Best CRM Software: Real Reviews, Actual Pricing, and Honest Opinions

Picking CRM software feels like navigating a minefield. Every vendor claims they're "#1" and buries their pricing behind "contact sales" buttons. I've spent way too much time digging through these platforms, so let me save you the headache.

Here's the truth: the average CRM costs roughly $35 per user per month, but actual costs range from free to $300+ per user monthly depending on what you need. Let's cut through the marketing and look at what actually works.

Quick Comparison: Best CRM Software at a Glance

1. HubSpot CRM - Best Free Option (That Becomes Expensive)

HubSpot is the CRM everyone starts with because of its generous free tier. You get up to 1,000,000 contacts, unlimited deals, and basic website visitor tracking—all without paying a dime. That's legitimately useful for small teams just getting started.

The catch? HubSpot recently reduced free users from unlimited to just 2. Once you need more functionality, pricing escalates fast. The Sales Hub Starter runs $20 per seat monthly, which is reasonable. But jump to Professional and you're looking at $100/month per seat, with mandatory onboarding fees ($1,500+) that they don't highlight upfront.

What I like:

• The free plan genuinely works for basic needs
• Best-in-class email marketing features even on free tier
• Clean interface that doesn't require training
• Over 1,500 integrations available

What sucks:

• Pricing gets confusing with "marketing contacts" vs regular contacts
• Professional/Enterprise tiers require expensive mandatory onboarding ($3,000-$7,000)
• Feature bloat—lots of stuff you'll never touch
• Adding extra users gets more expensive on higher tiers

Verdict: Start with HubSpot free. Seriously, it's the best free CRM available. Just budget carefully before upgrading—mid-sized businesses typically spend $10,000-$50,000 annually on HubSpot subscriptions, plus implementation costs.

For alternatives and deeper comparisons, check out our CRM for small business guide.

2. Salesforce - The Industry Standard (With Industry-Standard Complexity)

Salesforce dominates with roughly 22% of the global CRM market. There's a reason: it does everything. The problem is that "everything" comes with complexity and cost that most businesses don't need.

Current Pricing:

• Starter Suite: $25/user/month (basic CRM, limited to 325 users max)
• Pro Suite: $100/user/month (sales forecasting, territory management)
• Enterprise: $150/user/month (advanced automation, API access)
• Unlimited: $330/user/month (predictive AI, priority support)

But those per-user costs are just the beginning. Implementation of Salesforce typically starts around $25,000 for small setups. Businesses usually spend $5,000-$35,000 annually on subscriptions alone, with mid-sized companies reaching $120,000-$150,000/year when you include setup and support.

What I like:

• Genuinely powerful customization if you need it
• 600+ add-ons available through AppExchange
• 30-day free trial to test features
• Einstein AI features for lead scoring and forecasting

What sucks:

• Steep learning curve—plan for significant training time
• All plans require annual commitment (no month-to-month except Starter)
• Hidden costs pile up: data storage, premium support (30% of license fee), add-ons
• Recent 6% price increase across Enterprise/Unlimited tiers

Verdict: Salesforce makes sense if you have complex sales processes, multiple teams, and budget for proper implementation. For small businesses, it's usually overkill. The Starter Suite at $25/month is competitive, but you'll outgrow it fast.

See our full CRM software comparison for more head-to-head breakdowns.

3. Pipedrive - Best for Sales Teams Who Just Want to Sell

Pipedrive was built by salespeople who were frustrated with bloated CRMs. It shows. The interface is dead simple—kanban-style deal tracking that anyone can learn in minutes.

Current Pricing (billed annually):

• Essential: $14/user/month (basic pipeline, deal tracking)
• Advanced: $24.90/user/month (email sync, automation)
• Professional: $49.90/user/month (AI tools, contract management)
• Ultimate: $79/user/month (unlimited features, security controls)

Monthly billing runs about 30% higher—for example, Advanced costs $34.90/month instead of $24.90. Over a year, that's $120 extra per user, so annual billing makes sense if you're committed.

What I like:

• Actually easy to use—minimal training required
• No hidden costs in base pricing
• Implementation is free for plans over $400/year
• Visual pipeline that sales reps actually enjoy using
• Two-way sync with Google Apps works flawlessly

What sucks:

• No free plan (14-day trial only)
• Marketing features are limited—campaigns cost extra ($16+/month)
• Automation capped at 5,000 runs every 10 minutes
• No branching or nested logic in workflows
• Add-ons like LeadBooster ($32.50/company/month) add up

Real cost example: A 5-person team on Professional with add-ons for lead capture and email campaigns will spend $300-$350/month, not the advertised $250.

