Best CRM systems examples in 2025
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CRMs started as contact-storing tools but have grown into powerful platforms that drive business growth.
In 2025, CRM applications span managing customer interactions, automating workflows, overseeing pipelines, and running marketing campaigns. However, that’s only if you choose the right one for your business size, sector, and needs.
The Cybernews tech team and I have researched the best CRM systems examples. Below, you’ll find our carefully curated list, along with comprehensive reviews and guides on these tools’ features, categorization, and use in the real world.
Best CRM software examples – shortlist
- Salesforce – best CRM software all around
- Monday – top-notch user-friendly CRM system
- Pipedrive – perfect choice for small teams and solo entrepreneurs
- ClickUp – top CRM software for tight-budget businesses
- Zendesk – best for businesses in the sales industry
- Freshworks – comprehensive analytics and reporting CRM
- BIGContacts – excellent example of CRM for workflow automation
- Zoho CRM – fantastic option for businesses looking to scale
- ActiveCampaign – world-class marketing campaign-geared CRM
- NetSuite – popular pick among large organizations and enterprises
We conduct rigorous testing of the best sales tools on the market. Our in-house research team collects granular data from product descriptions, user feedback, and technical details, while our experts carefully fact-check, review, and evaluate it. Learn more about our methodology here.
Top 10 CRM software compared
Before diving into my top list of CRM systems, check them out in this side-by-side comparison table. It lays out how each measures up in key areas, from pricing to customization.
Skim it to get an inkling about the best fit for your business so you know what to pay attention to when you read the reviews.
| CRM | Best for | Pricing | Key features | Customization capabilities |
| Salesforce | Customer management | Custom | Industry-geared solutions and tools, top-notch workflow automation, insightful AI analytics and reports, robust integration options | Yes |
| Monday | Ease of use and intuitive design | From $15/month | Straightforward interface, beginner-friendly automation builder, custom lead stages, dashboards and reports, convenient AI-powered functionality | Yes |
| Pipedrive | PipedriveSmall teams and solo entrepreneurs | From $14/month | Simple and flexible pipeline view, robust security dashboard, AI-powered automations, useful integrations and add-ons | Yes, but only in part |
| ClickUp | Tight-budget businesses | From $7/month | Versatile data management options, intuitive interface, accessible communication tools, flexible automations, and feature-rich yet affordable plans | Yes |
| Zendesk | Businesses in sales | From $45/month | Rich lead generation functionality, out-of-the-box sales-geared features, unique ticketing system, and easy customer and cross-department communication | Yes |
| Freshworks | Detailed analytics and reporting | From $7/month | Department-specific CRM software, level-based progress and performance analytics, AI-backed customer behavior insights | Yes |
| BIGContacts | Workflow automation | From $9.99/month | Standard repetitive task automation, powerful drip email campaign, dependable status updates and follow-ups | Yes |
| Zoho CRM | Growing businesses | From $20/month | Adjustable welcome pages, flexible email and report formatting, easily configurable invoicing, quotes, and add-ons | Yes |
| ActiveCampaign | Marketing campaigns | From $15/month | AI-powered automation builder, conditions-based autoresponder, marketing campaign trackers and analyses | Yes, but only at the surface-level |
| NetSuite | Large organizations and enterprises | Custom | Unified business management system, clear visibility into customers’ entire life cycle, access to Oracle’s massive app marketplace | Yes, but it requires training |
10 Best CRM systems examples in use – our detailed list
Armed with the basic knowledge about my CRM tools list, you’re ready for a deeper dive. Join me as I explore what each provider has in store regarding use, features, perks, and other qualities. Find your perfect match hassle-free.
1. Salesforce – best example of CRM overall
| Best for: | Customer management |
| Free plan: | No, only a 30-day free trial |
| Starting price: | Custom |
| Standout features: | Industry-geared solutions and tools, top-notch workflow automation, insightful AI analytics and reports, robust integration options |
Example of Salesforce in use: robust customer data manager
Salesforce has been a leader in business management for over 20 years, offering plenty of widely-used solutions. However, its CRM platform is arguably its biggest claim to fame.
Salesforce’s industry-specific data-consolidating solutions immediately stood out to me, as they give businesses a complete view of their sales, marketing, IT, and commerce efforts.
From custom dashboards and deal-storing fields to email templates and storefront designer tools, these seem to cover all bases, whatever your business size or needs. They also include automation tools that eliminate manual and repetitive tasks and an AI assistant that tracks customer behavior and preferences and generates recommendations to improve engagement.
