Insightly vs Pipedrive: which CRM to choose to better manage your dirty pipeline?
When it comes to CRM, two names are often mentioned: Insightly and Pipedrive. Two tools designed to help sales teams better manage their sales pipeline, automate repetitive tasks, track leads, personalize reports... and ultimately, close more deals.
But even if both software packages tick a lot of boxes, they don't work in the same way or have the same priorities:
- one focuses on personalization, the other on simplicity;
- one shines through its integrations, the other through its intuitive interface.
👉 In this article, we put Insightly and Pipedrive under the microscope: features, pricing, handling, automation, integrations, use cases... to help you choose the CRM best suited to your business.
What is Insightly?
Insightly overview
Insightly is a cloud CRM that combines customer relationship management, marketing automation and project management. It's an all-in-one solution aimed primarily at SMEs and growing companies wishing to centralize their activity without multiplying their tools.
🎯 Its promise? To offer a single platform for tracking every lead, automating key sales pipeline tasks, and collaborating effectively as a team. Insightly offers a process-oriented approach, with a strong capacity for customization, notably to adapt sales stages, pipelines, and data fields to each business.
With its sober yet structured interface, Insightly appeals above all to companies looking for a tool that is more strategic than purely sales-oriented. And this is reflected in its product positioning: the CRM offers sales functions as well as project management and customer service modules.
Insightly's main functionalities
Before delving into the list of features, a word about the product's logic: Insightly doesn't seek to do "everything" like some of the giants, but to do the essential B2B sales things well, while allowing a high level of customization.
⚒️ Here's an overview of the key functionalities offered by Insightly:
- management of leads and contacts, with enriched records, interaction history and related activities ;
- creation of personalized pipelines, with the possibility of following several sales stages in parallel;
- automated workflows: triggers, conditional rules, automatic emails;
- customizable dash boards for reporting and analyzing sales performance;
- integrated project management module for tracking post-sales deliverables;
- native integrations with Google Workspace, Microsoft 365, Slack, Mailchimp... ;
- robustAPI for connecting Insightly to other tools or creating advanced automations.
Insightly
Advantages and disadvantages of Insightly
Before choosing a CRM, you need to look beyond the product sheet: user feedback, stability, ergonomics and value for money are just as important. Insightly, like any tool, has its strengths... and its limitations.
✅ These advantages are regularly highlighted in customer reviews:
- extensive customization of the pipeline, forms and fields - a real asset for structured teams ;
- integrated project module, rare in CRMs of this range;
- simple yet clear interface, ideal for process-oriented teams;
- high level of automation, accessible without coding;
- versatiletool: CRM, marketing, project management;
- customer support appreciated: responsive and competent according to the majority of feedback.
❌ Certain points frequently come up as sources of frustration, particularly among small teams or non-tech profiles:
- steeper learning curve than simpler CRMs like Pipedrive ;
- less intuitive mobile interface than the desktop version;
- few advanced emailing options without upgrading;
- advanced automation sometimes requires integrations or API development.
What is Pipedrive?
Pipedrive overview
Pipedrive is a commercial CRM designed primarily for sales teams. Its objective? To help sales people manage their pipeline, track every deal, and close faster, without unnecessary complexity.
It's one of the most popular CRMs in the SME world, with a clear promise: simplicity, efficiency and visibility. There's nothing superfluous here, and everything is focused on conversion. The tool offers an ultra-intuitive interface, automations accessible in a few clicks, and a visual reporting system that facilitates decision-making.
Pipedrive is a "no bullshit" CRM, tailor-made for sales teams who want a tool that's quick to set up, customizable but not overloaded, and capable of accelerating sales right from the start.
Pipedrive's main features
Before unpacking the features, it's important to understand the product's philosophy. Pipedrive starts from the field, not from management. Everything is designed to make salespeople's lives easier by making their sales pipeline clearer, more actionable and more profitable.
