Freshsales vs SugarCRM: CRM Platform Comparison
Compare Freshsales and SugarCRM side by side. See pricing, features, and integrations to choose the right CRM platform for your needs.
Freshsales suits budget-conscious teams needing an AI-powered CRM starting at $9 per month, while SugarCRM suits organizations with complex tech stacks needing broad integration support, starting at $59 per month with a 15 user minimum. Freshsales adds Freddy AI lead scoring, while SugarCRM adds quote management and connects with NetSuite, Epicor, and Sage.
Key takeaways
- Freshsales' entry-level Growth plan costs $9 per month, compared to SugarCRM's entry-level Standard plan at $59 per month.
- SugarCRM's plans require a 15 user minimum across its Standard, Advanced, and Premier tiers.
- Freshsales includes Freddy AI for lead scoring, deal insights, and next-best-action recommendations.
- Freshsales lists 8 integrations including Slack, Zoom, and Shopify, while SugarCRM lists 9 integrations including NetSuite, Epicor, and ZoomInfo.
- SugarCRM's Sugar Sell product is sold alongside Sugar Market for marketing automation and Sugar Serve for customer service.
Reviewed and updated September 2, 2026
Freshsales vs SugarCRM: CRM Platform Comparison
Sales teams evaluating customer relationship management and sales pipeline tracking tools often narrow their shortlist to Freshsales and SugarCRM. Both target the same job, but they cater to different workflows and budgets. This comparison covers pricing, features, and integrations so you can pick the right fit.
The Quick Answer
By each vendor's own wording, Freshsales lists contact, account, and deal management and built-in email and phone with call recording, while SugarCRM lists accounts & contact management and lead & opportunity management. A capability both offer can appear under different names, so read both feature lists below.
Freshsales offers a lower entry point at $9/mo compared to SugarCRM at $59/mo.
If your priority is organizing contacts, tracking deals, and forecasting revenue, both tools target it. The right choice depends on your budget, team size, and the specific capabilities you need most.
Understanding the Core Difference
Freshsales is An AI-powered CRM by Freshworks that combines contact management, deal tracking, and communication tools in one platform. Features Freddy AI for lead scoring, deal insights, and next-best-action recommendations, with built-in phone and email capabilities.
SugarCRM is SugarCRM is a sales CRM for B2B growth that manages accounts, leads, opportunities and quotes with automated follow-ups and built-in insights. Its Sugar Sell product is sold alongside Sugar Market for marketing automation and Sugar Serve for customer service.
The two platforms take different approaches to solving the same core challenge.
Pricing Comparison
Growth
Standard
Freshsales Pricing (as of September 2026)
| Plan | Price |
|---|---|
| Growth | $9/mo |
| Pro | $39/mo |
| Enterprise | $59/mo |
Source: Freshsales Pricing
SugarCRM Pricing (as of September 2026)
| Plan | Price | Contacts |
|---|---|---|
| Standard | $59/mo | 15 user minimum |
| Advanced | $85/mo | 15 user minimum |
| Premier | $135/mo | 15 user minimum |
Source: SugarCRM Pricing
Pricing Analysis
Freshsales is more affordable at the entry level ($9/mo vs $59/mo). For teams with tight budgets or those just getting started with customer relationship management and sales pipeline tracking, this price difference matters.
Features Breakdown
- Contact, account, and deal management
- Built-in email and phone with call recording
- Freddy AI lead scoring and deal insights
- Visual sales pipeline management
- Workflow automation and sequences
- Multiple pipeline support
- and 2 more listed below
- Accounts & contact management
- Lead & opportunity management
- Quote management
- Activity management
- Pipeline management
- Business process management
- and 2 more listed below
Freshsales Key Features
- Contact, account, and deal management
- Built-in email and phone with call recording
- Freddy AI lead scoring and deal insights
- Visual sales pipeline management
- Workflow automation and sequences
- Multiple pipeline support
- Advanced reporting and forecasting
- Territory management and auto-assignment
SugarCRM Key Features
- Accounts & contact management
- Lead & opportunity management
- Quote management
- Activity management
- Pipeline management
- Business process management
- Reporting & analytics
- Mail & calendar integration
The two lists below are a diff of each vendor's own feature list by exact wording, so a capability both tools offer can appear on either side under a different name.
