At TechnologyAdvice, we assess a wide range of factors before selecting our top choices for a given category. To make our selections, we rely on our extensive research, product information, vendor websites, competitor research and first-hand experience. We then consider what makes a solution best for customer-specific needs. By defining business needs, we can determine the essential features organizations in various sectors require, and select platforms that will cover all bases. Reputable providers known for their ease of use and customer satisfaction are added to our compilation list for further analysis. We then evaluate each solution on the list based on the features they offer, considering the platform’s usability, integration capabilities, customization options, mobile access, and any other relevant functionalities. Price plans, hidden fees, customer reviews, and customer support are also assessed in the selection process. TechnologyAdvice writers will often take advantage of free trials and demos to get a first-hand user experience of available software. Finally, we curate a comprehensive list based on the previously stated factors, ensuring readers have the necessary tools to make an informed decision.

Customer database software is a powerful tool that allows your company to capture and automate communication between your team and potential buyers in a way where valuable lead information is tracked across various departments like sales and customer support. 

The unique features of customer databases are usually baked into customer relationship software or customer relationship management (CRM) platforms. These software solutions will generally function by routinely collecting customer information like their activity and personal data. Many CRMs will then catalogue and organize that customer information to improve engagement.

Here are our top 10 recommendations for customer database software:

  • HubSpot: Best for cross-department collaboration 
  • Pipedrive: Best for full app integration 
  • Zendesk Sell: Best overall customer database solution
  • Salesforce: Best for customization 
  • Zoho: Best for forecasting sales and workflow automation 
  • Freshsales: Best easy-to-use CRM 
  • Apptivo: Best for tracking customer interactions 
  • Keap: Best for increasing efficiency between departments
  • monday CRM: Best for managing leads and customer information 
  • Bitrix24: Best customer database solution for smaller sales teams

Check out our CRM Software Buyer’s Guide if you don’t find your answer below. 

Top customer database software

Our top ten customer database software picks offer a wide range of benefits for businesses whether large or small.

Software

Pricing

Learn more

HubSpot

Free plan, paid plan starting at $45/user/month

Pipedrive

Paid plan starting at $14/user/month

Zendesk Sell

Paid plan starting at $19/user/month

Salesforce

Paid plan starting at $25/user/month

Zoho

Free plan, paid plan starting at $14/user/month

Freshsales

Paid plan starting at $29/user/month

Apptivo

Free plan, paid plan starting at $10/user/month

Keap

Paid plan starting at $56/user/month

monday CRM

Paid plan starting at $9/user/month

Bitrix24

Free plan, paid plan starting at $19/user/month

HubSpot: Best for cross-department collaboration 


Pros

  • Includes a free version with a set of useful features
  • Allows call tracking
  • Provides excellent sales automation 
  • Allows for simple contact management 

Cons

  • Free version is limited in its features
  • Opting for a paid tier version of the CRM platform can be expensive
HubSpot CRM logo

Our Rating: 4.5/5

Sales activity tracking: Offers a real-time view and analysis of sales pipeline activities on a visual dashboard.

Contact management: Automatically enriches and manages contact records with integrated data from various sources.

Deal pipeline management: Provides tools for organizing, tracking, and customizing sales deals within a visual pipeline.

Email integration and tracking: Seamlessly integrates with email platforms for tracking and managing sales-related communications.

Automation and reporting: Features automated workflows for sales processes and a dashboard for tracking sales performance metrics.

Lead generation tools: Includes tools for creating forms, managing ads, and email marketing to capture and nurture leads.

Free trial available

Free plan available

Paid plan starting at $45/user/month

We included HubSpot in this piece because of their strong links for cross-departmental collaborations. In addition, having access to the full suite of HubSpot applications only bolsters this feature as they are designed to interact with each other.

The software is best for small to medium-sized businesses looking for a comprehensive, user-friendly CRM solution at minimal cost. Its integration capabilities make it a versatile tool for various business needs.

In terms of overall functionality, user experience, and value for money, HubSpot CRM consistently ranks high among its peers, particularly for businesses seeking a balance of features and usability.

HubSpot CRM’s design focuses on simplicity and efficiency. The dashboard is well-organized, making navigation and data retrieval straightforward. This user-centric design positively impacts daily operations, reducing the learning curve for new users.

