Quick Overview
- 1#1: Pipedrive - Visual sales pipeline management tool that helps teams track deals from lead to close with customizable stages and automation.
- 2#2: Salesforce - Enterprise CRM platform with advanced deal pipeline tracking, forecasting, and AI-powered insights for sales teams.
- 3#3: HubSpot CRM - Free CRM with intuitive deal pipelines, email tracking, and seamless integration for inbound sales processes.
- 4#4: Close - All-in-one sales CRM focused on high-velocity pipelines, built-in calling, emailing, and predictive dialing.
- 5#5: Zoho CRM - Affordable CRM with blueprint pipelines, multi-channel support, and AI-driven deal insights for growing businesses.
- 6#6: Freshsales - AI-powered sales CRM that visualizes deal pipelines, scores leads, and automates workflows for better conversions.
- 7#7: Copper - Google-native CRM that turns Gmail into a powerful deal pipeline manager with automatic data entry and prospecting.
- 8#8: monday sales CRM - Flexible no-code platform for building custom sales pipelines with automation, dashboards, and team collaboration.
- 9#9: Nutshell - User-friendly CRM designed for sales pipelines with forecasting, email campaigns, and reporting tools.
- 10#10: Insightly - CRM solution with visual pipelines, project management integration, and relationship tracking for small to mid-sized teams.
We evaluated tools based on pipeline customization, automation capabilities, ease of use, and value to ensure our rankings reflect the most robust and practical options for modern sales operations.
Comparison Table
Effective deal pipeline software is crucial for optimizing sales processes, and selecting the right tool requires understanding key features and use cases. This comparison table explores top options—including Pipedrive, Salesforce, HubSpot CRM, Close, Zoho CRM, and more—to outline differences in functionality, pricing, and suitability, empowering readers to make informed choices.
| # | Tool | Category | Overall | Features | Ease of Use | Value |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Pipedrive Visual sales pipeline management tool that helps teams track deals from lead to close with customizable stages and automation. | specialized | 9.3/10 | 9.5/10 | 9.4/10 | 8.9/10 |
| 2 | Salesforce Enterprise CRM platform with advanced deal pipeline tracking, forecasting, and AI-powered insights for sales teams. | enterprise | 9.2/10 | 9.8/10 | 7.4/10 | 8.1/10 |
| 3 | HubSpot CRM Free CRM with intuitive deal pipelines, email tracking, and seamless integration for inbound sales processes. | enterprise | 8.7/10 | 9.2/10 | 8.5/10 | 9.0/10 |
| 4 | Close All-in-one sales CRM focused on high-velocity pipelines, built-in calling, emailing, and predictive dialing. | specialized | 8.6/10 | 9.2/10 | 9.4/10 | 8.0/10 |
| 5 | Zoho CRM Affordable CRM with blueprint pipelines, multi-channel support, and AI-driven deal insights for growing businesses. | enterprise | 8.7/10 | 9.1/10 | 8.2/10 | 9.0/10 |
| 6 | Freshsales AI-powered sales CRM that visualizes deal pipelines, scores leads, and automates workflows for better conversions. | enterprise | 8.4/10 | 8.6/10 | 9.0/10 | 8.2/10 |
| 7 | Copper Google-native CRM that turns Gmail into a powerful deal pipeline manager with automatic data entry and prospecting. | specialized | 8.1/10 | 7.9/10 | 9.2/10 | 7.6/10 |
| 8 | monday sales CRM Flexible no-code platform for building custom sales pipelines with automation, dashboards, and team collaboration. | enterprise | 8.4/10 | 9.1/10 | 7.6/10 | 8.0/10 |
| 9 | Nutshell User-friendly CRM designed for sales pipelines with forecasting, email campaigns, and reporting tools. | specialized | 8.1/10 | 7.6/10 | 9.2/10 | 8.5/10 |
| 10 | Insightly CRM solution with visual pipelines, project management integration, and relationship tracking for small to mid-sized teams. | enterprise | 7.4/10 | 7.8/10 | 7.2/10 | 7.1/10 |
Visual sales pipeline management tool that helps teams track deals from lead to close with customizable stages and automation.
Enterprise CRM platform with advanced deal pipeline tracking, forecasting, and AI-powered insights for sales teams.
Free CRM with intuitive deal pipelines, email tracking, and seamless integration for inbound sales processes.