⚒️ Here are the main functionalities offered by Pipedrive:
- visual pipeline management: drag-and-drop deals from one stage to the next ;
- simple automation: send emails, create tasks, intelligent notifications;
- email tracking (opens, clicks, replies) with templates and personalized signatures;
- real-time reporting with tables, forecasts and targets;
- top-rated mobile applications for managing deals on the move;
- rich marketplace with over 350 integrations (Slack, Zoom, Gmail, Trello, etc.);
- LeadBooster function: live chat, chatbot, intelligent forms, database prospecting.
Pipedrive
Advantages and disadvantages of Pipedrive
Pipedrive presents itself as a simple yet powerful CRM. But does it live up to its promise in everyday use? Here's a look at the strengths and weaknesses identified in user reviews.
✅ Pipedrive is appealing for a number of reasons, not least of which is its fast learning curve and commercial effectiveness:
- ultra-intuitive, sales-oriented interface;
- quick installation, no need for an IT project manager to get started;
- very good visual pipeline management tool ;
- fluid, well-designed mobile application;
- automations accessible even without technical skills;
- wide choice of native and customizable integrations.
❌ Even good tools have their grey areas. Here are the weak points most often cited:
- less functional depth on the project management or customer service side ;
- some advanced functionalities (LeadBooster, emailing campaigns...) are paid add-ons;
- reporting sometimes too simple for strategic management needs;
- no integrated multi-project management as with Insightly ;
- lack of customization on certain CRM objects for very specific structures.
Insightly vs Pipedrive: compare features
| Functionality | Insightly | Pipedrive |
| Dirty pipeline management | Customizable and multi-pipeline | Drag-and-drop visual interface |
| Workflow automation | Advanced (rules, conditions, multiple actions) | Simple and intuitive (no code required) |
| Lead and contact tracking | Comprehensive, multi-linked objects | Fast, clear and efficient |
| Project management | Integrated with CRM | ❌ Non-native |
| Email tracking / campaigns | ⚠️ Limited (in higher plans) | Available via LeadBooster add-on |
| Third-party integrations | G Suite, Slack, Zapier, QuickBooks... | +350 integrations (Slack, Zoom, etc.) |
| API and customization | Advanced and documented | Good but more limited |
| Mobile application | Functional but basic | Very fluid and well rated |
| Dashboards and reporting | Strong custom capabilities | Visual but simpler |
Focus on pipeline management
Pipedrive 's drag-and-drop interface is a model of simplicity. Everything is done in just a few clicks:
- add a deal,
- move it between stages,
- set reminders...
Insightly, on the other hand, offers more granular management:
- you can create multiple pipelines,
- define specific fields,
- follow complex processes.
Perfect for long or technical B2B sales, but more rigid for rapid cycles.
💡 Verdict: Pipedrive for simple, fast, visual management. Insightly for a structured, personalized approach.
Focus on automation
Insightly offers advanced automation:
- multiple triggers,
- logical conditions,
- complex scenarios.
In short, a tool designed for organized teams with well-defined workflows.
Pipedrive, on the other hand, focuses on simplicity. You can automate the sending of an email or the creation of a task as soon as a deal changes stage, without touching a line of code.
💡 Verdict: for simple, effective automation, choose Pipedrive. For more complex, customizable workflows, Insightly is better suited.
Focus on integrations
Pipedrive dominates in terms of quantity, with a rich marketplace (+350 connectable tools) and a robust API.
Insightly focuses on key integrations (Google Workspace, Microsoft 365, Mailchimp...) and a well-documented API for bespoke projects, but the ecosystem is less extensive.
💡 Verdict: Pipedrive can be connected with whatever you're already using. Insightly has a powerful API, but more targeted connectivity.
Focus on reporting
On the analysis side, Insightly offers powerful, filterable dashboards, with the ability to customize each KPI. You can :
- track deals by source,
- segment by team,
- and even mix CRM and project data.
Pipedrive is simpler. Its reporting is visual and pleasant, but limited for complex needs. For tracking classic business objectives, it's more than enough.
