As an e-commerce business owner, you know that to have the right tools to enhance customer retention and streamline operations is essential to driving long-term growth. With so many CRM options available, each offering distinct features and functionalities, choosing the best fit for your business can be a challenge.
In our previous posts, we discussed Customer Retention vs. Acquisition, Customer retention is more than just a tactic; it’s a strategic choice that can help your business grow more sustainably.
In this post, we provide a curated list of the top 3 CRM tools that serve as alternatives to HubSpot, each with unique features designed to support e-commerce companies.
We’ll share insights on the specific functionalities each platform offers and the primary use cases they highlight, helping you find the ideal solution for your retention and customer experience goals.
Overview and Key Features
Let's start getting with an overview and the features of HubSpot CRM and the alternatives.
HubSpot CRM
HubSpot CRM is a robust tool designed to help businesses of all sizes streamline their sales, marketing, and customer service efforts. Known for its user-friendly interface and comprehensive suite of tools, HubSpot is a popular choice among e-commerce companies looking to grow customer retention and improve customer experience.
Key Features
- Contact Management: Centralized database to store and manage contacts with activity tracking.
- Marketing Automation: Tools for email marketing, social media management, and ad tracking.
- Sales Pipeline Management: Customizable pipelines and reporting to track leads and deals.
- Customer Service Tools: Live chat, ticketing, and customer feedback collection.
- Integrations: Connects with popular e-commerce platforms and third-party tools to streamline workflows.
Pipedrive CRM
Pipedrive is a sales-focused CRM designed to help businesses manage leads and close deals. Known for its intuitive pipeline management and simple interface, Pipedrive is well-suited for e-commerce companies that prioritize straightforward lead management and deal tracking.
Key Features
- Pipeline Visualization: Visualize and manage sales activities through customizable pipelines.
- Lead Management: Track and prioritize leads with automated follow-up reminders.
- Sales Reporting: Generate in-depth sales reports to track performance and analyze data.
- Integrations: Connects with popular e-commerce tools and platforms, supporting seamless data flow.
- Mobile Accessibility: Access Pipedrive’s features on the go with a mobile-friendly app.
Zoho CRM
Zoho CRM is a flexible, scalable CRM solution offering a wide range of tools for managing sales, marketing, and customer support. Its customizability and affordability make it a viable choice for e-commerce companies aiming to scale their retention strategies.
Key Features
- Omnichannel Communication: Engage customers across email, social media, and live chat.
- Automation Tools: Streamline workflows with customizable automation for tasks, emails, and follow-ups.
- Custom Dashboards and Reports: Tailor reports to track key performance metrics and customer data.
- AI-Powered Sales Assistant: Zia, Zoho’s AI tool, provides data insights and predicts customer behavior.
- Integration Capabilities: Offers over 500 integrations with third-party apps, enhancing operational flexibility.
Odoo CRM
Odoo CRM is part of Odoo’s comprehensive suite of business management applications, making it a powerful option for companies seeking an all-in-one solution. Odoo is highly modular, allowing e-commerce companies to add only the features they need as they grow.
Key Features
- Lead Management: Manage leads with automatic assignment, scoring, and follow-up scheduling.
- Pipeline and Forecasting: Track opportunities and forecast sales with visual pipeline tools.
- Customization Options: Extensive customization of CRM fields, modules, and reports to match specific needs.
- Marketing Automation: Includes email marketing and campaign management tools.
- Integrated Suite of Apps: Works seamlessly with other Odoo modules for inventory, accounting, and e-commerce.
Pros and Cons
It is always good to know what are the pros and cons, we share with you those important points so you can compare them.
HubSpot CRM
Pros
- Comprehensive Toolset: Offers a wide range of tools for marketing, sales, and customer service in one platform.
- User-Friendly Interface: Easy to navigate and ideal for businesses with minimal CRM experience.
- Seamless Integrations: Connects well with major e-commerce platforms and apps.
Cons
- Higher Cost for Advanced Features: Free features are helpful, but premium features come at a higher price point.
- Learning Curve for Advanced Users: Advanced customization options may require additional training.
Pipedrive CRM
Pros
- Simplicity and Ease of Use: Known for its straightforward and intuitive interface, making it quick to adopt.
- Sales-Focused Features: Tailored to support sales teams, with clear visual pipelines and deal management.
- Affordable Pricing: Offers budget-friendly plans, making it accessible for small businesses.
Cons
- Limited Marketing Automation: Pipedrive primarily focuses on sales, with fewer options for marketing automation.
- Basic Reporting: Reporting features are less advanced, which may be a limitation for data-driven teams.
Zoho CRM
Pros
- Highly Customizable: Adaptable to various industries and workflows, with extensive customization options.
- Omnichannel Communication: Facilitates interactions across multiple channels, ideal for customer engagement.
- Affordable for Growing Businesses: Offers competitive pricing and a free plan for small teams.
