Categories   >   Higher Education CRM Software
Last Reviewed: November 11th, 2024

Best Higher Education CRM Software Of 2024

What is Higher Education CRM Software?

Higher Education CRM Software is a specialized tool catering to the unique needs of higher education institutions. It resolves issues associated with scattered student information, recruitment efforts, alumni engagement and more resulting in collaborative and efficient campus operations. Its importance is undeniable, enhancing student experiences, admissions processes, and institution-student communications. Core functionalities often include contact management, event planning, enrollment management, and more sophisticated versions incorporate AI for predictive analytics. Users mainly include universities, colleges and other higher education institutions. These benefit greatly from the single-window overview of students, staff, and administrative data. However, implementation can be challenging due to initial cost outlay, and requirement of training efforts for optimized usage. Wrapping up, Higher Education CRM software fosters seamless campus interactions and operations provision. Its true value lies in consolidating data and streamlining processes, despite the initial investment and learning curve.

What Are The Key Benefits of Higher Education CRM Software?

  • Streamlines campus operations
  • Enhances student experiences
  • Facilitates seamless communication
  • Optimizes enrollment management
  • Promotes efficient recruitment
  • Boosts alumni engagement
  • Consolidates educational data
  • Simplifies event planning
  • Automates routine tasks
  • Supports personalized interactions
Read more

Overall

Based on the latest available data collected by SelectHub for 149 solutions, we determined the following solutions are the best Higher Education CRM Software overall:

Pipedrive
Pipedrive
Start Price
$14.90
Annual, Monthly
Company Size
Small Medium Large
Deployment
Cloud On-Premise
Platform
Mac Windows Linux Chromebook Android
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Why We Picked Pipedrive

Pipedrive is a sales and marketing management tool for small and medium businesses. It helps visualize the sales pipeline, track important activities and hold client conversations, with mobile access for greater productivity.

Even with its data exporting difficulties, filter complexity and non-intuitive email integration, the platform overall is easy to use. Integration with third-party software, such as Google Apps, Mailchimp and Zapier, along with a powerful API, increases its usefulness in enhancing business sales processes. Overall, it is a great solution for companies looking to streamline sales processes.

Pros & Cons

  • Sales Pipeline: 80% of reviewers referring to this aspect said the platform is good for keeping a close eye on deals at every stage and tracking individual progress to understand outcomes.
  • User Interface: Of the users mentioning the UI, 60% suggested that it’s functional and easy to use.
  • Mobile Application: 70% of the reviewers mentioning the mobile app stated that it makes Pipedrive easy to use anytime, anywhere.
  • Integrations: The platform helps users work seamlessly, with integrations for customer acquisition, goal achievement, application sync and more, as stated by 40% of reviews about integrations.
  • Data Exporting: Glitches and a lack of control make data querying and extraction slow, according to 50% of those who mentioned the exporting tool.
  • Filters: Filtering is complex, and 40% of users who referenced it stated it could improve in terms of usability and design.
  • Browser Extensions and Email Integration: Email integration, browser extensions and workflow automation are dated and not user-friendly, according to 70% of reviews on these features.
  • Expensive: 60% of users who reviewed pricing suggested that the features are overpriced in comparison to the competition’s products.

Key Features

  • Lead Management: Includes a product catalog, lead import tools and deal probability, in addition to visual pipelines. A color-coded feature called “rotting” uses different colors to represent how hot or cold a lead is, providing visibility into which leads require follow-up or are best to pursue. 
  • Contact Management: Import contacts from a previous CRM or spreadsheets, or sync from Microsoft or Google. Once in the system, contacts are stored as organizations and people, which can be attached to deals. Record and access a history of interactions to clarify where things stand. View contact locations by adding Google Maps integration. 
  • Web Forms: Generate leads via web forms embedded on a company website or shared in emails and on social media channels. Customize fields to capture personal details specific to company needs. Configure where the leads appear (e.g., as a deal or contact). 
  • Leadbooster Chatbot: Collect and qualify leads 24/7. Route leads to a custom destination, such as a stage or sales rep. Calendar syncing lets leads book meetings with sales reps from within the chatbot conversation. 
  • Activity Management: Contains a scheduling tool, reminder notifications and a premade list of activity types, which can be configured based on company needs. 
  • Sales Forecasting: Pursue the best deals and effectively plan strategies for open deals. Access and customize different views: 
    •  Individual views provide in-depth details for sales reps. 
    •  Forecasting views let managers filter deals based on criteria like date started or product. 
  • Integration: Integrates with dozens of other apps, including Asana. Connects with platforms like Zapier and Automate.io, allowing further integration with tools like LinkedIn, Zendesk, Mailchimp, HubSpot, Jira, Salesforce, Dropbox and various G Suite tools like Gmail. 
  • Marketplace: Supports dozens of third-party plugins. Thumbs-up/thumbs-down ratings and user reviews help gauge how an app performed for other users. 
  • User Access Control: Set user permissions and determine how users log in, whether it’s via two-factor authentication or using a single sign-on (SSO) platform. Track the identity and location of anyone who logs in on a dashboard. Receive alerts when an unrecognized device logs in. 
  • Data Security: Features include data encryption, daily backups and GDPR compliance. Also provides a data protection officer and multiple certifications. 
Salesforce Sales Cloud
Salesforce Sales Cloud
Start Price
$25
Per User, Monthly
Company Size
Small Medium Large
Deployment
Cloud On-Premise
Platform
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Why We Picked Salesforce Sales Cloud

Based on our research and user feedback, Salesforce Sales Cloud turned out to be a powerful and flexible CRM solution, capable of accommodating businesses of any size.

Its AI-powered features, especially Einstein, truly set it apart. This tool provides predictive analytics, lead scoring, opportunity scoring and sentiment analysis to improve sales efficiency.

We found the mobile app to be feature-rich, offering full functionality for sales teams on the move, including forecasting and account management.

Yet, some users reported a learning curve for advanced features. While the basic functionalities are user-friendly, leveraging the full potential of Sales Cloud may require proper training. Additionally, smaller organizations might find the pricing structure challenging, as costs can accumulate quickly with add-ons and advanced features.

Integration capabilities are generally strong, but we observed that some key functionalities, such as event tracking and eCommerce integrations, rely on third-party providers. This could add complexity and cost for businesses requiring these features.

Overall, Salesforce Sales Cloud is well-suited for organizations seeking a reliable, AI-enhanced CRM with extensive customization options and analytical capabilities. It's particularly valuable for businesses expecting growth, as the platform can scale effectively. However, potential users should carefully consider their budget, required features and available resources for implementation and management when assessing this CRM.

Pros & Cons

  • Easy To Use: Many users report that Salesforce has a user-friendly and intuitive interface, making it accessible to both beginners and experienced users.
  • Good Vendor Support: Salesforce offers quality support. Users often mention that the company treats them more like partners than just customers.
  • Highly Customizable: Developers find that the level of customization provided by Sales Cloud helps them extend Salesforce's features effectively.
  • Scalability: Salesforce is suitable for companies of all sizes. It's a long-term solution that can adapt to evolving organizational needs.
  • Learning Curve: While the interface is user-friendly, users need proper training to use Salesforce efficiently, especially for more advanced features.
  • Cost: Several users, particularly from smaller organizations, point out that the overall price can be a concern for businesses with limited budgets.
  • Resource Intensive: While Salesforce can do almost anything, it often requires a dedicated team and skilled resources to manage it effectively.

Key Features

  • Sales Forecasting: You can build accurate sales projections and custom forecast types based on various data points, measures and dates to get a clear picture of your future sales performance.
  • Lead Management: With Sales Cloud, it’s easy to capture leads, manage campaigns and convert opportunities into sales. You can create forms on your website, use LinkedIn ads or have AI chatbots talk to potential customers.
    • AI-based Lead Conversion: The Einstein Lead Scoring tool analyzes past conversion patterns to predict which current leads are most likely to convert, helping you prioritize the most promising prospects.
  • Integration Capabilities: Connect Salesforce with your favorite tools and platforms. A wide range of plugins is available, enabling you to create a smooth workflow across all your applications.
  • Reporting and Analytics: While the reporting system is user-friendly, quick and can generate real-time reports, it also offers flexibility for more advanced users who want to customize their reports. You can also create reports for territories and collaborative forecasts.
  • Mobile App: Salesforce’s mobile app lets you create, edit and view records for accounts, campaigns, cases, contacts, forecasts and leads. Additionally, you can use Salesforce Chatter to see feeds, groups and people. What data you can access depends on your organization's settings.

