Quick Overview
- 1#1: Salesforce - Comprehensive CRM platform for sales managers to manage pipelines, forecast revenue, automate workflows, and coach teams.
- 2#2: HubSpot Sales Hub - All-in-one sales platform with CRM, pipeline management, email tracking, and meeting scheduling for efficient team oversight.
- 3#3: Gong - AI-powered revenue intelligence tool that records calls, analyzes conversations, and provides coaching insights for sales managers.
- 4#4: Outreach - Sales engagement platform that automates sequences, tracks performance, and optimizes workflows for sales team management.
- 5#5: Salesloft - Revenue orchestration platform for cadence automation, conversation intelligence, and sales performance analytics.
- 6#6: Pipedrive - Visual sales pipeline CRM designed for deal management, activity tracking, and team goal achievement.
- 7#7: Clari - Revenue platform offering AI-driven forecasting, pipeline management, and risk detection for sales leaders.
- 8#8: Zoho CRM - Affordable CRM with sales automation, analytics, territory management, and multichannel support for teams.
- 9#9: Freshsales - AI-based sales CRM for lead scoring, visual pipelines, built-in phone, and Freddy AI assistant for managers.
- 10#10: Close - Inside sales CRM with built-in calling, emailing, and SMS for streamlined pipeline and team productivity management.
Tools were chosen based on rigorous evaluation of feature depth, usability, reliability, and value, prioritizing those that deliver tangible benefits across sales teams of all sizes.
Comparison Table
This comparison table examines key features, workflows, and integrations of leading sales manager software tools, including Salesforce, HubSpot Sales Hub, Gong, Outreach, and Salesloft, helping readers identify the best fit for their team's specific needs.
| # | Tool | Category | Overall | Features | Ease of Use | Value |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Salesforce Comprehensive CRM platform for sales managers to manage pipelines, forecast revenue, automate workflows, and coach teams. | enterprise | 9.7/10 | 9.9/10 | 8.2/10 | 8.6/10 |
| 2 | HubSpot Sales Hub All-in-one sales platform with CRM, pipeline management, email tracking, and meeting scheduling for efficient team oversight. | enterprise | 9.2/10 | 9.4/10 | 9.1/10 | 8.7/10 |
| 3 | Gong AI-powered revenue intelligence tool that records calls, analyzes conversations, and provides coaching insights for sales managers. | specialized | 9.2/10 | 9.6/10 | 8.4/10 | 8.1/10 |
| 4 | Outreach Sales engagement platform that automates sequences, tracks performance, and optimizes workflows for sales team management. | specialized | 8.5/10 | 9.2/10 | 7.4/10 | 7.8/10 |
| 5 | Salesloft Revenue orchestration platform for cadence automation, conversation intelligence, and sales performance analytics. | specialized | 8.7/10 | 9.2/10 | 7.8/10 | 8.0/10 |
| 6 | Pipedrive Visual sales pipeline CRM designed for deal management, activity tracking, and team goal achievement. | specialized | 8.7/10 | 8.5/10 | 9.2/10 | 8.0/10 |
| 7 | Clari Revenue platform offering AI-driven forecasting, pipeline management, and risk detection for sales leaders. | enterprise | 8.5/10 | 9.2/10 | 7.8/10 | 8.0/10 |
| 8 | Zoho CRM Affordable CRM with sales automation, analytics, territory management, and multichannel support for teams. | enterprise | 8.4/10 | 9.1/10 | 7.6/10 | 9.0/10 |
| 9 | Freshsales AI-based sales CRM for lead scoring, visual pipelines, built-in phone, and Freddy AI assistant for managers. | specialized | 8.7/10 | 8.5/10 | 9.3/10 | 8.8/10 |
| 10 | Close Inside sales CRM with built-in calling, emailing, and SMS for streamlined pipeline and team productivity management. | specialized | 8.2/10 | 8.5/10 | 9.1/10 | 8.0/10 |
Comprehensive CRM platform for sales managers to manage pipelines, forecast revenue, automate workflows, and coach teams.
All-in-one sales platform with CRM, pipeline management, email tracking, and meeting scheduling for efficient team oversight.
AI-powered revenue intelligence tool that records calls, analyzes conversations, and provides coaching insights for sales managers.
