Editor's note, November 1, 2026: New list: 11 Salesforce alternatives compared on fit for teams leaving Salesforce, depth of customisation, price and public reviews.
How we choose: we research each tool on its own site, check prices at the source and read what users say in public reviews. Our method
HubSpot is the best Salesforce alternative for most companies. Its free CRM lets you test the move before paying, and its marketing, sales and service tools run on the same database. On G2, ease of use is the most common praise for HubSpot, while the most common complaints about Salesforce's sales product are a steep learning curve, complex setup and cost. If your team only needs a fast sales pipeline, choose Pipedrive. If you want Salesforce-style customisation for less, choose Zoho CRM.
Some teams should look further down. Microsoft-centric enterprises that need an enterprise-grade CRM should compare Microsoft Dynamics 365 Sales, phone-heavy sales teams should look at Close, and companies that live in Gmail should look at Copper. For head-to-head views, read Salesforce vs HubSpot and Pipedrive vs Salesforce.
Before you switch, be clear about why you are leaving. If the problem is cost or admin, a simpler CRM can cut both, but you may give up custom objects, complex permissions and advanced automation. If you need that depth, look at Zoho CRM, Freshsales Enterprise or Dynamics 365 Sales. And if you like Salesforce but not the bill, check its Starter Suite for small businesses first. Prices below were checked on 31 October 2026.
The list at a glance
| # | Tool | Best for | Starting price | Free plan | Team |
|---|
| 1 |  HubSpot CRM | Companies that want sales, marketing and service on one platform that is easier to learn | Free; Starter starts at $7/mo/seat (limited-time new-customer price with an upfront annual payment; normally $20/month per seat) | Yes | Sales |
| 2 |  Pipedrive | Sales teams that want a fast pipeline without Salesforce's admin work | €14 per seat per month (Lite) | No | Sales |
| 3 |  Zoho CRM | Teams that want Salesforce-style customisation at a lower price | $14 per user per month | Yes | Sales and marketing |
| 4 |  Microsoft Dynamics 365 Sales | Enterprises that run on Microsoft 365 and need an enterprise-grade CRM | $65 per user per month | No | Sales |
| 5 |  Freshsales | Sales teams that want phone and email built in and enterprise controls at a lower price | $9 per user per month, billed annually | No | Sales |
| 6 |  monday CRM | Sales teams that want a no-code CRM they can change without an admin | €12 per seat per month | No | Sales |
| 7 |  Attio | Startups and scale-ups that want a flexible, modern data model | $35 per user per month | Yes | Sales |
| 8 |  Close | Inside sales teams that live on the phone and in email | $9 per user per month (Solo, annual) | No | Sales |
| 9 |  Copper | Teams that run their business in Google Workspace | $23 per seat per month | No | Sales |
| 10 |  Nutshell | Small B2B teams that want a CRM and email marketing in one | $13 per user per month | No | Sales and marketing |
| 11 |  SugarCRM (now SugarAI) | Mid-size and large B2B firms that need deep customisation or on-premises hosting | $68 per user per month, billed annually | No | Sales and marketing |
How we chose
We ranked each tool on the five points of our published method, in this order. First, fit: how well it serves a team leaving Salesforce, whether the reason is cost, admin work or the need for a different platform. Second, the features that matter for that move, such as pipelines, customisation, automation, reporting and admin controls, taken from each vendor's own documentation and pricing page. Third, price and how clearly it is stated, including free plans, trials and seat minimums. Fourth, what users report in public reviews on G2. Fifth, whether the product is actively developed.
Every tool was researched on its own website and pricing page and in public reviews on G2. CRMs that cover the most common reasons for leaving Salesforce rank highest. Specialist options, such as tools built around the phone, Google Workspace or on-premises hosting, rank lower because they suit fewer of the teams making the switch.
Best for companies that want sales, marketing and service on one platform that is easier to learn
1. HubSpot CRM
Sales- Starting price
- Free; Starter starts at $7/mo/seat (limited-time new-customer price with an upfront annual payment; normally $20/month per seat)
- Free plan
- Yes
- Free trial
- No
- Price checked
- October 31, 2026
The most common and safest switch. Start on the free CRM, then add paid HubSpot tools as you need them, but expect the bill to grow on higher tiers.
