Editor's note, November 1, 2026: Rebuilt from our 2020 list: 10 sales management tools re-ranked on forecasting, goals, reporting, coaching, price and public reviews, with prices checked on 31 October and 1 November 2026.
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 Sales Hub is the best sales management tool for most growing businesses. Start on the free CRM, then move to Sales Hub Professional when you need forecasting, goals and custom reports. If you want forecasting on a smaller budget, choose Pipedrive, which includes it on every plan, or Zoho CRM, which adds territory management as you grow.
Other needs point elsewhere. Close suits managers of inside sales teams who coach reps on live calls, and Gong adds call recording, coaching and deal insight on top of a CRM you already use. Teams that live in Microsoft 365 should look at Dynamics 365 Sales.
Most sales management features sit on the middle and upper plans of a CRM, so compare plans, not just products. Before you choose, check which plan gives you forecasting against quota, team dashboards and rep activity reports, and what that plan costs per user. Prices below were checked on 31 October and 1 November 2026. For more options, browse our CRM category or read the 10 best CRM systems for small businesses.
The list at a glance
| # | Tool | Best for | Starting price | Free plan | Team |
|---|
| 1 |  HubSpot CRM | Growing teams that want to start free and add forecasting and goals later | 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 | Small and mid-size teams that manage reps by pipeline, activities and goals | €14 per seat per month (Lite) | No | Sales |
| 3 |  Zoho CRM | Growing businesses that want forecasts and territories at a low price | $14 per user per month | Yes | Sales and marketing |
| 4 |  Freshsales | Phone-led teams that want territories and forecasting at a low per-user price | $9 per user per month, billed annually | No | Sales |
| 5 |  Salesforce Starter Suite | Growing businesses that expect to move up to the full Salesforce platform | $25 per user per month | Yes | Sales |
| 6 |  Close | Inside sales managers who coach reps on live calls | $9 per user per month (Solo, annual) | No | Sales |
| 7 |  Gong | Sales leaders who want to coach from real calls and spot deal risk early | Custom quote | No | Sales and marketing |
| 8 |  Microsoft Dynamics 365 Sales | Larger growing sales teams that work in Microsoft 365 | $65 per user per month | No | Sales |
| 9 |  monday CRM | Teams that want visual dashboards they can build without an admin | €12 per seat per month | No | Sales |
| 10 |  Salesflare | Small B2B teams that struggle to keep the CRM up to date | $29 per user per month | No | Sales |
How we chose
We ranked each tool on the five points of our published method, in this order. First, fit for managing a growing sales team: whether a manager can see every rep's pipeline, forecast revenue, track goals and coach. Second, the features that matter for that job, such as forecasting, goals and quotas, team reports, territories and call coaching, and which plan includes them, taken from each vendor's own pricing pages and documentation. Third, price and how clearly it is stated, including free plans, trials and the cost of the plan with the manager features. Fourth, what users report in public reviews on G2. Fifth, whether the product is actively developed.
Every tool was researched on its own website, pricing page and help center, and in public reviews on G2. Where two tools were close, the one that includes forecasting on a cheaper, clearly priced plan ranked higher.
Best for growing teams that want to start free and add forecasting and goals later
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 complete choice for a growing sales team. The free CRM gets you started, and Sales Hub Professional adds the forecasting, goals and reporting a sales manager needs, at a much higher price.
Why it's on the list
HubSpot's free CRM covers 2 users and 1,000 contacts with a deal pipeline and shared dashboards, with no time limit. On 1 November 2026, Sales Hub Professional was listed at $90 per seat per month with an annual commitment, plus a one-time $1,500 onboarding fee. Professional adds default and custom forecasting, template goals and up to 100 custom reports, and Enterprise, at $150 per seat, adds forecasting across team hierarchies and custom goals. G2 reviews HubSpot's CRM under its Sales Hub listing at 4.4 out of 5, and reviewers often point out that forecasting and custom reporting sit on the pricier tiers.
