In the early stages of your business, you only need to keep track of a few projects and clients, which you can do with Excel and other basic tools.
However, as your business grows, you’ll rapidly find how limited project management is using basic tools. You need a comprehensive system that allows you to manage sales pipelines, review client data, track team productivity, assign assignments, and much more.
This is when the best CRM for developers comes into play. As the name suggests, these platforms assist organizations in managing their client connections. It may show you the clients you’re onboarding and their purchasing path, as well as allow you to collaborate with team members and answer consumer queries.
To increase functionality, hire a CRM developer to create changes based on your company’s specific needs. For example, a Salesforce or Zoho developer can assist you in developing extra modules to manage user accounts, SEO data, applications, and marketing software integration.
Best CRM for Developers Free
1. Zoho CRM
Zoho CRM is one of the most versatile customer relationship management products available on the market today. It provides tremendous customizability and seamlessly connects with other Zoho products, taking your business functionality to the next level.
Zoho Creator, a low-code app development platform, allows people without considerable coding experience to create unique apps for their organizations. Developers can utilize this platform to construct industry-specific CRM solutions that interface easily with a variety of platforms, propelling their customers’ enterprises to the next level.
When Zoho developers sign up, they will be able to try the platform’s custom coding language, Deluge. The language’s syntax is basic and straightforward to learn, and it allows you to implement complicated logic and automation using simple drag-and-drop tools. The console provides unrivaled control over your applications, and you can create your own brand and pricing structures to sell them globally.
Zoho also provides a large library of extensions, allowing developers to create clever workflows that interface with third-party apps.
Pros
- The Deluge programming language is simple and efficient.
- Code without thinking about databases or cloud infrastructure.
- Free access to the Zoho IDE.
- Custom apps on Zoho Creator integrate with other Zoho technologies.
- Extensive REST APIs
Cons
- Limited functionality for lower-tier users.
- Paying for separate Zoho tools can rapidly become pricey.
2. Salesforce
Salesforce is likely one of the most common CRM systems implemented globally for organizations, making it a popular CRM option for developers.
A Salesforce developer or development company creates custom solutions within the ecosystem by combining no-code tools with code. This low-code development approach eliminates repetitive and boilerplate code, allowing Salesforce developers to satisfy requirements without doing redundant operations.
Salesforce APIs make it easier to get started with Salesforce development than other options on the list. These APIs enable developers to build web apps on Heroku, CRM for Slack, and Mulesoft connections and even tweak conventional applications.
Salesforce developers have plenty of opportunities beyond the CRM platform. On Marketing Cloud, you can create personalized marketing experiences, while Tableau allows you to examine the depths and insights of data.
Pros
- Popular CRM with robust community support.
- A comprehensive low-code platform
- Salesforce Platform, Commerce Cloud, and Marketing Cloud are separate, with integrations to other Salesforce products.
- AI-powered CRM analytics
- Reference code samples and SDKs
Cons
- Paid add-ons to get the most out of the software
- Configuration and setup are complex.
3. HubSpot
The HubSpot developer suite enables developers to create web-based custom and native apps, as well as API interfaces between internal and third-party systems.
HubSpot is largely known for its marketing hub and CMS, which provide sufficient opportunities for developers to create custom solutions for a variety of reasons. The CMS makes use of HubSpot Markup Language (HubL), which is an extension of Jinjava, a Jinja-based templating engine. However, the language includes unique markups that are not native to Jinja.
The CMS manages scaling and security, leaving developers free to focus on code and problem-solving. With its developer-friendly tools, templates, and technologies, HubSpot makes it easy to create sophisticated websites and apps.
Pros
- CRM is incredibly popular in marketing and sales.
- Global consumer base.
- The platform manages scaling and security.
- Clear and comprehensive documentation
- HubL provides effective developer tools and active community forums for help.
Cons
- Contracts are inflexible, and technical support is paid.
- Limiting A/B testing to smaller packages.
4. Dynamics
Dynamics 365 is a powerful set of technologies that combine CRM and ERP to increase operational efficiency and strengthen customer connections. A Dynamics 365 developer will use this set of tools to create and build new solutions for the platform.
If your firm relies significantly on Office 365 or performs operations on Azure, Dynamics 365 is an excellent choice. The platform has more useful integrations with other Microsoft applications than the other CRMs on this list.