Why it's on the list
HubSpot's free CRM covers up to 2 users and 1,000 contacts with no time limit, so a team can test the move before paying. Contacts, deals, email tracking, a meeting scheduler, shared dashboards and the Breeze AI assistant run on the same database as HubSpot's paid marketing, sales, service and content tools. Starter normally costs $20 per seat per month, with a limited-time price of $7 per seat for new customers who pay annually. On G2, HubSpot Sales Hub holds 4.4 out of 5 and ease of use is the most common praise, while the most common complaints about Salesforce's sales product there are a steep learning curve, complex setup and cost.
Pros
- A free CRM with no time limit to test the switch
- Sales, marketing and service on one database
- Ease of use is the most common praise on G2
- Over 2,000 apps in the HubSpot Marketplace
Cons
- The free plan stops at 2 users and 1,000 contacts
- Advanced automation, forecasting and custom reporting sit on Professional and Enterprise
- The bill grows quickly as seats and tiers are added, per G2 reviewers
Who it's for
Small and mid-size companies leaving Salesforce because of cost or complexity, especially those that also want marketing automation.
Who should skip it
Large companies whose processes depend on Salesforce-level customisation. Microsoft Dynamics 365 Sales or Zoho CRM come closer.
More about HubSpot CRM: pricing, features and alternatives
Best for sales teams that want a fast pipeline without Salesforce's admin work
2. Pipedrive
Sales- Starting price
- €14 per seat per month (Lite)
- Free plan
- No
- Free trial
- Yes
- Price checked
- October 31, 2026
The best pure sales alternative. Reps get a clear visual pipeline and meeting intelligence on every plan, but there is no free plan and little beyond sales.
Why it's on the list
Pipedrive is built around a visual deal pipeline and activity-based selling, so reps see each deal's stage and next step at a glance. Nova, its meeting intelligence feature, prepares call briefs, records and transcribes calls and drafts CRM updates, and Pipedrive says it is included on every plan. Plans start at €14 per seat per month billed annually on Lite, and every plan has a 14-day trial without a credit card. G2 rates Pipedrive 4.3 out of 5, with ease of use and an intuitive interface the most common praise.
Pros
- A visual pipeline that G2 reviewers call intuitive
- Nova meeting intelligence on every plan
- Simple per-seat plans with a 14-day trial
- Connects to more than 500 apps
Cons
- No free plan
- Lead capture, email campaigns and projects are paid add-ons
- G2 reviewers mention limits in automation and customisation
Who it's for
Small and mid-size sales teams with a repeatable deal process who found Salesforce too heavy to run.
Who should skip it
Companies that need marketing, service and complex custom objects in the same system. HubSpot or Zoho CRM fit better.
More about Pipedrive: pricing, features and alternatives
Best for teams that want Salesforce-style customisation at a lower price
3. Zoho CRM
Sales and marketing- Starting price
- $14 per user per month
- Free plan
- Yes
- Free trial
- Yes
- Price checked
- November 1, 2026
The closest match to Salesforce's customisation for the money, with process rules, custom modules and AI. It takes setup and has a lower G2 rating than the top two.
Why it's on the list
Zoho CRM covers leads, accounts and deals, and its Blueprint feature maps each stage of a sales process with rules for what must happen before a deal moves on. Custom modules, fields and layouts, a REST API and serverless functions let you shape it further, and Zia AI predicts which leads and deals are most likely to convert. The free edition covers up to 3 users, paid editions start at $14 per user per month billed annually, and there is a 15-day trial. G2 rates Zoho CRM 4.1 out of 5 from almost 3,000 reviews, and the learning curve and slow support are common complaints.
Pros
- Blueprint process rules and deep customisation
- A free edition for up to 3 users
- Low per-user prices across five editions
- Connects to Zoho's other apps, such as Zoho Projects
Cons
- Learning curve and complexity, per G2 reviewers
- Slow or unhelpful support is a common G2 complaint
- A lower G2 rating than HubSpot or Pipedrive
Who it's for
Small and mid-size businesses that relied on Salesforce's customisation and want to keep it at a lower cost.
Who should skip it
Teams that want a CRM working on day one with little setup. Pipedrive or HubSpot are quicker.
More about Zoho CRM: pricing, features and alternatives
Best for enterprises that run on Microsoft 365 and need an enterprise-grade CRM
4. Microsoft Dynamics 365 Sales
Sales- Starting price
- $65 per user per month
- Free plan
- No
- Free trial
- Yes
- Price checked
- November 1, 2026
The enterprise alternative for Microsoft-centric companies. It is priced for large teams that need depth and Microsoft 365 integration, not for saving money.