Sales engagement platform that automates sequences, tracks performance, and optimizes workflows for sales team management.
Revenue orchestration platform for cadence automation, conversation intelligence, and sales performance analytics.
Visual sales pipeline CRM designed for deal management, activity tracking, and team goal achievement.
Revenue platform offering AI-driven forecasting, pipeline management, and risk detection for sales leaders.
Affordable CRM with sales automation, analytics, territory management, and multichannel support for teams.
AI-based sales CRM for lead scoring, visual pipelines, built-in phone, and Freddy AI assistant for managers.
Inside sales CRM with built-in calling, emailing, and SMS for streamlined pipeline and team productivity management.
Salesforce
enterpriseComprehensive CRM platform for sales managers to manage pipelines, forecast revenue, automate workflows, and coach teams.
Einstein AI for predictive sales forecasting, automated coaching, and intelligent lead prioritization
Salesforce, through its Sales Cloud, is the premier CRM platform designed for sales management, enabling managers to track leads, opportunities, and pipelines in real-time. It offers robust forecasting tools, automated workflows, and performance analytics to optimize team productivity and revenue growth. With extensive customization via Lightning and AI enhancements through Einstein, it scales seamlessly for enterprises of all sizes.
Pros
- Unmatched scalability and customization for complex sales processes
- Powerful AI-driven insights with Einstein for forecasting and lead scoring
- Vast AppExchange ecosystem for seamless integrations and extensions
Cons
- Steep learning curve and implementation time for new users
- High pricing that may overwhelm small teams
- Occasional performance issues with heavy customizations
Best For
Enterprise sales managers leading large, distributed teams who require a highly customizable and AI-enhanced CRM platform.
Pricing
Starts at $25/user/month (Essentials) up to $300+/user/month (Unlimited), billed annually with enterprise custom pricing available.
HubSpot Sales Hub
enterpriseAll-in-one sales platform with CRM, pipeline management, email tracking, and meeting scheduling for efficient team oversight.
AI-powered revenue intelligence and predictive forecasting for accurate pipeline health and team performance insights
HubSpot Sales Hub is a comprehensive CRM platform tailored for sales teams, providing tools for pipeline management, deal tracking, email automation, and performance analytics. Sales managers can leverage forecasting, custom reporting dashboards, and team activity monitoring to optimize rep performance and revenue goals. Seamlessly integrated with HubSpot's marketing and service tools, it offers a unified customer view across the revenue lifecycle.
Pros
- Robust sales automation including sequences, calling, and scheduling
- Powerful forecasting and real-time team performance dashboards
- Free core CRM with seamless scalability and integrations
Cons
- Higher-tier plans become expensive for large teams
- Advanced customizations require technical setup
- Some features limited or gated behind premium plans
Best For
Sales managers in growing SMBs or mid-market teams seeking an integrated CRM with strong pipeline and forecasting capabilities.
Pricing
Free Starter CRM; paid plans from $20/user/month (Starter), $90/user/month (Professional), to $150/user/month (Enterprise).
Gong
specializedAI-powered revenue intelligence tool that records calls, analyzes conversations, and provides coaching insights for sales managers.
AI-powered Revenue Intelligence that forecasts deal outcomes from conversation data
Gong is a revenue intelligence platform designed for sales teams, automatically recording, transcribing, and analyzing customer calls and meetings. It uses AI to extract insights like talk-to-listen ratios, competitor mentions, and key deal risks, helping sales managers coach reps and forecast pipelines accurately. The tool integrates seamlessly with CRMs like Salesforce to provide a unified view of revenue performance.
Pros
- Powerful AI-driven conversation analytics and insights
- Comprehensive coaching tools with clip sharing and playbooks
- Strong integrations with CRM and dialers for seamless workflows
Cons
- High cost unsuitable for small teams
- Steep learning curve for full feature utilization
- Occasional transcription inaccuracies in complex audio
Best For
Sales managers in mid-to-large enterprises seeking data-driven coaching and revenue forecasting.
Pricing
Custom enterprise pricing, typically $100-$160 per user/month with annual contracts.
Outreach
specializedSales engagement platform that automates sequences, tracks performance, and optimizes workflows for sales team management.
