Table of Contents
What is CRM Software?
CRM is an acronym that represents Customer Relationship Management. Customer Relationship Management represents any tools, strategies, or processes that help businesses. These tools help in better organizing and accessing customer data. Previously, CRM was done through handwritten notes and having a diary filled with customer contacts. The digital era has led to a migration to databases stored on individual computers. The customer is king in all customer-centric industries.
In a customer-centric business, the user must maintain the relevant databases and use CRM software. If the user wants to compete in any industry, he should be able to deploy and use versatile CRM software. A good CRM software organizes all departments from Marketing, Sales to Customer Service into a cohesive system. The CRM system permits every user to have direct access to real-time client data to help in their operations. Cloud and SaaS technology permits using CRM software wherever the user can access the internet.
What is Free CRM Software and the Benefits thereof?
CRM software leads to a significant increase in leads, sales revenue, and customer retention. Using free CRM software, the user can close deals from anywhere, grow faster and expand their customer base. The user can quickly find new leads and identify key contacts. The user can get a customized view of all the sales recorded through the platform. He/She can motivate his sales team and manage the sales pipeline. The free CRM software allows users to support their customers on every channel.
The user can enhance customer service, close cases faster, and personalize the customer-care aspects. The user can organize all sales channels and customer information. The user can get the enhanced benefit of email marketing, mobile and social marketing. This leads to nurturing of customer relationships. The user can scale up all marketing efforts and can be scaled up quickly. Most importantly, the following list of CRM software is free and does not affect the user’s marketing budget.
List of Best Free CRM (Customer Relationship Management) Software
1. HubSpot CRM
HubSpot is a free CRM system that has many features that benefit the sales, marketing, and customer service teams. It is a cloud-based, free CRM that enables companies to track their leads and analyze their business metrics. The HubSpot CRM is suitable for both B2B and B2C businesses, irrespective of the company size or the industry sector.
The user can see the entire sales funnel through a visual dashboard. The software is productive as it is built from a salesman’s perspective. It helps the user with customer marketing and opportunity management. The user also benefits from lead nurturing and lead management. It offers a comprehensive free plan which is very useful.
Features
- Businesses can track all customer interactions through email, social media, live chat, or phone calls.
- All customer interactions are stored by lead on the system.
- The sales tools help sales representatives to manage contacts, track deals, and manage the sales pipeline.
- The platform offers easy integration with the HubSpot marketing Hub and HubSpot Sales hub.
- The system also interacts easily with Zoho CRM, SalesForce, and SugarCRM.
- It offers a modular, scalable plan covering operations, content, customer service, sales, and marketing.
Benefits
- The HubSpot CRM helps the users to track business development, pipeline, and current customers
- It enables businesses to close the sales process, close deals, and also expand the customer base.
- It has an easy, highly intuitive, and logical user interface. It enables users to navigate the system without training.
- The user can incorporate lead properties into lead profile interfaces.
- It improves productivity, and sales at Intel and provides actionable insights.
- It offers excellent customer support.
2. Zoho CRM
Zoho CRM is one of the best, free CRM systems for small and mid-size companies. This software has a useful analytics feature. Zia is a powerful-AI powered analytics engine built into the Zoho CRM. With this, the user can get a better grip on sales anomalies and demand trends.
The user interface has a drag-and-drop interface editor. This editor makes customization easy. The app easily integrates with tools like Canvas, Motivator, and Zia. The app syncs with external applications like Google Workspace, Google Analytics, QuickBooks, and Microsoft 365. The app also works on multiple devices like Android and iOS apart from desktops and laptops. The app also provides deal analytics. The user’s day meeting locations get arranged like Google Maps. The app has a report builder and scheduler function. This function has several reports, neatly arranged into folders. The user can also customize the reports.
Features
- It has workflow automation that automatically updates fields and sends emails or messages.
- The system features reports, tailored to every department’s requirement. The user can send these reports by email.
- It has a strong customer focus.
- The app showcases services expertise and a breadth of services
- Its product map and future vision are excellent.
Benefits
- It has a useful, free plan for users.
- It offers automation on all plans
- It helps businesses to improve customer service and customer relations
- It reduces time to market by driving revenue growth
- It improves internal, and operational efficiencies
- It helps to increase business agility which improves business outcomes.
3. Freshsales
Freshsales is a free CRM software for businesses that is a full-fledged sales force automation solution for sales teams. The software enables the sales and marketing team to do the following:
- Attract quality leads
- Engage in contextual conversations with customers
- Drive deals with AI-powered insights
- Nurture customer insights.
Freshsales has features like inbuilt email, chat, phone, and telephony. The software automates the entire sales process. The platform comes with embedded selling, planning, and auditing functions. With the help of its inbuilt AI, the sales team gets insights into the best deals, proposed sales actions, and forecast demand. It helps to organize customer information, personalize and automate email campaigns and find the right sales opportunities.
