HubSpot has built a reputation as one of the most trusted names in customer relationship management (CRM). It’s often praised as one of the best CRMs for lead management, with strong marketing automation, email marketing, and custom reporting tools. 🛠

But no matter how extensive the features are, for most companies, the price ultimately dictates whether a tool is worth it. And with HubSpot CRM, pricing isn’t exactly straightforward. With its “hubs,” onboarding fees, add-ons, and user limits to consider, the final bill can look very different from the starting price. 💰

If you want a CRM with a simple pricing structure that stays tightly connected to QuickBooks in real-time, Method CRM is worth a look.

Here at Method CRM, we’ve been supporting QuickBooks-based businesses since 2010. Method is loved by small and mid-sized business owners across a range of industries for its real-time, two-way QuickBooks sync, end-to-end sales automation, and no-code customizations. In this guide, we’ll do a deep dive into Hubspot pricing to provide a full picture as to whether this platform aligns with your budget, or if it’s worthwhile to consider a Hubspot alternative. 🤔💻

Table of Contents

• HubSpot pricing overview
  • Understanding the “Hubs”
    • Marketing hub 📢
    • Sales hub 📈
    • Service hub 🤝
    • Content hub 📝
    • Data hub (formerly Operations hub) 📊
    • Commerce hub 💵
• HubSpot pricing isn’t one-size-fits-all
  • Which hubs do you use?
  • How many users or marketing contacts do you have?
  • Are you on the Free, Starter, Professional, or Enterprise tier?
  • Any onboarding fees and optional add-ons?
• What’s included in each plan?
  • Marketing hub
  • Sales hub
  • Service hub
  • Content hub
  • Data hub
  • Commerce hub
• Hidden and unexpected HubSpot costs
  • Onboarding fees 💸
  • Marketing contact overages 👥
  • Add-ons ✅
  • Seat minimums 🪑
  • Annual contracts 📑
• HubSpot bundles
  • Customer platform
• Choosing based on your business needs
  • For small businesses or startups 🧑🏻‍💻
  • For marketing teams 🎯
  • For sales and support teams 📞
• HubSpot cost: Final takeaways
• Frequently asked questions

HubSpot pricing overview

HubSpot offers multiple pricing tiers, bundling tools into what they call “Hubs.” The idea here is that businesses can pick and choose what tools matter most to their team (more on those in a bit).

One of its standouts is its free CRM. HubSpot’s forever-free plan gives small teams and startups the basics to get organized, with room to grow. 🌱

The free plan supports up to two users and includes the following perks:

• Manage up to 1,000 free marketing contacts.
• 2,000 email sends per month (via Gmail and Outlook).

• Access a selection of ready-to-use email templates (with the HubSpot branding).
• Track emails and receive basic notifications.
• Schedule meetings with one active meeting link.
• Live chat, conversational bots, and a shared inbox to manage conversations.
• Stay connected with the mobile app for iOS and Android.
• Connect with third-party apps through the HubSpot App Marketplace.

With a wide range of free tools, you can use HubSpot as your starting point to test out the platform before committing to the paid plans.

Understanding the “Hubs”

Before discussing pricing, it’s important to understand HubSpot’s modular structure. Their platform consists of multiple “Hubs,” each focused on a specific business function.

A hub combines a set of tools, available in free and paid versions. Each has its own features and pricing, and costs add up as you add more functionality.

Here’s what to expect from each hub.

Marketing hub 📢

The HubSpot Marketing Hub helps attract, engage, and convert leads.

The tools and services here let you:

• Create and manage landing pages and forms.
• Run email marketing campaigns.
• Manage social media accounts and scheduling.
• Get SEO recommendations for content optimization.
• Analyze and forecast campaign performance with reporting tools.
• Automate marketing workflows to save time.

Sales hub 📈

Tightly connected to the marketing hub, the HubSpot Sales Hub is where you help your sales teams track and close deals efficiently.

Here, you can:

• Track and manage leads and deals.
• Automate outreach with email sequences.
• Schedule and log meetings.
• Monitor sales performance with dashboards.
• Integrate with Gmail and Outlook.
• Make calls and use live chat tools.

Need a CRM built for sales? We’ve put HubSpot vs Salesforce head-to-head.

Service hub 🤝

The HubSpot Service Hub covers the customer support side of the business. These aim to equip teams with the tools needed to deliver a better customer experience.

This hub provides:

• A ticketing system and help desk to manage inquiries.
• Live chat and email support channels.
• A knowledge base for self-service.
• Customer feedback collection through surveys.
• Customer service workflow automation.
• Support performance analysis with reporting tools.

Content hub 📝

Optimized content will make your marketing efforts more effective. The HubSpot Content Hub is where you handle content creation and management.

Tools and services allow you to:

• Generate content with AI-powered writing.
• Optimize content with SEO tools.
• Manage and repurpose existing content.
• Personalize content experiences for users.
• Embed content across platforms.
• Track content performance with analytics.

Data hub (formerly Operations hub) 📊

HubSpot added the Operations hub after acquiring PieSync, a startup specializing in data sync. It has since been rebranded as the Data Hub. Within this hub, you can enhance your data and automation efforts.

Here’s what you could do:

• Sync customer data across multiple apps.
• Automate repetitive data workflows.
• Maintain data quality with automated checks.
• Use programmable automation with JavaScript or Python.
• Connect with 90+ third-party apps.

Commerce hub 💵

There’s also the HubSpot Commerce Hub that helps businesses handle billing and payments right inside the CRM. You can manage invoices, quotes, payment links, and subscriptions while keeping everything in sync with your other HubSpot tools.

Commerce Hub doesn’t have a monthly subscription fee. Instead, you pay per transaction, depending on your payment method.

HubSpot offers a 60-day trial period with no platform fees for HubSpot Payments, so you can test the system before committing.

Pro tip! Look around and get to know each hub. Learning what each hub actually offers makes it easier to plan your investment and get the most value from the platform.

HubSpot pricing isn’t one-size-fits-all

There’s no flat rate for HubSpot. And this could be a good and a bad thing. What’s great about these hubs is that you can pick and choose the tools that match your sales, marketing, service, or operations priorities. 

The downside? Costs climb as you get more tools, users, or add-ons. For instance, if you need a CRM for multiple businesses, HubSpot has the ability to support that. But while it has a vast feature set, as you can imagine, its pricing structure makes it expensive for complex setups.

What you’ll pay in total depends on the following:

Which hubs do you use?

HubSpot’s pricing can vary depending on the hubs you select. Some hubs are more expensive because of the advanced features they offer.

Here’s a quick comparison of the costs:

• Marketing Hub Professional: $890/month for up to three seats (paid annually)
• Content Hub Professional: $450/month for up to three seats (paid annually)
• Data Hub Professional: $945/month for one seat (paid annually)
• Sales Hub Professional: $90/month/seat (paid annually)
• Service Hub Professional: $90/month/seat (paid annually)
• Commerce Hub Professional: $85/month/seat (paid annually)

The cost increases as you add more advanced features or additional users.

How many users or marketing contacts do you have?

Your subscription cost can also be influenced by the number of your marketing contacts. You need to take these into account as they’re the contacts in your database to whom you’ll be actively sending marketing emails and campaigns.

Each marketing hub tier comes with a set number of marketing contacts:

• Starter: 1,000 contacts
• Professional: 2,000 contacts
• Enterprise: 10,000 contacts

If you exceed your included contacts, HubSpot automatically upgrades you to the next tier during your current billing period and notifies you when you’re approaching your limit.

You also have the option to store up to 1,000 non-marketing contacts in your CRM for free, but you cannot target these contacts with emails or ads.

Are you on the Free, Starter, Professional, or Enterprise tier?

HubSpot offers four main tiers that you can upgrade to as you scale. Each hub has its own tier structure. This means that the same tier may include different tools depending on the hub.

Here’s a general rundown of what each tier offers:

• Free CRM: Basic marketing tools for contact management and simple workflows. Perfect for teams just testing CRM software.
• Starter plan: Adds essential features like email campaigns and forms. Ideal for small teams expanding their marketing and sales efforts.
• Professional plan: Includes advanced tools such as automation, reporting, and enhanced workflows. Suited for growing teams that need more sophisticated capabilities.
• Enterprise plan: Offers extensive customization, advanced analytics, and enterprise-level features. Designed for larger organizations with complex processes.

Any onboarding fees and optional add-ons?

HubSpot offers onboarding services to help you set up and integrate its tools properly. These fees (that also differ by hub) cover dedicated guidance from HubSpot specialists who handle the technical setup, data migration, workflow configuration, and initial training.

While it’s optional, onboarding is often recommended for businesses implementing multiple hubs or having more advanced workflows.

HubSpot also offers extra features and services that can be added to your plan for an additional cost:

• Additional users: Extra seats beyond the base that’s included in your plan.
• Specific features: Tools like custom reporting, more workflows, or increased API calls.
• Training and consulting: Personalized sessions so your team can fully utilize HubSpot.
• Integration services: Connecting HubSpot with other platforms or custom applications.

Even though these add-ons aren’t required, they can help teams maximize the value of their HubSpot investment.

This format might already be overwhelming for businesses with more specialized needs. If you need custom sales workflows or QuickBooks integration, or are managing field service operations, Method CRM can be a stronger fit right from day one.

Method’s customizable CRM adapts to the way your team already works without having you rely on third-party developers to make the CRM functional.

SUCCESS STORY: Learn more about how a wine cellar and cigar humidor manufacturer used Method’s customization capabilities to create the ideal CRM for their operations. 

What’s included in each plan?

Now we’re getting to the nitty-gritty.

First, here’s a brief overview of HubSpot’s free CRM:

Free Tools plan: Forever-free 

Hubspot’s Free Tools plan offers site tracking, forms, landing pages, 1-to-1 emails, one meeting scheduling link, email marketing for up to 1,000 contacts, and data sync capabilities. Applies to all hubs.

