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7 Best Insightly Alternatives & Competitors

Name: Freshsales
Item: Freshsales
Rating: 4.3
Author: Alison Barretta

Written By

Alison Barretta

Mar 28, 2023

2 minute read

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Insightly is a top CRM for its excellent project management tools and a user-friendly visual interface, but it lacks customization and advanced sales functions. The best Insightly alternatives are exceptional at project management while also offering in-depth sales forecasting and analytics, marketing tools, and broader access to app integrations. Our independent review ranks seven CRMs that may serve your needs better than Insightly.

Here are the seven best Insightly alternatives for salespeople:

Freshsales: Best alternative overall for features and ease of use (free starting price)
EngageBay: Best free alternative for project management tools (free starting price)
Zoho CRM: Best Insightly alternative for social media marketing (free starting price)
HubSpot CRM: Best option for building an integrated tech stack (free starting price)
ClickUp: Best Insightly alternative for cross-team collaboration (free starting price)
Agile CRM: Best Insightly alternative for sales gamification tools (free starting price)
Salesforce: Best alternative for advanced sales features (14- to 30-day free trial)

You can also take a look at our independent Insightly CRM review if you want to learn more about the platform itself, including its strengths and weaknesses. Otherwise, keep scrolling for our list of the top Insightly alternatives.

How We Evaluated the Best Insightly Alternatives

To find the best Insightly alternatives, we developed a scoring rubric consisting of six weighted categories, each with its own set of subcriteria. We chose the CRMs that had an average score of 3.8 or higher — seven options total. Among them, we identified one overall winner and assigned the six runners-up a use case based on their performance in select categories. Our detailed evaluation criteria are below:

Evaluation Criteria

The three most important factors to consider in choosing a CRM are cost, core features, and ease of use – thus, those categories carry the most weight in our rankings. We also scored each CRM based on its level of customization (which includes third-party integrations), availability of advanced CRM features, and overall quality of user support.

Methodology weights

Cost 25%

Core Features 25%

Ease of Use 20%

Customization 10%

Advanced Features 10%

Customer Support 10%

Note: All per-user prices are with a one-year commitment unless noted.

Although Salesforce took the top spot in three areas (core features, advanced features, and customization), Freshsales is the best Insightly alternative overall thanks to winning two crucial categories: affordability and usability. (Freshsales also came in second for advanced features.) That said, every Insightly alternative on this list has something to offer depending on your needs. Below is a breakdown of how each scored according to price, features, and use case.

Freshsales: Best Insightly Alternative Overall

Freshsales is an affordable way to access AI sales tools, telephony features, and live chat.

Price Range: Free to $69 per user, per month (21-day free trial)

Overall Rating

4.3

Cost

4.6

Core Features

4.1

Ease of Use

4.5

Customization

4.0

Advanced Features

4.7

Customer Support

4.1

Pros

AI contact scoring & insights
Built-in telephony with all plans
Lots of flexibility in customization

Cons

AI is limited with Growth plan
Inconsistent user support
Fewer integrations than competitors

Freshsales is the best Insightly alternative overall and a top-rated CRM in its own right. It boasts AI-powered sales tools, loads of customizable elements, tight integration with major chat clients, and a robust cloud telephony service with in-app dialing. Although it’s not as visually-based as Insightly, Freshsales sports one of the cleanest interfaces around. This makes it easy for most people to pick up the Freshsales platform, despite its rich suite of advanced features.

Freshsales offers a lot of basic and advanced functionality at such a low cost. However, for enterprises with complex sales needs, we’d recommend Salesforce since it has more flexible reporting and task automation options.

Freshsales Pricing

Free Version: Supports up to 3 users
Growth: $15 per user, per month
Pro: $39 per user, per month
Enterprise: $69 per user, per month
Free Trial: 21 days for all paid tiers
Integration with Freshworks’ free marketing and service platform tiers
Access to Freshsales Marketplace

Freshsales Key Features

Freddy AI: Scores contacts, forecasts revenue, and provides deal insights.
Telephony: Make calls, automatically log conversations, and mask phone numbers.
Chat Integrations: Works with WhatsApp, Facebook Messenger, and SMS.
Customization: Tailor visual pipelines, workflows, and layouts to suit your needs.

EngageBay CRM: Best Free Insightly Alternative

EngageBay's free CRM combines sales and marketing tools with top-tier user support.

Price Range: Free to $73.59 per user, per month

Overall Rating

4.1

Cost

4.3

Core Features

4.2

Ease of Use

3.7

Customization

3.7

Advanced Features

4.1

Customer Support

2.7

Pros

Feature-rich free plan
Excellent user support
Discounts with 2-year plans

Cons

No automations in free plan
Native integrations are limited
Custom reports with Pro only

EngageBay is a free CRM that suits teams seeking an extensive, no-cost platform with superb user support, areas where Insightly falls short. It hosts up to 15 users and features kanban-style project management, multiple pipeline views, live chat widgets, and a built-in phone – along with deep social media, SMS, and email integrations. Upgrade to EngageBay’s paid plans for access to workflows, custom reports, and more personalized user support.