Freshsales provides an all-in-one solution for the sales and marketing teams. It helps businesses to personalize engagement, shorten the sales cycle and scale up their sales operations. Its advanced AI capabilities help businesses scale up as they grow. It helps to increase adoption, reduce costs and boost morale. The sales and marketing teams reduce time spent on repetitive work and increase sales. This helps to improve the productivity and efficiency of the sales and marketing team.
Features
- Email and call tracking counterpart
- Life stage tracking facility of leads
- Ability to track interactions, check into meetings, log calls, add notes, etc.
- Create custom modules to capture additional information.
- Create custom fields, checklists, and formula fields
- Multi-currency and multi-language options.
Benefits
- It is a high-quality CRM that enables the sales and marketing team to track their contacts
- Using the software’s easy customer interface, the user can manage thousands of leads.
- It provides an all-in-one umbrella to manage multiple elements of the sales process
- Business setup is very simple
- It enjoys integration with multiple apps.
- Its several useful features include affiliate management, call routing, call recording, and auto-dialers.
4. monday sales CRM
monday sales CRM is built keeping in mind the core CRM features. It is a universal, versatile software that is useful to marketers, designers, and sales enablement. monday sales CRM is a cloud-based CRM system. With this software, the user can track leads and convert new leads into customers. It has an easy-to-use user interface. This software is easily scalable to the business’s growing needs. The software caters to both projects and workflows in IT, marketing, sales and CRM, and other departments.
monday sales CRM integrates different departments under one roof, streamlining the workspace. The sales team can track their entire pipeline and contact lists. The business can ensure customer satisfaction and provide service support to them. It can easily expand its customer base and build customer loyalty. This is one of the superior, free CRM systems for small and mid-sized businesses.
Features
- The user can set up a customizable CRM template with predefined groups and columns. The software showcases 30 different types of columns.
- The user can easily capture the client notes, estimated deal value, related files, and planned due dates for follow-ups.
- There is centralized management of information required by the sales team.
- The software is automated. This enables the elimination of repetitive tasks and streamlines the workflow.
- The CRM on monday.com enables the user to integrate apps, data, and communication in one workspace.
- The user can access instant analytics about completed deals and other valuable performance metrics.
Benefits
- This CRM has the scalability to cater to the needs of small enterprises to very large businesses.
- The software helps the user to track a large number of leads without any difficulty.
- This CRM platform is thoroughly editable. Initial templates are provided that the user can customize without any difficulty.
- Kanban charts, Gantt charts, and timelines facilitate a better understanding of the deals and lead to progress.
- The user can find the information very easily. The dashboards are dynamic and easy to navigate.
- The sales funnel is an easy-to-use and interactive web.
- Intra-team and inter-team collaboration are very easy
5. EngageBay
EngageBay CRM provides an all-in-solution with landing pages, email marketing, business, automation, and lead generation. This CRM solution helps the user to gather and nurture leads that he can convert into paying customers. This platform has a suite of three products; Marketing Bay, Service Bay, and Bay. EngageBay helps the user to increase automation of the process and the workplace. This is one of the always free CRM software for small businesses.
The user can build unlimited contacts and store information in one place. He/She can access all the features from a single dashboard. The customer service team can design interactive emails to customers. The software’s comprehensive tools enable businesses to scale up easily. These tools include marketing automation, a help desk, live chat, and more.
Features
- The CRM functionality integrates with the helpdesk and email marketing and helps to track leads. It features a rich email template and the creation of a landing page function.
- Email lists have their own attractive and easy-to-launch web forms.
- Features a drag-and-drop functionality
- Input boxes to write buttons, text, and images.
- Landing pages optimized for search and A/B testing.
- The user can add a page title, meta descriptions, keywords, and slugs.
- Flexibility in creating landing pages and web forms
- Target customer segmentation using filters.
- An exceptional suite of analytics to analyze performance metrics
Benefits
- The user can use performance metrics to tweak email campaigns to find the right mix of content that will drive maximum engagement.
- EngageBay’s marketing automation can integrate SMSs, apply segmentation rules, drive web engagement through push notifications.
- The user can use lead scoring to contacts and initiate email sequences.
- The user can generate attractive lead-generating pages for the sales and marketing function.
- It has a helpdesk function and lives chat support which enables easy troubleshooting.
6. Really Simple Systems
Really Simple Systems is CRM software built for businesses that seek to simplify their sales, marketing, and customer support workflows. It is a versatile app that can be scaled to big businesses and used for small enterprises as well. It is a cloud-based software that the user can access from anywhere through the internet. It helps businesses manage prospects, tasks, contacts, marketing contacts, marketing campaigns, and sales opportunities.