Now, let’s break down HubSpot’s pricing by hub and what’s included. We’ll also highlight who each hub works best for, so you can see where your business fits.

Marketing hub

👍 Best for: Teams focused on automation and multi-channel campaigns.

Expect these costs when subscribing to HubSpot’s marketing hub:

Starter plan: $9/month/seat 

• Includes up to 1,000 marketing contacts, with additional contacts available in 1,000-contact increments for $30-$37.50/month (price depends on total number of contacts).
• Takes the HubSpot branding off your forms, emails, landing pages, and live chat.

Professional plan: $890/month for up to three seats (additional seats cost $45/month)

• Up to 2,000 marketing contacts; additional contacts sold in 5,000-contact increments for $134.83-$224.72/month (price depends on total number of contacts).
• Notable additional features include more automation capabilities, A/B testing, cross-channel marketing automation, account-based marketing tools, dynamic content personalization, multilingual content support, social media management, video hosting, contact and company scoring, A/B experiments, and reporting dashboards.

Enterprise plan: $3,600/month for up to five seats (additional seats cost $75/month)

• Includes 10,000 marketing contacts; extra contacts sold in 10,000-contact increments for $60-$100/month (price depends on total number of contacts).
• Key new features include extensive customization, predictive lead scoring, custom objects, behavioural email triggers, webhooks, advanced team access controls, and multi-touch revenue tracking.

Sales hub

👍 Best for: Outbound sales teams working in a defined pipeline.

What to budget for when using HubSpot’s Sales Hub:

Starter plan: $9/month/seat

• Eliminates the HubSpot branding from live chat, meeting links, documents, and individual emails. Manage conversation routing, automate recurring tasks with task queues, integrate with Stripe, and access additional workflow tools. Two deal pipelines.

Professional plan: $90/month/seat

• Automate sales sequences and workflows, performance analytics, team management tools, custom reporting, account-based marketing (ABM) features, eSignature capabilities, and additional advanced sales tools. Up to 15 deal pipelines.

Enterprise plan: $150/month/seat

• Custom objects for tailored CRM data, advanced reporting and analytics, event triggers, dedicated account support, conversation intelligence, revenue attribution reporting, advanced automation, and routing. Up to 50 deal pipelines.

Service hub

👍 Best for: Teams handling customer tickets through shared inboxes and knowledge bases.

Plan for these costs when choosing the service hub:

Starter plan: $15/month/seat

• Removes the HubSpot branding. Includes simple ticket automation, multiple ticket pipelines, multiple currencies, and a calling SDK.

Professional plan: $90/month/seat

• Includes a knowledge base, automated help desk, ticket routing, service level agreement (SLA), and Net Promoter Score (NPS) surveys, Breeze customer agent, plus a customer portal.

Enterprise plan: $150/month/seat

• Features include permission sets, custom objects, goal tracking, playbooks, advanced SLAs and routing, single sign-on, and multiple knowledge bases.

If juggling multiple tools in HubSpot already feels cumbersome, Method CRM streamlines sales and service processes into a single system, helping you make the most of your CRM and customer experience. This way, you reduce the back-and-forth between separate platforms.

Content hub

👍 Best for: Brands that want a content management system (CMS) baked into their CRM.

Anticipate these costs with a content hub subscription:

Starter plan: $9/month/seat

• No HubSpot branding on your website, includes additional website pages and blog posts, personalization tokens, live chat, and email support.

Professional plan: $450/month for up to three seats (additional seats cost $45/month)

• Provides software for content remix (repurpose content for different channels), brand voice (maintain consistent tone across content), and podcasts (host and manage podcast content); includes dynamic personalization, content management (advanced tools for managing content at scale), memberships and gated content (create paid or restricted content), and content optimization and reporting.

Enterprise plan: $1,500/month for up to five seats (additional seats cost $75/month)

• On top of the professional plan features, you can manage multiple websites, content approvals (team-based workflow), gain permissioning and team access control, activity logging, custom objects, and serverless functions.

Data hub

👍 Best for: Teams with multiple systems to sync or advanced permissions to manage.

These are the costs for a data hub subscription:

Starter plan: $9/month/seat

• Provides historical data sync for complete CRM data visibility, custom properties to tailor the CRM to your business logic, and data sync with over 100 apps like Salesforce, Mailchimp, and NetSuite. Includes email and in-app chat support.

Professional plan: $720/month for one seat (additional seat costs $45/month)

• Programmable automation with custom code actions, data quality automation, including AI-powered data formatting recommendations, scheduled workflow triggers, and email, phone, and chat support.

Enterprise plan: $2,000/month for one seat (additional seats cost $75/month)

• Advanced governance and data calculations, sandbox account for testing, Snowflake data sharing, custom objects, data lineage tracking, and priority support.

Commerce hub

👍 Best for: Teams managing quote-to-cash workflows and analytics directly within HubSpot CRM.

These are the costs for a Commerce hub subscription:

Professional plan: $85/month per seat (additional seats same price)

• AI-powered quotes (CPQ), closing agent, and quote-to-cash automation; commerce analytics suite, enhanced quoting and reporting; e-signature functionality (25 per user/month); and integrated billing and payments with invoicing, automation, and tracking.
  

Enterprise plan: $140/month per seat (additional seats same price; billed annually) 

• All Professional features, plus advanced quote approvals, higher e-signature allowance (50 per user/month), and additional enterprise-grade features (improved governance, scaling, and customized transaction handling).
  

Hidden and unexpected HubSpot costs

While HubSpot offers a comprehensive suite of tools, several add-ons and fees can impact your total cost. These costs can stack up faster than you expect.

Onboarding fees 💸

Onboarding services are particularly beneficial for Professional and Enterprise plans. These require a one-time fee.

Here’s what to expect:

• Marketing Hub Professional: $3,000
• Sales and Service Professional Hubs: $1,500 each
• Marketing Hub Enterprise: $7,000
• Sales and Service Enterprise Hubs: $3,500 each

Marketing contact overages 👥

HubSpot’s pricing is designed to scale with the size of your business. If your database or email needs grow over time, you’ll need to purchase additional marketing contacts to match that growth. Costs climb once you exceed the base limit included in your tier.

Additional contacts are sold in increments depending on the plan you’re subscribed to.

Add-ons ✅

Need extra power? Have a specific need you want covered? HubSpot charges for that.

You can bolt on plenty of features like these, though the price climbs with each one:

• HubSpot credits (for automation, AI tools, etc.): $45/month for 5,000 credits 
• SMS limit increase: $15/month 
• WhatsApp limit increase: $70/month for 1,000 messages 
• Dedicated IP: $300/month
• Ads limit increase: $100/month 
• Custom SSL: $100/month
• Phone number limit increase: $25/month
• Video limit increase: $50/month
• Workflows limit increase: $200/month
• Teams limit increase: $200/month
• Calling minute limit increase: $50/month
• API limit increase: $500/month
• Reporting limit increase: $200/month
• E-signature limit increase: $60/month
• Custom properties limit increase: $220/month

Seat minimums 🪑

HubSpot no longer enforces strict minimums, but higher tiers still bundle in required seats, driving up cost. For example, the Marketing Hub Professional plan costs $890/month for three seats (paid monthly). You pay for those extra seats whether you use them or not.

This will inflate your baseline subscription cost and directly impact your bottom line if your team is smaller than the baked-in number of seats.

Annual contracts 📑

HubSpot’s Professional and Enterprise tiers require annual contracts, billed monthly. So once you sign up for the plan, you’re committed to paying for the full year, even if your team shrinks, you pause campaigns, or realize you don’t need all the features.

While this setup can help with budgeting, since your monthly cost won’t fluctuate, it still limits flexibility. 

HubSpot bundles

If individual features cost too much to obtain on their own and you’re looking for similar ones, a HubSpot bundle might be for you. Hubspot users can create custom bundles that combine multiple hubs and features into one package, which costs less than buying each separately. They can also choose to start with the Customer Platform bundle.

Customer platform

This is the entry-level bundle with Starter versions of all major Hubs.

Pricing: $9/month/user (promo for the first year); $15–20/month/user for the standard pricing. No onboarding needed.

Best for: Startups exploring their first CRM.

Includes: Starter editions of Marketing, Sales, Service, Content, Data, Commerce, plus HubSpot’s Smart CRM.

Choosing based on your business needs

The ideal HubSpot plan comes down to your team’s size, goals, and how many tools you’ll realistically use.

Here’s a quick guide to help you choose.

For small businesses or startups 🧑🏻‍💻

Recommended: Free or Starter

If you’re dipping your toes into CRM for the first time, HubSpot Free or Starter is often enough.

You’ll get contact management, a basic sales pipeline, and email integration without the overhead of advanced features you may not use yet.

For example, a two-person startup can track leads, send follow-up emails, and log calls in one place without paying thousands upfront.

Tip! Stick with Starter until you’ve outgrown its contact limits or need automation.

For marketing teams 🎯

Recommended: Marketing Hub Professional

HubSpot Marketing Hub Pro makes sense once you’re running multi-channel campaigns and need data to prove what’s working. It adds A/B testing, campaign reporting, and automation tools that offer more than simple newsletters.

A team running paid ads and email campaigns, for instance, can automate lead nurture sequences and see which campaigns actually drive conversions.

Tip! Watch your contact count closely, as costs climb fast the more you add marketing contacts.

For sales and support teams 📞

Recommended: Sales and Service Hubs

HubSpot Sales Hub and service hub shine for teams that live in the deal pipeline or customer inbox.

Sales hub gives reps playbooks, email tracking, and automation to shorten the sales cycle. Meanwhile, the service hub adds ticketing, live chat, and a knowledge base, which are key for keeping customer requests in check.

If you’ve got five reps with hundreds of leads, or a support team fielding daily tickets, these tools can save time and tighten your process.

