Top 10 CRMs for Software & SaaS Companies: Streamlining Software-as-a-Service with Integrated Customer Relationship Management Tools

Software and Software-as-a-Service (SaaS) companies are facing unprecedented changes in the world of technology, leading to new challenges in delivering the ideal customer experience. As the pandemic forced everyone into their homes and into a new remote way of life, the demands of these companies reached a serious tipping point. It suddenly became critical for brands to have a way to deliver the perfect customer experience in an entirely new environment and to a customer with an entirely new set of expectations. 

Fortunately, CRM companies saw the growing need among SaaS providers for a better solution, and they created one—there are a growing number of dedicated CRMs designed for software companies, as well as several multipurpose CRMs that can be used for different industries, including SaaS and software in general. 

These platforms offer robust customer databases, integrated analytics with detailed insights, and a plethora of tools and integrations that can streamline every step of the customer experience from the first contact to creating a loyal customer for life. How do you choose the best one, though? 

For all the differences, these platforms also have several similarities that are designed to improve your business in several ways. Plus, you can integrate many modern CRMs with the virtual receptionist and messaging services from Smith.ai to deliver even better customer service with dedicated agents available 24/7. 

You’re also not alone in choosing the best CRMs for your organization, no matter what your needs might be. We’ve taken the time to research the platforms available that can provide a solution for your software or SaaS company and chosen the top 10, based on the features they offer and their affordability for small- to medium-sized businesses. 

If you want, you can even talk to our team about scheduling and intake services to help improve your lead generation and ensure customers have no trouble getting ahold of someone when they’re ready to convert.

1. Microsoft Dynamics 365

Microsoft Dynamics 365 is a CRM tool that integrates with several Microsoft products and tools, making it easier for small businesses and startups to get going in the modern tech world. This integrated software is designed to help maintain customer relationships, track pipeline activities, and deliver actionable results for your SaaS brand. 

With Microsoft Dynamics 365, users enjoy seamless integration with other Microsoft 365 products and platforms, as well as other software solutions. Small businesses that are looking for growth and industry leaders who are looking for affordable solutions will all benefit from this program, which is flexible and can be customized to the exact needs of your business. 

The key highlights of Microsoft Dynamics 365 include:

• Free option? No
• Price: Starts at $200 per month for Customer Voice
• From Microsoft, a trusted name in software
• Dedicated customer insights and data
• Detailed customer database with easy import/export functions
• Cloud-based access
• Scalable, customizable platform

2. HubSpot CRM

HubSpot CRM is the leading free CRM tool and one of the best user-friendly solutions for customer relationship management, as well as integrated sales and marketing. HubSpot makes it easy to connect your business and streamline customer management, with robust segmentation tools, rich analytics, data integrations, and more. 

HubSpot features a simple interface and design and can be customized and scaled to the needs of your business. Planned marketing templates, social media scanning, invoicing templates, drag-and-drop communication tools, and other resources make it easy for your business to get on board with virtual customer relationship management. Plus, users can connect anywhere, through phones, emails, websites, social media, and more. 

The key features of HubSpot include:

• Free option? Yes
• Price: Paid memberships start at $50 per month
• Compatible with Google, Big Commerce, Dropbox, and other tools
• 99% user satisfaction rating
• Total business management from a single dashboard
• Unlimited users
• Up to one million companies or contacts

3. Close

Close is a high-performance sales CRM built for teams of all sizes to better engage leads, close more deals, and manage all communication in one single platform. Close has built-in calling, email (2-way sync), SMS, sequences, and pipeline tracking to make your entire sales process runs smoothly from start to finish. 

Built by and for salespeople, Close is designed to double the performance of every sales rep, by keeping the majority of your sales activity in one tool and giving you an easy to navigate UI that doesn’t get in your way. Close is the perfect tool for startups and SMBs looking to take their sales efforts productivity to the next level. 

Key highlights of the Close CRM include:

• Free option? No (free 14 day trial, no credit card required)
• Price: Starts at $29/mo/user 
• Ideal for Startups and SMBs 
• Free Data Migration 
• Engage leads and close deals in one platform
• Out of the box built-in global calling, emailing, SMS, sequences, and pipeline management
• Bulk email sending, call recording and power dialer features
• In depth activity analytics and sales funnel reporting
• Excellent for sales teams and success teams 

4. Zoho CRM

Zoho CRM is another popular digital CRM tool that is affordable and scalable, making it ideal for startups and small SaaS companies. Zoho features a robust suite of analytics and reporting tools to help you improve the customer experience overall. It also offers a CRM workflow management tool, sales pipeline management, and purchase control.

You can use the platform to manage customer leads and contacts, accounts, and even track customers throughout the buying cycle with the Opportunity Tracking module. You can get insights from emails, seminars, trade fairs, and more. There is also a module for routine task automation and social media branding. Zoho is one of the most affordable options on the market today and features aren’t lacking for the price, either. 

The highlights of this platform include:

• Free option? No
• Price: Starts at $12 per month 
• Opportunity tracking for better customer management
• Social media lead generation
• Omnichannel reporting and analytics
• Sales force automation

5. Zendesk Sell/Base CRM

Zendesk Sell is a platform that is designed to offer streamlined sales pipeline management specifically to integrate with various CRM platforms like Base CRM, offering a total view of your SaaS business, from the top down. You will be able to keep focused on the high-value leads and build a strong pipeline that ensures you can prioritize customers and prospects. 

Zendesk Sell and Base CRM are a great combination, or you can choose just to use the Zendesk platform on its own. For SaaS companies, organizing the sales process and tracking deals will be crucial to your success. With this affordable platform, upgradable options give you the chance to grow over time. Plus, a free trial is offered. 

