. Strategize with data insights

Use your CRM to become a sales strategist. By analyzing data, you can pinpoint which prospects are most likely to convert. For example, if data shows a surge in interest from a particular industry, you can tailor your pitch to address the specific needs of that sector, significantly boosting your chances of closing those deals.

2. Tailor your sales stages

Customize your CRM pipeline to mirror your sales process. If your sales cycle includes a demo stage, add it to your CRM. This way, your team knows exactly when to prepare and present demos, keeping everyone in sync and moving deals along efficiently.

3. Embrace automation for efficiency

Set up your CRM to automatically send follow-up emails after a client meeting or a demo. This ensures timely engagement without manual intervention, allowing your team to focus on more complex tasks and lead nurturing.

4. Mobile management for on-the-move teams

Utilize the mobile CRM to update deal statuses right after client meetings. This immediate update ensures that the latest information is available to the entire team, enhancing responsiveness and decision-making.

5. Collaborative success

Use your CRM software to assign tasks to team members following client interactions. For instance, after a client call, assign a task to a team member to send additional information or a proposal, ensuring seamless follow-ups and collective effort towards closing deals.

Quick comparison of the top 6 best CRMs for pipeline management

Software Intro Price Differentiator
Shape
$119
An all-encompassing CRM for pipeline management, offering customizable templates and extensive integrations
Pipedrive
$9.90
Effectively integrates visually appealing pipeline with lead generation and automation functionalities for enhanced clarity
Salesflare
$29
Fully automated contact management eliminates manual data entry
Close
$25
Customizable pipeline views and a predictive dialer for efficient sales
Less Annoying CRM
$15
Straightforward CRM with customizable pipelines and simplified, all-inclusive pricing
Salesforce sales cloud
$25
The innovative sales paths seamlessly integrate pipelines into every opportunity for enhanced customization.

1. Shape

Founded: 1999
HQ: Irvine, California, United States
Key info
Free plan: No
Support: 24/7 (In-product support + email)
Best for
Sales teams needing advanced pipeline management, automation, and versatile integrations.
Pros
+ Efficient lead capture and management through the pipeline.
+ Streamlined prospecting, organization, and project management with effective reporting.
+ Automated follow-up processes, including email and text campaigns, improving communication.
Cons
- Steep learning curve
- No phone support option
Integrations
Zapier, Xero, Quickbooks, QuarterOne, and many more
Pricing Model*
Sales & Marketing CRM: $119/user/mo
Point of Sale: $47/user/mo
Lead Funnels: $299/mo

Shape is an all-in-one CRM for pipeline management designed to help you track, manage, and optimize all the sales opportunities throughout your lead's journey and close more opportunities. This pipeline is also customizable, allowing you to add up to 20 custom fields to get certain information that may not be present in the default pipeline template.

With features like task management, calendar syncing, lead status milestones, and workflow automation, Shape’s pipeline is purpose-built to increase your sales. The automation tools, including AI-powered lead management, workflow rules, drip campaigns, and more, help the entire sales team guide clients down the buyer’s journey. 

Despite these extensive pipeline management tools, Shape also integrates with other tools and platforms to extend its functionalities. It integrates with Zapier, which opens the door to connect with thousands of sales-related apps, including email marketing software like Klenty and call tracking systems like Klenty and CallRail. 

Shape Automation creation

For example, the integration with Klenty, a sales engagement and lead generation tool, allows you to send personalized emails and automate follow-ups. Similarly, if you rely heavily on calls and inbound leads, integrating with CallRail and other apps like it through Zapier makes it easy to track and measure your success.

Additionally, Shape directly integrates with major email platforms like Microsoft Outlook and Gmail, which further simplifies your marketing campaigns and communications. But that’s not even the best part. With Shape CRM, you are not confined solely to your computer screen. 

Is your sales team constantly on the go? You are in good hands with Shape’s mobile app. You can take your work wherever you go and stay in touch with your leads and customers' information.

Shape Sales dashboard

Even without Wi-Fi, you can access your messages, contacts, and prioritized views with your cellular service. The mobile app is also fully functional, with lead nurturing features such as hassle-free calling, in-app text messages, and seamless email communications.

As you continue to manage your sales process, Shape provides actionable insights through its dashboards and reports. The dashboard displays all your important business data as well as 50+ pre-built reports and the option to build custom ones. With this level of data visualization, you can see virtually every detail of your business and make better data-driven decisions. 

After digging into Shape’s pipeline management features, it is clearly a comprehensive and flexible CRM for pipeline management. The advanced automation tools, intuitive user interface, seamless integrations, and extensive reporting make it the best sales pipeline software. 

Although you may face a steep learning curve, Shape’s 4.7/5 score on G2 for being a blend of robust features and ease of use at $119 shows the initial learning curve takes nothing away from its overall effectiveness. 

2. Pipedrive

Founded: 2010
HQ: New York, United States
Key info
Free plan: No
Support: Live chat, phone & help center
Best for
Ideal for those seeking a simple yet versatile CRM for pipeline tracking and adminstration
Pros
+ Customizable stages and drag-and-drop functionality make tracking deal progress a breeze.
+ The seamless integration with email services keeps all communication within the platform.
+ The software allows users to customize their sales process to match their specific business needs and workflow.
Cons
- Lacks advanced automation options
- The pipeline can get crowded and become difficult to navigate when working on a large number of leads
- The mobile app has performance issues.
Integrations
Zapier, Xero, Quickbooks, QuarterOne, Zoho CRM and many more
Pricing Model*
Essential: $9.90 per month (one user)
Advanced: $19.90 per month (one user)
Professional: $39.90 per month (one user)
Power: $49.90 per month (one user)
Enterprise: $59.90 per month (one user)

If you are in search of a simple yet effective solution to simplify your sales cycle, Pipedrive is a great choice. This user-friendly sales CRM system simplifies your sales cycle with its visually compelling pipeline, providing a complete view of the entire sales cycle and necessary activities to boost performance. 

During our evaluation, we noticed it seamlessly combines this visual pipeline management with lead generation and sales automation functionality, making it an ideal software for tracking and managing sales processes from beginning to the end.

Pipedrive also offers extensive customization options. Although your leads, deals, contacts, and projects come with default fields, you can also add business-specific custom fields to document, filter, and organize information unique to your business. For example, you can mark a field as “important” in specific pipelines and stages to indicate essential information that will help your team make quick and confident decisions. However, this functionality is only accessible in Professional and higher plans.

Pipedrive deal management

Pipedrive also allows you to create unlimited customizable pipelines tailored to your specific sales process. You can add and manage deals, define their value, win probability, and expected close date, and then track them through customized pipeline stages. The colored cues in the interface highlight deals at risk of going cold, helping you prioritize your actions.

However, simply having a database for your deals, goals, and contacts isn't sufficient. To achieve tangible results, understanding this data is a must. Pipedrive’s Insights feature provides real-time data visualizations that help you understand the factors influencing your win rate so you can identify and close the most lucrative opportunities. You can even add custom fields to your reports to identify trends and obstacles and track performance with real-time metrics.

On top of all that, Pipedrive extends its functionality with 400+ software integrations in its marketplace including software for lead generation, lead nurturing and meeting management. For example, integrating with PandaDoc allows you to add document production and e-signing functionality to the CRM facilitating end-to-end document workflows. Additionally, with Pipedrive’s open API, you can integrate tools that are not available in the Marketplace.

Pipedrive insights

Automating routine tasks is another one of Pipedrive’s forte. From triggering personalized emails after certain preset actions to leveraging its AI-powered sales mentor for personalized tips and recommended integrations, Pipedrive can save salespersons hours of administrative work. The CRM platform also has a Smart Contact Data automation feature that provides valuable information about your customers and pre-qualify leads by pulling data from LinkedIn, Google, and Twitter. Having this information ensures you are addressing your prospect’s major needs and makes closing a deal easier.

Adding to its versatility, Pipedrive also offers a mobile CRM app for iOS and Android devices that allows sales reps to manage their pipeline, access contacts, schedule tasks, and close deals on the go. Features like activity feeds, note-taking, and email syncing make it easy to use the app on the move. However, we experienced occasional performance issues while testing the app and some features are less accessible compared to the desktop version.

Pipedrive's pricing structure starts at $9.90, with the most expensive plan at $59.90. Although it doesn’t offer a free plan, the affordable tier includes customizable pipelines, seamless data import, and an AI-powered sales assistant. However, the lower tiers offer limited reporting and sales forecasting capabilities. 

Overall, Pipedrive’s clear visual pipeline and customizable stages make pipeline management seamless. Its equally seamless email integration also ensures all communications stay within the sales platform. However, although Pipedrive offers customization, user reviews pointed to limitations in advanced customization, leading to workarounds for complex sales processes. Additionally, the occasional performance issues with the mobile app and having to upgrade to more expensive tier plans for advanced customization and reporting features can also be drawbacks. Yet, with ratings of 4.6/5 on Capterra and 4.2/5 on G2, Pipedrive remains a robust yet accessible sales pipeline management software, despite its challenges. 

3. Salesflare

Founded: 2014
HQ: Antwerp, Belgium
Key info
Free plan: Yes
Support: Phone, email & chat
Best for
Small businesses and startups in the B2B sector, seeking efficient contact automation
Pros
+ Automatically generates and organizes leads, saving valuable time.
+ Easy to customize
+ The seamless email integration provides invaluable insights, enabling personalized follow-ups.
Cons
- As a relatively new software, it lacks some features
- Lacks integrations.
Integrations
Emailable, Quickbooks, Better Proposals, Mailchimp, and more
Pricing Model*
Growth: $29 per user/month
Pro: $49 per user/month
Enterprise: $99 per month (from 5 users)

Salesflare is a CRM designed for small businesses and startups in the B2B sector. During our test, one of the platform’s defining features was its fully automated contact management and company information. This includes automatic logging of meetings and phone calls, eliminating the need to manually store telephone numbers, email addresses, or postal addresses for every customer. 

Salesflare gathers this information from emails, email signatures, social profiles, and more, ensuring everything automatically appears in your address book. 

The main aim of this CRM for pipeline management is to eliminate manual data entry and reduce time spent on data entry by more than 70%, so you can shift your focus from managing data to managing customers. To make managing customers easier, Salesflare provides a visual pipeline displayed in a Kanban board view.

Salesflare contact management

Through this visual pipeline, you can drag and drop deals between stages, with a clear view of each sales rep's activities, the prospects involved, and the potential deal value. Each stage displays the total value of opportunities, giving you insights into your expected revenue from your pipeline.

Salesflare supports multiple pipelines as well, allowing you to create and customize pipelines for different departments, locations, or sales processes so you can adapt your strategy and management to different aspects of your business.

That’s not all, the CRM also provides comprehensive revenue metrics through different dashboards, automatically compiled from CRM data. These metrics are vital for assessing your progress towards your goals and identifying areas for improvement. Every dashboard comes with sample built-in and custom reports but only users on the pro plan can access the custom reports and dashboards.

Salesflare insights

If you are always on the move or prefer having instant access to all your customer information, the Salesflare mobile app available for iPhones, Android phones, iPads, and Android tablets, brings the CRM's full functionality to your fingertips. The app offers features like task notifications and call logging, ensuring you stay on top of your affairs at every time without missing important updates.

In addition to these features, Salesflare also integrates with other tools and platforms. It natively integrates with apps like Zapier and Integromat, which allow you to connect other apps with your Salesflare CRM non-natively. Zapier, for example, lets you connect Salesflare with 3000+ other apps.

Salesflare houses all its functionalities in a straightforward, albeit more expensive pricing structure compared to Pipedrive. Starting at $29 and going as high as $99, all of the payment plans offers email-finding credits and personalized support. 

Overall, Salesflare does a good job at automating lead generation and offering seamless email integration for personalized follow-ups for B2B businesses. But like every CRM, it also has its limitations. The absence of a built-in dialer means you’d have to rely on third-party apps for calls, which can be cumbersome if you are looking for an all-in-one solution. 

Additionally, even though Salesflare offers a range of integrations through Zapier, its limited native integrations, may be a challenge if your business requires direct, extensive integration capabilities with a wide range of platforms.

4. Close

Founded: 2013
HQ: San Francisco, California, United States
Key info
Free plan: No
Support: Phone, email & chat
Best for
Small businesses and startups seeking advanced pipeline management with integrated calling features
Pros
+ Can be setup in less than an hour
+ It's easy to track opportunities over time, especially for businesses with very long sales cycle
+ Easy to keep track of tasks.
Cons
- Entry-level plans have several restrictions
- The mobile app is not smooth
- Does not support industries requiring complex sales processes.
Integrations
Hubspot, Zoom, Zapier, and over 50+ other Apps
Pricing Model*
Starter: $25 per month/user
Basic: $59 per month/user
Professional: $89 per month/user
Business: $129 per month/user

Trusted by over 6000 users, Close CRM is a sales-centric platform designed for small businesses and startups. The CRM offers comprehensive features covering pipeline management, email automation, task automation, and reporting features.

Close’s pipeline management feature allows you to customize your sales process and view deals. You can move deals through different stages with the drag-and-drop functionality, set reminders, and deadlines, and receive alerts for deals at risk of being overlooked. Close also supports adding multiple pipelines for more accurate tracking across teams and products. Close’s pipeline view despite being simple is one of the most actionable reporting tools. 

From sales representatives to sales managers and CEOs, Close's pipeline view caters to their needs for forecasting and prioritizing deals. It provides a clear and user-friendly interface for effectively tracking and managing opportunities. The default pipeline view only displays the real annualized value of opportunities by their status. However, you can customize the report to show various opportunity types, including one-time, monthly, or annual, or to display expected values.

Close sales pipeline

Unlike Salesflare, Close offers a call feature that allows you to make and receive calls directly from the platform. What stood out for us while testing this functionality was the predictive dialer. This tool takes the call feature a step further by dialing multiple numbers simultaneously allowing you to reach potential customers faster. 

That’s not all. Close offers automation tools designed to double the productivity of every rep. It offers omni-channel functionality so you integrate emails, calls, and SMS into your workflows to increase your reach.

Our experience using Close's automation tools was seamless, thanks to the user-friendly design of its workflows. These workflows are specifically tailored for busy sales professionals, with no time for complex tool training. From the moment you open the CRM, you can immediately start creating your first Workflow. They can be automated to re-engage your prospects, boost referrals, and increase customer lifetime value. The platform’s iOS mobile app further streamlines communication with prospects and customers, allowing you to reach them regardless of location. 

Close sales funnel

Close extends all its pipeline management functionalities by integrating natively with 100+ apps including lead generation, scheduling and e-signature software. For example, integrations with e-signature solutions like SignWell speed up contract signing processes and help close deals faster.

Although this CRM for pipeline management does not provide a free tool, it compensates with a 14-day trial that allows new users to explore its functionalities before opting for a subscription plan. The pricing, starting at $49 per month, is on the higher end, with the mid-tier plan at $299 and the premium plan reaching $699.

In conclusion, Close is an effective sales pipeline software. Its strengths lie in its comprehensive features such as advanced pipeline management, email and task automation, and effective reporting capabilities. The platform's ease of use and workflow customization also cater to the demands of busy professionals. However, the expensive pricing structure, going as high as $699 may not be ideal for many small businesses as the entry-level plan comes with several restrictions.

5. Less Annoying CRM

Founded: 2009
HQ: St. Louis, Missouri, United States
Key info
Price: $15
Free plan: No
Support: Phone & email
Best for
Small businesses seeking a user-centric sales pipeline software with emphasis on team collaboration.
Pros
+ Good search functionality
+ Limited pipeline visualization options
+ Comprehensive note-taking features.
Cons
- Lacks mobile App
- lacks some key functionalities such as sending reminders for overdue tasks and making notes private
- No sales funnel.
Integrations
MailChimp, JustCall, Outlook, Google Calendar
Pricing Model*
$15 per mo/user

As the name implies, Less Annoying CRM (LACRM) is designed to provide small businesses with a stress-free experience. Developed by a team of sales experts, this tool excels in driving team collaboration. All team members can access, and update customer information, track progress, and manage tasks from a central location. Additionally, the CRM's email logging feature makes it easy to log emails into the CRM from any email provider.

But what defined Less Annoying CRM (LACRM) for us while testing the platform was its intuitive interface that brings together all the essential tools a salesperson requires in one place. On one dashboard, you can see the day's schedule, tasks, pipeline results, and other activities. 

This simplicity extends to its customizable pipelines. You can easily create your workflows and customize the fields based on any information you’d like to track. These custom fields in the pipeline allow you to track specific data processes, including values, dates, sources, and other important details. Getting these customization right is even easier as the CRM provides templates and tutorial videos for guidance.

LACRM workspace

In addition, Less Annoying CRM also has a lead report feature. This report continuously updates information on every lead in your pipeline, including their current status, contact details, and most recent interactions. Having this information ensures that neither you nor your team overlook any lead follow-ups.

To provide more functionalities, LACRM integrates with a variety of tools that may already be part of your workflow, such as ContactLink, JustCall, Lead Mapping Extension, and more. For instance, the integration with the Lead Mapping Extension allows you to seamlessly map your leads geographically, giving you a visual representation of where your prospects are located. This functionality can be important when you are targeting specific regions or planning your routes more efficiently.

However, unlike other software on this list, Less Annoying CRM has no dedicated mobile app. You can only access it from mobile devices through the web platform. This means that if you require on-the-go functionalities, you'll need to use your device's web browser, which may not offer the same level of convenience and user experience as a specialized app would.

LACRM lead report

Yet, what Less Annoying CRM may lack in mobile app convenience, it compensates for its user-friendly pricing structure. It is unique on this list for offering a single, all-inclusive pricing tier. It is available at $15 per user per month, which covers all its features without any additional costs or tiers.

Overall, Less Annoying CRM is true to its name, by offering a simplified, user-centric CRM experience through its intuitive interface and customizable features. It promotes team collaboration, allowing all members to update and track customer information efficiently from a single location. 

While it may lack a mobile app, and some advanced features like pipeline visualization options and reminders for overdue tasks, the CRM’s commitment to providing a straightforward and stress-free solution for small business CRM needs is reinforced by its all-inclusive pricing at $15.

6. Salesforce Sales Cloud

Founded: 1999
HQ: San Francisco, California, United States
Key Info
Price: Starts at $25
Free plan: No; Trial: 30 Days
Support: Phone & Email
Best For
Businesses requiring versatile CRM supporting sales, marketing, and customer support in B2B and B2C contexts.
Pros
+ Supports highly complex sales processes
+ Provides a variety of reporting and dashboard tools that help us track our sales performance and make informed decisions.
+ It provides a single, unified view of all customer data, including contact information, purchase history, and support tickets.
Cons
- Some key features are only available at Unlimited Edition, which comes with a pretty hefty price tag.
- It offers a variety of training resources, but it can still take some time for users to become proficient in all of its functionalities.
- Due to its complexity, user adoption tends to lag.
Integrations
Integrates with over 3000 apps through mulesoft and App Exchange
Pricing Model
Starter: $24 per month for one user
Professional: $80 per month for one user
Enterprise: $165 per month for one user
Ultimate: $330 per month for one user

Discussing the best CRM for pipeline management would be incomplete without mentioning Salesforce Sales Cloud. Salesforce Sales Cloud is a CRM for pipeline management built to support sales, marketing and customer support activities in both business-to-business (B2B) and business-to-customer (B2C) contexts.

This software sets itself apart from other CRM for pipeline management by incorporating sales pipelines into every opportunity through sales paths rather than the usual drag-and-drop Kanban boards.

These sales paths provide a visual representation of where a deal is in your pipeline and are customizable to fit your business's selling style and customer needs. Apart from sales, you can use the pathing tool to create paths for accounts, work orders, campaigns, and more, offering versatility that many other CRMs lack.

Salesforce sales cloud home page

Salesforce also allows you to track pipeline changes over time using built-in charts. The Forecast Management feature complements the pipeline management process through accurate, real-time sales forecasts, that help you predict business growth reliably.

Plus with the Reports & Dashboards feature, you can transform data into actionable insights through the CRM’s several ready-made reporting tools. The dashboards allow you to visualize important metrics and analyze the elements that drive performance. Additionally, you can personalize these reports and dashboards so that salespeople have the precise information they need to sell faster.

It doesn’t stop there. Salesforce also has comprehensive automation features, but they are only available on the enterprise plan. These features boost productivity by automating complex sales processes and workflows. Plus, Salesforce offers a huge market of products and over 3000 integrations to further empower your team. 

