Quick Overview
- 1#1: Pipedrive - Pipedrive visualizes sales pipelines to help teams manage deals, forecast revenue, and close sales faster.
- 2#2: Salesforce - Salesforce offers enterprise-grade sales pipeline management with automation, AI insights, and customizable workflows.
- 3#3: HubSpot CRM - HubSpot provides a free, intuitive CRM with drag-and-drop pipelines for tracking leads and deals effortlessly.
- 4#4: Close - Close combines sales pipeline management with built-in calling, emailing, and SMS to accelerate deal closures.
- 5#5: Freshsales - Freshsales uses AI-driven pipelines to score leads, predict outcomes, and automate sales processes.
- 6#6: Zoho CRM - Zoho CRM delivers customizable sales pipelines with analytics, automation, and multi-channel integration.
- 7#7: Copper - Copper integrates seamlessly with Google Workspace for simple sales pipeline tracking and prospecting.
- 8#8: monday sales CRM - monday sales CRM offers visual pipeline boards, automations, and collaboration tools for sales teams.
- 9#9: Insightly - Insightly provides pipeline management with relationship tracking and project integration for sales success.
- 10#10: Nutshell - Nutshell simplifies sales pipelines with forecasting, email tracking, and team collaboration features.
We selected and ranked tools based on features like pipeline customization, automation, analytics, user experience, reliability, and value, ensuring a curated list that balances functionality and practicality for diverse sales teams.
Comparison Table
Pipeline sales software streamlines deal tracking, lead management, and conversion for sales teams. This comparison table details tools like Pipedrive, Salesforce, HubSpot CRM, Close, Freshsales, and more, examining features, pricing, and use cases to help you select the best fit for your business needs.
| # | Tool | Category | Overall | Features | Ease of Use | Value |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Pipedrive Pipedrive visualizes sales pipelines to help teams manage deals, forecast revenue, and close sales faster. | specialized | 9.4/10 | 9.2/10 | 9.6/10 | 9.0/10 |
| 2 | Salesforce Salesforce offers enterprise-grade sales pipeline management with automation, AI insights, and customizable workflows. | enterprise | 9.2/10 | 9.8/10 | 6.8/10 | 8.1/10 |
| 3 | HubSpot CRM HubSpot provides a free, intuitive CRM with drag-and-drop pipelines for tracking leads and deals effortlessly. | specialized | 9.1/10 | 8.9/10 | 9.4/10 | 9.6/10 |
| 4 | Close Close combines sales pipeline management with built-in calling, emailing, and SMS to accelerate deal closures. | specialized | 9.2/10 | 9.5/10 | 9.3/10 | 8.9/10 |
| 5 | Freshsales Freshsales uses AI-driven pipelines to score leads, predict outcomes, and automate sales processes. | specialized | 8.4/10 | 8.6/10 | 9.1/10 | 8.3/10 |
| 6 | Zoho CRM Zoho CRM delivers customizable sales pipelines with analytics, automation, and multi-channel integration. | enterprise | 8.4/10 | 9.1/10 | 7.6/10 | 9.3/10 |
| 7 | Copper Copper integrates seamlessly with Google Workspace for simple sales pipeline tracking and prospecting. | specialized | 8.1/10 | 7.9/10 | 9.2/10 | 7.6/10 |
| 8 | monday sales CRM monday sales CRM offers visual pipeline boards, automations, and collaboration tools for sales teams. | specialized | 8.4/10 | 9.2/10 | 8.0/10 | 7.8/10 |
| 9 | Insightly Insightly provides pipeline management with relationship tracking and project integration for sales success. | enterprise | 8.1/10 | 8.3/10 | 8.5/10 | 7.7/10 |
| 10 | Nutshell Nutshell simplifies sales pipelines with forecasting, email tracking, and team collaboration features. | specialized | 8.1/10 | 8.0/10 | 9.2/10 | 8.5/10 |
Pipedrive visualizes sales pipelines to help teams manage deals, forecast revenue, and close sales faster.
Salesforce offers enterprise-grade sales pipeline management with automation, AI insights, and customizable workflows.
HubSpot provides a free, intuitive CRM with drag-and-drop pipelines for tracking leads and deals effortlessly.