All-in-one sales CRM focused on high-velocity pipelines, built-in calling, emailing, and predictive dialing.
Affordable CRM with blueprint pipelines, multi-channel support, and AI-driven deal insights for growing businesses.
AI-powered sales CRM that visualizes deal pipelines, scores leads, and automates workflows for better conversions.
Google-native CRM that turns Gmail into a powerful deal pipeline manager with automatic data entry and prospecting.
Flexible no-code platform for building custom sales pipelines with automation, dashboards, and team collaboration.
User-friendly CRM designed for sales pipelines with forecasting, email campaigns, and reporting tools.
CRM solution with visual pipelines, project management integration, and relationship tracking for small to mid-sized teams.
Pipedrive
specializedVisual sales pipeline management tool that helps teams track deals from lead to close with customizable stages and automation.
Visual sales pipeline with drag-and-drop deal movement and real-time activity rotas
Pipedrive is a sales-focused CRM platform designed specifically for managing deal pipelines, enabling teams to visualize, track, and automate sales processes from lead to close. Its intuitive drag-and-drop interface allows customization of multiple pipelines tailored to different sales cycles or products. The software integrates seamlessly with email, calendars, and over 500 third-party apps, while providing activity reminders, deal insights, and performance reporting to boost sales efficiency.
Pros
- Highly visual and customizable pipelines with drag-and-drop functionality
- Powerful automation, scheduling, and email integration for streamlined workflows
- Excellent reporting and sales insights with AI-powered deal recommendations
Cons
- Limited built-in marketing automation compared to full-suite CRMs
- Advanced reporting and custom fields require higher-tier plans
- Pricing can add up for larger teams with premium add-ons
Best For
Sales teams and small-to-medium businesses seeking a straightforward, pipeline-centric CRM without unnecessary complexity.
Pricing
Starts at $14/user/month (Essential) up to $99/user/month (Enterprise), billed annually; free trial available.
Salesforce
enterpriseEnterprise CRM platform with advanced deal pipeline tracking, forecasting, and AI-powered insights for sales teams.
Einstein AI for predictive opportunity scoring and automated pipeline recommendations
Salesforce, through its Sales Cloud, is a comprehensive CRM platform designed for managing sales pipelines, tracking opportunities from lead to close, and providing revenue forecasting tools. It offers customizable stages, automated workflows, and real-time dashboards to optimize deal progression. Powered by Einstein AI, it delivers predictive scoring, next-best-action recommendations, and pipeline health insights for data-driven sales strategies.
Pros
- Extremely customizable pipelines and workflows tailored to complex sales processes
- Advanced AI-driven forecasting and opportunity insights via Einstein
- Vast ecosystem of integrations and AppExchange apps for scalability
Cons
- Steep learning curve and complex initial setup requiring admin expertise
- High pricing that scales quickly with users and add-ons
- Overkill for small teams with simple pipeline needs
Best For
Enterprise sales teams with intricate deal cycles requiring deep customization, AI analytics, and seamless integration with other business systems.
Pricing
Starts at $25/user/month for Essentials, $80 for Professional, $165 for Enterprise, up to $330+ for Unlimited; additional costs for add-ons like Einstein.
HubSpot CRM
enterpriseFree CRM with intuitive deal pipelines, email tracking, and seamless integration for inbound sales processes.
Visual Deal Boards with drag-and-drop stages, real-time forecasting, and AI-powered deal insights
HubSpot CRM is a robust, free-to-start platform renowned for its deal pipeline management, offering visual boards to track deals through customizable stages from lead to close. It integrates seamlessly with marketing, sales, and service hubs for a unified customer view, including automation, forecasting, and reporting tools. Ideal for teams needing scalable pipeline visibility without initial costs, it supports unlimited users and deals in the core free version.
Pros
- Free core CRM with unlimited pipelines, users, and 1M contacts
- Customizable drag-and-drop deal boards with automation and forecasting
- Deep integrations with 1,000+ apps and built-in marketing tools
Cons
- Advanced automation and custom reporting require paid upgrades
- Steep learning curve for full ecosystem navigation
- Professional tiers become expensive for larger teams ($90+/user/month)
Best For
Small to mid-sized sales teams wanting a free, scalable pipeline tool with marketing integration.
Pricing
Free CRM forever; Sales Hub Starter $20/user/month; Professional $90/user/month (billed annually).
