Best CRM Software 2021

Freshworks CRM Competitors & Alternatives

Are you considering using Freshworks CRM manage your potential and existing customer relationships? Before choosing a software, it’s important to learn about other CRM software platforms for small businesses. The top six alternatives are listed below, along with valuable insights about their features, pricing, and usability.

The information in this article is based on our research, interviews with customers, as well as dozens of hours spent hand-testing CRM software. The details of our review process and research methodology can be found in the Why You Should Trust Us section on our CRM category page.

Freshworks CRM is our highest rated beginner CRM platform. Its features are user-friendly, and it offers a wide range of communication and digital marketing tools. We also recommend the solution to those who use other Freshworks products like Freshsales and Freshmarketer.


There are six CRM solutions that are worth considering before you purchase Freshworks CRM. They primarily differentiate based on the features offered and ease of use. Understanding these differences will help you determine which platform will work best for your business.

  • If you want an advanced, affordable tool and currently use other Zoho products, then we recommend Zoho CRM
  • If you want a highly customizable, advanced platform that can also support enterprises, then we recommend Salesforce
  • If you want a basic CRM that integrates tightly with Google Workspace, then we recommend Copper
  • If you need a basic, user-friendly CRM and primarily need a tool for deal management, then we recommend Pipedrive
  • If you want an advanced, all-in-one CRM solution with high-quality marketing tools, then we recommend HubSpot
  • If you are a small business that needs a reliable, all-in-one solution with multiple communication channels, then we recommend Vtiger

Here’s a breakdown of our review criteria. We rate each piece of software based on its features, usability, pricing, and customer support availability. Here is how Freshworks CRM and its competitors rank in each category.

Software CompanyAnalyst RatingFeaturesUsabilityPricingCustomer Support
Freshworks CRM868.757.57.58
HubSpot919.59.589
Zoho CRM8998.599
Copper848.2598.58
Pipedrive837.75989
Vtiger828.257.758.58
Salesforce818.757.57.58

In this article, we’ll provide an overview of Freshworks CRM as a CRM platform. Afterwards, we’ll compare and contrast Freshworks CRM against its top competitors. If you’d like a full description of Freshworks CRM, check out our in-depth Freshworks CRM review.

Table of Contents

Freshworks CRM Top Features

Freshworks CRM offers standard features that help businesses effectively manage their potential and existing customer relationships. This includes tools for lead capture, contact and deal management, workflow automation, and insights reporting. Below we describe the 10 most important features in Freshworks CRM.

Freshworks CRM FeatureDescription
Lead CaptureLead capture refers to the process of acquiring someone’s information with the goal of converting them into a paying customer. Freshworks CRM offers forms, live chat, and email as lead capture tools.
Contact ProfilesThe more information you have on a contact, and the more unique a profile, the better the chance you have of converting that contact into a customer. Freshworks CRM lets you create above average contact profiles. You can include information like emails, phone numbers, and related deals, and even view if there is a duplicate contact.
Marketing Communication ChannelsA key element in converting your contacts into a customer is maintaining consistent communication. Freshworks CRM offers four communication channels – email marketing campaigns, live chat, SMS, and phone.
Lead ScoringA lead score is a numerical value that reflects the likelihood of a lead becoming a paying customer. Freshworks CRM offers Freddy AI, which you can train by inputting positive and negative data including contact properties, engagement, and web or in-app activities.
Task ManagementCRM tasks are actions that help bring deals to completion. This feature in Freshworks CRM is basic – you can customize a task’s title, description, and due date. However, you cannot set reminders – these are key because they reduce the chance of losing a potential deal.
PipelinesThese help visually track the progress of prospective customers through each deal stage. Freshworks CRM’s pipelines feature works well for businesses with less than 50 simultaneous deals. You can create custom pipelines and stages, insert a "win probability" at each stage, drag and drop deals between stages, and use filters to organize your deals.
Workflow AutomationsWorkflow automations save time and reduce the chance for human error. Freshworks CRM offers triggered events, which let you create workflows related to contacts, accounts, deals, tasks, meetings and call logs. The actions you can perform include updating fields, sending emails, and creating related tasks.
Insights ReportingCRM reporting includes key data that helps businesses make tactical changes and necessary strategic decisions. Freshworks CRM offers insights like deals won and lost, pipeline progression, your sales forecasting, and your sales funnel. You can also create dashboards and visualize data into heat maps, matrix tables, and bubble, and bar charts.
IntegrationsIntegrations expand the functionality of your CRM and eliminate the need to toggle back and forth between applications. Key integrations that Freshworks CRM offers include Google Workspace, Zapier, Slack, Zoom, Intercom, and Shopify.
Mobile CRMMobile CRMs help ensure that your customers are getting the best service possible at all times. Freshworks CRM’s mobile CRM is informative for standard CRM metrics like deals, contacts, and tasks.

Freshworks CRM Competitor Overview: Features

The chart below shows you the main features found in CRM software, and ones offered by each solution. You’ll notice that many solutions offer the same features, therefore it’s important that when analyzing each option, you focus on the quality of each feature.

Freshworks CRM feature comparison chart vs. competitors

Freshworks CRM Competitor Overview: Pricing

Freshworks CRM is an effective, beginner CRM platform. For a beginner solution, Freshworks CRM is reasonably priced because it offers a wide range of differently priced plans. Its most popular plan costs $47 per month and its most expensive plan costs $83 per month. Freshworks CRM also offers a basic, free CRM plan.