Close combines sales pipeline management with built-in calling, emailing, and SMS to accelerate deal closures.
Freshsales uses AI-driven pipelines to score leads, predict outcomes, and automate sales processes.
Zoho CRM delivers customizable sales pipelines with analytics, automation, and multi-channel integration.
Copper integrates seamlessly with Google Workspace for simple sales pipeline tracking and prospecting.
monday sales CRM offers visual pipeline boards, automations, and collaboration tools for sales teams.
Insightly provides pipeline management with relationship tracking and project integration for sales success.
Nutshell simplifies sales pipelines with forecasting, email tracking, and team collaboration features.
Pipedrive
specializedPipedrive visualizes sales pipelines to help teams manage deals, forecast revenue, and close sales faster.
Visual sales pipeline kanban board with drag-and-drop deal movement for effortless pipeline oversight
Pipedrive is a leading sales pipeline management CRM designed to visualize and streamline the entire sales process from lead generation to deal closure. It offers customizable pipelines, deal tracking, activity reminders, and automation workflows to help sales teams focus on selling. With seamless integrations and a mobile app, it empowers users to manage sales on the go while providing insights into performance metrics.
Pros
- Highly intuitive visual drag-and-drop pipeline interface
- Robust automation and email integration capabilities
- Excellent mobile app for on-the-go sales management
Cons
- Reporting and analytics are somewhat basic without add-ons
- Advanced features like AI sales assistant require higher tiers
- No perpetual free plan, only a 14-day trial
Best For
Sales teams and small to mid-sized businesses seeking a straightforward, visual CRM focused purely on pipeline management without unnecessary complexity.
Pricing
Starts at $14.90/user/month (Essential, billed annually) up to $99/user/month (Enterprise); 14-day free trial available.
Salesforce
enterpriseSalesforce offers enterprise-grade sales pipeline management with automation, AI insights, and customizable workflows.
Einstein AI for predictive lead scoring, opportunity insights, and automated pipeline recommendations
Salesforce, through its Sales Cloud, is a comprehensive CRM platform designed for managing sales pipelines by tracking leads, opportunities, and deals across customizable stages. It offers advanced automation, forecasting tools, and AI-driven insights via Einstein to optimize sales processes. With robust reporting, real-time dashboards, and seamless integrations, it's built for scaling complex sales operations in growing organizations.
Pros
- Highly customizable pipelines and workflows
- Powerful AI analytics with Einstein for forecasting
- Extensive AppExchange ecosystem for integrations
Cons
- Steep learning curve and complex setup
- High pricing that scales with features
- Overkill for small teams or simple pipelines
Best For
Enterprise sales teams with complex, high-volume pipelines requiring deep customization and scalability.
Pricing
Starts at $25/user/month (Essentials), $80/user/month (Professional), $165/user/month (Enterprise), up to $330/user/month (Unlimited); volume discounts available.
HubSpot CRM
specializedHubSpot provides a free, intuitive CRM with drag-and-drop pipelines for tracking leads and deals effortlessly.
Unlimited customizable pipelines with visual kanban boards and built-in sales forecasting
HubSpot CRM is a robust, free customer relationship management platform that specializes in sales pipeline management, allowing users to visualize, customize, and automate deal stages with drag-and-drop functionality. It offers real-time forecasting, reporting, and insights to help sales teams prioritize opportunities and close deals faster. Integrated within HubSpot's ecosystem, it seamlessly connects sales pipelines with marketing automation and customer service tools for a unified inbound sales approach.
Pros
- Free core CRM with unlimited users, contacts, and basic pipelines
- Intuitive drag-and-drop interface for pipeline management and deal tracking
- Seamless integrations with email, calendars, and HubSpot's marketing/service hubs
Cons
- Advanced automation, AI insights, and custom reporting require paid Sales Hub tiers
- Pricing escalates quickly for teams needing professional features
- Full potential requires learning the broader HubSpot ecosystem
Best For
Small to mid-sized businesses and growing sales teams seeking a scalable, free-starting inbound sales pipeline solution.
