Pipedrive Review: See What This CRM Can Do in 2022

Our Pipedrive review provides a complete look at the core features, costs, and suggested use cases for this popular CRM.

Pipedrive is an easy-to-use, sales-centric CRM with robust pipeline management. Its graphical UI and low monthly costs will suit small businesses seeking an accessible and affordable CRM. However, companies looking for a 3-in-1 platform with sales, marketing and service features may need to consider something else. Our Pipedrive review will help you decide if it’s right for your team, and offer alternatives if you want a CRM with sales, marketing, and service tools.

Pipedrive at a Glance

Pipedrive provides a no-frills approach to deal and contact management. Small businesses and newbies to CRM software will appreciate the visual interface and basic sales tools, but enterprises might need more advanced functions.

Price Range: $14.90 to $99 per user, per month (14-day trial)

Overall Rating star-fullstar-fullstar-fullstar-full Cost star-fullstar-fullstar-fullstar-fullstar-full Core Features star-fullstar-fullstar-fullstar-fullstar-full Ease of Use star-fullstar-fullstar-fullstar-fullstar-full Customization & Apps star-fullstar-fullstar-fullstar-full Customer Support star-fullstar-fullstar-fullstar-full

Pros:

  • Intuitive and visual UI
  • Superb pipeline management
  • All tiers are reasonably priced
  • 24/7 chat support with all plans

Cons:

  • Quality of support is inconsistent
  • Limited reporting and analytics
  • Could be more customizable
  • May be prone to bugs at times

Pipedrive may be rated as an above-average CRM — but it’s important to think beyond generalities. In which situations should sales leaders consider adopting Pipedrive, and what are some instances where it may not be as useful? We elaborate on both of those points below.

When to Use Pipedrive

Pipedrive is a straightforward CRM that’s easy to implement and use so reps don’t have to divert too much time away from fostering client relationships and generating revenue. Companies seeking a reliable core of sales tools with an emphasis on pipeline management will find it in Pipedrive, along with around-the-clock access to user support should things go awry at any time. It’s also appealing to businesses on a tight budget thanks to its low monthly costs.

Click below for a complete list of the reasons to consider Pipedrive:

  • You Need to Implement a CRM Quickly: Pipedrive is ready to use almost immediately, as its simple sales features and preset elements yield a quick setup.
  • Your Team Is New to CRM Software: A clean and simple UI plus a vast knowledge base will help ease reps who are new to Pipedrive (and CRM software in general).
  • You’re a Small Business With a Limited Budget: Although it doesn’t offer a free-for-life platform, Pipedrive’s entry-level plan includes a solid suite of sales functions from only $14.90 per user, per month — ideal for solopreneurs and startups.
  • You Only Need Sales Features: Pipedrive’s core functionality is centered around the sales process. It’s absent of any key marketing or customer support features.
  • You’re Seeking a Better Way to Organize Pipelines: Every Pipedrive plan comes with unlimited visual sales pipelines that are easy to build and track.
  • You Don’t Have In-House Tech Support: With 24/7 access to live chat and email support standard with all plans, Pipedrive is a good choice for companies that don’t have a dedicated tech staff available to troubleshoot CRM issues.
Show More >>

If you’re interested in learning more about what this CRM can do, check out Pipedrive’s full list of plans for information on pricing and features — which you can cross-reference against your sales goals and budget. You can also test drive the software risk-free for 14 days.

When Not to Use Pipedrive

The simplicity and ease of Pipedrive make it an excellent option for most small-to-medium businesses looking for something they can use almost immediately. However, enterprises will be left wanting due to Pipedrive’s basic reporting, low-level customization, and absence of advanced features such as AI-powered automation. Pipedrive is also not an ideal choice for cross-department collaboration with marketing teams, as it’s strictly a sales-focused CRM.

