Top 13 CRM software solutions for masterful customer relationship management

Customer Relationship Management(CRM) software has become an indispensable tool for managing customer relations.

According to one study, while 90% of companies consider data exploitation to be a major challenge for customer relations, only 9% believe they have a sufficient level of customer knowledge.

And that's where CRM software comes in. What are you waiting for to improve your customer experience with such a tool? What's the best CRM tool for your needs? We'll help you make the right choice.

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What is CRM software?

CRM (Customer Relationship Management) software is used to :

• manage your sales activity,
• manage your customer relations,
• collect, concentrate and analyze customer data,
• optimize your customer data management for better results and, ultimately, improved sales.

This type of software can be used by small and medium-sized businesses, start-ups and large corporations alike.

Why use customer relationship management software? Advantages and disadvantages

The advantages of CRM software include

• centralization and security of customer information,
• customer tracking, with a history for each customer profile or prospect file,
• better customer knowledge to build loyalty, etc.

Our page dedicated to CRM software explains the benefits in greater detail.

As for the disadvantages, we can mention :

• the time needed to complete your CRM project and to set up the tool, if necessary,
• the cost of the tool.

But are these disadvantages really disadvantages when they enable you to save time so you can focus on your customers and increase your sales?

💡 Looking for a CRM for a specific need? Read our dedicated articles:

Selection of free GRC software

Clouderial

This suite of online applications is ideal for entrepreneurs. It includes all the management functionalities you need to automate your tasks (quotations/invoices, planning, customer follow-up, etc.) so you can concentrate on the essentials.
Please note, however, that the free version of Clouderial offers less disk space and fewer shareable items than the paid versions.

Clouderial

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Boost Your Data Management with Advanced Cloud Solutions

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Advantages :

• automatic data exchange between applications to avoid re-typing,
• document sharing (customer file, to-do list, invoice, etc.),
• management functionalities in addition to customer relations.

Lead CRM Vocal

Lead CRM Vocal is designed for salespeople in the field, whether they work for SMEs, start-ups or freelancers. Enter your reports using voice recognition and save considerable time! Keep track of your current files efficiently thanks to the dynamic interface, and share information easily internally.
Lead CRM Vocal is free for a single user and up to 70 contact records.

Advantages :

• the mobile application requires no configuration: it couldn't be easier to use;
• commercial news feed: follow all the milestones in your commercial relationship with your customers for even greater efficiency;
• synchronization with your calendar;
• customer geolocation ;
• ability to share customer files with colleagues.

The limits of freeware

Open source CRM and freeware CRM, false friends

Open source CRM is often confused with free CRM. But not all open source software is free, and vice versa.

• Open source means that the software's source code is accessible and can be modified. You can therefore customize the software to suit you better, provided you have the necessary skills.
• Freeware software can be used free of charge.

When looking for CRM software, make sure you don't confuse these two notions to avoid unpleasant surprises.

Free trials only

Many publishers try to attract customers by promising freeware CRM software. On closer inspection, however, it turns out that only the trial version is free, but that the software actually has to be purchased. So beware of broken promises.

Paying options

Depending on the size of your company and the growth of your business, the free version of a software package may not be enough. Free versions often don 't include all the features you really need; only paid versions are complete. For more advanced features, such as analysis tools, you'll need to allocate a dedicated budget. The same goes for exceeding a certain number of users or contacts, for example.

A selection of professional CRM software solutions to take your customer management to the next level

Axonaut

Axonaut is a perfectly integrated CRM and ERP solution for optimizing your sales management and customer relations. The solution automates sales processes and marketing actions, and supports the growth of small businesses with a range of functions open to all.

Axonaut

+200 reviews

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The Best all-in-one solution for small businesses

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Benefits :

• the customer portal provides access to invoices, quotes and notifications;
• statistics generated to help the company score leads and make decisions: document opening, response rate, etc. ;
• connection to Google and all its tools (calendar, e-mail, etc.);
• electronic signature;
• online payment with Stripe and GoCardless;
• free support.

Blue Note systems CRM

Blue note systems CRM manages all aspects of customer relations: sales force management, customer service management, marketing automation and more. It integrates business-specific specialization and places the individual at the heart of the solution for personalized customer relations.

Blue note systems CRM

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Transform Your Customer Relationships with Our Comprehensive CRM

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Advantages :

• a personalized lead scoring system to distinguish targets likely to become customers quickly ;
• responsive user interface with dashboard for tracking data;
• multi-channel lead integration;
• native integration with Freshdesk thanks to a connector developed by Blue note systems.

Cirrus Shield

This CRM solution is a platform that brings together marketing, sales prospecting, sales and customer service in a single environment. Cirrus Shield lets you create a customized application with the mouse: you can be sure that your solution meets your needs.
A free version is valid for a single user and does not include: custom reports, API access, custom profiles and support (excluding forums).

Cirrus Shield

13 reviews

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A software for all your business processes

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Benefits :

• customized solution, no coding required, immediately available on mobile, tablet and PC,
• data import and synchronization,
• interoperability of your applications with Cirrus Shield's REST API,
• ecosystem of external applications integrated with the product (Sendinblue, Yammer, Stripe, etc.).