Kaia AI for real-time conversation intelligence and sales coaching during calls
Outreach is a powerful sales engagement platform designed to automate and scale outbound sales efforts through personalized multi-channel sequences including email, calls, and LinkedIn tasks. For sales managers, it offers deep visibility into team performance with real-time analytics, pipeline forecasting, and coaching tools to optimize rep productivity. The platform integrates seamlessly with CRMs like Salesforce, enabling data-driven decisions and revenue growth.
Pros
- Advanced sequence automation for multi-touch campaigns
- Comprehensive analytics and AI-driven insights for team management
- Seamless CRM integrations and scalability for enterprise teams
Cons
- Steep learning curve for new users
- High pricing that may not suit small teams
- Occasional performance lags with large datasets
Best For
Sales managers in mid-to-large enterprises seeking robust tools for team oversight, coaching, and pipeline acceleration.
Pricing
Custom quote-based pricing, typically starting at $100/user/month for core plans, with enterprise tiers higher based on features and users.
Salesloft
specializedRevenue orchestration platform for cadence automation, conversation intelligence, and sales performance analytics.
Deal Engagement, which uses AI to prioritize pipeline actions and recommend next-best steps for every deal
Salesloft is a sales engagement platform that empowers sales managers to orchestrate team outreach, coach reps, and manage pipelines effectively. It combines automated cadences for email, calls, and LinkedIn with conversation intelligence for call recording, transcription, and analysis. Sales managers gain visibility through dashboards, forecasting tools, and performance metrics to drive revenue growth.
Pros
- Powerful sales cadences and multi-channel automation
- Advanced conversation intelligence with AI coaching insights
- Seamless CRM integrations and real-time pipeline visibility
Cons
- Steep learning curve for full utilization
- High pricing that may not suit small teams
- Occasional interface glitches and slow load times
Best For
Sales managers in mid-sized to enterprise teams seeking robust tools to scale outreach and coach high-performing reps.
Pricing
Custom quote-based pricing; typically starts at $100-125 per user/month for core plans, scaling up for advanced features and enterprise support.
Pipedrive
specializedVisual sales pipeline CRM designed for deal management, activity tracking, and team goal achievement.
Visual sales pipeline with drag-and-drop deal management
Pipedrive is a sales-focused CRM platform designed to streamline pipeline management for sales teams, offering visual drag-and-drop deal tracking, activity scheduling, and team performance monitoring. Sales managers can use it to forecast revenue, automate workflows, integrate with email and other tools, and generate reports on sales metrics. Its emphasis on simplicity makes it ideal for focusing on sales processes without overwhelming complexity.
Pros
- Intuitive visual pipeline with drag-and-drop functionality
- Robust automation, email tracking, and 400+ integrations
- Strong mobile app and real-time team collaboration tools
Cons
- Reporting lacks depth compared to enterprise CRMs
- Advanced features like AI insights require costly add-ons
- Limited customization for complex sales processes
Best For
Sales managers in small to mid-sized teams seeking a user-friendly tool for pipeline visualization and deal tracking.
Pricing
Starts at $14/user/month (Essential) up to $99/user/month (Enterprise), billed annually; additional add-ons extra.
Clari
enterpriseRevenue platform offering AI-driven forecasting, pipeline management, and risk detection for sales leaders.
AI-powered Deal Signals that detect risks and opportunities in real-time across the pipeline
Clari is a revenue operations platform that provides sales managers with real-time visibility into pipeline health, accurate forecasting, and deal insights through AI-powered analytics. It integrates deeply with CRMs like Salesforce to enable deal inspection, risk detection, and coaching recommendations, helping teams align on revenue goals. Sales leaders use it to shorten sales cycles, improve forecast accuracy, and drive predictable revenue growth.
Pros
- Exceptional AI-driven forecasting and pipeline visibility
- Seamless CRM integrations for real-time data syncing
- Powerful deal inspection and coaching tools
Cons
- Steep learning curve for new users
- High enterprise-level pricing
- Less ideal for small teams or simple sales processes
Best For
Sales managers in mid-to-large enterprises with complex pipelines needing precise forecasting and revenue operations.
Pricing
Custom enterprise pricing via quote; typically starts at $75-150/user/month for core plans, with add-ons for advanced features.
