Customer relationship management software lets you spend less time completing manual tasks and keeps track of who you talk to and when you need to follow up.
As a small business owner or solopreneur, you don't have the time or the staff to waste on manual data entry or a missed opportunity to close a sale.
Sounds great, right? It is! But CRM software can also be pricey.
Most CRMs cost around $50/user/month, which is more than many startups and small businesses want to (or can) pay.
According to Capterra's "Top 20 Most Popular CRM Software" report, SugarCRM is one of the most popular CRM software options around. But at $40/month/user, it's not super cheap.
Luckily, there are some affordable SugarCRM alternatives out there.
This article looks at three SugarCRM alternatives. See the full list of SugarCRM alternatives here.
Comparing affordable SugarCRM alternatives
Capterra's "Top 20 Most Affordable CRM Software" report is based on a combination of three factors: average monthly cost, total number of features offered for that cost, and customer reviews.
The top three CRM on that list? Yetiforce, Snapforce CRM, and Apptivo CRM.
In this post, you'll find a high-level overview of these three affordable CRM options. I've compared them based on ratings, features, reviews, integrations, and price points to help you find which CRM best meets your needs.
Before we get started, though, let's take a quick look at SugarCRM so you can see how they measure up.
SugarCRM
SugarCRM overview video (Source)
Overview:
SugarCRM is a cloud-based CRM with native Android and iOS apps. The vendor offers extensive training options, including in-person, live chat, webinars, and help articles, all in addition to 24/7 customer support via live chat and email.
Capterra reviewers say SugarCRM's customer support is responsive and easy to work with and that implementation is a breeze as long as you take advantage of the offered hand-holding. Users love how easily SugarCRM integrates with other programs (such as help desk software), citing how easy it is to import and export data to and from other applications.
A few reviewers noted that SugarCRM can be buggy, lag a bit, and that its functionality is on the lighter side when compared with similarly priced CRMs. It's also worth noting that SugarCRM doesn't offer marketing automation functionality while the alternatives listed below do.
Features:
SugarCRM feature list (_Source)_
Extra features:
Can use for marketing, IT, and customer service
No modules or apps to buy; the system price is its price
Pricing:
Tiered; starting price is $40 per user, per month.
3 affordable SugarCRM alternatives
1. Yetiforce
Yetiforce screenshot (_Source)_
Overview:
Yetiforce is a free, open source, cloud-based CRM with support available via email during business hours. To help customers learn to use the system, the vendor offers a knowledge base with documentation and a FAQ. (Some users noted, however, that the documentation can be frustratingly sparse and/or out-of-date.)
Capterra users like how flexible Yetiforce is, noting that nearly any functionality can be added through custom modules that you can either build yourself, pay someone to build, or pay Yetiforce to build for you.
Reviewers describe it as a fast system that is easy to set up and intuitive to use (which can be unusual with open source software) and have very few complaints about bugs or lagging. It's also the only option on this list without referral tracking capabilities.
Though Yetiforce doesn't offer any native mobile apps out of the box, the vendor claims that its site is mobile responsive.
Features:
Yetiforce feature list (_Source)_
Extra features:
Record previews
Pricing:
Free to use, customization and module development priced separately.
2. Snapforce CRM
Snapforce CRM overview video (Source)
Overview:
Snapforce CRM is a cloud-based CRM with native Android and iOS apps. The vendor offers training in person and via live chat, webinars, and help articles. Help with setup costs around $300 per month. They also offer 24/7 support via email and live chat.
Capterra reviewers really appreciate all the hand holding Snapforce offers during implementation. Many found the system easy to use and describe the interface as refreshingly simple. Other users complimented the vendor's customer service team.
Some customers did experience glitches but said that, overall, any issues were quite manageable.
Features:
Snapforce feature list (Source)
Extra features:
Only pay for the functionality you need
Pricing:
The starting price is $12 per month, but to get all the features listed above you'll need to pay for add-ons, most of which range from $5-$20/month, each.
3. Apptivo CRM
Apptivo CRM overview video (Source)
Overview:
Apptivo CRM is a cloud-based CRM with native Android and iOS apps. The vendor offers training in-person and via live chat, webinars, and help articles, as well as 24/7 support via email.
Capterra reviewers appreciate that Apptivo is so flexible and customizable, offering modules for nearly any function. Many people use Apptivo for their help desk as well as CRM.
Multiple users complimented Apptivo's mobile app, which has all the functionality of the desktop version. Customer service received the most praise, especially the live chat option. Users love being able to reach out to support and get instant answers 24/7.
Some reviewers noted that the user interface and navigation are a little more complicated than they'd like, especially since related, helpful documentation is sparse.
Features:
Apptivo feature list (Source)
Extra features:
Invoicing
Visual pipeline of all incoming deals
Easily integrate extra functionality, including help desk, project management, etc.
Pricing:
Tiered, with a free (limited) version available. The starting price for the paid version is $8/user/month.
Choosing the SugarCRM alternative for you
Yetiforce, Snapforce CRM, and Apptivo CRM are all great alternatives to SugarCRM. Which one is best for your business? That all depends on your needs.
If you're looking for:
Flexibility and don't mind getting your hands dirty with some development work, go with Yetiforce.
24/7 live support and don't mind a couple of glitches here and there, opt for Snapforce.
24/7 live support and a great mobile experience, and are willing to endure a clunkier user interface, choose Apptivo.
To compare even more options, check out Capterra's CRM software directory. You can compare hundreds of options side-by-side, and narrow your list by functionality using the directory's powerful filtering tool.