Tip! Budget for Professional onboarding if you want to upgrade from Starter.

HubSpot cost: Final takeaways

What a ride, right? HubSpot’s pricing is flexible, but it comes with layers—lots of them. Tiers, add-ons, seat minimums, annual contracts, and overages can creep up fast.

HubSpot ultimately works best for teams who know exactly what they need and have the budget to back it up. But if your business is still testing, growing, or wants more say over which features you pay for, HubSpot can feel like you’re buying the whole store just to get a few things off the shelf.

That’s when you’d want to consider HubSpot alternatives with simpler pricing structures or specific features that don’t require you to jump through hoops to get them.

If you’d rather have a custom CRM with fewer surprises, deeper accounting sync, and workflows built around your existing operations, Method CRM is the perfect fit. 🧩

Book a free demo with the Method team and get a walkthrough tailored to your business.

Frequently asked questions

What happens when your all-in-one PSA platform starts slowing things down instead of speeding them up? Some professional services businesses using Accelo may reach that tipping point where the complexity, rising pricing, or rigid workflows begin to outweigh the benefits.

In this guide, we’ll explore the best Accelo alternatives, covering essential features like project management, task tracking, automation, invoicing, and CRM functionality. We’ll also discuss the strengths and potential challenges of Accelo, comparing it to other platforms in terms of usability, scalability, and cost.

Here at Method CRM, we’ve been supporting QuickBooks-based businesses since 2010. Method is loved by business owners in the professional services sector and beyond, for its real-time, two-way QuickBooks sync, no-code customization capabilities, and end-to-end workflow automation. Below, we’ll highlight what to consider when selecting an Accelo alternative and how Method can help grow your business. 🚀📈

Table of Contents

• Quick comparison snapshot
• Why service businesses look for an Accelo alternative
  • A learning curve that slows you down ⏳
  • Pricing that can escalate 💰
  • Less flexibility for unique workflows ⛔
  • Mobile app limitations 📱
  • More features than you’ll use 🛠️
• What to look for in the best Accelo alternatives
• Top Accelo alternatives 
  • 1. Method CRM – Best for QuickBooks integration and workflow customization
  • 2. ClickUp – Great for team collaboration and project management
  • 3. monday.com – A visual platform for project management and workflows
  • 4. HubSpot CRM – A free entry point with powerful upgrades
  • 5. Zoho CRM – A cost-effective, all-in-one solution
  • 6. Asana – Lightweight work management for small teams
• Feature showdown: How the top Accelo alternatives compare
  • Project planning: Gantt and Kanban views 👀
  • Resource and capacity management 📚
  • Time tracking and billable utilization ⏱️
  • Invoicing and recurring billing 🧾
  • Automation and workflow templates 💻
  • Integrations and open API access 🌐
  • Dashboards and forecasting 📊
  • Pricing comparison: What you’ll pay as you scale
• Decision table — match your business needs
• Frequently asked questions
• Final verdict

Quick comparison snapshot

If you are short on time, this snapshot gives you a side-by-side look at how the top Accelo alternatives compare. From pricing to integrations and ease of use, you can quickly see which platform might be the best fit before diving into the details.

Why service businesses look for an Accelo alternative

Accelo is an all-in-one professional services automation (PSA) platform that brings together project management, client communication, invoicing, time tracking, and automation in one workspace. 

For some businesses, it may be the perfect way to manage everything from the first client conversation to the final invoice. But for other service-based teams, this all-in-one approach may come with a few trade-offs.

A learning curve that slows you down ⏳

Accelo is feature-rich, but that also means it can feel overwhelming at the start. For teams that want to set up simple workflows, track time, or get projects moving quickly, the platform can feel more complex than expected. Small businesses and startups in particular may spend a significant amount of time figuring out how to fit their processes into Accelo’s structure. Without dedicated onboarding, that first stage can feel slow and frustrating.

Pricing that can escalate 💰

Accelo’s tiered pricing means you pay separately for core modules like Sales, Projects, Retainers, Tickets, and Billing. This flexibility sounds appealing, but costs can add up quickly once you need more than one module. 

Less flexibility for unique workflows ⛔

No two professional services businesses operate the same way. Accelo’s core modules can be limiting if you want to customize processes. Adjusting task flows or adding extra steps often requires workarounds or development work, making it harder to adapt the platform to your specific needs.

Mobile app limitations 📱

With hybrid work now the norm, many teams require tools that perform just as well on mobile as on desktop. While Accelo has a mobile app, some users have reported that it feels dated and lacks real-time capabilities. For consultants, field teams, or remote workers who rely on updating projects, logging time, or connecting with clients on the go, this can be a barrier.

More features than you’ll use 🛠️

Accelo offers a wide range of functionality, but many teams may only need a fraction of it. If your business simply wants a CRM, some project management tools, and invoicing support, the platform can feel excessive. 

For many professional services businesses, the decision to look for an Accelo alternative is about finding a solution that offers the right balance of features, flexibility, and ease of use without making you pay for or manage more than you actually need.

What to look for in the best Accelo alternatives

Before diving into the comparison, it helps to get a clear view of what really matters to your business. Depending on the size of your team, the type of work you do, and the level of complexity you’re willing to manage, here are some key things to consider:

• Ease of use and onboarding: Can your team get up and running without weeks of training?
• Project management and task tracking: How well does the platform handle timelines, deliverables, dependencies, and task management?
• Workflow automation: Does it streamline repetitive tasks like client onboarding or sending follow-up emails?
• Client management: Can you store client data, notes, and communications in one place?
• Invoicing and billing: Is it easy to send invoices, accept payments, and track overdue bills?
• Customization: Can you tweak dashboards, fields, and reports to match your workflows?
• Integrations: Does it connect with your other tools like Slack, Microsoft 365, QuickBooks, or G Suite?
• Scalability: Will it grow with you without tripling your costs?

Considering these criteria, let’s go over the top Accelo alternatives that service businesses are switching to.

Top Accelo alternatives

Here’s a closer look at the platforms that are winning over teams who have outgrown Accelo.

1. Method CRM – Best for QuickBooks integration and workflow customization

Method CRM is a standout for small businesses that rely on QuickBooks and want to build tailored workflows without hiring a developer. Its real-time, two-way sync with QuickBooks means your customer data, invoices, payments, and estimates stay perfectly aligned without needing double entry.

Method stands out for its high level of customization. You can automate client onboarding, build templates for proposals or service agreements, and create dashboards that highlight your most important metrics. 

Key features:

• Deep QuickBooks integration.
• Customizable workflows and reports.
• Web-to-lead forms and email templates.
• Self-serve client portal for approvals and updates.
• Drag-and-drop task and activity views.

Best for: Small and mid-sized businesses that need flexibility and rely heavily on QuickBooks for accounting.

2. ClickUp – Great for team collaboration and project management

ClickUp is a rising star in the project management world and a popular Accelo alternative for teams that need flexibility. You can manage tasks, goals, timelines, and documents in one platform with strong team collaboration tools.

While it doesn’t offer native invoicing, ClickUp integrates well with platforms like Harvest or QuickBooks for billing purposes. If your main pain point with Accelo is task and project management, ClickUp is worth a try.

Key features:

• Custom views (list, board, Gantt, calendar).
• Time tracking and workload management.
• Automation and recurring tasks.
• Team collaboration tools like comments and mentions.
• Mobile app and Slack integration.

Best for: Teams focused on project planning and team collaboration who want an intuitive interface.

3. monday.com – A visual platform for project management and workflows

Monday.com has become a favourite among small teams and service businesses looking to streamline operations without a heavy setup. It offers a colorful, visual workspace with customizable boards, templates, and views that make project progress and client work easy to follow.

Its automation features help reduce repetitive tasks like status updates, notifications, or handoffs between departments. You can also connect monday.com with invoicing tools or embed dashboards to stay on top of KPIs.

Key features:

• Custom workflows with drag-and-drop ease.
• Automations to reduce admin work.
• Dashboards with real-time project metrics.
• Client collaboration features with limited access.
• Time tracking and workload views.

Best for: Creative agencies, consultancies, or startups that want a visual, flexible project management tool that doesn’t overcomplicate things.

4. HubSpot CRM – A free entry point with powerful upgrades

If your team wants to track sales, manage projects, and engage clients without spending a fortune upfront, HubSpot CRM is a solid option. It’s free to start and includes contact management, deal tracking, and email marketing features.

As your business grows, you can unlock full marketing automation, custom workflows, client portals, and advanced sales reporting.

Key features:

• Robust free CRM features.
• Marketing, sales, and service hubs.
• Workflow automation and segmentation.
• Customizable dashboards.
• Integration with Slack, Gmail, and more.

Best for: Businesses that want an all-in-one system that grows with them.

5. Zoho CRM – A cost-effective, all-in-one solution

Zoho CRM offers a wide set of features at a lower price point, making it a top pick for small businesses looking to manage their customer relationships, sales pipeline, and communications from one platform.

It also offers a variety of add-ons across the Zoho ecosystem, including Zoho Projects, Zoho Books, and Zoho Desk. That way, you can build your ideal tech stack modularly.

Key features:

• CRM, email, social media, and sales automation.
• AI-powered suggestions and workflows.
• Forecasting tools for revenue and performance.
• Integrations with G Suite, Slack, and Microsoft 365.
• Mobile app and client portal options.

Best for: Businesses that want strong CRM functionality with pricing that stays reasonable as they grow.

6. Asana – Lightweight work management for small teams

Asana keeps it simple with a task-oriented approach to project management. While it doesn’t offer invoicing or billing, it excels at helping teams track tasks, share updates, and stay aligned.

If your team just needs a reliable way to manage project workflows and daily work, Asana’s clean interface and helpful templates make it easy to get started.

