Insightly Alternatives (2026): 10 Tools Compared

Insightly pairs a customer database with project tracking, which suits businesses that win a deal and then have work to deliver. If you're reviewing it, maybe because you'd like a different layout, a simpler set of screens or a different mix of features, there are plenty of other systems worth a look.

Below are ten Insightly alternatives in no particular order, sorted alphabetically. Some are well known and many are smaller. I've taken each description from the tool's own website, so confirm details there before you commit. If you're still deciding whether a CRM is worth having at all, my look at whether small businesses still need a CRM is a good place to start.

Insightly alternatives at a glance

In the Free plan column, Yes means the tool's own site describes a plan you can keep using without a time limit. Trial only means a free trial but no ongoing free plan. No means the site states neither. Details change, so check before you start.

Tool	Type	Good for	Free plan
Agile CRM	Sales, marketing and service	Contacts, deals and basic automation in one place	Yes
Apptivo	Modular business apps	CRM with separate apps you switch on	Trial only
Capsule	Simple CRM	Contacts, pipelines and light project boards	Yes
Flowlu	CRM and projects	Deals, tasks and invoices in one workspace	Yes
Method CRM	Accounting-linked CRM	Teams already working in QuickBooks	Trial only
monday CRM	Visual sales CRM	Boards, pipelines and custom columns	Trial only
noCRM.io	Lead management	Fast follow-up on incoming leads	Trial only
Pipeline CRM	Sales pipeline CRM	Deal stages and sales activity	Trial only
Teamleader Focus	CRM, quotes and projects	Quotes, invoices and projects together	Trial only
Vtiger	Cloud CRM suite	Sales, support and project tracking	Yes

Ten CRM and project tracking tools to weigh against Insightly

Agile CRM

Best for: Small teams who want sales, email marketing and support tools together without stitching several apps.

Apptivo

Best for: Firms who like adding business apps one at a time, such as invoicing or projects, around a core CRM.

Capsule

Best for: Small businesses who want a tidy contact list, a deal pipeline and a few task boards.

Flowlu

Best for: Freelancers and small agencies who want leads, projects and invoices under one roof.

Method CRM

Best for: Service firms who keep their books in QuickBooks and want customer records that stay in step.

monday CRM

Best for: Teams who like colourful boards and want to shape their sales process without code.

noCRM.io

Best for: Sales people who want a short, focused list of leads to work through each day.

Pipeline CRM

Best for: Sales teams who want to see every deal and the next action on one clear screen.

Teamleader Focus

Best for: Service businesses, especially in Europe, who want customer records linked to quotes and projects.

Vtiger

Best for: Growing firms who want sales, a help desk and projects inside a single system.

What to look for in a CRM that also tracks projects

A system that handles both sales and delivery should make the hand-over from deal to job painless. Before you compare screens, think about the moment a customer says yes. What has to happen next, and who does it?

• Deal to project. Can a won deal become a project with its tasks and notes carried across?
• Task views. Check for lists, boards or timelines, whichever your team already thinks in.
• Contacts and companies. Look for linked records, so a person, their firm and their jobs sit together.
• Email. See how messages are logged and whether you can send from inside the tool.
• Reporting. Make sure you can see open deals and open work without exporting a spreadsheet.
• Permissions. Decide who may see what, especially if contractors join a project.

Questions to ask before you move away from Insightly

Moving a CRM is a big job, so write down what you rely on today. People often forget the small habits, such as a saved view or a weekly report, until they've gone.

1. List the fields, tags and custom records you use, and which ones you'd drop.
2. Check you can export contacts, notes and project history in a format the new tool can import.
3. Ask whether linked items, like tasks attached to a deal, survive the move.
4. Find out how the new tool handles your email address and calendar.
5. Decide a quiet week for the switch, and tell your team the date.
6. Keep a read-only copy of the old data until you're sure nothing's missing.

Matching a CRM with project features to your kind of business

• Freelancers and consultants often want light pipelines, invoices and a few client projects.
• Agencies tend to need shared task boards, client records and time on a job.
• Trades and field services may value quotes, scheduling and links to accounting.
• Product firms usually need a pipeline plus a help desk for what happens after a sale.
• Larger teams look for permissions, reporting and workflow rules they can trust.

Keeping customer data tidy and lawful in a CRM

Whichever system you pick, you're responsible for the personal data you store. In the UK and EU that generally means having a clear reason to hold it, keeping it accurate and deleting it when it's no longer needed. This isn't legal advice, so check the rules for your own situation. When it's time to set up the way your team hands over new customers, my piece on streamlining client onboarding has some ideas worth borrowing.

Why a smaller CRM can suit a small team better

Smaller vendors often focus on a few jobs and do them clearly. You may get a simpler screen, quicker answers from support and fewer menus to wade through.

Check when the product was last updated, read the help pages and make sure you can export your data whenever you wish. If a point isn't clear on the site, ask. Try it with one real customer before you move everyone across.

Do you make a CRM or project tracking tool? Tool makers can ask to be considered for a featured place on this list.

A short checklist for choosing your CRM and project tool

Pick two options that fit what you've got in mind. Add five real contacts, one live deal and one project to each, and see how it feels to run a normal week. Keep whichever one your team finds easiest to open each morning. If you also plan your work in sprints or phases, my plain-English guide to project management methods will help you decide what to look for.

Frequently asked questions

What is a CRM with project tracking?

It's software that stores your customers and deals, and also lets you plan the work you deliver afterwards, with tasks, deadlines and notes attached to the same customer records.

Why would someone look for an Insightly alternative?

Reasons vary and aren't always about the tool itself. You might want a simpler layout, a different set of integrations, a different way of working with projects or a better fit for your industry. Start by listing what you need most.

Can I move my contacts and projects to a new system?

Contacts can usually be exported and imported. Projects, tasks and notes are harder, so check what the new tool can import before you decide, and keep a copy of the old data for a while.

Do I need a separate project tool as well as a CRM?

Not always. If your projects are simple, the built-in tasks in a CRM may be enough. If you manage complex jobs with many people, a dedicated project tool alongside your CRM can work better.

Is a free plan enough to start with?

It can be for a small team. Read the limits on users, records and features, and check that the pipeline and project tools you need are included, before you rely on one.