Quick comparison
Shortlist first, details second. Always double-check current pricing and plan limits on the vendor site.
| Tool | Best for | Setup time | Pricing | Why it’s here | Watch-out |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Close Top pick | Outbound sales + follow‑ups | 1–2 hours | Paid | Fast sales workflow; strong follow‑up habits | Less “all‑in‑one marketing” than suites |
| Pipedrive | Simple pipelines | 1–2 hours | Paid | Easy to adopt; clean pipeline view | Can feel basic for heavy automation |
| HubSpot | CRM + marketing together | Half day | Free + paid | Great if you already run marketing in HubSpot | Can get expensive as you scale |
How we picked
- Optimized for agency workflows: delivery visibility, client collaboration, and handoffs.
- Prioritized low-friction setup and sane permissions (so you actually adopt it).
- Checked reporting and “share with clients” realism (not just feature checkboxes).
- Included a clear watch-out for each option to avoid bad fits.
We refresh guides when pricing/features shift. Always verify current terms on the vendor site.
Close
Best for: agencies that sell via outbound or fast follow‑ups
Close is the pick when revenue depends on speed: reply quickly, follow up consistently, keep deals moving.
- Best for teams doing outbound + calling + rapid follow-up.
- Less admin friction: you spend time selling, not configuring.
- Ideal when you want a sales-first workflow.
Pipedrive
Best for: simple pipeline management
Pipedrive is great when you just want the pipeline visible and clean — without turning CRM into a project.
- Fast adoption for small teams.
- Works well when you don’t need deep automation.
- Good baseline “agency CRM”.
Salesflare — best if you want an email‑first CRM with less manual logging
Salesflare is a lightweight CRM that leans into automatic activity capture (email, calendar) so the pipeline stays accurate with less admin.
Try Salesflare Compare with Pipedrive
HubSpot
Best for: agencies that already use HubSpot
HubSpot is best when you want CRM and marketing in one system and you’re willing to manage the suite.
- Useful if marketing automation is part of your stack.
- Scales, but cost can creep up.
- Make sure permissions and reporting match your client work.
Bottom line
Start with the Top pick if it matches your workflow. Then sanity-check the watch-outs (permissions, reporting, plan limits) before you commit.
FAQ
What’s the #1 CRM feature for agencies?
Follow‑up reliability. A CRM that makes follow-ups obvious will beat a feature-rich tool nobody opens.
Should I pick a suite CRM?
Only if you truly use the suite. Otherwise a sales-first CRM is usually faster to adopt.
How do I keep the pipeline honest?
Define clear stages, require next-steps, and review the pipeline weekly with a “close date or close it” rule.