The major advantage of HubSpot CRM lies in its seamless integration with other HubSpot tools, providing a unified platform for sales, marketing, and customer service. The user interface is clean and intuitive, enhancing user adoption. However, its reporting features, while robust, can be less advanced than those of Salesforce, and the free plan, though comprehensive, might require upgrades as a business grows.

Our ratings

Pricing: 4.8/5

General features and interface: 4.4/5

Core features: 4.5/5

Advanced features: 3.8/5

Integration and compatibility: 4.8/5

UX: 4.8/5

Overall customer database capabilities: 5/5

HubSpot is a reliable CRM that is used as a marketing and sales solution for a number of businesses since its founding in 2004. HubSpot closes the gap between separate departments, allowing each of them to work together more cohesively with a set of shared tools that improve sales, marketing, customer service and content marketing efforts. This CRM tends to work better for small and mid-sized businesses with features that should satisfy their needs.

For businesses considering HubSpot CRM, the key factors to consider are its comprehensive free plan, ease of use, and the seamless integration with other HubSpot tools. These aspects make it a valuable asset for managing customer relationships effectively.

The most recent updates include the addition of advanced features like AI email writing and enhanced analytics.

Read more: Microsoft Dynamics 365 vs. HubSpot CRM

Pipedrive: Best for full app integration 


Pros

  • Easy email integration
  • Customizable sales pipeline 
  • Mobile app support
  • Good contact management 

Cons

  • Batch email issues
  • Limited marketing automation functionality 

Our Rating: 4.2/5

App integration: Pipedrive allows salespeople to easily integrate useful applications into the CRM platform in a very cohesive and straightforward way. This feature offers full app support and makes it simple to grow your CRM and customize it with apps that add to the functionality that PipeDrive already offers.  

Advanced sales reporting: Pipedrive provides updatable analytics that team members can easily track over time. This data can help inform them on prospect activity and forecast future activity that will make it easier to deliver on the needs of these potential customers.

Visual sales pipeline: Provides a clear, drag-and-drop interface for tracking and managing sales processes and deals.

Customizable pipeline: Allows for the creation of custom stages and fields to match specific sales cycles and business needs.

Team collaboration: Facilitates collaboration among team members on deals and activities, with shared updates on sales operations.

Automated alerts and follow-ups: Enhances productivity by automating routine tasks and providing reminders for important sales actions.

Free trial available

Essential: $24/user/month

Advanced: $44/user/month

Professional: $64/user/month

Power: $79/user/month

Enterprise: $129/user/month

In assessing Pipedrive CRM, its usability, feature richness, customization, integration options, and customer support stood out after being critically evaluated against industry standards and user feedback.

Also, if your IT stack is fairly scattered, this broad list might make it an easy solution.

Unlike some competitors that cater to larger enterprises, Pipedrive excels in its suitability for small to medium-sized businesses, offering a streamlined experience without overwhelming complexity.

Compared to Salesforce or HubSpot, Pipedrive offers a more straightforward, less intimidating user experience, making it ideal for smaller teams or those new to CRM software. While it may lack the extensive customization of Salesforce, its ease of use is a significant advantage for many users.

Our ratings

Pricing: 3.5/5

General features and interface: 4.3/5

Core features: 4.6/5

Advanced features: 3.5/5

Integration and compatibility: 4.8/5

UX: 4/5

Overall customer database capabilities: 4.8/5

Pipedrive is a CRM designed from the ground up with sales teams in mind. This CRM is easy to set up and is able to natively integrate with a vast number of applications that work to expand the platform’s overall functionality. This CRM allows for easy email integration, deal management and streamlines various tasks through automation. 

Pipedrive’s design philosophy centers on user-friendliness and clarity. The platform’s interface is straightforward, with a focus on visual sales pipelines and easy navigation, significantly reducing the learning curve for new users.

For those considering Pipedrive, the key factors to weigh are its simplicity, effectiveness in sales pipeline management, and the range of integrations available. These elements make it a practical choice for small to medium-sized businesses seeking efficient customer relationship management.

Over time, the platform has also evolved to include AI-powered sales assistance and enhanced reporting features, addressing user feedback for more intelligent and insightful sales management tools.

Read more: Best Simple CRM Software

Zendesk Sell: Best overall customer database solution for companies of all sizes


Pros

  • CRM provides a visual representation of your customer and prospect interactions 
  • Increases efficiency and collaboration between departments 
  • Delivers on features that integrate well with your existing tools
  • Works seamlessly with businesses of any size

Cons

  • Some difficulty entering prospects’ information into your database
  • System glitches may present themselves and negatively impact workflow 
Zendesk Sell logo

Our Rating: 4.4/5

Contact database management: Zendesk Sell provides a centralized system to store and manage contact details including names, emails, phone numbers, and social media profiles.