Salesforce sales cloud dashboard

For example, while testing this CRM, we could extend the automation functionality by integrating with Outreach, a sales execution platform. Outreach can enhance Salesforce's automation capabilities by providing AI-powered deal insights, automating sales engagement workflows, and offering real-time analysis and buyer engagement signals. This integration speeds up business processes and helps you close deals faster.

Previously, all Salesforce interactions were limited to computers and browsers, which wasn't ideal for on-the-go users. Now, Salesforce has a fully functional mobile app for both Android and iOS devices. With this app, you can carry all your accounts, contacts, and opportunities in your palm. 

The CRM’s pricing varies, with plans between $25 to $165. We’d recommend the Professional plan at $80 per user/month as it covers essential pipeline management features like lead and opportunity management as well as customizable dashboards. Salesforce Sales Cloud also has two Unlimited plans at $330 and $500.

In conclusion, Salesforce Sales Cloud supports complex sales processes and provides a variety of reporting and dashboard tools for tracking performance and making informed decisions. It gives you a unified view of customer data, including contact info, purchase history, and support tickets. 

However, some key features, like built-in sales insights, are only available in the Unlimited Edition, which comes with a huge price tag. Salesforce also offers various training resources, but due to the platform’s complexity, it can take time for you to become proficient in all functionalities.

Wrapping Up

As we wrap up our exploration of various CRM solutions for pipeline management, it's clear that the right CRM can significantly enhance your sales processes. The ideal CRM for your business should align with your specific sales stages, offer robust customization options, integrate seamlessly with other sales tools, provide efficient automation, and be accessible on mobile devices. These key features not only streamline your sales pipeline but also empower your team with actionable insights and greater efficiency.

When choosing a CRM, consider factors such as the size of your sales team, the complexity of your sales processes, and the level of customization you require. Additionally, think about the integrations necessary for your existing sales ecosystem and the level of mobility your team needs.

A practical next step in selecting a CRM is to engage in free trials or demo versions where available. This hands-on experience will provide a better understanding of how each CRM aligns with your sales processes and overall business goals. Pay attention to the user experience, ease of navigation, and the quality of customer support offered by the CRM provider.

Ultimately, the goal is to select a CRM that not only fits your current needs but also has the scalability to grow with your business. The right CRM should be a tool that not only manages your sales pipeline but also enhances your sales strategy, leading to improved efficiency, better customer relationship management, and increased sales performance.

shape-logo-color

Our Top Pick - Shape

stars-yellow

4.8/5 - from 2,000+ reviews

All-in-one software for marketing, sales, customer service, CRM, and operations. Improve communication and maximize your business.

Please note: All pricing mentioned in this article is based on information available as of 29-1-2024 and sourced from the respective companies' public pricing pages. While we strive for accuracy, we recommend verifying with the specific company for the most up-to-date details.

Get started with Shape today!

All-in-one software for marketing, sales, customer service, CRM, and operations.

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Top 6 Best CRMs For Gmail & Google Workspace (With Integrations) in 2024

In today’s digital business landscape, where Gmail and Google Workspace dominate as a central communication hub for organizations, finding the right CRM that seamlessly integrates with its various can offer a huge number of benefits and increased functionality, ultimately helping to streamline workflows and increase efficiency across teams. In this guide, we’ll focus on the CRMs that excel in deeply integrating with Gmail. We’ll review the CRMs that allow you to manage tasks directly within the Gmail interface, and explore how these CRMs enhance email tracking and management, linking emails to client records and sales activities for greater efficiency.

Nethunt

A comprehensive CRM suite that works within Gmail

$24+/mo

Price increases per plan, trial available

Top Choice

shape-logo-color

Shape

Most powerful and user friendly CRM for Gmail

$119/user/mo

Fixed pricing plan

Copper

A Gmail CRM with robust contact management

$23+/mo

Price increases per plan, trial available

Compatibility with Google Workspace applications like Google Calendar and Google Drive is also a critical feature, ensuring a cohesive workflow. We’ve done the hard work for you, as we extensively assess the performance and reliability of the CRM’s Google integrations. Join us as we delve into the top CRMs that stand out for their Gmail and Google Workspace compatibility and integration in 2024.

What is Gmail integration and why is it important?

Gmail integration in CRM systems allows users to manage their email communications directly within the CRM interface. This streamlines workflows ensures seamless data synchronization, and enhances customer relationship management by centralizing email interactions and CRM activities.

Ten must-have functionalities that define a top-notch CRM for Gmail

As we navigate the interconnected world of Gmail and CRM systems in 2024, let's zoom in on the essential features that make a CRM stand out in its integration with Google's ecosystem. These features not only streamline your workflow but also ensure a seamless and productive experience within the Gmail and Google Workspace environment.

Utilizing Google Workspace and Gmail CRM integrations

As organizations increasingly rely on Gmail and Google Workspace for their business operations, let's explore how they are maximizing CRM features and integrations to boost productivity and streamline processes:

1. Seamless email management

Companies utilize Gmail integrations -to manage their email communications effectively. For instance, sales teams can automatically log all client emails in the CRM, ensuring every interaction is tracked and easily accessible for future reference.

2. Integrated task scheduling

By syncing Google Calendar with their CRM, businesses are streamlining appointment scheduling. A sales rep can set up a meeting in Google Calendar, and it automatically appears in the CRM, ensuring that all team members are aware of upcoming engagements.

3. Document collaboration

Organizations are leveraging Google Drive integration for efficient document management. Important documents, such as contracts or proposals, are stored in Google Drive and linked within the CRM, allowing for easy access and collaborative editing.

4. Unified contact database

Businesses can synchronize their Google Contacts, ensuring a unified and updated database. Any contact added or modified in Gmail is automatically reflected in the CRM, keeping client information consistent across platforms.

5. Enhanced reporting with Google Sheets

Companies are exploiting the integration between Google Sheets and their CRM for advanced reporting and data analysis. They can export key data to Google Sheets to create detailed reports and analyses, providing deeper insights into sales performance and customer trends.

Now that you understand how Gmail and Workspace integrations can benefit your business, let’s jump into the good stuff. Our reviews on the top 6 best CRMs for Gmail in 2024. We’ll breakdown features, pricing, integration capabilities and more.

Quick comparison of the top 6 best CRM for Gmail

Software Intro Price Differentiator
Shape
$119
Seamless G Suite integration with optimized workflow for diverse business needs.
Nethunt
$24
Transforms Gmail into a comprehensive suite, merging emails seamlessly with CRM functions
Copper CRM
$23
Streamlines contact management within Gmail with Google Material Design
Pipedrive
$9.90
A sales CRM with Gmail extension, streamlines deal management with an, accessible sidebar
Streak CRM
$0
Provides a spreadsheet-like interface for customizable pipelines and workflows
HubSpot sales Hub
$0
Offers comprehensive email tracking and productivity tools.

1. Shape

Founded: 1999
HQ: Irvine, California, United States
Key Info
Price: $119/user/mo
Free plan: No
Support: 24/7 (In-product support + email)
Best For
Businesses heavily relying on Gmail and Google Workspace, seeking comprehensive, user-friendly CRM.
Pros
+ Automated emails and texts after each contact attempt enhance engagement and save time.
+ Simplifies communication with leads, collaboration on prospects, and team-wide note-taking.
+ All sales processes from lead acquisition to fulfillment are automated with effective tools.
Cons
- Has a slight learning curve for some users
Integrations
Calendly, Zapier, MailChimp, WordPress, and many more
Pricing Model
Sales & Marketing CRM: $119/user/mo
Point of Sale: $47/user/mo
Lead Funnels: $299/mo

Shape CRM is a top-tier sales and marketing automation software that comes loaded with pre-built, customizable features suitable for any business. The all-in-one platform elevates your workflow and its seamless G Suite integration (including Gmail and the entire Google Workspace) is one way it achieves this. 

With Shape and your Google Workspace integrated, you can easily sync and share your calendar events, send emails, and centralize all your important information within this single, user-friendly platform. Having your entire email communications and workflow in one place means you’ll no longer be switching tabs and you can work efficiently and manage client interactions better. 

Shape-Calendar

By default, Shape is already built to track your outgoing emails but if you also want your incoming emails integrated within the CRM as well, all you have to do is enable email forwarding in your settings. Once you’ve set up email forwarding, Shape will be able to incorporate all your inbound emails, ensuring you have a comprehensive and centralized email management experience.

As new contacts enter your Gmail inbox, Shape automatically tracks them through its Zapier integration. This integration ensures that whenever you receive an inbound email in a specified Gmail inbox, it automatically creates a new record in Shape. This means that each new email you receive becomes a new record in the CRM, and you no longer need to enter information manually for your new contacts.

That’s not all. Shape CRM also integrates with Google Drive to serve as a cloud storage platform for your files. You can easily connect your Google Drive account to Shape and have all the documents uploaded in your CRM synchronized to a secure and easily accessible file folder within the Google Drive storage system. This feature ensures that all-important client documents are properly organized and managed. 

shape-crm-drip-campaigns

Despite these robust features, Shape does not compromise on user-friendliness. The platform strikes a balance between advanced functionality and ease of use, providing a user experience that is both efficient and intuitive. Therefore, your onboarding process will be seamless and you will not be spending excessive time training your team or navigating help resources when adopting the software. 

User reviews also support this with many users describing the software’s interface as logical. They note that elements and features are positioned in a way that makes them easy to locate. That’s not all, Shape takes commitment to ease of use even further by having website inquiries go straight into the CRM. This is a feature that is hard to find in other CRMs. 

Overall, if your business relies heavily on Gmail and other Google Workplace tools, you are in good hands with Shape. The seamless integration with Gmail and Google Workspace, its user-friendly design, email management system, and automation features makes it a comprehensive and efficient solution for businesses across multiple industries. With its pricing starting at $47, this CRM offers goods value for money. 

2. Nethunt CRM

Founded: 2016
HQ: Kyiv, Ukraine
Key info
Price: $24/user/mo
Trial: 14 days
Support: Chat, email and Phone (Based on plan)
Best for
Businesses relying on Gmail, offering efficient email campaigns, lead nurturing, and deal management
Pros
+ Enhances email campaign effectiveness through seamless Gmail integration.
+ NetHunt's flexible workflows enable no-code automation for diverse company processes.
+ Simplifies client data management, offering a straightforward solution.
Cons
- Workflow creation can be challenging, requiring specific triggers beyond incoming emails.
- Lacks robust analytics.
- Usage limitations apply.
Integrations
Zapier, Make, LinkedIn, Slack and others
Pricing Model*
Basic: $24 per user/month, billed annually
Basic Plus: $34 per user/month, billed annually
Business: $48 per user/month, billed annually
Business Plus: $68 per user/month, billed annually
Advanced: $96 per user/month, billed annually

NetHunt CRM for Gmail is designed with the sole purpose of bringing all your important sales and marketing functions into your Gmail inbox. This software adds an extra tab to your Gmail dashboard, converting it into a comprehensive CRM suite with features like contact management, email tracking, and automated email campaigns. That way, you no longer need to move between tabs, or input data in multiple places. Everything your team needs is conveniently located within an app you use daily.

With NetHunt integrated into your Gmail, your emails go from being just messages to actionable data that can be converted into tasks or potential leads. Nurturing these leads from your emails through NetHunt is also easy. 

You can set up drip campaigns, design personalized email templates, and share them with your team which eliminates the need to constantly write repetitive emails for your campaigns. That’s not all. Since the CRM comes with automated workflows, you can automatically link your email discussions to the corresponding client profiles, and set notifications to stay updated on any developments, reducing your manual workload.

Nethunt Dashboard

As these leads progress through your pipeline and evolve into new deals, you can add their value, likelihood of closing, and predicted closing date, giving you complete context into each deal’s lifecycle.

While running your email campaigns, you will also be able to track their status in real-time through vital metrics like email opens and clicks. These metrics allow you to know exactly when and how often your recipients check your emails, giving you insights into how to improve your processes. 

When we tested the CRM, managing deals initially seemed easy and straightforward due the user friendly interface. However, as the number of deals increased, the interface became cluttered and difficult to navigate, and deal management went from easy to complicated.

In addition to Gmail, NetHunt CRM is also compatible with other Google Workspace Apps like Google Chat, Drive, Calendar, Contacts, and Meet so you can have all your Workspace applications and CRM system in one platform. With these integrations, you can easily view customer-related information next to your work emails, calendar events, and chat messages.

For example, the integration with Google Drive means you can easily attach Google Docs, Sheets, and Slides to client records and deals in the CRM. And since you have your Google Calendar within the same platform, you can schedule meetings and easily prepare ahead by attaching any important Google Drive files to your client's record in the CRM. Even after the meeting, you can quickly update the client's record with new or updated documents.

Nethunt Pipeline

Despite how crucial having these integrations on the CRM is, it would be counterproductive if the CRM compromises on performance and reliability. Fortunately, we experienced no downtime while testing NetHunt. User reviews also support this as many users report seamless integration without any bugs or glitches.

Starting at $24, NetHunt CRM is fairly affordable. The base plan offers essential CRM features, Gmail and Google Workspace integration, Google Contacts Sync, a messenger account, and basic emailing and customization features. 

However, if you need the CRM to cater to more complex needs like mass email campaigns, sales automation, and email sequences, you’ll need a higher plan. The higher subscription plans will have you shelling out between $34 to $96 monthly so if you are in the market for a free Gmail CRM, you’ll need to look further. 

Overall, integrating NetHunt with your Gmail opens the door to more effective email campaigns, higher productivity through workflow automations, and easier client data management. However, the CRM also has its drawbacks. Even though you can track your emails in real-time for metrics like open and click rates, the system’s analytics functionality is not so robust. 

Also, as your deals grow in number, managing them within the CRM can become complex due to the clustered user interface, taking away from the platform’s scalability. 

3. Copper CRM

Founded: 2012
HQ: San Francisco, USA
Key info
Free plan: No
Support: Live chat
Best for
Gmail users seeking simplified relationship management, contact categorization, and automation features
Pros
+ Fully customizable CRM with support for custom fields
+ User-friendly interface and team features facilitate seamless collaboration.
+ Robust pipeline management enhances efficiency.
Cons
- Reporting capabilities lack robustness.
- Limited integrations pose a challenge.
- Interface may become clunky.
Integrations
Zapier, LinkedIn, slack and many more
Pricing Model*
Basic: $23 Per user, per month, paid annually
Professional: $59 Per user, per month, paid annually
Business $99 Per user, per month, paid annually

Copper CRM is a chrome extension sidebar that gives you a quick overview of all your contact’s important details. Once you install the extension, you’ll see all the information you need about anyone who has ever emailed you. 

The software is built with Google Material Design, meaning that even within the CRM platform, all your contact management tasks, like email tracking and call logs, will look and feel just like Google Workspace. However, even though Copper is completely built for Gmail it remains a google chrome extension and not a fully integrated CRM software like Shape and NetHunt. Hence, you’ll still find yourself switching between tabs to get a complete view of your customer data.

When testing Copper, one distinct function that stood out for us is how it simplifies managing your relationships with your leads, prospects, partners and other connections. The CRM helps you categorize the contacts in your inbox based on the details that matter most to you and notifies you when your contacts open your emails so that you always know the best times to follow up. It even goes further to display your availability status to your contacts so they can book meetings with you without unnecessary back and forth.

Copper CRM pipeline templates

That’s not all, Copper also minimizes manual data entries with its "zero data entry" approach. The CRM automatically fills your CRM entries by scraping the internet for your leads’ work details and capturing them directly from Gmail emails, calendar events, and other Workspace apps so you don't have to enter any information manually. 

However, the CRM does not shine as brightly in its reporting features as it does in automation. For instance, you can’t can’t get real-time reports on your sales efforts, instead, you’ll have to wait every 10 hours to receive updates. Additionally, many users also express dissatisfaction with the inability to get an accurate week by week view of confirmed and won deals.

Copper’s integration with Google Workspace integrations is very robust. It extends beyond Gmail to other tools such as your Calendar, Contacts, Drive, Forms, Data studio, Chat and Data enrichment. With these integrations, you can upload and link any Google file directly to customer accounts which makes them readily accessible.  

Copper CRM contact management

Additionally, your contacts will always be automatically updated with the Data Enrichment integration and you can always hold private conversations with them right in your CRM through the secure Google Chat rooms. Although these integrations are usually seamless, some users have reported experiencing connectivity issues with the Gmail integration. 

Copper’s pricing plans start at $25 with a 2,500 contact limit, Google Workspace Integration, Pipelines, contact enrichment, and team collaboration. As your business expands and requires you to manage more contacts and workflows, you will need to upgrade to either the professional or business plan at $59 and $119 respectively. 

Although there’s no free plan, the CRM offers a generous 14-day free trial so you won't be committing to a subscription without being sure of their service. 

Copper houses all its features in a user-friendly interface similar to the Google Workspace which made adopting the software during our test quick and easy.

However, because the CRM is a google chrome extension and not fully integrated, you may still end up switching tabs to get a full picture of your client data. So if you want an all-in-one experience, a fully integrated CRM like Shape would be more suitable. Regardless, Copper's familiar user interface and robust team features makes it one of the best CRM for Gmail, especially for team collaboration. 

4. Pipedrive

Founded: 2010
HQ: New York, United States
Key info
Free plan: No
Support: Live chat, phone & help center
Best for
Budget-conscious users seeking efficient sales pipeline management and Gmail integration features
Pros
+ Simple yet customizable interface.
+ Employs powerful email automation for efficient communication.
+ Handles long sales cycles with ease.
Cons
- Emails appear well-formatted in CRM but may distort in Gmail.
- Workflows offer limited customization options.
- Usage restrictions apply.
Integrations
Zapier, Xero, Quickbooks, QuarterOne, Zoho CRM and many more
Pricing Model*
Essential: $9.90 per month (one user)
Advanced: $19.90 per month (one user)
Professional: $39.90 per month (one user)
Power: $49.90 per month (one user)
Enterprise: $59.90 per month (one user)

Pipedrive is a sales CRM designed to help you manage all the deals in your pipeline and drive business growth. It has a Gmail extension with a sidebar for access through which you can add contacts from your Gmail and perform sales-related tasks within your inbox. 

After installing the extension, you can view your entire sales history with each contact anytime you open their email thread, giving you context throughout all the stages of the sales process. 

One feature that stood out during our Pipedrive evaluation was the email sync. This feature syncs your emails with your contacts and deals, giving you a detailed view of all your email conversations from both the contact and the deal's perspective.

Pipedrive email sync

However, we noticed that even though the emails appear properly formatted in the CRM, they seem distorted when viewed in Gmail, which gives off an unprofessional appearance. 

Additionally, many users also pointed out in reviews that despite the smooth gmail integration, sometimes the emails are not correctly mapped to the corresponding deal which leads to confusion within the sales team and missed opportunities.

Apart from Gmail, Pipedrive also integrates smoothly with Google Drive and Calendar. With the Google Calendar integration, you’ll not only see all your upcoming activities in one place but also have enough context to prepare for them in advance. 

Pipedrive gmail extension

On the other hand, the Google Drive integration allows you to create new Google documents within Pipedrive and link your existing ones to their corresponding deals, contacts, or organizations. At the same time, it provides a storage location for the files and attachments you upload to the CRM.

One of Pipedrive’s major perks is its affordability. The CRM’s subscription plans range between $9.90 and $59.90 per user per month. Despite this affordability, it also offers a 14 day free trial you can take advantage of to test out the CRM before making any financial commitment.

Wrapping up, although Pipedrive for Gmail is a Chrome extension and not a fully integrated CRM suite, it still offers robust sales features. These features are also easily accessible through the sidebar it adds to your Gmail. 

The best part is all these features are housed in affordable and flexible subscription plans that cost less than $60. However, the platform is not perfect. You may experience email formatting issues as well as occasional inaccuracies and confusion when linking your emails to deals.

5. Streak CRM

Founded: 2011
HQ: San Francisco, California, United States
Key info
Free plan: Yes
Support: Live chat
Best for
Startups and small businesses seeking a user-friendly, free or affordable CRM solution for Gmail.
Pros
+ Highly customizable with powerful tools for task management, teamwork, and communication.
+ Comprehensive free plan available.
+ Enables easy customization of each email with mail merge feature.
Cons
- Not suitable for handling large data volumes.
- to record non-Gmail interactions, like call notes.
- External tool integrations are difficult to set up.
Integrations
Connect directly to 3rd-party tools like Calendly, Google Forms, Typeform and Slack
Pricing Model*
Pro: $49 per user / month, billed annually
Pro+: 69 per user / month, billed annually
Enterprise: $129 per user / month, billed annually

Streak CRM is an extension designed to integrate with your Gmail and other Google Workplace apps like Calendar, Drive, Sheets, Chat. The fundamental concept of this CRM is to naturally extend your existing workflow. 

