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Nutshell alternatives: 6 apps ranked by verified data

Facts checked Oct 25, 2026AppBreakup editorialHow we rank

Common reasons people leave Nutshell: no free plan, and email marketing is a paid add-on. We ranked 6 alternatives by how directly each one replaces Nutshell, then by reviews, real visits and how recently each app's facts were checked against its own website. Pipedrive currently ranks first.

Quick comparison

#AppPricingOpen sourcePlatformsVerified factsScore
1Pipedrive logoPipedrivePaidNoWeb, iOS, Android4 of 466.5
2HubSpot CRM logoHubSpot CRMFree plan + paidNoWeb, iOS, Android +15 of 562.6
3Capsule CRM logoCapsule CRMFree plan + paidNoWeb, iOS, Android3 of 357.2
4Freshsales logoFreshsalesPaidNoWeb, iOS, Android4 of 455.3
5Keap logoKeapPaidNoWeb, iOS, Android3 of 353.6
  1. Pipedrive logo

    1. PipedriveTop pick

    Best for: Small and mid-sized sales teams focused on closing deals through clear stages

    PaidWeb, iOS, Android

    66.5

    score / 100

    Why switch from Nutshell

    Pipeline-first CRM with a larger integration marketplace.

    Pros

    • Pipeline board is easy to learn and keep updated
    • Activity reminders keep reps focused on next steps
    • Large integration marketplace and open API

    Cons

    • No free plan, only a trial
    • Useful features are spread across paid add-ons
    • Thin on marketing and customer service tools
    Visit Pipedrive Details and reviews
    How this score is calculated
    Editorial fit ×0.3100
    Reviews ×0.363
    Clicks (90 days) ×0.150
    Freshness ×0.1585
    Votes ×0.150

    0 counted reviews, 0 up and 0 down votes. Full formula

    Is Pipedrive a good Nutshell alternative?

    Verified facts

    4 of 4 verified
    Free trial
    14 days, no credit card
    Checked Oct 25, 2026pipedrive.com(opens source in a new tab)
    Integrations
    500+
    Checked Oct 25, 2026pipedrive.com(opens source in a new tab)
    API
    Yes, with developer sandbox
    Checked Oct 25, 2026developers.pipedrive.com(opens source in a new tab)
    Customers
    100,000+ companies
    Checked Oct 25, 2026pipedrive.com(opens source in a new tab)
  2. HubSpot CRM logo

    2. HubSpot CRM

    Best for: Small and mid-sized teams that want sales and marketing data in one easy CRM

    Free plan + paidWeb, iOS, Android, Browser extension

    62.6

    score / 100

    Why switch from Nutshell

    Free CRM with marketing tools built into the same platform.

    Pros

    • Free tier with no time limit covers the basics well
    • Sales, marketing and service activity on one contact timeline
    • Easy to set up without a consultant
    • Large integration marketplace

    Cons

    • Big price jump from Starter to Professional editions
    • Many automation features are locked to higher tiers
    • Less flexible data modelling than Salesforce
    Visit HubSpot CRM Details and reviews
    How this score is calculated
    Editorial fit ×0.387
    Reviews ×0.363
    Clicks (90 days) ×0.150
    Freshness ×0.1585
    Votes ×0.150

    0 counted reviews, 0 up and 0 down votes. Full formula

    Is HubSpot CRM a good Nutshell alternative?

    Verified facts

    5 of 5 verified
    Free plan
    Yes, no expiration
    Checked Oct 25, 2026hubspot.com(opens source in a new tab)
    Credit card for free plan
    Not required
    Checked Oct 25, 2026hubspot.com(opens source in a new tab)
    Integrations
    2,000+ marketplace apps
    Checked Oct 25, 2026hubspot.com(opens source in a new tab)
    Customers
    306,000+ in 135+ countries
    Checked Oct 25, 2026hubspot.com(opens source in a new tab)
    API
    Yes
    Checked Oct 25, 2026developers.hubspot.com(opens source in a new tab)
  3. Capsule CRM logo

    3. Capsule CRM

    Best for: Small businesses and freelancers who want a clean, low-effort CRM

    Free plan + paidWeb, iOS, Android

    57.2

    score / 100

    Why switch from Nutshell

    Lightweight CRM with a free plan for very small teams.

    Pros

    • Clean interface that small teams pick up quickly
    • Free plan for up to two users
    • Projects alongside sales pipelines

    Cons

    • Free plan is capped at 250 contacts
    • No built-in calling or marketing automation
    • Reporting is basic on lower plans
    Visit Capsule CRM Details and reviews
    How this score is calculated
    Editorial fit ×0.369
    Reviews ×0.363
    Clicks (90 days) ×0.150
    Freshness ×0.1585
    Votes ×0.150

    0 counted reviews, 0 up and 0 down votes. Full formula

    Is Capsule CRM a good Nutshell alternative?

