You do not have to lock up your budget trying to find the appropriate customer relationship management solution. Small and medium businesses require CRM software which combines strong functionalities with reasonable prices.
The available CRM solutions will help you achieve your contact organisation and sales automation needs while enhancing your customer follow-up activities according to your financial capacity.
But first, what is CRM software development?
CRM software development entails developing systems which assist businesses in dealing with existing and prospective customers. The platforms help in centrally storing customer information, sales activities, automating marketing functions and delivering information that spurs business growth.
In the case of SMBs, CRM software development presents two avenues to the company: either by buying off-the-shelf packages or developing unique CRM systems to meet the particular business processes. Although readymade solutions can be used in the normal sales process, there are businesses that need custom software development to meet special industry needs.
Why SMBs need affordable CRM solutions
The poor follow-up practices cause 79% of the leads to be lost by small businesses. It is solved with a CRM system that centralises the information about customers and automatises the work with them. Your team receives one source of truth instead of randomly spread sheets of every interaction with your customers.
CRMs assist you in tracking the leads that will most likely become sales, discovering your most efficient marketing sources, predicting income, and automating the data input. Free capabilities or an entry-level plan below 25 dollars per user per month are offered by numerous major CRM providers.
List Of Top 10 Affordable Crm Tools For SMBs
1. Soft Tech Cube

Selecting a CRM is just the first step. Many businesses benefit from working with experienced implementation partners who understand both the technical and business sides of CRM deployment.
Soft Tech Cube is in the business of assisting SMBs in making CRM software development decisions. You may require assistance in choosing the appropriate platform, tailoring an already existing solution, or determining the viability of developing bespoke CRM software; our service offers a knowledge base in the selection of SaaS application development, ecommerce software development, fintech software development and automation of business processes.
Pricing: Business-specific pricing.
Best for: SMBs that require assistance in choosing, customising or creating a CRM solution that is specific to their business needs.
1. HubSpot CRM

HubSpot free CRM can be considered a standard-setting for small businesses that are embarking on CRM. Its free version supports two users and 1,000 contacts which can manage their contacts, deal pipelines, email tracking as well as meet up schedules.
Pricing: Free (2 users, 1,000 contacts), Starter ($15/month per seat), Professional ($50/month per seat)
Best for: Startups that desire an all-inclusive offering at no cost and which can expand as the company expands.
2. Zoho CRM

Zoho CRM is an ERP software development service with prices for SMB. The free plan can have 3 users and 5,000 records. Paid plans will welcome automation of the workflow, AI-based insights, and advanced analytics.
Pricing: Free (3 users, 5,000 records), Standard ($14/user/month), Professional ($23/user/month)
Best for: Businesses that require automation and AI functionalities at less cost.
3. Less Annoying CRM

As the name implies, Less Annoying CRM is complex free. No configuration wizard or endless configuration. You register and begin having contacts in a second.
Pricing: Simple flat rate of $15/user/month with no tiers.
Best for: Small teams wanting simplicity over feature bloat.
4. OnePageCRM

OnePageCRM has a Next Action approach where you will be reminded of the next action to be taken after each interaction, such that your sales process will keep going.
Pricing: Professional (9.95/user/month), Business (19.95/user/month) and a yearly billing.
Best for: Suited to small businesses that are sales oriented and desire a workflow that is action-oriented.
5. Freshsales

Freshsales is a blend of CRM and in-built communication solutions. Freddy is an AI-based assistant that gives predictive information to enable deals to be closed at a quicker rate.
Pricing: Free (up to 3 users), Growth ($15/user/month), Pro ($39/user/month)
Best for: Growing sales teams needing AI assistance and communication tools.
6. Pipedrive

Pipedrive built its reputation on visual pipeline management. The drag-and-drop interface makes it easy to see exactly where each deal stands.
Pricing: Essential ($15/user/month), Advanced ($29/user/month), Professional ($59/user/month)
Best for: Sales-driven organisations in visual deal management.
7. Monday CRM

Monday CRM brings the visual project management approach to customer relationships with unlimited pipelines and customizable templates.
Pricing: Basic ($12/user/month), Standard ($17/user/month), Pro ($28/user/month)
Best for: Teams wanting visual project-style management.
8. EngageBay

EngageBay is a CRM, marketing automation and sales combination. The free version is quite liberal and supports up to 15 users which is highly cost-effective for growing teams.
Pricing: Free (15 users, 250 contacts), Basic (12.74/user/month), Growth (42.49/user/month).
Best for: SMBs that prefer both marketing and sales together and not subscribing to several packages.
9. Capsule CRM

Capsule CRM is all about straightforwardness, where there is no limited storage of cases, and you get the picture of all the customer relationships.
Pricing: Starter ($18/user/month), Growth ($36/user/month), Advanced ($54/user/month)
Best for: Businesses that are looking to have a combination of everything without paying per-user.
10. Bitrix24

Bitrix24 can provide unlimited free users as compared to its competitors, who restrict free plans. It consists of project management, collaboration tools and communication features.
Pricing: Free (unlimited users), Basic ($49/month for 5 users), Standard ($99/month for 50 users)
Best for: Businesses wanting an all-in-one workspace without per-user pricing.
When to build custom CRM vs. buying off-the-shelf
Pre-built CRM solutions are able to suit most of the SMBs. Nevertheless, there are some cases, which make it reasonable to consider a more customised CRM development strategy.
Purchase off the shelf when: Your sales model is regular, the deployment should be fast, you are restricted by the budget, and minimal training of your staff is necessary.
Custom build when: You need a particular workflow, or compliance requirements that are industry-specific, or that need a high degree of integration with the legacy systems.
An appropriate solution to the problem can be offered by the hybrid approach: purchase a product that is low-cost and easy to install, and then customise it. It could be useful to work with a Software Development Company or a nearshore software development company to ensure that you consider the path that makes sense.
Implementation tips for SMBs
The adoption of CRM can only succeed when the appropriate software is selected. Turn on the strategy and not the software. Know what you want to accomplish, and then consider tools.
Also, cleanse your data prior to importing. Any transfer of messy data generates instant issues. Clean up the address book and normalise formatting prior to the great migration.
Train your team thoroughly. Intuitive CRMs even need training. Set aside some time and develop internal documentation of your workflows.
Be compatible with other tools from the very beginning. Integrate your email, calendar and accounting packages. This is automated time-saving hours of manual entries. In instances where businesses need advanced automation, one example is the sales automation software which is used to automate repetitive procedures.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
Which CRM is best for small businesses?
A small enterprise will be offered the most appropriate CRM depending on its budget, the size of the team, and workflow. A lot of small businesses are more inclined to choose tools that can be easily installed, are easy to use and can be extended as time progresses.
What CRM software is best for a small startup?
CRM software normally favours startups with its ability to manage contacts, track sales, and implement minimal automation without extensive configuration. The right decision is that which is politically correct at the present time, but can be upgraded as the business grows bigger.
What’s the most affordable CRM?
Low-cost and free packages of affordable CRM solutions generally include basic features such as lead tracking, email integration, etc. The cheapest will be based on the number of users you will have and the number of features that you will be using.
What are the top 10 CRM tools?
Businesses commonly refer to Salesforce, HubSpot, Zoho CRM, Pipedrive, Microsoft Dynamics, Freshsales, Insightly, Monday CRM, Copper, and Nimble as famous CRM tools. Each has various business sizes and uses.