10 Best Client Management Software for 2024

The goal of client management is building and maintaining a good long-term client relationship that encourages them to continue to use your services. Client management software can be used to determine client needs, streamline business processes, and keep lines of communication open. While each has its own advantages and drawbacks, these tools can all benefit a diverse range of industries and professionals.

Table of Contents

• FreshBooks
• HubSpot
• Pipedrive
• Zoho CRM
• Salesforce
• Monday.com
• Keap
• Zendesk Sell
• Insightly
• ClickUp
• Client Management System Comparison Table

The following is an exploration of different client management systems currently available, along with their pros and cons to help you choose the right software for your company.

1. FreshBooks

Features 

FreshBooks is rated the best client management software, helping you stay connected to clients with software that is easy to set up and get started. All of the important financial information like invoices, estimates, credits, and payments are available at a glance, and you can use Client Portal for project management, to communicate, share files, and collaborate with clients in real-time. FreshBooks also offers other helpful business solutions like:

• Invoicing Software: Create and send custom, professional digital invoices in minutes from your computer or mobile device
• Payments: Accept credit cards and other digital payment options easily using FreshBooks Payments
• Proposal: Create detailed estimates for your clients that help you outline a project scope, timeline, and deliverables

Pricing

FreshBooks is an affordable option for small businesses. The Lite plan costs £15 monthly, Plus costs £25 monthly, and Premium costs £35 monthly. Best of all, you can try FreshBooks for free with the 30-day free trial, with no commitment.

2. HubSpot

Advantages

HubSpot is one of the best client management software options for integration with other apps, and its centralised database helps businesses to align their marketing, sales process, and customer service.

Drawbacks

Reporting can be limited, depending on what you are using the software for, and the templates can be difficult to modify. Some people also find the pricing tiers to be complicated.

Pricing

The starter plan is just £27 per month. The Professional level plan is £1,404 per month, and the Enterprise level plan costs £4,430 per month. Each plan allows for unlimited users. There are also additional features you can choose to enhance your plan, but these cost extra.

3. Pipedrive

Advantages

Pipedrive client relationship management software has an easy drag-and-drop pipeline editor, custom reporting and goal setting, deal tracking functions, and easy customisation. You can keep track of progress toward goals, set reminders, schedule activities, and automate admin tasks to save time.

Drawbacks

There may be limited integration options when compared to other similar CRMs. Some customers have found that the available support options could be better as well.

Pricing

Pipedrive is priced in USD, so the following pound rates are current conversion estimates. All prices are per seat per month when billed annually. The Essential plan is $14.90 (£12.07), the Advances plan is $27.90 (£22.61), the Professional plan is $49.90 (£40.44), the Power plan is $64.90 (£52.59), and the Enterprise plan is $99 (£80.23).

4. Zoho CRM

Advantages

Zoho has automation tools to reduce repetitive admin and sales processes, it has comprehensive analytics, personalized solutions, and all the tools you need to deliver a personalized experience to your clients. It is also very customisable, letting you shape it into the client management tool you want.

Drawbacks

Some people may find that there are too many available features and applications, making the program feel overwhelming. There is also a big learning curve for Zoho, which could be challenging for employees with limited tech knowledge.

Pricing

Zoho is priced in USD, so the following pound rates are current estimates. All prices are per user per month when billed annually. The Standard level is $14 (£11.35), the Professional level is $23 (£18.64), the Enterprise level is $40 (£32.41), and the Ultimate level is $52 (£42.14).

5. Salesforce

Advantages

Salesforce CRM lets you market to individual clients using predictive cross-channel marketing campaigns, it helps you optimize your client services, and it connects you with your community. This program also offers powerful analytics and simplifies the process of aggregating and harnessing data to streamline your business operations.

Drawbacks

This program can be costly, especially if you are a large organisation with hundreds of users. There is also a steep learning curve, making it difficult to implement at first.

Pricing

All prices are per user per month when billed annually. The Starter program costs £20, the Professional program costs £64, the Enterprise program costs £132, and the Unlimited program is £264. Salesforce also offers a free trial to new customers.

6. Monday.com

Advantages

Monday has an intuitive layout with a familiar spreadsheet look that makes it easy to learn for newcomers. It offers team collaboration, views and reporting, customer support, security, privacy, administration, and reporting/analytics, perfect for tracking leads and customer needs and managing sales teams more effectively.

Drawbacks

Actions between two integrated apps are limited, so if you are using more than one app often, you may need to purchase a more expensive plan for your business.

Pricing

Monday is priced in CAD, so the following pound rates are current conversion estimates. All prices are per seat per month when billed annually. There is a free trial for up to 2 team members, the basic plan costs $11 (£6.51), the standard is $14 (£8.28), and the pro plan costs $22 (£13). You can also customise the Enterprise tier to suit your business needs.

7. Keap

Advantages

Keap makes it easy to organise your leads and automate repetitive tasks, with access to 24/7 chat support and access to US-based phone support. It can integrate with over 2,500 software programs to streamline your business practices, and you can use it for invoicing and payment processing.

Drawbacks

The free customer data migration services are limited, and although you can integrate different software options into your plan, many require a monthly fee.

Pricing

Keap is priced in USD, so the following pound rates are current estimates. All prices are per user per month when billed annually. There are two options with Keap: the Pro plan at $159 (£128.85) per month, or the Max plan at $229 (£185.50) per month.