Pricing
Free CRM forever; Sales Hub Starter $20/user/mo, Professional $90/user/mo, Enterprise $150/user/mo (billed annually).
Close
specializedClose combines sales pipeline management with built-in calling, emailing, and SMS to accelerate deal closures.
One-click Power Dialer and Smart Send for automated, high-efficiency outbound outreach
Close is a sales-focused CRM designed for high-velocity inside sales teams, providing robust pipeline management, deal tracking, and forecasting tools. It integrates calling, emailing, and SMS directly into the platform, enabling reps to engage prospects without switching apps. With customizable workflows and real-time reporting, Close streamlines outbound sales processes for faster deal closures.
Pros
- Built-in phone, email, and SMS for seamless communication
- Lightning-fast interface optimized for sales speed
- Powerful workflows and reporting for pipeline visibility
Cons
- Limited native marketing automation features
- Fewer third-party integrations compared to larger CRMs
- Pricing can add up for very large teams
Best For
High-velocity inside sales teams relying on outbound calls, emails, and SMS to manage and advance sales pipelines.
Pricing
Starts at $59/user/month (billed annually) for Professional plan; higher tiers like Business at $99/user/month with custom enterprise options.
Freshsales
specializedFreshsales uses AI-driven pipelines to score leads, predict outcomes, and automate sales processes.
Freddy AI for intelligent deal scoring, next-best-action recommendations, and predictive insights
Freshsales is a CRM platform by Freshworks tailored for sales teams, offering visual sales pipelines to track leads, deals, and opportunities from inception to close. It includes AI-powered insights via Freddy AI for deal recommendations, email tracking, built-in calling, and automation workflows to streamline pipeline management. The software integrates with various tools and provides customizable reports for sales forecasting and performance analysis.
Pros
- Intuitive drag-and-drop pipeline builder for easy deal management
- Freddy AI offers smart insights and automation to boost productivity
- Strong mobile app and integrations with popular sales tools
Cons
- Advanced reporting and customization limited in lower tiers
- Some users report occasional glitches in email syncing
- Scalability issues for very large enterprises without Enterprise plan
Best For
Small to mid-sized sales teams seeking an affordable, user-friendly CRM with robust pipeline visualization and AI assistance.
Pricing
Free plan for up to 3 users; paid plans start at $15/user/month (Growth), $39 (Pro), $59 (Enterprise), billed annually.
Zoho CRM
enterpriseZoho CRM delivers customizable sales pipelines with analytics, automation, and multi-channel integration.
Zia AI assistant for predictive analytics, deal insights, and automated sales recommendations
Zoho CRM is a comprehensive cloud-based CRM platform designed to streamline sales pipelines by tracking leads, managing deals through customizable stages, and providing real-time visibility into sales funnels. It includes automation tools, forecasting capabilities, and analytics to help sales teams close deals faster. As part of the Zoho ecosystem, it integrates seamlessly with other business apps for a unified sales experience.
Pros
- Highly customizable pipelines with drag-and-drop functionality and multi-stage support
- Affordable pricing with a robust free tier and scalable plans
- AI-driven insights via Zia for lead scoring and forecasting
Cons
- Steep learning curve due to extensive features and customization options
- Advanced reporting and automation locked in higher-tier plans
- Interface can feel cluttered compared to more modern competitors
Best For
Small to mid-sized sales teams seeking a feature-rich, cost-effective CRM with strong pipeline customization and integrations.
Pricing
Free for up to 3 users; paid plans start at $14/user/month (Standard), up to $52/user/month (Ultimate), billed annually.
Copper
specializedCopper integrates seamlessly with Google Workspace for simple sales pipeline tracking and prospecting.
Deep native integration with Gmail and Google Calendar, automatically logging emails and events to deals.
Copper is a CRM platform tailored for Google Workspace users, providing visual sales pipelines to track deals from lead to close. It excels in automating workflows, email tracking via Gmail integration, and contact management without requiring extensive setup. Designed for sales teams seeking simplicity, it offers forecasting, reporting, and task automation to streamline pipeline management.