Pricing

License/Subscription Cost
  • Based on a recurring subscription-based model: per user, per month (billed annually)
  • All products require an annual contract
  • Cost varies depending on the package selected — Lightning Essentials, Lightning Professional, Lightning Enterprise or Lightning Unlimited (refer to the pricing section for details)
Maintenance Cost
  • Included in the subscription cost
  • Users aren’t required to pay server fees or annual maintenance charges
  • Provides technical support and Help Center to resolve issues.
  • Streamlines the implementation process through videos, training and certification, a customer community, documentation, interactive tutorials, and webinars
Installation/Implementation Cost
  • The cost is over and above the subscription cost
  • Salesforce implementation can cost anywhere between $2,000 and $20,000, delivered within 2-3 weeks or 2 months
  • Salesforce implementation partners/contractors handle implementation, charging anywhere from $16/hour to over $190/hour
Customization Cost
  • Cost varies depending on the selected plan and any functional requirements added to the basic business requirements
  • Add-on charges include $50/user/month for knowledge base access and $250/GB/month for additional data storage capacity
Data Migration Cost/Change Management/Upfront Switching Cost
  • Cost varies depending on the amount of CRM data to be migrated, such as opportunities, cases, activities, contracts, orders, invoices, data duplication, data archiving and restoration
Recurring/Renewal Costs
  • Renewal cost is included in the subscription fee
  • Users may incur additional costs for premium support services, application administration, data archiving and restoration services chosen, if any
Zoho CRM
Zoho CRM
Start Price
$14
Per User, Monthly
Company Size
Small Medium Large
Deployment
Cloud On-Premise
Platform
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Why We Picked Zoho CRM

Zoho CRM is a cloud-based CRM solution that serves businesses of all sizes and across various industries. It provides users with real-time data analysis, AI-powered sales performance optimization and extensive automation and customization. You can streamline workflows and improve sales efficiency with lead nurturing, deal management, and third-party integrations.

During our test run of their free trial, we loved working with standout features like the customizable dashboard, automated lead creation via the email parser and drop-down linking for account, product, lead and quote creation.

However, users report a learning curve associated with full feature utilization and customization. Additionally, some advanced features and functionalities require upgrades to higher tiers making it expensive for smaller teams. Overall, Zoho CRM offers an interoperable solution for businesses looking for a customizable, affordable CRM platform.

Pros & Cons

  • Work Offline: Users who mention this feature say the platform functions well even when used in offline mode.
  • Business Management: The system monitors business performance, populates the website with suitable visitors and keeps a tab on productivity and output, eliminating unmatched customers and removing hassle according to users who mention this aspect.
  • Affordable: Users said the software is budget-friendly as compared to other CRM systems and has considerably more adaptive features for the price.
  • Integrations: Reviewers appreciated Zoho’s integration with in-house tools that support unified workflows, flexibility and email functionality.
  • Learning Curve: Users mentioned some features and customization requires additional time and learning to implement.
  • Customer Support: Zoho’s customer support and inquiry resolution isn’t very responsive, according to users who refer to support. However, the chat support is comparatively better.
  • Lags and Delays: Reviewers noted there is sometimes a lag in notifications for email tracking and updates.

Key Features

  • Sales Force Automation: Automate tedious sales tasks such as lead generation and routing, data entry, email notifications, field updates and more. Optimize lead management, deal management, account management, contact management, and manage workflow and assignment rules.
  • Process Management: Enable your sales team to follow a standardized sales strategy. Use the blueprint feature to log offline processes such as order management or deal closure, ensuring consistent execution. Create automated approvals for common activities such as vacation time requests, capital expense reports and pricing discount requests. Additionally, you can set rules for assigning leads, escalating cases and validating CRM data.
  • Opportunity Management: Keep everyone’s antennas tuned to the same channel with Zoho’s activity tracking for all customer interactions like emails, calls, tasks and notes. Create deals and associate them with campaigns with drop-down fields and generate multiple pipelines using the standard template or your own personalized fields You can create a custom Kanban view using dropdown options and fields.
  • Multichannel Support: Connect with your email platform to send emails directly from the CRM. Connect your brand’s social media channel to respond in real-time, follow relevant conversations and automate lead generation. Use the Phonebridge integration to enable sales reps to easily log and track information from calls. You can also embed live chat and lead capture forms on your website to facilitate sales, marketing and customer service efforts.
  • Sales Enablement: Aid sales reps in their daily jobs using features like quotes and purchase orders (via integration with Zoho’s Finance Suite), a documents library, integration with Zoho’s presentation and document creation applications, and external-facing portals for partners and vendors. It also offers a calendar, a feature called SalesInbox for prioritizing the most lucrative emails, a web meeting platform through the Zoho Meeting integration, real-time notifications, collaboration feeds and more.
  • Performance Management: Gauge how a product, team or region is performing with forecasting tools. Group customers based on shared attributes (region, product, etc.) with territory management and gamify elements to encourage friendly competition that boosts performance among sales reps. Zia can also help improve performance by helping you target leads that are most likely to generate revenue. Your sales reps can engage with website visitors via chatbots for web and mobile, so every query receives attention even if they’re away from their desks.
  • Marketing Automation: Streamline marketing efforts by segmenting customers using a range of criteria, automating lead nurturing follow-ups, creating code-free web forms to gather customer information, scanning and uploading business cards, and analyzing campaign spending. Use capabilities like end-to-end event management, email campaign capabilities, surveys, and marketing details like budgets and performance metrics. A hierarchy feature lets you hook sub-campaigns to related main campaigns.
  • Team Collaboration: Use Feeds as a central location for collaborating, sharing announcements and offering advice. You can integrate chat functionality to facilitate everyday tasks and automatically send real-time sales updates. Users can leave notes on records or activities and tag other team members. Other features include groups for collaborating around specific events or for specific purposes, as well as project management tools via integration with Zoho Projects.
  • Third-Party Integrations: Connect with more than 50 third-party apps for collaboration, document management, live chat, telephony, messaging, events and meetings, quote management, document signing, lead management, marketing automation, social media, storage and more. Integrations include G Suite, Office 365, Slack, Shopify, Mailchimp, Facebook Ads, QuickBooks, GoToWebinar, DocuSign, Dropbox and Zapier.
  • Security: Store critical business data in secure vaults, choose where you want your data stored (U.S. and EU data centers) and encrypt data fields. Use audit logs to track activity, enable two-factor authentication and designate which IP addresses users can use to log in. Real-time backups on multiple servers ensure you won’t lose data due to a system-based or natural disaster.
Dynamics 365 CRM
Dynamics 365 CRM
Start Price
$65
Per User, Monthly
Company Size
Small Medium Large
Deployment
Cloud On-Premise
Platform
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Why We Picked Dynamics 365 CRM

A mix of praise and critique defines 2023 user reviews for Dynamics 365 CRM. Fans champion its robust customization, enabling precise tailoring to diverse business needs, like adding fields to track specific equipment rentals or crafting workflows for complex approval processes. This flexibility, some say, surpasses competitors like Salesforce, where out-of-the-box options might constrain unique workflows. Yet, this very strength can be a double-edged sword. Detractors find the customization curve steep, requiring significant IT expertise or costly consultant guidance, unlike the more user-friendly setup of HubSpot. Integration shines as a clear win for Dynamics 365. Seamlessly blending with Microsoft's ecosystem, including Outlook and Teams, streamlines communication and boosts collaboration. Imagine pulling CRM data directly into an email or setting up team meetings from contact records – a breeze for Dynamics users, while competitors often require clunky workarounds. However, pricing structure remains a sore spot. While subscription fees are competitive, the extensive customization often necessitates additional add-ons and consultancy, potentially inflating costs compared to more all-inclusive options like Zoho CRM. Ultimately, reviews suggest Dynamics 365 excels for businesses seeking in-depth customization and Microsoft integration, willing to invest time or resources in setup. For those prioritizing ease of use or budget-friendliness, alternatives might be a better fit. The key takeaway? Choose the CRM that complements your unique needs and technical capabilities.

