Customer Relationship Management (CRM) software has become an indispensable tool for businesses of all sizes, enabling them to manage customer interactions, streamline processes, and improve overall efficiency. If you’re looking to optimize your workflows and increase revenue, Apptivo CRM, a cloud-based solution, could be the answer. But is it truly worth your investment of time and revenue?
LET'S CUT TO THE CHASE!
BUY IF:
- You’re a small to medium-sized business looking for an affordable, feature-rich CRM solution
- You need a highly customizable platform that can adapt to your specific industry needs
- You want a CRM with integrated apps for lead management, contact management, opportunities, quotes, and invoices
- You require mobile access to manage your customer data on the go
- You’re seeking a solution with extensive third-party integrations
DON'T BUY IT IF:
- You’re an enterprise-level organization with complex, highly specialized CRM needs
- You prefer an on-premise solution over cloud-based software
- You need advanced analytics and AI-powered features out of the box
- You require extensive offline functionality
- You’re looking for a CRM with a long-standing market presence and reputation
THE BOTTOM LINE
Choose Apptivo CRM for a versatile, cost-effective solution tailored to small and medium-sized businesses. You get access to a wide range of integrated apps, flexible customization, and competitive pricing, making it a top choice in the CRM market. However, if you run a larger enterprise or have highly specialized needs, you might find some advanced features or enterprise-level capabilities missing.
NOW, LET'S DETAIL THINGS FOR YOU
- Pricing Structure
Apptivo follows a tiered pricing model, offering four main plans to suit different business sizes and needs.
The Lite Plan costs $20 per user per month when billed monthly or $15 per user per month when billed annually. It’s ideal for small sales teams that manage deals and send quotes. This plan includes 18 apps, 100 custom fields per app, 25 workflows, and 8 custom dashboards.
The Premium Plan is priced at $30 per user per month with monthly billing, or $25 per user per month if billed annually. It’s designed for fast-growing teams looking for an all-in-one CRM. You get access to 46 apps, 250 custom fields per app, 75 workflows, and 25 custom dashboards.
The Ultimate Plan costs $50 per user per month for monthly billing, or $40 per user per month if you choose annual billing. This plan is aimed at large teams that need automation and integrations. It offers 57 apps, 350 custom fields per app, 150 workflows, and 50 custom dashboards.
The Enterprise Plan comes with custom pricing, requiring you to contact sales for a quote. It’s tailored for enterprise organizations needing complex integrations. You’ll have access to 65 apps, 500 custom fields per app, 300 workflows, and 100 custom dashboards.
All plans include a 30-day free trial, so you can test the platform before making a commitment. Apptivo’s “no contract” policy also means you aren’t tied to long-term agreements.
- Add-ons and Extra Costs
While Apptivo’s pricing seems straightforward, there are a few potential extras to be aware of. The blockchain-based eSignature feature is not included in the base plans and will cost you extra. Onboarding services are available for a smoother transition, but they may add to your bill, especially for larger setups. The six-stage implementation service is another potential cost, as well as data migration fees if you’re moving from another CRM.
For those requiring custom integrations under the Enterprise Plan, there could be additional charges. If you exceed your plan’s storage limits, you’ll need to purchase additional storage. Finally, heavy users of Apptivo’s API may face daily call limits and may need to negotiate higher limits, which could come at an extra cost.
WHAT'S THE CATCH WITH APPTIVO?
When you explore Apptivo’s pricing and features, a few potential “catches” arise that you need to consider. First, Apptivo promotes itself as an all-in-one CRM, but key features like marketing automation and email sequencing only unlock with the Premium plan and above, which could lead to unexpected costs if you discover you need these after getting started. Additionally, the storage limits – 1GB per user for Lite, 3GB for Premium, and 10GB for Ultimate – might feel restrictive if your business handles large files or numerous attachments, potentially forcing you to purchase additional storage or upgrade sooner than expected.
Furthermore, Apptivo imposes daily API call limits, with 3,000 calls per user for Lite scaling up to 30,000 for Enterprise, which could create bottlenecks if your business relies heavily on integrations or custom developments. You should also be aware that the number of workflows you can create is capped based on your plan, with only 25 for Lite and up to 300 for Enterprise, which may restrict complex businesses and necessitate an upgrade.
While Apptivo markets itself as user-friendly, the multitude of features and customization options might lead to a steeper learning curve than you anticipate, resulting in additional time and resources spent on training or configuration. Although 24/7 email support is available for all plans, phone support is limited to 24/5 for Premium and above, which could leave you wanting if you require immediate, round-the-clock assistance.