Zoho CRM
enterpriseAffordable CRM with sales automation, analytics, territory management, and multichannel support for teams.
Zia AI for intelligent sales forecasting, lead scoring, and anomaly detection
Zoho CRM is a comprehensive cloud-based customer relationship management platform that empowers sales managers to track leads, manage pipelines, forecast sales, and monitor team performance. It provides automation tools, customizable workflows, AI-driven insights via Zia, and robust reporting to optimize sales processes. Ideal for scaling businesses, it integrates seamlessly with other Zoho apps and third-party tools for enhanced productivity.
Pros
- Highly customizable pipelines and automation for sales processes
- Excellent value with a free tier and affordable scaling plans
- Zia AI provides predictive analytics and smart insights for forecasting
Cons
- Steep learning curve due to extensive customization options
- Interface can feel cluttered for new users
- Some advanced sales management features locked behind higher tiers
Best For
Sales managers in SMBs seeking a feature-rich, affordable CRM with strong automation and AI capabilities for team oversight and forecasting.
Pricing
Free for up to 3 users; paid plans start at $14/user/month (Standard), up to $52/user/month (Ultimate), billed annually.
Freshsales
specializedAI-based sales CRM for lead scoring, visual pipelines, built-in phone, and Freddy AI assistant for managers.
Freddy AI Copilot for real-time sales recommendations, automated insights, and conversational assistance
Freshsales, from Freshworks, is a robust sales CRM platform designed to help sales teams manage leads, track deals, and nurture customer relationships through intuitive tools. It features visual sales pipelines, built-in telephony, email tracking, and AI-driven insights via Freddy AI for lead scoring and forecasting. Sales managers gain oversight with performance analytics, team hierarchies, and customizable reports to optimize sales processes and boost productivity.
Pros
- Intuitive interface with drag-and-drop pipelines
- Powerful Freddy AI for lead scoring and deal predictions
- Affordable pricing with a robust free tier
Cons
- Advanced reporting locked behind Enterprise plan
- Customization options limited compared to Salesforce
- Integration library solid but not as extensive as top competitors
Best For
Sales managers at SMBs seeking an easy-to-use, AI-enhanced CRM for pipeline management and team oversight without high costs.
Pricing
Free plan available; Growth at $15/user/mo, Pro at $39/user/mo, Enterprise at $69/user/mo (billed annually).
Close
specializedInside sales CRM with built-in calling, emailing, and SMS for streamlined pipeline and team productivity management.
One-click Power Dialer that intelligently sequences calls, emails, and SMS for maximum outreach efficiency without leaving the CRM
Close is an all-in-one sales CRM designed specifically for high-velocity inside sales teams, combining pipeline management, calling, emailing, SMS, and task automation into a single platform. Sales managers benefit from real-time dashboards, custom reporting, and team performance analytics to monitor quotas, activities, and deal progression effectively. It prioritizes speed and simplicity, minimizing context-switching to help reps close deals faster.
Pros
- Intuitive interface with minimal setup time
- Built-in power dialer and multi-channel outreach (call, email, SMS)
- Robust sales analytics and forecasting for managers
Cons
- Limited advanced customization compared to enterprise CRMs
- Fewer native integrations for non-sales tools
- Pricing scales quickly for larger teams
Best For
Sales managers overseeing inside sales teams focused on outbound calling and rapid deal cycles who want a streamlined, sales-only CRM.
Pricing
Starter at $59/user/month, Professional at $99/user/month, Enterprise at $129+/user/month (billed annually; 14-day free trial).
Conclusion
Evaluating the top 10 sales manager software reveals distinct strengths, but Salesforce emerges as the top choice, combining comprehensive CRM, pipeline management, and team coaching into a versatile solution. HubSpot Sales Hub follows, excelling in all-in-one efficiency for oversight, while Gong’s AI-driven conversation intelligence offers powerful coaching insights, making it a standout for growth-focused teams. Together, these tools represent the pinnacle of modern sales management, with each addressing unique needs.
Begin your sales management journey with Salesforce to unlock streamlined workflows, accurate forecasting, and actionable insights—empowering your team to reach new heights of success.
Tools Reviewed
All tools were independently evaluated for this comparison