Listed only by Freshsales
- Contact, account, and deal management
- Built-in email and phone with call recording
- Freddy AI lead scoring and deal insights
- Visual sales pipeline management
- Workflow automation and sequences
- Multiple pipeline support
- Advanced reporting and forecasting
- Territory management and auto-assignment
Listed only by SugarCRM
- Accounts & contact management
- Lead & opportunity management
- Quote management
- Activity management
- Pipeline management
- Business process management
- Reporting & analytics
- Mail & calendar integration
Integration Ecosystem
Freshsales Integrations
Freshsales connects with: Freshworks Suite, Gmail, Microsoft Outlook, Slack, Zoom, Zapier, Segment, Shopify.
SugarCRM Integrations
SugarCRM connects with: NetSuite, Epicor, Sage, SYSPRO, DocuSign, Dropbox, SharePoint, ZoomInfo, LinkedIn Sales Navigator.
Integrations listed only by Freshsales: Freshworks Suite, Gmail, Microsoft Outlook, Slack, Zoom, Zapier, Segment, Shopify.
Integrations listed only by SugarCRM: NetSuite, Epicor, Sage, SYSPRO, DocuSign, Dropbox, SharePoint, ZoomInfo, LinkedIn Sales Navigator.
Use Case Recommendations
Best Fit for Freshsales
- Budget-conscious teams looking for an affordable CRM platform
- Sales teams tracking deals from first touch to close
- Managers who need pipeline visibility and forecasting
- Growing teams that need scalable contact management
Best Fit for SugarCRM
- Organizations with complex tech stacks needing broad integration support (9 integrations)
- Sales teams tracking deals from first touch to close
- Managers who need pipeline visibility and forecasting
- Growing teams that need scalable contact management
Feature Comparison Summary
| Feature | Freshsales | SugarCRM |
|---|---|---|
| Starting Price | $9/mo | $59/mo |
| Top Tier Price | $59/mo | $135/mo |
| Total Features Listed | 8 | 8 |
| Integrations | 8 | 9 |
| Founded | 2010 | N/A |
Getting Started Checklist
- Define your customer relationship management and sales pipeline tracking requirements and monthly budget
- Estimate your expected contacts and deals to find the right tier
- List the integrations your team currently relies on
- Sign up for free trials or demos of both platforms
- Run a small test with each tool before making a commitment
- Evaluate the onboarding experience and support quality
Final Thoughts
Freshsales and SugarCRM both serve the customer relationship management and sales pipeline tracking market. Freshsales offers a more accessible entry point at $9/mo, while SugarCRM starts at $59/mo. Your decision should weigh pricing against the specific features that matter most for your workflow.
Start with a trial of each to see which platform fits your team's daily process. The best tool is the one your team actually uses consistently.
Pricing and features verified as of September 2026. Visit Freshsales and SugarCRM for current information.
Frequently asked questions.
Frequently asked questions- Which CRM is cheaper, Freshsales or SugarCRM?
- Freshsales is cheaper at the entry level, with its Growth plan starting at $9 per month compared to SugarCRM's Standard plan at $59 per month. SugarCRM also requires a 15 user minimum on all its plans, while Freshsales pricing scales up to $59 per month for its Enterprise tier.
- What integrations does Freshsales offer compared to SugarCRM?
- Freshsales integrates with Freshworks Suite, Gmail, Microsoft Outlook, Slack, Zoom, Zapier, Segment, and Shopify. SugarCRM integrates with NetSuite, Epicor, Sage, SYSPRO, DocuSign, Dropbox, SharePoint, ZoomInfo, and LinkedIn Sales Navigator, making it a better fit for organizations with complex tech stacks.
- Does Freshsales include AI features?
- Yes, Freshsales features Freddy AI, which provides lead scoring, deal insights, and next-best-action recommendations alongside built-in phone and email capabilities. SugarCRM's feature list instead emphasizes accounts and contact management, lead and opportunity management, and quote management.
- What other products does SugarCRM offer besides its core CRM?
- SugarCRM sells its core CRM product, Sugar Sell, alongside Sugar Market for marketing automation and Sugar Serve for customer service. Freshsales, by contrast, is described as an AI-powered CRM by Freshworks that combines contact management, deal tracking, and communication tools in one platform.
- Which CRM is better for growing sales teams?
- Both Freshsales and SugarCRM are recommended for sales teams tracking deals from first touch to close, managers needing pipeline visibility and forecasting, and growing teams needing scalable contact management. The main difference is that Freshsales fits budget-conscious teams, while SugarCRM fits organizations with complex tech stacks needing broad integration support.
About the author.
Tim Carden is CMO / CTO at RevenueFlow, which builds and operates outbound revenue engines for B2B companies. Studied at McGill University.
Tim Carden · CMO / CTO
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