Salesforce is a cloud-based customer relationship management (CRM) provider, allowing businesses to build meaningful and sustained relationships with their customers. With robust, customizable software that integrates with social media, Gmail, and Microsoft Outlook, the Salesforce CRM platform is rated highly among businesses of all shapes and sizes. Recent data has shown that the company has captured 19.5% of the global CRM market.
Competitor | Description | Key Insights | Competitive Overlap | Differentiation |
---|---|---|---|---|
Microsoft Dynamics 365 | A suite of cloud-based business applications by Microsoft, including CRM and ERP solutions. Microsoft Dynamics competes with Salesforce in the customer relationship management (CRM) and enterprise software market. | Microsoft Dynamics 365 offers CRM and ERP solutions, focusing on integration with Microsoft’s productivity and cloud services. | Both provide CRM solutions, but Microsoft Dynamics integrates seamlessly with Microsoft’s ecosystem. | Integration with Microsoft’s productivity tools and broad enterprise software capabilities. |
Oracle Cloud Applications | Oracle offers a suite of cloud-based applications, including customer experience (CX) and enterprise software solutions. Oracle Cloud Applications compete with Salesforce in the CRM and enterprise software market. | Oracle Cloud Applications provide CRM, CX, and enterprise software solutions with a focus on data security and scalability. | Both offer CRM and CX solutions, but Oracle emphasizes data security and database capabilities. | Oracle’s strong emphasis on data security and database management. |
SAP Customer Experience | A suite of customer experience solutions by SAP, including CRM, marketing, sales, and service cloud applications. SAP Customer Experience competes with Salesforce in the CRM and customer experience market. | SAP Customer Experience provides CRM, marketing, sales, and service solutions with a focus on end-to-end customer engagement. | Both offer CRM and customer experience solutions, but SAP focuses on end-to-end customer engagement and integrates with SAP’s broader enterprise offerings. | Integration with SAP’s comprehensive enterprise solutions and focus on end-to-end customer engagement. |
HubSpot | A comprehensive inbound marketing, sales, and service platform that includes CRM, marketing automation, and customer service tools. HubSpot competes with Salesforce in the CRM and marketing automation market. | HubSpot offers an all-in-one platform for inbound marketing, sales, and service, with an emphasis on inbound methodologies. | Both provide CRM and marketing automation solutions, but HubSpot focuses on inbound marketing and offers a user-friendly platform. | HubSpot’s emphasis on inbound marketing methodologies and user-friendliness. |
Zoho CRM | A cloud-based customer relationship management platform offered by Zoho Corporation. Zoho CRM competes with Salesforce in the CRM market, targeting businesses of all sizes. | Zoho CRM provides CRM solutions with a focus on affordability and customization options for businesses. | Both offer CRM solutions, but Zoho CRM emphasizes affordability and flexibility for businesses of all sizes. | Zoho CRM’s affordability and extensive customization options. |
Pipedrive | A sales CRM and pipeline management platform designed for small and medium-sized businesses. Pipedrive competes with Salesforce in the sales CRM and pipeline management market. | Pipedrive offers a sales CRM platform with a focus on simplicity, sales process automation, and sales pipeline management. | Both offer sales CRM solutions, but Pipedrive targets small and medium-sized businesses with a user-friendly interface. | Pipedrive’s simplicity and sales pipeline management focus. |
Freshsales | A CRM software offered by Freshworks, designed for sales teams to manage leads, contacts, and deals. Freshsales competes with Salesforce in the CRM and sales management market. | Freshsales provides CRM solutions with an emphasis on AI-driven sales automation and lead scoring for businesses of all sizes. | Both offer CRM solutions, but Freshsales focuses on AI-driven sales automation and lead scoring. | Freshsales’ AI-driven automation and lead scoring features. |
SugarCRM | A customer experience and CRM software offered by SugarCRM Inc., catering to sales, marketing, and support teams. SugarCRM competes with Salesforce in the CRM and customer experience market. | SugarCRM provides CRM and customer experience solutions, with a focus on flexibility and customization for businesses. | Both offer CRM and customer experience solutions, but SugarCRM emphasizes flexibility and customization options. | SugarCRM’s flexibility and customization capabilities. |
Zendesk Sell | A sales CRM and engagement platform by Zendesk, designed to improve sales team efficiency and customer relationships. Zendesk Sell competes with Salesforce in the sales CRM market. | Zendesk Sell offers a sales CRM platform with features to enhance sales team productivity and customer interactions. | Both provide sales CRM solutions, but Zendesk Sell focuses on sales team efficiency and customer engagement. | Zendesk Sell’s focus on improving sales team efficiency and customer relationships. |
Nimble CRM | A CRM platform designed to help small businesses manage relationships and engage with contacts. Nimble CRM competes with Salesforce in the CRM market, targeting small businesses. | Nimble CRM offers CRM solutions with a focus on contact management, social engagement, and simplicity for small businesses. | Both offer CRM solutions, but Nimble CRM targets small businesses and emphasizes contact management and social engagement. | Nimble CRM’s simplicity and focus on small businesses. |
Looking at Salesforce for multiple perspectives
Nevertheless, the global reach of Salesforce means that it cannot serve the unique needs of every single client. Some may find the platform excessively complex or unwieldy, preferring a simple dashboard without the bells and whistles. Others may not have the budget to stick with Salesforce long term.