Even though it is a relatively basic CRM, it still offers major CRM functions like pipeline and lead generation. However, when compared to other CRMs with Gmail plugins, it is a bit more simplistic.

Like other CRMs for Gmail, Streak also ensures little to no manual input by automatically extracting relevant details from your emails and filling them in contact information. It does this through its Magic Columns feature

Apart from auto-filling contact details, Streak also has a unique email tracking capability. You’ll know the exact moment your emails are read, giving you valuable insights into recipient behavior.

Streak CRM templates

Our experience with Streak’s interface was user friendly and intuitive with little to no learning curve. Infact, if you are familiar with using Gmail and Google Sheets, you’re already well-equipped to use Streak. It’s just like having a spreadsheet integrated directly into Gmail. Many users also confirmed Streak’s user-friendly nature in reviews saying the intuitive interface contributed to high adoption rates of the software by their team members. 

Although Streak looks like a basic spreadsheet, its functionalities are far from basic. The spreadsheet shows each stage of your deal flows, and the pipelines are fully customizable to fit your specific sales process. After customizing your pipelines, you can start setting up automated workflows to perform simple repetitive tasks like sending follow-up emails when a lead becomes qualified.

Streak is an ideal option for startups and small businesses due to its free plan and an affordable Solo plan that costs $15. The free provides basic CRM features, like a maximum of 500 contacts, 50 mail merges, and email tracking. However, you won’t be able to access shared pipelines which makes it unsuitable for teams to work with. This free plan works best if you only wish to test out the CRM without a set trial period limit.

Streak CRM notifications

Upgrading to the Solo plan expands your contact limit to 5,000 and allows 800 mail merges per day. The more premium plans are where you get unlimited contacts, increased mail merges, team email sharing, and more.

The level of customer support you’ll receive while using Streak also depends on your subscription plan. If you are on the free plan, your only assistance will come from the knowledge base and YouTube videos, with zero personal support. 

The Solo and Pro plans on the other hand, offer email support, but users have reported slow response times. The Enterprise plan at $129 however offers you priority support. Hovwever, having to pay $129 to get quality customer service takes away from the CRM’s user experience and reliability.

As a software built simply for Gmail and Google Workspace tools, Streak's simple design, intuitive features, and free plan make it an ideal choice for startups and small businesses. However, this also means it may not be the best fit for larger organizations that manage large volumes of data and complex operations. Additionally, the quality of customer support provided is directly proportional to your subscription plan, which may affect the user experience.

6. HubSpot Sales Hub

Founded: 2006
HQ: Cambridge, Massachusetts, United States
Key Info
Price: Starts at $0
Free plan: Available; Trial: 14 Days
Support: Phone, email & chat
Best For
Businesses of all sizes seeking a feature-rich CRM with efficient Gmail integration.
Pros
+ Facilitates organized work sharing among colleagues.
+ Prevents data loss by fetching information from old emails.
+ Streamlines data exchange, prevents errors, and accelerates access to customer data in Gmail.
Cons
- Challenges in maintaining uniformity when managing multiple accounts.
- User-friendly but room for improvement in UX/UI experience.
- Managing multiple accounts poses challenges in maintaining uniformity
Integrations
Google Calendar, WordPress, Gmail, Mailchimp, zoho CRM, and many more
Pricing Model
Starter: $18 per month
Professional: $1600 per month
Enterprise: $5000 per month

HubSpot is a popular name in the CRM space . It is a comprehensive CRM with features like lead assignment and tracking, customer interactions record across multiple channels, email marketing, and a lot more. As part of its robust offerings, it also provides a Gmail Chrome extension that further simplifies your workflow which is why it's on this list.

This extension brings several sales productivity tools from Hubspot into your inbox. It gives you access to all of your HubSpot Sales and CRM features, such as email templates, contact management, email scheduling, and meetings, all without leaving your inbox. 

Additionally, the HubSpot sidebar will show you your contacts’ CRM details, and you can access other external tools like Google Calendar and Drive. Even better, you can get these features at no cost on the free plan!. 

HubSpot gmail extension

HubSpot CRM's robust offerings don't stop there. With just one click, you can log emails you’ve sent from your Gmail account into the CRM, and track email opens and clicks in real time. Real-time email tracking is one of HubSpot’s selling points for its Gmail extension. 

This feature notifies you once a recipient opens your email, giving you timely insights into user engagement and behavior generally. HubSpot also ensures that you are acting on these insights by scheduling immediate follow-ups. More so, the extension adds complete contact profiles to each email, so as you continue to engage your contacts, you have enough context to convert them favorably. 

Since HubSpot CRM on its own is a robust platform , it’s only natural that the Gmail integration is equally efficient. Users generally praise HubSpot for the seamless collaboration between both platforms, allowing orderly sharing of work and data-driven decisions. However, what takes away from the CRM’s effectiveness is the interface. During our test, we noticed the CRM gets cluttered due to excessive email associations which makes navigating it a chore.  

HubSpot email templates

HubSpot CRM has a free version that includes many key features, but many are not very robust. As your company grows, you may need to switch to a paid plan for full Sales Hub products. Pricing for the Sales Hub bundle starts at $18 per month and increases significantly to $450 and $1500.

Overall, HubSpot CRM speeds up access to customer data in Gmail and ensures that you don't lose any data regardless of how old the emails are. However, the platform’s overall user experience is where the challenge is as the interface easily becomes clustered due to excessive email associations. Regardless, Hubspot remains a valuable time-saving CRM for Gmail and its popularity in the CRM space is proof of this.

Finding your Perfect CRM Match: Concluding insights on Gmail CRMs for 2024

As we wrap up our exploration of the top CRMs for Gmail in 2024, we've journeyed through a world where Gmail isn't just an email service but a central hub for business operations. The platfroms we've reviewed stand out for their deep integration with Gmail and Google Workspace, transforming the way organizations handle communication, manage tasks, and maintain client relationships. From Shape CRM's all-in-one email management to NetHunt's automated email campaigns, and Copper's zero data entry approach, each CRM brings unique features to the table, streamlining workflows and enhancing productivity.

So, what's your next move? Whether you're about to integrate a CRM with your Gmail for the first time or considering an upgrade, reflect on how these tools align with your business needs. Assess features like email syncing, Google Workspace compatibility, performance reliability, and user interface to find your perfect match. As business continues to evolve in the digital age, harnessing the power of a customer relationship management system that seamlessly works with Gmail is key to staying efficient and competitive. Embrace these tools, tailor them to your workflows, and watch as they revolutionize your business communications and operations.

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Our Top Pick - Shape

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4.8/5 - from 2,000+ reviews

All-in-one software for marketing, sales, customer service, CRM, and operations. Improve communication and maximize your business.

Need more business advice? Take your pick from one of our many well-researched articles

Pease note: All pricing mentioned in this article is based on information available as of 25-01-2024 and sourced from the respective companies' public pricing pages. While we strive for accuracy, we recommend verifying with the specific company for the most up-to-date details.

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Top 6 Best CRMs For Financial Advisors in 2024

Looking for the best CRM for your financial or wealth management business? You're in the right place. In 2024, financial advisors navigate a landscape brimming with complex client needs and dynamic market changes, making specialized CRM systems essential. These CRMs, designed specifically for financial advisors, excel in seamlessly integrating with portfolio management systems to provide real-time financial data, crucial for informed decision-making. They also boast customizable financial reporting tools, allowing advisors to tailor reports for financial planning and performance analysis to each client's unique needs. Equally important in these CRMs is their capability to handle sensitive financial documents with the utmost security, offering robust encryption and secure sharing options. In this article, we will explore the top six CRMs that master these critical features, guiding financial advisors to select a system that enhances their service delivery, ensures data security, and keeps them ahead in the fast-evolving financial sector.

Wealthbox

Full featured CRM for financial advisors

$45+/mo

Price increases per plan

Top Choice

shape-logo-color

Shape

Powerful all-in-one CRM with sleek interface, customizable portal, and robust analytics.

$119/user/mo

Fixed pricing plan

AdvisorEngine

Customizable CRM with comprehensive features

$65+/mo

for all features, per user per month billed annually

10 essential features every good CRM for wealth management should have

A top-tier CRM software should be as multifaceted and robust as the market itself. Here are ten essential features that every good financial advisor CRM should have, and why they are indispensable:

In the high-stakes world of financial advising, where precision, security and personalized service reigns supreme, these CRM features are not just tools in your toolkit – they're the secret sauce to your success.

5 easy, effective ways to utilize a CRM for financial services & wealth management 

Ever wondered how top financial advisors are maximizing their CRM use? You're in the right place. Below are some practical, insightful ways professionals are leveraging their CRM tools to enhance client relationships, streamline operations, and achieve financial goals. Let’s delve into some real world scenarios. 

1. 360-degree client views

Financial advisors are using CRMs to get a comprehensive snapshot of each client's financial landscape. Imagine a dashboard where you can see everything from a client's investment portfolio to their retirement plans and insurance policies. This complete view enables advisors to give more personalized advice. For example, if a client has a significant amount of education savings, an advisor might suggest different investment strategies tailored to that goal.

2. Automated client communication

Gone are the days of manually sending out updates or reminders. Financial advisors are setting up their CRMs to automatically send personalized emails to clients about important milestones, like a review of their investment performance or a reminder about an upcoming financial planning meeting. This keeps clients informed and engaged without bogging down advisors in administrative tasks.

3. Real-time portfolio updates

With integrations to portfolio management systems, advisors can provide clients with real-time updates on their investments. This means if there's a significant market movement, the CRM can trigger an alert, and the advisor can proactively reach out to the client to discuss potential impacts or adjustments to their strategy.

4. Tracking client goals and progress

Financial advisors use CRMs to track and manage their clients' financial goals and milestones. For instance, if a client's goal is to buy a house in five years, the CRM can help track their savings progress and remind the advisor when to check in and provide advice on reaching that goal more effectively.

5. Secure document management

In a world where data breaches are a real concern, financial advisors use CRMs to securely store and share sensitive documents like tax returns, estate plans, or investment statements. This not only ensures the safety of CRM data but also makes it easy for clients to access their documents in one place, adding a layer of convenience to the advisor-client relationship.

We hope that gives you a good idea of how to best utilize a decent CRM for financial advisors, now let’s get to the part that matters. Which CRMs currently on the market are hitting the right notes. Which options should you consider. We’ve extensively researched and reviewed 6 of the best CRM software so you don’t have to. 

Quick comparison of the top 6 best CRM for financial advisors

Software Intro Price Differentiator
Shape
$119
Ideal all-in-one CRM for financial firms, streamlining communication and enhancing wealth management strategies.
Wealthbox
$45
Specialized CRM for financial advisors with user-friendly interface and secure document management.
Advisor Engine
$65+
Excels in wealth management, offering personalized goal-based planning, extensive reporting, and secure document management.
Zoho CRM
$0+
A highly customizable platform with white-label client portals, secure document management, and robust reporting features.
Salesforce finacial services cloud
$325+
An advanced wealth management CRM capable of supporting complex use cases.
HubSpot
$0
A versatile CRM with robust reporting and client interaction tools

1. Shape

Founded: 1999
HQ: Irvine, California, United States
Key Info
Price: $119/user/mo
Free plan: No
Support: 24/7 (In-product support + email)
Best For
Firms seeking an all-in-one CRM for financial advisors with excellent customer support
Pros
+ Streamlines communication through emails, texts, and calls, facilitating quick client interactions.
+ The software excels in prospecting, email campaigns, and automated follow-ups for enhanced efficiency.
+ The comprehensive reporting capabilities offer business analytics to support decision-making for financial strategies.
+ Comprehensive reporting capability
Cons
- Steep learning curve
- Only email support is available
Integrations
Zapier, Calendly, MailChimp, LendingPad, and many more
Pricing Model
Sales & Marketing CRM: $119/user/mo
Point of Sale: $47/user/mo
Lead Funnels: $299/mo

Backed by a sleek interface, robust features, and integrations, Shape is an all-in-one CRM with a huge variety of tools that can be applied to multiple industries including wealth management. This suite of tools enhances automation, marketing, and sales task management for financial advisors.

One of Shape’s defining features is its fully customizable and white-labeled client portal. This portal houses most of your client management activities from onboarding clients to tracking client goals and milestones and providing a safe platform for exchanging sensitive financial documents.

Once the client portal has been activated, you can start making a great and professional first impression on your clients. By default, Shape already configures the portal to industry standards but you can take it a step further and customize its settings to your unique needs.

Shape-Customer Portal

You can modify the client application process, create specific lists of client-required documents (needs lists), add custom questions to gather client-specific financial data and more. Plus since the portal is fully white labeled, you can add your company logo, branding, and color preferences so that as you interact with clients, you also emphasize the value you provide them while at it.

That’s not all, clients will be sharing sensitive financial documents throughout the stages of their financial journey and Shape takes this seriously. It ensures the portal is always secure so clients can upload and manage their documents without any security or privacy concerns. The system then converts the uploaded documents to PDF files without altering the original file size so it’s easy for you to approve and manage them. 

When your clients are navigating their financial journey, Shape’s client portal also provides milestones tracking features. These features can be applied to monitor and communicate the progress of their various financial goals such as debt payment, retirement savings, and investments. With your clients’ milestones and progress clearly visible, you can align your strategies with their objectives.

shape-crm-dashboards-reporting

Shape’s wealth management functionalities are not limited to the client portal. The CRM also offers a comprehensive reporting and analytics suite. This suite comes with over 50 pre-built reports and the ability to create custom reports, which are useful for performance analysis, client reporting, and financial planning. 

Thanks to the reporting tools, you can easily visualize each client’s financial data and adapt your financial strategies to their profiles and needs on your dashboard.

Despite these features, Shape extends its functionalities by allowing integration with external portfolio management systems through Zapier. At $119 a month you gain access to all these features and even additional capabilities like Built-in Calling, Text, Email, Video, and MMS, plus an AI Suite. All these features come together to create a CRM that offers good value for money.

Altogether, Shape’s customizable client portal, goal-tracking features, mobile app, secure document handling, and comprehensive communication tools make it the ideal CRM for financial advisors. As expected from a comprehensive CRM, users may experience an initial learning curve. However, according to user reviews, it is quickly resolved thanks to the intuitive user interface and highly responsive customer support team.

2. Wealthbox

Founded: 2012
HQ: Rhode Island, USA
Key Info
Price: $45+
Free plan: No; Trial: 14 days
Support: Chat, email and phone
Best For
Best for financial advisors seeking streamlined client management, portfolio tracking, and secure document handling.
Pros
+ Wealthbox proves highly user-friendly, offering simplicity in setup, learning, and ongoing maintenance.
+ Recognized for its value-for-money pricing, making it a cost-effective solution.
+ Tailored for financial advisors with pre-built fields and forms for streamlined use.
Cons
- Workflows, pose challenges in maintenance and are not as user-friendly.
- Users have reported difficulties managing diverse contact types efficiently.
- The email inbox feature lacks the robust functionality of other portals, limiting its role as a comprehensive client communication hub.
Integrations
Integrates with 100+ software including leading estate planning, financial planning and risk analysis tools
Pricing Model
Basic: $45 per user per month
Pro: $59 per user per month
Premier: $79 per user per month

What sets Wealthbox apart from other CRMs for financial advisors is its specialized design for financial advisors. While other multi-purpose CRMs cater to a broad range of use cases across multiple industries, Wealthbox's sole focus on the financial industry makes it highly effective in meeting your specific needs. This CRM provides all the essential tools you’ll need including data analytics, contact, task, portfolio, financial goal and pipeline management.

Although Wealthbox does not have a comprehensive financial goal-tracking solution, it provides tools that help you organize individual financial information through notes, emails, files, and reports in one place. These features, though not specifically aimed at financial goal tracking, form a basis for customer relationship management and financial planning processes. 

For instance, you can use Wealthbox to store data your client's financial objectives, track progress through organized files and reports, and maintain regular communication via emails. All these elements can be leveraged to help your clients set and attain their financial milestones. 

Wealthbox contacts

In addition, Wealthbox integrates with several portfolio management systems like Addepar and Axos which provide real-time financial research data for clients and enhance its ability to manage clients’ financial goals and milestones.

Since you will be constantly dealing with sensitive client data, it's essential that your CRM not only manages this information efficiently but also ensures they are stored and shared safely. Wealthbox's document management system addresses this concern through features like user access permissions and customized category labeling. 

This means you can control who has access to specific documents and ensure that sensitive client information is only accessible to authorized personnel. Likewise, categorizing documents with customized labels also ensures you can quickly access the right document and reduces the risk of misplacing or losing important documents.

Wealthbox reports

Despite its features and integrations, testing the platform was hassle-free thanks to its user-friendly interface and simple setup process. It is a rare combination of a high-end CRM and stress-free operation Its pricing structure is also flexible, catering to a diverse range of financial advisory firms, from small startups to larger, more established entities. 

At $45 per month per user, Wealthbox's Basic plan provides everything a small startup or independent financial advisor needs in a CRM, including one workspace and pipeline, custom reports, and 2GB of file storage. The Pro plan, at $59 adds five pipelines, and email tracking tools, and increases storage to 5GB while for larger businesses, the Premier plan at $79 extends the number of pipelines to 10 and provides five workspaces and 10GB of storage. It offers a 14 day free trial to experience the software.

In conclusion, Wealthbox CRM stands out as a user-friendly wealth management CRM specifically designed for financial advisors. Its strengths lie in its simplicity, ease of setup, learning, and maintenance, along with its pre-built fields and forms for financial advisors. 

The platform also offers value for money with its flexible pricing structure, catering to a diverse range of financial advisory firms. However, it does have limitations. Although it allows individual financial data tracking, it lacks a centralized goal-tracking solution, which may limit your ability to manage your clients' financial planning effectively.

Another notable shortcoming is the absence of a client portal feature, meaning unlike other CRM systems, your clients can neither view their financial information nor interact with you directly on the platform. 

Furthermore, many users have reported difficulties in maintaining workflows and frequent crashes when managing various types of contacts. Therefore, while Wealthbox offers several beneficial features, you should also consider these limitations when making your decision.

3. Advisor Engine

Founded: 2014
HQ: New York, USA
Key Info
Price: Starts at $65+
Free plan: No
Support: email, phone 5 days a week
Best For
financial advisors seeking integrated CRM with advanced planning tools.
Pros
+ Robust information and workflow monitoring for comprehensive insights
+ Extensive reporting features provide in-depth analysis and business health monitoring.
+ Effective document organization ensures clarity and accessibility.
Cons
- Advisor Engine's workflow has constraints in managing processes effectively.
- Platform navigation presents challenges, impacting user experience.
Integrations
Integrates with top financial planning, custodian and portfolio management companies
Pricing Model
$65 per user, per month - billed annually

AdvisorEngine is another CRM designed specifically for wealth management. It's a comprehensive advisor platform that combines CRM tools with extensive workflow automation and document management. 

While testing AdvisorEngine, one feature that stood out was its goal-based planning tool. This tool provides a personalized approach to asset management that goes beyond traditional allocation approaches based solely on static risk and return levels. It helps clients develop an investment strategy specific to their situation and objectives and optimizes client portfolios based on the probability of meeting their financial goals.

That’s not all, AdvisorEngine integrates smoothly with several portfolio management tools such as MoneyGuidePro and Orion. This integration gives you access to real-time financial data to enhance decision-making processes and allow clients to engage in client-led planning within their portal. 

AdvisorEngine Reports

AdvisorEngine’s client portal contains each client's detailed portfolio performance data, including transactions and asset allocation, promoting transparency between you and your clients. It is both customizable and fully white-labeled allowing you to tailor the displayed information to each client's specific needs. 

Additionally, you can brand each portal with your firm's unique identity, which helps to create a smoother and more professional platform, making clients feel more secure and personally attended to. 

To ensure every document shared with the client’s portal is secure, the portal includes a safe Document vault. The Document Vault allows for the safe sharing and access of important financial documents, such as custodian statements and performance reports. 

This feature empowers clients to directly manage tasks related to their accounts while maintaining security. These combined efforts in the CRM and Client Portal demonstrate AdvisorEngine's focus on safeguarding sensitive client data while providing accessible and client-centric services.

