Best CRM for Creative Agency
This guide reviews the top nine agency CRMs, detailing features, pricing, pros and cons to help marketing and creative agencies choose the right solution. It covers BIGContacts, Zoho, Salesmate, Apptivo, Copper CRM, Podio, Insightly, Spiro, and Sage CRM, with quick picks for contact management, omnichannel engagement, sales pipelines, lead capture, and Google Workspace integration, plus buying tips and an evaluation framework.
Ideal Customer Profile
Agencies (marketing, creative, digital) seeking an integrated CRM for client management, project workflow, and automation.
Common Pain Points
- •Managing client communication across multiple channels and tools
- •Tracking project deadlines and team collaboration
- •Maintaining profitability amid growing operations
- •Data silos and manual data entry across tools
Top CRM Picks
5 expert-vetted recommendations
Ranked recommendations based on feature depth, pricing transparency, and adoption within the industry.
Perfect For
Contact management and email marketing for SMBs
⚡ Key Features
- Contact segmentation
- Custom web forms
- 360° view of contacts and activities
- Advanced email marketing
Pros
- ✓Contact segmentation to target lists
- ✓Custom web forms capture leads
- ✓360° view of contacts, emails, transactions, files, and activities
- ✓Advanced email marketing features
Cons
- ✗No downloadable/on-premise version
- ✗No dedicated account manager for the free plan
"BIGContacts is a suitable CRM tool for managing contacts and streamlining email marketing campaigns."
Perfect For
Omnichannel engagement and AI-assisted sales
⚡ Key Features
- AI-powered sales assistant (Zia)
- Bulk import of records
- Sales automation (lead & deal management)
- Customizable modules, fields, UI (Canvas), and email templates
Pros
- ✓AI-powered assistant to predict trends
- ✓Bulk data import
- ✓Sales automation features
- ✓Highly customizable modules and templates
Cons
- ✗Customer support responses can be slow
- ✗Limited integration outside Zoho ecosystem
"Zoho CRM provides a unified view of interactions with AI assistance and strong customization."
Perfect For
Sales pipeline management for agencies
⚡ Key Features
- Visual sales pipeline
- Intelligent email campaign tracking
- Built-in calling and cadence
- Drip email marketing campaigns
Pros
- ✓Visual pipeline to track deals
- ✓Automation features for repetitive tasks
- ✓Built-in email marketing tools
- ✓Mobile app for on-the-go productivity
- ✓Team collaboration and client management
Cons
- ✗Reports can be hard to read or inaccurate
- ✗Desktop performance can lag
"Salesmate's visual pipeline and automation features make it ideal for marketing agencies, with strong email marketing and mobile access."
Perfect For
Lead capturing and management for agencies
⚡ Key Features
- Customizable lead capture forms
- Advanced lead scoring and tracking
- Customizable fields and views
- Customizable pre-built email templates
Pros
- ✓Customizable lead capture forms that integrate with your website
- ✓Advanced lead scoring and tracking
- ✓Customize fields and views to keep CRM clean
- ✓Customizable pre-built email templates
Cons
- ✗Importing data is not very user-friendly
- ✗The tool’s interface is clunky and needs to be updated
"Apptivo’s powerful project management features and customizable workflows helped manage clients and projects."
Perfect For
Task management and Google Workspace integration
⚡ Key Features
- Custom triggers for automation
- Bulk email capabilities
- Ready-to-use templates
- Visual sales pipeline
Pros
- ✓Google Workspace integration with Gmail Calendar Drive
- ✓Automated data entry from emails
- ✓Visual pipeline to track lead positions
- ✓Ready-to-use templates
Cons
- ✗Limited documentation
- ✗UI could use updates
"Copper CRM’s smooth integration with Google Workspace makes it an ideal choice for agencies."
Buying Guide
Step-by-step guide to finding your perfect CRM
Strategic considerations to shortlist the right CRM platform for your workflow, tech stack, and growth roadmap.
- 1
Look for core features: project management, time tracking, client communication, and strong integrations with email marketing and invoicing.
- 2
Consider ease of use, customization options, and the quality of customer support.
- 3
Assess value for money based on features, scalability, and return on investment.
- 4
Take advantage of free trials or demos to test fit for your agency’s workflow.
FAQ
Common questions answered
Quick answers to common questions digital teams raise when evaluating CRM platforms.
Continue Your CRM Research
Continue exploring to make the best CRM decision