Pros & Cons

  • Easy to Use: 98% of reviewers referencing usability felt the software is user-friendly.
  • Improved Productivity and Efficiency: The system aids efficiency and productivity, as observed by every user who talks about this aspect.
  • Customer Relationship Management: 95% of the reviewers who reference this aspect noted that it aids a positive customer experience.
  • Customization: Adding or removing fields is simple and doesn’t require technical help, as observed by more than 85% of reviews mentioning this feature.
  • Integration: Important integrations such as Power BI, Cortana, Azure and Office are of great help, as noted by 92% of the reviewers who refer to this element.
  • Learning Curve: According to 90% of the reviewers talking about this factor, new customers require a bit of training, which is time consuming.
  • Pricing: Microsoft Dynamics 365 is expensive, as observed by every user mentioning cost.
  • Slow Performance: At times, the platform takes time to sync and perform simple tasks, as observed by almost 70% of reviewers referring to this aspect.
  • Navigation: 90% of the reviews about this feature mentioned the navigation is complicated, especially for new users.

Key Features

  • Campaign Builder: Set up and execute campaigns via a visual building tool, and design customer journeys by arranging templates using the drag-and-drop interface. It’s also possible to set triggers based on a range of rules, choose segmented groups, assign emails, include events or surveys, and more. 
  • Dashboards: Access a host of metrics related to leads, revenue and other data sources from dashboards and customize them to show the most important KPIs. Dashboard types include: 
    • User Dashboards: Visible to and controlled by individual users. 
    • System Dashboards: Visible to everyone, with the option to reduce visibility to certain roles. Customized and controlled by system admins. 
  • Lead Nurturing: Account-based marketing features provide capabilities such as customer segmentation, personalized email content and performance metrics. Build buyer journeys and set rules that define a lead’s score based on the individual lead record, the related contact or the related account. 
  • Integrations: Apart from the Dynamics 365 toolset and other MS applications, the platform integrates with partner systems. Integration with Zapier offers access to more than 1,500 apps, ensuring greater extendability. 
  • Event Management: Control all aspects of events, from registrations and speakers to sessions and venue logistics from an event portal. It integrates with ON24 and other providers to support running webinars. 
  • Customer Service Insights: Powered by AI, machine learning and BI tools, this feature helps track KPIs visually for at-a-glance insights. Monitor: 
    • Customer satisfaction levels
    • A range of case metrics
    • Backlog trends
    • Incoming support topics
    • Engagement patterns
    • Support agent performance
  • Customer Insights: This add-on feature uses AI to support marketing efforts. 
    • Use Microsoft Graph to input audience intelligence.
    • Build triggered workflows with Microsoft Flow.
    • Customize reports and dashboards with the Power BI connection.
    • Microsoft PowerApps enables custom app creation.
    • Governance tools and security features ensure GDPR compliance and data privacy.
HubSpot CRM
HubSpot CRM
Start Price
$1,080
Monthly
Company Size
Small Medium Large
Deployment
Cloud On-Premise
Platform
Mac Windows Linux Chromebook Android
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Why We Picked HubSpot CRM

HubSpot CRM is a free platform that supports the marketing and sales efforts of small to mid-sized businesses with features such as lead intake, deal management, ticket issues and more. It’s easy to use, unified and offers robust workflow management automation. A couple downsides reviewers observed include the limited functionality of the mobile app and the integrations mainly geared toward e-commerce. All in all, businesses looking for marketing and customer management at no cost will find HubSpot CRM is a solid option.

Pros & Cons

  • User-Friendly: 86% of users mentioning this aspect observed that HubSpot CRM is easy to use and install without much hassle.
  • Workflow Management: Well-constructed workflows enable timely follow-ups, according to 76% of users mentioning this feature.
  • Report Generation: It's easy to upload and export reports, as indicated by 53% of reviews referring to reporting.
  • Automation: This feature makes it easy and faster to conduct daily professionals tasks, as noted by 60% of users referencing it.
  • Affordable: 55% of reviews mentioning price suggested the application is inexpensive for the features offered.
  • Unified Solution: A simple, unified dashboard makes it easy to carry out multiple activities, according to 66% of reviews that mentioned this aspect.
  • Mobile Application: 50% of reviews about the app suggested it’s inefficient and limited to monitoring the status of customer requests.
  • Integration: The platform lacks basic third-party integrations, with 63% of reviews on the subject saying the integrations are primarily beneficial for e-commerce businesses.

Key Features

  • Pipeline Tracking: Auto-populates data from new deals and eliminates manual entries in forms. Add, edit and delete stages and properties from entered deals without help from IT. 
  • Lead Management: Helps sort and filter a prospect’s information based on geography, company size and number of visits. Custom views aid tracking prospects for optimum outreach. 
  • Monitoring: Monitors and gives insight on a prospect’s website activity, and identifies new prospects that visit the company’s website. 
  • Email Tracking and Notifications: Tracks sent emails, activities and aligns timed follow-ups for optimum sales growth. 
  • Email Templates: Promotes effective outreach and communication by making it quick and easy to draft emails. 
  • Scheduling: Syncs Google and Outlook meetings, making it easy to pick available time slots. Also helps schedule team meetings with prospects to maintain relationships and increase sales. 
  • Reporting: Generates customizable reports and dashboards that enable sharing metrics with team members, which help stimulate business growth. 
  • Live Chat: Enhances customer experiences and reduces the chances of a prospect slipping through the cracks by enabling support agents and sales reps to solve the queries of existing and interested customers in real time. 
Insightly
Insightly
Start Price
$29
Per User, Monthly
Company Size
Small Medium Large
Deployment
Cloud On-Premise
Platform
Mac Windows Linux Chromebook Android
Request Pricing Request Demo

Why We Picked Insightly

Insightly helps users track contacts through the customer lifecycle to increase sales and productivity, improve customer relationships and manage projects efficiently. It excels in capabilities such as customization, ease of use, contact management and more. However, features like reporting and dashboards have room for improvement. Users also pointed out that customer support isn’t as quick and attentive as it could be. Reviews on price are mixed, with some saying it’s justified for the features it offers, while others consider it a bit expensive. Overall, it’s a good fit for small businesses that are looking for a robust CRM within a decent budget.

Pros & Cons

  • Customer Relationship Management: Communicating with customers and nurturing relationships is effortless, as observed by every reviewer who references this capability.
  • Ease of Use: According to 85% of reviewers who mention this aspect, the software is easy to navigate.
  • Integration: 70% of users who refer to integration noted that the platform seamlessly integrates with Gmail, Mailchimp, Slack, calendar apps, social media platforms and more.
  • Project Management: The software aids efficient project management, according to 95% of reviewers who reference this feature.
  • Task Management: It’s easy to create, track and organize tasks, according to every reviewer who mentions task management.
  • Contact Management: The capabilities for managing a contact directory are exceptional, according to 95% reviewers who refer to this feature.
  • Customer Service: 70% of reviewers who mention customer support felt it was slow and could be more responsive and attentive.
  • Reporting: This feature is very basic and doesn’t offer many options to customize, according to more than 70% of reviewers who refer to it.

Key Features

  • Lead Management: When a new lead enters the system, the software uses criteria you set up to automatically assign leads and tasks to sales reps. Each lead’s social profiles are automatically attached to their record. You can use web pages to capture leads while removing spam, and Insight Cards reveal duplicate records for better data quality. 
  • Opportunity Management: Customizable pipelines with a kanban view organize leads, which can be dragged and dropped to each new stage. Sales reps can drill down to view a deal’s call and email history, notes, proposals, and contracts. 
  • Email Automation: Features include templates, mass emailing capabilities, list segmentation and scheduling. The platform lets you save emails from your inbox and has a search functionality. 
  • Calculated Fields: Insightly enables you to use your CRM data to implement business logic and mathematical functions within the platform. You can create calculated fields for any number of items. Examples include commission, region assignment, working hour totals and remaining balance. It’s also possible to add fields to dashboards. 
  • Workflow Automation: This feature enables a variety of actions, such as assigning tasks, updating data, sending emails and transforming closed deals into projects. Insightly also contains webhooks and AWS Lambda functions for extended automation. 
  • Contact Management: The system stores all contact records — customers, prospects and more — in a single location. Multiple list views aid in organizing and searching contacts. Individual records contain all relevant information about the contact and support custom fields for further personalization. They also include a full list of interactions with your company along with details about who your contact knows. 
Streak CRM
Streak CRM
Start Price
$0
Free, Monthly
Company Size
Small Medium Large
Deployment
Cloud On-Premise
Platform
Mac Windows Linux Chromebook Android
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Why We Picked Streak CRM

Built into Gmail, Streak ensures efficient email marketing, as users can check if an email is opened or read, deliver mass emails, send follow-ups, schedule emails and more. Additional strengths include data organization and greater productivity via G Suite integration. However, the free version has restrictions on how many emails can be tracked and doesn’t offer detailed tracking data. Reviewers also noted that the user interface needs improvement and that there are technical issues to address. Overall, it’s a decent software with a number of useful features.