AdvisorEngine Sales Dashboard

While securing client data in AdvisorEngine's Document Vault is vital, it's equally important to transform this safe data into meaningful insights. The CRM accommodates this need with its extensive reporting features so if you're searching for a tool that doubles as your CRM and client management software, AdvisorEngine’s advanced portfolio reporting capabilities make it a great fit. 

This feature provides in-depth analysis of performance drivers and incorporates data from index providers like Bloomberg and MSCI, for market comparisons and as a custom benchmark for personalized analysis.

The best part is that AdvisorEngine automates the entire report creation and delivery process, ensuring you get prompt access to financial information. All this financial data including benchmarks and dynamic graphs is presented to the clients through a user-friendly interface so clients can effortlessly engage with and understand their financial position.

Overall, starting at $65, AdvisorEngine offers comprehensive features including personalized goal-based planning, detailed reporting capabilities, and good document organization. However, like every comprehensive CRM, it has its caveats. We found navigating the platform a bit hectic especially when creating customized workflows during our testing.

Additionally, its sales engagement features are somewhat limited, making it less suitable for large-scale client acquisition. Therefore, if your sales team intends to generate substantial website traffic or customer inflow and needs to heavily engage clients, AdvisorEngine may not be the ideal solution.

4. Zoho CRM

Founded: 2005
HQ: Austin, Texas, United States; Chennai India
Key Info
Price: Starts at $0
Free plan: Yes; Trial: 14 days
Support: Phone, email & chat
Best For
Small and medium-sized businesses seeking a versatile CRM solution.
Pros
+ Centralizes information effectively, fostering seamless team collaboration.
+ Simplifies the tracking of all business activities for enhanced visibility and control.
+ Incorporates a lead generation feature to support proactive business growth.
Cons
- Due to its non-vertical focus, extensive customization is needed for specific business needs.
- Integration with non-Zoho products may lack intuitiveness, requiring additional attention.
- Non-technical users may encounter challenges in navigating and implementing customizations.
Integrations
Salesforce, SugarCRM, OneDrive, and many more
Pricing Model
Standard: $12 per user/month
Professional: $20 per user/month
Enterprise: $35 per user/month
Ultimate: $45 per user/month

Zoho CRM is a comprehensive tool with a system tailored for financial services. It provides a unified view of all your contacts through a user-friendly dashboard. Although Zoho CRM has no default feature for Financial Clients' Goal tracking and management, it compensates with its customizable client portals. These portals provide a platform where your client base can interact with you and view relevant financial information, enhancing the advisor-client interaction.

Every module in the CRM has customizable access permissions, allowing you to manage how clients interact with the data in the portals. You have to invite a new client before they can use a portal, and you can revoke this invitation at any point. 

This ensures that you maintain full control over who can view confidential financial information which is essential for preserving data security. Additionally, since the portals are customizable, you can easily brand them with your company's identity, and also present complex financial data in a format that is both visually appealing and easy to understand.

Zoho task management page

Providing high-quality financial advice and service goes beyond managing and sharing client financial information. It also involves leveraging that data to support clients in making sound financial decisions through effective reporting. Zoho CRM facilitates this with its artificial intelligence powered reporting features, including detailed analysis, business health monitoring, and tracking.

However, although Zoho’s reporting features are comprehensive, they may require significant customization to cater to specific financial advisory needs. For example, you might need to merge multiple reports to obtain deeper insights and use the visual builder to organize them for easy access. 

This process involves selecting modules, adding fields, and customizing reports to meet your unique requirements. As a result, you may have to dedicate additional time to tailor these features to your specific needs.

Another caveat worth considering is its integration capabilities. While Zoho integrates with some finance-related apps like QuickBooks and Zoho Expense, it does not integrate with many specialized portfolio management applications that financial advisors commonly use. This means you may need to manually manage data between the CRM and your portfolio management tool, which could lead to a fragmented and inconsistent workflow.

Zoho CRM reports

One of Zoho’s major defining factors is its affordable pricing. It offers a generous free plan and tiered options ranging from $12 to $45, making it a great choice for small and medium-sized businesses. We also found its user interface simple and intuitive when evaluating the CRM.  

However, despite this clean user interface, setting it up came with a significant learning curve, causing a delay in the setup process. Hence, if you're not already proficient with CRMs, Zoho may not be the best fit as you might not have it fully operational within a day. Similarly, if your business is medium or large and requires many staff to use it, the setup delay might not offer you the best service. 

Overall, Zoho is a great CRM for financial advisors due to its customizable client portals, secure document management, and comprehensive reporting. However, because it is not specifically designed for wealth management, it requires extensive customization. Non-technical users may find this challenging, as many users have reported that the CRM is difficult to customize and scale.

5. Salesforce Financial Services Cloud

Founded: 1999
HQ: San Francisco, California, United States
Key Info
Price: Starts at $325
Free plan: No; Trial: 30 Days
Support: self-guided and self-service resources. Additional support needs to be purchased
Best For
large enterprises in wealth management who can afford a robust but high-cost solution
Pros
+ The data model aligns well with wealth management activities, enhancing the user experience.
+ The interface is straightforward, ensuring ease of use and efficient navigation.
+ Easily scalable to accommodate growing business needs.
Cons
- Implementation time is lengthy, requiring patience during the initial setup phase.
- Limited enhancements and integrations available specifically for wealth management functions.
- Licensing agreements may be complex, necessitating careful consideration and understanding.
Integrations
Offers integration with a wide range of third-party applications and systems
Pricing Model
Enterprise: $325 per month for one user
Unlimited: $500 per month for one user
Unlimited+: $700 per month for one user

Salesforce is a reputable CRM known for its extensive functionality and comprehensive suite of tools that cater to diverse business needs. The Salesforce Financial Services Cloud is a specialized version of the Salesforce CRM, specifically designed for the financial services industry. 

It leverages the core functionalities of Salesforce CRM and offers additional features and customization to meet the unique needs of financial advisors, banking institutions, insurance companies, and other financial service providers.

One of the key features of the Financial Service Cloud is the Financial Goals feature. This feature assists clients whether as individuals or a household in achieving their short and long-term financial objectives.

For instance, you can create a goal on one person's account record to save for a new business, and on another's to save for a new car. If both account holders are part of the same household, you can view their goals collectively and add a priority and status to each goal to help them prioritize the more important goal.

Salesforce financial services cloud client page

You can integrate the financial goals feature into the client's profile for a comprehensive view of their financial situation, goals, and progress. This allows you to make data-driven recommendations based on their specific goals and current status. The CRM also provides a self-service client portal, where clients can access their financial information and interact with advisors. However, this feature comes at an additional cost.

Due to Salesforce's history spanning over two decades, it integrates with plenty of software you may already use. This includes portfolio management solutions like ArtemisVC, a leading system specifically designed to manage venture capital and private equity firms. Integrating with this tool allows you to manage due diligence information, financials, contacts, notes, and more.

Financial Services Cloud also enhances client reporting and performance analysis with its customizable reports and dashboards. The prebuilt dashboards are designed to provide practical insights about your client portfolio, graphically representing key metrics you can use to stay on top of client goals, satisfaction, leads, and referrals.

Salesforce financial services cloud dashboard

All financial information handled within the CRM is sensitive. Financial Cloud ensures this information remains secure with its document handling features, which include automated approval workflows and checklists. These features help you efficiently manage your document approval process.

The Automated Approval Workflows feature speeds up the document approval processes. By automating this process, all documents are safely passed through the necessary approval channels. This minimizes human error and guarantees all document approvals are obtained in a controlled manner.

Similarly, the system promotes secure document handling by creating checklists for frequently needed documents. This strategy ensures that all essential documents are collected, properly managed, and readily accessible for processing and review. It also prevents any crucial documents from being overlooked.

Salesforce Financial Cloud’s pricing structure is on the higher end, starting at $325 for the Enterprise plan and $500 for the Unlimited plan. Therefore, it is more fitting for large firms with enterprise needs.

Generally, Financial Service Cloud is a robust tool that's well-suited for wealth management activities and managing a large number of relationships. It's interface is user-friendly and designed for easy navigation even by new person. However, its pricing structure may not be ideal for independent advisors or smaller firms due to its high cost. 

Despite the straightforward interface, if you're new to CRM systems or have only used simple CRMs in the past, you might find Salesforce's extensive platform challenging. Implementing all your processes may also take significant time. It doesn’t help that many users have also pointed out a high turnover rate among Salesforce's customer service staff. This could make it difficult to get your questions answered and may affect the platform’s overall effectiveness of the product. 

Regardless of these factors, Salesforce's Financial Cloud remains an efficient CRM for financial advisors and providing a positive client experience while at it.

6. HubSpot

Founded: 2006
HQ: Cambridge, Massachusetts, United States
Key Info
Price: Starts at $0
Free plan: Available; Trial: 14 Days
Support: Phone, email & chat
Best For
Independent advisors seeking cost-effective, intuitive CRM with robust reporting and client interaction tools.
Pros
+ Universal inbox simplifies communication, providing a centralized platform.
+ Well-organized dashboards contribute to efficient data presentation and analysis.
+ Seamless email integration streamlines communication management within the CRM.
Cons
- Extensive customization is necessary due to its non-vertical focus.
- The pricing structure might be considered high for smaller firms with limited budgets.
- Customizations may pose complexity, requiring careful consideration and expertise.
Integrations
Google Calendar, WordPress, Zoho Desk, Mailchimp, and 1000+ other apps
Pricing Model
Starter: $18 per month
Professional: $1600 per month
Enterprise: $5000 per month

HubSpot is an all-in-one CRM designed to manage various aspects of business operations, particularly sales, marketing, and customer service. Although HubSpot doesn’t have a CRM solution dedicated to the financial services industry, the CRM’s Sales Hub covers an extensive set of advanced features and ample customization options that can benefit financial advisors. You can also integrate the platform with other HubSpot products, like Marketing Hub or Customer Service Hub, to unify business processes.

With HubSpot, you can efficiently manage your schedule, from setting appointments and reminders to organizing your to-do lists. These features help maintain organization, follow up on client requests, keep track of meetings, and manage important tasks effectively. And the best part is that you can use the CRM completely free of charge, making it ideal for independent advisors!

We tested the free CRM and found it quite robust, with features like email templates, social media marketing, tracking, scheduling, and list segmentation. Additionally, you can use it along with other free tools from HubSpot, such as the landing page builder.

Adding landing pages to your website is a great way to increase leads. These pages could be promoting free offers such as free courses or simply be contact pages. Regardless of its appearance, the aim is to gather contact information from prospective leads.

hubSpot meeting scheduler

HubSpot CRM’s free landing page builder lets you create attractive landing pages without any code. Furthermore, you can monitor the number of new leads generated by these pages and convert them into active prospects using HubSpot’s reporting capabilities.

HubSpot CRM's customizable dashboard and reporting software offer valuable insights. This tool is useful for financial planning, client reporting, and performance analysis. The reporting dashboards are flexible and customizable, allowing you to create reports that meet your specific needs.

Although HubSpot does not have a specific feature for tracking client financial goals and milestones, you can use the CRM's general goal tracking and management features to create custom goals aligned with your client's financial objectives.

Additionally, HubSpot CRM provides customizable customer portals that clients can use to interact with you. This customer portal feature is so intuitive that clients can solve their common service issues without requiring customer support. Also since the customer portal is customizable, you can tailor it to create a portal where clients can view their information and interact with advisors.

HubSpot app marketplace

In addition to Hubspot's comprehensive digital solutions, the platform offers an app marketplace where you can find external tools for integration, including project management tools like GSuite, Jira, and more. This capability provides the flexibility to customize your technology stack to the specific needs of your business, while still benefiting from a centralized CRM. 

HubSpot’s pricing is equally flexible, allowing you to choose the services and price tiers that best suit your goals and budget. Then as your business grows, you can conveniently add more features.

What’s more HubSpot provides a free tier for its CRM product that includes significant features such as unlimited users, contact management, sales funnel, email marketing automation, integrations, and more. As your needs expand, you can upgrade to a Starter, Professional, or Enterprise plan at $45, $99, and $399 per month respectively, with added sales and marketing features.

Your loyal clients entrust you with highly sensitive information, so it's crucial to use a CRM that prioritizes security, and HubSpot does just that. Before CRM data is transferred from a HubSpot server to your browser, it's encrypted using 2048-bit or stronger keys, making a successful brute-force attack nearly impossible. 

HubSpot also uses a web application firewall and network-level firewalling to monitor web traffic. They also regularly perform vulnerability and penetration testing and submit to external security audits so you are in safe hands.

Setting up and learning how to use many CRM for financial advisors is usually where most of the challenge is, as they often come with a steep learning curve that may prevent all team members from using the CRM effectively. However, while testing HubSpot's CRM, the clean interface and intuitive dashboard made getting started seamless. 

Additionally, the platform’s numerous free online tutorials helped us get through more complicated tasks, so unlike many other CRMs, you can spend less time setting up your system and more time using it. 

However, because HubSpot is not specifically designed for financial advisors, it lacks some industry-specific features, such as wealth management and financial planning. This means that even though it offers a wide range of functionalities, you may need to supplement it with other tools or customization to fully meet industry-specific needs.

How to pick the right CRM for financial advisors/wealth management

In wrapping up our journey into the world of financial services CRMs in 2024, we've seen how these sophisticated tools are revolutionizing the way financial advisors manage client relationships, track goals, and handle sensitive information. Moving beyond basic client management, these financial CRMs offer a suite of features tailored to the intricate needs of finance professionals- from real-time financial portfolio updates and automated communication to secure document handling and comprehensive client views. We've explored how these functionalities are being effectively utilized in real-world scenarios, demonstrating their impact on enhancing client service and operational efficiency.

So, what's next for you as a financial advisor or wealth manager? If you're considering a CRM, reflect on how the uses and features we've discussed align with your specific business needs and client management style. And if you're already using one, this might be the perfect time to delve deeper into its capabilities, ensuring you're leveraging every aspect to its full potential. In the dynamic and ever-evolving field of financial advising, staying ahead means continuously exploring, adapting, and employing the best tools available. Embrace the power of a specialized CRM, experiment with its features, and watch as it transforms your practice and boost revenue.

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Our Top Pick - Shape

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4.8/5 - from 2,000+ reviews

All-in-one software for marketing, sales, customer service, CRM, and operations. Improve communication and maximize your business.

Please note: All pricing mentioned in this article is based on information available as of 24-01-2024 and sourced from the respective companies' public pricing pages. While we strive for accuracy, we recommend verifying with the specific company for the most up-to-date details.

Need more business advice? Take your pick from one of our many well-researched articles

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All-in-one software for marketing, sales, customer service, CRM, and operations.

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Top 6 Best Lead Management CRM Software For 2024

In the digital landscape of B2B sales in 2024, Lead Management CRMs are the superheroes of the sales and marketing world. In this guide, we're zooming in on the CRMs that are masters at capturing and corralling leads from every corner of the digital realm – from social media to email to SMS marketing. These tools don't just collect leads; they transform them into well-organized segments, setting the stage for marketing strategies that really resonate. Picture a system that not only identifies your hottest prospects with advanced lead scoring but also harmonizes the efforts of your sales and marketing teams.

Pipedrive-Logo

Pipedrive

An affordable CRM for lead management with robust features

$9.90+/mo

Price increases per plan, trial available

Top Choice

shape-logo-color

Shape

A comprehensive CRM, offering omnichannel lead generation and nurturing for end-to-end lead management.

$119/user/mo

Fixed pricing plan

salesflare CRM-logo

Salesflare

An automated CRM for boosting the productivity of B2B sales teams

$29+/mo

Price increases per plan, trial available

What is a CRM?

A CRM, or Customer Relationship Management system, is a tool used to manage interactions with customers and potential customers, streamline processes, and improve profitability in sales, marketing, and service divisions.

What is lead management software?

Put simply, lead management software is a digital tool designed to capture, track, and manage prospective customers' information. It streamlines the process of converting leads into clients by effectively organizing and prioritizing leads for businesses.

Arm your business with powerful reporting and forecasting

The best lead management CRM is like having your very own sales strategy sidekick, helping you peer into the future of your campaigns and lead conversion performance. As we explore the top six Lead Management CRMs of 2024, each emerges as a key ally in streamlining and optimizing your sales journey, ready to propel your business to new heights. 

From gathering leads under one digital roof to crafting personalized marketing campaigns that hit the bullseye, and prioritizing prospects like a pro – it's all about making every lead count. Let’s explore some real-world examples and the nifty CRM features that are turning businesses into lead management powerhouses.

It's time to amp up your lead game! 

10 essential features every good lead management CRM software should have 

Diving right into the action, let’s explore everything from magnetic lead capture to dynamic segmentation, intuitive scoring, and even a dash of crystal ball forecasting in the best lead management CRM.

With these ten essential features, a lead management CRM transforms from a simple tool into a powerhouse for businesses, making lead management not just effective but also an exciting part of the sales journey! 

5 effective ways to get the most out of your lead management CRM

Ready to harness the full potential of the best lead management CRM? In this section, we’ll explore the common ways businesses are utilizing lead management CRM. The strategies below will take your lead management to the next level for maximum efficiency. We're talking about everything from maximizing lead-capturing capabilities to unlocking advanced segmentation strategies and leveraging the power of analytics for smarter decision-making.

In these ways, lead management CRMs are transforming into essential tools for business owners and sales teams, enabling more strategic decision-making and efficient lead handling.With that out of the way, let’s dive into our picks for the best lead management CRM on the market in 2024. 

Quick comparison of the best lead management software

Software Intro Price Differentiator
Shape
$119
Offers a comprehensive and AI-driven approach to lead distribution, with ShapeIQ for lead scoring and automated multi-channel nurturing
Pipedrive
$9.90
Focuses on being a single source of truth for lead and deal management, with automatic prompts for tasks
Salesflare
$29
Specializes in automated lead enrichment for B2B, with strong automated lead generation and email management
Close CRM
$49
Features Smart Views to create personalized workflows for different lead groups, enhancing targeted engagement.
Freshsales
$15
Freddy AI Lead Scoring system, which uses over 30,000 machine learning models to automatically score leads
Salesforce Sales Cloud
$25
Streamlines operations with effective lead distribution and a comprehensive set of features for diverse business needs.

The top 6 best lead management CRM software in 2024 are: 

1. Shape

Founded: 1999
HQ: Irvine, California, United States
Key Info
Price: $119/user/mo
Free plan: No
Support: 24/7 (In-product support + email)
Best For
Any-sized business seeking cutting-edge lead management software
Pros
+ Straightforward to configure
+ Advanced AI lead scoring allows you to qualify and convert leads with ease
+ Manage all accounts, leave notes, and call/text/email them from one system
Cons
- Limited customization option for the deal section
- Has a slight learning curve
Integrations
Calendly, Zapier, MailChimp, WordPress, and many more
Pricing Model
Sales & Marketing CRM: $119/user/mo
Point of Sale: $47/user/mo
Lead Funnels: $299/mo

Topping our list of the best lead management CRM is Shape, an all-in-one sales and marketing software that helps you manage interaction with your contacts, leads, and optimize your operations. The software prides itself in having one of the best sales and marketing suites in the industry with high quality tools that convert your marketing efforts into more sales.

A large part of boosting sales comes from how effectively you capture your leads. Shape starts its lead management process by ensuring you are not letting out any leads slip out through its Lead Engine feature. This feature is designed for one purpose- converting your web traffic into qualified leads. All you have to do is create a customized landing page with forms for your visitors to fill in their details and add it to your website. The CRM then automatically captures all these customer details for lead tracking and management.

The best part is the lead engine provides several attractive and customizable landing page templates, each tailored for different use cases and fully optimized to convert. This means you won't be spending months designing landing pages just to capture leads when you could spend all that time nurturing and converting them. 

shape-lead-distribution screen

After capturing your leads, Shape ensures you are nurturing them effectively through its segmenting function. You can categorize them based on different characteristics such as demographics, source of acquisition, engagement level, etc. This gives you context when interacting with them so you can provide personalized customer experiences and develop better relationships.

Not all leads convert to sales. While some leads are hot and only need one sales rep to close the deal, others are cold and may never convert. Infact, according to a Berkin study, only 10 to 15% of leads end up below the sales funnel and convert into deals. Therefore, after capturing and segmenting your leads, it’s important to identify the ones that fall into this percentage and prioritize them so you don't end up wasting time on cold leads. 

Shape makes this easy through their AI powered lead scoring feature, Shape IQ. Shape IQ analyzes your leads based on 700 data points and automatically assigns scores to them based on how they fit into your ideal customer profile. This removes uncertainty from your lead qualification process so your team can focus more on selling. 