Salesforce’s integration capabilities were another aspect that impressed my team and me. The platform seamlessly syncs with over 4000 third-party apps, meaning it’ll fit right into your work routine, regardless of what tools and systems you already use.
2. Monday – best for ease of use and intuitive design
| Best for: | Ease of use and intuitive design |
| Free plan: | No, only a 14-day free trial |
| Starting price: | From $15/month |
| Standout features: | Straightforward interface, beginner-friendly automation builder, custom lead stages, dashboards and reports, convenient AI-powered functionality |
Example of Monday in use: intuitive data management
Monday is another familiar name on my CRM examples top list. Originally a project management tool, the solution eventually expanded into customer relationship coordination with a strong focus on sales. My colleagues and I chose it for its sleek, beginner-friendly design.
Monday features a vibrant, intuitive interface, built to simplify teamwork as much as client management. Customizable pipelines with drag-and-drop capabilities make organizing tasks effortless, while its no-code automation builder comes with ready-made templates for quick setup.
With Monday’s pre-built dashboards and reports on top of these features, tracking team activity, project progress, and revenue in one view couldn’t be more straightforward. Its recently-added AI-driven features, including automated email generation and performance analysis, only add to the convenience.
It’s a shame some of its best features, like multi-level permissions or mass emails, are locked behind higher-priced plans, which might be too expensive for smaller teams.
3. Pipedrive – best for small teams and solo entrepreneurs
| Best for: | Small teams and solo entrepreneurs |
| Free plan: | No, only a 14-day free trial |
| Starting price: | From $14/month |
| Standout features: | Simple and flexible pipeline view, robust security dashboard, AI-powered automations, useful integrations and add-ons |
Example of Pipedrive in use: sale and pipeline optimization
While not as famous as its predecessors on this list, Pipedrive holds its own. My colleagues at Cybernews and I noticed that it includes all the essential tools needed to manage the entire sales cycle, especially for smaller businesses.
With Pipedrive, you can set up custom pipelines, seamlessly import leads and deal information, and track progress with automatic real-time alerts.
Its security dashboard will keep sensitive data safe, allowing you to set strict user and time-based access controls and receive real-time login notifications. And 400 integrations and decent AI-driven automations will streamline workflow from lead capture to billing.
The only thing missing is customization, which I’d expect from a platform of this caliber. But that shouldn’t be a big concern for small teams and individual users.
4. ClickUp – best for tight-budget businesses
| Best for: | Tight-budget businesses |
| Free plan: | Yes |
| Starting price: | From $7/month |
| Standout features: | Versatile data management options, intuitive interface, accessible communication tools, flexible automations, and feature-rich yet affordable plans |
Example of ClickUp in use: task and workflow management
ClickUp is primarily known for its project management platform capabilities. However, I had to add it to my CRM software examples list for packing serious task management features into its budget-friendly plans.
ClickUp offers over 10 data views, including Kanban boards, Gantt charts, and classic lists and tables. Its color-coded interface makes workloads easy to track, tags help sort and filter deals, and built-in chat and integrated email keep team discussions on point.
Automations and sprint management features further the efficiency. The former speeds up your workflow with programmed hand-offs, task creation, and status updates, and the latter keeps teams on track without the need for micromanagement.
The best part is that every plan, including the free one, comes with all these tools, plus unlimited team members and 24/7 support. I’d say ClickUp is an easy choice for businesses on a budget.
5. Zendesk – best for businesses in sales
| Best for: | Businesses in sales |
| Free plan: | Free planNo, only a free trial |
| Starting price: | From $45/month |
| Standout features: | Rich lead generation functionality, out-of-the-box sales-geared features, unique ticketing system, and easy customer and cross-department communication |
Example of Zendesk in use: customer satisfaction resources
Zendesk stands out as a sales-focused CRM management software, packed with AI-powered tools for engagement, lead generation, and customer feedback. What I found most noteworthy, however, are its sale prospecting tools and ticketing system.
Zendesks’s help desk migration app makes switching from other platforms seamless, as it brings all your existing data into its system efficiently and smoothly. From there, targeted prospect lists help agents identify key stakeholders and reach out with precision. And its automated voice-powered dialer, complete with scripts and analytics, streamlines calls and tracks their impact.
A ticketing system collects customer feedback to help you monitor satisfaction levels. You get to tap into every interaction from a central inbox regardless of where the communication took place, reduce your response time, and refine your business strategy.