Close
specializedAll-in-one sales CRM focused on high-velocity pipelines, built-in calling, emailing, and predictive dialing.
Power Dialer with Smart Connect for predictive dialing and one-click calling/SMS from any deal record
Close is a sales-focused CRM that streamlines deal pipelines with built-in calling, emailing, SMS, and automation tools designed for high-velocity sales teams. It offers customizable pipelines, visual deal tracking, workflow automations, and advanced reporting to manage leads through to close efficiently. Unlike generalist CRMs, Close emphasizes speed and communication without requiring third-party integrations for core sales activities.
Pros
- Seamless integration of phone, email, and SMS for one-click outreach
- Intuitive, fast-loading interface with minimal setup required
- Powerful automations and reporting tailored for sales pipelines
Cons
- Limited marketing automation compared to full-suite CRMs
- Pricing scales quickly for larger teams without a free tier
- Less flexibility for non-sales use cases like customer service
Best For
High-velocity sales teams handling outbound calls, emails, and SMS who need a lightweight CRM without app-switching.
Pricing
Starts at $59/user/month (Basic, annual billing), $99/user/month (Professional), and custom Enterprise plans.
Zoho CRM
enterpriseAffordable CRM with blueprint pipelines, multi-channel support, and AI-driven deal insights for growing businesses.
Zia AI for predictive deal insights and automated pipeline recommendations
Zoho CRM is a comprehensive cloud-based customer relationship management platform with robust deal pipeline management capabilities, enabling users to visualize sales pipelines through customizable Kanban boards, list views, and waterfall charts. It supports deal tracking across multiple stages, automated workflows via Blueprints, and advanced forecasting with AI-driven insights from Zia. The tool integrates seamlessly with other Zoho apps and third-party services, making it suitable for streamlining sales processes in growing businesses.
Pros
- Highly customizable pipelines with multiple views and automation via Blueprints
- AI-powered Zia for deal predictions, scoring, and insights
- Excellent integration ecosystem and scalability for teams
Cons
- Steeper learning curve for advanced customizations and reporting
- Mobile app lacks some desktop features
- Forecasting accuracy depends on data quality and setup
Best For
Small to mid-sized sales teams needing an affordable, feature-rich CRM with strong pipeline visualization and automation.
Pricing
Free edition available; paid plans start at $14/user/month (Standard), up to $52/user/month (Ultimate), billed annually.
Freshsales
enterpriseAI-powered sales CRM that visualizes deal pipelines, scores leads, and automates workflows for better conversions.
Freddy AI, which delivers predictive deal scoring, next-best-action recommendations, and automated insights directly in the pipeline view
Freshsales is a sales CRM from Freshworks that excels in deal pipeline management, offering customizable visual pipelines to track deals through various stages. It includes AI-driven insights via Freddy AI for deal scoring, predictions, and recommendations to accelerate sales cycles. The platform integrates communication tools like email, phone, and chat, alongside automation for efficient lead-to-deal progression.
Pros
- Highly intuitive drag-and-drop pipeline visualization
- Freddy AI for smart deal insights and automation
- Seamless built-in telephony and email integration
Cons
- Advanced reporting requires higher tiers or integrations
- Limited native customization for complex enterprise workflows
- Some AI features feel underdeveloped compared to leaders
Best For
SMB sales teams seeking an intuitive, AI-enhanced pipeline tool without steep learning curves.
Pricing
Free plan available; paid tiers start at $15/user/month (Growth), $39 (Pro), $59 (Enterprise), billed annually.
Copper
specializedGoogle-native CRM that turns Gmail into a powerful deal pipeline manager with automatic data entry and prospecting.
Native Google Workspace integration that embeds CRM data and actions directly into Gmail, Calendar, and Drive
Copper is a CRM platform optimized for Google Workspace users, providing visual deal pipelines to track sales opportunities from lead to close. It automates workflows, emails, and tasks directly within Gmail and Google Calendar, minimizing context-switching. Designed for simplicity, it offers contact management, forecasting, and reporting tailored to small and medium-sized teams focused on sales efficiency.
Pros
- Seamless integration with Google Workspace for inbox-based pipeline management
- Intuitive drag-and-drop pipelines and automation setup
- Quick onboarding with minimal training required
Cons
- Limited advanced customization compared to enterprise CRMs
- Reporting and analytics lack depth for complex forecasting
- Fewer third-party integrations outside Google ecosystem
Best For
Small to medium sales teams heavily reliant on Google Workspace seeking an easy-to-use pipeline tool without steep learning curves.