Should your team exceed the 15-seat limit of EngageBay's free CRM, HubSpot CRM is a great free alternative. It offers unlimited seats plus a variety of sales and inbound marketing tools.

EngageBay CRM Pricing

Free Version: Supports up to 15 users
CRM & Sales Bay Basic: $11.95 per user, per month
CRM & Sales Bay Growth: $45.99 per user, per month
CRM & Sales Bay Pro: $73.59 per user, per month
Integration with EngageBay Marketing Bay and Service Bay
Access to EngageBay integrations library

EngageBay CRM Key Features

Free CRM: Includes live chat widgets, social media management, and built-in phone.
Project Management: Create, assign, and filter tasks via kanban-style layout.
Support Channels: All plans include 24/7 access to live chat plus email support.
Multiple Views: Filter your sales pipeline according to select criteria and components.

Zoho CRM: Best for Social Media Marketing

Zoho CRM’s tight social media integration makes it easy to engage with leads and contacts.

Price Range: Free to $52 per user, per month (15- to 30-day trial)

Overall Rating

4.1

Cost

4.0

Core Features

4.2

Ease of Use

4.2

Customization

4.2

Advanced Features

4.1

Customer Support

3.7

Pros

Tight social media integration
Zia AI-powered sales assistant
Wealth of collaborative tools

Cons

Steep learning curve
Support is inconsistent
Add-ons can be costly

Zoho CRM is a social CRM known for its tight integration with Facebook, Twitter, and LinkedIn. This Insightly alternative is best for businesses with a strong social media presence, as it enables users to publish posts, interact with followers, and follow social media mentions directly from the CRM. That’s in addition to AI lead scoring and sales forecasting, plus a wide range of customizable elements to help teams personalize and streamline their processes with ease.

Sales teams that don’t need marketing tools will find Zoho CRM excessive. Freshsales is a strictly sales-focused alternative that also has an AI engine and lots of room for customization.

Zoho CRM Pricing

Free Forever: Supports up to 3 users
Standard: $14 per user, per month
Professional: $23 per user, per month
Enterprise: $40 per user, per month
Ultimate: $52 per user, per month
Free Trial: 15 days; 30 days for Ultimate tier
Integration with Zoho’s suite of products
Access to Zoho Marketplace

Zoho CRM Key Features

Social Media Management: Native integration with Facebook, LinkedIn, and Twitter.
Zia AI: Virtual assistant forecasts sales, optimizes workflows, and scores leads.
Customization: Mold the CRM to fit your needs with plenty of customizable elements.
Collaborative Tools: Stay updated on tasks with a team-wide chat and activity feed.

HubSpot CRM: Best for Building an Integrated Tech Stack

HubSpot CRM offers over 1,000 third-party app integrations with both its paid and free plans.

Price Range: Free to $1,200 per month (Sales Hub)

Overall Rating

4.0

Cost

3.2

Core Features

4.0

Ease of Use

4.4

Customization

4.3

Advanced Features

4.3

Customer Support

4.3

Pros

Robust cross-functional CRM
Over 1,000 app integrations
Free CRM has unlimited seats

Cons

Platform itself not that flexible
Reporting capabilities lacking
Paid upgrades are expensive

HubSpot CRM is a platform with a mix of sales, marketing, service, and operations tools in both its free and paid plans. Though it has a less flexible interface than some other CRMs, HubSpot App Marketplace is over 1,000 integrations deep and includes popular tools like Slack, Asana, and Trello. In contrast to Insightly AppConnect, which costs at least $249 per month for access to over 1,000 third-party integrations, HubSpot App Marketplace is open to all of its subscribers.

If you need a more customizable platform with an emphasis on sales and marketing, Zoho CRM may be a better option for you than HubSpot.

HubSpot CRM Pricing

Free-for-Life: Supports unlimited users
Sales Hub Starter: Starts at $18 for up to 2 paid users
Sales Hub Professional: Starts at $450 for up to 5 paid users
Sales Hub Enterprise: Starts at $1,200 for up to 10 paid users
Integrates with HubSpot's marketing, service, and ops platforms
Access to HubSpot App Marketplace

HubSpot Key Features

HubSpot App Marketplace: Hosts over 1,000 sales, marketing, and productivity apps.
Free CRM: Supports unlimited seats and stores up to a million non-marketing contacts.
Inbound Tools: Engage with prospects via live chat widgets, chatbots, and web forms.
Collaborative Tools: Shared inboxes, team meeting links, and internal resource library.

ClickUp: Best for Cross-Team Collaboration

ClickUp streamlines cross-team management with a comprehensive real-time activity hub.

Price Range: Free to $19+ per user, per month

Overall Rating

4.0

Cost

3.8

Core Features

3.9

Ease of Use

4.4

Customization

4.2

Advanced Features

2.7

Customer Support

4.5

Pros

Allows for limited guest access
Visualize tasks with 15+ views
Simple, no-code customization

Cons

Light on native integrations
Lacks more advanced features
Can take time to set up

ClickUp is a productivity platform with an all-in-one hub so sales managers can monitor real-time activity and assign tasks. There are over a dozen visualization types including standard lists, Gantt charts, and free-form mind maps. Unlike Insightly, ClickUp allows for limited guest access so external colleagues and clients can stay updates. While ClickUp's native sales tools are limited, users can enhance functionality with integrations and pre-built templates.