Cons
- Complex Setup for Beginners: Customizability can create a steeper learning curve, especially for new users.
- Inconsistent UI Design: Some users may find the interface less cohesive than other CRMs.
Odoo CRM
Pros
- Modular System: Highly scalable, allowing users to add only the features they need from Odoo’s suite of applications.
- Integration with Other Business Apps: Works seamlessly with Odoo’s ecosystem, covering inventory, accounting, and more.
- Flexible Pricing: Pay only for the apps you need, making it cost-effective for growing businesses.
Cons
- Limited Standalone Functionality: Works best when used with other Odoo modules, which may require a larger commitment to the platform.
- Customization Requires Technical Skills: Advanced customizations may need developer assistance, increasing complexity.
Pricing
Price is a big part when taking decisions, from the websites of those CRM, we share with you their list pricing and what it is included in that price.
HubSpot CRM
HubSpot offers a range of pricing plans to accommodate various business needs:
- Free Plan: Provides basic CRM features at no cost.
- Starter Plan: Starts at $20 per user per month when billed monthly.
- Professional Plan: Begins at $890 per month for up to 3 users, with additional users at $45 per month each.
- Enterprise Plan: Starts at $3,600 per month for up to 5 users, with additional users at $75 per month each.
Note: Pricing details are based on information available as of August 2024. For the most current pricing, please visit HubSpot's official pricing page.
MarketWatch
Pipedrive CRM
Pipedrive offers several pricing tiers to suit different business requirements:
- Essential Plan: $14.90 per user per month when billed annually.
- Advanced Plan: $24.90 per user per month when billed annually.
- Professional Plan: $49.90 per user per month when billed annually.
- Enterprise Plan: $99 per user per month when billed annually.
Note: Pricing details are based on information available as of August 2024. For the most current pricing, please visit Pipedrive's official pricing page.
Pipedrive
Zoho CRM
Zoho CRM provides multiple pricing plans to cater to various business sizes:
- Standard Plan: $14 per user per month when billed annually.
- Professional Plan: $23 per user per month when billed annually.
- Enterprise Plan: $40 per user per month when billed annually.
- Ultimate Plan: $52 per user per month when billed annually.
Note: Pricing details are based on information available as of August 2024. For the most current pricing, please visit Zoho CRM's official pricing page.
CRM.org
Odoo CRM
Odoo CRM operates on a modular pricing system, allowing businesses to pay for only the applications they need:
- CRM App: $24 per user per month.
- Additional Apps: Priced individually; for example, the Sales app is $24 per user per month.
Note: Pricing details are based on information available as of August 2024. For the most current pricing, please visit Odoo CRM's official pricing page.
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Best for
Depending of your business, team size, goals and priorities you could get a better benefit from those CRM, that's why here is the best for, as a guide to identify which is your best alternative.
HubSpot CRM
HubSpot CRM is ideal for small to medium-sized e-commerce businesses seeking a comprehensive, all-in-one solution to manage sales, marketing, and customer support. It’s best suited for teams focused on scaling their customer retention efforts with a user-friendly tool that offers a robust set of features and integrations.
Pipedrive CRM
Pipedrive CRM is best suited for e-commerce companies that prioritize sales management and lead tracking in a straightforward interface. Its ease of use makes it a good fit for small businesses or sales-focused teams that need a streamlined CRM without extensive marketing automation features.
Zoho CRM
Zoho CRM is a versatile choice for growing e-commerce companies that require a flexible, customizable CRM to manage customer interactions across multiple channels. It’s well-suited for businesses that value customization and omnichannel engagement to drive customer retention and personalized marketing.
Odoo CRM
Odoo CRM is ideal for e-commerce companies looking for a modular, scalable system that can be integrated with other business management tools. It’s particularly suitable for businesses planning to expand their CRM functionality over time, especially those interested in a customizable, cost-effective solution that aligns with operational growth.
Key Takeaways
Exploring alternatives to HubSpot can provide e-commerce businesses with unique options tailored to their specific needs, whether they prioritize sales management, customization, or modular scalability. Each CRM—HubSpot, Pipedrive, Zoho, and Odoo—offers valuable features to help businesses improve customer retention, streamline operations, and better understand their customer base.
When selecting the right CRM for your e-commerce business, consider these factors:
- Budget: Pipedrive and Odoo offer cost-effective solutions with scalable features, making them suitable for smaller teams or budget-conscious businesses.
- Retention Goals: HubSpot and Zoho both offer a wide range of customer engagement and marketing tools, ideal for companies focused on long-term customer loyalty.
- Team Size and CRM Experience: HubSpot and Pipedrive are particularly user-friendly, ideal for smaller teams or those new to CRM platforms. Zoho and Odoo, with their more extensive customization options, may suit teams that require a flexible system and have the technical support to leverage it fully.