Pricing
Starts at $25/user/month (Basic), $59/user/month (Professional), $99/user/month (Business); billed annually with a 14-day free trial.
monday sales CRM
enterpriseFlexible no-code platform for building custom sales pipelines with automation, dashboards, and team collaboration.
No-code building blocks for infinitely customizable pipelines and automations
monday sales CRM is a highly visual and customizable deal pipeline tool built on the monday.com platform, enabling teams to create tailored Kanban-style boards for tracking leads, deals, and sales stages with drag-and-drop functionality. It offers robust automations, AI-powered insights, and seamless integrations to streamline sales workflows. Ideal for teams seeking flexibility beyond traditional CRMs, it combines pipeline management with broader work OS capabilities.
Pros
- Infinite customization of pipelines, fields, and dashboards without coding
- Powerful no-code automations and 200+ integrations for sales efficiency
- Visual, real-time collaboration features with AI deal insights
Cons
- Steep learning curve due to extensive customization options
- Pricing escalates quickly for larger teams or advanced features
- Can feel overwhelming for users needing simple, straightforward pipelines
Best For
Growing sales teams requiring a flexible, visual pipeline that integrates deeply with project management and other workflows.
Pricing
Free for 2 seats; Basic $12/user/mo, Standard $14/user/mo, Pro $20/user/mo (billed annually); Enterprise custom.
Nutshell
specializedUser-friendly CRM designed for sales pipelines with forecasting, email campaigns, and reporting tools.
Fully customizable sales pipelines with visual drag-and-drop stages and one-click deal progression
Nutshell is a user-friendly CRM platform tailored for small to medium-sized businesses, focusing on sales pipeline management to track leads, opportunities, and deals from initial contact to closure. It provides customizable pipelines, automated workflows, email integration with tracking, and basic reporting to help sales teams stay organized and efficient. The software emphasizes simplicity, making it accessible without a steep learning curve.
Pros
- Intuitive interface with drag-and-drop pipeline customization
- Affordable pricing suitable for SMBs
- Strong email tracking and integration for sales outreach
Cons
- Limited advanced automation and AI features compared to enterprise CRMs
- Reporting and analytics lack depth for complex needs
- Fewer third-party integrations than top competitors
Best For
Small to medium-sized sales teams seeking a straightforward, cost-effective tool for managing deal pipelines without overwhelming complexity.
Pricing
Starts at $16/user/month (billed annually) for Basic plan; Power Suite at $36/user/month; Enterprise at $56/user/month; 14-day free trial available.
Insightly
enterpriseCRM solution with visual pipelines, project management integration, and relationship tracking for small to mid-sized teams.
Relationship Intelligence that automatically links and visualizes connections between contacts, deals, and activities
Insightly is a versatile CRM platform that excels in deal pipeline management, offering customizable visual pipelines to track opportunities from lead to close. It combines sales automation, relationship tracking, and project management tools to provide a unified view of customer interactions. Designed for small to mid-sized businesses, it supports forecasting, reporting, and integrations with popular tools like Google Workspace and Microsoft Outlook.
Pros
- Highly customizable pipelines with drag-and-drop functionality
- Strong relationship mapping linking deals, contacts, and projects
- Built-in reporting and forecasting for sales insights
Cons
- Steeper learning curve for non-CRM users
- Mobile app lacks some desktop features
- Advanced automation requires higher-tier plans
Best For
Small to medium-sized businesses seeking an all-in-one CRM with integrated deal pipeline and relationship management.
Pricing
Professional: $29/user/mo; Plus: $49/user/mo; Enterprise: Custom (billed annually).
Conclusion
Among the reviewed tools, Pipedrive leads as the top choice, celebrated for its intuitive visual pipelines and automation that simplify deal tracking from start to finish. Salesforce and HubSpot CRM follow closely, offering robust enterprise features and user-friendly integration respectively, making them strong picks for different team needs. Every tool in the list provides value, but Pipedrive’s focus on streamlined pipeline management sets it apart as the go-to for many.
Dive into Pipedrive’s customizable pipelines today to experience how it can transform your sales workflow and drive better results for your team.
Tools Reviewed
All tools were independently evaluated for this comparison