ClickUp is a flexible, budget-friendly CRM but lacking in advanced features. For higher-level sales tools and personalization at an affordable price, consider Freshsales.

ClickUp Pricing

Free Forever: Supports unlimited users
Unlimited: $5 per user, per month
Business: $12 per user, per month
Business Plus: $19 per user, per month
Enterprise: Contact for quote
Access to ClickApps Library

ClickUp Key Features

Remote Teams: Track progress, monitor activity, and assign tasks all in one hub.
Customization: Add functionality with pre-built templates and native integrations.
Guest Seats: Invite outside clients to view projects and access limited features.
Task Management: Organize information through over a dozen visualization types.

Agile CRM: Best for Sales Gamification

Agile CRM offers gamification and automated lead routing to help keep sales teams in sync.

Price Range: Free to $64.99 per user, per month

Overall Rating

3.9

Cost

4.3

Core Features

4.4

Ease of Use

3.3

Customization

3.0

Advanced Features

4.6

Customer Support

3.9

Pros

Fosters teamwork via gamification
Advanced lead management tools
Lower costs with 2-year plans

Cons

Expanded integrations cost extra
Lacks a customizable UI
Takes time to set up & learn

Agile CRM is sales software that encourages friendly competition and teamwork through gamification, a departure from Insightly’s more straightforward approach. Sales managers can monitor performance through real-time team leaderboards and custom reports that track deals, tasks, and revenue. Agile CRM also offers automated lead scoring and routing rules along with multi-channel marketing campaigns to ensure prospects don’t slip through the cracks.

Agile CRM could be daunting for anyone new to CRM software. Freshsales is a user-friendly alternative that doesn’t sacrifice advanced features.

Agile CRM Pricing

Free Plan: Support for up to 10 users
CRM Starter: From $9.99 per user, per month
CRM Regular: From $39.99 per user, per month
CRM Enterprise: From $64.99 per user, per month
Integrates with Agile CRM Marketing and Service hubs
Access to 500Apps from $14.99 per month (or 14-day trial)

Agile CRM Key Features

Gamification: Promote friendly competition with real-time leaderboards.
Lead Management: Set up triggers to score leads, then route them to appropriate reps.
Contact-Level Analytics: Track user activity on web sites to gauge customer trends.
Telephony: Make or take calls, log conversations, and create pre-set sales call scripts.

Salesforce: Best for Medium to Large Businesses

Salesforce is renowned for its robust features plus a massive range of sales automations.

Price Range: $25 to $300 per user, per month (14- to 30-day trial)

Overall Rating

3.8

Cost

2.3

Core Features

4.6

Ease of Use

4.0

Customization

4.9

Advanced Features

4.9

Customer Support

3.1

Pros

Robust suite of sales tools
Flexible reporting & automation
Lots of room to customize

Cons

Support not always timely
Steep learning curve
Too pricey for small teams

Salesforce is a comprehensive CRM better equipped to handle complex, enterprise-level sales processes than Insightly. Its highly-customizable platform can be tailored to suit any industry. That’s in addition to support for a broad range of native and custom integrations. Salesforce also boasts advanced features like forecasting and Einstein AI, a powerful CRM reporting and analytics engine, and the ability to automate almost every sales task imaginable.

Meanwhile, smaller businesses may fare better with ClickUp, a customizable platform with advanced features at a fraction of the cost of Salesforce.

Salesforce Pricing

Essentials: $25 per user, per month for up to 10 users
Professional: $75 per user, per month
Enterprise: $150 per user, per month
Unlimited: $300 per user, per month
Free Trial: 14 to 30 days
Access to Salesforce AppExchange

Salesforce Key Features

Advanced Features: Sales forecasting, real time pipeline inspection, and lead scoring.
Customization: Add niche elements and custom app integrations to suit your needs.
Automation: Simplify your workload by automating nearly every sales task possible.
Reporting: Generate almost any type of CRM report using a drag and drop editor.

Bottom Line: Best Insightly Alternative

Insightly is known for its excellent project management tools and clean interface with drag-and-drop kanban-style pipelines. However, it’s not the right CRM software choice for businesses seeking advanced sales tools and a highly adaptable platform. The Insightly alternatives we’ve featured here will fill those gaps while offering plenty of collaborative tools to ensure sales reps and clients are on the same page.

Alison Barretta

Alison is a Philadelphia-based technology writer for Selling Signals. She has 15 years of experience in the digital space, and her specialties include comparison guides and reviews across CRM, ecommerce, and various SaaS products. In her free time, Alison has received two HubSpot certifications plus a TEFL certification, as well as leads an online martial arts learning program.

7 Best Insightly Alternatives & Competitors

How We Evaluated the Best Insightly Alternatives

Evaluation Criteria

Bottom Line: Best Insightly Alternative

Alison Barretta

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