Data analysis and segmentation: The software allows for tagging and categorizing contacts based on demographics, enabling targeted customer interactions.

Lead management: It captures, tracks, and scores leads as they enter the sales pipeline, reducing the chances of missed opportunities.

Prospecting tools: Zendesk Sell automates repetitive tasks associated with prospecting, such as qualifying prospects and scheduling meetings.

Integration capabilities: The platform offers seamless integration with various business and sales applications, enhancing its utility.

Automated customer profile generation: Leveraging AI, the software automates the creation of customer profiles and data analysis, saving time for sales teams.

Free trial available

Team: $19 per agent/month (annual subscription), $25 per agent/month (monthly subscription)

Growth: $55 per agent/month (annual subscription), $69 per agent/month (monthly subscription)

Professional: $115 per agent/month (annual subscription), $149 per agent/month (monthly subscription)

Enterprise: Starting at $169 per user/month (annual subscription), $219 per user/month (monthly subscription)

Zendesk Sell was included here for its ability to scale to any customer size. Whether you’re an enterprise company or a small operation, Zendesk Sell can scale to your needs. It also offers robust security features to help protect the data of your clients and staff.

Zendesk Sell distinguishes itself with its seamless integration with Zendesk’s customer service platform, offering a comprehensive view of the customer lifecycle. This integration is particularly beneficial for businesses looking for a unified platform for sales and customer service.

Compared to platforms like Salesforce or HubSpot, Zendesk Sell offers a more streamlined and user-friendly interface, making it ideal for small to medium-sized businesses. While it may not offer the same level of advanced marketing features as some competitors, its strength lies in its simplicity and integration with Zendesk’s suite of products.

The strengths of Zendesk Sell include its powerful automation and sales engagement features, intuitive user interface, and robust mobile app. However, it lacks a free plan and advanced marketing tools, and some users have reported issues with deal updates and limited pre-built integrations.

Our ratings

Pricing: 3.5/5

General features and interface: 4.8/5

Core features: 5/5

Advanced features: 3.3/5

Integration and compatibility: 5/5

UX: 5/5

Overall customer database capabilities: 5/5

Zendesk Sell is a very capable CRM that provides a customer database solution that applies to companies of all sizes. Zendesk Sell is a full service CRM that can be a huge benefit to your business as its features don’t require any extra work to implement and work seamlessly with your existing tools. The platform greatly minimizes any interruptions to your workflow and upgrades your system with tools designed to accommodate and expand your sales department.

Read more: Zendesk Sell vs. Thryv  

Salesforce: Best for customization 


Pros

  • Custom workflows
  • Mobile app integration
  • Sales forecasting 
  • Full email integration

Cons

  • Loading times may appear slow from time-to-time 
  • Creating reports could be made easier 
Salesforce Marketing Cloud Intelligence

Our Rating: 4/5

Customizability: Salesforce offers many options for customizing your business’s workflow across departments and allows for custom marketing tool integration with a number of back office applications available.

Free trial available

Essentials: $25/user/month

Professional: $75/user/month

Enterprise: $150/user/month

Unlimited: $300/user/month

*All plans billed annually

Salesforce earned its place in this list for its sheer volume of potential customizations. Between available templates and the hard-coded work a developer can do in the program, the possibilities with Salesforce are practically limitless. Salesforce isn’t cheap, but if you need individual complex customizations, it’s the best solution.

Unlike many competitors, Salesforce offers a level of adaptability and scalability that caters to businesses of all sizes, making it a versatile choice in the CRM market. Compared to other CRMs like HubSpot or Zoho, Salesforce stands out for its depth of customization and integration capabilities. While it may require a steeper learning curve and more initial setup time, its adaptability makes it a powerful tool for businesses with complex and evolving CRM needs.

The strengths of Salesforce CRM lie in its vast customization capabilities, comprehensive business ecosystem, and powerful AI tools like Einstein. However, its complexity can be a double-edged sword, as it requires technical knowledge for customization and can be time-consuming to set up. Additionally, its pricing model can be confusing, and the lack of a free plan may deter smaller businesses.