Each CRM in this list can support your customer retention and growth strategy, giving you the flexibility to find a solution that matches your specific goals and helps your business thrive in a competitive market.
What is HubSpot CRM?
For owner/operators of e-commerce businesses, HubSpot CRM is a versatile tool designed to simplify the way you attract, engage, and retain customers. As a platform built to bring sales, marketing, and customer service together, HubSpot helps e-commerce companies develop meaningful, data-driven relationships with their customers.
From improving customer retention to tracking customer interactions across all touchpoints, HubSpot offers the tools needed to understand and enhance the customer journey. Its automation capabilities allow you to create personalized marketing campaigns, tailored recommendations, and timely follow-ups, which are essential for building loyalty in the e-commerce space. Additionally, HubSpot’s robust reporting tools enable you to gain insights into purchasing patterns, engagement levels, and customer satisfaction, giving you the clarity needed to refine and grow your retention strategies.
In short, HubSpot CRM is built to streamline your business operations and improve customer loyalty, making it a valuable investment for e-commerce companies focused on long-term customer retention.
Advantages features of Hubspot that other tools may lack
HubSpot CRM stands out as a powerful choice for e-commerce companies focused on customer retention, thanks to a suite of features and advantages that specifically address areas where alternatives may fall short:
- Comprehensive Marketing Automation
HubSpot offers robust marketing automation tools that allow e-commerce businesses to engage customers with personalized email campaigns, behavior-based workflows, and triggered follow-ups. Unlike Pipedrive, which lacks built-in marketing automation, HubSpot enables seamless automated communication to keep customers engaged, encouraging repeat purchases and loyalty.
- Advanced Customer Segmentation
With HubSpot, e-commerce companies can segment customers based on various criteria, including purchasing behavior, interaction history, and demographic details. This advanced segmentation capability helps businesses create targeted retention strategies. Unlike Pipedrive’s basic segmentation, HubSpot empowers companies to tailor content and offers to specific customer segments, improving retention rates.
- User-Friendly Interface and Streamlined Setup
HubSpot's intuitive design makes it easy for users to access and leverage CRM functionalities without extensive setup time. While Zoho’s extensive customization options can be complex to configure, HubSpot’s straightforward interface allows e-commerce operators to quickly get started with their retention strategies, minimizing technical barriers.
- Integrated Customer Service Tools
HubSpot includes customer service features such as live chat, ticketing, and customer feedback tools, all within the CRM. These tools allow businesses to manage and respond to customer inquiries efficiently, enhancing satisfaction and retention. This advantage is particularly notable compared to Odoo, which may require additional modules for similar capabilities.
- All-in-One Solution with Scalability
HubSpot’s all-in-one approach integrates sales, marketing, and customer service functionalities in a single platform, allowing e-commerce businesses to scale without having to purchase additional tools. This comprehensive suite means HubSpot can support a growing business’s retention strategy at every stage, unlike Odoo, which may require purchasing extra modules for a complete solution.
Why may you need an alternative of Pipedrive CRM, Zoho CRM and Odoo CRM
Pipedrive CRM
Pipedrive CRM is primarily built for sales pipeline management and lead tracking, which makes it excellent for sales-focused teams. However, for e-commerce companies looking to build a comprehensive customer retention strategy, Pipedrive may lack certain essential features:
- Limited Marketing Automation: Pipedrive’s focus on sales means it doesn’t offer the in-depth marketing automation needed to nurture customer relationships over time.
- Basic Customer Segmentation: Pipedrive doesn’t provide advanced segmentation tools to target customers based on behavior or past purchases, which can limit the effectiveness of personalized retention campaigns.
Zoho CRM
Zoho CRM is highly customizable and versatile, but certain aspects may not be ideal for e-commerce businesses focused on improving customer retention:
- Complex Setup and Customization: While Zoho offers extensive customization options, setting up these features can be time-consuming and may require technical skills. E-commerce companies looking for a faster setup and immediate usability may find this challenging.
- Inconsistent User Interface: Zoho’s interface has a steeper learning curve, which could slow down teams looking to quickly implement and act on retention strategies without extensive onboarding.
Odoo CRM
Odoo CRM is part of a larger suite of applications, which can be beneficial for companies looking for a full business management solution. However, as a standalone CRM, Odoo may not fully meet the needs of e-commerce businesses focused on retention:
- Modular Dependency: Odoo’s CRM functionality often works best with additional modules, which can make it more complex and costly if you only need CRM-related tools for retention.
- Limited Standalone Features for Retention: Without additional modules, Odoo’s CRM lacks certain advanced features that can help with customer retention, such as integrated marketing automation or customer service tools.
Each of these CRMs has specific strengths, but e-commerce companies focused on customer retention may need a more comprehensive solution that includes marketing automation, advanced segmentation, and customer service tools—all of which can be found in HubSpot CRM.