    Verified facts

    3 of 3 verified
    Free plan
    Up to 2 users, 250 contacts
    Checked Oct 25, 2026capsulecrm.com(opens source in a new tab)
    Free trial
    14 days, no card
    Checked Oct 25, 2026capsulecrm.com(opens source in a new tab)
    Mobile apps
    iOS and Android
    Checked Oct 25, 2026capsulecrm.com(opens source in a new tab)
  4. Freshsales logo

    4. Freshsales

    Best for: SMB sales teams that want calling, email and chat built into the CRM

    PaidWeb, iOS, Android

    55.3

    score / 100

    Why switch from Nutshell

    Similar SMB focus with built-in phone and chat.

    Pros

    • Built-in phone, email and chat channels
    • Lower per-user price than most big-name CRMs
    • Pairs naturally with Freshdesk for support teams

    Cons

    • No free plan on the current pricing page
    • Smaller integration catalogue than HubSpot or Salesforce
    • AI agent sessions and branded documents cost extra
    Visit Freshsales Details and reviews
    How this score is calculated
    Editorial fit ×0.363
    Reviews ×0.363
    Clicks (90 days) ×0.150
    Freshness ×0.1585
    Votes ×0.150

    0 counted reviews, 0 up and 0 down votes. Full formula

    Is Freshsales a good Nutshell alternative?

    Verified facts

    4 of 4 verified
    Starting price
    $9 per user/month, billed annually
    Checked Oct 25, 2026freshworks.com(opens source in a new tab)
    Pro plan
    $39 per user/month, billed annually
    Checked Oct 25, 2026freshworks.com(opens source in a new tab)
    Free trial
    21 days
    Checked Oct 25, 2026freshworks.com(opens source in a new tab)
    Customers
    74,000+ businesses
    Checked Oct 25, 2026freshworks.com(opens source in a new tab)
  5. Keap logo

    5. Keap

    Best for: Small service businesses wanting CRM and marketing automation in one tool

    PaidWeb, iOS, Android

    53.6

    score / 100

    Why switch from Nutshell

    Adds heavier marketing automation for service businesses.

    Pros

    • Visual automation builder for follow-ups and campaigns
    • Invoices, payments and appointments built in
    • Long track record with small-business marketers

    Cons

    • Expensive compared with simple CRMs
    • Prices scale with contact count
    • Sales pipeline tools are lighter than dedicated CRMs
    Visit Keap Details and reviews
    How this score is calculated
    Editorial fit ×0.357
    Reviews ×0.363
    Clicks (90 days) ×0.150
    Freshness ×0.1585
    Votes ×0.150

    0 counted reviews, 0 up and 0 down votes. Full formula

    Is Keap a good Nutshell alternative?

    Verified facts

    3 of 3 verified
    Starting price
    $299/month
    Checked Oct 25, 2026keap.com(opens source in a new tab)
    Owner
    Thryv
    Checked Oct 25, 2026keap.com(opens source in a new tab)
    Mobile app availability
    U.S., Australia and other listed countries
    Checked Oct 25, 2026keap.com(opens source in a new tab)

The best Nutshell alternative for…

The highest-ranked app in this list for each need.

Pipedrive logo

Best Nutshell alternative for most people

Pipedrive

Pipeline-first CRM with a larger integration marketplace.

HubSpot CRM logo

Best Nutshell alternative for a free plan you can upgrade

HubSpot CRM

Free CRM with marketing tools built into the same platform.

Capsule CRM logo

Best Nutshell alternative for iPhone and Android

Capsule CRM

Lightweight CRM with a free plan for very small teams.

Less Annoying CRM logo

Best Nutshell alternative for working in the browser

Less Annoying CRM

Even simpler CRM with one flat price.

Nutshell alternatives: common questions

What is the best alternative to Nutshell?

Pipedrive ranks first right now. Pipeline-first CRM with a larger integration marketplace. HubSpot CRM and Less Annoying CRM follow it in our ranking.

Is there a free alternative to Nutshell?

Yes. HubSpot CRM (free plan + paid) and Capsule CRM (free plan + paid) have a free option. Check each app's verified facts for current plan limits.

Is there an open-source alternative to Nutshell?

None of the 6 alternatives in this list is open source.

Why do people switch from Nutshell?

The complaints we hear most: no free plan; email marketing is a paid add-on; smaller integration catalogue than HubSpot.

How is this list ranked?

Every app is scored with the same published formula: how directly it replaces Nutshell, reviews (weighted by verification), visits from AppBreakup, how recently its facts were checked against its own website, and reader votes.