The software is installed on the user’s servers. The vendor backups up the data daily. It is an important app for companies who want to rapidly grow their sales staff and line-of-business personnel. The software opens with an introductory video. The user can register himself on a live webinar with access to a customer support hub. The user can access the sales module, on the main menu. This provides access to the Dashboard, accounts, contacts, opportunities, tasks, and reports. The Marketing, Service and Support Add-ons are also available. It is one of the best free CRM platforms for small and medium businesses.
Features
- Really Simple Systems CRM software is web-based and available on Android, iOS, and desktop devices.
- It offers integration with Google Cashflow, Outlook Calendar, Sage One, Google Calendar, Microsoft Exchange, Xero, and Kashflow accounting apps, etc.
- The user interface is easy to understand.
- Users can create customized reports.
- It enables accounts and opportunity management.
- It offers users support by phone and email.
- It features a calendar system.
- It facilitates database segmentation and is GDPR compliant.
- There is marketing automation integration and two-way integrated Email Marketing.
- It provides users with the facility to make quotes and proposals.
- It features a very good analytics tool that provides the ability to make reports and forecasts.
Benefits
- This free CRM allows up to 2 users and 100 company records.
- It is a simple system with email marketing built-in and free support
- The user does not need to have specialist knowledge. The sales and marketing staff can be trained in minutes.
- The user can build marketing campaigns and send newsletters and emails from one place.
- The vendor offers users free support to help them download data and get started.
- The free plan is ideal for small, medium-sized businesses, and start-ups.
- This easy-to-use platform offers an integrated system for all marketing functions.
- It provides an intuitive, easy-to-use customer interface.
7. Bitrix24
Bitrix24 is a complete, customer relationship management (CRM) software. The specialty of this software is lead generation. It is particularly useful for small and medium businesses. The user can set up his help desk. The user manages all cross-team collaboration and communication directly on the software. The software helps in the better management of a lead or a project at any time. It features many tools like project management tools, CRM, chats, video calls, website builder, telephony, CRM marketing analytics, and many more. All these services are seamlessly integrated into the platform.
Bitrix24 is available via a standard browser version, Android, desktop, or, mobile app. All CRM features like tasks, projects, and pipeline management are available. The user can categorize project participants and members based on their functions. The user can effectively manage project workflows and structure projects. It seamlessly integrates with third-party applications like Stripe, PayPal, and Jotform. The user can send bulk emails, and schedule meetings. If the business is expanding, this is one of the best CRM software for growing teams.
Features
- Bitrix24 has web-based lead capture forms that instantly transfer the information to the CRM software.
- The user can customize the lead forms. The lead management solution works seamlessly.
- The user can manage all projects effortlessly within the software.
- All communication and collaboration tools are available. This enables the user’s team to collaborate and communicate with each other. Available tools include chat, HD video calls, a knowledge base, and a company workspace.
- The sales team can also access a calendar, deadline tools, the ability to manage unlimited projects, and task automation features.
- The user can streamline his workflows. This enables him to spend more time with the customers.
- The user can also automate tasks and do integrations with third-party applications.
Benefits
- This CRM software replaces all current SaaS software.
- The user can easily migrate data from other systems.
- This software also integrates with other apps and software.
- It enables small and mid-sized companies to manage employees, potential clients, and customers.
- Bitrix24 seamlessly delivers customer support, internal communications, and project management.
- The software features excellent capabilities which enable the user to access the exact record he is looking for.
8. Snov.io
Snov.io is one of the best CRM and lead engagement tools for B2B companies, SDRs, and sales teams. Snov.io functions as a platform for lead generation. The user can find emails from prospects and manage sales campaigns with the help of this CRM software. The user can efficiently manage his customer contacts. Snov.io benefits many businesses; including, B2B businesses, small and medium businesses, and startups. Snov.io provides all the tools for outreach automation with features including; drip campaigns, the ability to send emails by domain, get insights on potential leads, check emails through a validator and verify email deliverability.
Streamlining the sales and marketing ecosystem ensures business profitability. The user can organize the calendar to improve the daily workflow and improve the organization’s productivity. Snov.io is integrated with more than 5000+ CRMs, teamwork tools, social media apps, and customer support platforms. These include HubSpot, Zoho CRM, Asana, Adapt, Close and Freshworks CRM. It also syncs with Phantombuster, LinkedIn lead Gen Forms, Facebook lead Ads, Albacross, Slack Trello, etc. It also works with Google Docs, Google Sheets, and Google Calendar. This is free online CRM software.
Features
- Snov.io CRM automates countless tasks that help the user increase his sales volume while reducing repetitive tasks.
- It includes within its ambit a full set of tools, including lead generation, emails, and pdf.