Here are the scenarios where Pipedrive might not be the right fit:

  • You’re Looking for a CRM With Advanced Features: Pipedrive may be too lean for companies that need broader automation capabilities and stronger AI-powered tools.
  • You Also Need Marketing Tools: Although Pipedrive’s upcoming Campaigns add-on will imbue it with key marketing features, the base platform is purely sales-centric.
  • You Want a Highly-Customizable CRM: Large enterprises, in particular, may feel too limited by Pipedrive’s simplistic approach to customer management software.
  • You’re a Data-Driven Company: Pipedrive can generate basic CRM reports but falls short when it comes to deeper analytics and more flexible reporting options.
  • You’re a Solopreneur Wanting a Free, Scalable CRM: Pipedrive is one of the most affordable CRMs out there, but it doesn’t have a free-for-life version.
Show More >>

Should Pipedrive not meet your criteria, check out our list of the best CRM software, which offers a detailed breakdown of the top CRM platforms according to use case and budget. You can also jump down to our list of the best Pipedrive alternatives.

Pipedrive Pricing

Pipedrive has four subscription tiers. The entry-level Essential plan costs $14.90 per user, per month for basic lead and deal management, limited customization, and all-hours access to live chat support. Upper-level plans add workflow rules, a built-in phone system, and security alerts. Every Pipedrive subscription comes with a 14-day risk-free trial and no seat limits. Head below for a breakdown of Pipedrive’s pricing structure:

EssentialAdvancedProfessionalEnterprise
Annual Plan Monthly Rate$14.90 per user, per month$24.90 per user, per month$49.90 per user, per month$99 per user, per month
Monthly Plan Monthly Rate$19.90 per user, per month$33 per user, per month$59 per user, per month$119 per user, per month
Free Trial14 days14 days14 days14 days
Key FeaturesLead & deal management, customizable pipelines, 24/7 live chat supportWorkflow builder, email sync & tracking, meeting schedulerIn-app dialer, Google Drive integration, unlimited visual dashboardsNo feature limits or restrictions, security alerts & rules, phone support
Custom FieldsUp to 30Up to 100Up to 1,000Unlimited
ReportsUp to 15 per userUp to 30 per userUp to 150 per userUnlimited
Workflow RulesN/AUp to 30Up to 60Up to 100

Users can enrich their Pipedrive plan with a handful of add-ons. These extras cost between $32.50 and $49 per month depending on whether you opt for annual billing or a month-to-month plan. Pipedrive add-ons fortify the platform with lead management tools plus advanced document management for its lower-tier plans.

Pipedrive Add-Ons

Leadbooster

Web Visitors

Smart Docs

This add-on allows sales teams to interact with inbound leads via chatbots, live chat widgets, and web forms. It also includes the Prospector outbound lead search tool. Leadbooster is available for any Pipedrive plan for $32.50 per month annually (or $39 month-to-month).

Pipedrive Leadbooster

Pipedrive Leadbooster

The Web Visitors add-on reveals information about how leads discover a company’s site — and which elements of their webpage aid in converting those leads into customers. It can be included with any Pipedrive plan for $41 per month annually (or $49 month-to-month).

Pipedrive Web Visitors

Pipedrive Web Visitors

Smart Docs is available in the Pipedrive Essential or Advanced levels for $32.50 per month annually (or $39 month-to-month). However, this add-on comes standard with Professional and Enterprise. It enables businesses to send and track quotes, proposals, and contracts from within the CRM and collect electronic signatures.

Pipedrive Smart Docs

Pipedrive Smart Docs

Coming soon to Pipedrive is a Campaigns add-on, which will include customizable email templates plus real-time reporting so sales and marketing teams can see which messages are resonating most with leads and clients. Currently, there is a waitlist for this extra; pricing and availability are unknown as of this post.

Pipedrive Features

Pipedrive’s main objective is to streamline the sales process through an uncluttered interface, with an emphasis on pipeline management. Of course, it also offers tools for contact management, basic sales automation, and activity tracking, to name a few. Head below for a list of the standout core CRM features found in Pipedrive.