Pros & Cons

  • Email Marketing: Robust features include open and read rates, bulk emails, scheduling and more, according to more than 82% of users who mention email marketing.
  • G Suite Integration: The software ensures efficient process by connecting with G Suite, as noted by almost 90% of reviewers who mention this aspect.
  • Free Plan: Every user who references the free plan indicated it’s very useful and caters to almost every requirement.
  • Centralized Data: The software aids efficient data management, as noted by every reviewer who mentions this feature.
  • Reminders: Every user who refers to this feature liked the ability to frequently follow up
  • Ease of Use: More than 62% of reviewers who reference this feature noted the platform is easy to navigate.
  • Customer Communication: Streak aids effective customer engagement according to all users who mention this feature.
  • Customer Support: According to almost 60% of users who mention this element, the customer service needs improvement, with slow responses and irregular quality cited as a couple issues.
  • Lack of Free Features: While the free plan is useful, 80% of reviewers felt it would be helpful to have more features.
  • Location: Every user who mentions this feature observed that the software doesn’t reflect senders’ geographical location.

Key Features

  • Pipelines: Streak CRM lets you create an unlimited number of pipelines, and with a Professional or Enterprise plan, you can also create unlimited rows (called items) within each pipeline. Filters, groups, sorting and search features let you configure pipelines based on the view you need and then save that view to share with team members. You can also link related pipeline items for quick navigation between the two. 
  • Boxes: Each box represents a contact, lead or whatever else you want to track. They act as the building blocks of your pipeline and are what you move through the stages. Boxes can contain information like emails, contacts, comments, notes, tasks, file attachments, data fields and more. 
  • Customizable Workflows: The software allows you to configure your workflow to fit your processes. You can add, delete or move pipeline stages, as well as color-code them for easy tracking. 
  • Alerts: The view tracking feature sends a notification when a recipient reads your message. You can sort emails in your Sent folder based on whether they’ve been viewed or not, so it’s clear which contacts require follow-up. 
  • Mail Merge: If you need to send mass emails that include personalization, this feature has the necessary capabilities. You can pull data from your pipeline to personalize elements like company info or recipient name. The preview mode lets you proof emails before sending. 
  • Send Later: You can schedule emails to send at a predetermined time and edit or cancel them from the draft view. 
  • Snippets: With this feature, which acts as a template, you can create a library of most-used emails to reuse whenever needed. Shortcuts allow you to insert the content quickly. The templates are shareable among team members. 
  • Reporting: Available with the Professional and Enterprise plans, this feature lets you generate reports based on the data in your pipelines. The system offers built-in sales and pipeline reports that can be customized, downloaded and shared via email. Sales reports let you track information like the total value currently in your pipeline, the value per stage, close rate, projected close value and more. Pipeline reports include total interactions, stage flow, the number of boxes assigned to each user and the number of boxes in any given stage. 
  • Permissions: With a Professional or Enterprise plan, you can control who views and edits information in the system. Owners act as the administrators, with the ability to edit teams, roles, pipelines and other settings. Members are limited to viewing pipelines and contacts, and can’t change user roles or team members. 
Infusionsoft
Infusionsoft
Start Price
$159
Monthly
Company Size
Small Medium Large
Deployment
Cloud On-Premise
Platform
Mac Windows Linux Chromebook Android
Request Pricing Request Demo

Why We Picked Infusionsoft

Infusionsoft by Keap is a comprehensive CRM platform that helps SMBs automate processes, connect with prospects and customers, and increase ROI. As many reviews noted, the price is on the high end for a small business, and it has some features that work best for enterprises. It also has a learning curve and limitations with storage and custom fields. However, it provides robust email marketing and campaign management tools, and its wide range of automations can save users a lot of time. There are mixed reviews about customer service, as some find it satisfactory while others believe it’s inadequate. Overall, the product can be a good choice for companies with a large enough budget.

Pros & Cons

  • Process Automation: Every user who mentions this feature notes the system has vast automation scope including automating customer acquisition and marketing processes.
  • Campaign Builder: It offers a robust, flexible and feature-rich campaign builder with excellent controls, as observed by 85% of reviewers who reference campaign management.
  • Email Marketing: According to almost 90% of reviewers who mention email marketing, Infusionsoft by Keap has a responsive, user-friendly interface that aids segmentation, sends mass emails and offers templates.
  • Contact Management: 85% of users who reference managing client databases feel it’s possible to manage databases efficiently with the ability to create, organize and configure contact lists.
  • Learning Curve: The system is confusing to learn, requires a lot of training and has some features that are hard to find, as noted by more than 80% of customers who refer to training.
  • Price: The cost of the software is on the higher side, according to 90% of reviewers who mention pricing.
  • Custom Fields: It’s difficult to search fields and the platform doesn’t support more than 100 fields, according to every user who mentions custom fields and tools.
  • Document Storage: It doesn’t store documents or client information internally or in the cloud, as indicated by each customer who mentions storage.

Key Features

  • Customer Relationship Management: Infusionsoft’s CRM platform acts as the central hub for sales and marketing efforts. From it, you can segment lists, automate lead data entry, sync client emails from your other accounts to the correct contact record and identify the best opportunities with lead scoring tools. 
  • Marketing Automation: Build efficient processes using a variety of marketing automation settings. Campaign sequences are easy to create using the drag-and-drop interface, and you can set up workflows by defining triggers based on user actions. A/B testing is also supported. 
  • Sales Pipeline: The software allows sales reps and managers to nurture leads through the pipeline. The Infusionsoft by Keap app facilitates the creation and management of custom quotes, which customers can accept with a single click. 
  • Online Sales: Using this feature, you can generate unique landing pages. The interface is drag-and-drop, and templates make the process quick and easy. Add elements like text and images, as well as define which products to include. The system is also equipped to process online payments and will send automatic follow-ups to customers based on the sequence you choose. 
  • Integrations: Infusionsoft plugs into a host of third-party apps that extend your capability. E-Commerce integrations include Magento, WooCommerce and Shopify. You can also connect the platform to Zendesk, QuickBooks, Xero, Zapier, Vimeo, WordPress and a host of other tools. 
  • Payment Collection: Simplify the process of collecting payments on time. The system allows you to set up automated reminders and shows which customers have paid and which have outstanding balances. The connected platform removes the need to juggle multiple tools. Infusionsoft offers a flat rate for every transaction. 
  • Analytics: Take the pulse of your business with the analytics dashboard. It tracks a number of KPIs such as email conversions, quarterly sales and number of contacts. This provides insight into every aspect of your marketing and sales efforts, along with informing decisions. 

Pricing

License/Subscription Cost
  • Recurring subscription-based model: per user, per month, plus maintenance, implementation and backup support
  • All plans are billed monthly according to the annual contract
  • All plans come with a mandatory one-time setup fee called Kickstart package for new customers
  • Costs vary depending on the plan selected, based on the level of consulting and implementation help businesses require
Maintenance Cost
  • Included in the subscription cost
Installation/Implementation Cost
  • Included in the subscription cost
Customization Cost
  • Varies depending on the functional requirements added in the product module, such as sales force automation, marketing automation and eCommerce capabilities. This is based on the organization’s business requirements
Data Migration Cost/Change Management/Upfront Switching Cost
  • Cost varies depending on the amount and type of data to be migrated from the legacy system, availability of migration tools, data profiling, data cleansing and audit trail of the migration process
Training Cost
  • Cost is over and above the subscription cost and varies depending on the type of plan chosen
  • Provides an initial training program for first-time users. Users need to enroll and pay for the training course
  • Provides embedded links, including walkthrough features and video tutorials, after initial training is completed
Recurring/Renewal Costs
  • Cost is included in the subscription fee, based on the number of users, additional add-ons and the plan purchased
Freshsales
Freshsales
Start Price
$9
Per User, Monthly
Company Size
Small Medium Large
Deployment
Cloud On-Premise
Platform
Mac Windows Linux Chromebook Android
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Why We Picked Freshsales

Suitable for SMBs, Freshsales provides easy-to-use tools for sales management, customer engagement and lead management. Its hassle-free configurations and intuitive interface are some standout features noted by reviews. Users also appreciate its ability to manage customer information efficiently and its broad lead management capabilities. However, the free plan doesn’t include useful features, adding advanced features gets costly and there are some technical issues that hinder usability. While integrations with other Freshworks products and Zapier are helpful, important third-party integrations such as LinkedIn and Hubspot are missing. Overall, it has a lot to offer and can be a good choice for smaller operations.