Verdict: Pipedrive is excellent for straightforward sales processes. If your team needs to track deals and nothing else, it's hard to beat at this price point. Just don't expect it to handle complex marketing automation.

4. Close CRM - Best for High-Volume Outbound

Close is built for teams that live on the phone. Built-in calling, SMS, and email sequences make it ideal for SDR teams doing heavy outreach.

Current Pricing (billed annually):

• Solo: $9/user/month (1 user only, 10,000 lead limit)
• Essentials: $35/user/month (unlimited leads, follow-up reminders)
• Growth: $99/user/month (workflow automation, Power Dialer, AI tools)
• Scale: $139/user/month (predictive dialing, call coaching, 25 pipelines)

The jump from Essentials ($35) to Growth ($99) is steep—a 183% increase—but Growth is where the automation and calling features live. Most serious sales teams will need at least Growth.

What I like:

• Built-in calling with automatic logging (no third-party dialers needed)
• Power Dialer significantly speeds up outbound
• 14-day free trial with full features, no credit card
• SMS functionality included on all plans
• Clean interface that doesn't overwhelm new reps

What sucks:

• Solo plan is extremely limited (1 user, no automation)
• Customer support is email-only—no phone support
• Phone calling costs extra based on usage
• Some users report confusing billing for calling/SMS

Verdict: If your sales process involves heavy phone outreach, Close is worth the premium. For teams that primarily email or do inbound sales, you're paying for features you won't use.

Try Close free for 14 days – no credit card required.

For more details, read our full Close CRM review and Close CRM pricing breakdown.

5. Zoho CRM - Best Budget Option That Actually Scales

Zoho flies under the radar but offers impressive value. If you're already using other Zoho products (Zoho Books, Zoho Mail, etc.), the integrations are seamless.

Current Pricing:

• Free: Up to 2 users (basic CRM features)
• Standard: $14/user/month (contact, lead, deal management)
• Professional: $23/user/month (workflows, email insights)
• Enterprise: $40/user/month (AI-powered features, custom modules)

Zoho's Standard plan at $14/user delivers full contact management, lead tracking, customization, and basic automation. That's half the price of HubSpot's equivalent.

What I like:

• Genuinely affordable at every tier
• Free plan that works for micro-businesses
• Deep integration with Zoho ecosystem (25+ apps)
• Customizable layouts for accounts, leads, contacts
• Transparent pricing with clear upgrade paths

What sucks:

• Interface feels dated compared to Pipedrive/HubSpot
• Learning curve to master all features
• Customer support quality varies
• Some advanced features require higher tiers

Verdict: Zoho is the smart choice for budget-conscious businesses that plan to scale. The Standard plan at $14/user/month gives most small-to-midsize businesses everything they need.

How to Choose the Right CRM

Stop evaluating features you'll never use. Ask these questions instead:

1. What's your sales process?

• Heavy phone outreach → Close
• Visual deal tracking → Pipedrive
• Marketing + sales alignment → HubSpot
• Complex enterprise sales → Salesforce
• Budget-first scaling → Zoho

2. How many users do you need?

Pricing is per-user, so costs multiply quickly. A 10-person team on Salesforce Enterprise pays $1,500/month just for licenses.

3. What integrations matter?

If you live in Google Workspace, Pipedrive's integration is excellent. Microsoft shop? Salesforce or HubSpot connect better. Already on Zoho apps? Stick with Zoho CRM.

4. What's your true budget?

Factor in:

• Implementation/onboarding fees (often $1,500-$25,000)
• Training time for your team
• Add-ons you'll inevitably need
• Data migration costs

The Bottom Line

Best free CRM: HubSpot (genuinely useful free tier)

Best for sales teams: Pipedrive (simple, effective, affordable)

Best for outbound calling: Close (built-in dialer and SMS)

Best for enterprise: Salesforce (if you can afford implementation)

Best budget option: Zoho CRM (scales without breaking the bank)

Most businesses should start with HubSpot's free plan or Pipedrive's $14/month tier. Get comfortable with CRM basics before investing in expensive platforms with features you might not need.

For free options specifically, check out our free CRM software roundup. If small business needs are your focus, see CRM for small business for tailored recommendations.