Pros
- Free CRM for 2 users with no time limit
- Forecasting, goals and up to 100 custom reports on Professional
- Sales, marketing and service data on one contact record
- Phone support from Professional
Cons
- Forecasting starts at $90 per seat plus a $1,500 onboarding fee
- Starter's $7 price is a limited-time offer for new customers
- Costs rise quickly as seats are added, per G2 reviewers
Who it's for
Growing B2B teams that want sales and marketing on one platform and expect to need forecasting as they hire more reps.
Who should skip it
Teams on a tight budget that need forecasting now. Pipedrive and Zoho CRM include it on far cheaper plans.
More about HubSpot CRM: pricing, features and alternatives
Best for small and mid-size teams that manage reps by pipeline, activities and goals
2. Pipedrive
Sales- Starting price
- €14 per seat per month (Lite)
- Free plan
- No
- Free trial
- Yes
- Price checked
- October 31, 2026
The best value for sales managers. Forecasting comes with every plan, and the visual pipeline shows where each rep's deals stand at a glance.
Why it's on the list
Pipedrive is built around a visual pipeline where deals move through stages, with activity tracking and goals for each rep. Its forecasting page says AI-powered forecasting and custom views are included on every plan, and that managers can compare forecasts with quota and with actual results by rep, product and period. Lite cost €14 per seat per month billed annually on 31 October 2026, and every plan has a 14-day trial without a credit card. G2 rates Pipedrive 4.3 out of 5, with ease of use the most common praise and add-on costs and limited automation the most common complaints.
Pros
- Forecasting on every plan
- Goals and activity tracking per rep
- Visual pipeline that G2 reviewers call intuitive
- 14-day trial on every plan, no card needed
Cons
- No free plan
- Lead capture, campaigns and web visitor tracking are paid add-ons
- Limited automation on lower plans, per G2 reviewers
Who it's for
Sales managers of small and mid-size teams who run their weekly review from the pipeline and want forecasts without a big budget.
Who should skip it
Businesses that want marketing email and service tools in the same system. HubSpot covers more ground.
More about Pipedrive: pricing, features and alternatives
Best for growing businesses that want forecasts and territories at a low 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 most sales management depth for the money. Forecasts and dashboards start on the cheapest paid edition, and territory management comes on Enterprise. Expect more setup than Pipedrive.
Why it's on the list
Zoho CRM's pricing page lists sales forecasting, reports and dashboards from the Standard edition, along with cadences that automate follow-ups across channels. Standard cost $14 per user per month billed annually on 1 November 2026, and a free edition covers up to 3 users. Enterprise adds territory management for sales teams and the Zia AI sales assistant. G2 rates Zoho CRM 4.1 out of 5 from almost 3,000 reviews, and the most common complaints are the learning curve and slow support.
Pros
- Sales forecasts from the Standard edition
- Free edition for up to 3 users
- Territory management and Zia AI on Enterprise
- Cadences for multi-channel follow-ups
Cons
- Learning curve, the most common G2 complaint
- Slow or unhelpful support mentioned on G2
- More setup than simpler CRMs
Who it's for
Growing businesses that want forecasting, territories and automation without enterprise prices, and can spend time on setup.
Who should skip it
Teams that want a CRM working in an afternoon. Pipedrive is quicker to learn.
More about Zoho CRM: pricing, features and alternatives
Best for phone-led teams that want territories and forecasting at a low per-user price
4. Freshsales
Sales- Starting price
- $9 per user per month, billed annually
- Free plan
- No
- Free trial
- Yes
- Price checked
- October 31, 2026
A low-cost CRM with calling built in, territory management on Pro and forecasting on Enterprise. A good fit if your reps call prospects and you want manager tools without a big bill.