RingCentral

RingCentral is a modular, easy-to-use telephony software package that enables you to offer your customers a responsive, intelligent and tailor-made support service to boost their loyalty over the long term.

Thanks to customized functionalities powered by Artificial Intelligence, you can offer your customers more than just support, but a truly efficient contact center, available at all times.

Benefits :

• a new-generation telephony module for easy communication with all your employees via a single interface,
• a 360° view of your call history, coupled with an intuitive real-time statistics tool,
• ISO 27001, PCI-DSS and GDPR certifications for enhanced security, and much more!

Salesforce Sales Cloud

Salesforce is the world's leading CRM solution. It enables you to manage the entire customer relationship cycle, delivering fast, effective results. Manage your marketing campaigns, your sales workflow, your customer files, etc. with customizable dashboards. The Einstein module developed by Salesforce integrates artificial intelligence to take customer relations even further, helping you to improve efficiency and quality.

Advantages :

• take into account the complexity and plurality of customer profiles,
• ability to develop CRM-compatible applications,
• integration with other online applications (natively or via API connectors).

Sellsy

Sellsy is an all-in-one 100% cloud solution. Manage your entire customer relations cycle from A to Z: from prospecting to invoicing, including marketing and customer follow-up. The interface is pleasant, dynamic and ergonomic, making it easy for you to get started. Sellsy is a favorite among small and medium-sized businesses, because in addition to its CRM functions, the software offers management, accounting and invoicing functions - in short, a unique and complete solution.

Benefits :

• simplification of the sales process: invoice automation, electronic signature, etc. ;
• Sellsy strengthens collaboration between all company departments to serve the customer;
• software produced in France: you benefit from support in France.

Simple CRM

Simple CRM is part of the new generation of CRM tools: the solution integrates artificial intelligence (A.I.) that revolutionizes the prospecting work of sales reps.

The HaPPi intelligent virtual assistant is changing the day-to-day lives of poorly-equipped sales forces who are still using Excel and tearing their hair out by accumulating rejections during cold calls.

Salespeople can concentrate on what they do best: selling! Armed with qualitative information on a given profile, they can prepare a personalized sales proposal.

Simple CRM Enterprise

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A simple, pleasant, and cheap CRM

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Simple CRM benefits

• Voice CRM with synchronized mobile version,
• geolocation of contacts,
• sales process automation,
• SMS and email marketing campaign management,
• data analytics,
• APIs and connectors for interoperability with numerous third-party applications (Google services, Office 365, Drupal, WordPress, Outlook, VOIP, etc.).

Teamleader

If you're looking for an all-in-one CRM solution for small and medium-sized businesses, Teamleader is the right choice. Built around the three pillars of a company (sales, invoicing and organization), it provides a full range of functionalities for your customer projects. Centralize your prospects' data, enter a VAT number to automatically fill in the required company data, link your Gmail and Outlook accounts and get an overview thanks to the shared calendar.

Teamleader

+200 reviews

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Streamline Project Management and CRM for Teams

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Benefits :

• manage customers in an orderly fashion,
• track sales opportunities,
• 2 distinct offers to suit your needs,
• free customer support in French,
• 14-day free trial with no credit card required.

Webmecanik Pipeline - CRM

Webmecanik Pipeline - CRM is a truly all-in-one, scalable and modular tool for companies of all sizes. Manage your sales pipeline with ease, thanks to the many features available to help you become more efficient.

Collaborative and intuitive, the tool offers your teams a complete, central interface for all your customers and prospects. Webmecanik Pipeline also supports your RGPD compliance!

Webmecanik Pipeline - CRM

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A free CRM tool : Webmecanik Pipeline

Learn more about Webmecanik Pipeline - CRM

Advantages :

• an intuitive platform that's easy to learn and use,
• a customizable dashboard that gives you a clear view of your sales activity,
• a collaborative calendar to optimize your internal communication,
• customer data security thanks to access control functionality,
• automatedsales and marketing campaigns thanks to synchronization with Webmecanik Marketing Automation software.
  

Zoho CRM

Zoho CRM is a CRM software available for all types of business, regardless of sector. It' s a scalable tool that adapts to your company's needs. Create customer-centric tasks and assign them to your team members. Every member of staff has a defined role and clear objectives, and no sales opportunity is overlooked.

Over 250,000 companies are selling smarter, better and faster thanks to Zoho CRM's automation of time-consuming tasks.

Zoho CRM

+200 reviews

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The Smart and Efficient Solution for your Sales Team

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Advantages :

• Scalable pricing: 5 packages, from €0 to €52/month depending on features required,
• Secure professional messaging,
• Online file management for teams,
• Powerful real-time data analysis,
• Find the information you need with Zia, an AI sales assistant.

Selection of software for customer relationship and service management

While the term CRM is often associated with Customer Relationship Management, many experts equate this notion with " customer service ", with all that this implies in terms of functionalities: pre-sales/post-sales customer relationship management, unification of cold or conversational channels with 360° customer vision, etc. This is why our selection also includes this type of more specialized tool.