💡 Verdict: for strategic reporting, Insightly has the edge. For fast operational tracking, Pipedrive is more fluid.
Focus on personalization
Insightly is a tool designed to be customized from top to bottom:
- objects,
- fields,
- forms,
- pipelines,
- user roles...
Everything can be configured to suit your company's reality.
Pipedrive, on the other hand, lets you customize the essentials without risking simplicity:
- custom fields,
- filtered views,
- targeted automations.
It's less advanced, but more secure for small teams.
💡 Verdict: Insightly for specific needs and complex structures. Pipedrive for light, fast, frictionless customization.
Insightly vs Pipedrive: compare prices
Comparing pricing plans is essential to choosing the right CRM for your business.
| Plan | Insightly | Pipedrive |
| Basic | " Plus - from €24.73/month :
|
" Lite - from €14/month :
|
| Intermediate | " Professional - from €41.78/month :
|
" Growth" - from €39/month:
|
| Advanced | " Enterprise - from €84.41/month :
|
" Premium" - from €59/month:
|
| High-end | - | " Ultimate - from €79/month :
|
Insightly vs Pipedrive: which interface is more intuitive?
Choosing a CRM also means choosing a daily work environment. A clear, well-thought-out interface that's quick to master makes all the difference. Here's how Insightly and Pipedrive stack up.
| Criteria | Insightly | Pipedrive |
| Global interface | Functional, management-oriented | Intuitive, fluid and minimalist |
| Getting started | ⚠️ Average learning curve | Very fast, no training required |
| Interface customization | Very extensive (objects, fields, views) | Essential but limited |
| Mobile navigation (app) | Correct but can be improved | Fluid mobile app, very well rated |
| Implementation time | ⚠️ Longer (many settings) | Quick to set up |
👉 Pipedrive is renowned for its ultra-simple, user-centric interface. Everything is designed to help sales staff find their way around without training. Navigation is fluid, pipelines drag & drop, and menus stripped of unnecessary complexity.
👉 Insightly, on the other hand, offers a denser interface, focused on information management and advanced parameterization. The tool allows very fine customization, but this comes at the price of a steeper learning curve. It's a good choice for structured teams or those supported by a digital project manager.
Insightly vs Pipedrive: compare integrations
The better a CRM integrates with your stack (marketing, support, accounting, prospecting...), the more it becomes the central nerve of your business. For CRM managers or technical decision-makers, these are the three criteria that count: quantity, ease of configuration and possible automation. We compared.
👉 Number of available integrations
- Insightly: ⭐⭐⭐☆☆
Around 50 to 60 native integrations. There are the classics: Google Workspace, Microsoft 365, QuickBooks, Slack, Mailchimp, Dropbox. The REST API is solid for developing your own connections. But the catalog remains modest compared with the competition.
- Pipedrive: ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
Over 350 ready-to-use integrations via the official Marketplace. Slack, Zoom, Asana, Trello, Calendly, HubSpot, Google Ads... Pipedrive also has direct connections with prospecting tools, such as Leadfeeder or Lemlist. A real asset for sales and marketing teams.
👉 Ease of configuration
- Insightly: ⭐⭐☆☆☆
Some integrations are well documented, but not very "plug & play". Configuring certain tools (QuickBooks, Outlook) can be a bit time-consuming, especially if you want to automate behind it. It's a little more technical than expected, without being a hindrance. - Pipedrive: ⭐⭐⭐⭐☆
The integration experience is fluid. Most apps connect in a few clicks, with little or no technical setup. Even non-technical users can connect Zoom, Slack or Gmail without difficulty. Small downside: some advanced integrations require a higher plane or add-on.
👉 Customization and automation
- Insightly: ⭐⭐⭐⭐☆
Very good automation potential via native "Workflow Automations". Actions can be triggered from events linked to integrations, such as sending emails from Mailchimp, creating tasks after a call, or synchronizing files. Powerful, but less visual than some competitors.