Salesforce CRM has evolved significantly, incorporating AI with tools like Einstein and expanding its range of integrations and add-ons. These developments have continually enhanced its functionality and kept it at the forefront of CRM technology.

Pricing: 2.7/5

General features: 4.5/5

Advanced features: 4.5/5

Integration and compatibility: 3.5/5

UX: 3.5/5

Overall customer database capabilities: 4.8/5

Salesforce is a cloud-based CRM that is easy to customize with available tools that are desirable for your business. There are a number of applications that are easy to integrate, making Salesforce one of the best enterprise level sales platforms on the market today. Customizable workflows and reliable contact management are among many features that make Salesforce such a compelling option.

Salesforce CRM has evolved significantly since the rise of AI, incorporating tools like Einstein and expanding its range of integrations and add-ons. These developments have continually enhanced its functionality and kept it at the forefront of CRM technology.

Read more: Salesforce vs. Mothernode

Zoho: Best for forecasting sales and workflow automation 


Pros

  • Good lead management 
  • Workflow automation
  • Sales forecasting 

Cons

  • Navigating the CRM needs to be made faster 
  • Customer support could be improved upon 

Our Rating: 4.5/5

AI assistant: Zoho comes equipped with its own AI assistant called Zia, which can help assist your teams with exploring data stored on the CRM. 

SMB support: Small and mid-size businesses (SMBs) can benefit from Zoho by taking advantage of available options designed to promote workflow automation, sales forecasting and lead management.

Free trial available

Free plans available for Mail and Projects

Standard: $14/user/month

Professional: $23/user/month

Enterprise: $40/user/month

Ultimate: $52/user/month

We decided Zoho deserved a place in this list because of it’s long list of potential workflow automations. If you have a particularly complex workflow, Zoho is worth a look. Set up is easier than many similar titles and you might be able to get by without hiring a developer.

The strengths of Zoho CRM include its affordability, range of features, and ease of integration with other Zoho products. However, it has limitations in terms of advanced features and customization compared to more comprehensive platforms like Salesforce. Additionally, some users find the setup process challenging, and the free plan is limited to three users.

Zoho CRM differentiates itself with its affordability and a wide range of features that cater to small and medium-sized businesses. Unlike some competitors, Zoho offers a free plan and a variety of affordable pricing options, making it accessible to a broader range of businesses.

Our ratings

Pricing: 4.2/5

General features and interface: 4.3/5

Core features: 4.8/5

Advanced features: 4.4/5

Integration and compatibility: 5/5

UX: 4.3/5

Overall customer database capabilities: 5/5

Zoho is a full service CRM that offers several customization options for optimizing workflows. Tedious and otherwise repetitive tasks are able to be automated to ease workflow tension. Zoho also offers a number of software as a service (SaaS) products that assist with delivering applications online.  

In 2023, Zoho CRM’s updates significantly enhanced its functionality, focusing on a more integrated and user-friendly experience. The introduction of a threaded view for emails marked a significant shift in how users can view and understand customer relationships, offering a comprehensive view of all email communications. This feature is designed to provide a more holistic understanding of customer interactions.

The software incorporated new fields that facilitate the connection of records, contextualization of sales processes, and easy viewing of key record summaries. This update is aimed at simplifying and streamlining sales operations.

Zoho CRM now allows users to fully customize portal invitation templates and has introduced the capability to archive up to five years of forecasting data. Additionally, the use of URL-based analytics for webforms helps in optimizing lead generation and provides deeper insights into past performance.

A significant advancement in predictive intelligence is seen with Zoho CRM’s churn prediction feature, which assesses the likelihood of customers churning, enabling proactive retention strategies. Complementing this, Zia, Zoho’s AI assistant, has been upgraded to suggest the next best actions in the sales pipeline and recommend the most effective channels for enhancing customer experience.

The updated sandbox in Zoho CRM now supports advanced functionalities like client scripts and static resources, allowing for comprehensive testing before implementing changes. This feature is particularly beneficial for ensuring smooth transitions and maintaining system integrity.

To aid in CRM maintenance, Zoho CRM introduced new Admin Tools, providing a centralized space for reviewing and deleting obsolete templates, custom views, workflow rules, and reports.

Lastly, the Canvas Design feature has been enhanced, allowing users to save and reuse styles and components across different modules. This enhancement not only improves the aesthetic appeal of the CRM but also adds to its customization capabilities, allowing businesses to tailor the CRM to their specific needs and branding.

