Top 8 Pipedrive Alternatives for SMBs in 2026

If you've been using Pipedrive or shopping around for your first CRM, you've probably wondered: is there something better out there? Maybe the pricing's getting steep, or you need features Pipedrive doesn't offer. Either way, you're in the right place.

This guide breaks down eight solid Pipedrive alternatives that actually work for small and medium businesses. No fluff, just real options with their pros, cons, and what they'll cost you.

Why Businesses Look Beyond Pipedrive

Pipedrive does sales management well, but it's laser-focused on just that - sales. Many businesses hit a wall when they need marketing automation, proper project management, or customer support ticketing. Pipedrive doesn't do custom objects either, which can be a dealbreaker if your data structure gets complex.

The platform works great as a first CRM. It's simple, straightforward, and gets you moving fast. But as your business grows, you might need tools that do more than track deals.

The 8 Best Alternatives Worth Considering

HubSpot CRM: When You Need Marketing and Sales Together

HubSpot flips the script - it's marketing-first where Pipedrive is sales-first. You get email campaigns, landing pages, a full CMS, support ticketing, and appointment scheduling all in one place.

The free plan is genuinely useful for up to two users, which makes it perfect for tiny teams just getting started. 👉 Explore relationship management tools that grow with your business to see how modern CRMs are evolving beyond basic contact tracking.

Pricing: Free for 2 users, paid plans from $20/user/month

Best for: Teams that need tight alignment between sales and marketing

The catch: Once you outgrow the free plan, costs jump significantly

Folk.app: Built for Warm Outreach and Real Relationships

Folk takes a refreshingly different approach with its list-based system. It's designed for social selling and warm outreach, with AI-generated contact enrichment and one-click data fills.

The Chrome extension makes it easy to capture leads while browsing LinkedIn or company websites. Email sequences are built right in, so you can nurture relationships without jumping between tools.

Pricing: No free plan, starts higher than Pipedrive

Best for: Consultants, agencies, and relationship-driven businesses

The catch: No dedicated task view, fewer plan options than competitors

Attio: The Power User's Choice

Attio gives you the flexibility to build custom objects and data structures that match your exact business model. It's newer to the CRM space but packed with integrations and AI capabilities.

The free plan covers up to 3 seats, and there's a startup program if you qualify. The learning curve is steeper than most, but the payoff is a CRM that works exactly how you need it to.

Pricing: Free for 3 users, paid plans from $34/user/month

Best for: Businesses with complex sales processes or unique data needs

The catch: APIs and workflows are more complex than simpler CRMs

Capsule CRM: Project Management Meets Sales

Capsule stands out with its built-in project management module - something Pipedrive lacks. It also integrates tightly with Transpond for email marketing, since the same team owns both tools.

The interface is clean and intuitive. If you need to track projects alongside deals without adding another tool to your stack, Capsule makes sense.

Pricing: Free up to 250 contacts, paid plans from $21/user/month

Best for: Teams juggling sales and project delivery

The catch: Slightly pricier than Pipedrive

Close.com: For Teams That Live on the Phone

Close has native calling and texting built right into the platform. No third-party integrations, no separate apps - just dial and text from inside your CRM.

If your sales process involves lots of calls and follow-up texts, Close saves you from paying for a separate dialer app. The all-in-one approach justifies the higher price tag.

Pricing: From $59/user/month

Best for: Inside sales teams making high call volumes

The catch: More expensive than most alternatives

Monday.com: If You're Already in the Ecosystem

Monday started as project management software and added CRM capabilities later. It also offers service desk and product management modules.

Only consider Monday if you're already using it for projects. The learning curve is steep if you're starting fresh, and the CRM features feel more basic compared to dedicated sales platforms.

Pricing: From $15/user/month

Best for: Existing Monday.com users who want sales in the same platform

The catch: Not as robust as purpose-built CRMs

Breakcold: Outbound Cold Email Specialist

Breakcold focuses specifically on cold email campaigns and LinkedIn automation. If outbound prospecting is your main channel, this tool optimizes for exactly that.

It's more specialized than a general-purpose CRM, which means it does cold outreach really well but might leave gaps elsewhere in your sales process.

Pricing: From $29/user/month

Best for: Agencies and startups doing heavy cold outreach

The catch: Limited features outside of outbound automation

Bigin by Zoho: The Budget-Friendly Option

Bigin is Zoho's simplified CRM for small businesses. It includes calling, payment links, forms, and direct WhatsApp integration - features you'd normally pay extra for.

Choose Bigin if you're already using other Zoho products or want something affordable and straightforward. Just know that Zoho offers two other CRMs (ZohoCRM and ZohoCRMPlus) if you need more power later.

Pricing: Free plan available, paid plans from $10/user/month

Best for: Budget-conscious small businesses

The catch: Fewer advanced features than pricier options

How to Choose the Right One

Start with your actual needs, not your wishlist. List the features you absolutely must have, then find 2-3 options that check those boxes.

Take advantage of free trials with a small group of users who'll actually use the system daily. Get their honest feedback before committing. Think about where your business will be in 12-24 months - will this CRM still work, or will you outgrow it fast?

For most small businesses trying their first CRM, Pipedrive remains solid. For those needing more marketing muscle, HubSpot makes sense. Teams drowning in calls should look at Close.com. Budget-conscious buyers can't go wrong with Bigin.

The right CRM disappears into your workflow. You shouldn't fight with your tools - they should make selling easier, not harder. Take your time evaluating, and you'll find the fit that works.