Why it's on the list
Freshsales includes phone, email and chat on its Growth plan, which cost $9 per user per month billed annually on 1 November 2026. Pro, at $39 per user billed annually, adds territory management, deal insights, contact scoring and sales sequences, and Enterprise, at $59, adds forecasting insights. There is a 21-day trial and no free plan on the plan cards. G2 rates Freshsales 4.5 out of 5 from more than 1,200 reviews, with ease of use and built-in calling the most common praise and limited report customisation a common complaint.
Pros
- Built-in phone, email and chat from $9 per user
- Territory management and deal insights on Pro
- 21-day trial with the full product
- 4.5 out of 5 on G2
Cons
- Forecasting insights need Enterprise at $59 per user
- No free plan on the current plan cards
- Limited report customisation, per G2 reviewers
Who it's for
Growing inside sales teams that call and email prospects all day and want territories and scoring at a modest price.
Who should skip it
Teams that need forecasting on a budget plan. Pipedrive and Zoho CRM include it lower down.
More about Freshsales: pricing, features and alternatives
Best for growing businesses that expect to move up to the full Salesforce platform
5. Salesforce Starter Suite
Sales- Starting price
- $25 per user per month
- Free plan
- Yes
- Free trial
- Yes
- Price checked
- November 1, 2026
The right start if you plan to grow into Salesforce. Starter Suite covers pipeline, reports and dashboards, but forecasting needs Pro Suite at four times the price.
Why it's on the list
Starter Suite cost $25 per user per month on 1 November 2026 and covers leads, opportunities, lead assignment and routing, and customizable reports and dashboards. Salesforce lists sales quoting and forecasting on Pro Suite, at $100 per user per month billed annually with a contract. Starter has a free trial. G2 has no separate listing for Starter Suite; its listing for Agentforce Sales, formerly Sales Cloud, holds 4.4 out of 5 from 27,585 reviews across all editions, with a steep learning curve the most common complaint.
Pros
- Reports, dashboards and lead routing from $25 per user
- Free trial of Starter Suite
- A clear path to the full Salesforce platform
- Large G2 review base for Salesforce's sales product
Cons
- Forecasting needs Pro Suite at $100 per user with a contract
- Steep learning curve, per G2 reviews of Salesforce's sales product
- Salesforce says transaction fees apply on Starter
Who it's for
Growing businesses that plan to add sales, service and marketing staff and want to stay on one platform as they scale.
Who should skip it
Small teams that want forecasting cheaply and quickly. Pipedrive or Zoho CRM get there for less.
More about Salesforce Starter Suite: pricing, features and alternatives
Best for inside sales managers who coach reps on live calls
6. Close
Sales- Starting price
- $9 per user per month (Solo, annual)
- Free plan
- No
- Free trial
- Yes
- Price checked
- October 31, 2026
The best pick for calling-heavy teams. Leaderboards come on Growth, and Scale adds live call coaching, where a manager can listen in, whisper to the rep or join the call.
Why it's on the list
Close puts calling, SMS and email inside the CRM. Every plan includes activity reports, dashboards and an opportunity funnel report, while Growth, at $99 per user per month billed annually on 1 November 2026, adds a leaderboard, workflow reports and a power dialer. Scale, at $139, adds live call coaching with listen, whisper and barge, a predictive dialer, unlimited call recording retention and custom graphs. There is a 14-day trial without a card. G2 rates Close 4.7 out of 5 from more than 2,100 reviews, praising ease of use and support, while some reviewers report calling problems and limited report customization.
Pros
- Live call coaching with listen, whisper and barge on Scale
- Leaderboard and workflow reports on Growth
- Calling, SMS and email inside the CRM
- 4.7 out of 5 on G2
Cons
- Manager features sit on Growth ($99) and Scale ($139)
- Calls and texts are charged on top
- Some G2 reviewers report calling issues and limited report customization
Who it's for
Managers of inside sales teams who want to hear calls, coach in the moment and compare rep activity on a leaderboard.
Who should skip it
Teams that rarely call prospects. Most of Close's manager value is tied to the phone.