Pros & Cons

  • Ease of Use: 97% of reviews talking about usability noted the system is user-friendly.
  • Interface: The user interface is simple, fast and can be navigated easily, as observed by 96% of reviewers who mention this feature.
  • Lead Management: According to 90% of users who talk about this feature, it helps generate, track, upload, convert, research and organize leads effectively.
  • Contact Management: The system helps store client information efficiently and find data quickly, as reported by 94% of users who reference this feature.
  • Configuration: 80% of reviewers who mention configuration asserted the system is easy and quick to set up.
  • Price: Although a free plan is available, it doesn’t include a lot of options, and adding advanced features gets expensive, according to 65% of reviews referencing cost.
  • Technical Glitches: Every user who talks about this aspect observed there are quite a few technical issues with APIs, migration and more.

Key Features

  • Smartforms: Automatically create new leads after visitors sign up on a web form, providing data from social media profiles, photos and activities on the website. 
  • 360-Degree Customer View: Access customers’ social profiles, products bought, website, interactions and appointments from a single screen. 
  • Velocity Reports: View the time required to convert qualified leads into customers and understand the stages in which sales reps are stuck. 
  • Revenue Analytics: Identify star performers, successful campaigns and leading territories using detailed revenue metrics.  
  • Push Notifications: Push notifications are sent whenever a new lead, task or deal is assigned to users and also offer reminders of upcoming meetings. 
  • Custom Reports: Track sales managers’ performance and sales figures using custom reports with tables and charts. Schedule reports to be delivered on a given date. 
  • Auto Profile Enrichment: Automatically enriches leads, contacts and accounts with their social and publicly listed information such as photos, company details and social profiles.  
  • Email Tracking: Real-time notifications on email opens and clicks facilitate prompt responses and optimize marketing efforts. 
  • Deal Status: Understand deal status in a better way by tracking deal value and the number of deals under review. 
  • Visual Sales Pipeline: Locate deals across stages and get a better view of the pipeline by sorting and filtering. 
  • Third-Party Integrations: The Marketplace provides third-party apps that can be integrated with Freshsales. Connect with Google Sheets, MailChimp and more via Zapier. 
  • Mobile App: With Android and iOS apps, record voice notes, move leads through pipeline stages, check in to meetings, view calendar, log calls and receive notifications. 
Spiro
Spiro
Company Size
Small Medium Large
Deployment
Cloud On-Premise
Platform
Mac Windows Linux Chromebook Android
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Why We Picked Spiro

Spiro enables SMBs to simplify their sales and communications with a user-friendly platform that’s built on AI. Given the central role AI plays, it stands out as a feature many users find to be helpful, particularly when paired with BI to improve sales efficiency. The built-in calling and messaging feature helps users stay connected to prospects, increasing the chances of conversion. Reviews also report that customer support is timely and helpful. Some limitations include slow functionality while reporting and inaccurate automatic data capturing. Overall, those looking for a solution to handle many sales activities without using a traditional CRM product may find it to be a good choice.

Pros & Cons

  • Ease of Use: The software is easy to use and customize to meet business processes and sales requirements, according to 83% of users referencing this aspect.
  • Artificial Intelligence: All reviews on this feature say the combination of AI and BI helps the sales team to work more fluidly and more efficiently.
  • Customer Service: The turnaround time and product understanding offered by the support team is very helpful, suggest 100% of reviews citing customer support.
  • Data Capturing: Automated data entry lacks precision and isn't streamlined enough for immediate business use, note 66% of users mentioning this feature.
  • Analytics and Reporting: The lack of proper filtering and functions slow processes down even with automation in place, in the experience of 66% of users reviewing this element.

Key Features

  • CRM Capabilities: While not a traditional CRM, it executes data collection, automatically gleaning information from emails, text messages and calls to measure engagement levels. 
  • Pipelines: Provides a clear view of each deal and has the option to create multiple pipelines to fit internal processes. Offers different views, such as by sales or stage priority. 
  • Analytics and Reports: Understand prospects, customers, opportunities and forecasts better through objective analysis of customer engagements at every stage. Report types include chart, pivot, summary and tabular. 
  • Mobile Apps: Apps for iOS and Android devices allow access to pipelines, reports, contacts, leads and customer records on the go. 
  • Integrations: Connect with many other types of business platforms, including CRM, ERP and customer support, along with tools like Slack, Office 365, Gmail and Outlook. 
  • Email: Supports emailing up to 500 contacts at once along with the option to schedule the emails in advance. Includes reusable templates for common types of messages. Integrate with a marketing automation solution to receive full email marketing capabilities. 
  • VoIP: Available on desktop or via mobile app. Includes one-click dialing, text message support, call recording, interactive

COMPARE THE BEST Higher Education CRM Software

Select up to 2 Products from the list below to compare

 
Product
Score
i
SelectHub’s Analyst Rating is based on data from our 400+ point analysis of Higher Education CRM Software, user reviews, and our own crowd-sourced data from our free software selection platform. Scores are periodically updated via ongoing selection projects and user activity within our platform.
Start Price
Free Trial
Company Size
Deployment
Platform
Logo
Pipedrive
$14.90
Annual, Monthly
Yes
Small Medium Large
Cloud On-Premise
Mac Windows Linux Chromebook Android
Pipedrive
Salesforce Sales Cloud
$25
Per User, Monthly
Yes
Small Medium Large
Cloud On-Premise
Mac Windows Linux Chromebook Android
Salesforce Sales Cloud
Zoho CRM
$14
Per User, Monthly
Yes
Small Medium Large
Cloud On-Premise
Mac Windows Linux Chromebook Android
Zoho CRM
Dynamics 365 CRM
$65
Per User, Monthly
Yes
Small Medium Large
Cloud On-Premise
Mac Windows Linux Chromebook Android
Dynamics 365 CRM
HubSpot CRM
$1,080
Monthly
Yes
Small Medium Large
Cloud On-Premise
Mac Windows Linux Chromebook Android
HubSpot CRM
Insightly
$29
Per User, Monthly
Yes
Small Medium Large
Cloud On-Premise
Mac Windows Linux Chromebook Android
Insightly
Streak CRM
$0
Free, Monthly
Yes
Small Medium Large
Cloud On-Premise
Mac Windows Linux Chromebook Android
Streak CRM
Infusionsoft
$159
Monthly
Yes
Small Medium Large
Cloud On-Premise
Mac Windows Linux Chromebook Android
Infusionsoft
Freshsales
$9
Per User, Monthly
Yes
Small Medium Large
Cloud On-Premise
Mac Windows Linux Chromebook Android
Freshsales
Spiro
Still gathering data
No
Small Medium Large
Cloud On-Premise
Mac Windows Linux Chromebook Android
Spiro

All Higher Education CRM Software (149 found)

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Pipedrive

by Pipedrive, Inc
Pipedrive
Pipedrive supports sales professionals in managing every phase of the sales process, from lead generation to customer contact. Forecasting enables sales reps to close more deals, and visual pipelines clarify what stage a lead is in and what action is required. Users can simplify and streamline tasks with automation and AI capabilities. It offers integrations and an open API, so companies can plug in third-party apps to further extend its capabilities.
User Sentiment User satisfaction level icon: excellent
Cost Breakdown
$10 - $100
Company Size
Small Medium Large
Deployment
Cloud On-Premise
Platform
Mac Windows Linux Chromebook Android
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Demo Pricing

