Best Zoho CRM Alternatives: Top Picks for 2025

Leah Brooks

Writer

January 21, 2025

10 min read

Here's what's happening: Companies spend thousands of dollars on CRM systems that don't match their needs. A recent survey by Software Advice shows 47% of businesses switch their CRM within two years of purchase. You’ll probably agree—that's a lot of wasted time and money

The problem isn't just about cost. It's about finding a CRM that works for your specific business. Some teams need better automation. Others want simpler interfaces. Many require stronger integration with their current tools.

What Zoho CRM Misses

Zoho CRM has a solid reputation and a loyal user base, but it’s not a perfect software solution. Many customers find themselves bumping into its limitations after a while, particularly when their businesses grow or their needs shift. For starters, its interface can feel a bit clunky and outdated. And it’s not always as intuitive as you’d hope, making it harder to get new team members up to speed quickly.

Another common complaint is the customization options. While Zoho CRM offers plenty on paper, actually setting things up can feel restrictive. Advanced customizations often require technical know-how or paid add-ons, which isn’t ideal if you’re trying to keep costs low or manage things in-house.

The reporting tools are another sore spot for some users. While functional, they’re not as visually appealing or flexible as other CRMs out there. For teams that rely heavily on detailed analytics or visual dashboards to make decisions, this can be a dealbreaker.

Finally, Zoho’s integrations—while numerous—aren’t always seamless. You might encounter hiccups when connecting with other tools your team relies on. If your workflow depends on smooth integration across multiple platforms, this could become a headache over time.

Key Features to Look For Alternatives to Zoho CRM

If Zoho CRM isn’t ticking all your boxes, here are a few key features to prioritize when exploring other options:

• Good UX/UI: Look for a CRM with a clean, user-friendly interface. It should be simple enough for your team to pick up without hours of training or a massive manual.
• Flexible Customization: Your CRM should adapt to the way you work, not the other way around. Check if it allows you to tweak workflows, fields, and dashboards without needing a tech wizard on hand.
• Reliable Reporting and Analytics: Strong reporting tools are a must. The best CRMs let you build reports that make sense to your business and present data in a way that’s easy to understand at a glance.
• Seamless Integrations: A good CRM plays nicely with others. Make sure it connects easily with your email, calendar, marketing tools, and any other software you rely on.
• Scalability: If you’re planning for growth, your CRM should grow with you. Look for one that can handle more users, data, and features as your business expands.
• Mobile Access: Many of us work on the go, so mobile functionality is non-negotiable. A solid mobile app can make all the difference for a team that’s always on the move.
• Customization Potential: Customization is vital. The best CRMs offer dashboards that can be tailored to the needs of different teams. This personalization improves user experience and supports specific business objectives. Whether it's adjusting views or tweaking workflows, flexibility is key in meeting diverse business demands.

When choosing a CRM alternative, think about your team’s daily needs and the kind of support you’ll need to keep things running smoothly. The right CRM should make your life easier, not add more complications.

We’ve tested 40 CRM systems in the past year. Some were great. Others were terrible. After months of research and real-world testing, we found solid alternatives to Zoho CRM that actually work. The perfect CRM exists—but it might not be the one you expect.

Flowlu

CRM That Connects Everything

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Flowlu is an all-in-one platform that brings together CRM, project management, client portal, knowledge base, and financial tracking tools. The CRM includes features for sales process automation and gives businesses a clear view of their customer journey. Multiple sales pipelines and custom fields make it adaptable for tracking leads and opportunities. It supports contact management, email and telephony integration, and automated workflows. Built-in web forms allow you to capture leads effortlessly. Customizable dashboards and detailed reports help you monitor performance and stay organized. Flowlu integrates with numerous third-party apps, allowing you to integrate it with your existing tools effortlessly. The platform is recognized for its cost-effectiveness, making it an attractive option for small and medium-sized businesses. Its feature set and pricing provide a practical solution for teams seeking a reliable client management tool.