- Pipedrive: ⭐⭐⭐⭐☆
Excellent integration with Pipedrive's native automation: you can automate the creation of leads, emails or tasks based on events linked to connected apps. Some advanced workflows require the addition of the "Smart Docs" or "LeadBooster" add-on, but the level of customization remains high for a "mainstream" CRM.
💡 Conclusion:
- Pipedrive has the edge in terms of the number of available integrations and ease of implementation. It's a solution cut out for agile sales teams, who want to quickly connect their tools without depending on a developer.
- Insightly, more modest in volume, makes up for this with a robust API and advanced automations, making it an interesting choice for structured teams or technical integrators.
When to choose Insightly or Pipedrive?
A good CRM isn't necessarily the most comprehensive or the most popular. It's the one that fits your way of selling, the structure of your team and the complexity of your sales cycles. Here's where each solution comes into its own.
Typical use cases for Insightly
Insightly is primarily aimed at companies that need a structuring CRM: when processes are complex, when several teams are involved in the same deal, or when you need to manage projects in addition to customer relations.
It's a tool that's particularly well-suited if you're looking for a customizable platform capable of much more than opportunity management.
📌 You should consider Insightly if:
- you're a B2B SME or ETI with a long or technical sales cycle ;
- you need a 3-in-1 tool: CRM, marketing automation, project management ;
- your team wants to customize pipelines, fields and forms in depth;
- you have mixed teams (sales, project, customer service) who need to collaborate on the same platform;
- you're looking for strong traceability of customer actions (tasks, notes, events) in a centralized file;
- you're willing to invest time in onboarding for a long-term structuring tool.
Typical use cases for Pipedrive
Pipedrive is designed for sales teams on the move, who want a fast-to-learn tool that helps them sell better without complexity. It's a CRM for sales people, not project managers or IT administrators.
It's perfectly suited to structures that want to accelerate their sales, without necessarily managing complex projects or customer relationships.
📌 Pipedrive is particularly well suited if:
- you're an SME with a dedicated sales team (even a small one) ;
- you're looking for a CRM that's quick to set up, with no need for extensive training;
- your sales cycles are simple to moderately complex, with opportunities to track in a continuous flow;
- you want an intuitive interface, usable on both desktop and mobile devices;
- you need to easily connect your prospecting, appointment setting or emailing tools;
- you want to automate without coding (reminders, tasks, reminders) with a visual configuration.
Insightly or Pipedrive: two visions of CRM, one strategic choice
Insightly and Pipedrive don't exactly play in the same league, and that's precisely what makes them so interesting to compare.
- Choose Insightly if you need a more global CRM, designed to organize and manage sales AND operational activities. It's an excellent choice for complex B2B structures or interconnected teams.
- Choose Pipedrive if you want a simple, fast and intuitive sales tool, ready to boost your pipeline from day one. Ideal for dynamic SMEs, freelancers or closing-oriented startups.
🧠 Take the test. Both tools offer a free, no-obligation trial version. It's often by testing on your real processes, with your real data, that the right choice becomes obvious.
FAQ - Insightly vs Pipedrive
Can Pipedrive pipelines be customized?
Yes, Pipedrive allows you to customize pipelines, sales stages, deal fields and user views. Customization is designed to be simple, without requiring technical skills. It's a good compromise between flexibility and accessibility.
Which solution is best suited to customer service teams?
Insightly is best suited if you're looking to manage both sales and customer service in the same tool. Its "Service" module enables you to track tickets, assign tasks and manage post-sales projects, something Pipedrive doesn't offer natively.
Which CRM works best on mobile?
Pipedrive has a highly-rated mobile app, which is fluid and feature-rich (call, email, notes, reminders).
Insightly also offers a mobile app, but user feedback points to a sometimes less intuitive experience.
Can Pipedrive be integrated with tools like Zoom or Calendly?
Yes, Pipedrive offers native integrations with Zoom, Calendly, Slack, Google Workspace, Trello, and more via its marketplace. Adding them is simple and often achievable without technical assistance. This makes it much easier to automate appointment scheduling and customer follow-up.
Article translated from French