Key features:

• Task lists, boards, timelines, and calendars.
• Workload and capacity views.
• Milestones and goal tracking.
• Easy integration with tools like Slack and Harvest.
• Templates for client onboarding, creative work, and more.

Best for: Small teams or service providers who don’t need heavy-duty billing but want clear work visibility and communication.

Feature showdown: How the top Accelo alternatives compare

If you’re looking for an Accelo alternative, it is not just about finding something simpler or less expensive. It is about making sure your team has the project management, automation, and reporting tools they need to run a service business smoothly.

Here is how the leading Accelo alternatives perform across the features that matter most.

Project planning: Gantt and Kanban views 👀

Good project planning starts with clear visibility. Many of the above-mentioned alternatives offer strong Gantt chart functionality, making it easier to visualize timelines, dependencies, and milestones in a clear and manageable way.

Kanban boards are essential for teams that prefer a visual approach. Platforms like ClickUp, monday.com, and Asana excel here, giving you drag-and-drop cards, color-coded tags, and intuitive layouts that make project planning feel like mapping out a journey rather than navigating a spreadsheet.

Resource and capacity management 📚

Balancing workloads and managing resources is one of the most challenging parts of service delivery. While Accelo shows you basic details about who is working on what, it can lack real-time capacity insights, especially for larger teams.

Alternatives now offer live resource dashboards that let managers see who is overbooked, who is available, and how work is distributed. Tools like monday.com and Zoho CRM help teams plan effectively, avoid burnout, and keep resource management running smoothly.

Time tracking and billable utilization ⏱️

Accelo includes a built-in time tracker, but some users experience syncing issues or find it difficult to create useful reports. Competitors like ClickUp and Method CRM offer more flexible and reliable time tracking with features such as automatic timers, mobile entry, and calendar integrations.

Beyond just recording hours, many alternatives provide insights on billable utilization, helping you see exactly how much of your team’s time goes toward client work, admin, or internal projects. These insights are key to improving profitability and planning future work.

Invoicing and recurring billing 🧾

Accelo’s invoicing tools work, but they can feel restrictive, particularly if you bill for a mix of time, fixed-price projects, and retainers. Some users also say the setup is not intuitive.

Many service businesses turn to platforms like QuickBooks Online or Method CRM for greater flexibility. These solutions allow easier handling of recurring billing, tax rules, and multiple currencies, while making it simple to track profitability by client, project, or team member.

Automation and workflow templates 💻

Automation is one of Accelo’s main selling points, but it often requires significant setup and training. For teams that want something ready to go, this can be a hurdle.

monday.com, ClickUp, and HubSpot offer prebuilt workflow templates for client onboarding, task management, and invoice follow-ups. These allow teams to start automating repetitive tasks without a complex setup. Many of these platforms also include conditional logic and real-time triggers so workflows adjust automatically based on activity.

Integrations and open API access 🌐

A CRM or project management tool is only as good as the tools it connects with. While Accelo integrates with some platforms, its options are more limited than those of many competitors.

Alternatives such as ClickUp, Asana, and monday.com provide stronger integrations with Slack, Microsoft Teams, HubSpot, Salesforce, and accounting software. They also offer robust open APIs for custom connections, making it easier to automate processes and reduce manual updates across systems.

Dashboards and forecasting 📊

Scaling a service business requires knowing what is ahead. Accelo’s dashboards can make it difficult to get a complete picture without manual workarounds or exporting data.

Modern alternatives focus on clean, real-time dashboards that bring project tracking, sales forecasting, and resource planning into one place. 

Pricing comparison: What you’ll pay as you scale

Here’s how these tools compare when it comes to pricing, add-ons, and team scaling:

Be sure to account for your team’s size, usage limits, and whether the features you need are locked behind paywalls.

Read more: How a tax advisory firm ditched paper-heavy workflows for 10x faster billing.

Decision table — match your business needs

When choosing an Accelo alternative, the best choice will depend on your priorities, whether that’s seamless QuickBooks integration, flexible project management, deeper automation, or a balance of features and budget.

The table below maps common service business use cases against six of the top contenders so you can quickly see which ones align most closely with your needs.

Frequently asked questions

Final verdict

The best Accelo alternative depends on your business needs, current workflows, and team size. If you want full control over your client work, real-time dashboards, and automation tools that simplify operations, take a closer look at Method CRM. It’s a scalable platform purpose-built for service businesses that want to optimize their processes and grow. 🌱

Founded in 2012, Monday.com has become a leading visual project management platform. While it has since expanded its offerings to include a CRM system, it is most celebrated for its intuitive task assignment features and vibrant, user-friendly dashboards. 🎨

That said, as with any other tool, monday.com won’t be a perfect fit for every business. QuickBooks users, for example, may need a tool that syncs seamlessly with both their CRM and QuickBooks data. 📊

Here at Method CRM, we’ve been supporting QuickBooks-based businesses since 2010. Method is loved by small and mid-sized businesses from a range of industries for its real-time, two-way  QuickBooks sync, no-code customization capabilities, and end-to-end sales automation. In this guide, we’ll show you what to consider when selecting a monday.com alternative and how Method can be an asset to your growing business. 🌱

Table of Contents

• Why you might need a monday.com alternative
• Choose your alternative based on team needs
  • Small teams that need visual task management ✅
    • Trello
    • ClickUp Free
    • Basecamp
  • Growing teams that need automation and custom workflows 🔀
    • ClickUp
    • Wrike
    • Asana
  • Teams that need finance, CRM, and projects 📈
    • Method CRM
    • Zoho (Projects + CRM + Books)
    • Flowlu
  • Enterprises needing security and structure 🛡️
    • Smartsheet
    • Jira
    • Teamwork
• Feature comparison snapshot
• Real user limitations with monday.com
• Frequently asked questions
• Which monday.com alternative works best for you?

Why you might need a monday.com alternative

Project management software helps teams plan, organize, and track all their tasks in one place. However, if your team grows quicker than your tools can keep up, you might feel boxed in.

Here are common issues that might push you to check out alternatives:

• You’ve hit action or seat limits: As you grow, you might find yourself restricted by monday.com’s seats per plan. There might also be specific action quotas per month on your plan. This means that costs rise as you scale users and automations. 
• Your team’s scaling faster than your tools: When your projects become more complex and your team expands, you need a scalable platform with advanced project management features and more effective resource handling.
• You want stronger CRM, invoicing, or project billing features: monday.com has its own CRM, but automation is capped, and it can struggle with complex data relationships without custom work. Its software integrations and financial tools also don’t offer the depth of an all-in-one CRM with dedicated accounting management.
• You need easier onboarding or a simpler UI: New or less tech-savvy users may find the interface overwhelming. The learning curve can slow adoption. 

If any of these sound familiar, it’s worth considering an alternative that better fits your team’s size, needs, and priorities.

Choose your alternative based on team needs

We’ve done the heavy lifting and narrowed the plethora of options down to the top 10 monday.com alternatives.

From small teams to fast-growing groups and full enterprises, the right software can make all the difference. We’ve also mentioned a perfect choice for team members who need an all-in-one solution that handles finance, CRM, and project management.

Small teams that need visual task management ✅

Visual task management puts your work where you can see it, usually through tools like kanban boards and colour-coded cards. 

If you’re part of a small team, visual tools can keep things simple without drowning you in unnecessarily advanced features. It’s one of the most accessible ways to approach work management.

Visual task management is a must for:

• Startups that need a user-friendly interface to onboard and adjust workflows as they grow.
• Creative teams managing multiple projects that rely on visual and live collaboration tools.
• Freelancers, often project management software first-timers, who want an easy-to-use way to handle their workload.

Here are the top alternatives that really shine when it comes to visual project planning.

Trello

In search of a Kanban-style project management tool? Trello is for you. Its intuitive interface and visual boards make it ideal for small teams looking for simplicity without sacrificing decent functionality.

The platform has a more straightforward approach to task management, using visual boards, lists, and cards to provide a clear overview of tasks.

Key features:

• Kanban boards with drag-and-drop functionality.

• Labels and color-coding for task categorization.
• Integrations with Slack, Google Drive, Jira, and more.
• Intuitive mobile app on Android and iOS.

Pricing:

• Free plan with limited features available; Standard at $5/user/month (billed annually); Premium at $10/user/month (billed annually); Enterprise at $17.50/user/month (billed annually) (price depends on the number of users).

ClickUp Free

ClickUp Free is the no-cost version of ClickUp that gives you plenty of core features for small teams. It offers multiple views like List, Kanban boards, and Calendar, so you can pick the style that fits your workflow best.

This supports unlimited tasks and users, which is not bad at all for the free version. It’s a solid option for those just getting started with task management. As your needs grow, you can upgrade to premium plans that unlock more advanced features.

Key features:

• Time tracking available directly within tasks.

• Includes 100MB of storage for your files.
• Create up to five spaces to separate projects or teams.
• Allows for 100 uses per feature (e.g., custom fields, dashboards).

Pricing:

• Completely free to use.

Basecamp

Basecamp is a project management and team collaboration tool designed to centralize communication and tasks. Its visual task management features, such as lists and Card Table views, help teams stay organized and on track.

Meanwhile, collaboration tools like group chat, message boards, file sharing, and automatic check-ins keep teams connected and productive.

Key features:

• Efficient collaboration features that keep teams aligned.

• Provides simple Kanban board and timeline views, which are great for project management beginners.
• Automatic check-ins to prompt status updates.

Pricing:

• Basecamp offers a free plan for one project at a time. Its Plus plan is $15/user/month for unlimited projects; its Pro Unlimited plan is $299/month billed annually for an entire organization and unlimited projects.

Growing teams that need automation and custom workflows 🔀

When your team takes on more clients and deadlines pile up, simple to-do lists won’t cut it anymore. You need automation and custom workflows that actually work for how you operate. Think Gantt charts that show timelines as you go, and pair that with smart triggers that activate based on your actions or set conditions.