Freshsales: Best easy-to-use CRM 


Pros

  • Easy to use interface
  • Excellent contact organization
  • Good lead management 

Cons

  • Poor technical support
  • Limited font choices in email templates 

Our Rating: 4.4/5

AI-based lead scoring: Freshsales uses artificial intelligence to score leads, helping sales teams prioritize and focus on the most promising prospects.

Advanced deal management: The platform offers comprehensive tools for tracking and managing deals through various stages of the sales pipeline.

Built-in phone and email: Freshsales includes integrated phone and email capabilities, allowing for seamless communication with clients within the CRM system.

Activity tracking: The software automatically captures and logs customer interactions and sales activities, providing valuable insights into customer engagement.

Customizable sales reports: Freshsales enables the creation of customizable reports, offering detailed analytics to monitor sales performance and make data-driven decisions.

Workflow automation: The CRM automates repetitive tasks and workflows, increasing efficiency and allowing sales teams to focus on selling rather than administrative tasks.

Free trial available

Free plan available

Growth $15/user/month – billed annually ; $18/user/month billed monthly

Pro $39/user/month – billed annually ; $47/user/month – billed monthly

Enterprise $69/user/month – billed annually ; $83/user/month – billed monthly

Freshsales earned its place on this list through simplicity. If you’re a smaller company looking for an easy-to-use customer database solution that won’t become a major time drag, Freshsales might be a good fit.

One of its key strengths lies in its sales force automation (SFA) software, which employs AI-powered chatbots, customizable web forms, and effective contact tracking and scoring. This allows businesses to focus on their most promising leads. Additionally, Freshsales offers robust features for deal management and revenue forecasting, coupled with the ability to engage customers across various channels.

In comparison to its closest competitors, Freshsales offers a more intuitive user experience, making it accessible even to those with limited CRM experience. Its integration capabilities, particularly with Freshdesk and Zapier, enhance its functionality. The platform also provides a free plan with limited features and a 21-day free trial for its more advanced features, which is a competitive edge over some of its rivals that either offer shorter trial periods or no free plans at all.

Our ratings

Pricing: 4.2/5

General features and interface: 3.6/5

Core features: 4.5/5

Advanced features: 2.7/5

Integration and compatibility: 3.8/5

UX: 4/5

Over customer database capabilities: 5/5

Freshsales CRM, formerly known as Freshworks CRM, is a cloud-based customer relationship management solution that stands out for its user-friendly interface and comprehensive feature set, catering especially to startups and medium-sized businesses. It excels in managing interactions with both potential leads and existing customers through a blend of lead management, marketing insights, workflow automation, and advanced analytics.

Freshsales is a hit among small-scale businesses thanks in large part to its easy-to-use interface and clean UI. While this software solution might not have the same level of customization as some of its competitors, its clean interface enhances focus and the software is also quick to set up. Additionally, Freshsales includes several useful features that make tracking leads and converting prospects easier. 

Initially, Freshsales focused on providing AI-based lead scoring, phone, email, and activity capture, which were foundational for any CRM tool. However, recognizing the need for more comprehensive data protection and recovery solutions, Freshsales introduced robust backup and restore functionalities. This feature allows users to configure backups in a few minutes without software installation and restore data directly from the web browser, addressing concerns about data loss due to accidental deletions, malicious activities, or subscription cancellations.

Additionally, Freshsales has enhanced its user interface and workflow automation, making it more intuitive and efficient for sales teams to manage leads and deals.

Apptivo: Best for tracking customer interactions 


Pros

  • Email automation
  • Data management 
  • Customized workflows 

Cons

  • Smartphone app is limited in functionality 
  • Support service leaves much to be desired 
Apptivoreviews

Our Rating: 4.2/5

Lead generation: Apptivo is capable of generating leads through direct email, Web forms and allows for manual data entry as well. Apptivo also offers a way to increase its overall functionality through user access to customer relationship management applications.

Free trial available

Lite: $10/month

Premium: $15/month

Ultimate: $25/month

Enterprise: Custom

Apptivo was an obvious pick because of its advanced lead tracking and management capabilities. Most of these features are quite simple and function intuitively to keep your team moving instead of spending hours a day working through a clunky, outdated user interface.

Apptivo’s product design and user experience (UX) are strategically crafted to cater to the diverse needs of its users, particularly small to medium-sized businesses. One of the key design choices is the highly customizable dashboard, which allows users to tailor the interface according to their specific business processes and priorities.