Why it's on the list
Microsoft sells Dynamics 365 Sales in three main plans, all billed yearly. Professional costs $65 per user per month for core sales force automation, Microsoft 365 interoperation and reporting. Enterprise costs $105 and adds advanced customisation, Copilot in Dynamics 365 and prebuilt agents such as the Sales Close Agent, and Premium costs $150 and adds Sales Insights, AI-recommended actions and data enrichment. Relationship Sales bundles Enterprise with LinkedIn Sales Navigator for teams of 10 or more. Microsoft offers a free trial, though its pricing page does not state the length.
Pros
- Built to work with Microsoft 365
- Copilot and prebuilt sales agents from the Enterprise plan
- LinkedIn Sales Navigator bundle in Relationship Sales
- Free trial available
Cons
- Plans start at $65 per user per month, billed yearly
- Extra Copilot Credits for agents are bought through Copilot Studio, which needs an Azure subscription
- No free plan on the pricing page
Who it's for
Mid-size and large companies standardised on Microsoft 365 that need a configurable enterprise CRM.
Who should skip it
Small teams leaving Salesforce to cut cost or admin. HubSpot, Pipedrive or Freshsales cost far less.
More about Microsoft Dynamics 365 Sales: pricing, features and alternatives
Best for sales teams that want phone and email built in and enterprise controls at a lower price
5. Freshsales
Sales- Starting price
- $9 per user per month, billed annually
- Free plan
- No
- Free trial
- Yes
- Price checked
- October 31, 2026
Strong value for teams leaving Salesforce. Phone, email and AI come with the first plan, and a sandbox, custom modules and audit logs come with Enterprise.
Why it's on the list
Freshsales puts chat, email and phone inside the CRM from the Growth plan at $9 per user per month billed annually, and Freddy AI highlights the leads and deals most likely to close. Pro at $39 adds contact scoring, sales sequences and territory management. Enterprise at $59 adds forecasting insights, field-level permissions, custom modules, a sandbox for testing changes and audit logs, the admin controls larger sales teams expect. There is a 21-day trial with no credit card. G2 rates Freshsales 4.5 out of 5 from more than 1,200 reviews, with ease of use and built-in calling and email the most common praise.
Pros
- Phone, email and chat from the cheapest plan
- Sandbox, custom modules and audit logs on Enterprise
- A 21-day free trial
- 4.5 out of 5 on G2 from more than 1,200 reviews
Cons
- No free plan on the current plan cards
- Limits on templates and automation compared with competitors, per G2 reviewers
- Limited customisation of reports and modules, per G2 reviewers
Who it's for
Small and mid-size sales teams that want calling built in and a clear path to enterprise controls.
Who should skip it
Teams that need deep custom reporting. Zoho CRM or Dynamics 365 Sales go further.
More about Freshsales: pricing, features and alternatives
Best for sales teams that want a no-code CRM they can change without an admin
6. monday CRM
Sales- Starting price
- €12 per seat per month
- Free plan
- No
- Free trial
- Yes
- Price checked
- October 31, 2026
A good switch if you are leaving Salesforce because every change needed an admin. It has less depth for complex reporting.
Why it's on the list
monday CRM runs on monday.com's boards, so leads, contacts, accounts and deals are boards you shape with column types, automations and dashboards, without code. From Standard, every email, call and meeting shows on one timeline, and Pro adds mass email and sequences. Plans start at €12 per seat per month billed yearly with a 3-seat minimum, after a 14-day trial without a credit card. G2 rates monday CRM 4.5 out of 5 from 1,939 reviews, though reviewers say it has less depth than larger CRMs for detailed reporting.
Pros
- Change pipelines and fields without code or an admin
- Sales and project work on the same platform
- AI agents for lead sourcing and meeting prep on the AI plan versions
- 4.5 out of 5 on G2 from 1,939 reviews
Cons
- No free plan, and plans start at 3 seats
- Less depth for detailed reporting than larger CRMs, per G2 reviewers
- The Basic plan limits columns per board and contacts
Who it's for
Small and mid-size sales teams, and companies already on monday.com, that want to own their CRM setup.
Who should skip it
Large teams with complex reporting and permission needs. Dynamics 365 Sales or Zoho CRM fit better.
More about monday CRM: pricing, features and alternatives
Best for startups and scale-ups that want a flexible, modern data model
7. Attio
Sales- Starting price
- $35 per user per month
- Free plan
- Yes
- Free trial
- Yes
- Price checked
- November 1, 2026
The most flexible modern alternative. It builds itself from email and calendar and lets you design your own objects, but it has fewer native integrations than the established CRMs, per G2 reviewers.