Here’s who benefits from a more automated approach to project management:

• Marketing agencies that are handling multiple campaigns and need to automate follow-ups and reporting.
• Consultants who rely on tailored workflows to manage varied projects and client interactions smoothly.
• Dev teams that rely on Gantt charts and task dependencies (designing connections between project tasks) to keep software development on schedule.

Here are some powerful alternatives that bring automation and customizable workflow tools to growing teams.

ClickUp

ClickUp is a comprehensive project management platform built for teams that need more than basic task tracking and visual tools. It’s the levelled-up version of the ClickUp Free plan.

Its paid versions unlock capable automation features, like trigger task updates, notifications, or task assignments based on custom rules. Plus, you get full control of designing workflows that match how your team specifically operates.

Key features:

• Build custom workflows with triggers and actions.
• Personalize tasks with data points relevant to your team.
• Connect with 1,000+ apps for a unified workspace.
• Use AI (ClickUp Brain, an AI assistant add-on for $7/user/month) to set up automations and suggest tasks by simply describing your needs.

Pricing:

• Paid plans start at $7/user/month (Unlimited plan); $12/user/month for the Business plan; custom pricing for the Enterprise plan.

Wrike

Wrike is a full-featured task management tool that uses detailed automation combined with AI. With the automation feature, you can create rule-based triggers. They work alongside Wrike AI, which doubles as a smart assistant for comment summaries and auto-generated task descriptions.

Because it’s accessible via web, mobile, and desktop, it can support both in-office and remote teams. This makes Wrike a practical tool for boosting collaboration and productivity in the workplace.

Key features:

• Robust and efficient custom workflow design.
• Feedback review on files and video assets directly on the platform.
• Use Wrike’s Work Intelligence® to detect action items and assess project risks.

Pricing:

• Free plan available; Team plan is at $10/user/month; Business plan (for growing teams) at $25/user/month; custom pricing available for large teams.

Asana

One of the more popular project management platforms, Asana is a go-to for work management and team collaboration. Its clean, user-friendly interface makes it easy for teams of all sizes to collaborate and stay on the same page.

As with the other tools here, Asana offers automation and custom workflows. The automation integrates smoothly with Asana’s project views (like Boards and Timeline), keeping all your information connected.

Key features:

• Plan and track timelines with Timeline View, Asana’s built-in Gantt chart tool.
• Choose from ready-made templates tailored for marketing, product launches, and more.
• Multi-home tasks, which let you assign a single task to multiple projects and create nested subtasks within tasks.

Pricing:

• Free plan available (solo); Starter plan is at $10.99/user/month; Advanced for $24.99/user/month.

Teams that need finance, CRM, and projects 📈

If your team still uses Excel as a CRM, it’s time for an upgrade. There’s software built to help you serve your customers. 

While to some businesses, handling the customer journey is only a piece of the puzzle, others need a system that combines tracking client information, billing, and project progress in one spot.

Teams that rely on this kind of extensive setup include:

• Service-based businesses that manage client relationships, invoices, and project deadlines.
• Firms using QuickBooks who want CRM and invoicing that syncs flawlessly with their accounting software.

If you’re one of these, these monday CRM alternatives have you covered.

Method CRM

Method is a customizable cloud-based CRM platform that integrates seamlessly with QuickBooks. Unlike traditional project management tools that focus primarily on task visualization, Method CRM offers an all-in-one software that combines finance, CRM, and project management capabilities.

All types of businesses benefit. Method provides a high level of integration that ensures all aspects of your business operations are connected. No spreadsheets or multiple disjointed apps needed.

Key features:

• Real-time, two-way sync with QuickBooks Online and Desktop to eliminate double entry, reduce errors, and keep systems aligned.
• Workflow automation (for quoting, job tracking, invoicing, payments, and more) to save time and reduce delays.
• A customer portal that keeps customer info, interactions, and history in one place—and improves customer visibility.
• No-code customization options to accommodate unique workflows. 
• Built-in connections with popular apps such as Mailchimp, Gmail, Google Calendar, and Zapier.

Pricing:

• Contact Management plan at $25/user/month; CRM Pro at $44/user/month; CRM Enterprise at $74/user/month; custom pricing for CRM Multi-Entity.

Zoho (Projects + CRM + Books)

Zoho offers a comprehensive cloud-based suite combining CRM, accounting, and project management tools (among many others), providing a unified solution for businesses seeking seamless integration across these functions. 

While subscribing to multiple Zoho platforms adds up in cost, having an integrated suite reduces your reliance on third-party integrations and keeps all your business data connected in one ecosystem.

Key features:

• Zoho CRM: Manages customer relationships, sales pipelines, and marketing automation.
• Zoho Books: Handles invoicing, expense tracking, and financial reporting.
• Zoho Projects: Facilitates task management, time tracking, and project collaboration.
• Seamless connections across Zoho apps keep customer and financial data consistent across all platforms.

Pricing:

• Zoho CRM has a free version and its Standard Plan starts at $14/user/month, billed annually.
• Zoho Books has a free plan available. Pricing varies by add-ons and number of users, paid plans start at $15/month, billed annually.
• Zoho Projects has a free plan available; paid plans start at $5/user/month, billed annually.

Flowlu

Flowlu takes a modular approach to combining CRM, project management, and financial management. Its interconnected modules let you choose and configure only what your business needs, creating a unified workflow that can grow and adapt as your business needs evolve.

What’s great is that all paid plans include CRM, project management, and finance management modules. Higher-tier plans simply unlock more advanced features for each area.

Key features:

• Choose and configure only the Flowlu modules your business requires for a unified workflow.
• Use Kanban boards, Gantt charts, and task tracking to oversee projects.
• Create professional contracts, proposals, and other business documents directly in the platform.
• Tailored solutions for small and medium businesses across 11 industries.

Pricing:

• Free plan available (2 users); Starts at $15/month (solo); Team plan at $39/month up to 8 users; Business plan at $79/month up to 16 users; Professional plan at $159/month up to 25 users. 

Enterprises needing security and structure 🛡️

Big teams with complex projects and piles of recurring tasks can’t afford loose ends. You’ll need tools that can lock down access with smart permissions, deliver strong oversight, and come with enterprise plans built for scale and security.

Tight control and organization (on a large scale) are key for:

• Enterprise ops teams managing intricate workflows with strict access controls.
• Structured PMOs (Project Management Offices) that need well-defined roles when assigning tasks and streamlined collaboration features for accountability and project visibility.

These picks provide enterprise-level security and project management made to support collaboration without risk.

Smartsheet

Smartsheet provides enterprise-grade work management powered by AI. It’s the option to go for if you need strict control, clear accountability, and scalable workflows.

Enterprises benefit from Smartsheet’s features that enforce data governance, like customizable permission settings and audit trails, while enabling teams to collaborate on complex projects without losing control or visibility.

Key features:

• Audit trails let you monitor changes made to sheets, rows, and individual cells.
• Define user permissions to ensure appropriate access to sensitive data.
• Adhere to industry standards such as SOC 2, ISO 27001, and GDPR.

Pricing:

• Starts at $9/user/month (Pro); Business at $19/user/month; custom pricing for Enterprise (10+ members) and Advanced Work Management.

Jira

Built by Atlassian, known for its team collaboration tools, Jira is their take on a project management platform. Designed primarily for software development teams, its flexibility has made it useful for enterprises needing structure and security.

Jira particularly excels at supporting Agile and Scrum methodologies, making it a solid choice for teams that rely on iterative progress and need clear sprint planning and backlog management.

Key features:

• Scrum and Kanban boards support Agile project management.
• Granular access controls protect sensitive data.
• Seamlessly connect with other Atlassian products and over 3,000 third-party applications on the Atlassian Marketplace.

Pricing:

• Free forever plan available; Standard at $8.60/user/month for the Standard plan; Premium at $17/user/month (for multiple teams); custom pricing for Enterprise.

Teamwork

Teamwork started as a sole project management platform but now operates as a full-featured, AI-powered client work management system. In addition to the usual project management tools, it’s supplemented by robust data security features.

Ongoing security audits and compliance certifications make sure that your confidential information stays protected. Meanwhile, its intuitive interface lets teams easily see workloads, manage capacity, and identify bottlenecks before they impact deadlines.

Key features:

• Forecast your needs with effective resource management tools, like workload balancing, capacity planning, and real-time tracking tools.
• Customizable dashboards to adjust views to keep track of project progress, client updates, and team productivity.
• Use Teamwork AI for task summarization, expense logging, and data analysis.

Pricing:

• Free plan available; Deliver plan is at $10.99/user/month (billed annually); Grow plan at $19.99/user/month (billed annually).

Feature comparison snapshot

This feature comparison snapshot offers a big picture look at how the top monday.com alternatives stack up.

Real user limitations with monday.com

Though monday.com provides a sturdy foundation for project management, many users encounter hurdles that can slow processes down.

These challenges aren’t always obvious until you’re deep into using the platform:

• Pricing jumps: Costs increase sharply as you add users or need more advanced (and less limiting) features.
• Limited project billing or CRM functionality: While monday CRM supports basic invoicing, it lacks robust features like managing recurring billing cycles. Its CRM may also require extra setup and customization to work smoothly with certain third-party integrations.
• UI overwhelming for non-tech users: The interface can feel complex, leading to a steeper learning curve.
• Add-on fatigue: You should consider add-on expenses like AI credits (only 500 per month), Automations (250 actions per month), and Integrations (250 actions per month). Time tracking is only available on the Business plan and above. Automations and integrations are limited on lower-tier plans.

These limitations show why some teams start with monday.com but eventually look for alternatives.

Choosing the right project management tool means finding one that grows with you without surprises or compromises.

Frequently asked questions

Which monday.com alternative works best for you?

Like all platforms, monday.com has its limitations. Some businesses will find they need more specialized features or better value.