Hubspot

Real-Time Customer Insights

HubSpot is a well-known CRM that lets you track sales activity in real time. It’s great for building a central spot to store all your customer info. You get email tracking, handy templates, and integrations with Gmail and Outlook. Also, you can create custom dashboards, dig into analytics, and handle email campaigns like a pro. It’s got forms for lead capturing, plus segmentation tools and even chatbots to keep things moving. For solo entrepreneurs and small businesses, the cost can really sting. So, while it’s got bells and whistles, it might not fit every budget.

SuiteDash

Centralized Sales & Service

SuiteDash calls itself a client portal software but also includes a CRM with tools for managing sales funnels. It helps you keep all client information in one place and offers automation features like scheduling follow-ups and creating new contacts automatically. You can choose from four different styles to monitor pipelines from various aspects. It also provides client onboarding tools like forms, checklists, and proposals. However, users often mention the platform feels slow and overwhelming during setup due to the many modules and unclear connections between them.

Freshsales

Simplified AI-Driven Selling

Freshsales is an AI-powered CRM to make selling easier. Its Freddy AI helps you run targeted campaigns, qualify leads with intent scores, and gives you useful recommendations. The platform is all about automation to reduce manual tasks and features a simple interface. Freshsales provides customizable sales reports, and tools to create outreach campaigns. It integrates with email, messaging apps, SMS, Zoom, chat, and phone systems. There's also a marketplace for connecting with hundreds of popular apps. However, many users find the reporting and analysis tools overly complex, which can be a significant drawback.

Vtiger

Advanced CRM Made Simple

Vtiger is a user-friendly CRM that connects with over 500 apps. It includes advanced tools for lead routing and prospect segmentation. The mobile app is especially handy, supporting voice notes and business card scanning. Vtiger also offers email marketing features, automated email sequences, and integrations with phone, chat, SMS, and websites. It helps you create forecast scenarios and predict estimated sales revenue. Still, many users mention that customer support could be improved.

BaseCRM

Effortless Sales Simplification

BaseCRM, now Zendesk Sell, focuses on simplifying sales tracking. It helps organize leads, track deals and activities, and automate repetitive tasks. You can also set up automation rules and triggers to streamline client journeys. Email tools and mobile access make it useful for teams on the move. Users appreciate its clean interface and reporting options. Still, some customers occasionally complain about slow customer service responses.

SugarCRM

Custom Dashboards, Seamless Automation

SugarCRM offers tools for sale and marketing management, and customer support. This software is very adaptable and lets you create dashboards and reports that match your company’s needs. Automation features save time on routine tasks. SugarCRM integrates well with accounting tools, messengers, ERP and so on. While it offers plenty of features, some users find the interface tricky and the learning curve steep.

Agile CRM

Integrated Sales and Marketing

Agile CRM combines sales tracking, marketing, and customer service into one platform. It’s geared toward SMBs and includes tools like email campaigns and deal tracking. Agile CRM gives business tools for predictive analytics and sales forecasting, plus it offers multiple views. The free plan is a bonus for startups. Many users praise its affordability and variety of features. On the downside, performance can dip with larger datasets.

Streak

CRM Inside Your Inbox

Streak works directly in Gmail, so there’s no need to switch between platforms. It helps you manage contacts and track sales within your inbox. The tool supports email tracking, templates, and integrations with Google apps. It’s great for keeping things simple. It has filters, sorting and grouping options to keep your data clean. That said, users report that the mobile version lacks some desktop features.

Copper

Google Workspace CRM Partner

Copper works within Google Workspace, letting you manage sales and leads right from Gmail. It simplifies tasks like contact tracking and pipeline updates. Many users like its clean, intuitive design. You can also set up the workflow automation, so Copper will do the tasks for you. However, its reporting tools can feel basic. Some also mention limitations in the mobile app.

Nimble

Social Media-Enhanced CRM

Nimble merges CRM with social media. You can track contacts, monitor conversations, and manage email outreach all in one place. It stands out for its ability to connect with various platforms. Nimble also offers ready-made templates with pre-defined fields and stages for your workflows. That said, reporting options are fairly minimal. This can be a drawback for users who need deeper insights.

