Best CRM Options for Emerging Businesses: A Guide to the Top 9 Customer Relationship Management Systems
Top CRM Systems for Startups in 2025
In the dynamic world of startups, having the right tools can make all the difference. One such essential tool is a Customer Relationship Management (CRM) system. Here are nine top CRM systems suited for startups, chosen for their application, growth potential, price, and additional functionality.
HubSpot CRM is a popular choice for marketing-driven teams. Known for its user-friendly interface and robust free tier, it offers strong marketing automation and an inbound marketing platform. Native integrations with Gmail and Slack make it a seamless fit for many startups.
Zoho CRM is another favourite among cost-conscious startups. It boasts an AI assistant for analytics and forecasting, multi-channel communication, and high customizability. Integrating with 45+ Zoho apps and third-party tools, it's a versatile choice for startups.
BIGContacts stands out for its affordability and feature-rich platform. It offers a free plan that supports essential CRM needs, including a visual sales pipeline, drip email campaigns, detailed analytics, and workflow automation.
Pipedrive is a great choice for startups focused on sales. Its sales pipeline automation, built-in reports, and intuitive UI make it an efficient tool for managing leads and deals.
Salesforce CRM is a powerful choice for growth-stage startups needing scale. It offers AI-powered sales forecasting, automatic lead scoring, vast integrations, and workflow automation. However, it comes at a higher price point compared to other options.
Monday.com CRM is a visual and collaborative platform, ideal for startups that value team collaboration. It offers custom dashboards, easy data import, and modular work OS integrated.
Freshworks CRM is a suitable choice for SMBs and startups needing AI. It offers predictive contact scoring, contact enrichment, and roles/permissions.
Nutshell CRM is a system that emphasizes automation. It offers automated follow-ups, drag & drop leads, and automated reminders.
Keap CRM (formerly Infusionsoft) is a system that excels in marketing automation, best for startups with a strong need for marketing automation.
When choosing a CRM system, it's essential to consider a startup's specific needs, objectives, allocated funds, and staff composition. For instance, Insightly is an ideal choice for startups in project-driven industries, offering CRM and project management in one tool. Monday.com CRM is a visual and collaborative platform, best for startups that value team collaboration.
Streak CRM is a system that integrates directly into Gmail, making it a great fit for startups that live in Gmail. Salesforce Essentials is an entry-level CRM system tailored for small businesses, offering scalability and a wide suite of features.
With pricing generally ranging from free/basic plans for small teams to $10–$25 per user per month for more full-featured tiers, startups can find a CRM system that balances cost and feature depth. These choices offer a combination of application suitability for startups, growth potential, price competitiveness, and additional functionality, making them top CRM choices for startups in 2025.
- To ensure effective social media scheduling and foster team collaboration, startups might consider integrating their CRM system with tools like HubSpot CRM or Monday.com CRM, both of which offer native integrations with platforms such as Slack and Gmail.
- In deciding on a CRM system that incorporates finance management for efficient business operations, startups can investigate options like Salesforce CRM, which offers AI-powered sales forecasting and vast integrations, or Freshworks CRM, which boasts predictive contact scoring and contact enrichment.