Why it's on the list
Attio syncs your email and calendar, creates records for the people and companies you talk to and enriches them with details such as funding and employee count. Custom objects, attributes and relationships let one workspace hold several pipelines, and workflows can enrich, score and route new records. The Free plan covers 3 seats, Plus costs $35 per user per month billed annually, and Pro at $79 adds sequences, call intelligence and advanced reporting, with a 14-day Pro trial. G2 rates Attio 4.3 out of 5 from 600 reviews, with quick setup and customisation the most common praise.
Pros
- The contact database builds itself from email and calendar
- Custom objects and relationships
- A free plan for up to 3 seats
- API, webhooks and an MCP server
Cons
- Integration gaps, per G2 reviewers
- Sequences and call intelligence need Pro
- Plus is limited to 10 seats
Who it's for
Startups and scale-ups leaving Salesforce early that want a CRM shaped around their own data.
Who should skip it
Large sales teams with established processes and heavy integration needs. HubSpot or Dynamics 365 Sales fit better.
More about Attio: pricing, features and alternatives
Best for inside sales teams that live on the phone and in email
8. Close
Sales- Starting price
- $9 per user per month (Solo, annual)
- Free plan
- No
- Free trial
- Yes
- Price checked
- October 31, 2026
The best alternative for phone-heavy sales teams, with calling, SMS, dialers and an AI agent built in, and a 4.7 rating on G2.
Why it's on the list
Close builds calling, SMS, email and workflows into the CRM, so reps do not need a separate dialer. Growth adds a power dialer, automated workflows and bulk email at $99 per user per month billed annually, and Scale adds a predictive dialer and live call coaching. Chloe, Close's AI sales agent, can call and qualify leads using AI credits included in each plan. Plans start at $9 for a single user on Solo and $35 per user on Essentials, with a 14-day trial. G2 rates Close 4.7 out of 5 from more than 2,100 reviews.
Pros
- Calling, SMS and email built in
- Power and predictive dialers
- 4.7 out of 5 on G2 from more than 2,100 reviews
- 14-day trial and a 30-day money-back guarantee
Cons
- Workflows start on Growth at $99 per user
- Sales only, with no marketing automation or help desk
- Calling and SMS usage is billed on top of the plan
Who it's for
SDR and inside sales teams that make many calls a day and want a CRM built around them.
Who should skip it
Companies that need marketing and service in the CRM. HubSpot or Zoho CRM fit better.
More about Close: pricing, features and alternatives
Best for teams that run their business in Google Workspace
9. Copper
Sales- Starting price
- $23 per seat per month
- Free plan
- No
- Free trial
- Yes
- Price checked
- October 31, 2026
The natural choice for Google Workspace companies. Copper works inside Gmail and Google Calendar and includes projects on every plan.
Why it's on the list
Copper's Chrome extension shows CRM records next to emails and calendar events and syncs Gmail, Google Contacts, Google Calendar and Google Drive. Pipelines show win probability and AI flags for slipping deals, and every plan can turn a won deal into a project. Basic costs $23 per seat per month paid annually for 2,500 contacts, with workflow automation, bulk email and reporting from Professional at $59, and there is a 14-day trial. G2 rates Copper 4.5 out of 5 from 1,158 reviews, with ease of use and its Gmail integration the most common praise.
Pros
- Works inside Gmail and Google Calendar
- Projects on every plan
- AI flags on slipping deals
- 4.5 out of 5 on G2 from 1,158 reviews
Cons
- Sync is built for Google, not Microsoft 365
- No free plan
- Limited customisation for larger teams, per G2 reviewers
Who it's for
Agencies, consultants and service firms that live in Gmail and want their CRM there.
Who should skip it
Teams on Microsoft 365 or with complex custom needs. Dynamics 365 Sales or Zoho CRM fit better.
More about Copper: pricing, features and alternatives
Best for small B2B teams that want a CRM and email marketing in one
10. Nutshell
Sales and marketing- Starting price
- $13 per user per month
- Free plan
- No
- Free trial
- Yes
- Price checked
- October 31, 2026
A simple, low-cost switch for small businesses that mainly used Salesforce for contacts, deals and basic email, with marketing tools in every plan.