Pipeline Management

All plans include unlimited kanban-style pipelines created by dragging and dropping the client or lead data you need throughout the appropriate stages. These pipelines are highly visual and easy to follow so teams can track deals from start to finish. Users can customize stages to fit their unique sales cycles, filter results according to reps or stage, and draw attention to key points using color-coded tabs.

Our independent editorial review of the best pipeline management software places Pipedrive among the top options.

Contact Management

Pipedrive Contact Management

Unlimited contact records are standard with every Pipedrive subscription. Basic contact management features enable you to group contacts by people or companies, then track all activity and correspondence. For a streamlined approach to data entry there’s smart contact data — available with Pipedrive Advanced and up — which enriches contact profiles with info from LinkedIn and other social media platforms.

Take a look at our list of the best contact management software to see how Pipedrive stacks up against other CRMs in terms of functions and costs.

Lead Management

Pipedrive Lead Management

Pipedrive’s lead management is closely linked to its pipeline. Add lead information manually or through information scraped from webforms and chat widgets. From there, Pipedrive will pool leads into a leads inbox until you’re ready to qualify them. Once leads are qualified, they can be converted into a deal and sent right to the pipeline. The Leadbooster add-on (from $32.50 per month) introduces lead prospecting and lead nurturing tools to the base CRM.

See where Pipedrive lands on our list of the best lead management software for qualifying, tracking, and nurturing leads.

Reporting & Dashboards

Pipedrive Reporting & Dashboards

Pipedrive’s reporting module may be too limited for data-driven organizations, but for small businesses just needing to track CRM metrics regarding deal performance, activities, and email opens, it offers plenty. All plans come with a dozen report templates, and its two highest tiers include a custom report builder. All reports can be added to its eye-catching visual dashboards, which displays up to 25 reports at once.

Learn how CRM reporting and CRM dashboards can work together to provide your business with actionable insights — whether you use Pipedrive or another CRM.

AI Sales Assistant

Pipedrive AI Sales Assistant

A modest AI-powered Sales Assistant comes with every plan. Its primary function is to analyze past sales activity and offer feedback on how reps can improve their performance — along with which CRM or third-party tools they can use to achieve that. Pipedrive’s Sales Assistant also produces weekly progress reports to show reps how close they are to reaching their personal and team sales goals.

Sales Automation

Pipedrive Sales Automation

All Pipedrive plans (except Essential) have a basic workflow builder. You’ll be able to automate tasks related to deal stage progression and message sends through a simple visual point-and-click interface. Workflows can either be made from scratch or through any of Pipedrive’s customizable templates. You can even create your own workflow recipes to share with other Pipedrive users.

Workflows are a fantastic way to optimize your sales process; find out how to set up your own automated tasks in our complete guide to CRM automation.

Email Inbox

Pipedrive Email Inbox

Pipedrive’s integrated inbox (included with Pipedrive Advanced and up) syncs with all major email clients, including Gmail and Outlook. This allows you to send and receive messages right in the CRM, track email opens and clicks, and create custom signatures. To send bulk emails more quickly, use the customizable templates and pre-populated merge fields for a personal yet timely touch.

Document Management

Pipedrive Document Management

Subscribers to Pipedrive Professional and Enterprise have access to Smart Docs — which is also available as an optional add-on with Pipedrive’s lower plans. It enables Pipedrive to integrate with Google Drive or Microsoft OneDrive for sending and tracking quotes, proposals, and invoices. Other features include esignatures, autofill documents, and collaborative editing.

Mobile App

Pipedrive Mobile App

Pipedrive has a free mobile app for iOS and Android. Like its desktop counterpart, Pipedrive Mobile has an organized visual UI, but its app-exclusive features make it worth downloading. Notably, it offers offline access for contact and sales data so field reps can get the information they need — even without a decent Wi-Fi connection. The Pipedrive mobile app also logs calls, schedules follow-ups, and integrates with Google Maps and other popular third-party apps.