Salesforce Sales Cloud

by Salesforce.com
Salesforce Sales Cloud
Salesforce Sales Cloud is a customer relationship management (CRM) solution designed to help businesses of all sizes manage their sales processes more effectively. It offers a range of features to simplify lead management and boost sales.Key benefits include AI-powered lead scoring, customizable dashboards, reporting tools and mobile access for on-the-go sales teams. Sales Cloud stands out for its scalability, making it suitable for businesses ranging from small startups to large enterprises. Users appreciate Sales Cloud for its user-friendly interface and extensive customization options. Many find Einstein’s AI capabilities to be game-changing for their sales strategies. However, some users note that there can be a steep learning curve for advanced features, and costs can add up quickly with additional modules and user licenses.Its pricing starts at $25 per user per month for the Starter plan, suitable for small teams. More advanced plans range from $100 to $500 per user per month, offering more refined features. While not the cheapest option on the market, Salesforce can be a worthwhile investment for its comprehensive toolset and scalability Salesforce provides.Salesforce Sales Cloud is a good choice for businesses looking for a flexible solution, provided they're able to handle the potential complexity and cost associated with a top-tier CRM platform.
User Sentiment User satisfaction level icon: great
Cost Breakdown
$10 - $100
Company Size
Small Medium Large
Deployment
Cloud On-Premise
Platform
Mac Windows Linux Chromebook Android
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Zoho CRM

by Zoho Corporation
Zoho CRM
Zoho CRM enables an organization’s sales force to work more effectively and close more deals. It incorporates lead management, marketing automation, contact management, multichannel forecasting, territory management, and a host of other capabilities.Built with conversational AI, it supports users by predicting lead and deal success, offering a voice assistant, and suggesting activities to automate based on behavior analysis. Users can leverage workflow automation to streamline manual tasks and stay on top of performance with real-time reporting and analytics.
User Sentiment User satisfaction level icon: great
Cost Breakdown
$10 - $100
Company Size
Small Medium Large
Deployment
Cloud On-Premise
Platform
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Dynamics 365 CRM

by Microsoft Corporation
Dynamics 365 CRM
Dynamics 365 CRM streamlines customer relationship management through a cloud-based platform. Tailored for mid-size to large businesses, it centralizes interactions, automates workflows, and fosters data-driven insights. Key benefits include sales force automation, marketing campaign management, and service case tracking. Popular features like social listening and lead scoring help nurture potential customers. User reviews within the CRM landscape praise its robust customization options and seamless integration with other Microsoft products. However, the subscription-based pricing model, starting at per-user monthly fees, can be a cost consideration for smaller businesses. Pros Robust customization Seamless Microsoft integration Strong sales automation Intuitive interface Mobile app functionality Cons Potentially complex setup Higher learning curve Subscription-based pricing Limited reporting options Occasional performance issues
User Sentiment User satisfaction level icon: great
Cost Breakdown
$10 - $100
Company Size
Small Medium Large
Deployment
Cloud On-Premise
Platform
Mac Windows Linux Chromebook Android
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HubSpot CRM

by HubSpot
HubSpot CRM
HubSpot CRM provides a full suite of capabilities that aid smart teamwork and allow companies to track, organize and close sales seamlessly. It’s entirely free of charge and provides automated contact management, customized tracking and reporting.App marketplace integrations let users expand performance capability based on their needs to achieve optimum business growth. Additionally, users can increase traffic, generate revenue, connect and manage leads all from one panel. The option to connect with the marketing, sales, service and CMS hubs allows companies to receive even greater functionality.
User Sentiment User satisfaction level icon: great
Cost Breakdown
$1,000 or more
Company Size
Small Medium Large
Deployment
Cloud On-Premise
Platform
Mac Windows Linux Chromebook Android
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Insightly

by Insightly, Inc.
Insightly
Insightly is a cloud-based platform with tools that support every phase of the customer lifecycle. The solution’s capabilities allow organizations to accomplish sales activities, nurture customer relationships and manage projects to deliver on customer orders. The software is best suited for small businesses, although several larger companies have had success with the product as well.
User Sentiment User satisfaction level icon: great
Cost Breakdown
$10 - $100
Company Size
Small Medium Large
Deployment
Cloud On-Premise
Platform
Mac Windows Linux Chromebook Android
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Streak CRM

by Rewardly
Streak CRM
Streak CRM is built into Gmail, allowing users to manage common sales tasks directly from their inbox. It facilitates pipeline management so users can track leads, follow up, collaborate and close deals. Three different pricing tiers make it useful for both individuals who need basic functions and companies that require more advanced capabilities. In addition to managing a pipeline, users can also leverage it to manage projects, foster business relationships, run fundraisers, provide customer support and execute other projects that require tracking details.
User Sentiment User satisfaction level icon: excellent
Cost Breakdown
$10 or less
Company Size
Small Medium Large
Deployment
Cloud On-Premise
Platform
Mac Windows Linux Chromebook Android
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Demo Pricing

Infusionsoft

by Infusionsoft, Inc.
Infusionsoft
Infusionsoft was rebranded as Keap in 2019. Learn more about Keap.It's a comprehensive software platform designed to help small businesses save time and grow revenue. Rated as a top sales product for SMBs in 2019, this vendor brings automation and organization to sales and marketing activities. The available toolkit allows small businesses to gain extensive control over their efforts to help form personal, lasting connections with their customers. This product is suitable for individual business owners or small teams looking to scale and handle an increasing task load. The implementation includes a required kickstart package (available in three different price tiers) that helps users get set up with the program and positions them for success.
User Sentiment User satisfaction level icon: great
Cost Breakdown
$100 - $500
Company Size
Small Medium Large
Deployment
Cloud On-Premise
Platform
Mac Windows Linux Chromebook Android
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Freshsales

by Freshworks
Freshsales
Freshsales is a cloud solution suitable for small and medium businesses across different industry verticals. Being one of the sales management and customer engagement offerings from Freshworks, it provides comprehensive features for managing leads and deals. Capabilities include a chronological timeline view of customer journey, AI-based lead scoring, built-in one-click phone, and native mobile apps for Android and iOS devices.
User Sentiment User satisfaction level icon: excellent
Cost Breakdown
$10 or less
Company Size
Small Medium Large
Deployment
Cloud On-Premise
Platform
Mac Windows Linux Chromebook Android
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Spiro

by Spiro
Spiro
Spiro employs native AI capabilities to help companies proactively manage leads and customers. It can be leveraged for common tasks like lead management and activity tracking, as well as more advanced functions such as sales enablement and analytics.It helps evaluate sales data and assists sales teams by sending reminders to update contacts, change pipeline status, correct inconsistencies and more.
User Sentiment User satisfaction level icon: excellent
Cost Breakdown
$100 - $500
Company Size
Small Medium Large
Deployment
Cloud On-Premise
Platform
Mac Windows Linux Chromebook Android
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Agile CRM

by Agile CRM
Agile CRM
Agile CRM is an all-in-one cloud platform that enables companies to handle all activities and tasks across the customer lifecycle. With integrated modules for marketing, sales and service, it provides capabilities such as contact management, a deal pipeline, lead scoring, project management, email marketing and campaigns, service automation, and live chat.Targeted primarily at small businesses, it allows users to maintain visibility into contacts, boost results with sales enablement, engage web users and deliver comprehensive support. Free and premium versions are available.
User Sentiment User satisfaction level icon: great
Cost Breakdown
$10 or less
Company Size
Small Medium Large
Deployment
Cloud On-Premise
Platform
Mac Windows Linux Chromebook Android
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Bloomerang

by Bloomerang
Bloomerang
Bloomerang is a complete system allowing nonprofit organizations to manage donor relationships, events and fundraising. Its emphasis on donor engagement and retention supports company growth.Capabilities include email marketing, online giving, grant tracking, donor surveys, data segmentation, dashboards, reporting and prospect research. Deployment via Amazon Cloud Services provides security and scalability. It’s available to both U.S. and Canadian organizations.
User Sentiment User satisfaction level icon: excellent
Cost Breakdown
$100 - $500
Company Size
Small Medium Large
Deployment
Cloud On-Premise
Platform
Mac Windows Linux Chromebook Android
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Bitrix24

by Bitrix
Bitrix24
Bitrix24 facilitates the execution of the customer journey. It supplies organizations with tools for marketing, sales and customer service activities such as lead generation, marketing automation, campaign management and call center support.It comes with a free edition for companies with less advanced needs or a smaller budget. Deployment is available in the cloud and on-premise. It’s suitable for smaller businesses as well as enterprises with up to 50,000 employees.
User Sentiment User satisfaction level icon: great
Cost Breakdown
$10 - $100
Company Size
Small Medium Large
Deployment
Cloud On-Premise
Platform
Mac Windows Linux Chromebook Android
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Top Producer