This flexibility in customization has been reported by users to significantly enhance productivity, as it enables them to access the most relevant information quickly. Another notable aspect is the intuitive navigation and coherent layout of the platform, which reduces the learning curve for new users, a feature often appreciated in user feedback.

Apptivo also integrates a consistent color scheme and visual elements across its various modules, contributing to a seamless user experience and reducing visual clutter, which can be overwhelming in complex CRM systems. The mobile responsiveness of Apptivo is another design choice that positively impacts users, offering them the convenience of managing their customer relationships on the go.

While not the largest player, the software shows a steady growth trajectory, particularly in the small to medium business segment, suggesting increasing adoption and trust among this crucial demographic. Feature-wise, Apptivo offers over 50 integrated business apps, which is significantly higher than some competitors who offer around 30-40 apps, providing a more comprehensive solution. Its customization capabilities also score high, offering more flexibility compared to some rivals that have more rigid systems.

Our ratings

Pricing: 3.8/5

General features and interface: 4.4/5

Core features: 4.6/5

Advanced features: 3.5/5

Integration and compatibility: 4.6/5

UX: 3.8/5

Overall customer database capabilities: 4.5/5

Apptivo is a CRM that comes loaded with a suite of applications designed to assist your company in areas including project management, contact management and communication services. What sets Apptivo apart from other CRMs on the market is its streamlined contact manager, which is simple to use and easy to adapt to. This main feature is ideal for businesses that need to track customer interactions and better serve their existing clientele. 

Early iterations of Apptivo were more basic in their feature set, primarily offering standard CRM functionalities. However, over time, the platform has expanded its capabilities extensively, integrating advanced features like project management, invoicing, and supply chain management, transforming into a comprehensive suite of business tools.

This evolution was largely driven by user feedback, leading to a more intuitive user interface, improved customization options, and the introduction of a more robust mobile application. These improvements addressed key user concerns such as the need for a more unified platform to manage various business functions and the demand for greater accessibility and flexibility.

The addition of industry-specific solutions and enhanced integration capabilities with popular third-party applications like Google Workspace and Office 365 further solidified Apptivo’s position in the market.

Keap: Best for increasing efficiency between sales and marketing departments


Pros

  • Mobile app support
  • CRM and marketing automation 
  • Access to reporting and analytics

Cons

  • Poor note organization
  • Analytics need better tracking 

Our Rating: 3.8/5

Powerful tools: Keap’s tools can be used to improve email, landing pages and better organize orders and subscriptions. Contact records can also be created and better integrated due to the robust tools available when using this CRM.

Automation: There may be a learning curve involved with using Keap’s automation feature for email, but once you become comfortable using it, this feature proves to be very powerful and outshines conventional email campaign solutions.

Free trial available

Basic: $10/month
Standard: $14/month
Pro: $27/month
Enterprise: Custom

Keap is included in our list due its ability to function as an interdepartmental collaboration tool. Multiple people can access accounts simultaneously cutting back on locked pages that keep your staff from being as productive as possible. For example, if your sales and marketing team both work out of the same database solution, Keap might be the right choice for you.

Keap CRM’s product design and user experience (UX) are thoughtfully engineered to streamline and simplify the complexities of customer relationship management, especially for small businesses and entrepreneurs. A standout feature in Keap’s design is its clean and intuitive interface, which significantly reduces the learning curve for new users, a benefit frequently highlighted in user testimonials. The dashboard is meticulously organized, presenting a clear overview of sales pipelines, upcoming tasks, and client communications, which effectively aids users in managing their day-to-day operations more efficiently.

Keap’s decision to integrate email marketing and automation tools directly within the CRM platform is another critical design choice, enabling users to execute marketing campaigns without the need for additional software. This integration has been reported to save time and enhance productivity, as users can manage contacts and campaigns in one place. Additionally, Keap’s mobile app design mirrors the simplicity and functionality of its desktop version, offering users the flexibility to manage customer relationships on the go.

In customer satisfaction scores, Keap often achieves ratings above 4 out of 5, reflecting strong user approval, particularly for its user-friendly interface and robust automation features. Market penetration data shows Keap as a favored choice among small businesses and entrepreneurs, attributed to its targeted features and pricing structure, which is competitively lower or on par with similar-tier competitors.