More about Close: pricing, features and alternatives
Best for sales leaders who want to coach from real calls and spot deal risk early
7. Gong
Sales and marketing- Starting price
- Custom quote
- Free plan
- No
- Free trial
- No
- Price checked
- November 1, 2026
The strongest coaching and deal insight tool here, but it is an add-on to a CRM, not a replacement, and you only get a price after a sales call.
Why it's on the list
Gong records and analyzes calls, meetings and emails and links them to deals in your CRM. Managers comment on moments in a call, score calls with scorecards and track coaching in a coaching inbox, and the AI Call Reviewer can suggest scorecard answers. Gong Forecast adds forecast roll-up, deal boards, pipeline inspection and AI revenue and deal predictors. It ranks seventh because it needs a CRM underneath, publishes no prices (per-user licenses plus a platform fee, on 1 November 2026) and shows no free trial. Gong's help center lists native integrations with Salesforce, HubSpot and Microsoft Dynamics.
Pros
- Coaching from recorded calls, with scorecards and an AI reviewer
- Forecast roll-up and AI deal predictors in Gong Forecast
- Native Salesforce, HubSpot and Microsoft Dynamics integrations
Cons
- No published prices, and a platform fee on top of licenses
- Needs a separate CRM
- No free plan or trial on its pricing page
Who it's for
Sales leaders with several managers and reps on video calls who want coaching and forecasting based on what buyers actually say.
Who should skip it
Small teams that still need a CRM, or that want to see a price before talking to sales.
More about Gong: pricing, features and alternatives
Best for larger growing sales teams that work in Microsoft 365
8. Microsoft Dynamics 365 Sales
Sales- Starting price
- $65 per user per month
- Free plan
- No
- Free trial
- Yes
- Price checked
- November 1, 2026
Deep forecasting, goals and territory management for teams that live in Outlook and Teams, with enterprise-level setup and pricing.
Why it's on the list
Sales Enterprise, at $105 per user per month paid yearly on 1 November 2026, adds forecasting against quotas, sales goals and territory management, plus Copilot in Dynamics 365, Outlook and Teams. Sales Premium, at $150, adds predictive forecasting, and Sales Professional, at $65, covers core sales force automation. Microsoft offers a free trial. G2 rates Dynamics 365 Sales 3.8 out of 5 from 1,624 reviews, praising Microsoft integration and naming a steep learning curve as the most common complaint.
Pros
- Forecasting against quotas, goals and territories on Enterprise
- Works inside Outlook and Teams, with Power BI dashboards
- Predictive forecasting on Premium
Cons
- Manager features start at $105 per user
- Steep learning curve, the most common G2 complaint
- Lowest G2 rating in this list
Who it's for
Mid-size sales organizations already on Microsoft 365 that want forecasting and territories inside the tools they use every day.
Who should skip it
Small teams that want a quick start. Pipedrive or HubSpot are easier to adopt.
More about Microsoft Dynamics 365 Sales: pricing, features and alternatives
Best for teams that want visual dashboards they can build without an admin
9. monday CRM
Sales- Starting price
- €12 per seat per month
- Free plan
- No
- Free trial
- Yes
- Price checked
- October 31, 2026
A flexible, no-code CRM with strong dashboards and AI agents. Its sales management features are less clearly documented by plan than the tools above.
Why it's on the list
monday CRM turns leads, deals and accounts into boards you shape yourself, with 1 dashboard on Basic, 5 on Standard and 50 on Pro. Standard adds a timeline of every email, call, meeting and note per contact, and Pro adds email sequences. monday.com says its CRM supports forecasting with pipeline coverage and deal velocity signals, and offers a Pipeline Monitor agent that flags slowing deals per rep, but the pricing page does not say which plan includes forecasting. Plans start at 3 seats, from €12 per seat per month billed yearly on 1 November 2026, with a 14-day trial. G2 rates monday CRM 4.5 out of 5 from 1,939 reviews.