Pros
- Seamless Google Workspace integration for email and calendar syncing
- Intuitive visual pipelines and automation tools
- Quick setup and minimal training required
Cons
- Limited advanced customization options
- Reporting and analytics lack depth for complex needs
- Pricing escalates quickly for larger teams
Best For
Small to mid-sized sales teams embedded in Google Workspace ecosystems needing an easy-to-use pipeline manager.
Pricing
Starter at $25/user/month, Professional at $59/user/month, Business at $99/user/month (billed annually; 14-day free trial).
monday sales CRM
specializedmonday sales CRM offers visual pipeline boards, automations, and collaboration tools for sales teams.
No-code customizable boards that transform pipelines into interactive, visual workflows
monday sales CRM, built on the monday.com platform, is a highly visual and customizable tool designed for managing sales pipelines, tracking leads, deals, and forecasting revenue. It uses drag-and-drop boards to visualize sales stages, automate workflows, and integrate with other tools for seamless collaboration. Teams can tailor dashboards, set up no-code automations, and gain real-time insights into sales performance.
Pros
- Highly customizable pipelines and boards for complex sales processes
- Powerful no-code automations and 200+ integrations
- Intuitive visual interface with real-time collaboration
Cons
- Steep learning curve for advanced customizations
- Pricing escalates quickly with add-ons and scale
- Less specialized sales analytics than dedicated enterprise CRMs
Best For
Growing sales teams needing flexible, visual pipeline management integrated with broader work OS tools.
Pricing
Starts at $10/user/month (Basic, annual billing); Standard $14, Pro $20, Enterprise custom.
Insightly
enterpriseInsightly provides pipeline management with relationship tracking and project integration for sales success.
Seamless integration with Google Workspace for native contact, email, and calendar syncing directly in pipelines
Insightly is a comprehensive CRM platform that excels in sales pipeline management, allowing users to visualize deals, customize stages, and track progress with drag-and-drop functionality. It combines CRM capabilities with project management tools, automation workflows, and reporting dashboards to streamline sales processes. Ideal for small to mid-sized teams, it integrates deeply with Google Workspace and other apps for seamless data flow.
Pros
- Intuitive visual pipeline with drag-and-drop deal management
- Strong integrations with Google Workspace and 250+ apps
- Built-in automation and workflow tools to speed up sales cycles
Cons
- Advanced reporting and forecasting lack depth compared to enterprise tools
- Pricing scales quickly for larger teams
- Occasional UI glitches and slower mobile app performance
Best For
Small to mid-sized sales teams needing an user-friendly CRM with pipeline tracking and Google integration.
Pricing
Professional: $29/user/month; Plus: $49/user/month; Enterprise: Custom (billed annually).
Nutshell
specializedNutshell simplifies sales pipelines with forecasting, email tracking, and team collaboration features.
Drag-and-drop pipeline builder for unlimited custom stages and views tailored to unique sales processes
Nutshell is a user-friendly CRM platform tailored for sales teams, offering visual pipeline management to track leads and deals through customizable stages. It includes contact management, email tracking, task automation, and reporting tools to streamline sales workflows. Designed for small to mid-sized businesses, it emphasizes simplicity and quick setup without requiring extensive training.
Pros
- Intuitive drag-and-drop pipeline customization
- Strong email integration and tracking
- Affordable for growing teams with solid reporting
Cons
- Limited advanced AI or predictive analytics
- Fewer third-party integrations than enterprise CRMs
- Scalability challenges for very large enterprises
Best For
Small to medium-sized sales teams seeking an easy-to-use CRM for straightforward pipeline management.
Pricing
Free Solo plan; Starter at $16/user/month; Pro at $42/user/month (billed annually).
Conclusion
The top pipeline sales software options excel in distinct ways, with Pipedrive leading as the standout choice, leveraging intuitive visualization to streamline deal management and close sales faster. Salesforce follows with enterprise-grade tools and AI-driven insights for larger teams, while HubSpot CRM remains a top alternative for its user-friendly, free interface and effortless pipeline tracking. Each of these contenders meets varied needs, ensuring there’s a strong solution for nearly every sales setup.
Seize the opportunity to optimize your pipeline—start with Pipedrive today to experience faster closures and better deal visibility.
Tools Reviewed
All tools were independently evaluated for this comparison