Nutshell

CRM for Growing Teams

Nutshell caters to small businesses with features for email integration, sales automation, and team collaboration. The interface is straightforward, and the pricing fits tighter budgets. Nutshell provides native integrations, connections through 3rd-party apps and AppConnect. On the downside, its customization options are limited. Larger teams might outgrow it quickly.

Salesforce

Scalable Power for Teams

Salesforce is packed with features for managing sales, customer support, and marketing. It’s ideal for big teams needing scalable tools. Salesforce is integrated with AI, which means it can write emails for you, generate summaries, or provide real-time predictions, among other options. But all those features come at a price. Many users also mention the platform feels overwhelming without proper training.

Insightly

CRM Meets Project Management

Insightly combines CRM and project management. It’s handy for keeping track of both customers and tasks in one system. Insightly includes business process automation to free your team from routine tasks. You can also create real-time reports to visualize your sales data. The integration options are useful, but the interface feels clunky to some. Reporting tools, while functional, are less detailed than what many users expect.

Pipedrive

Visual Pipelines, Simplified Sales

Pipedrive focuses on keeping sales organized. It uses a clean, visual pipeline to track deals and activities. You can automate tasks like follow-ups and reminders, and save time and efforts for your team. Email integration makes communication easy. Pipedrive also offers automated sales conversations with AI-powered prompts and insights. Users like its simplicity and find it easy to pick up. However, reporting features feel basic to some. Perhaps, Pipedrive could benefit if they implement more in-depth analytics for their clients.

Bitrix24

Collaboration Meets CRM

Bitrix24 offers a versatile mix of CRM, communication, and project management tools. It lets teams collaborate through video calls, email tracking, and shared workspaces. Automated notifications via SMS or email can be set up to keep clients informed without manual effort. An AI assistant is included to help generate marketing content and brainstorm ideas, saving time for your team. Many users appreciate the wide range of tools available. It’s affordable, especially for smaller teams. On the downside, the interface can be overwhelming. Slow system performance is another common complaint.

Kommo

Messaging-Based Sales Simplified

Kommo focuses on messaging-based sales. It connects directly with apps like WhatsApp, Messenger, and Telegram. This makes real-time communication with leads simple. You can automate follow-ups and track deals easily. Kommo’s AI features help you to create summaries of your conversations or suggest replies. The interface is clean, and most features are intuitive. Customization, though, is somewhat limited. Support response times could also be better.

EngageBay

Affordable All-In-One CRM

EngageBay is a great option for small businesses. It incorporates marketing, sales, and service tools into one platform. EngageBay’s main features include email campaigns, lead generation, and a helpdesk. You can integrate SMS, track opens and link clicks. The free plan makes it appealing to startups. Many users like its range of options. Some, however, report bugs in the system. The learning curve can also be steep for beginners.

Less Annoying CRM

Simplified CRM for SMBs

Less Annoying CRM keeps things simple. It’s built for small businesses that need basic tools. Contact and task management are easy to set up. The interface is clean, with no unnecessary extras. It’s affordable too, which users love. It integrates well with calendar apps, email, invoicing software, VOIP, web forms, video communication tools and other software you may utilize. That said, it lacks advanced features. There’s also no dedicated app for mobile use.

monday Sales CRM

Customizable Sales Tracking

monday Sales CRM offers flexibility for tracking deals and managing contacts. Built on the monday.com platform, it integrates easily with other tools. Automation options help reduce repetitive tasks. Teams enjoy the drag-and-drop customization. Its AI features let you generate tasks, compose emails, summarize calls and so much more. However, the setup process can take time. For smaller businesses, the price might feel high. Some users also find it overly reliant on custom workflows.

NetHunt

CRM Inside Gmail Workflow

NetHunt turns Gmail into a CRM. It allows you to manage deals and automate workflows without leaving your inbox. Email tracking and follow-ups are straightforward. It’s great for teams already using Google Workspace. NetHunt also includes reminders, calendar sync, and mentions for team collaboration. Many users praise its seamless integration. On mobile, though, certain features are missing. Larger teams may also feel it lacks advanced reporting.