8. Zendesk Sell

Advantages

Zendesk client relationship management software has a clean and simple interface, with simple conversation and assignment tracking features. Zendesk makes it easier to build customer relationships, resolve issues, and deliver a personalised experience to clients.

Drawbacks

The email and template editor could be better, and the software does not always integrate with all platforms. Support features are also limited at the lower tier.

Pricing

All prices are per user per month when billed annually. The Sell Team level costs £15, Sell Growth is £45, Sell Professional is £89, and Sell Enterprise is £139. You can start with a free trial to see if the software is right for your team.

9. Insightly

Advantages

Insightly is a reliable software option that is easy to use, with responsive tools that help improve customer service, communication, and productivity. It is easy to use, with a colourful visual dashboard that makes it easy to organise contacts, leads, and opportunities.

Drawbacks

Insightly lacks advanced features and customization options. Clients have also mentioned that the email system is not truly integrated, but rather acts as a forwarding system.

Pricing

Insightly is priced in USD, so the following pound rates are current estimates. All prices are per user per month when billed annually. You can try Insightly’s CRM for free, the Plus tier is $29 (£23.50), the Professional tier is $49 (£39.71), and the Enterprise tier is $99 (£80.23).

10. ClickUp

Advantages  

ClickUp offers marketing automation, document storage, whiteboards for collaboration, time-tracking widgets, data encryption, and paid plans that come with live support chat, with priority support available to those with Business and Business Plus plans.

Drawbacks

ClickUp has a steep learning curve and can feel overwhelming to new users. The app has also been reported to be glitchy at times when used on Android devices.

Pricing

ClickUp is priced in USD, so the following pound rates are current estimates. All prices are per user per month when billed annually. There is a basic “Free Forever” tier for personal use, the Unlimited tier costs $7 (£6.67), the Business tier costs $12 (£9.72) and there is a customizable Enterprise tier that is best for large teams.

Client Management System Comparison Table

We have compiled a table of top business client management software options, with a description of what each is best used for, and the cost for a basic subscription.

Company	Best For	Starting Price
FreshBooks	Best for Freelancers, Small to Large Businesses	Free Trial – Sign Up Now!
HubSpot	Best for Growth Stage Businesses	$20 to $1600/user per month (billed annually)
Pipedrive	Best for Sales-Focused Businesses	$14.90 to $99/user per month (billed annually)
Zoho CRM	Best for Small To Large Businesses	$14 to $52/user per month (billed annually)
Salesforce	Best for Marketing and Sales Team	$25 to $325/user per month (billed annually)
Monday.com	Best for Team Collaboration	$0 to $16/seat per month (billed annually)
Keap	Best for Service Industry Businesses	$159 to $229/month (billed annually)
Zendesk Sell	Best for Customer Support Focused Teams	$19 to $171/agent per month (billed annually)
Insightly	Best for Beginner-Friendly Interface	$29 to $99/user per month (billed annually)
ClickUp	Best for Businesses with Client-Based Projects	$0 to $12/user per month (billed annually)

What Is Client Management Software? 

Client management software is a software application that helps a business keep track of the individual relationships they have with their clients. It collects customer data, keeps you organised, helps generate leads, schedules client communication, streamlines processes, and more, making it easier for businesses to get new clients, serve existing clients, and keep them happy, for better client retention.

FreshBooks client management software does all this and more, with marketing tools, customer onboarding tools, client management tools, email automation, built-in time-tracking features, and plenty of other features that will create a positive experience for your team, and for your client.

Delving into client management software? Tailored for professionals, these FAQs simplify the decision-making process, fostering efficient customer relations and workflow enhancement.

How Do I Work With Clients on a Project Through FreshBooks?

To work with clients on a project using FreshBooks, the client must create a client account, which allows file sharing, posting links, and adding comments in the “discuss” area. This way, the whole team can easily stay on the same page, even if the job evolves over time.

Can Clients Save Their Payment Details on FreshBooks?

Yes, clients can save their payment details on FreshBooks, including their credit card and bank transfer details after logging into their client account. They can also use this saved information to automate recurring payments on invoices for ongoing jobs or subscription fees if they wish.

Can I assign project managers to projects in FreshBooks?

Yes, you can assign any existing team manager as a project manager in FreshBooks. Once assigned as such, they can edit the project, view project invoices and expenses, generate new invoices, and view all of the job’s time entries.

What is the difference between a CRM and AMS?

The difference between CRM (customer relationship management) and AMS (association management software) is that CRM is focused on data collected and used to create stronger customer relationships, while AMS stores data used to run the company and perform daily tasks.

How do I choose a client management system?

To choose a client management system that is right for your small business, you will want to consider your budget, the number of people on your team, and which features you want. FreshBooks offers features that will streamline your client interactions and allow simple project collaboration.

What is the difference between CRM and CCM?

The difference between CCM (customer communication management system) and CRM is that CCM focuses on outbound communication distribution like marketing, sales forecasting, new product announcements, etc, while CRM like FreshBooks helps nurture customer relationships and collects data to help businesses improve future interactions.

FreshBooks: The All-in-One Solution for Managing Your Client Relationships

If you want client management software for your small business, FreshBooks has features that allow you to do it all, including tracking loyalty discounts and allowing prepayments through credits to keep clients happy. Using FreshBooks will also streamline your client interactions, improve organisation, foster client relationships, and boost your overall business productivity.
To find out more answers to questions like “What is client management software,” or if you just want to test it out for yourself, you can try FreshBooks free, and see how easy it is to organise your business processes, with just a few clicks.

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