Choosing the ideal project management and CRM hybrid comes down to understanding your team’s unique needs and budget. Whether you prioritize visual task management, automation, or integrated finance and CRM capabilities, there’s an option that fits. 🧩

As your team grows or your processes get more complex, the best tool should be able to adapt with you.

If you’re looking for a platform that combines CRM, invoicing, and project management seamlessly and is best for businesses relying on QuickBooks, Method CRM is designed to keep your business connected and efficient. Book a free demo and see how Method can tailor to your business. 🙌

Copper CRM gets a lot right. It’s clean, simple, and works well inside Gmail, which is why it’s such a hit with early-stage founders and small sales teams. But if you’re here, something’s probably not working for you anymore. Maybe you need better automation. Maybe pricing is starting to sting. Or maybe you’ve just outgrown the basics. 🤷‍♂️

This guide is for teams that liked what Copper offered at the start but are now ready for something more. Whether you’re looking for greater flexibility, deeper QuickBooks integration, flexible permissions or a CRM that better fits the way your team works, we’ll walk you through the strongest alternatives. 💪

Here at Method CRM, we’ve been supporting QuickBooks-based businesses since 2010. Method is loved by small and mid-sized companies from a range of industries for its real-time, two-way QuickBooks sync, no-code customization capabilities, and end-to-end sales automation. In this guide, we’ll show you what to consider when selecting a Copper CRM alternative and how Method can be an asset to your growing business. 💯🚀🎯

Quick Summary: Why teams move on from Copper

Copper CRM keeps things simple, but as you grow, that simplicity can begin to hold you back. Here are the most common signs it might be time to consider a new CRM.

You’re spending too much time on manual tasks 🕒

Copper covers basic workflows, but some teams may hit a wall when they try to automate more complex processes. If you’re still assigning leads or following up manually, your CRM might be creating more work than it’s solving.

You’re missing critical insights 💡

If you need more robust revenue forecasts, pipeline visibility, or campaign analytics, you might find yourself exporting data just to build your own reports elsewhere.

Your marketing tools are patched together 🛠️

Copper includes some marketing functions, but they often aren’t enough. Running full campaigns or nurturing leads usually requires extra tools and unnecessary complexity. A CRM that has all the marketing tools built in is highly desirable as you scale.

Your costs are growing faster than your team 💰

Copper’s pricing may feel reasonable in the beginning. But as you add users and contacts or need more features, the cost can increase without delivering added value.

Your sales process is more complex now 😵‍💫

If you manage multi-stage pipelines, task dependencies, or custom workflows, Copper’s simplified setup may no longer properly support your operations.

Who this guide is for

Every business grows differently. This guide is designed to help businesses at all stages discover CRM functionality that works for where they are and where they’re going.

Solo founders starting to scale 📈

You’ve hired your first reps, and spreadsheets are no longer cutting it. You need better visibility, workflow automation, and a CRM that moves as fast as you do.

Sales teams outgrowing the starter plan 🌱

Copper has been great so far, but now you need better automation, smarter dashboards, and tools that adapt to your sales process.

Operations managers who need stronger reporting 📊

You need data that tells a complete story, which requires a more flexible CRM that will help you track, measure, and improve.

Small businesses using Gmail and QuickBooks 💻

Switching CRMs might sound risky, but tools like Method CRM integrate directly with both Gmail and QuickBooks, giving you everything in one place without the back-and-forth.

Teams tired of entering the same information twice 😩

Still copying notes or manually updating deals? A modern CRM with automation can help you stop wasting time and start focusing on selling.

Top Copper CRM alternatives (and who they fit best)

With so many CRMs on the market, we’ve narrowed down six powerful alternatives, each offering unique benefits. These platforms provide stronger automation, greater flexibility, improved visibility, and more value over time.

1. Method CRM — Best for QuickBooks-synced sales teams

If your business runs on QuickBooks and Gmail, Method CRM is a natural fit. It offers an instant, two-way sync with QuickBooks Online and Desktop, so customer records, invoices, and payments stay updated in real time. No double entry or delays — just accurate data across both platforms.

Method CRM also helps you streamline lead management, automate daily tasks, and simplify customer interactions.

Highlights

• Real-time QuickBooks Online sync: Invoices, payments, and customer details stay accurate across both systems
• Custom workflows: Automate lead follow-ups, pipeline updates, and estimate creation without writing code
• Client portals and dashboards: Share branded portals with customers and create internal dashboards for your team
• Live onboarding and support: Work with real people who guide your setup and help you tailor the platform to your needs

Why choose Method?

If you’re using Gmail and QuickBooks, Method cuts out the manual work and gives you smarter tools that fit the way your business already operates.

You get powerful automation, seamless Gmail integration, and financial visibility in one platform. It’s a more efficient way to manage your entire sales-to-payment process.

2. Pipedrive — Best for visual sales pipelines

If your team likes to see where every deal stands at a glance, Pipedrive is a solid choice. It offers a clean, drag-and-drop pipeline interface that makes it easy to track progress and move deals forward.

While it doesn’t integrate with Gmail as deeply as some CRMs, it makes up for it with a strong focus on visual deal management and sales automation.

Highlights

• Customizable visual pipelines: Track and update deals with a clear drag-and-drop board
• Workflow automation builder: Set up automations for follow-ups, task assignments, and status changes
• Lead generation and email tools: Add-ons for web forms, chatbots, and email tracking

Why choose Pipedrive?

If pipeline visibility is your priority and you’re comfortable using a separate interface, Pipedrive gives you a more visual and flexible sales experience. Its workflow automation tools help reduce manual tasks, and the interface is easy to learn, even for non-technical teams.

It’s a great fit for businesses that want to simplify deal tracking without overcomplicating their CRM setup.

3. Streak CRM — Best free CRM for Gmail users

Streak CRM lives right inside Gmail, making it one of the most seamless tools for solo users or small teams who want to manage deals without switching between tabs. It turns your inbox into a lightweight CRM that is easy to use and quick to set up.

Streak keeps things simple, which is ideal if your needs are straightforward and you want to avoid a steep learning curve.

Highlights

• Native Gmail integration: Manage contacts, pipelines, and emails directly from your inbox
• Mail merge and email templates: Send personalized emails quickly with saved snippets and merge fields
• Free forever plan: Ideal for individuals or small teams with basic CRM needs

Why choose Streak over Copper

If your team works entirely out of Gmail and you want a low-cost, low-fuss CRM, Streak is a practical choice. It provides essential tools like email automation, pipeline tracking, and contact management without requiring a separate platform.

It is best suited for freelancers, solo founders, or very small teams that want to stay organized without investing in a full-scale CRM.

4. HubSpot Sales Hub — Best all-in-one platform

HubSpot Sales Hub brings sales, marketing, and customer support together in one platform. It’s designed for growing teams that want everything in one place without juggling multiple tools.

With strong Gmail integration, automation features, and scalable pricing tiers, HubSpot is a flexible option for teams that need more than just contact and pipeline management.

Highlights

• Sales and marketing automation: Create workflows, email sequences, and lead scoring rules
• Gmail integration: Log emails and track outreach right from your inbox
• Scalable features: Add-on tools for service, content, and operations as your business grows

Why choose HubSpot?

If you’re looking for a connected ecosystem that handles more than sales, such as marketing emails, customer service, and campaign tracking, HubSpot may be a better fit.

It offers a more robust feature set for teams that want to scale quickly. Just be aware that the cost can rise as you add users or unlock advanced tools.

5. Zoho CRM — Best for customization on a budget

Zoho CRM offers powerful features at an affordable price, making it a popular choice for small businesses and growing teams. It’s built for flexibility, with a wide range of tools you can tailor to your workflows.

While it takes a bit more time to set up, the customization options are strong at every pricing level, giving you control over how your CRM works.

Highlights

• Advanced workflow builder for detailed automation
• Social media and mobile app integration
• Custom fields, layouts, and modules at all price tiers

Why choose Zoho?

If you need more customization without stretching your budget, Zoho CRM gives you room to grow. It offers more flexibility for sales tracking, reporting, and automation than Copper, especially if you’re willing to invest time in setup and learning the system.

6. NetHunt CRM — Best for email-heavy sales teams

NetHunt CRM is a Gmail-based CRM built for teams that rely on outbound email. It lives inside your inbox and adds tools for pipeline tracking, lead management, and campaign automation without changing the way you work.

Its interface is clean and familiar, making it easy to get started if your team already works in Gmail.

Highlights

• Deep Gmail integration for seamless use
• Email campaigns, lead scoring, and follow-ups
• Simple, modern interface with fast onboarding

Why choose NetHunt?

If your team sends a high volume of email and prefers to stay inside Gmail, NetHunt adds more functionality than Copper while keeping everything in one place. It’s ideal for outreach-driven workflows that need more than just basic contact management.

Each platform offers a different set of benefits. The best fit depends on your specific goals, workflows, budget, and existing tools. In the next section, we’ll compare them side by side to help you evaluate your options quickly and clearly.

Feature comparison table

Below is a quick side-by-side snapshot comparing the top Copper CRM alternatives based on their Gmail integration, automation features, pricing, dashboards, and who they’re best suited for.

WATCH NOW: Learn how a shipping container company handled a massive surge in demand by using Method CRM.

Questions to ask before you switch

Finding a better CRM than Copper is one thing. Finding the right one for your team, your goals, and your budget is another.

With so many options available, each offering a different blend of CRM features, integrations, and price points, it’s easy to jump at the first flashy interface or free trial that looks promising. But before making a switch, it’s important to pause and ask a few key questions. These aren’t just about the tools themselves, but about how your team works, what you’re trying to fix, and where you want to grow next.

Here are the most important questions to help guide your decision and avoid regrets down the line.