by Top Producer
Top Producer
Top Producer offers a set of cloud-based solutions tailored for the real estate industry, enabling brokers and agents to be more effective with their marketing and sales efforts. A tiered pricing model provides flexibility based on an agency’s needs.It’s mainly used by small businesses but can support larger companies as well. Capabilities include a client database, contact profiles, website builder, lead generation, automated email marketing, reports, lead management and integrations.
User Sentiment User satisfaction level icon: poor
Cost Breakdown
$100 - $500
Company Size
Small Medium Large
Deployment
Cloud On-Premise
Platform
Mac Windows Linux Chromebook Android
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Less Annoying CRM

by Less Annoying CRM
Less Annoying CRM
Less Annoying CRM is designed to help small businesses make it simple and efficient to handle activities surrounding leads and customers. It gives companies an easy-to-use, cloud-based platform for storing contacts, tracking leads and managing tasks to help close more deals.
User Sentiment User satisfaction level icon: excellent
Cost Breakdown
$10 - $100
Company Size
Small Medium Large
Deployment
Cloud On-Premise
Platform
Mac Windows Linux Chromebook Android
Request with no obligation:
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Sugar Sell

by SugarCRM Inc
Sugar Sell
Sugar Sell, formerly SugarCRM, is a sales automation solution suitable for small, medium and large businesses. It offers contact, call and email management, dashboards, reporting, integrations, customer journey management, sales forecasting, and business process management (BPM) capabilities.It consolidates customer data into a central location for sales professionals to gain visibility into the conversations, actions and emails related to each contact or account. Cloud deployment is available, and on-premise deployment comes with the Sugar Enterprise edition.
User Sentiment User satisfaction level icon: good
Cost Breakdown
$10 - $100
Company Size
Small Medium Large
Deployment
Cloud On-Premise
Platform
Mac Windows Linux Chromebook Android
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Nimble CRM

by Nimble
Nimble CRM
Nimble is a one-stop solution for managing and organizing contacts, setting reminders, building and maintaining relationships, finding opportunities, and meeting goals. It provides complete information on the customer's history and their deal status. Users can set up a structured to-do list for teams.It allows users to engage and interact with prospects and customers on a personalized level, enabling them to stay connected across the entire customer journey.
User Sentiment User satisfaction level icon: great
Cost Breakdown
$10 or less
Company Size
Small Medium Large
Deployment
Cloud On-Premise
Platform
Mac Windows Linux Chromebook Android
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LionDesk

by LionDesk
LionDesk
LionDesk delivers cloud-based marketing and sales tools tailored to professionals in the real estate industry. Suitable for individuals, teams and brokerages, it provides a single place to manage client relationships.It helps import leads from other sources, organize information, manage processes, connect with clients, boost closed deals and track tasks. Capabilities include contact management, property management, video emails and texts, pipeline management, automation, and marketing campaigns.
User Sentiment User satisfaction level icon: great
Cost Breakdown
$10 - $100
Company Size
Small Medium Large
Deployment
Cloud On-Premise
Platform
Mac Windows Linux Chromebook Android
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Nutshell CRM

by Nutshell
Nutshell CRM
Nutshell CRM is a cloud-based customer relationship management (CRM) platform designed to assist businesses with sales, marketing, and customer service operations. It caters particularly well to small and medium-sized businesses seeking a straightforward and cost-effective CRM solution. Nutshell CRM's user-friendly interface and setup process make it accessible even for those new to CRM software. Nutshell CRM offers a range of features including contact management, lead tracking, opportunity management, email marketing, and reporting, all at an affordable price point, with plans starting at $16 per month. Users appreciate its ease of use, affordability, and comprehensive features, making it a strong contender in the CRM market.
User Sentiment User satisfaction level icon: great
Cost Breakdown
$10 - $100
Company Size
Small Medium Large
Deployment
Cloud On-Premise
Platform
Mac Windows Linux Chromebook Android
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Demo Pricing

kvCORE

by Inside Real Estate
kvCORE
kvCORE is a cloud-based, suite solution designed to optimize growth and streamline operations for real estate agencies. It provides users with workflow automation, centralized data and AI-powered tools to boost efficiency.Realtors can build comprehensive client profiles using validated data, manage leads and SOI from a central dashboard and share contact profiles with other stakeholders.The mobile app offers additional accessibility with features like a power dialer, remote communication and task management. Users can improve extensibility with Zapier integrations.
User Sentiment User satisfaction level icon: excellent
Cost Breakdown
$100 - $500
Company Size
Small Medium Large
Deployment
Cloud On-Premise
Platform
Mac Windows Linux Chromebook Android
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Pricing Guide

See the Price/User for the top Higher Education CRM Software… plus the most important considerations and questions to ask when shopping.

Buyer's Guide

Higher Education CRM Software Is All About Personalizing Student Experiences and Boosting Enrollment Rates

By Manogna Matta, Technical Writer at SelectHub

Higher Education CRM BG Intro

Whether your institution is public or private, art-based or research-driven, small or large-scale — higher education CRMs can help create rewarding student journeys and enhance staff productivity. Designed to solve the education industry’s unique challenges, it works its magic right from attracting new leads to student enrollment and beyond.

Looking for ways to customize student engagement, track campaigns and optimize outreach efforts with reporting tools? Higher education CRMs might be right for you. In this buyer’s guide, we’ll go over what a CRM for higher education is, how it could help your business and how to pick the best solution.

Executive Summary

  • Higher education CRM software helps manage recruitment, admissions, inquiries and engagement with students, parents, donors and alumni.
  • Key features include contact management, analytical tools, event management, enrollment marketing, and account and invoice management.
  • Make sure to ask potential vendors specific questions about the software and their support before committing to a purchase.
What This Guide Covers:

What Is Higher Education CRM Software?

Higher education CRM software is a system designed specifically for the education industry to manage recruitment, enrollment, inquiry, admissions, students, parents, alumni, donors and more. Along with handling several other micro processes, it’s great for personalizing student communication and engagement.

Institutions already have a lot on their plate — from meeting targeted enrollment numbers and tracking every student interaction to organizing outreach campaigns and solving bottlenecks along the process. When lead data is scattered in various places, it further delays the support and experiences your teams could provide.

A CRM for higher education centralizes leads from various sources, including email, Google, walk-ins, school connect programs, Facebook and other social media. Once leads are consolidated, you can allocate them to different teams in real time based on factors like course, city, phone number or interests.

Unlike other CRMs like sales CRM systems, higher education CRM software is built to manage unique challenges educational institutions face. The solution is therefore an invaluable resource and a must for the industry.

Primary Benefits

CRM for higher education software has various tools to boost student enrollment. Let’s look at how it can benefit you below:

Higher Education CRM Benefits

Improve Student Experiences

Higher education CRM platforms ensure 360° student engagement through lead management and nurturing systems. According to Salesforce’s connected student report, 25% of students expect colleges and universities to provide a personalized experience customized to their needs.

A CRM for higher education does exactly that — it allows you to personalize interactions across multiple channels and create tailor-made outreach campaigns.

The system streamlines support processes for students, parents and alumni in a single-view, consolidated platform. With proactive alerts and conversational chatbots, institutions can stay ahead of students’ needs, remove barriers to information and encourage more students to enroll.

Empower Your Faculty and Staff

Increasingly, applicants have come to expect seamless experiences, easy navigation and hands-on support. But many higher education institutions use outdated and siloed systems to manage student data. Also, staff members have many time-consuming tasks like recruiting, enrollment, engagement, support, job placements and more.

Higher Education CRM Software Categories

A CRM for higher education helps manage many of these business processes. It streamlines workflows, allowing faculty and staff members to be more proactive in their student support efforts. By automating repetitive tasks, teams can save tons of time and focus on increasing student retention rates through personalized communication.

Manage Resources and Increase Revenue

Higher education CRM software enables efficient budgeting and resource allocation. Endowed with in-depth analytics, it lets you improve team performance, identify bottlenecks in the pipeline, eliminate data duplication and gain complete visibility into the timeline.

You can track, optimize and measure campaign success. The solution helps you make data-driven decisions so you can maximize the ROI of your marketing efforts.

A CRM for higher education is highly scalable, meaning it evolves as your business grows and adapts to changing demands. This way you can save money on updating legacy systems or training sessions.

Ensure Data Security

When creating engaging student journeys, you deal with heavy personal information such as applicants’ names, phone numbers, email addresses, dates of birth and other details. It’s vital to safeguard such sensitive information and avoid data leakage.

