A CRM doesn't have to be an Excel file or an expensive sales tool. With AI you can enrich contacts, suggest next steps and write follow-up emails in seconds. Here are the best CRM tools for small business owners — ranked by usefulness, not commission level.
Affordable and very easy-to-use sales CRM with Estonian roots and EU customers hosted in Frankfurt/Dublin. The catch: since 2020 the company is majority-owned by American Vista Equity Partners with headquarters in New York, which means US legislation such as the CLOUD Act can reach the data despite EU storage.
Lite (from approx. EUR 14/user/month) is among the cheapest serious CRM plans
Very intuitive visual pipeline with a short learning curve
Majority-owned by American Vista Equity Partners (HQ in New York) and subject to the CLOUD Act
Best for: Small sales teams that want a simple, visual pipeline at a low price and accept American ownership
French, unusually sleek AI CRM that captures contacts directly from LinkedIn and Gmail and enriches them automatically. The catch is unexpected: despite being an EU company, all data is stored in the USA (AWS Virginia) according to the company's own documentation, and no EU storage option is stated.
Fastest to get started in the class with spreadsheet feel, set up in an hour
folkX extension captures contacts from LinkedIn/Gmail with one click, enrichment included
Data is stored in the USA (AWS us-east-1) despite French company and rests on DPF; no EU data storage offered according to folk's own documentation
Best for: Small sales teams and consultants who live in LinkedIn and want a CRM that feels like a spreadsheet, not a system.
As soon as you have more than ten active leads it becomes hard to keep track of everything in your head. A simple CRM gives better follow-up and fewer lost deals.
Where are contact details stored?
It varies. Pipedrive hosts EU customers in Frankfurt or Dublin, while some competitors store data in the USA. Always check before you upload customer data.
Can AI write sales emails for me?
Yes, most modern CRMs have AI that writes drafts. You should always review before sending — especially if the email contains personal data or quotations.