Unfortunately, this level of service comes at a high cost – from $45 per seat per month – too high for some smaller businesses and solo entrepreneurs’ budgets.
6. Freshworks – best for detailed analytics and reporting
| Best for: | Detailed analytics and reporting |
| Free plan: | Yes, but only with Freshmarketer solution |
| Starting price: | From $7/month |
| Standout features: | Department-specific CRM software, level-based progress and performance analytics, AI-backed customer behavior insights |
Example of Freshworks in use: comprehensive performance insights
Freshworks offers dedicated marketing, sales, and customer service solutions, as well as fantastic analytics and reporting across each.
I was impressed by its ability to track everything from customer interactions to project progress, all while generating detailed reports on performance on an individual, team, or territory-base level.
Freshworks’ data analytics visualizations top this off with a clearer view of workloads and bottlenecks. Its AI-driven insights into customer behavior help improve engagement, identify patterns, and optimize strategies.
Another thing I found especially useful is how it aligns sales and marketing. Sales reports supervise sales cycles, while marketing reports break down engagement rates and campaign success. Together, these help close performance gaps and boost revenue.
The main drawbacks are the limited integrations and add-ons, which could hold you back as your business evolves, develops unique needs, and requires more specialized digital tools.
7. BIGContacts – best for workflow automation
| Best for: | Workflow automation |
| Free plan: | Yes |
| Starting price: | From $9.99/month |
| Standout features: | Standard repetitive task automation, powerful drip email campaign, dependable status updates and follow-ups |
Example of BIGContacts in use: sales and marketing efficiency enhancement
BIGContacts isn’t among my favorite examples of CRM software for remote and on-terrain teams, as it lacks a mobile app. Still, there’s no denying it delivers in the sales and marketing automations department.
BIGContacts allows you to customize your pipeline and streamline workflow through standard task automation. But more importantly, it lets you visualize sales opportunities and automatically send personalized emails based on where your prospect is in the cycle.
You can schedule these based on time between interactions, key events, or prior activity. What’s more, you can program the system to gather all incoming emails and sort them by contact, configure follow-ups, and receive progress-related alerts, all without any manual interference.
One element that may deter you from using BIGContacts is customer support. Most users describe it as sluggish, which isn’t something I’d recommend for newbies to CRM software solutions.
8. Zoho CRM – best for growing businesses
| Best for: | Growing businesses |
| Free plan: | Yes |
| Starting price: | From $20/month |
| Standout features: | Adjustable welcome pages, flexible email and report formatting, easily configurable invoicing, quotes, and add-ons |
Examples of Zoho CRM in use: vast customization capabilities
No CRM list feels complete without a giant like Zoho CRM. It might not be the most accessible platform in terms of setup or pricing plans, but it carries incredible scaling potential. According to user testimonials, Zoho supports businesses as they expand, thanks to its many customization options.
The solution lets you build multiple landing pages and tweak each to fit different departments in your company. Its email integration capabilities offer complete control over the content your clients receive, and the Configure Price Quote creates product rules and pricing specific to each client.
The same flexibility continues with reporting and add-ons. As your needs change, you can configure reports through key filters and add features to your CRM toolkit with in-house tools and third-party integrations. Plus, you get a 5-day buffer period between plan renewals to help you transition.
9. ActiveCampaign – best for marketing campaigns
| Best for: | Marketing campaigns |
| Free plan: | No, only a 14-day free trial |
| Starting price: | From $15/month |
| Standout features: | AI-powered automation builder, conditions-based autoresponder, marketing campaign trackers and analyses |
Example of ActiveCampaign in use: marketing automation tools
As its name suggests, ActiveCampaign is a CRM designed to optimize your marketing campaigns. My colleagues and I agree that its marketing templates and automation tools are where it truly excels.
This CRM system example offers a user-friendly automation builder that lets you customize multi-channel messaging campaigns. There are hundreds of templates if you’re new to the field or need inspiration. Handy drag-and-drop email builder tools allow for fine-tuning, and the AI assistant helps in segmentation, content generation, and campaign scheduling.
ActiveCampaign also features conditioned autoresponders and tracks marketing campaign results, so you can nurture customer relations and reach objectives faster. Sadly, it’s not the cheapest solution around.
While there’s no denying this CRM’s excellent marketing campaign tools, you should know it comes with a few disadvantages. It doesn’t offer a free plan, it limits features on its entry-level option, and it may charge you extra for some of its functionalities.