1. Do I want to stay inside Gmail, or am I ready to learn a new interface?

One of the biggest reasons people choose Copper CRM in the first place is its seamless integration with Gmail. The CRM works right alongside your inbox, keeping contact management simple and familiar. If this setup has worked well for your team, you may want to stick with tools like Method CRM, Streak, or NetHunt, which also live in Gmail or work as seamless add-ons.

But if you’re looking for more robust functionality to streamline things, even if it means learning a slightly different interface, a CRM solution like Pipedrive or Zoho CRM offers much deeper flexibility and long-term scalability. Ask yourself how much Gmail integration matters day-to-day and how willing your team is to adapt to a new CRM system.

2. Is QuickBooks syncing or marketing automation more important?

Think about how your team spends most of its time: Are you sending invoices and managing payments? Or are you focused on lead nurturing, drip campaigns, and email marketing?

If finance and customer relationship management operate side by side in your business, a tool like Method CRM, which offers a two-way QuickBooks sync, can drastically cut down on manual data entry and optimize accuracy.

On the other hand, if your team is scaling outbound campaigns or relying heavily on marketing automation, you might lean toward HubSpot or NetHunt, both of which come with stronger tools for lead generation, scoring, and nurturing.

3. What kind of workflows do I need to build?

Every CRM offers workflow automation to some extent, but not all platforms are created equal.

Ask yourself: Do I need simple automations, like triggering a task when a deal moves stages? Or do I need something more advanced, like multi-step email sequences, approval processes, or integrations with tools like Zapier to use an API or my Google Calendar?

If you need a lot of custom logic for sales automation, tools like Zoho CRM and Method CRM give you full control over complex workflows and conditional triggers. If you just need the basics of project management, Pipedrive or Streak might be enough.

4. What’s my onboarding timeline?

Some platforms promise power, but they also come with a steep learning curve. If your team is small, you’ll likely want a solution that gets up and running quickly with real customer support, helpful documentation, and maybe even live onboarding sessions rather than web forms.

Here’s a rough idea of how long it might take to go live:

• Streak: 1–2 hours (zero onboarding needed if you already use Gmail)
• Method CRM: 1–2 days (includes guided support)
• HubSpot: 2–4 days (especially if you’re using both CRM and marketing tools)
• Salesforce: Weeks or more (best suited for large, IT-supported orgs)

Ask yourself how much time your team can realistically spend learning and setting up a new system, and choose a tool with an easy-to-use and user-friendly interface that fits your reality.

5. How fast is my business growing?

Today, you may only have three reps. But if you’re planning to hire more, expand to new markets, or add new services, you’ll want a CRM that won’t break the bank or your process as your team grows. Being able to maintain a solid knowledge base is key.

Copper CRM’s pricing is one of the biggest reasons teams start looking elsewhere. As your seat count increases, so does your cost, often without a matching boost in capability. If scalability and value matter, look at platforms like Zoho CRM (which offers affordable per-user pricing) or Method CRM (which is built to grow with you and offers advanced features at reasonable tiers).

Make sure the CRM you choose can handle your future needs and not just your current ones.

6. Do I need a short-term fix or a long-term platform?

Some teams just want to patch up a short-term problem, like eliminating manual data entry or improving pipeline management. Others are thinking long-term: They want CRM software that can support their sales, service, marketing, social media, and finance operations in one place, with customization options to suit.

Being clear about what you need right now versus what you’ll need a year from now can help you choose between simpler tools like Streak or more robust platforms like HubSpot and Method. 

Final tip: Don’t just replace—improve

It’s tempting to treat this switch as a like-for-like replacement, but the smartest teams use this opportunity to improve. Ask yourself:

• What has my team been doing manually that a CRM could automate?
• What insights have I never been able to get from my reports?
• Where are we dropping the ball in our sales process, and could better tools help with more efficient task management?

By choosing a CRM that truly integrates with your business needs, you solve today’s problems and lay the foundation for smoother operations, better customer interactions, tighter lead management, and stronger sales performance for tomorrow. 🚀

Frequently asked questions

Final thoughts

Copper CRM is great for getting started, but, depending on your business, it may not be built for every phase of growth. If your team is ready for more flexibility, stronger workflow automation, better reporting, or QuickBooks syncing, there may be a better fit out there. 🧩

Looking for a CRM that feels familiar, integrates beautifully with Gmail, and scales with your business needs? Method CRM brings together powerful automation, full Gmail and QuickBooks integration, custom dashboards, and real human support, making it an ideal next step. ☑️

If you’re searching for a Streak CRM alternative, you’re probably looking for something more flexible, more powerful, and better suited to your growing business. Maybe you’re in need of more robust automation features, or you’re finding the pricing hard to justify as your team expands. Or perhaps you’re just after a CRM solution that offers deeper Gmail and Google Workspace integration without sacrificing usability. 📧

We’ve compared the best Streak CRM alternatives on the market today, looking closely at automation, workflow customization, email tracking, and sales pipeline management. You’ll learn how each tool stacks up in terms of functionality, ease of use, customer support, and scalability. 📈

Here at Method CRM, we’ve been supporting QuickBooks-based businesses for more than 14 years. Method is highly regarded by business owners across a range of industries for its two-way QuickBooks sync, end-to-end sales automation, and no-code customizations. In this article, we’ll take a closer look at what makes a strong replacement for Streak and how Method can be an asset to your growing business. 🌱

Best alternative to Streak: What to look for

If you’re thinking about moving on from Streak CRM, the key is to find a CRM solution that addresses your pain points and improves your processes. The right alternative should fit seamlessly into your existing Google Workspace, reduce manual work through automation, alleviate bottlenecks, and scale as your business grows without overwhelming your team or your budget.

Here’s what to look for in a tool that can optimize your business operations.

Gmail and Google Workspace integration 📩

If you’ve been using Streak, you’re used to managing your entire sales pipeline without leaving your inbox. That would be hard to give up, and thankfully, you don’t have to. One of the most important features to prioritize in a Streak CRM alternative is deep, native Gmail integration.

Look for CRMs that don’t just sync with Gmail but feel like an extension of it. That means you should be able to track emails, update contact records, and manage deals directly from your inbox. Bonus points for tools that also integrate with other Google Workspace apps like Calendar, Drive, and Sheets, so your sales activities stay connected and streamlined.

CRMs like Method, NetHunt, and Copper all offer strong Gmail experiences, but the depth of that integration and how it ties into the rest of your workflows can vary significantly.

Better automation tools and templates ⚙️

If you’re still manually sending follow-up emails or moving deals between stages, your CRM isn’t pulling its weight.

The best CRM software for growing teams should do more than store contact info. It should actively help you sell. That means smart automation tools that trigger actions based on your lead’s behaviour, customizable email templates that save you from writing the same messages over and over, and scheduled reminders that keep you one step ahead.

For example, Method CRM lets you build custom workflows that automatically assign tasks, send out pre-written follow-ups, and even notify your team when deals go cold. While you save time, you keep your sales process consistent and scalable, no matter how many leads you’re managing.

Customizable workflows that scale with growth 🔀

Your sales process is unique to your business. A good sales CRM should respect that.

While Streak offers a simple pipeline system, it can be limiting, especially when you need to track different stages for different services, products, or teams. The right alternative should let you build custom workflows from the ground up. That includes defining your own stages, setting up conditional rules, and tailoring the CRM to match your real-world operations.

Method CRM stands out here with its no-code customization capabilities. You can design workflows that reflect how your business actually works, whether you’re managing leads, handling support tickets, or following up on quotes. And because it’s fully scalable, you can evolve those processes as your business grows.

No more throwing together solutions in spreadsheets—just clear, consistent, automated steps from lead to close.

Real customer support and training 🤝

When you require CRM support, it’s an asset to have help from a human representative, not just a forum thread or chatbot loop.

Some users have reported that with Streak, customer support can be limited. If you’re switching tools, looking for one that offers more robust support may be the right move. 

Seek out a CRM that offers multiple support channels (like chat, phone, or email), along with guided onboarding and plenty of training resources. You want your team to feel confident using the tool, not overwhelmed.

Method CRM goes the extra mile by offering live onboarding sessions, expert support, and a library of tutorials designed for small businesses. That level of service can make a huge difference during setup and everyday use, especially if you’re not a tech expert.

Transparent pricing (with flexible plans) 🏷️

At $49 per user per month, Streak’s cost can add up fast, especially when you consider how limited some of the features are at that price point.

When searching for a CRM tool, it’s important to look for transparent pricing with different tiers that let you pay for what you actually need. No matter what type of business you run, the platform should give you flexibility without locking essential tools behind high-cost plans.

Bigin by Zoho CRM, for example, offers a very affordable starting plan for early-stage businesses, while Method provides more powerful tools at $25 per user per month, including automation, Gmail integration, and support. That’s a big win if you’re looking to maximize value without sacrificing functionality.

Top Streak CRM alternatives compared

There’s no shortage of CRMs claiming to be the next best thing, but not all of them are a good fit if you’re coming from Streak. If you’ve built your workflow around Gmail, value simplicity, and now need more powerful features like automation, custom workflows, and better pricing, the options below deserve a closer look.

We’ve compared five of the top alternatives, starting with the most comprehensive all-in-one solution for small businesses and working toward more lightweight or budget-friendly picks.

1. Method CRM – Best all-around upgrade for small businesses

If you’re looking for a CRM that offers more robust functionality without losing Gmail integration, Method CRM is a clear winner.

Method is built for small and medium-sized businesses that want flexibility, automation, customization, and seamless integration with tools they already use. It’s particularly powerful if you’re using QuickBooks and Gmail together and want everything to sync up beautifully.

Why it stands out:

• Gmail and Google Workspace integration with email tracking and contact syncing.
• Deep, two-way QuickBooks integration for automatic syncing of customers, invoices, and payments.
• Drag-and-drop workflow customization with no coding needed.
• Built-in tools for lead management, email marketing, sales automation, and project tracking.
• Real-time dashboards for project management and custom reporting.
• Starts at $25 per user/month, with real human support and onboarding.