The software offers a comprehensive range of functionalities including advanced automation, email marketing, and e-commerce integration, which, in user reviews, often surpasses the offerings of some competitors who may lack in one or more of these areas. The software’s email deliverability rates are also commendable, frequently outperforming industry averages, a critical factor for businesses relying on email marketing. Additionally, Keap’s reported uptime exceeds 99%, ensuring reliable access for users, a crucial aspect where it often matches or exceeds competitor standards.

Our ratings

Pricing: 2.5/5

General features and interface: 4/5

Core features: 4.5/5

Advanced features: 2.5/5

Integration and compatibility: 4.6/5

UX: 4.3/5

Overall customer database capabilities: 4/5

Keap is a software solution that aims to bridge the gap between your company’s sales and marketing departments with support in place to make for easier collaboration. Using a single platform makes communication between departments more intuitive and a simplified UI promotes building better workflows and features drag-and-drop functionality to keep data more organized.

The rebranding to Keap from its former name, Infusionsoft, signified a shift towards a more holistic approach to small business needs, incorporating tools like e-commerce, payments, and client management into a more unified and user-friendly platform.

Read more: Top 5 Keap Alternatives and Competitors

monday CRM: Best for managing leads and customer information 


Pros

  • Excellent customer support
  • Order management tracking 
  • Lead capturing
  • Team collaboration 

Cons

  • Individualized plans 
  • Paid plug-ins
  • More flexibility in dashboard widgets is needed
monday CRM logo.

Our Rating: 4/5

Centralized customer database: Monday Sales CRM offers a centralized platform for storing and managing all customer information, streamlining access and organization of client data.

Customizable workflows: The software allows users to create and customize workflows to match their specific sales processes, enhancing efficiency and adaptability.

Integration capabilities: It seamlessly integrates with a variety of external tools and platforms, facilitating data synchronization and workflow continuity.

Sales pipeline visualization: Monday Sales CRM provides visual sales pipelines, enabling users to track the progress of deals and customer interactions at a glance.

Automated task management: The system automates task assignments and reminders, ensuring timely follow-ups and efficient task tracking.

Detailed reporting and analytics: It offers comprehensive reporting tools that generate detailed analytics on sales performance and customer interactions, aiding in strategic decision-making.

Free trial available

BasicCRM: $12/user/month

StandardCRM: $14/user/month

ProCRM $24/user/month

EnterpriseCRM: Custom

A key design choice is its highly visual and intuitive interface, which significantly reduces the learning curve for new users and increases adoption rates. The platform’s use of a customizable and color-coded Kanban-style board for managing sales pipelines allows users to easily track progress and prioritize tasks, improving overall productivity. The integration of drag-and-drop functionality in these boards not only simplifies task management but also adds a level of engagement and interactivity, which users find appealing and easy to navigate. monday CRM’s emphasis on customization enables users to tailor the platform to their specific needs, a feature that resonates well with businesses looking for flexibility in their CRM solutions.

In terms of adoption and market share, monday.com, the platform that includes monday CRM, has seen rapid growth, with millions of users globally, showcasing its increasing popularity and trust among businesses. Feature-wise, monday CRM offers a broad range of functionalities, often exceeding those of its competitors, particularly in customization and integration capabilities. The platform’s user interface is frequently praised for its intuitiveness and ease of use, a critical factor in user adoption and satisfaction. Additionally, monday CRM boasts a high retention rate, suggesting that once businesses adopt the platform, they are likely to continue using it, which is a testament to its effectiveness and reliability.

Our ratings

Pricing: 3.1/5

General features and interface: 4.4/5

Core features: 5/5

Advanced features: 2.5/5

Integration and compatibility: 3.8/5

UX: 4.5/5

Overall customer database capabilities: 4/5

Known more widely for its emphasis on team building and internal company communication, monday CRM is perfect for SMBs that need to manage their leads and customer data more efficiently. This software solution also provides forms that are fully customizable and are ideal for capturing leads on your website and landing pages. Automation is another key feature that monday.com offers, which helps save time on repetitive tasks and helps shift focus to other important areas.

monday.com started as a project management tool, but it has progressively incorporated robust CRM functionalities, responding to the growing demand for integrated business solutions. Key improvements include the introduction of a more intuitive and customizable interface, allowing users to tailor the CRM to their specific workflows and processes. This customization extends to the visual sales pipelines, which have been refined for clearer tracking and management of customer interactions and sales processes. monday has improved its integration capabilities, now supporting seamless connections with numerous external tools and platforms, thereby enhancing data synchronization and workflow efficiency. The platform has also focused on automating more aspects of the sales process, such as task assignments and follow-up reminders, reducing manual effort and increasing productivity.