Microsoft Dynamics 365
Microsoft Dynamics 365 is a similarly global system offered in 40 regions and 41 languages.
The Microsoft CRM is feature-rich but is relatively easy to use. Indeed, it can even run with an Outlook client to give the look and feel of a Microsoft Office environment. Users can maintain accounts, nurture sales leads, create sales collateral, and track contacts.
CRM software delivery can be achieved in several ways. It may be cloud-based, on-premise, or a combination of both and serves businesses of any size in any industry.
Keap
Keap is regarded by many as the best CRM system in terms of ease of use, and for good reason. It features fully automated sales, marketing, and eCommerce packages with the option for clients to pay invoices through their preferred bank via instant message alerts.
Keap offers three tiered monthly subscription options, with each additional user incurring an additional fee. The Basic plan starts at $79, increasing to $149 for the Pro plan and $199 for the Enterprise plan.
Sugar Sell
Sugar Sell is the name given to the sales automation software from Sugar CRM. It is a four-time winner of the PCMAG Business Choice Award for Customer Experience.
The platform gives employees the necessary data to optimize lead conversions and reach out to customers. It brings a plethora of features to the CRM space, including custom reporting, product cataloging, and custom quotes. There is also the option to make sales forecasts to improve predictability and visibility.
Sugar Sell is also available in app form for Android and iOS devices.
Pipedrive
Pipedrive is particularly suited to businesses that find the onboarding process for new software daunting. It incorporates features such as email marketing, activities and goals management, and lead generation. It can also synthesize data into smaller, actionable reports.
Compared to Salesforce, Pipedrive is a much more affordable option with an intuitive design and importantly, 24/7 customer service.
HubSpot CRM
HubSpot CRM is suited to self-employed individuals or sole traders. The company offers a feature-packed free version that is simple to use. Of course, individuals who wish to do so can upgrade to a more powerful paid system.
Regardless of which version is utilized, the HubSpot CRM can easily be synchronized to the rest of the HubSpot App Ecosystem.
Zoho CRM
Among CRM options for small businesses, Zoho CRM offers all of the most valuable CRM features at the best price. This makes it a significant force in the CRM market.
Importantly, Zoho has one of the largest integration fields of any provider. This makes it an ideal choice for smaller businesses that cannot afford fully customized software decks. The platform is also backed by extensive documentation to help customers navigate the sometimes difficult process of software upgrades.
Zoho CRM pricing is also versatile, offering five subscription plans. A free option is available for up to three users. Beyond that, businesses can select from a range of affordable plans offering a turn-key solution for tech novices.
Key takeaways:
- Salesforce has cornered almost 20% of the CRM market, but it is not a one-size-fits-all approach.
- Microsoft Dynamics 365 and HubSpot CRM are major Salesforce competitors because of their association with affiliated app ecosystems.
- Platforms such as Zoho CRM and Pipedrive also offer cheap, more automated options for the less tech-savvy.
Key Highlights of Salesforce’s Competitors:
- Microsoft Dynamics 365:
- Global system available in 40 regions and 41 languages.
- Feature-rich and easy-to-use CRM.
- Can integrate with Microsoft Office environment.
- Offers cloud-based and on-premise delivery options.
- Keap:
- Known for ease of use and automation.
- Offers sales, marketing, and eCommerce packages.
- Provides options for clients to pay invoices through instant message alerts.
- Tiered monthly subscription plans starting at $79.
- Sugar Sell (Sugar CRM):
- Award-winning sales automation software.
- Provides data for optimizing lead conversions and customer outreach.
- Features custom reporting, product cataloging, and sales forecasting.
- Available as an app for Android and iOS devices.
- Pipedrive:
- Suited for businesses finding new software onboarding daunting.
- Offers email marketing, activities management, and lead generation.
- Affordable and intuitive option with 24/7 customer service.
- Provides actionable reports and data synthesis.
- HubSpot CRM:
- Feature-packed free version suitable for self-employed individuals.
- Upgrade options available for more powerful systems.
- Easily synchronized with the HubSpot App Ecosystem.
- Zoho CRM:
- Offers valuable CRM features at affordable prices.
- Wide integration capabilities, suitable for smaller businesses.
- Backed by extensive documentation for software upgrades.
- Versatile pricing with free and subscription plans.
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