We Tested 12+ CRM Tools.So You Don’t Have To.

Our CRM testing methodology simulates real startup conditions rather than just feature checklists. Each platform is evaluated by a team member who sets it up from scratch as if onboarding a 10-person sales team: (1) Setup and data migration — we import 500 test contacts and measure time-to-productive (minutes to first meaningful deal tracked). (2) Pipeline management — we simulate a 90-day sales cycle with 50 active deals, measuring pipeline visibility and bottleneck detection. (3) Email and communication integration — we test native Gmail/Outlook sync, email tracking accuracy, and meeting scheduling reliability. (4) Reporting — we evaluate forecasting accuracy, activity tracking, and the quality of insights available without custom configuration. (5) Scalability signals — we look for pricing cliffs and feature gates that punish growth. In 2026, we added an AI features score covering deal scoring, email drafting assistance, and predictive pipeline analytics.

Each CRM receives an overall score from 0 to 10 based on a weighted rubric covering six criteria: ease of use, feature depth, pricing fairness, integration ecosystem, customer support, and scalability. Sub-scores are calculated individually and weighted based on what matters most to startup teams. We update scores quarterly as platforms release new features or change pricing.

We update reviews and pricing at least quarterly. The CRM market moves fast — HubSpot, Pipedrive, and Attio have each made significant pricing and feature changes in the past 12 months. We also trigger out-of-cycle updates for: major new AI features (deal intelligence, autonomous follow-up), pricing restructures, and acquisitions that may affect product direction. HubSpot's 2025 pricing restructure (moving contact limits) caused us to update every relevant review within a week of announcement. Our update policy: if a change would affect our recommendation for even one company size or use case, we update immediately rather than waiting for the quarterly cycle.

Yes, we may earn affiliate commissions when you sign up for a CRM through our links. This is standard for independent review publications and is how we fund our testing operation. Our editorial independence is protected: no vendor has editorial approval, and our scoring criteria and weights are published so you can verify our methodology. In practice, our affiliate commission rates vary significantly by platform — some of our highest-rated CRMs (like Attio and Folk) have modest affiliate programs, while platforms we rated lower have more generous ones. The scores reflect testing outcomes, not commercial relationships.

HubSpot CRM offers the most comprehensive free plan, with unlimited users, up to 1,000 contacts, and a solid pipeline view. For very small teams (2-3 people), Zoho CRM and Freshsales also offer capable free plans. Check our Free CRM category for a detailed comparison of all free plans.

Yes, but it gets harder the longer you wait. Most CRMs support CSV import and export, making basic migrations straightforward. Some platforms like HubSpot and Salesforce offer dedicated migration tools. The best approach is to choose a CRM that can scale with you, so look for platforms with affordable starter plans and reasonable upgrade paths rather than tools you will outgrow in six months.

A CRM (Customer Relationship Management) platform is a centralized system for managing all customer interactions, contacts, and deal data. Sales tools like email outreach platforms, dialers, or prospecting tools handle specific tasks within the sales process. Many modern CRMs include built-in sales tools, blurring the line between the two. For startups, an all-in-one CRM that includes essential sales tools is usually the most cost-effective choice.

We are always looking to expand our coverage. If you know of a CRM that serves startups well and is not yet on our site, reach out to our editorial team. We prioritize platforms with active development, transparent pricing, and a genuine focus on startup and small business users.