Read more: Best Project Management CRM Solutions 

Bitrix24: Best customer database solution for smaller teams 


Pros

  • Free mobile CRM
  • Call tracking and email integration 
  • Live chat service 
  • Automation

Cons

  • Limited mobile app functionality 
  • Poor Internet connectivity may cause delays when using the platform

Our Rating: 4.4/5

Sales process visualization: Bitrix24 uses a Kanban-style board for visualizing the sales process, allowing users to track deal stages and responsible personnel.

Comprehensive deal cards: Each deal in Bitrix24 includes a detailed card containing messages, emails, call records, and specific details about each stage of customer interaction.

Duplicate deal analysis: The system analyzes cases and deals, offering options to merge duplicates or handle them manually for better deal management.

Integrated communication channels: Bitrix24 supports integration with website chats, ensuring all customer messages are centralized within the CRM system.

Sales process automation: The platform automates sales-related tasks like email sending and advertisement display, using customizable templates and settings.

Advanced reporting and analytics: Bitrix24 provides reports and analytics tools to improve sales department performance and identify areas for improvement.

Free trial available

Free plan available

Basic: $43/month – billed annually ; $61/month when billed monthly
Standard: $87/month when billed annually ; $124/month when billed monthly for 50 users
Professional: $175/month when billed annually ; $249/month when billed monthly
Enterprise: $325/month when billed annually ; $499/month when billed monthly

Bitrix24 was chosen because of how well it works for small teams. If you just have a few salespeople, this one is a quick fix that offers almost any feature you could ask for, is known for its strong security, and can integrate into your current workflow quite easily.

Users have praised the CRM’s user-friendly interface. The dashboard’s essential tabs, such as the Activity Stream, Employees tab, and Tasks and Projects, provide a seamless experience. The CRM tab itself is straightforward, enabling the addition of client names, contacts, and notes effortlessly.

On a scale of functionality, Bitrix24 scores high for its comprehensive features and ease of use. However, it falls short in customer support responsiveness and pricing, which may be a concern for small businesses.

Compared to competitors like Salesforce or Zoho, Bitrix24 offers a more integrated and user-friendly experience. Its all-in-one approach sets it apart, providing a single platform for various business operations. For businesses seeking an all-encompassing CRM with a strong focus on customer database management, Bitrix24 is a strong contender. However, for those prioritizing cost-effectiveness, alternatives like Zoho might be more suitable.

Our ratings

Pricing: 4.8/5

General features and interface: 4.4/5

Core features: 4.8/5

Advanced features: 3.5/5

Integration and compatibility: 4.8/5

UX: 4.3/5

Overall customer database capabilities: 4.5/5

Bitrix24 is a customer database solution for small and mid-sized companies who want to strengthen their sales. This platform offers actions like file sharing and project management along with a range of other useful features that are associated with outreach automation, lead management and creating custom sales pipelines. 

The design choices in Bitrix24 focus on simplicity and efficiency. The dashboard layout and the integration of various features into a single platform enhance the user experience significantly.

However, Bitrix24 could enhance its appeal by offering more competitive pricing, especially for small businesses, and by improving the responsiveness and effectiveness of its customer support.

Choosing the best customer database software solution

There are a number of ways to make the most out of your customer database. It’s important that the software solution you choose works towards addressing your company’s specific needs and is within your budget. 

You’ll find that as your business grows, keeping track of leads and customer data manually may no longer be a practical option. Instead, using a CRM will prove beneficial to the organization of your teams’ workflows.

When equipped with a CRM, your team can easily access important client account information all from one centralized location. This will enable sales and customer support teams to accurately track various analytics such as client history and how prospects engage with your company over time.

Looking for the latest in CRM solutions? Check out our CRM Software Buyer’s Guide.

FAQs

Customer database software is a tool-driven solution to capture and automate all communication between your company and its potential buyers. Valuable lead information is tracked across various departments from sales to customer support, which is important for building better customer relationships thereby closing more deals.

Creating a client database could be as simple as manually entering and storing customer data in a spreadsheet program like Excel or something similar. However, as your business continues to grow and that data becomes more detailed and harder to keep track of, using dedicated client database software will help make more sense of it all.

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