{"id":3112,"date":"2023-06-16T12:13:37","date_gmt":"2023-06-16T12:13:37","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/plaky.com\/blog\/?p=3112"},"modified":"2025-04-14T00:00:00","modified_gmt":"2025-04-14T00:00:00","slug":"best-crm-software-for-small-business","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/plaky.com\/blog\/best-crm-software-for-small-business\/","title":{"rendered":"10 Best CRM Software for a Small Business (2025)"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

Running a small business typically means juggling many tasks, and staying on top of customer relationships is key to long-term success.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Relying on software to help you with customer relationship management<\/a> (CRM) is standard nowadays.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

And it\u2019s not just big companies that need a tool like this \u2014 small businesses benefit just as much from using CRM software to build stronger connections and boost sales<\/strong>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

There are quite a few options out there, so you might not be sure which route to take. That\u2019s where my reviews come in \u2014 I\u2019ve tested 10 proven CRM platforms, including some great budget-friendly solutions.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Whether you\u2019re just starting or growing your business, this article will point you toward the CRM tool that best suits your needs. Let\u2019s dive in!<\/p>\n\n\n

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\"Best-CRM-Software<\/figure>\n<\/div>\n\n\n
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WHY TRUST US?<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

The apps we talk about are selected, tested, and written about by human reviewers who follow strict review and editorial guidelines. We pick solutions that are practical, purposeful, and can offer real value for the specific use case or business context we\u2019re covering \u2014 while also being justified in their pricing. Our methodology is transparent, clear, and available to everyone:<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Learn more about our review methodology here \u2192<\/a><\/p>\n<\/div><\/div>\n\n\n\n

Top 10 CRM tools for a small business \u2014 overviews<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

Here\u2019s a glance at all the apps I tested and reviewed. This is the basic info, while more detailed reviews, including pros and cons, are available in the following sections.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Tool<\/strong><\/th>Best for<\/strong><\/th>Free trial<\/strong><\/th>Free plan<\/strong><\/th>Lowest price<\/strong><\/th><\/tr><\/thead>
Plaky by CAKE.com<\/td>Low-cost CRM<\/td>\u2714<\/td>\u2714<\/td>$3.99\/seat\/month<\/td><\/tr>
HubSpot CRM<\/td>Email marketing<\/td>\u2714<\/td>\u2714<\/td>$15\/seat\/month<\/td><\/tr>
Zoho CRM<\/td>E-commerce<\/td>\u2714<\/td>\u2714<\/td>\u20ac14\/user\/month<\/td><\/tr>
Pipedrive<\/td>A small sales team<\/td>\u2714<\/td>\u274c<\/td>$14\/seat\/month<\/td><\/tr>
Freshsales<\/td>Communication with customers<\/td>\u2714<\/td>\u2714<\/td>$9\/user\/month<\/td><\/tr>
Freshdesk<\/td>Customer service<\/td>\u2714<\/td>\u2714<\/td>$15\/agent\/month<\/td><\/tr>
Less Annoying CRM<\/td>Ease of use<\/td>\u2714<\/td>\u274c<\/td>$15\/user\/month<\/td><\/tr>
Insightly CRM<\/td>Integrations<\/td>\u2714<\/td>\u274c<\/td>$29\/user\/month<\/td><\/tr>
monday CRM<\/td>Customizable workflows<\/td>\u2714<\/td>\u274c<\/td>$12\/seat\/month<\/td><\/tr>
Salesforce<\/td>Case management<\/td>\u2714<\/td>\u274c<\/td>$25\/user\/month<\/td><\/tr><\/tbody><\/table><\/figure>\n\n\n\n

How I chose and tested the CRM apps<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

Before diving into these comparisons, I wanted to make sure I wasn\u2019t just repeating marketing claims. So, I rolled up my sleeves and tested each of these CRM tools myself.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

While I don\u2019t run a sales team or a traditional CRM-heavy business, I did my best to create mock workflows that mimic how a small business might manage leads, customer relationships, and internal collaboration.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The focus is on tools that have a solid reputation among small businesses and are either completely free <\/strong>or offer a free trial<\/strong> \u2014 because, let\u2019s face it, most small teams can\u2019t afford to commit to pricey software without knowing if it aligns with their needs.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Hopefully, these reviews save you time and guide you toward a tool that feels like a natural fit for the way you<\/em> work.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

#1 Plaky<\/a> by CAKE.com<\/a> \u2014 best low-cost CRM tool<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

Plaky is an intuitive work management tool that will help you manage all customer-related activities like tracking leads, onboarding clients<\/a>, and organizing support tasks.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Why choose Plaky?<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

Plaky\u2019s visual layout, customizable boards, and team-focused features make it ideal for small businesses looking for a reliable yet affordable CRM solution<\/a>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Plaky\u2019s pros<\/strong><\/th>Plaky\u2019s cons<\/strong><\/th><\/tr><\/thead>
– Fully adaptable
– Excellent free plan
– Free sales & CRM templates
– Project & task management features<\/td>		– No dashboard
– Limited automations<\/td><\/tr><\/tbody><\/table><\/figure>\n\n\n\n

I\u2019ve been using this tool professionally for a while \u2014 admittedly, not for CRM purposes, but since I know how customizable Plaky is, I wasn\u2019t surprised to see how well it can handle client-related tasks.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Here are Plaky\u2019s most useful features for CRM:<\/p>\n\n\n\n