Pros
- No-code boards and up to 50 dashboards on Pro
- Full activity timeline per contact from Standard
- AI agents for pipeline monitoring and meeting prep
- 4.5 out of 5 on G2
Cons
- 3-seat minimum and no free plan
- Plan-level forecasting features are not stated on the pricing page
- Basic allows only 1 dashboard
Who it's for
Teams that change their process often, or that already run projects in monday.com and want sales on the same platform.
Who should skip it
Managers who need documented forecasting and quota tracking. Pipedrive or Zoho CRM state it clearly.
More about monday CRM: pricing, features and alternatives
Best for small B2B teams that struggle to keep the CRM up to date
10. Salesflare
Sales- Starting price
- $29 per user per month
- Free plan
- No
- Free trial
- Yes
- Price checked
- November 1, 2026
The best pick when the real problem is reps not updating the CRM. It fills itself in, but its reporting is lighter than the tools above.
Why it's on the list
Salesflare captures contacts and activity from email, calendar, phone and LinkedIn, so managers see current data without chasing reps. Pro, at $49 per user per month billed annually on 1 November 2026, adds custom dashboards and reports and multi-step email workflows, and Growth starts at $29. There is a 30-day trial without a credit card. G2 rates Salesflare 4.8 out of 5 from 299 reviews, praising ease of use and time saved on data entry, while limited reporting and customisation are the most common complaints.
Pros
- Fills in contacts and activity automatically
- Custom dashboards and reports on Pro
- 30-day trial, no card needed
- 4.8 out of 5 on G2
Cons
- Limited reporting and customisation, per G2 reviewers
- Custom dashboards and workflows need Pro at $49 per user
- No free plan
Who it's for
Small B2B sales teams that work from Gmail, Outlook and LinkedIn and need clean data more than advanced forecasting.
Who should skip it
Managers who need forecasts, quotas or territories. HubSpot, Pipedrive or Zoho CRM cover those.
More about Salesflare: pricing, features and alternatives
Also considered
- Agile CRM: On our 2020 list. A low-cost CRM with a free plan for 10 users, built for very small teams rather than for managing a growing sales team.
- EngageBay: On our 2020 list. A low-cost all-in-one for marketing, sales and support with a free plan, but G2 reviewers mention shallow reporting.
- Streak: On our 2020 list. A CRM inside Gmail. The free plan no longer includes CRM pipelines, and Pro costs $49 per user billed annually.
Frequently asked questions
What are sales management tools?
Sales management tools help a sales manager run the team. They show the pipeline, forecast revenue, track goals and rep activity, report on results and support coaching. Most growing businesses get these features from a CRM, and some add a specialist tool such as Gong for call coaching.
Is a CRM the same as a sales management tool?
A CRM stores contacts, companies and deals. Sales management features such as forecasting, goals, team dashboards and coaching usually sit on the mid-tier and higher plans of a CRM. That is why the plan you choose matters as much as the product.
Which sales management tools include forecasting on a low-cost plan?
On 31 October and 1 November 2026, Pipedrive said forecasting is included on every plan, and Zoho CRM listed sales forecasts from its Standard edition. HubSpot includes forecasting from Sales Hub Professional, Freshsales from Enterprise, Salesforce from Pro Suite and Dynamics 365 Sales from Sales Enterprise.
How much do sales management tools cost?
Entry plans in this list ranged from $9 per user per month for Freshsales Growth billed annually to $105 per user for Dynamics 365 Sales Enterprise, the plan with forecasting and goals. HubSpot Sales Hub Professional costs $90 per seat plus a $1,500 onboarding fee, and Gong only quotes prices after a sales call.
What should a sales manager look for in a sales management tool?
Check four things. Can you see every rep's pipeline and activity in one view? Does it forecast against quota on the plan you can afford? Can you build the reports you review each week? And will reps keep it updated, through email sync, automatic logging or a simple interface?
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