Best CRM Systems

James MorkelMay 2, 2023

38 4 minutes read

CRM software allows businesses to keep a database of customers, and work with transactions, documents, sales, and calls. This is a very important tool for any company and so in this article, we will consider the top free and conditionally best free CRM software for 2023.

What is CRM

CRM (Customer Relationship Management) is a program for automating various processes of communication with customers and partners. The service also allows you to configure the interaction between departments within the company.

The main objective of the introduction of CRM – increasing conversions and, consequently, the company’s revenues. The program helps simplify company processes, remove some of the routine work from the managers, speed up the processing of information, and structure it.

Is it worth spending the resources to implement CRM?

Absolutely yes! According to an article posted on Finances Online, the cost of implementing CRM on average 8 times pays for itself. And back in 2011, the investment was averaging a five-fold return on investment, a 38% increase since then, and it continues to grow. What’s more, you always have a free test period, during which you spend nothing at all.

How to choose a CRM system?

Before you start purchasing and configuring software, you should analyze your company’s needs. Most often, to determine the problems and objectives of the enterprise to help professionals who implement the CRM.

To understand what kind of CRM solutions you need, answer several questions:

What is the budget for purchasing, training employees to work in the program, and further monthly payment for using the service?
What tasks do you want to achieve with the CRM?
What additional CRM options will you need: cloud service, IP telephony, and so on?
Do you plan to expand the program’s functionality in the future?
Do you need to set up individual access to the CRM?

Rating of free and conditionally free CRM platforms

Before proceeding to the review of specific solutions and platforms, we should note that completely free CRM with sufficient functionality for work does not exist. All serious products in this area offer either a test period: for example, 14 days for the test, or a cut down on the number of users and features of the free version. This is quite enough to get acquainted with a particular system and see if it suits you.

Well, if you want to try out the tools to the maximum, nothing is stopping you from buying the full version and using the tools to the fullest extent.

What a good free CRM should have

In the rating, which we compiled, only those programs that provide all the basic features even in the free version participate.

Contact management: the creation of counterparty cards, customizable fields, and autofill.
Tracking transactions at various stages, status control.
Set tasks for employees: create projects and individual tasks, and collaborate on them.

Thus we believe that the CRM should work online, without installing special applications. And the last important criterion – this is the entry threshold: the easier to master the program, the better.

And now the rating!

HubSpot

This program was developed in 2006 in the U.S. Its distinctive feature is that the free version is available to an unlimited number of users.

Advantages:

All the basic features of the software are available with the free plan.
Advanced email marketing.
Configurable integration with Microsoft Office, and social networking sites.

Disadvantages:

Settings of paid options are limited. Therefore, some companies will not be able to adapt the platform completely to their tasks.

Bitrix24

Advantages:

There is a free version.
Integrates with other 1C programs.
There is a built-in website builder, allowing you to create a landing page to promote the company’s product.
Allows you to create and maintain a customer base.
Divides customer groups according to a preset algorithm.
Convenient work with marketing, documents, receiving orders, and payment from customers.
Helps to set up advertising campaigns.
Has an analytics service.
It helps to interact with customers in different ways: by phone, in chats, and so on.
There are cloud and boxed types of services.

Disadvantages:

– Few features in the free version.
– Some employees will need training on how to use the service if they have not worked in CRM systems or other similar software before.

Zoho

A small business-friendly system that was released to the market in 2005. It is focused on small and medium-sized businesses. Access for three users is free.

Advantages:

Simple, clear interface.
The service can be integrated with social networks.
Sufficient set of features in the free version.

Disadvantages:

The free version does not send out emails.
The high cost of paid rates.

Zadarma

CRM can be used in the work of the call center due to integration with cloud PBX (automatic telephone exchange). Also, it is suitable for the company, in which managers often communicate with clients by phone. The program is free if you connect to cloud IP telephony, which costs 20-40 $ per month.

Advantages:

There is a basic package of features, data collection, and analysis available.
Ability to export and import data.
More than 50 users can work in the program.
User-friendly interface with a clear display of the list of current cases.
Recording of calls in the journal, and conversion of the conversation into text.

Disadvantages:

Uninterrupted Internet access is required.
System is available only if you pay for telephony.

AmoCRM

One of the most famous programs in the rating of paid and conditionally free systems. The market has been actively used since 2009. The subscription fee per month is from 8 to 15$.

Advantages:

Cloud-based service. The company does not have to spend on additional hardware to keep the software running.
Simple interface that most employees will quickly master.
Ability to install the program application on users’ phones.
Integration with SaaS services.