Shape CRM also ensures that you nurture your leads based on their sales-readiness level with its robust sales and marketing automation features. The CRM comes with automated drip campaigns, pre-built email marketing templates for cold outreach, warm leads, post-closing campaigns, SMS automation, and more. 

shape-Reports and Analytics screen

One thing that stands out with Shape is the attention to even the tiniest detail. Shape ensures your text messages are not bland by incorporating attention-grabbing details like pictures, videos, GIFs, and audio to increase your open and reply rates.

While carrying out your lead management efforts, it’s also important to assess and understand how you are performing. This assessment is notjust to measure the success of your leads becoming customers but also to analyze how effective each stage of your lead management process is so you can optimize your efforts. 

Shape offers advanced custom reporting tools that sorts your data and helps you create reports based on any criteria and format tailored to your team and goals. The insight from these reports ensures that your lead management strategies align with market and customer trends. 

Overall, Shape earns its spot on this list with its comprehensive omnichannel lead generation and nurturing features that ensures you are not missing out on any potential deals. It provides all the functionalities that support end-to-end lead management from sourcing/marketing to converting the deal to a closed deal. 

However, having all these features in one CRM also means getting started with the platform can come with a learning curve. This doesn’t have to be a problem, though, as the platform has a dedicated support team, a comprehensive knowledge base, and expert-guided webinars to make your transition seamless. At $119 a month, Shape offers good value for money, although access to the lead engine feature balloons the cost to $299. 

2. Pipedrive

Founded: 2010
HQ: New York, United States
Key info
Free plan: No
Support: Live chat, phone & help center
Best for
Businesses looking for a visual CRM for lead management
Pros
+ User-friendly and straightforward to use.
+ Features a comprehensive range of integration options with over 400 apps.
+ Notable for its automation capabilities.
Cons
- Lacks a free plan.
- Some users reported limitations in filtering options and report generation.
- Compatibility issues have been noted, particularly with certain phone integrations.
Integrations
Xero, Zapier, Quickbooks, QuarterOne, and many more
Pricing Model*
Essential: $9.90 per month (one user)
Advanced: $19.90 per month (one user)
Professional: $39.90 per month (one user)
Power: $49.90 per month (one user)
Enterprise: $59.90 per month (one user)

There's a good reason Pipedrive has become one of the best lead management CRM available today. An increasingly popular name in the CRM space, Pipedrive provides robust functionality in lead management, pipeline management, sales reporting, forecasting, and seamless email integration. The CRM’s Kanban-view interface gives you a clear view of your sales funnel while also managing your sales efforts.

Pipedrive‘s lead management features makes it an ideal choice for small to medium sized businesses. You can capture your leads by importing them directly from spreadsheets and through other sources like chatbots, live chats, web forms, and more. As your leads flow in from multiple sources, they are stored in the Leads Inbox until you’re ready to qualify them to prevent them from cluttering the CRM ensuring that your user experience remains optimal.

When it’s time to qualify your leads, pipedrive allows you to divide them into segments based on their key attributes so you can assess them within each segment. Since your leads are diverse, having them in different segments helps you understand how to approach and communicate with them. 

Leads Inbox - Pipedrive CRM

Once you have segmented your leads, Pipedrive’s lead scoring feature ranks your leads based on their likelihood to convert to sales. So, at this stage, you not only know how to address your leads and get them to convert, but you also have insights on which leads to prioritize. 

As simple as email campaigns are, if carefully crafted, they can help you grow a loyal customer base and scale your business without stretching your budget. But for your email campaign to achieve this, they need to grab your audience's attention and cater to their specific needs. Therefore, you need more than just an email service provider or generic email templates. 

Pipedrive provides attractive and customizable email layouts that help you win your potential clients’ attention. It takes it a step further by adding analytics and tracking features so you are not only winning their attention but getting insights on how to keep them glued to you and take action. 

During our test, we found Pipedrive’s email campaign features highly intuitive. You can create your layout from one of the ready made templates or create it from scratch. Creating your layouts from scratch is also not as complex as it sounds because of the CRM’s drag and drop elements.

pipedrive email campaigns

Our favorite aspect of this feature is how it brings all your communications with your contacts in one place. Each time you click on a contact’s name, you will also see their entire email communication history including the emails they got, if and when they opened the email, and what actions they took. This is a very important feature since you will be dividing all your prospects into segments, and each segment will be receiving different messages during your campaigns.

Pipedrive also provides sales reporting software that gives you insights into your winning patterns so you can optimize your campaigns and workflow. These insights are provided in customizable reports and displayed on easy to use interactive dashboards so you can start working on them in no time. 

Despite all these robust features, Pipedrive remains one of the most affordable lead management CRM software. The base subscription plan costs 9.90 and it covers all the essential lead management features you need.

Altogether, thanks to its blend of affordability, ease of use, and robust features on an affordable platform, Pipedrive remains one of the best lead management CRM software for small business. The CRM’s clear and intuitive interface makes it easy to deal with large volumes of leads and deals efficiently. However, it has limited filters compared to other popular CRM options, and its reporting features are not so extensive. But as a software used by over 100,000 companies, Pipedrive has firmly cemented itself as of the best lead management CRM on the market.

3. Salesflare

Founded: 2014
HQ: Antwerp, Belgium
Key info
Price: $29/user/mo
Trial: 14 days
Support: Phone, email & chat
Best for
SMEs seeking automated lead enrichment
Pros
+ Features a strong automated feature for generating leads
+ Offers comprehensive automation in email management
+ Sales and marketing teams can easily monitor the sales status of accounts
Cons
- Task-related note management can be cumbersome
- Lacks an automatic lead assignment feature
- Integration challenges for large enterprises, as the product isn't primarily designed for them
Integrations
Emailable, Quickbooks, Better Proposals, Mailchimp, and more
Pricing Model*
Growth: $29 per user/month
Pro: $49 per user/month
Enterprise: $99 per month (from 5 users)

Like Pipedrive, Salesflare is another lead management CRM software ideal for small-sized sales teams. One of its distinct features is its strong automation features designed to improve your sales teams’ workflows. With these features, you can quickly collect customer data, log phone calls, and send personalized emails effortlessly. 

However, to capture your leads through web forms, you will need to integrate your CRM with Zapier. Similarly, lead segmentation does not come in-built as well. After generating your leads, segmenting them requires integrating with an external tool like LinkedIn sales navigator. 

Salesflare recommends the LinkedIn sales navigator because of its affordability and ease of use compared to other lead list building services. It uses your company data and professional contact data filters to build your lead list in just minutes.

salesflare email workflows

Once you have your lead list, Salesflare calculates their hotness based on metrics from the previous week such as email opens, email clicks, email exchange, and website visits. Salesflare even takes it a step further by adding fire symbols next to each lead to denote how hot the leads are. 

For example, a yellow symbol represents a hot lead, while a red symbol signifies that the lead is burning hot. This gives you a quick, visual image on who’s most interested without having to analyze numbers. Salesflare also helps you connect your sales and marketing efforts to speed up your leads to closure with features like automated email workflows, email templates, and email and website tracking. 

With email templates and automated workflows, you can send sequences of emails to your contacts in just seconds and set the goals you want to achieve from each contact as they move through the workflow. 

salesflare analytics

The email and website tracking features compliments your workflow by providing accurate insights into your email and web campaign performance.

You can see reports based on how many people opened and clicked on your email, your website visits, clicks, and more. Although Salesflare comes by default with most of the reports companies commonly use, you can build your own custom report with the custom reporting functionality. However, the catch is this functionality is only available on the Pro Plan, which costs $49 a month when paid annually. 

Salesflare offers three pricing plans, starting at $29 for the Growth plan, $49 for the Pro plan, and capped at $99 for the Enterprise plan. On the Growth plan, you can track your emails and website visits, automate your CRM data input, send personalized email campaigns, and more. It provides most of the basic features you'll need, except for sending workflows of multiple emails and custom dashboards for reporting, which are only available on the pro and enterprise plans.

Overall, Salesflare’s robust automated lead enrichment features, from automated CRM data input engagement tracking, to workflow automation work together to increase your team’s productivity, and ultimately, your revenue. 

However, the data import feature is basic when compared to other CRM options. Additionally, capturing leads from website contact forms and segmenting them does not come by default with the CRM. you will have to integrate an external software to get these functionalities, which could increase your costs and complicate your workflow.

4. Close

Founded: 2013
HQ: San Francisco, California, United States
Key info
Free plan: No
Support: Phone, email & chat
Best for
Businesses with a broad range os prospects seeking advanced targeting options and personalization
Pros
+ Offers detailed filtering options for leads.
+ Simplifies the process of importing and exporting leads.
+ The Smartview feature makes prioritizing and handling prospects straightforward.
Cons
- Custom report creation is not available for non-enterprise clients.
- Options for customization are somewhat restricted.
- The automation workflows lack support for very specific conditions.
Integrations
Hubspot, Zoom, Zapier, and over 50+ other Apps
Pricing Model*
Starter: $25 per month/user
Basic: $59 per month/user
Professional: $89 per month/user
Business: $129 per month/user

Close CRM is an all-in-one CRM for growing sales teams. The platform’s lead management tools allow you to monitor communication history, track interactions, and automate your workflows to ensure your sales team maintains a proactive and optimized approach to lead nurturing.

If you have existing leads recorded on a spreadsheet, you can easily import them when you transition to using Close through the lead importer feature. However, for leads from other sources like google forms, slack, facebook ads, and mailchimp subscribers, you’ll need a Zapier integration. Zapier helps you transfer data between popular web services without needing a developer. 

After importing your leads, you can use the Smart Views feature to speed up your sales processes. Smart views are pre-saved lead filters that help you create lists or segments of users in just one click. 

Close CRM inbox

This feature stood out for us during our test for a number of reasons. For example, it automatically tells you who to follow up with and when to follow up with the prospect, removing the need to create long tasks and reminders. This helps you avoid clutter and prioritize your process to reach the right leads faster. Plus, since leads flow in and out of the Smart Views based on your filters, you can easily set up workflows to reach out to them at the best time. 

Regardless of the volume of leads you are working with, scoring your leads is important so you can cater to the most important leads quickly and focus on the rest. Close integrates these lead scores into your workflows so you can easily identify which one to prioritize. 

Once you know what leads require priority, you can engage them through the CRM’s email, call and SMS multi-channel automation features. These features include email templates, call coaching, call assistants for note taking, and a power dialer. They solve most of your sales reps’ pain points, from phone number searches, busy signals, to missing information during calls. For example, the predictive dialer can dial multiple numbers at once, and a sales rep would only have to take the call when a human answers, saving them the time they would have spent dialing multiple numbers manually and receiving no response. 

close crm workflow

The call assistant also automatically transcribes your conversations during every call and gives you an accurate summary of the call as well as action items. We found this feature highly functional because it means you never have to take notes and interpret them anymore. You can just focus on implementing the action items provided by the call assistant, increasing your productivity. 

Close’s lead nurturing features do not end at emails and calls. The CRM is also there to offer support with Zoom video meetings. This function is especially handy if your sales teams are working remotely. Once you connect your Zoom account to Close, you can manage all your Zoom meetings and recordings on the platform.

After implementing all these features on the CRM, you will get activity, opportunity, and workflow performance reports to analyse your lead management performance. With the activity reports and dashboards, you can see all of your team's activity in real-time. The opportunity report on the other hand, gives you an overview of all the opportunities you create on a list. 

You can also create custom reports, but this is only available in the enterprise plan. Close CRM’s pricing is a bit on the high side. The base subscription plan costs $49, but from there, it rises exponentially to $299 and $699 monthly, which may not be realistic for a small sales or marketing team. 

The bottom line is Close shines for its robust segmenting and multichannel lead nurturing features. It also offers a robust tracking and reporting feature that gives you a peek into lead behavior and helps you enhance your efficiency and boost your conversion rate.

However, during our test we compared the functionalities of Close CRM’s web app and the mobile app and realized the mobile app does not offer the same comprehensive functionality you’ll find on its web-based version. Also, the lower tier subscription plans do not offer full reporting capabilities. You will have to shell out $699 a month to get access to custom reports.

5. Freshsales

Founded: 2010
HQ: San Mateo, California, United States
Key info
Free plan: Yes
Support: Email, phone, chat & knowledge base
Best for
Startups seeking easy-to-use lead management features
Pros
+ Simple and quick to set up.
+ Affordable and includes a wide range of features.
+ Easily integrates with various other software platforms.
Cons
- Customer support and billing communication are lacking.
- To access certain functionalities standard in other CRMs, purchasing additional Freshworks products is necessary.
- New users may find the system's complexity daunting.
Integrations
Segment, Typeform, Shopify, and dozens of apps through Zapier
Pricing Model*
Free
Growth: $15 per month
Pro: $39 per month
Enterprise: $69 per month

Freshsales is part of the larger Freshworks framework that offers affordable and excellent AI-powered contact and lead-scoring features to track the sales pipeline. It has a generous free plan with many basic lead management features, making it a great selection for startups small businesses on a budget looking for a powerful CRM on a budget. 

Freshsales lets you capture leads automatically from emails and websites, import them from a CSV file, and add them manually. 

With Freshsales, adding leads manually is not as hectic as it sounds. The CRM has a quick add button that lets you add leads quickly through the new lead form. Even though this is a manual process, we found it highly intuitive. 

The quick add button is placed permanently on the Quick Actions bar and can be accessed anywhere you are in the CRM, whether you are on a call with a prospect, reading emails, or listening to voicemails. 

freshsales contacts import

You can use data coming from different systems to create as many segments of your customers as you want. Our favorite part of Freshsales’ customer segments is how the list is automatically updated. In other words, once a customer meets or no longer meets the requirements for a segment, they are automatically added or deleted. 

What sets Freshsales apart the most are its advanced AI-based features. One of them is the built-in AI powered lead scoring and prioritization feature that ranks your sales leads using implicit and explicit lead data. It ensures that the scores assigned to each lead reflect their current interest level by updating them every time they engage with your business. You’ll also get weekly reports on increase or decline in lead scores as well as factors that contributed to the change in scores so you can follow up accordingly.

Freshsales has one of the most robust tracking and reporting capabilities on this list. From tracking your leads’ website behavior, to providing deal insights, and gauging the success of your marketing and sales campaigns, Freshsales ensures you are making data-driven decisions, boosting your sales teams’ success rate. 

freshsales contact management

It takes this report functionality to another level by providing revenue metrics. With the revenue and sales cycle reports, you can identify the best and least performing campaigns, the top performers on your sales team, and the regions with leading sales. All these reports are shareable with your sales people so all hands can be on deck on leveraging the insights to optimize your processes and grow your revenue.

To wrap up, if you have a large volume of leads in your pipeline, Freshsales’ AI powered lead scoring features as well as its comprehensive tracking and reporting abilities makes it a top choice for keeping track of things and staying organized. It also stands out for offering a free plan with contact and lead management features. However, to access the AI-powered features, you will need to operate to a paid plan between $15 and $69 monthly. Considering the CRM’s advanced features, it is good value for money.

On the flip side, we noticed during our test that it does not manage duplicate entries effectively, and you may have to manually sort them out. Similarly, we didn’t find the mobile app experience smooth, so if your sales team are usually on the go and would rely heavily on the mobile app, you may have to use another CRM option. 

6. Salesforce Sales Cloud

Founded: 1999
HQ: San Francisco, California, United States
Key Info
Price: Starts at $25
Free plan: No; Trial available
Support: Phone & Email
Best For
Large businesses with complex operations seeking to streamline their lead management
Pros
+ Enhances lead and opportunity management, increasing sales conversions and efficiency.
+ Assists sales representatives in pinpointing the most promising prospects in their pipeline.
+ Offers real-time visibility into every client interaction and touchpoint.
Cons
- Cumulative costs for licenses and subscriptions can be substantial, with extra expenses for customizations.
- Basic charts and graphs are sufficient for beginners but may lack depth for larger organizations.
- The platform's complexity can pose challenges in learning and navigation, especially for field sales personnel.
Integrations
Integrates with over 3000 apps through mulesoft and App Exchange
Pricing Model
Starter: $25 per month for one user
Professional: $80 per month for one user
Enterprise: $165 per month for one user
Ultimate: $330 per month for one user

Salesforce Sales Cloud is another AI-powered lead management CRM software. This software automates your sales efforts, helps you nurture your leads, and monitor your marketing results, contributing to higher lead conversion rates.

You can generate leads directly from your company’s website visitors as well as from socials. Salesforce has a new Lead Capture for Sales Cloud app that allows the marketing team to collect lead data from platforms like Facebook and share them with the sales team to start nurturing them faster.

Like Freshsales, Sales Cloud also has an AI powered lead scoring feature. This feature comes with default sales cycle intelligence, built-in lead and opportunity scoring, as well as insights from calls, interactions, and deal health. The downside, though, is it is only available in the unlimited plan, which costs a whopping $330 per month.

salesforce reports

After qualifying your leads, you can nurture them through email campaigns. However, to segment these leads before starting your campaigns, you’ll need access to the Salesforce marketing cloud. In the marketing cloud, you can define the criteria you want to segment your leads on so you can start personalizing your messages to communicate with them better.  

The CRM makes sending bulk easy by providing email templates that give you a head start. 

As you nurture your leads, you can also track them easily with real-time customizable reports and dashboards so you can make more informed decisions. 

However, what really hit the nail on the head for us while testing Sales Cloud is the Einstein Conversion Insights feature. With this feature, every call your sales team has with prospects, leads, or deals result in actionable insights.

salesforce lead management

It is directly built into the CRM and automatically transcribes your recorded voice and video calls into summaries that include your next best steps. You can even compile a collection of your successful calls so your sales reps can replicate them. The best part is you’ll get all these insights in real time, so you can start working on them immediately leaving no time for the opportunity to get cold.

Sales Cloud pricing plans drift towards the expensive side, with pricing between $24 to $500. Although the $25 starter plan offers lead management features, other important analytics, reporting, and automation features are only available on the more expensive tiers. 

In the end, from lead generation to opportunity tracking and a real-time dashboard that gives you a bird's-eye view of your entire sales process, Salesforce Sales Cloud provides a seamless lead management experience. However, most of its essential features are only available in the expensive subscription plans, which may be out of reach for smaller businesses with tighter budgets. That being said, Sales Cloud remains an impressive lead management solution for large enterprises.

How to pick the best lead management CRM for your needs

As we conclude our exploration of Lead Management CRMs in 2024, we've journeyed through a landscape where these dynamic tools are reshaping the B2B sales world. We've seen how they're not just about managing leads but supercharging the entire sales process – from sophisticated lead capture and advanced segmentation to smart analytics for decision-making. These CRMs have shown their prowess in aligning sales and marketing efforts, making lead management not just efficient but also a thrilling part of business growth.

So, what's the next step for you in harnessing the power of these innovative tools? Whether you're just stepping into the realm of Lead Management CRMs or looking to upgrade your current system, consider how the features and strategies we've highlighted align with your business's unique needs. If you already have a CRM, now might be the time to dive deeper into its capabilities, ensuring you're extracting every ounce of value. In the constantly evolving world of B2B sales, staying ahead of the curve means continuously adapting and making the most of the best tools at your disposal. Embrace the potential of a robust Lead Management CRM, experiment with its myriad features, and watch as it propels your business to new heights of success and efficiency.

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Our Top Pick - Shape

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4.8/5 - from 2,000+ reviews

All-in-one software for marketing, sales, customer service, CRM, and operations. Improve communication and maximize your business.

Pease note: All pricing mentioned in this article is based on information available as of 18-01-2024 and sourced from the respective companies' public pricing pages. While we strive for accuracy, we recommend verifying with the specific company for the most up-to-date details.

Get started with Shape today!

All-in-one software for marketing, sales, customer service, CRM, and operations.

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The Future of the Mortgage Industry—How to Future-Proof Your Mortgage Business in 2024

In 2017, Forrester analyst, Andy Hoar famously declared,“we believe one million [sales] jobs will be net displaced by 2020.” No one could have predicted what enveloped the globe that year, nor the economic downturn that swiftly followed. By extension, the meteoric rise of artificial intelligence took all industries by surprise.

Last year, the investment banking giant, Goldman Sachs estimated 300 million jobs will be lost or displaced by AI. Moreover, in May 2023, AI was responsible for 4000 job losses, around 5% of all jobs lost, and the seventh-highest contributor to employment losses.

But what does this mean for real estate agents, mortgage professionals, and the average borrower?