Method is a full customer relationship management platform that grows with your team. You can automate repetitive tasks, streamline your sales process, and manage customer data across departments all from one place.

Great for: Growing service-based businesses, accounting firms, and teams tired of juggling Gmail, spreadsheets, and disconnected tools.

2. folk CRM – Best Gmail-focused CRM for lightweight sales tracking

Folk CRM is a great choice if you want something simple, visual, and deeply tied into Gmail and LinkedIn. It’s designed to help small teams stay organized, track conversations, and manage contacts without overcomplicating things.

Why people love it:

• Built for Gmail users with browser extension and contact sync.
• Easy to use with a visually appealing interface.
• Offers a browser extension to help capture contacts from LinkedIn into your CRM.
• Offers basic workflow automation and smart reminders.
• Pricing starts at $20 per user/month on an annual plan.

folk is less of a full CRM platform and more of a sleek contact and outreach manager. It doesn’t offer accounting integration, extensive automation, or sales forecasting, but it keeps things light, fast, and focused.

Great for: Solopreneurs, freelancers, and small sales teams who rely heavily on Gmail and LinkedIn outreach.

3. NetHunt CRM – Best for teams deep in Google Workspace

NetHunt is one of the most robust Gmail-based CRMs out there. It lives inside your inbox, so your CRM data and emails are always connected, and it adds powerful automation and workflow tools that make it great for growing teams.

What makes it unique:

• Full CRM built into Gmail.
• Organizes deals and contacts with folders, labels, and filters.
• Powerful email tracking, campaign tools, and follow-ups.
• Offers workflow automations and triggers.
• Starts at $24 per user/month on the annual plan.

NetHunt is built for sales teams that need structure and scalability inside the Gmail interface. You can set up drip campaigns, score leads, and track the sales pipeline right alongside your email conversations.

It’s important to note that the interface may feel overwhelming for first-time CRM users. It’s better suited to teams that are comfortable working inside Gmail with layers of functionality.

Great for: Startups and tech-forward businesses that use Google Workspace as their operating hub.

4. Copper CRM – Best for user interface and onboarding

Copper is built for people who want a clean, Gmail-native CRM without the fuss. It’s designed to feel like a natural extension of Google Workspace and is especially friendly for teams new to CRMs.

Standout features:

• Deep Gmail, Calendar, and Drive integration.
• Visual pipeline management and task tracking.
• Intuitive UI that looks like Google products.
• Strong mobile experience and Chrome extension.
• Starts at $9 per user/month, billed annually, with higher tiers for automation.

Copper is very user-friendly, which makes onboarding fast. It offers some light marketing automation, email templates, and simple reporting, but more advanced users may find it limiting over time.

However, the platform does become more expensive as your feature needs grow, and it lacks the depth of customization and integrations that other CRMs offer.

Great for: Startups and small teams who want a familiar interface and fast setup with Gmail at the centre.

5. Bigin by Zoho CRM – Best for tight budgets

If you’re just getting started with CRM software and don’t want to spend a lot, Bigin by Zoho CRM is one of the most affordable options. While it’s not as Gmail-native as some others on this list, it offers a solid set of features for its price point.

What you’ll get:

• Basic sales pipeline and contact management.
• Simple automation tools and task tracking.
• Mobile app and web-based access.
• Integration with Zoho ecosystem.
• Starts at just $7 per user/month, with a free plan for single users.

Bigin is ideal if you’re coming from spreadsheets and want something more structured. Just be aware that the Gmail experience isn’t as seamless, and some features are locked behind Zoho’s larger CRM suite.

Great for: Early-stage businesses, solo founders, and teams looking for a CRM at a low cost.

READ MORE: How one supply and distribution company connected their fragmented workflows and saved hours with Method.

Comparing key features: Method vs. other CRMs

Choosing a new CRM isn’t just about finding something that works, but finding something that fits. You want the right mix of functionality, value, support, and integration with the tools you already use. To help you make an informed decision, here’s a side-by-side comparison of Method CRM against four top Streak alternatives: folk CRM, NetHunt, Copper, and Bigin.

Feature comparison table

We’ve compared them across five key areas that matter most to small businesses making the switch from Streak: Gmail integration, pricing, automation tools, customer support, and QuickBooks sync.

Where Method stands out: QuickBooks sync, deep customization, real support

What really sets Method CRM apart from the rest is how well it balances power with flexibility. Unlike most CRMs on this list, Method isn’t just built for email outreach or lead tracking but is designed to support your entire customer relationship management process, from sales to billing to follow-up.

• QuickBooks integration: Method is the only tool on this list with a real-time, two-way sync with QuickBooks. This is a game-changer for service-based businesses or anyone who wants to track quotes, invoices, and payments without bouncing between platforms.
• Deep customization: From custom fields to automation workflows, Method gives you the tools to shape the CRM around your business, not the other way around. And you don’t need to know how to code to do it.
• Customer support: While others offer email or chat support at best, Method includes live onboarding and access to a real support team who can walk you through everything from migration to automation setup.

If you’re looking for a long-term solution that grows with your business, Method is built for that journey.

Where Others Win: LinkedIn Sync (folk), Pricing (Zoho), Gmail-Native UI (Copper)

Of course, not every business needs full-blown customization or accounting integrations right away. Depending on your priorities, other CRMs might still be a great fit.

• folk CRM wins for simplicity and LinkedIn integration. If your outreach is heavily focused on relationship-building through email and social media, its contact management and follow-up tools are slick and user-friendly.
• Bigin by Zoho CRM takes the prize for affordability. At just $7 per user, it’s the best CRM on a budget. While it’s light on automation and doesn’t offer native Gmail or QuickBooks integration, it’s a great first step for teams moving off spreadsheets.
• Copper CRM is ideal if you want something that looks and feels like a Google product. It offers the most seamless Gmail-native UI, which makes onboarding incredibly easy for teams that already use Google Workspace every day.

Each CRM has its strengths, but when it comes to all-around functionality, scalability, and support, Method offers the most complete package for businesses ready to grow.

How to make the switch

Making the leap to a new CRM might sound intimidating, especially if your team has been using Streak for a while. But the good news is, the transition doesn’t have to be painful. With the right plan and tools, you can move your data, rebuild your workflows, and start seeing the benefits of your new CRM faster than you might expect.

Here’s a simple step-by-step approach to help you switch from Streak smoothly.

1. Exporting your pipelines and contacts 👥

Start by exporting all your current data from Streak. This includes your pipelines, contacts, emails, notes, and any custom fields you’ve created. Most of this can be done via a CSV file export from your Streak dashboard.

Make sure to review your exported file for completeness and formatting. Clean up duplicate entries, check that key fields like email addresses and company names are present, and organize your deal stages clearly. The cleaner your export, the easier your import will be.

2. Importing into Method (or other CRMs) 💻

Once your data is ready, you can import it into your new CRM. Most platforms, including Method, offer guided imports with field mapping so your data lands in the right place.

Method takes it a step further by offering onboarding support during your import process. That means you can ask questions, get help aligning your columns with the CRM fields, and ensure your information comes across exactly as needed.

If you’re moving to another tool, check whether they offer import templates or support documents to walk you through the process.

3. Rebuilding workflows with automation features 🛠️

Take a moment to review how your team actually works. Where are the bottlenecks? What emails are you sending over and over again? Which follow-ups slip through the cracks?

Now use your new CRM’s automation tools to rebuild those workflows. In Method, for example, you can create triggers that automatically assign tasks, send reminders, or email leads based on where they are in the sales pipeline. You can also set up templates to ensure your team is communicating consistently and professionally.

This step can transform how your team works, making your processes faster, more accurate, and easier to scale.

Bonus: Free templates and onboarding resources from Method 📄

If you’re moving to Method, you’ll get access to a library of pre-built templates and automation blueprints. These are designed specifically for small businesses and cover everything from lead capture to invoice follow-up.

Even better, Method’s support team will walk you through the setup during onboarding. So whether you’re new to CRM software or just need a little guidance, you won’t be left figuring it out alone.

Final Thoughts: Choosing the Right Fit

There’s no one-size-fits-all CRM. The right platform for your team depends on where you are in your growth journey and what your priorities are right now.

Here’s how to narrow it down.

If you’re growing and ready for real CRM functionality ➡️ Method

If your team is expanding and your sales process is starting to feel too complex for Streak or spreadsheets, Method CRM is built for you. It gives you full control over your workflows, lets you customize every stage of your sales pipeline, and integrates deeply with Gmail and QuickBooks.

With advanced automation, real-time dashboards, and live onboarding support, Method is a long-term solution that grows alongside your business. It’s a great choice for small teams who need more structure, scalability, and support without losing flexibility.

If you want to stay lightweight and Gmail-native ➡️ folk or Copper

Sometimes, less is more. If your workflow is tightly tied to Gmail and you just want a more polished way to manage leads, folk and Copper both keep things light and simple.

Folk is ideal for contact-driven outreach with the added bonus of LinkedIn sync, while Copper offers a user-friendly interface that feels like a natural part of Google Workspace. These are great options if you’re not ready for heavy automation or deep customization, but still want to organize your sales efforts more effectively.

If you’re very early-stage ➡️ Bigin or NetHunt

If you’re just getting started and watching your budget closely, both Bigin by Zoho CRM and NetHunt CRM offer great entry points.

Bigin keeps things affordable and straightforward, making it ideal for teams moving off spreadsheets. NetHunt, on the other hand, offers deeper Gmail integration and stronger automation features, making it a better fit if you’re working within Google Workspace and want more power without going fully enterprise.

If you’re ready to take the next step with a platform that combines deep customization, powerful CRM features, and a smooth learning curve, Method CRM is a smart place to start. Try it for free and see how it can help you streamline your workflows, improve team performance, and grow your business with confidence.