In a Dynamics 365 Business Central database, you will manage data and run app objects written in the AL programming language. AL allows you to establish unique business rules to ensure that the data is consistent and helpful to your clients. AL also offers code centralization, which makes your apps less prone to bugs.
Pros
- Ideal for enterprises that rely heavily on Office and Azure.
- A robust developer program with a free quick sandbox.
- Extensive resources and advice directly from Microsoft
- Sample data packets for rapid prototyping
- Features include integrations with Office 365, Adobe Marketing Cloud, and LinkedIn, as well as a familiar user interface.
Cons
- Steep learning curve
- Not very user-friendly out of the box
5. Pipedrive
Pipedrive is a popular sales CRM and pipeline management software-as-a-service solution that helps firms generate more qualified leads and improve operational efficiency. The Developers’ Corner enables Pipedrive developers to create bespoke apps and integrations with Pipedrive’s APIs and developer platform.
Pipedrive was developed utilizing an activity-based selling paradigm. It streamlines different business processes and assists organizations in converting potential leads into paying clients.
You can sign up for a sandbox account with your name and email address and gain access to a variety of API clients accessible on GitHub. Some of the most popular repositories are NodeJS for JavaScript, PHP, Python, and.NET.
Pros
- Robust API documentation
- Community support from existing developers
- Easy-to-use webhooks
- Pipedrive marketplace
- Test APIs directly in Postman.
- Sample design guidelines through the Design System
Cons
- Customizations are limited compared to enterprise-level platforms.
- Limited features, even in paid plans
6. Streak
Streak is a fully integrated CRM and productivity software for Google Workspace that allows businesses to measure customer behavior and team productivity directly in their mailbox.
The software can be used by multiple teams to track individual work and ensure responsibility. Streak is particularly well-suited for individuals and CRMs that rely extensively on Google Workplace, as the free plan is excellent and the subscription plans are reasonable.
Streak features numerous native connectors, like Calendly and Typeform, that allow users to easily automate tasks. Zapier supports over 9000 apps, and you may utilize templates to automate your CRM workflow.
Pros
- Visual and functional Gmail integration
- Easy-to-set workflows
- Robust email marketing tools
- Over 9000 Zapier integrations
- Efficient and smooth mobile apps
- User-friendly UI
Cons
- Limited customizability for developers
- Customer support is unreliable.
7. Copper
Copper is an underappreciated CRM designed for enterprises that use Google Workspace to operate their operations.
If your firm extensively relies on Google Workspace, Copper allows you to follow Gmail activity, obtain contextual information from Calendar, and attach and see files from Drive without switching tabs.
Copper is simple to set up and connects seamlessly with Google services. The Developer API gateway is vast, allowing developers to learn everything about the platform before creating custom business-specific solutions.
The Prospects pipeline is arguably Copper CRM’s most popular tool, allowing users to add active prospects and visualize the whole sales process.
Pros
- Clean and easy-to-use interface
- Native marketing tools
- Versatile Opportunities Pipeline
- Extensive documentation
- Intelligent analytics
- Omnichannel reminders
Cons
- Lack of flexibility outside Google Workspace
- Limited customizability
The 10 Best CRM for Small Business
| CRM | Best for | Pricing* | Website |
| Pipedrive | Sales Management | $14/user/month | Visit site |
| Monday Sales CRM | Project-Driven Small Businesses | $12/user/month | Visit site |
| Bigin by Zoho CRM | Small companies | $9/user/month | Visit site |
| Salesforce | Growing Businesses | $25/user/month | Visit site |
| Less Annoying CRM | Small Business Efficiency | $15/user/month | Visit site |
| HubSpot CRM | All-in-One Marketing and Sales CRM | $15/month | Visit site |
| Capsule CRM | Entry-Level CRM for Small Businesses | $18/user/month | Visit site |
| Freshsales | Ease of Use | $9/user/month | Visit site |
| Salesmate | Beginners and Those New to CRMs | $23/user/month | Visit site |
| Vtiger | All-in-One CRM Solution | $12/user/month | Visit site |
Conclusion
CRM developers are in high demand as the importance of CRM systems grows. When your company begins to grow, it is critical to provide the most up-to-date technology to those in charge of client relations.
With the best CRM for developers, software professionals throughout the world may create customer-engagement touchpoints that are part of the product or service that their firm offers. Most firms that design these systems also provide training modules to help Salesforce and Zoho developers learn their art. Make sure to browse through the entire list before making a pick.