A retail CRM is a software that supports customer-facing B2C sales, which tend to involve frequent repeat transactions. The best retail CRMs include a point-of-sale (POS) system and inventory management tools that analyze customers’ shopping patterns and purchase history. We evaluated the top retail CRMs that help ecommerce and brick-and-mortar stores reduce costs and satisfy customers while selling faster and smarter.
Here are the top six retail CRM software:
- Square POS: Best overall retail CRM for pricing and features (free starting price)
- Zoho CRM for Retail: Best retail CRM software for customization (15-day free trial)
- Salesforce for Retail: Best software for reporting and analytics (30-day free trial)
- Freshsales: Best retail CRM software for contact management (free starting price)
- Bitrix24: Best CRM software for managing online retail stores (free starting price)
- Lightspeed: Best CRM for customer acquisition and retention (14-day free trial)
All of the retail CRMs evaluated are good options and scored highly in one category or another. However, overall, we found that Square POS offers the best value for those seeking a retail CRM, scoring the highest for core features and ease of use, and tying for pricing. Check out how each fared across six categories below, including primary use cases, summary of features, and pricing plans. To see how we evaluated each retail software, jump down to our explanation.
Note: All per-user prices are with a one-year commitment unless noted.
Top 4 Retail CRM Features
The best options for retail software include these functions:
Secure in-store and online payments for your products or services, and process your sales transactions in one integrated system.
Optimize retail operations by monitoring stock levels from multiple locations, managing procurement processes, and ensuring accurate inventory data is shared within your team.
Provide a convenient shopping experience to your customers by accepting various payment methods, applying discounts automatically, and generating receipts on one platform.
Create a system to reward and incentivize customers by offering exclusive discounts, promotions, point accumulation, and personalized offers based on data-driven insights.
How We Evaluated the Best Retail CRMs
To round up the top CRM software for retailers, we first defined the six weighted categories based on the factors that tend to be the most essential for users. Then, we included several subcriteria, which summed up to an overall score out of five. Finally, we determined an overall score for the retail CRMs on our list and identified a primary use case for each option.
Evaluation Criteria
Bottom Line: Best Retail CRM Software
Retail management and POS hubs are multifaceted systems that integrate inventory management, sales, and customer relationship management. Use our list to narrow down your choices and find the right fit for your business. If you’re specifically managing an online-only store, check out our editorial review of the best ecommerce CRMs. You can also read our list of the top CRMs for salespeople if you prefer a general CRM over an industry-specific one.