10. NetSuite – best for large organizations and enterprises
| Best for: | Large organizations and enterprises |
| Free plan: | No |
| Starting price: | Custom |
| Standout features: | Unified business management system, clear visibility into customers’ entire life cycle, access to Oracle’s massive app marketplace |
Examples of NetSuite in use: enterprise resource planning
Unlike others on this list of top 10 CRM software, NetSuite doesn’t stand alone. It’s part of Oracle’s business software suite, offering much more than customer management. Its ERP capabilities were the highlight for me.
Oracle’s ecosystem includes nearly 700 apps, making it easier to manage and integrate all your core business processes in one place. Beyond CRM essentials like contact management, task automation, and analytics, NetSuite lets you handle a range of other critical business functions.
You can optimize supply chain planning, streamline order processing and accounting, and even enhance HR operations, all from a single platform. This unified approach reduces manual work, promotes collaboration, and leads to more thoughtful decision-making. It’s all a big organization or an enterprise would need.
The catch is that it’s not a plug-and-play solution. NetSuite requires training for proper use and comes with a higher price tag than traditional CRM system examples.
What is a CRM system?
CRM systems have become a buzzword in business, but few grasp their meaning or potential. The acronym stands for customer relationship management, one of the key pillars of modern business success. And that’s what these tools are designed to help with.
In the simplest of terms, CRMs assist companies in managing their client relationships. They used to be nothing more than digital address books that stored and organized important business contacts. However, growing demand and technological advancements have made them much more powerful.
Today, CRM software platforms centralize customer communication, store key documents, and track invoices and quotes in one place. But they don’t only help view and sort them according to your needs – these tools automate workflows, monitor sales pipelines, and generate real-time reports around them.
The most advanced systems leverage AI and machine learning to track market changes, keep tabs on your performance, and offer insights. They detect inefficiencies, offer recommendations, and predict future trends.
This way, CRM management software helps make your team more efficient, keep you competitive, and boost your revenue, all while pushing you closer to your goals – no wonder they’ve become an essential part of modern business strategy.
5 types of CRM software solutions
Not all CRM systems examples are created equal. In fact, they fall into five distinct categories, each with a different approach to managing customer relation
- Operational CRM. This type is designed to streamline day-to-day business processes. It includes tools for automating marketing, sales, and customer service, simplifying your team’s tasks and improving your clients’ experience.
- Analytical CRM. This software’s focus is on data collection and analysis. It gathers information about customer behavior and preferences and uses this data to recognize patterns. Its reports help businesses refine their strategies, focus their marketing efforts, and improve decision-making.
- Collaborative CRM. This CRM system aims to improve communication and collaboration between individuals and teams in the company. Centralizing data ensures easy access across departments, facilitates team-member and customer feedback, and enables real-time updates and alerts.
- Strategic CRM. This type helps businesses maintain long-term relationships by compiling customer data, such as past interactions, purchase history, and habits. It then tailors services, automates personalized outreach, and refines processes to boost engagement and retention rates.
- Campaign Management CRM. This example CRM software type is built to help you manage marketing campaigns. It features tools for customer data analyses and reporting, sale activities and promotional content recommendations, and advertisement success and ROI tracking.
Key features of CRM systems
By now, you should have an idea of what a CRM is used for – it’s all about strengthening and maintaining customer relationships. However, the exact features that make this possible may not be as apparent. To help, I’ve compiled and summarized the key ones below:
- Customer management. A CRM’s primary objective is to offer a central repository for storing customer information, from names to social media accounts. The best ones let you view, organize, and handle them according to your team’s preferences.
- Sales pipeline management. These platforms help businesses handle the sales process from start to finish. They assist companies in finding prospects, converting leads, tracking deals, following up, and predicting future sales.
- Marketing automation. CRM software examples automate email campaign creation, advertising content personalization, and customer follow-ups. This lets businesses improve engagement and conversions effortlessly.
- Reporting and analytics. These solutions feature tools that oversee and analyze customer behavior, project progress, sales trends, and other aspects of your business. They generate comprehensive reports to guide strategy adjustments, helping companies to improve performance and ensure they’re on the right path to meeting their goals.
- Integration with other tools. CRMs integrate with various third-party apps to optimize workflow. They ensure smooth data exchange, providing a clearer, unified view across departments, which facilitates collaboration and helps teams stay coordinated.
- Customization options. Top customer relationship management software examples are flexible when it comes to the tools and services they offer. They let users customize views and workflows and add and subtract features and seats to cater to different business needs and support their growth.