Key mortgage industry statistics for 2024

The mortgage industry is witnessing a dynamic shift, characterized by fluctuating interest rates and evolving market challenges. To give you a clearer picture, let's break down some pivotal trends and forecasts that are shaping the mortgage landscape this year:

How 2023 shaped the US housing industry

In 2023, the U.S. housing market experienced a slowdown following a period of intense growth during the coronavirus pandemic. This earlier growth phase saw numerous buyers taking advantage of low mortgage rates to renegotiate their loans, purchase new homes, or achieve homeownership for the first time. High demand during this period propelled home prices to double-digit increases for two consecutive years. This intense competition, often termed the “race for space,” led to nearly 60 percent of homes being sold above their listing price in early 2021. However, the market has since cooled, with a nationwide decrease in home sales and similar trends across major metropolitan areas.

So, as we charge headlong into 2024, let's dive into how mortgage companies can stay ahead of the curve! We spoke to 9 industry experts about their advice for future-proofing your mortgage business.

Outsmart AI

Yep, a loan at your fingertips, zero lender required.

You know Frank Garay, right? – The mortgage industry influencer and co-founder of the National Real Estate Post is known for his no-holds-barred opinions on industry shifts.

For Frank, the biggest threat to lenders is that AI is currently being used by massive tech companies to originate loans from virtually any web/mobile-based platform.

Still, Frank’s not fazed.

Use technology that helps you physically engage with referral partners (Realtors) by giving you a real reason to speak with them on a consistent basis asking them for the business. Not technology designed to ensure you don’t need to engage with them physically. As street level originators we need to move away from ‘automated’ engagement platforms and embrace platforms that trigger us to physically engage with referral partners so we can ask for the referral,” he advises.

If you don’t already have one, make sure you set up a simple referral partner touch campaign in your CRM to help you stay connected to the real, human people who send the best leads your way.

Stop treating each deal as transactional

Alex Jimenez is Branch Manager at Benchmark Home Loans. He’s also incredibly tuned into the changes taking place in the mortgage industry.

You have to stay in front of your clients, or someone else will.

“Lenders need to stop treating each deal as transactional. They need to build a solid foundation with their client and understand their needs. They need to go above and beyond to provide their client top notch service from the inception of the relationship to beyond the closing. Consistent communication, touches and follow up are all important factors of this. You have to stay in front of your clients, or someone else will,” Alex warns.

He’s not wrong.

In fact, research shows that 79% of leads never convert into sales, usually due to a lack of lead nurturing. But that doesn’t mean you need to run in every direction to stay in front of your clients and prospects.

Lenders tend to create their own threats. They get focused on what other people are doing and get out of their lane. Lenders need to focus on themselves and what provides them consistent business. What creates that is dependent on the market place, the types of loans they are doing and what impact they have had locally,” explains Alex.

Resist the urge to spread yourself thin. Instead, set up a smart CRM to concentrate your efforts on optimizing and converting your best leads.

Embrace technology ASAP

Shashank Shekhar is a #1 Best Selling Author, CEO of Inc 500 Company Arcus Lending, and a regular contributor here on the Shape blog.

According to him, technology is a mandatory part of every successful mortgage business.

Automation through digitization is the #1 biggest change every lender needs to prepare for

“Automation through digitization is the #1 biggest change every lender needs to prepare for. More than half of the work currently done by humans will be replaced by algorithms, tech tools, and bots in the next 24 months. To thrive, lenders need to embrace technology ASAP and also provide better than average education to borrowers via online and offline mediums,” Shashank predicts.

In fact, approximately 83% of Top Producers said digital mortgage technology is the key to their company’s future growth. But if you don’t count yourself within that majority, you should know that there are some benefits of being late to the party.

For example, choosing a CRM from within a more mature marketplace enables you to select a tool capable of running all your business tasks within one central system, rather than creating a bulky patchwork of platforms.

Work less

When we asked Eric Mitchell, Executive Vice President of National Retail for his thoughts on the future outlook for brokers, he had this to say:

“The biggest challenge facing Mortgage Lenders is getting their Loan Officers to adopt technology. Technology will not replace Loan Officers, and Loan Officers that adopt technology will replace those that don’t! The days of a Loan Officer making a good living closing 1 or 2 loans per month are over. And the only way Loan Officers can close higher volume without working 70+ hours per week, is to adopt technology at a faster pace.”

More business from less work? It’s true.

With the right use of the right tech, you can achieve the seemingly impossible. But you’ll need to pay extra close attention to ensure your daily tasks (fewer though they may be) actually move the needle on revenue. And you need to inspire your team to do the same. Here’s Eric:

“There are tremendous efficiencies that can be achieved that allow Loan Officers to be more valuable to their clients and also generate more business with less time. The companies that will survive this next market correction, will be those that inspire their Loan Officers to make the needed changes to their daily activities. The size of our paychecks are directly correlated to the level of value we bring to our clients. Stop complaining about the market and start learning how to be more valuable!”

You heard it here first, people.

If you want to make the most of the inevitable changes in the market, it’s time to start thinking bigger about the value you bring to the table.

Prove your value

Change is never easy. Most of the time you know what you need to do, you just need practical steps for how to do it.

We brought in Rajin Ramdeholl, Vice President Private Client Division at Meadowbrook Financial Mortgage Bankers Corp. for help on that one.

According to Rajin:

“The biggest change would be interest rates increasing and affordability decreasing. That coupled with a recession on the loom will be a tremendous challenge for those in the mortgage industry. During a recession people are scared to spend or can’t afford to buy a home. They can prove their value through social media videos or testimonials from prior clients. Or through online reviews,” he advises.

We know it’s getting tough out there. But for savvy lenders, there’s always a way to help lead your prospects and customers cut through the hype and fear, so they can find the right deal for them.

And nothing builds that level of trust like a little social proof. In fact, research shows that product reviews are 12X more trusted than product descriptions and sales copy.

If you don’t already have an automated system for collecting testimonials and reviews, make sure you get that set up in your CRM. Simply give your customer a heads-up that they’ll be asked for feedback and you’ll be amazed by how many will jump at the chance to share their experience.

Empower your team

Alright, by now you’ve probably realized you have some work to do to bring your business systems and strategies forward. But what about your team? We asked Christine Beckwith for help on this one.

Why? Well, because as a professional sales and life success coach, award-winning mortgage finance veteran and best selling author, she knows a thing or two about nailing the next level.

Here’s what she had to say:

“Lenders need to arm their employees with the tools to compete. Great service and competitive rates are the bare minimum needed. How do they help their Mortgage Loan Originators become experts in the many niche programs available and then position themselves to capture market share? Second, they need to advance technology wise as the movement on that front is beginning to take on a more rapid evolution. If they focus on those two things while servicing the consumer at the highest possible level they will stay alive,“ she predicts.

To recap, if you want to stick around in this crazy game of mortgage lending, you’ll need to have:

Think of creative (and of course, tech-friendly) ways to elevate your team and don’t be afraid to experiment to find what works.

Refuse to become a commodity

John Thomas is the Branch Manager of Primary Residential Mortgage, Inc. and he also happens to be one of the The Most Connected Mortgage Professionals of 2018 according to National Mortgage Professional Magazine.

According to him, the competition is becoming fiercer than ever.

“I see the biggest challenge for lenders is big companies like Zillow and Amazon getting into mortgages and making it seem to the consumer that a mortgage is just like any other commodity like coffee,” he warns.

We know, scary. But when we asked John plainly whether the mortgage broker would one day become extinct, he basically said ‘no chance.’

“I would say that is not going to happen. People may start search online but most people want to make to talk to someone about the right loan product especially first time home buyers. There are even more loan options in the market now as we see Non-QM loans come into the market which certainly don’t fit into an online application,” says John.

Today, 66% of consumers say they’ll happily switch brands if they feel like a number, not an individual. And no matter how many mammoth-sized competitors enter the market, with the right tools, your team can offer a truly warm and personal experience customers just can’t get anywhere else.

Don’t forget how important this is

While we’re on the topic of personalization, it’s worth remembering that taking out a mortgage is a truly momentous occasion in your customer’s life—which makes your role downright crucial.

Here’s Tom Smith, Branch Manager at First Centennial Mortgage Corporation on taking a minute to walk in your customer’s shoes:

A mortgage is a big financial decision

“As companies such as Zillow, Realtor.com and Amazon are attempting to change the market as we know it for mortgage and real estate, the loan officer needs to show what an asset they are with the education and resources that they can provide face to face. Technology is great, but do you really want to put your information in the hands of a person that you can’t see or touch and works only 8-5 for the biggest investment of your life?”

Probably not. Find ways to show your customers you understand how important this decision is and are ready to be the one to help them find their way through it.

Communicate to compete

By now, it’s clear.

Though tech is evolving at lightning speed, customers are demanding a more human and personal experience with providers.

Anthony VanDyke knows the story well. The President of ALV Mortgage is a master originator and a total pro at using visual elements like video and screen captures to connect on a more meaningful level with customers.

Connect on a more meaningful level with customers

“The lending landscape is changing again. Big companies with big data are making it easier and improving the customers mortgage experience. We need to be aware of the customers experience and work towards making the mortgage process easier for the customer,” says Anthony.

When we asked him, ‘What’s the best way lenders can make the experience easier for the customer?’ He had just one word for us: Communication.

Let’s face it. For most people, navigating the mortgage application process is no walk in the park. What can you do to make it as simple and seamless as possible? Start by asking your customers about their experiences working with you to identify the friction points and come up with better ways to walk them through it.

Don’t give in to the pressure

John Stevens is a true mortgage industry leader

The immediate past president for The National Association of Mortgage Brokers has been in the game for decades. And suffice to say, he’s heard his fair share of buzzwords.

To him, the biggest challenge facing lenders is the “pressure to be less personable and more digital.”

“In today’s ever-changing environment the successful lender is the one who has trained their staff with a superior customer service experience. This should not be just a buzzword that lenders have in their company recruiting brochures, it should be a way of life. People want to work with people. And people will remember, and refer, the ones who treated them with respect and kindness,” explains John.

Sometimes the best thing to do is simply go back to basics. Because while the tools and technology will always change, but the human being still wants what it wants. Use smart systems to fuel that connection, and you’ll have a long and healthy future ahead of you.

Let Shape Software help you futureproof your mortgage business

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Top 6 Most Simple CRMs To Use in 2024

Are you seeking a simple CRM that cuts through the complexity and makes your business life a breeze? Look no further! We're here to guide you through the world of the most straightforward, user-friendly CRMs that don't compromise on functionality. In this article, we delve into how intuitive each CRM interface is, ensuring that you can navigate through common tasks with ease and minimal clicks. We also examine the setup time and onboarding process - how quickly can a new user become a CRM expert? What kind of support, like user-friendly tutorials or accessible live support is available to smooth out any learning curves?

Pipedrive-Logo

Pipedrive

Streamlined CRM for efficient sales process with visual insights

$9.90+/mo

Pricing scales depending on the number of team members and the tier

Top Choice

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Shape

Best simple CRM with AI suite, integrated phone, and productivity tools

$119/user/mo

Fixed pricing plan

HubSpot

Comprehensive CRM solution with powerful sales, and marketing tools

$18-1500+/mo

Pricing scales as you increase number of contacts and features

Beyond usability, we'll assess each CRMs' technical prowess. How do they perform in terms of speed and responsiveness? We'll look at historical uptime and how these systems stand up to bugs or outages. Most importantly, we're bringing in user reviews to give you a clear picture of what it's really like to use these CRMs day-to-day. Our goal is to find you the best CRM that's not just a tool but a delight to use - one that enhances productivity and brings joy to your work routine. Say goodbye to complicated systems and hello to a CRM experience that feels tailor-made for your business needs.

To kick things off, we've distilled the key features that define a truly easy to use CRM. Here's your roadmap to identifying a simple CRM system that's not only powerful but also effortlessly intuitive, enhancing your workflow and productivity

10 essentials of an easy-to-use CRM: What to look out for? 

1. Intuitive dashboard

The hub of a CRM should be a clear, customizable dashboard that presents all necessary information at a glance. Look for a drag-and-drop interface and the ability to easily prioritize and hide widgets according to your needs.

2. Streamlined contact management software

An easy to use CRM should allow you to add, edit, and find contacts quickly, perhaps with a simple search bar or the option to import contacts effortlessly from external sources like email or spreadsheets.

3. Effortless integration

The CRM should seamlessly integrate with existing tools and applications with minimal setup. Check if it offers plug-and-play integrations with email, calendar apps, or social media without the need for complex APIs.

4. Simple task automation

Automating repetitive tasks should be straightforward, with basic features like one-click automation templates and the ability to create custom workflows through a visual editor rather than coding.

5. User-friendly mobile app

A mobile version of the CRM that retains the full functionality of its desktop counterpart, with easy navigation and quick data entry, ensures on-the-go access for busy professionals.

6. Clear analytics and reporting

Look for CRMs that provide pre-built report templates and an uncomplicated process to customize reports, along with visual data representation like charts and graphs for quick analysis.

7. Accessible customer support and resources

The CRM should offer an extensive library of help articles, video tutorials, and an easy-to-reach customer support team to aid in learning and troubleshooting.

8. Quick data synchronization

Data across all devices and integrations should sync in real-time or with minimal delay, ensuring that you're always working with the most up-to-date information.

9. Minimal clicks for common tasks

A feature is user-friendly if it allows you to perform routine tasks such as logging calls or emails, scheduling appointments, and setting reminders with as few clicks as possible.

10. Reliable notification system

The CRM should have customizable alerts that are easy to set up, ensuring that you're notified about important events, follow-ups, or deadlines in a timely manner without being overwhelmed by unnecessary notifications.

Now let’s unveil some practical strategies for harnessing the full potential of any simple CRM. Discover how to simplify, streamline, and supercharge your business processes with these commonly practiced strategies. 

Top 5 ways to effectively leverage a simple CRM

1. Centralizing contact information

A popular way to utilize simple CRMs is by making them the go-to repository for all your customer information. Keep your contact list up-to-date and comprehensive, ensuring every interaction with clients is informed and tailored to their needs.

2. Integrating daily operations

Embed your project management tools and calendars within the CRM for a unified view of your daily activities. This integration helps in managing appointments and follow-ups efficiently, ensuring you never miss an important task or meeting.

3. Monitoring sales progress

Many businesses leverage their CRM to track their sales pipeline. By visualizing where each prospect stands in the buying journey, you can better forecast sales, prioritize your efforts, and identify any hurdles in the sales process.

4. Streamlining with automation

A key advantage of simple CRMs is their ability to automate routine tasks. Setting up automated responses, reminders, and status updates can save significant time and maintain consistency in your business operations.

5. Gleaning insights from data

Tapping into the analytics and reporting features of your CRM can offer valuable insights. Regularly reviewing performance metrics and customer engagement data helps in making informed business decisions and fine-tuning strategies for better results.

Each of these methods capitalizes on the strengths of simple CRM software, enabling businesses to enhance productivity and customer relationship management without getting bogged down by complexity.

Quick comparison of the top 6 easiest CRM to use

Software Intro Price Differentiator
Shape
$119
Advanced sales and marketing automation tools seamlessly integrated into an intuitive interface
Pipedrive
$9.90
Budget-friendly and efficient sales process management with comprehensive reporting
HubSpot
$0
All-encompassing functionality for sales, marketing, and customer support needs.
Engagebay
$0
Streamlined email marketing with a straightforward pricing structure.
Campaign Monitor
$0
Customizable templates and comprehensive automation for impactful email campaigns

1. Shape

Founded: 1999
HQ: Irvine, California, United States
Key info
Free plan: No
Support: 24/7 (In-product support + email)
Best for
Businesses requiring a powerful and feature-rich CRM that is both intuitive and easy to use.
Pros
+ Offers a range of tools for marketing automation
+ Enhances customer outreach and engagement through automated marketing efforts
+ Helps businesses effectively manage and track their leads, improving their overall sales process.
Cons
- While generally easy to use, some users mention a learning curve.
- Support is limited to emails
Integrations
Zapier, Calendly, MailChimp, LendingPad, and many more
Pricing Model
Sales & Marketing CRM: $119/user/mo
Point of Sale: $47/user/mo
Lead Funnels: $299/mo

At the top of our list of simple, user-friendly CRMs is Shape CRM, with good reasons. As an all-in-one CRM, Shape has all the features you need to power your entire business, from marketing and sales automation to pipeline management, lead generation, landing pages, task management, calling, texting, and reporting functionalities. This simple CRM is also adaptable for companies of any size with custom solutions for businesses across multiple industries, including, mortgage, insurance, education, and solar sectors.

Despite all these features, Shape is incredibly easy to use. As you access the platform, you are welcomed to an attractive and organized interface that gets you started with your sales tasks in just minutes, even if this is your first rodeo with a CRM system.

shape task management

This ease of use is one of Shape’s major selling points, with many users describing it as an intuitive and organized simple CRM that streamlines business processes and helps you focus on selling and making money. According to a satisfied user, “I have other marketing automation systems, and it's so confusing but Shape is straightforward and very effective. It's been our most valuable tool in helping to streamline our processes.”

Even though the interface is already set up to simplify your onboarding process, Shape also offers added support systems like video tutorials, detailed step-by-step guides, and comprehensive onboarding and training webinars with Shape experts. These resources work together to ensure your transition into the system is seamless. 

That’s not all. If you prefer a one-on-one support experience, Shape also offers dedicated support via email when you submit a ticket or through an instant live chat. 

The best part is you can even request for a callback, and a Shape expert will contact you directly for personalized assistance. This user-friendly support does not end during the onboarding process. 

Shape - In-App support tool

As you integrate the simple CRM into your daily operations, Shape continues to provide video guides, email support, and self-service support via its knowledge base. The support team also generally receives positive reviews for their quick and helpful assistance.

Similarly, Shape’s technical performance is equally impressive. The system is fast and highly responsive to handle your daily operations efficiently. Although it does not provide any uptime guarantees, Shape claims an uptime of over 99% to show its reliability. This high level of efficiency is enough for your business to rely on Shape for consistent and uninterrupted access to your basic CRM needs.

Overall, Shape’s wide range of tools for marketing automation, user-friendly system, and reliable customer support makes it the best simple CRM to improve your sales management. However, while the system is generally easy to use, as reflected in its 4.8 ease of use rating on Capterra, some users mention a learning curve. But this is quickly resolved with the platform’s robust onboarding resources. 

2. Pipedrive

Founded: 2010
HQ: New York, United States
Key info
Free plan: No
Support: Phone, email & chat
Best for
Small to medium-sized businesses seeking streamlined sales processes and detailed reporting
Pros
+ Simplifies sales process management
+ Low Cost
+ offers detailed sales reports
Cons
- Limited customization options
- Does not support complex operations
Integrations
Zapier, Xero, Quickbooks, google sheets, and many more
Pricing Model
Essential: $9.90 per month (one user)
Advanced: $19.90 per month (one user)
Professional: $39.90 per month (one user)
Power: $49.90 per month (one user)
Enterprise: $59.90 per month (one user)

Pipedrive is a deal-driven simple CRM solution designed to help sales teams increase revenue and scale your small business. Thanks to its highly flexible and customizable design, you can visualize your sales pipeline and track sales leads as they progress from initial contact to conversion. 

We found the user interface highly intuitive with card-like, Kanban-inspired drag-and-drop pipelines and customizable dashboards that make it easy to manage and monitor sales activities. You can literally drag and drop your deals to “Won”! Having such clarity in managing sales processes not only improves your team members efficiency but also helps minimize indecision, which is one of the common reasons CRM implementations fail. 

Setting up Pipedrive sales CRM during our test was easy. The user-friendly interface is simple to learn, saving the time and costs associated with extensive training and onboarding. It also has a detailed onboarding guide for new users that explains how to get the most out of this simple CRM, including insights into its core functionality. It even gets better if you’re on the Power or Enterprise pricing plan. These subscription plans come with custom onboarding support, with one-on-one guidance on how to integrate Pipedrive into your specific system and processes. 

Pipedrive-Deals view

Pipedrive also has a comprehensive Knowledge Base, with video tutorials and training resources that’ll help you get started as a new user. Even after set up, you’ll have access to 24/7 customer support via chat in multiple languages, a supportive community, and regular live webinars hosted by product engineers and managers. These webinars are an excellent opportunity to learn about CRM tools and new features directly from the experts, ask questions, and optimize your sales strategies.

However, like any simple CRM tool, Pipedrive also has its weaknesses. Although Pipedrive is a credible platform, this simple CRM software does not provide uptime guarantees like some other CRM software. Reliability and responsiveness are crucial for CRM systems, especially if your business will depend on them for daily operations. 

