
When to Skip the Market-Leading CRM for Your SMB
The biggest CRM is not always the safest choice. Here is when SMBs should skip it and shortlist simpler options.
Learn moreRatings, pricing and all 12 key features, side by side. Open either profile for the full review.
AtAttio | ||
|---|---|---|
| Editor rating | 4.3 | 4.3 |
| Starting price | Free / $29 per user | Free / $7 per user |
| Free plan | Yes | Yes |
| Best for | Startups that want to model their own data and workflows | Micro businesses moving off spreadsheets for the first time |
| Key features | ||
| Ease of use | 4.5 / 5 | 4.6 / 5 |
| Features | 4.2 / 5 | 3.8 / 5 |
| Value for money | 4.3 / 5 | 4.7 / 5 |
| Customer support | 4.1 / 5 | 4.0 / 5 |
| Visual sales pipeline | Yes | Yes |
| Two-way email sync | Yes | Yes |
| Workflow automation | Yes | Yes |
| Email sequences | Yes | No |
| Built-in calling | No | Yes |
| Lead scoring | No | No |
| Sales forecasting | No | No |
| Custom reports | Yes | Yes |
| Marketing campaigns | No | No |
| Quotes and invoices | No | No |
| AI assistant | Yes | No |
| Mobile apps | Yes | Yes |
| Integrations | Google, Microsoft, Slack, Zapier and a public API | Zoho apps, Google Workspace, Microsoft 365 and Zapier |
| Mobile | iOS app | iOS and Android |
| Support | Chat and email | Email and chat; phone on paid plans |
| Founded | 2019 · London, UK | 2020 · Chennai, India |
| View Attio profile | View Bigin by Zoho CRM profile |
Venture-backed startups and product-led companies with non-standard sales motions.
Skip it if: phone-heavy teams and enterprises that need a long-established ecosystem.
Attio feels like a CRM designed this decade. Startups that want to shape the data model around their business, rather than the other way round, should have it on the shortlist.
Owners and small teams that want an inexpensive, structured replacement for spreadsheets.
Skip it if: growing sales teams that already need scoring, forecasting or sequences.
Bigin is the cheapest sensible way to get a real pipeline CRM. It is ideal as a first system, and when you outgrow it the data moves to Zoho CRM without a painful migration.

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