Why it's on the list
Nutshell includes contacts, pipelines, email marketing, web chat, an AI chatbot, forms and landing pages on every plan, so a small team can replace a CRM and a basic marketing tool at once. Foundation costs $13 per user per month billed annually, and Pro at $42 adds 5 pipelines, sales automation and advanced reporting. There is a 14-day trial with free data migration during the trial. G2 rates Nutshell 4.3 out of 5 from more than 1,400 reviews, with ease of use and support the most common praise.
Pros
- Email marketing, forms and chat in every plan
- A low entry price at $13 per user billed annually
- Free data migration during the trial
- Live support on every plan
Cons
- No free plan
- Limited customisation and integrations, per G2 reviewers
- Foundation includes only 10 AI outcomes a month
Who it's for
Small and mid-size B2B companies that want sales and simple marketing from one vendor at a modest price.
Who should skip it
Larger teams with complex territories or heavy customisation. Zoho CRM or Dynamics 365 Sales fit better.
More about Nutshell: pricing, features and alternatives
Best for mid-size and large B2B firms that need deep customisation or on-premises hosting
11. SugarCRM (now SugarAI)
Sales and marketing- Starting price
- $68 per user per month, billed annually
- Free plan
- No
- Free trial
- No
- Price checked
- October 31, 2026
A specialist alternative for manufacturers and distributors that sell repeatedly to existing accounts, with an on-premises edition. It ranks last because of its G2 rating and the lack of a free trial.
Why it's on the list
SugarCRM, which renamed itself SugarAI in 2026, sells its sales CRM as Sugar Sell from $68 per user per month billed annually, with forecasting and AI features on Advanced+ at $98. Sugar Predict reads ERP purchase data to suggest cross-sells, show reorder timing and flag early churn signals, which suits manufacturers and distributors. Sugar Enterprise, at $85 per user per month, is offered for on-premises deployment. There is no free plan or free trial on the pricing page. Sugar Sell holds 3.8 out of 5 on G2 from 776 reviews, with bugs and a complex interface among the common complaints.
Pros
- Highly configurable with no-code and low-code tools
- An on-premises option through Sugar Enterprise
- Sugar Predict uses ERP data for cross-sell and churn signals
Cons
- No free plan or free trial
- 3.8 out of 5 on G2 from 776 reviews
- Bugs, integration problems and a complex interface, per G2 reviewers
Who it's for
Mid-size and large manufacturers, distributors and B2B service firms with complex account management, or companies that must host on their own servers.
Who should skip it
Small teams that want a quick, self-serve CRM. HubSpot, Pipedrive or Nutshell fit better.
More about SugarCRM (now SugarAI): pricing, features and alternatives
Also considered
- Salesforce Starter Suite: Salesforce's own small-business edition at $25 per user per month, with a Free Suite for 2 users. Worth checking before you leave Salesforce altogether.
- Capsule CRM: A simple CRM with projects for small businesses, lighter than what most teams leaving Salesforce need.
- Insightly: A CRM with projects for growing businesses, close in scope to Zoho CRM and Freshsales; left out to keep the list focused.
Frequently asked questions
What is the best alternative to Salesforce?
For most small and mid-size companies, HubSpot, because its free CRM lets you test the move and its marketing, sales and service tools share one database. Pipedrive is the best pure sales pipeline, Zoho CRM comes closest to Salesforce's customisation at a lower price, and Microsoft Dynamics 365 Sales is the enterprise option for Microsoft-centric companies.
Is there a free alternative to Salesforce?
Yes. HubSpot's free CRM covers 2 users and 1,000 contacts, Zoho CRM's free edition covers up to 3 users and Attio's free plan covers 3 seats. Salesforce itself also has a Free Suite for up to 2 users.
Why do companies switch from Salesforce?
On G2, the most common complaints about Salesforce's sales product are a steep learning curve, complex navigation and setup, and cost. Teams that do not use its depth often move to a CRM that is quicker to set up and cheaper per seat, while large companies that need the depth tend to compare enterprise CRMs such as Dynamics 365 Sales.
What is the cheapest Salesforce alternative?
HubSpot, Zoho CRM and Attio all have free plans. Among paid plans in this list, Freshsales Growth costs $9 per user per month billed annually, Close's Solo plan costs $9 a month billed annually for one user, and Nutshell Foundation costs $13 per user per month billed annually.
Can a no-code CRM replace Salesforce?
For many small and mid-size sales teams, yes. Tools such as monday CRM, Attio and Pipedrive let a sales manager change pipelines and fields without an admin. Companies with complex permissions, territories and custom objects usually need Zoho CRM, Freshsales Enterprise, Dynamics 365 Sales or SugarCRM.
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