Key benefits of CRM systems
If you’re still in two minds about how a CRM system can favor your business, you want to explore its benefits. I listed the most notable ones below to help you understand what you can expect once you pick the right platform:
- Improved customer relationships. With better data organization, smoother project management, and in-depth reporting, CRMs take customer satisfaction to the next level. They allow your team to focus on clients while providing insights to personalize communication and services.
- Simplified sales cycle. The best CRM examples catch issues and bottlenecks in your sales pipeline, recommend improvements for lead scoring, and deliver more accurate sales forecasts. This streamlines the sales process and enhances budgeting and conversion rates.
- Better team collaboration. Customer relationship management platforms consolidate all relevant customer-related information. It keeps everyone in your company on the same page, facilitating communication and fostering cooperation across departments.
- More effective marketing campaigns. A good CRM software example analyzes your prospective customers, refining your audience segmentation and targeting. It helps create and automate marketing campaigns that resonate with them.
- Higher retention rates and ROI. CRMs help you address issues quickly and efficiently by monitoring customer behavior and market trends. They strengthen customer relationships, anticipate needs, and detect gaps in service, engagement, or sales processes, offering easy solutions.
How to choose the right CRM system example for my needs
Choosing the right CRM for your business can feel overwhelming without a clear plan. Even with my top 10 CRM list at your disposal, you still need to know what fits your specific needs.
To simplify things, my Cybernews team and I put together a step-by-step guide. Follow it as closely as you can to make your search smooth and successful:
- Define your needs. Start by assessing your business's current standing, project success rate, and big-picture goals. Identify the tools that can support and accelerate growth or fill performance gaps. Use these insights to narrow down the CRM features that truly matter.
- Consider integration and customization options. Look for examples of CRM systems that fit your workflow. Prioritize options that integrate with the software your employees regularly use and are flexible enough to adapt to workstyle and potential market changes.
- Factor in your budget. Make sure to pick a solution that’s cost-effective in the long run. You can choose cheaper plans to skip the unnecessary extras, but don’t sacrifice must-have features. Weighing the costs against the benefits before deciding is the best route.
- Look for scalability. Switching between solutions down the line will be tedious, time-consuming, and revenue-damaging. So, be sure the CRM you choose can grow with your business. Check how features are split across plans and whether upgrading is affordable as your needs evolve.
- Test through free trials. Don’t rush in and pick a brand before testing it firsthand. Take advantage of the free trial to get a CRM software sample from each provider that seems appealing. Compare them to pick the best option without spending any money.
- Get your team’s opinion. Check in with your team before settling on a CRM platform. Get their feedback on the interface, layout, and onboarding. If it feels clunky or inconvenient for most, it’s not the right fit.
Other sales & CRM tools you might be interested in:
Final word on best CRM systems examples
CRMs are key to keeping businesses running smoothly, regardless of size or industry. They centralize and organize customer data, automate workflows, streamline sales pipeline management, and offer insightful reports and forecasts.
Of course, a CRM is only as good as its fit for your business. That’s why choosing one from my top CRM tools examples list is the smart move. Cybernews experts have vetted every option, so all you have to do is read the reviews and consider the key features, pros, and cons.
Pick a solution like Salesforce or Pipedrive, and you’ll see your customer management flourish sooner or later.
FAQ
What does CRM stand for?
CRM stands for customer relationship management, the process of analyzing and optimizing how you engage with your clients. The platforms designed for this purpose offer a full suite of tools to store, organize, automate, and manage customer data effectively.
How much does a CRM system typically cost?
The cost of using a CRM system varies depending on the provider. Most offer multiple pricing plans, starting between $7 and $50/seat/month. Many also feature free trials and free plans, which let you test or use limited-feature versions of their platforms for free.
Can small businesses benefit from CRM systems?
Yes, small businesses can benefit from using a CRM system. They can sort and organize contacts according to small teams’ needs, are simple to use, offer no-code automation, and provide solid onboarding resources. Pipedrive, Salesforce, and Monday are all excellent examples.
Is there a difference between cloud-based and on-premises CRM?
Yes, Cloud-based CRM hosts your data online, while on-premises CRM installs locally. The first is more flexible and offers easy access from anywhere but isn’t as secure. The latter provides more control and security but is less scalable and more expensive to maintain.
Does it take long to implement a CRM system?
No, it doesn’t take long to implement a CRM system. Most platforms offer quick setup and intuitive interface to accommodate beginners and less tech-savvy users. However, the process ultimately depends on your chosen brand and the features your business needs.
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