The highlights of integrating these solutions include:

• Free option? No, but there is a free trial
• Price: Starts at $19 per month
• Dedicated automation and pipeline management
• Easy user interface
• Built-in mobile CRM access 
• Prebuilt apps and integrations

6. SAP Service Cloud

SAP Service Cloud offers a dedicated customer experience tool that provides valuable insights and information to help deliver personalized, consistent customer experiences. The platform offers omnichannel communication tools, gamification features, and next-generation self-service that leverages the power of AI. 

SAP Service Cloud is designed with a consumption-based pricing structure so that brands only pay for what they need. The CRM offers intelligent scaling and preconfigured bots for various uses, along with real-time feedback and reporting to ensure the latest insights are available. 

If you’re considering this platform, check out features like:

• Free option? No
• Price: Starts at $58 per month 
• Service tickets and task automation
• Automated fact-finding
• Gamification
• AI and machine learning technology
• End-to-end execution of service 

7. Salesforce

Salesforce is the #1 CRM in the world, and it’s one of the best solutions for any business in the digital world. Software and SaaS companies, especially, will find this platform to be full of useful features. Salesforce includes opportunity management, partner management, sales forecasting, and more. 

There is a detailed contact manager in the Salesforce platform that ensures that customer information is streamlined, and leads are assessed for the best chances of success. There is also a reporting tool and dashboard that allows you to get a real-time look at how things are doing. Salesforce can provide marketing and sales automation solutions, as well, or just provide the CRM tool that your SaaS team needs. 

Highlights of Salesforce include:

• Free option? No, but there is a trial
• Price: Starts at $25 per month 
• Competitor analysis
• Deal tracking module
• Social media and social status details
• Lead management
• Sales data management

8. Pipedrive

Pipedrive starts by offering support in 13 languages and a variety of currency supported. It offers a great resource for those dealing with international business and is one of the easiest tools to implement into your business. This CRM tool makes it easy to import data, collect contact history, send emails, and get detailed sales reports. 

Pipedrive features a detailed lead generation and organization structure. It also integrates seamlessly with several other tools like Dropbox, Zapier, and others, to help streamline operations and improve customer relationships in every stage of the buying journey. Pipedrive has an open API and is one of the best SaaS solutions because it is so user-friendly. The intuitive platform offers:

• Free option? No
• Price: Starts at $12.50 per month
• Open API with the ability to switch modules on and off
• User-friendly interface
• Customizable, scalable features
• Easy sales process management 

9. SugarCRM

SugarCRM is a platform that’s focused on startups and entrepreneurs who need a better business solution. The software is simple, the pricing is structured for a variety of needs, and it’s all about getting what you need without a lot of work. This platform offers tons of customization options, and it’s still great for those who don’t want to bother with all those features if they just want to use it as it comes. 

SugarCRM is simple to use and it offers straightforward integration with several different programs and software solutions out there. The dashboard features simple tabs that track contacts, opportunities, reports, documents, and campaigns. You’ll also find integrated support tools and a contact database that is robust and offers plenty of useful insights and resources. 

The features of SugarCRM that you should note include:

• Free option? No, but there is a free trial.
• Price: $52 per month
• Rated best CRM for startups by Business News Daily
• Tools for leads, meetings, targets, and more
• Project management
• Contract and other templates
• Campaign management tools
• Account management and segmentation features

10. Nimble

Nimble is a single-use platform that makes it easy for brands to manage contacts, find new ones, and develop leads for the best results. The platform offers productive communication tools and can import information from social networks like LinkedIn, Facebook, and Twitter. 

Nimble is designed specifically for startups and small SaaS brands that need a simple, yet effective tool for managing their customer relationships. They also have a live help desk and a dedicated team of developers to assist you along the way. 

If you’re looking for efficient workflows, seamless dashboard functionality, and detailed user reporting tools, look no further than Nimble. The highlights of this CRM include:

• Free option? No
• Price: $19 per month to start 
• Dashboard with sections for contacts, messages, activity, and social accounts
• Easy integration with other software and tools
• Collection and segmentation of contacts and communications
• Calendar integration
• High-level support available to users
• Ideal for G Suite and Office 365 teams

Bonus: Insightly

We couldn't stop at 10 so here is a bonus CRM we just had to mention. Insightly is a user-friendly, simple-looking CRM that is anything but basic. It's great for tech startups and SaaS companies that need a hassle-free solution with intuitive menus and easy-to-use features. The website offers a variety of forms for lead capture, email marketing, and reporting.

Insightly CRM also offers three versions: a free edition, a professional edition, and an enterprise edition. Paid customers have access to email support and advanced features, and users can sign up for the free platform and scale up at any time if they decide they need something bigger. 

Some of the highlights of Insightly CRM include:

• Free option? Yes
• Price: Paid plans start at $29 per month
• Model and automate business processes
• Native iOS and Android apps
• Easy application integration
• Total contact and organization management
  

Smith.ai can level up your SaaS customer solutions 

When you partner with the team at Smith.ai, not only will you benefit from all the perks of CRM integration, but you’ll be able to improve several areas of your customer relationship management and your business as a whole. Deliver more reliable customer service with agents that are available 24 hours a day, and we can even integrate with your CRM to track every customer interaction and contact along the way. And, between our solutions and the custom CRM integration that you choose, you’ll enjoy:

• Easy lead management 
• Account management and customer segmentation
• Sales forecasting
• Automated workflows and AI solutions
• And more!

Schedule a consultation today and find out how we can help you emphasize the service for your Software-as-a-Service brand and give your customers the dedicated connection they demand from their partnerships. You can call us at (650) 727-6484 or send an email to hello@smith.ai.