CRM SoftwarePlan Pricing
Freshworks CRM
  • Free: $0 per month
  • Growth: $18 per month
  • Pro: $47 per month
  • Enterprise: $83 per month
HubSpot
  • Starter: $50 per month
  • Professional: $1780 per month
  • Enterprise: $4000 per month
Zoho CRM
  • Standard: $20 per month
  • Professional: $35 per month
  • Enterprise: $50 per month
  • Ultimate: $65 per month
Copper
  • Basic: $29 per month
  • Professional: $59 per month
  • Business: $119 per month
Pipedrive
  • Essential: $18 per month
  • Advanced: $33 per month
  • Professional: $59 per month
  • Enterprise: $99 per month
Vtiger
  • Pilot: Free
  • One Professional: $42 per month
  • One Enterprise: $58 per month
Salesforce
  • Essentials: $25 per month
  • Professional: $75 per month
  • Enterprise: $150 per month
  • Unlimited: $300 per month

Top Freshworks CRM Competitors

Freshworks CRM is a user-friendly, beginner CRM solution. It’s best for smaller businesses who would highly benefit from a wide range of strong communication and digital marketing tools.

Freshworks CRM is most similar to Copper in terms of platform advancedness. It is also similar to HubSpot in terms of the quality of digital marketing tools, and similar to Zoho CRM in terms of seamless integrations with other Freshworks products like Freshchat and Freshcaller.

The top Freshworks CRM competitors are:

  • HubSpot
  • Zoho CRM
  • Copper
  • Pipedrive
  • Vtiger
  • Salesforce

1. HubSpot

HubSpot is an advanced, all-in-one CRM solution that works well for medium to large businesses. Freshworks CRM is less feature-rich and robust than HubSpot, but is better for smaller businesses and is more affordable.

You'll prefer HubSpot if:

  • You want a robust, free CRM that includes email marketing tools
  • You want a user-friendly, advanced CRM solution
  • You want high-quality digital marketing tools
You'll prefer Freshworks CRM if:

  • You want a more affordable CRM that is better for small businesses
  • You want a HIPAA compliant solution
  • You want to take advantage of Freddy AI for lead scoring

2. Zoho CRM

Zoho CRM is an affordable, advanced CRM solution. Freshworks CRM is less advanced, but is better suited for those who are newer to CRM software. Zoho CRM also works better for those who want to scale their business.

You'll prefer Zoho CRM if:

  • You want an affordable, advanced CRM platform
  • You want to set reminders for tasks
  • You want social media as a lead capture tool
You'll prefer Freshworks CRM if:

  • You want SMS as a communication channel
  • You want a CRM solution that’s better for small businesses
  • You want to take advantage of Freddy AI for lead scoring

3. Copper

Copper is a basic CRM platform that can support SMBs who are unfamiliar with CRM software. Freshworks CRM is more feature-rich and well-rounded than Copper. However, we recommend Copper to those who currently use Google Workspace in their workflow.

You'll prefer Copper if:

  • You prefer a more basic CRM solution
  • You use Google Workspace for your business
  • You want social media as a lead capture method
You'll prefer Freshworks CRM if:

  • You want a more affordable CRM solution
  • You use other Freshworks products like Freshchat and Freshcaller
  • You want SMS as a communication channel

4. Pipedrive

Pipedrive is a basic CRM that works well for individuals and SMBs. Freshworks CRM is overall more advanced than Pipedrive in terms of feature quality and feature richness. We recommend those who primarily need a CRM for visual deal management use Pipedrive.

You'll prefer Pipedrive if:

  • You prefer a solution that can better support individuals and entrepreneurs
  • You primarily need a CRM for visual deal management
You'll prefer Freshworks CRM if:

  • You want to take advantage of Freddy AI for lead scoring
  • You want live chat and SMS as communication channels
  • You want a HIPAA compliant solution

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5. Vtiger

Vtiger is a reliable, all-in-one CRM platform. Freshworks CRM is better suited for beginner CRM users, is more user-friendly, and more feature-rich.

You'll prefer Vtiger if:

  • You prefer an all-in-one solution
  • You want to set reminders for tasks
  • You want a more robust, free CRM plan that includes deal pipelines
You'll prefer Freshworks CRM if:

  • You want to take advantage of Freddy AI for lead scoring
  • You want live chat as a lead capture tool
  • You use other Freshworks products like Freshchat and Freshcaller

6. Salesforce

Salesforce is an advanced, and highly customizable CRM solution. Freshworks CRM is much easier to use, offers a wider range of in-platform features, and is better at supporting small businesses.

You'll prefer Salesforce if:

  • You want to scale your business to an enterprise level
  • You want a highly customizable CRM platform
  • You want social media as a lead capture tool
You'll prefer Freshworks CRM if:

  • You want a more user-friendly solution that better supports SMBs
  • You use other Freshworks products like Freshchat and Freshcaller
  • You want SMS as a communication channel

Amy Yang

Amy Yang is a Junior Research Analyst at SoftwarePundit, where she conducts in-depth analyses on software markets and products. Amy has expertise in content production and managing digital and social platforms. She has a Bachelor of Science in Communication & Media, and a Minor in Web Programming and Applications from NYU. You can connect with Amy on LinkedIn.

Amy is an expert in several software categories including:

  • Course creation software
  • Electronic signature software
  • Social media software
  • Website builder software

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