At the time of writing this article, Pipedrive has faced three outages in the last 30 days. Users have also reported instances of technical instability, including occasional hiccups and downtimes. These aspects are crucial to consider if you’ll require uninterrupted easy CRM access for your operations.

Pipedrive-knowledgebase

Pipedrive is cost-effective, with plans starting at $9.90 and capped at $59.90. There’s no limit on the size of your contact base, and 24/7 live support and chat are available on all plans, making it an excellent choice for businesses with growing sales operations. However, it's important to note that all of Pipedrive's marketing tools, including the website visitor tracker and lead booster, come with an additional monthly fee.

User reviews consistently testify to Pipedrive’s user-friendliness. The platform has a 4.5 rating on Capterra for ease of use with many users expressing their satisfaction for its straightforward features and easy adaptability to various sales team structures and workflows. 

According to a satisfied user, “Most CRMs force you to use it the way they think is best. But not all sales teams are alike. Pipedrive works well for us because we can customize it to work exactly how we need it”. However, some users also report that the learning curve may be steep for users who are new to CRM systems. So while Pipedrive is generally user-friendly, initial familiarization might require more effort for certain users.

Overall, Pipedrive is a great pick for its ease of use and various tools. Although the lack of uptime guarantees and occasional technical instability with hiccups and downtimes position it slightly below certain rivals, its attractive interface and user-friendly design make it appealing for sales reps, So, if it has the features your organization needs, then Pipedrive is a fine choice.

3. HubSpot

Founded: 2006
HQ: Cambridge, Massachusetts, United States
Key info
Free plan: Yes
Support: Knowledge base, community, email, chat & phone
Best for
Businesses of all sizes requiring a comprehensive solution for sales, marketing, and customer support
Pros
+ Boasts an impressive array of features that cater to diverse needs
+ Access to a wealth of high-quality online video tutorials for comprehensive learning
+ Comprehensive functionality designed for sales, marketing, customer support, and various other purposes.
Cons
- Can get very expensive if you need every feature
- The bills can be difficult to understand
Integrations
Google Calendar, WordPress, Zoho Desk, Mailchimp, and 1000+ other apps
Pricing Model
Starter: $18 per month for two users
Professional: $450 per month
Enterprise: $1500 per month

HubSpot CRM is an all-in-one simple CRM software with a free CRM solution, and from our evaluation, the free CRM can match many competitors who charge for similar services. What makes the platform particularly user-friendly is its straightforward navigation, clearly marking how to access and exit menus and processes. 

Despite the integration of sales, marketing, and customer service tools, the user interface is sleek and clean, even better than many other individual category CRMs. However, it doesn't provide the same level of customization you’d get from a simple CRM like Pipedrive. 

HubSpot's user-friendly design is further enhanced by its abundant and well-organized dashboards. With these dashboards, you can view, organize, analyze, and share critical CRM data and craft strategies. 

This functionality allows you to collaborate with your team effortlessly and get actionable insights for improving customer experience, loyalty, and retention. However, although the interface is generally intuitive, we noticed during our evaluation that certain features like admin set-up and reporting are not very intuitive. These features may require more time and effort to understand and use effectively.

HubSpot CRM dashboard

HubSpot can be set up to be fully operational within just five days. This set-up process includes tasks like email integration, creating filters and importing contacts, defining the deal process, setting up automation and workflows, and defining access levels. 

Throughout this setup process, you'll be fully supported by HubSpot's extensive resources. The platform offers a knowledge base, an academy, and an active community to support new users. In the community, you can learn from other HubSpot users’ experiences, seek expert advice, and even provide feedback directly to the product team. 

The HubSpot Academy has abundant resources, ranging from short video tutorials to practical courses and comprehensive certifications. These resources can be very helpful for onboarding new employees, ensuring they quickly become proficient in using the platform.

That’s not all, HubSpot also offers premium onboarding services starting at $10,000, tailored to your specific goals and needs. You will get an onboarding plan developed by experts from the team based on your top priorities with HubSpot, the organization's size and complexity, the products you've purchased, and how your current technology stack integrates with this user-friendly CRM.  This customized onboarding plan is designed to help you reach your most important goals, faster.

Hubspot-simple-crm-academy

HubSpot displays confidence in its services by providing uptime guarantees. Unlike Pipedrive, the platform promises 99.95% uptime, with an average of 1-2 partial outages per month, affecting only some features or users. If the Service Uptime drops below 99.95% for two consecutive months, the platform says customers are eligible for a credit proportional to the downtime experienced over that period. So, if you are looking for a simple CRM solution where responsiveness and consistent availability are a priority, you’re in good hands.

Thanks to HubSpot’s robust free plan, it is an excellent choice for small businesses. However, if you are planning to scale your business in the long run, the cost can get very expensive. Its Enterprise level will cost you at least $1200 per user per month. So if you end up needing advanced features, it will come with a hefty price tag.

Overall, HubSpot ranks highly as a user-friendly CRM, with minimal learning requirements. Its interface, marked clearly with a modern color scheme, along with minimal menu buttons, makes it easy to navigate. No wonder it has a 4.4 ease-of-use rating on Capterra. However, some users in the reviews have noted a steep learning curve, when using some advanced features. Additionally, with different CRM products housed within the platform, the pricing plans can get confusing.

4. MailChimp

Founded: 2001
HQ: Atalanta, Georgia, USA
Key Info
Price: Starts at $0
Free plan: Yes; Trial: No
Support: Email
Best For
Companies looking for an easy-to-use simple CRM platform with robust email marketing features
Pros
+ The drag-and-drop email builder simplifies the creation of visually appealing emails
+ Boasts comprehensive email marketing features, facilitating effortless audience reach and campaign management
+ Has to a straightforward pricing
Cons
- Cost increases notably when managing a large emailing list
- The automation functionality lacks robustness
Integrations
Zoho CRM, WordPress, Quickbooks, Stripe, Less Annoying CRM and 300+ more
Pricing Model
Essentials: $9.20/month
Standard: $13.74/month
Premium: $274.81/month

Mailchimp is a user-friendly marketing platform designed to help you manage and engage with clients, customers, and other stakeholders. This user-friendly CRM approach to marketing focuses on excellent contact management, beautifully designed campaigns, and robust CRM data analysis. With Mailchimp, you can share newsletters on social networks, create targeted emails, automate follow-ups, run Facebook ad campaigns, and monitor campaign progress. Additionally, you can collect and analyze their responses, among other features.

Mailchimp’s intuitive drag-and-drop interface allows you to easily create and share attractive email campaigns with various audiences in just a few clicks. When composing an email, you have the flexibility to select from a variety of pre-designed layouts or upload your custom design. These layouts set the structure for your email, allowing you to feature your content in your preferred style. Thanks to the drag-and-drop interface, all layouts are fully customizable, as you can easily rearrange elements and place them exactly where you want them.

Mailchimp pre-built workflows

After sending your marketing campaigns, the built-in visual analytics and reporting functionality gives you graphical representations of CRM data and customer interactions in various formats. This enables you to closely monitor key metrics and adjust your approach for better results.

As a new user, you can set up Mailchimp in a few hours using the numerous online resources provided for onboarding new users. These resources include searchable guides, step-by-step tutorials, an expert directory for complex features, and webinars. Additionally, Mailchimp offers a 1:1 consultation with an onboarding specialist for the first 90 days, but this is exclusive to the Standard or Premium Marketing plans subscribers.

During our testing, we found Mailchimp's email creation process quick and efficient. 

Mailchimp-email campaigns

Although the platform does not offer uptime guarantees, it has maintained over 99.96% uptime for all services in the last month at the time we wrote this article which speaks to the platform's reliability and efficiency. 

Mailchimp's pricing plans cater to different business needs and budgets. The Free plan allows up to 500 contacts and 1,000 monthly sends, while the Essentials plan, starting at $6.50/month, includes 500 contacts and 5,000 sends. For larger needs, the Standard plan begins at $10/month for 100,000 contacts and the Premium plan for advanced marketers starts at $175/month for 10,000 contacts. There's also a pay-as-you-go option for occasional email campaigns.

In summary, Mailchimp's comprehensive email marketing features, straightforward pricing structure, and user-friendly drag-and-drop email builder make it as good CRM for reaching audiences and managing campaigns. User reviews also point to this with a 4.6 rating on Capterra for ease of use, highlighting its simple and friendly interface, although most users indicate a slight learning curve.

5. EngageBay

Founded: 2018
HQ: Delaware, United States
Key info
Price: Starts from $0
Free plan: Yes
Support: Phone & chat
Best for
Startups and small businesses desiring a fully-featured simple CRM with a user-friendly interface
Pros
+ Offers a fully-featured free plan for user accessibility
+ Features a convenient funnel builder to streamline processes
+ Exhibits a fast and user-friendly interface
Cons
- Poses a steep learning curve for some users
- Inadequate supporting documentation for many features
- Falls short in providing detailed reporting capabilities
Integrations
DocuSign, Zapier, QuickBooks, Xero, Shopify
Pricing Model*
Basic: $11.95 per mo/user
Growth: $44.99 per mo/user
Pro: $73.58 per mo/user

EngageBay is an all-in-one marketing, sales, and service automation platform designed for small and medium-sized businesses. It allows unlimited contact storage. You can leverage its customer segmentation feature to deliver highly personalized content and support to your customers. Additionally, the platform is well-equipped with advanced email marketing tools and detailed analytics for managing and evaluating your marketing and campaigns effectively.

We found EngageBay’s user interface generally easy to use and navigate. This intuitive design made performing tasks like email creation and contact management fast and seamless. User reviews corroborate this, with many applauding the platform’s user-friendly interface and straightforward setup process. A particularly satisfied user stated, “EngageBay’s user interface is attractive and easy enough to set your business up in a very short amount of time with not a lot of effort.”

Engagebay Templates

The platform’s training materials for new users in the form of tutorial videos, articles and a comprehensive knowledge base also contribute to this fast set-up process. These resources provide full insights into this simple CRM’s features and best practices for growing your business with EngageBay.

Even more, users on the platform’s Growth and Pro plans get access to additional onboarding services. These services include complimentary onboarding sessions, phone support, and a dedicated account manager, all of which provide personalized support and guidance, ensuring smooth integration and effective use of the platform's extensive features.

Setting up the marketing and sales automation processes is also fast and easy as this user-friendly CRM comes with pre-built templates. You can create automation workflows in no time and with minimal effort by simply choosing from these ready-made templates.

Engagebay marketing dashboard

Like HubSpot and Mailchimp, EngageBay is another simple CRM on this list with a free CRM option. The pricing structure includes a free tier for up to 15 users and multiple paid plans, catering to a range of business needs. The paid options range from $11.04 to $101.99 across the Marketing, Sales, and All-in-One plans. The free plan covers basics like email marketing, help desk and live chat. However, it offers no uptime Service Level Agreements (SLAs).  

Only users on the most expensive Pro plans receive uptime SLAs, which means a guaranteed level of service uptime is reserved exclusively for those on higher-tier plans. This can be a drawback if require consistent and reliable service availability and you are not willing to invest in the Pro plan.

Overall, EngageBay is highly regarded for its comprehensive features, user-friendliness, and effective onboarding and training resources. It has a high 4.5 rating on Capterra for ease of use, with a user review referring to this simple CRM as one with “Extensive features, incredible value and ease of use”. However, the platform’s limited uptime guarantees for lower-tier plans and the requirement of higher-tier subscriptions for more reliable service can be a major drawbacks. 

6. Campaign Monitor

Founded: 2004
HQ: Nashville, Tennessee, USA
Key Info
Price: Starts at $11
Free plan: No; Trial: Available
Support: Email
Best For
Businesses aiming for impactful email campaigns with customizable templates and automation
Pros
+ Provides a multitude of customizable templates catering to various message types, eliminating the need for starting from scratch.
+ Has comprehensive automation features.
+ Campaign Monitor stands out as an excellent platform for crafting and overseeing impactful email campaigns
Cons
- Integrations are limited in scope.
- Some features are perceived as cumbersome by users.
- Reporting capabilities are not robust.
Integrations
Salesforce, WordPress, Shopify, Intercom, AdRoll and 250+ others
Pricing Model
Lite: $11/month
Essentials: $19/month
Premier: $149/month

As an email marketing platform, Campaign Monitor distinguishes itself for its ease of use and features aimed at fast email campaign setups. This simple CRM excels in both tracking customer journeys and automating processes. It also has comprehensive campaign tracking analytics which is accessible at all pricing levels. 

On the design end, Campaign Monitor provides a drag-and-drop interface for graphic elements and one-click access to a stock image library. However, despite these design functionalities, the platform falls a bit short in customization capabilities compared to Mailchimp.

A key aspect of successful campaigns is personalization, and Campaign Monitor has made this easier with its visual journey designer for creating automation. This feature, with its drag-and-drop functionality, allows you to visualize and plan your customer journeys across different audience segments so you can deliver the best experience.

Campaign monitor workflows

Getting started is straightforward. When signing up, Campaign Monitor guides you through clear steps such as "upload your contacts,", "design your first email," and "send your first email." Additionally, it provides a bulk of resources, including training videos, how-to guides, webinars, and a knowledge base. These training videos are particularly helpful in navigating the platform and maximizing its use. However, unlike other CRMs on this list, Campaign Monitor does not offer dedicated onboarding services.

When it’s time to create a campaign, you can choose from a variety of templates or import your own custom HTML design. Campaign Monitor offers several types of email campaigns, like newsletters, announcements, and feedback requests, each with its default templates. But if you work with specific branding guidelines and you need to import your HTML template, you might need to test and tweak the template first which might require an HTML and CSS expert.

Once your template is set up, the platform’s what-you-see-is-what-you-get (WYSIWYG) editor makes it easy to insert images and other elements like CTA buttons into your email. 

Campaign Monitor training material

One feature that stood out for us while testing Campaign Monitor was its email preview function, showing how emails will appear on various mobile devices in different screen sizes. This is very important considering that most users will be viewing the email on their mobile devices and the numerous kinds of mobile devices available. 

Pricing is also straightforward even though the platform offers no free plan. There is a free trial available for up to five subscribers and three paid plans: Lite, Essentials, and Premier, starting at $11, $19, and $149, respectively.

However, despite its flexibility, Campaign Monitor spikes some reliability concerns. It provides no uptime guarantee, and users have reported occasional bugs. Also during our review period, there were four incidents of service disruptions within 20 days.

In conclusion, Campaign Monitor's strengths lie in its templates for various message types and an intuitive signup process, as proven by its 4.5 rating on Capterra for ease of use. However, you should weigh its lack of an uptime guarantee and recent reports of service disruptions against your needs when making your decision.

Final thoughts & next steps: Navigating towards your ideal simple CRM system

As we conclude our exploration of simple and user-friendly CRMs, it's evident how the right CRM can significantly streamline your business operations. This guide has not just listed features and reviews but has provided a context for understanding why certain functionalities are crucial and how they can be effectively utilized. The insights from our detailed reviews, coupled with the key features and strategies for leveraging a CRM, underscore the transformative potential of a CRM that's both intuitive and efficient. 

We recommend reflecting on how these aspects align with your unique business needs. The perfect CRM should not only fulfill your requirements but also integrate seamlessly into your workflow, enhancing customer relationships and driving efficiency. To this end, take the time to explore and test the CRMs that have caught your attention. Trust that the knowledge gained here will guide you in making an informed and strategic decision, leading to a choice that propels your business forward in both customer management and overall operational effectiveness.

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Our Top Pick - Shape

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4.8/5 - from 2,000+ reviews

All-in-one software for marketing, sales, customer service, CRM, and operations. Improve communication and maximize your business.

Need more business advice? Take your pick from one of our many well-researched articles

Please note: All pricing mentioned in this article is based on information available as of 14-1-2024 and sourced from the respective companies' public pricing pages. While we strive for accuracy, we recommend verifying with the specific company for the most up-to-date details.

Get started with Shape today!

All-in-one software for marketing, sales, customer service, CRM, and operations.

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6 Best Mortgage POS Systems in 2024

In the intricate world of mortgage processing, efficiency and precision can set successful financial institutions apart. As 2024 unfolds, Mortgage Point-of-Sale (POS) systems are becoming indispensable allies in managing loan applications. Such platforms are now increasingly sophisticated, offering solutions that simplify the task of gathering, organizing, and validating essential borrower documentation. In this article, we'll delve into the top 6 Mortgage POS systems that stand out in their capabilities—from their seamless integrations with CRMs, LOS, and credit bureaus to their adeptness at sending automated notifications at pivotal loan stages. Plus, in a world where branding is paramount, we’ll explore which systems allow companies the luxury of a tailored, white-labelled experience, making the platform feel like a seamless extension of the loan officer's or bank's unique brand identity.

SimpleNexus Mortgage Platform

A good mortgage POS system for optimizing and streamlining every process

On Quote

Custom pricing

Top Choice

shape-logo-color

Shape

The best mortgage POS system for unmatched efficiency and value

$47/user/mo

Fixed pricing plan

Floify

Efficient mortgage POS system with comprehensive document templates

$70+/mo

Fixed pricing tiers

Navigating the intricate world of mortgages demands tools that simplify, streamline, and optimize processes for both lenders and borrowers. As you consider adopting or upgrading your Mortgage Point-of-Sale (POS) system, it's crucial to understand the core features that can significantly enhance your operations and client experience. In this section, we dive deep into ten essential functionalities to seek out in a mortgage POS platform. These are more than just 'nice-to-have' features; they're pivotal components that can redefine how you manage and process loan applications. Let's delve in.

10 essential mortgage point of sale software features:

Navigating the vast sea of Mortgage Point-of-Sale (POS) systems can feel overwhelming. But, understanding how these tools are practically applied in real-world scenarios can provide clarity. Before we delve into the specifics, let's uncover the diverse ways organizations are harnessing the power of these platforms.

5 key ways to utilize your mortgage POS system 

Now that, we've shown you the invaluable features that set apart top-tier Mortgage POS systems and immersed you in real-world scenarios to bring those features to life. You have learned how these platforms not only simplify document management but also keep all stakeholders in the loop with real-time notifications. Additionally, the benefits of brand consistency and seamless integrations have been highlighted. With this foundational knowledge of essential functions in place, we're about to dive into the specifics of the best mortgage POS systems available in 2024. Stay with us, as the insights ahead are tailored to guide your selection process! Now let’s dive in to our top POS platforms.

Quick comparison of top mortgage point of sale systems

Software Intro price Differentiator
Shape
$47
Premier all-in-one mortgage POS system offering the greatest value
Simple Nexus
On quote
An all-encompassing Mortgage POS system designed to optimize and streamline processes
Floify
$70
Extensive range of document templates elevates operational efficiency while ensuring stringent compliance
Blend Mortgage Suite
On quote
AI-driven automation to deliver a seamlessly exceptional customer experience
BeSmartee
On quote
A highly customizable Mortgage POS system enriched with diverse workflow templates to cater to a multitude of business requirements
Loanzify
On quote
A visually striking mortgage POS system for a superlative customer experience

1. Shape

Founded: 1999
HQ: Irvine, California, United States
Key info
Free plan: No
Support: 24/7 (In-product support + email)
Best for
The most comprehensive Mortgage POS system suitable for businesses of all sizes
Pros
+ Shape mortgage software helps lenders improve efficiency, reduce costs, and enhance the borrower experience by providing a more streamlined and automated mortgage process.
+ Can call, text, and email from within the system
+ Shape facilitates efficient management of business contacts and clients on a daily basis
Cons
- Has lots of configuring options which can make it hard to setup
- Has a learning curve
Integrations
Zapier, LendingPad and many more
Pricing Model
Sales & Marketing CRM: $119/user/mo
Point of Sale: $47/user/mo
Lead Funnels: $299/mo

Shape CRM is a top-rated CRM with everything your mortgage company needs to generate more leads and close more loans. From LOS integrations to built-in mortgage point-of-sale solutions, pre-built mortgage marketing templates, and more, Shape offers an all-in-one lending solution that helps you improve communication with clients and streamline your mortgage business operations.

Shape’s mortgage marketing suite is a real game changer. With pre-built email, video, text, and campaign templates, you can enhance customer engagement throughout the entire mortgage process, from application to post-close. 

You can even collaborate with realtors and referral partners and send co-branded newsletters, landing pages, and flyers to increase the ROI from your closed loans. This suite gives you all the essentials to stay ahead of your competitors. But it doesn’t end there. 