If you’re looking for a CRM to take on the road, our list of the best mobile CRM apps features Pipedrive plus other options to consider keeping in your pocket.

Third-Party Integrations

Pipedrive Third-Party Integrations

The Pipedrive base platform may be somewhat lean beyond key sales functions — which is where its vast library of integrations comes into play. The Pipedrive Marketplace hosts over 300 apps spanning lead generation, email marketing, productivity, and much more. Notable integrations include Slack, Zoom, Trello, and even HubSpot CRM. Beyond native apps from Pipedrive Marketplace, you can also add integrations via Zapier or develop your own.

Your ideal CRM can be made even better when you add the right CRM integrations — check out our comprehensive guide to see how to install these external apps.

Pipedrive Essential is an inexpensive way to better organize your pipelines, contacts, and leads. Upgrade to any of Pipedrive’s premium plans for workflow automation, advanced reporting, document tracking, and much more.

Pipedrive Ease of Use

Pipedrive was developed by a group of former sales professionals who wanted a CRM that catered to the exact needs of the individuals who go out and sell every day. That mission has culminated in one of the most intuitive CRMs ever made, boasting a tidy UI that’s simple to navigate and access. Pipedrive is especially renowned for its visual kanban-style pipelines, which can be customized via drag-and-drop.

Since Pipedrive is a CRM made with busy salespeople in mind, implementation is a fairly swift process. Most people should be able to pick up the software without much formal training; however, Pipedrive does have a few channels anyone can turn to if they encounter an issue or need some guidance — an extensive knowledge base, an active user community, and the Pipedrive Academy, which includes courses and tutorials on various aspects of the CRM.

Pipedrive user community

Pipedrive Customer Service

All Pipedrive plans include 24/7 access to live chat and email support. Enterprise subscribers are also eligible for phone support and optional custom onboarding. Overall, Pipedrive support has a mixed reputation, but note that your mileage may vary depending on why you’re requesting help.

For technical matters, many users claim that Pipedrive staff are generally quick to reply to queries and offer comprehensive assistance across all support channels. However, when it comes to billing issues, several people have said that the quality of service they received was insufficient. Thus, it may help to do your due diligence by carefully reading the terms and conditions of your Pipedrive subscription and staying on top of any proposed billing changes.

Pipedrive help center

What People Think of Pipedrive

What is the consensus on Pipedrive? We’ve browsed three of the top software review sites (Capterra, Software Advice, G2) for ratings and comments to provide a more complete take on what users think of this popular sales-centric CRM.

Capterra LogoSoftware Advice LogoG2 logo
4.5 / 5 stars4.5 / 5 stars4.2 / 5 stars
2,300+ total reviews2,300+ total reviews1,400+ total reviews

Pipedrive has accumulated 6,000+ total reviews with an average rating of 4.3 stars. That’s a solid score, but what are the stories behind it? We’ve combed through large swaths of reviews to reveal the most common reasons why sales professionals like Pipedrive — plus reasons why they may prefer another CRM instead.

What People Like About Pipedrive

Ease of use is a major selling point for Pipedrive — and a bulk of its positive reviews reflects this. Fans of Pipedrive appreciate how simple it is to set up and navigate; its tidy and intuitive graphic interface has enabled many sales professionals to better manage and track their pipelines stage-by-stage. And while it may be a lightweight platform in terms of native features, users say Pipedrive’s vast library of third-party apps integrations more than makes up for that.

What People Wish Pipedrive Did Better

Pipedrive’s quality of customer support is inconsistent, per a selection of accounts. While plenty of users have sung its praises for being timely and thorough, several disgruntled customers have admitted that their poor experience with Pipedrive support had tainted an otherwise positive experience with the software itself. From a functionality standpoint, criticism for Pipedrive largely centers around its lack of flexibility in reporting, customization, and workflow automation.