Our selection should therefore also include these more specialized tools.

easiware

easiware is a French all-in-one CRM software dedicated to customer services. Its aim? Centralize all customer data and unify all communication channels to optimize and contextualize request management.

The result: faster processing, productivity gains... and, above all, improved customer satisfaction and experience!

easiware

48 reviews

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A solution to manage and centralize customer interactions

Learn more about easiware

Advantages :

• integration of numerous communication channels (email, web form, telephone, dynamic FAQ, social networks, WhatsApp, etc.),
• a 360° customer file, containing all exchange histories, to enhance customer knowledge,
• functionalities that focus on the human element and customer satisfaction (NPS tracking, for example),
• a knowledge base and response models,
• the high level of support provided by the editor: dedicated Customer Success Manager, help center, e-learning platform, training courses, webinars, etc.

FAQs on CRM software: we answer your questions

How do I choose the right CRM software for my business?

Choosing GRC software isn't like choosing a playlist on Spotify. 🎶

The first step is to determine your real needs:

• contact management,
• sales tracking,
• marketing automation,
• customer service?

Then ask yourself the right questions:

• is the team comfortable with tech?
• Do you want an all-in-one tool or a modular solution?
• Open source CRM or turnkey SaaS?

Finally, look at integration (with an ERP, accounting tools, website...), scalability (the tool should grow with you) and, of course, value for money. The right software is the one that integrates painlessly into your daily life, not the one that makes you miss Excel.

If you're still unsure about the software presented in this article, here's a comparison table to help you:

What features are essential in CRM software?

A good CRM tool is a bit like a Swiss Army knife: you don't need 37 blades, just the right ones at the right time. At the very least, it should offer :

• Centralized customer data (history, interactions, contact details),

• Sales opportunity tracking (pipeline, tasks, follow-ups),

• Marketing campaign management (emailing, segmentation, scoring),

• Reporting (customizable dashboards),

• And ideally, a touch of automation to avoid time-consuming tasks.

🍒 The icing on the cake: tools that embed AI or predictive capabilities give you a real edge. And if the UX is pleasant, it's even better: nobody likes to fight with their CRM at 8am.

What is the average cost of CRM software?

Prices vary enormously. You'll find free CRMs (like HubSpot or Zoho in their basic versions), which are perfect for getting started.

For more advanced features, expect to pay between €20 and €80 per user per month. Larger tools (Salesforce, Dynamics 365...) can cost upwards of €100, especially if modules, support, training, etc. are added.

But the right thing to do is to calculate ROI rather than just look at the cost: a well-managed CRM is often a sales gas pedal and a booster of customer satisfaction. And that's (almost) priceless.

What are the risks of working without CRM software?

Working without CRM is a bit like flying a plane without a dashboard. You can move forward... but you're flying blind. 🙈

Without a structuring tool, customer information gets lost in the maze of mailboxes, Excel files, Post-it notes (and sometimes a salesperson's head). The result? Poorly follow-up prospects, missed opportunities, uneven customer service... and lost sales in ambush.

On a larger scale, the absence of CRM also blocks performance analysis, stunts growth and makes for an inconsistent customer experience. In short, if you don 't use CRM, you run the risk of staying small when you could be growing with method, vision... and data.

Is there any CRM software available in France, or hosted in France?

Oui, cocorico! There are a number of GRC software packages made in France, designed to meet the needs of local companies, particularly in terms of RGPD, French-language support and sovereign hosting. This is a real plus for sensitive sectors or structures concerned about data localization. Among the names to remember: easiware, Axonaut, Sellsy, noCRM.io.

Is CRM software useful if I work alone or with a small team?

Clearly, yes. Even if you work alone, your time is precious. And your memory isn't a hard drive! Good CRM software helps you to keep track of everything: customer follow-up, reminders, quotations, exchange history... Everything is centralized, automated and ready for action. The result: less chaos, more impact.

For a small team, it's even more strategic: you lay solid foundations, streamline collaboration and avoid having to depend on the famous "I thought you were taking care of it". And all without blowing your budget: many CRMs offer free or very affordable packages.

How can I involve my teams in the adoption of CRM software?

A good tool is good. A team that really uses it is even better. To get everyone on board, first explain the "why": show how CRM will simplify their daily lives, not add constraints.

Next, choose an ergonomic tool, not a gas factory. Propose a test phase, designate one or two motivated referents, and don't forget to train quickly (even 1 hour of tutoring can make all the difference).

And above all: make the most of the benefits from the very first weeks! Better visibility, fewer oversights, more deals signed. The good old lever of shared success always works. 💪

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Improve your customer relations with CRM software

In 2025, the customer must be every company's #1 concern, and online CRM software is the essential tool for success. Not only do you build customer loyalty, but your prospecting is also improved, and your results enhanced.

Don't hesitate to take advantage of a free trial to discover all the features of these software packages and what they can do for your business!

Have you made your choice?