The best higher education CRM software comes with a range of security features like managing permissions and providing user authentication to access certain resources. You can divide your organization into teams and set up a hierarchy of access based on position. Data masking, encryption and data security filters are other notable tools.

Key Features & Functionality

Contact Management

You can capture and manage valuable student information like names, phone numbers, previous education details and more. This feature creates a database that helps tailor future campaigns and promotions to prospects.
Reports and Analytics

Get in-depth reports about your administrative and academic teams’ performance. Identify bottlenecks in the process and develop effective growth strategies. You can make smart, data-driven decisions based on analytics.
Event Management

The platform assists academic teams with event-related tasks such as event planning, recruitment, fundraising and student engagement. You can plan strategic guest lists, set up recurring event registration, design intuitive registration forms, create pre- and post-event surveys, and more.
Inquiry Management

Inquiries can come from various touchpoints and higher education CRM platforms ensure they don’t fall through the cracks.

You can make sure prospects go to relevant admission officers based on course choice, zip code, city and more. Support staff can quickly respond to queries, a key aspect of seamless student experiences.
Enrollment Marketing

With tools like email marketing, campaign performance analytics and advanced workflows, you can drive more enrollments. Administrative teams can send hyper-personalized, targeted and timely communication to students and parents.
Account and Invoice Management

This feature is a must for higher education institutions to smoothly run financial operations. CRM platforms integrate with external gateways, allowing students to pay tuition online. You can securely process fee payments, track payment history and create financial reports.
Integrations

Higher education CRM solutions offer integrations with widely used social media and business apps, including Gmail, Instagram, Facebook and more. They can also integrate with your website, enabling seamless data transfer and quickly resolving queries.

Software Comparison Strategy

Higher education CRM platforms come in all shapes and sizes. There’s no one size fits all, but you can narrow down solutions that will effectively cater to your institution’s needs.

Take a closer look at your current system. How do you manage recruitment, enrollment, admissions, applications, communication, and student and alumni engagement? How well does it work for you and where does it lack? Make a list of requirements and evaluate top options based on that.

What pain points and complaints do you regularly hear from students, parents and staff? It’s helpful to refer to this information when making a choice to best serve your prospective students.

Define your budget and the resources you can allocate. Many CRM for higher education platforms come with free trials and demos. Test drive them before committing to a purchase. You can read industry guides and online reviews and ask peers for recommendations to make an informed choice.

Which features would be the most beneficial to you? Does the software specialize in providing industry-specific tools like enrollment marketing, inquiry management and application management? Would a cloud-based system be better than an on-site platform? Cloud technologies and mobile platforms are a better choice if you have remote/hybrid teams.

Examine how user-friendly the platform’s interface is. An intuitive, visual and easy-to-navigate system is always a plus. How’s the platform’s customizability? Your teams can benefit from tailoring the solution to their unique needs.

Take note of apps you use regularly and look for higher education CRM platforms that offer integrations with them.

Another thing to consider is vendor support. How quickly do they resolve queries? Do they have knowledge bases and provide implementation support? Is the solution scalable? This is an important factor to consider as educational institutions need to adapt to changing student requirements. Asking what security measures your vendor has in place is also vital to ensure data safety and prevent accidental loss of information.

Cost & Pricing Considerations

The price of higher education CRM software varies depending on a number of factors. Many vendors provide monthly, quarterly, half-yearly or annual subscriptions. Some vendors charge based on the number of users per month. The price ranges from $30 per user/month for an entry-level system to hundreds of dollars per user/month for more advanced solutions.

Some CRM platforms charge based on the number of resources used, though this is not a common practice in the higher-ed industry. There’s also a one-time flat fee pricing model, which is expensive but allows any number of staff members to use the system.

Many solutions offer free trials, demos or less advanced software versions free of cost. The price varies greatly according to features, customizability and scalability options you want. There are also hidden costs like paying for installation or training sessions. If you opt for an on-premise solution, you need to set aside a budget for a dedicated IT team.

Most Popular Higher Education CRM Software

Now that you know what a higher education CRM can do for you, how do you pick the right one for your institution? Let’s take a look at some popular products to guide your search:

Salesforce.org Education Cloud

One of the top options in the market, Salesforce.org Education Cloud helps build personalized, targeted student experiences. It unifies constituent data in a centralized platform so all teams can be on the same page.

This cloud-based solution is ideal for recruitment, admissions, marketing and student engagement teams. You can leverage over 4,000 apps to extend platform capabilities using AppExchange, a leading enterprise cloud marketplace.

Salesforce.org Education Cloud

Advisee Record Tab in Salesforce.org Education Cloud. Source

HubSpot

HubSpot is designed to attract, nurture and store information about new leads, all at the push of a button. Equipped with multiple integrations, scalability options, lead-tracking capabilities and a user-friendly interface, the solution is a good fit for higher education institutions. Funnel automation, pipeline management, lead targeting and email templates are other notable features.

LiveChat

Marketing Dashboard in HubSpot. Source

LeadSquared

Another popular choice among higher education institutions, LeadSquared specializes in end-to-end lead management, innovative lead distribution and journey management. Endowed with a user-friendly interface, it’s great for remote teams and offers quick vendor support. It also provides efficient security measures such as two-factor authentication and activity tracking.

LeadSquared

Lead Details Tab in LeadSquared. Source

 

 

Questions To Ask

To get started, it’s critical to understand what CRM requirements your institution has. Use the following questions as a starting point.

Here’s a list of questions to guide internal conversations:

  • What are the pain points in my current system?
  • Which features would help improve those pain points?
  • Do I have the technical resources to implement and maintain a new system, or will I need to rely on the vendor?
  • What apps do I use on a daily basis?
  • Will my staff need training sessions to operate the system?

Higher Education CRM Key Questions

Here’s a list of questions to ask vendors to help you learn more about the software and vendor:

  • Do you have experience working with businesses in my industry?
  • How do you ensure data security?
  • Do you assist in the onboarding and implementation process?
  • How does your technical support team handle help requests?
  • What industry-specific features and integrations do you offer?

Next Steps

A higher education CRM is a viable solution for institutions looking to empower students, faculty, staff, alumni and donors. With a dynamic range of features like reporting tools, inquiry management, integrations, and accounts and invoice management, the platform pulls all the stops in helping you create meaningful student journeys.

Still feeling overwhelmed and can’t decide which software is the best for you? Check out our comparison report to gain insight into top software vendors. Good luck!

Additional Resources

About The Contributors

The following expert team members are responsible for creating, reviewing, and fact checking the accuracy of this content.

Manogna Chandrika
By Manogna Chandrika Matta
Technical Content Writer
Manogna Matta was a Technical Content Writer at SelectHub who delivered content for CRM, mental health, marketing and fundraising. An alum of the University of Hyderabad, Manogna did Communication and Psychology courses in her B.A. and M.A. She's also an avid coin collector and a fashion enthusiast. When not typing away on the keyboard, Manogna plays mother hen to her tiny birds, watches sitcoms and makes bad-quality dad jokes.
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Joan
Technical Research By Joan Akash
Senior Analyst
Joan Akash, a Senior Research Analyst at SelectHub, holds a Post-Graduate Diploma in Management with a specialization in Marketing. Her expertise as a researcher and reviewer spans diverse software categories, including Project Management, Customer Relationship Management, Live Chat, and Help Desk. Beyond her professional pursuits, Joan is spiritually driven, with a passion for teaching children and a penchant for reading biblical blogs and crafting poetry.
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Manan
Technical Review By Manan Roy
Principal Analyst
Manan is a native of Tezpur, Assam (India), who currently lives in Kolkata, West Bengal (India). At SelectHub, he works on categories like CRM, HR, PPM, BI, and EHR. He has a Bachelor of Technology in CSE from The Gandhi Institute of Engineering and Technology, a Master of Technology from The Institute of Engineering and Management IT, and an MBA in Finance from St. Xavier's College. He's published two research papers, one in a conference and the other in a journal, during his Master of Technology.
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Pooja
Edited By Pooja Verma
Content Editor
Pooja Verma is a Content Editor and Senior Market Analyst at SelectHub, who writes and edits content for endpoint security, legal, CRM, fundraising software, eCommerce, and mental health software. She earned a literature degree from Miranda House, DU and also holds Master’s in Journalism from Symbiosis Institute of Media and Communication in India. In her free time, you can spot her reading a book or binge-watching the latest web series and movies.
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