Alternatives to Pipedrive

Pipedrive is a fantastic option for small-to-medium companies that want a reasonably-priced CRM their sales team can use right out of the box. On the other hand, Pipedrive won’t appeal to larger organizations that are willing to pay a premium for complex sales and marketing features, richer reporting capabilities, and a vast array of customizable elements. Below are five CRMs we believe are the best Pipedrive alternatives:

Freshsales

HubSpot CRM

Zoho CRM

Salesforce Essentials

Insightly

Freshsales is a sales-centric CRM with a focus on AI automation. Freddy AI forecasts revenue, scores leads, interacts with prospects, and much more. Freshsales is priced similarly to Pipedrive; however, Freshsales is a better choice for teams wanting deeper AI-powered tools, a robust built-in phone system, and a malleable platform that can be tailored to suit any industry. Freshsales’ Growth plan supports three free users; paid plans go up to $69 per user, per month.

Pipedrive Alternatives - Freshsales

Like Pipedrive, HubSpot CRM is renowned for being one of the easiest to use platforms on the market. However, HubSpot CRM isn’t strictly sales-focused, as it also includes a number of inbound and outbound marketing tools. Plus, there’s a free version of HubSpot CRM that hosts unlimited seats and is quite robust in features — ideal for cost-conscious solo workers and startups. Premium upgrades are available starting at $45 per month for two users.

Our complete breakdown of Pipedrive vs HubSpot CRM will help you decide which one of these user-friendly CRMs is right for your business.

Pipedrive Alternative - HubSpot CRM

Zoho CRM is made for businesses seeking multi-channel marketing tools and premium CRM features at a reasonable price. Organizations with a strong social media presence will like Zoho CRM’s tight integrations with Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram. As robust as Zoho CRM is, it’s similar to Pipedrive in that it’s quite easy to use. Zoho CRM subscriptions range between $14 and $52 per user, per month; a limited free-for-life platform is available for up to three users.

Pipedrive Alternatives - Zoho

Salesforce Essentials is a stripped-down version of the industry-leading Salesforce CRM. It borrows several advanced functions from its parent software like custom reporting and Lightning Flow automation. While Salesforce Essentials is sales-focused like Pipedrive, it includes campaign management for marketing teams. Prices start at $25 per user, per month for up to 10 users, with add-ons and upgrades to higher Salesforce Sales Cloud tiers available.

Read our comparison of Pipedrive vs Salesforce to learn how these two CRMs differ — and discover the ways in which they’re similar.

Pipedrive Alternatives - Salesforce Essentials

Pipedrive and Insightly are both affordable and accessible CRMs, but they stand out for different reasons. While Pipedrive’s core features center around the sales process, Insightly’s emphasis is on project management. As easy as Insightly is to harness, it also features a selection of advanced sales tools to appease veteran CRM users. Insightly costs between $29 and $99 per user, per month; there’s a limited free-for-life version for up to two users, as well.

Check out our Insightly vs Pipedrive analysis to discover if either of these budget-friendly CRMs will sufficiently suit your sales needs.

Pipedrive Alternatives - Insightly

Take a look at our list of the best Pipedrive alternatives for even more details regarding the costs, usability, and features of Pipedrive’s main competitors.

Bottom Line: Pipedrive Review

Over 95,000 people around the globe rely on Pipedrive to manage their deals and leads. Upon reading this review, you may either decide to add to that number or seek another option. No matter which action you choose, remember to do your due diligence first. The best way to fully understand whether this CRM will sufficiently meet your sales needs is to read in-depth Pipedrive reviews (like this one) and test the software for yourself via a free trial or demo.

Selling Signals
Actionable advice for sales professionals
Address
355 Lexington Ave,
18th Floor,
New York, NY, 10017
COPYRIGHT SELLING SIGNALS, LLC – 2023