- The software includes a smart set of tools with which the user can decide the type of lead gen emails based on the type of lead (vendor/brand) and the timing of the emails (weekday/weekend).
- The software has automated and customizable autoresponders with settings for opens, clicks, bounces, etc.
- The user can communicate any introduction of a new product, brand, or strategic change in the business to the customers.
- The user can customize email campaigns to meet the target customer segment.
- The user can create customized content to meet the needs of the buyers.
- The user can create custom pipelines to reflect the sales process.
- The user can manage and prioritize deals with customers.
- Detailed Analytics enables the user to analyze customer behavior information.
Benefits
- The email finder tool can search by domain, full name, or job positions in combination with the domain name of a specific company.
- The user can enrich his existing contact database through big data.
- An extremely user-friendly interface allows increasing automation in their workflows.
- The Snov.io extension allows the user to collect leads from LinkedIn, Twitter, and other websites.
- Snov.io is a great tool for B2B businesses that need an advanced email marketing facility.
9. Agile CRM
Agile CRM is designed as a customer relationship management software for small and medium-sized businesses. This CRM software integrates sales, service, marketing, social media, analytics, and other engagement services. This software offers many integrations with other apps and software. It offers features like telephony, 2-way emails, and a helpdesk with a clean modern interface. The software converts website visitors into leads. Though it is a more recent entrant into this field, Agile has adapted to the modern way of doing business.
Agile CRM offers a gamification option to improve employee efficiency and productivity. Gamification is a mechanism to motivate, reward and improve employee efficiency. Agile CRM is a take-off from the earlier version of Clickdesk. Agile CRM has an easy-to-use interface that offers a help desk and two-way email options. The software is synchronized with eCommerce sites like Stripe and Shopify. This can be categorized as one of the best, free online CRM software.
Features
- It features a drag-and-drop editor which integrates sales, marketing, and customer retention.
- The user can convert website visitors into leads.
- The user can track and score leads based on the website activity.
- The sales team can call, email, or chat with a potential client from the same page.
- The software sends real-time alerts based on customer activity.
- The analytics help in analyzing customer behavior.
- The software captures the entire customer history in the database. Detailed records help to maintain customer details and communications. This helps the business in managing the helpdesk tickets.
- The app integrations facilitate amalgamating all the customer history in one place.
Benefits
- Agile CRM makes contact management easy
- It features one of the best email marketing tools.
- The setup and the user interface are easy-to-use even for beginners.
- The automated sales pipeline system makes it easier to close deals.
- New businesses and start-ups will find Agile CRM useful as a customer relationship management tool.
10. Vtiger CRM
Vtiger CRM is essentially free CRM software for SMBs. This app assigns the workflow and also enables the user to know the status of the completed work. The search tool in this software has performance enhancements. There is an easy-to-use interface with a wide range of features. The user can track sales invoices, quotes, and purchases for each contact.
The user can also automatically generate activity reports, and monitor sales trends, by month, quarter, or year. Sales enablement, sales automation, and pipeline management are all included as a part of this software. Vtiger CRM also features analytics, sales insights, alerts, and intelligent reporting as a part of its analytics tool. The software also includes marketing automation, and project and inventory management as a part of the package.
Features
- All sales processes from creating and implementing sales funnels to creating playbooks are automated.
- The entire spectrum of CRM functions like contact management, lead management, and account management are available.
- The software enables the user to perform complex search queries.
- It offers templates for the customization of workflows.
- Reports can be created by contacts, and segments and make available real-time viewing of the pipeline.
- The sales and customer information can be analyzed using data visualization and predictive analysis.
- The software helps the user to organize the team, facilitate email delivery and edit account details, etc.
- It enables communication and collaboration
- It improves the efficiency and productivity of the team.
Benefits
- It is an affordable and well-designed, small business CRM.
- Permits easy access to email, calling, and note-taking.
- There is a responsive 24/7 support function
- The alert system is very useful to generate sales activity.
FAQs
What is a CRM system?
A CRM or a Customer Relations Management system manages the relationship between the organization and its customers. A good CRM system aims to increase sales through the optimization of business processes.
Which departments need a CRM system the most?
Sales, Customer service, marketing, and business development functions need a CRM system the most. It is also suitable for businesses of all sizes.
What are the prime benefits of a CRM system?
A CRM system helps to improve product and service quality, help in cost reduction, help in increasing the customer base, and build customer loyalty. All these lead to performance improvement which increases the business profitability.
How does CRM software work?
CRM software helps the sales and marketing teams in building the complete sales funnel. This encompasses all activities from opportunity management, forecasting, and deal closure. The sales team can meet customer requests and automate service operations.
What are the different types of CRM software that are available?
The different types of CRM software include onsite CRMs and cloud-based CRM software.