Pipeline

Organized Sales Made Easy

Pipeline CRM simplifies sales processes. It tracks deals, contacts, and tasks in one place. Reporting tools offer basic insights into team performance. The interface is user-friendly and doesn’t overwhelm. Pipeline CRm automates workflows, sends reminders to your colleagues and suggests next steps. Customer service is quick and helpful, which users appreciate. Still, customization is limited. Reports could also use more depth for detailed analysis.

Salesflare

Automated CRM for SMBs

Salesflare is a CRM specialized in automating data entry for SMBs. It tracks emails, calls, and meetings automatically. The system also pulls contact details from online sources, saving users time. Many appreciate its simple setup and clean interface. Email tracking and pipeline management are popular features. However, customization options are limited. Some users feel the mobile app lacks important features found in the desktop version. For smaller teams, the software is a great fit and meets most needs. Larger companies, however, may find it too limiting for more complex workflows.

Creatio CRM

CRM with Process Automation

Creatio blends CRM tools with process automation in one platform. It simplifies lead management, tracks sales, and handles workflows. The system adapts to fit various business needs. Users praise its flexibility. Teams can build unique solutions quickly. However, setup can be overwhelming due to its many options. New users often report needing additional training to get started. Once configured, it’s reliable for streamlining operations. Advanced reporting tools make it appealing to data-driven teams. On the downside, customer support response times could improve.

Close

Unified Communication Hub

Close brings email, SMS, and calls together in one place. It simplifies how teams connect with prospects and leads. A single inbox keeps all conversations organized. Close’s automation tools help with follow-ups and reminders. Reporting tools offer insights into team performance. Users find it straightforward to set up and use. However, some find the pricing steep for smaller teams. Customization is another area where it falls short. For teams that prioritize communication, it’s a solid choice.

Capsule

Essentials for Small Business

Capsule CRM focuses on simplicity and small business needs. It organizes contacts, tracks sales, and manages tasks in one place. Users like its straightforward design and affordable pricing. It integrates well with tools like Xero and Mailchimp. However, advanced features like workflow automation are missing. Reporting tools are basic but sufficient for smaller teams. The mobile app works well but could include more features. It’s a good option for businesses needing the essentials without the clutter.

Breakcold

CRM Meets Social Selling

Breakcold combines CRM functions with social selling tools. It tracks interactions on LinkedIn, Twitter, and email in one platform. Users can engage prospects directly from the dashboard. It’s great for teams focused on relationship-building. However, traditional CRM features like deal tracking and task automation are limited. The interface can also feel clunky to new users. Social media-driven teams appreciate its niche approach. For those needing broader functionality, it might not be the best fit.

Folk

Collaborative CRM for Teams

Folk is a modern CRM that emphasizes collaboration and simplicity. It lets teams manage contacts, assign tasks, and track interactions in one place. The interface is minimalistic and easy to navigate. It’s especially useful for small teams managing shared responsibilities. However, it lacks some advanced features seen in older CRMs. Integration options are still growing, which may limit its appeal. Bugs are occasionally reported by users. It works best for startups and smaller teams.

CRMOne

Streamline Customer Interactions

CRMOne provides basic tools for contact management, sales tracking, and marketing automation. It’s designed to cover the essentials without overwhelming users. Many appreciate its straightforward interface. However, reviews suggest that the features are limited compared to competitors. Advanced analytics and integration options are lacking. Some users feel it’s best suited for teams with very simple needs. It’s an option for those who value simplicity over depth.

BigContacts

Contact Management Simplified

BigContacts focuses on contact management and email marketing for small to medium businesses. It features automated follow-ups and simple email templates. Users like its intuitive layout and helpful support team. However, reporting tools are basic and may not satisfy data-heavy teams. The mobile app could also benefit from additional features. It’s a solid choice for businesses that prioritize email campaigns and client organization. For more complex workflows, it may fall short.