Shape takes this efficiency even further with a white-labeled and mobile-optimized customer portal that automates follow-ups, documents, and missing information. Depending on where your clients are in your pipeline, you can set up automated texts and email reminders from the portal and concentrate on more critical tasks. And, since the portal is fully white-labelled, you can customize it with your logo and branding to appear more professional and reinforce your clients’ trust in your brand.

Shape CRM loan management

The client portal also helps you collect customer information and close deals faster through a responsive lead funnel that uses a survey-style, question-and-answer format to collect customer information and documents safely. This survey-style format is engaging and less overwhelming, which makes clients provide their details faster so you can quickly move them through the sales pipeline. 

After collecting these documents, the portal’s eSignature solutions digitize contract signing, removing the need to invest in an expensive third-party service. The best part is Shape automatically stores all these documents in a secure cloud-based storage, so you won't have to surf through emails for attachments whenever you need them. 

Overall, Shape confidently boasts of this client portal and claims that letting the portal handle all your mortgage applications, intake, and other tedious manual entries can save you over 20 hours a week.

Despite these robust features, Shape adds another dimension of versatility by integrating with Loan Origination Systems (LOS) like Encompass and LendingPad.

Shape CRM customer portal

With these integrations, you can seamlessly sync and share data between Shape and your LOS, which reduces manual data entry and other challenges that come with it, such as errors in data, missing requirements, and duplicates. Shape also integrates with other essential systems like CRMs and credit bureaus for credit checks through Zapier.

To round up, Shape Mortgage POS system is easy to use and can help lenders improve efficiency, reduce costs, and improve the borrower experience, all through a more streamlined and automated mortgage process. However, being an all-in-one mortgage POS system, it could be a little overwhelming initially. But with a 4.9/5 review on G2 and user reviews praising the customer service for being highly responsive, this challenge is quickly alleviated. 

Starting at $47 a month with over 500 features purposely built for the mortgage sector, Shape is the preferred choice for many top mortgage brokers, loan officers, and lenders. It’s no wonder why many reviews confidently refer to it as a "Better alternative to Salesforce and Hubspot!"

2. SimpleNexus Mortgage Platform

Founded: 2011
HQ: North Carolina, USA
Key info
Free plan: No
Support: phone, chat
Best for
Mortgage brokers who want to streamline their operations
Pros
+ Multi language support
+ Feature rich mobile App
+ Provides real-time updates to borrowers on loan status through website
Cons
- Automations are limited to a few basic conditional logic
- The software glitches from time to time
Integrations
Finastra, Mortgage Coach, Surefire and many more
Pricing Model
On quote

SimpleNexus is a comprehensive mortgage POS system designed to streamline every aspect of the mortgage application and transaction process. In 2022, the platform was acquired by nCino and officially rebranded as nCino's Mortgage Suite. 

SimpleNexus (now nCino) places a strong emphasis on borrowers’ experience, offering a user-friendly interface and a wide range of mortgage tools that simplify everything from initial contact to application, closing, and even business intelligence.

From the outset of our evaluation, we were immediately impressed by the platform's ability to adapt to the needs and expectations of modern consumers. Today, consumers are constantly connected to their mobile phones and expect immediate access to services. Having a seamless, on-the-go mortgage application experience that aligns with the modern consumer's lifestyle is essential. SimpleNexus (nCino) addresses this need with easily accessible mobile-first solutions that increase your loan officers' productivity and provide borrowers with a straightforward application process.

Simple Nexus Dashboard

One of SimpleNexus’s key features is its Document Scanner, which simplifies the process of uploading, organizing, storing, and retrieving the necessary documents for a home loan. With this tool, borrowers can conveniently scan their documents using a mobile and securely transmit them to the mortgage system. Your team can then access, review, and manage these documents through your SimpleNexus web dashboard. The information in these documents is safe as the platform provides vital security measures, including secure scanning, data encryption, and cloud data security. 

SimpleNexus (nCino) also integrates with external digital lending solutions, including Loan Origination Systems like Encompass and digital signature solutions like First American Docutech and DocuSign. These integrations ensure that borrowers can effortlessly move through the loan origination process and transition to document signing without leaving the SimpleNexus platform. 

Enhancing the borrower experience goes beyond simply streamlining the document management process. It also involves maintaining consistent, relevant communication, which improves the customer experience and helps build your credibility and trust with customers. In fact, a study from J.D. Power indicates that 63 percent of customers would leave their mortgage service provider in search of better customer service.

Simple Nexus reports

Therefore, to ensure your company doesn't find itself on the chopping block, SimpleNexus enables proactive and efficient engagement with borrowers and partners right from the initial application stage.

You receive automatic notifications customized to your business workflow, including updates on every newly started mortgage loan application and loan status milestone, along with integrated instant chat. These notifications give borrowers real-time updates and a transparent view of their loan progress, reducing their anxiety and strengthening your relationship, leading to higher conversion rates. They can also easily access live rates through the platform's mortgage payment calculator.

As your customers engage with you, SimpleNexus's customizable white-label solutions allow you to brand throughout every stage of the interaction. By offering customized lending tools and resources that align with your branding, objectives, and values, you not only enhance your brand visibility but also strengthen customer loyalty. 

However, we found the landing page customizations a bit limited. Customization pages requires special requests and there are limits on what can be altered. Being the initial point of interaction for your clients, this can be a drawback. It could restrict the expression of your brand's unique identity and offerings, affecting your user experience.

Simple Nexus transaction management

Despite the constraints around landing page customization, you can leverage the platform’s real-time performance data, key insights, and industry-specific business intelligence to guide your decision-making process, focusing on elements that resonate most with your audience. The insights can also help you better understand user behavior, strategically improving your landing page's user experience. 

When it’s time to finalize the mortgage, the platform is flexible and supports different closing strategies, from traditional to hybrid and fully digital methods. 

Although SimpleNexus offers multiple pricing plans, they are not publicly available on the website. To get detailed pricing information, you will have to schedule a demo with them. 

Overall, its user-centric approach, comprehensive features, and mobile accessibility make it one of the best mortgage POS system. It has a remarkable 4.9/5 score on G2 from numerous financial professionals, and one of these professionals stated, 'SimpleNexus has made my work life so much easier. I love it, and my clients love it too. It's easy to use.

3. Floify

Founded: 2013
HQ: Colorado, USA
Key info
Free plan: No
Support: Phone, email
Best for
Mortgage Firms that want to standardize communications using document templates
Pros
+ Ensures all documents are submitted by sending detailed notifications to borrowers
+ Comprehensive document templates ensure that there is no need for any manual creations
Cons
- Some key integrations don't sync well, leading to data no updated as required.
- The platform provides limited options for customization
Integrations
Encompass®, BytePro, LendingQB, LendingPad, Surefire CRM, Mortgage Panda, Jungo, Factual Data and more.
Pricing Model
Business Plan: $70 per month
Team Plan: $200 per months
Enterprise Plan: Custom

Floify is a leading mortgage POS system tailored to help loan originators and mortgage executives streamline loan processing. It's a secure platform for communication and document management among lenders, borrowers, and other key players in the mortgage process.

With Floify, you can effortlessly handle loan applications, verify borrower documents, track the progress of loans, and maintain communication with both borrowers and real estate agents. All these features are designed to help you close loans quickly. 

Floify doesn't just ease the process for mortgage brokers; it simplifies things for borrowers as well. They can quickly fill out their loan application, upload any necessary documentation, eSign disclosures, and keep track of their loan status — all in one user-friendly location.

In particular, Floify's interview-style loan application feature stood out during our software evaluation. It guides borrowers through the application step by step, allowing them to move at their own pace. As borrowers complete each section, a summary screen pops up, allowing them to review their data for accuracy. This ensures a smooth, user-friendly experience throughout the loan application process.

After a borrower submits a loan application, Floify helps you assess their creditworthiness with integrated credit reporting. The journey from application to loan closure involves several documents, and Floify simplifies this process by capturing and managing all necessary paperwork in one centralized location. This removes the need for multiple requests from borrowers and ensures that documents are easily accessible when needed. 

Floify-Customer portal

Floify also integrates with most major mortgage software platforms, such as Encompass by EllieMae, Dropbox, Docusign, Blumortgage, and others. Through this integration, borrowers can conveniently receive, review, and electronically sign disclosures within the same user-friendly web portal they used for their application and document submission. 

As expected from a reputable mortgage POS solution, Floify offers automated and highly customizable communication solutions for all involved parties. These automated features include system-generated notifications that serve various purposes, such as informing borrowers about the documents they still need to provide (Needs List), notifying them when additional documents are added (Add Document Notice), or alerting them about impending deadlines (Deadline Notice). 

These notifications can be fully customized using email and SMS/text templates to align with your team’s workflow and continuously create a seamless borrower experience.

As Floify assists with all these crucial aspects of the loan process, it's essential to ensure that your branding is effectively promoted and reflected throughout the borrower's journey. Consistent branding not only fosters trust but also makes a lasting impression on both your borrowers and other stakeholders.

With simple configurations, you can embed Floify within your website and mask its domain bar using the URL white labelling feature. With this, when borrowers visit your site and access Floify, they will see your URL in the address bar. Also, when they receive text messages and emails from Floify, it will display your site's URL. This personalized touch enhances your brand visibility and professional image.

Floify-Report

Floify's pricing might seem relatively high; however, unlike many other mortgage POS software, they maintain transparency with their pricing, with no hidden charges. They offer three pricing plans: Business, Team, and Enterprise. The Business and Team plans are priced at $79 and $200 per month, respectively, when billed annually. For the Enterprise plan, they provide a custom quote specific to user needs.

The Business and Team plans cover essential features such as a secure borrower portal, customizable digital loan application, automated notifications, e-signature, and various integrations. However, advanced features like enterprise-grade LOS Integrations with Encompass, MeridianLink, and BytePro are exclusive to the Enterprise plan subscribers.

All these features are housed on Floify’s Excellent security and compliance. Floify prioritizes the security and safety of client information and documentation, ensuring that all data is handled securely and complies with industry regulations. 

All these features are housed within Floify's robust security and compliance framework. Floify prioritizes the security and privacy of client data and documentation, ensuring all information is managed securely and in line with industry standards.

Online customer reviews applaud the comprehensive, all-in-one functionality and the high degree of customization that Floify offers. However, some loan officers have cited the pricing as a key factor deterring them from fully committing to it. Despite this, the platform has a 4.8/5 score on G2. 

To sum up, Floify has firmly established itself as one of the best mortgage POS system by prioritizing smooth workflows between mortgage lenders, borrowers, and other involved parties. With its ability to integrate with various platforms, such as credit reporting agencies, income and asset verification providers, and other LOS systems, Floify remains an asset in the mortgage industry.

4. Blend Mortgage Suite

Founded: 2012
HQ: San Fransisco, USA
Key info
Free plan: No
Support: Chat, Support Tickets
Best for
Mortgage firms who want to offer a seamless borrower experience
Pros
+ Personalized onboarding for each borrower
+ It is highly customizable and can be customized to all business needs
+ It integrates very well with important 3rd party apps
Cons
- Due to extensive customization, providing trainings can be difficult
Integrations
Avantus, MeridianLink Mortgage, Salesforce, Jungo and other
Pricing Model
On quote

Coined from the phrase "Better Lending", Blend is a cloud-based digital lending platform that assists retail banks, mortgage companies, and credit unions in managing leads and simplifying lending services. 

Blend's vision of 'Better Lending' extends beyond just the name. The platform is committed to streamlining digital applications for borrowers and reducing the time required to process loans. This includes automating processing steps that could potentially cause delays or errors. For instance, with automated notifications and real-time communication, you can keep track of tasks, boost engagement, increase transaction success, and speed up deal closures.

Blend also provides mobile applications for both Android and iOS devices, enabling you to effortlessly generate new leads, sign digital documents, and get automated loan status updates wherever you are.

Blend-Loan Application

During the loan application process, Blend allows borrowers to directly upload required documents to a dedicated section within their portal. As a lender, you can access and manage these documents through the platform's integrated storage portal. If necessary, you can upload additional documents on behalf of the borrower or archive any existing documents that are no longer relevant or were submitted in error. Blend also gives you and your team the control to regulate document access and determine which documents can be viewed by borrowers and other third parties involved in the application process.

Blend’s DocAI solution further simplifies these functionalities. The AI technology can automate application processes, provide instant responses to customer queries, and request necessary documentation even after applications have been submitted. Plus, with the platform’s pre-built reports, you can easily visualize your key metrics and make informed decisions. The AI solution to facilitates creating an efficient loan process.

The best part is with Blend’s white labeling ability, you can offer your clients these excellent experiences, all under your brand name. As they experience a series of positive interactions, each branded with your financial institution's visual identity, it strengthens their loyalty to your brand.

Blend loan application form

Even with its comprehensive features, we found the initial setup with Blend quite straightforward due to the intuitive onboarding process. Blend does a great job onboarding new users by offering a dynamic question engine that personalizes the experience for each borrower, simplifying what information they need to provide.

The platform also offers educational onboarding webinars for training new sales and support staff or refreshing loan teams on the best practices. However, we did experience relatively slow response times, which could potentially detract from their overall user experience. 

In summary, with its automated workflows, robust integrations, intuitive onboarding process, and all-inclusive features, it’s no wonder Blend claims customers who start an application in the platform have an 89% submission rate. However, their pricing remains undisclosed; you would need to request a demo to determine if this mortgage POS software fits within your budget.

5. BeSmartee

Founded: 2006
HQ: California, USA
Key info
Free plan: No
Support: phone
Best for
Large enterprises who want a mortgage POS system that can be tailored to their needs
Pros
+ Supports different workflows
+ The portal is completely customizable
Cons
- Does not have a mobile App
Integrations
surefire, meridianlink, equifax, docmagix and over 165 others
Pricing Model
On quote

BeSmartee is an advanced mortgage POS system designed to move borrowers from application submission to appraisal in just a few minutes. To achieve this, it uses big data and its pre-population feature that automatically fills in parts of the application to save borrowers a lot of time and effort. 

BeSmartee efficiently manages vital aspects of the mortgage procedure, such as loan application, credit monitoring, and hectic income and employment verifications. It also partners with Arivs, a certified appraisal management company, to perform mortgage appraisals.

This collaboration enables your mortgage business to provide borrowers with accurate, unbiased property appraisal estimates, building more trust in your services and the entire mortgage process. It removes the uncertainty commonly associated with mortgage lending and ensures borrowers feel confident as they proceed with their loan applications.

BeSmartee-Messages

Navigating BeSmartee is seamless for borrowers, thanks to its user-friendly loan dashboard. From document uploads to data entry, every tool necessary for managing the loan application process is provided on the dashboard. 

On the mortgage provider’s end, the Loan Pipeline Visibility feature provides a complete view of each loan’s lifecycle, from start to finish. This ensures that you don't miss any detail and that borrowers receive the attention and service they require at every stage of the mortgage lending process.

The platform further prioritizes open communication with its automated notifications. These notifications, whether through email or text messages, ensure that you and the borrowers are updated with the loan progress. BeSmartee's integration with Twilio takes this functionality a step further, enhancing the delivery of automated notifications. With Twilio, you can send borrowers one-way transactional SMS messages for essential, time-sensitive communications.

Another feature that set BeSmartee apart during our test is its diverse workflow options. Unlike other POS systems that offer a one-size-fits-all approach, BeSmartee provides various workflows tailored to unique lender preferences. To crown it all, these workflows can be white-labeled to match your brand, incorporating aspects like URL, logos, and font styles.

BeSmartee- loans search

However, BeSmartee is not without its limitations. Despite being mobile-friendly, it lacks a dedicated mobile app. This means you are confined to accessing the platform through web browsers, missing out on the seamless user experience and instant notifications a dedicated mobile app could provide.

Although BeSmartee's pricing depends on the organization's needs. To obtain pricing information, you would have to reach out to BeSmartee directly to request a quote.

As application standards continue to shift towards borrower protection, BeSmartee is a reliable choice for managing these changes. The platform’s commitment to data security is reflected in its SOC 2 Type II and PCI DSS certifications and adherence to various digital compliance policies, laws, and regulations. Beyond this, BeSmartee constantly evaluates its platform to detect potential security and compliance risks. 

By integrating advanced technologies like big data and artificial intelligence, BeSmartee has established itself as one of the best mortgage POS system. User reviews corroborate this claim as many users praise its versatile workflows, advanced features and numerous integrations. Although some users point out the lack of a mobile app as a significant limitation, the platform’s 4.5/5 rating on G2 shows that BeSmartee remains a top choice for mortgage point-of-sale systems.

6. Loanzify

Founded: 2007
HQ: California, USA
Key info
Free plan: No
Support: phone, email
Best for
Mortgage professionals looking for an affordable mortgage POS system
Pros
+ Secure portal for documents
+ Mortgage calculators
Cons
- Finding information can be hard as one has to navigate several pages to find the info
- Setup can be difficult
Integrations
Lendingpad, Encompass, integra
Pricing Model
On quote

Loanzify is a visually appealing mortgage POS software.The front end is simple, user-friendly, and well designed, making it an attractive choice for both borrowers and lenders. You can also personalize the system to reflect your brand's look and tone. 

Loanzify is more than just a visually appealing interface. This mobile mortgage POS system also allows borrowers to calculate monthly mortgage payments and refinancing scenarios, submit documents, and sign closing documents from their mobile devices.

One of Loanzify’s notable features is its application process. Starting with an interview-style questionnaire that includes visual prompts and a progress bar, it guides borrowers through the application process and encourages them to complete it promptly. 

Loanzify-Share

Loanzify further simplifies the intake process with its "if-this, then-that" automation. With just a click, you can add questions, create drop-down menus, hide unnecessary fields, and edit text. For example, if a specific question is answered a certain way ("if this"), you can automatically make related questions appear or disappear ("then that").

After completing the intake process, borrowers can effortlessly upload all their documents. The system then intuitively guides them through their documentation Needs List to promptly review and organize all files. 

Like any project, proper communication is essential for a successful mortgage process. Loanzify ensures all relevant parties are always on the same page through automated notifications and group messaging. These features ensure everyone stays informed and up-to-date about loan status, required documentation, and other milestones. 

Loanzify sends various notifications, including SMS, push notifications, email notices, autoresponders, and in-app messaging. These automated notifications can be triggered by specific events, such as when a loan application is approved, or a borrower signs a document.

Loanzify- Calculator

To ensure the customer experience stays seamless, Loanzify integrates with Zapier and with major third-party Loan Origination System LOS applications, including Encompass, Calyx Point, PC Lender, and LendingQB.

Despite its well-packed functionalities, Loanzify's pricing structure is affordable and flexible, offering both Basic and Deluxe options. The Basic plan costs $19.95 a month, while the Deluxe plan costs $29.95. 

It also provides a free trial to explore the platform’s features before committing. Loanzify also has a customized option for Enterprise clients, with multi-branch support and a personalized app name and icon.

Like other POS systems on this list, Loanzify takes protecting personal and financial data seriously. The platform uses advanced firewall technology, data transmission encryption, and intrusion detection technology to protect account, user, and borrower information. Loanzify also has a rigorous commitment to compliance that aligns with your needs, providing a secure and trustworthy environment. 

If you need personalized assistance while using the platform, Loanzify provides daily office hours Q&A sessions through Zoom. You can also reach out to any member of the sales team via phone or email.

With a rating of 4.7/5 on Capterra, users often commend Loanzify for its affordability, automated notifications, and clean presentation. However, despite the platform’s user-friendly and intuitive nature, new users should take advantage of the setup videos and tutorials to fully utilize the platform's features and avoid missing out on opportunities.

Wrapping up

In the rapidly evolving world of mortgage lending, having a sophisticated Point of Sale (POS) system is no longer a luxury—it's a necessity. Through this article, we've journeyed together, exploring the pivotal features that differentiate the best mortgage POS system from the rest. From streamlined document management to real-time notifications and from white-labeling capabilities to seamless integrations with other key systems, you have learned what truly makes a system stand out. Moreover, the real-world utilization scenarios painted a vivid picture of how organizations harness the power of these platforms to enhance their operations. As the mortgage landscape continues to shift and grow, being equipped with the right POS software can be the difference-maker. We trust that with the insights shared, you're now well-equipped to make an informed choice, ensuring efficiency, trust, and client satisfaction in all your mortgage endeavors.

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All-in-one software for marketing, sales, customer service, CRM, and operations. Improve communication and maximize your business.

Please note: All pricing mentioned in this article is based on information available as of 14-1-2024 and sourced from the respective companies' public pricing pages. While we strive for accuracy, we recommend verifying with the specific company for the most up-to-date details.