Moreover, the extensive customization options could backfire if you don’t plan properly, potentially leaving you with an overly complex system that’s challenging to maintain or scale. You might also find the lack of transparent pricing for the Enterprise plan makes budgeting difficult, as you’ll need to engage with sales for a quote, possibly prolonging your decision-making process. Lastly, while annual billing offers a discount, it locks you into a longer commitment, which could be problematic if the software doesn’t meet your needs. Be cautious of add-on costs as well, since features like eSignature and implementation services are not included in the base price and could significantly raise your total cost of ownership.
While none of these points necessarily indicate deceptive practices, they do highlight areas where you might encounter unexpected limitations or costs. It’s essential to thoroughly assess your business needs and review Apptivo’s offerings carefully to ensure you’re not caught off guard after subscribing to the platform.
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WHAT YOU NEED TO KNOW
To make an informed decision about Apptivo CRM, you need to understand its pricing model in depth. Apptivo offers both monthly and annual billing options, with annual billing providing savings: you can save $60 per user per year on both the Lite and Premium plans, and $120 per user per year on the Ultimate plan. This flexibility lets you choose between lower costs with a longer commitment or higher costs with more flexibility to change or cancel.
Apptivo’s pricing operates on a per-user basis, meaning your costs will scale with your team size. This model is common in the CRM industry, so it’s crucial to factor in your growth projections when budgeting. As you move up the pricing tiers, you gain not only access to more features but also increased capacity in several areas. For example, the Lite plan offers 18 apps, while the Enterprise plan provides access to 65 apps. Custom fields per app increase from 100 on the Lite plan to 500 on the Enterprise plan, and workflows expand from 25 to 300 as you advance through the tiers.
Some features that Apptivo includes in its plans are often charged separately by competitors. All plans include mobile apps for iOS, Android, Windows, and MacOS, along with a wide range of third-party integrations. Two-factor authentication is available even on the Lite plan, enhancing security at no extra cost. You can also create custom applications starting from the Lite plan, which allows you to extend the CRM’s functionality.
Support levels increase with the plan tiers. All plans offer 24/7 email support and access to a knowledge base, how-to videos, and webinars. Premium plans and above receive 24/5 phone support, while the Enterprise plan includes SLA-backed support and a dedicated account manager.
Be aware of potential additional expenses. Data migration costs can vary based on complexity and volume, and while many integrations are included, custom integrations may incur extra charges. Training may be necessary for larger teams or complex setups, and you might consider engaging Apptivo’s professional services team for optimal configuration and use.
Apptivo promotes “No Contract” terms, suggesting flexibility in cancellation. However, if you choose annual billing for the discount, you enter a one-year commitment. Apptivo also offers a 30-day free trial for all its plans, which is more generous than many competitors’ shorter trial periods or limitations to lower-tier plans. While there is a free trial, it’s essential to understand its refund policy for paid subscriptions, as many SaaS companies offer limited refund options once a subscription is purchased.
WHAT ARE APPTIVO'S COMPETITORS OFFERING?
To truly understand Apptivo’s position in the market, it’s crucial to compare it with some of its key competitors. Let’s look at how Apptivo stacks up against Salesforce, HubSpot, Zoho CRM, and Pipedrive:
- Salesforce: Salesforce is widely regarded as the industry benchmark for CRM, especially among large enterprises. Its pricing starts at $165 USD per user per month, billed annually for the Enterprise plan. Salesforce is generally more expensive but delivers advanced features and scalability. While it has a steeper learning curve, it offers extensive customization tailored for large enterprises. Compared to Apptivo, Salesforce requires more add-ons for similar functionalities found in Apptivo’s base plans. However, Salesforce boasts a larger app ecosystem and offers more third-party integrations.
- HubSpot: HubSpot is celebrated for its inbound marketing tools combined with CRM functionality. Its pricing for small businesses begins at $15 per month, with enterprise plans reaching up to $800 per month. HubSpot offers a free tier with basic CRM features, which Apptivo does not. However, its pricing model is more complex, with separate hubs for Sales, Marketing, and Service that can be purchased individually or as a suite. While Apptivo offers more customization options at lower-tier plans, HubSpot provides superior marketing automation features, particularly in its higher tiers.
- Zoho CRM: Zoho CRM is another popular option for small to medium-sized businesses, with pricing starting at $14 per user per month for the Standard plan. Zoho CRM is generally less expensive than Apptivo, particularly at its lower tiers. Apptivo, however, includes more apps and features in its base plans, whereas Zoho offers a broader suite of business applications that integrate seamlessly with its CRM. Apptivo still outshines Zoho in terms of customization, especially in the lower-tier plans.
- Pipedrive: Pipedrive stands out for its simplicity and sales pipeline management focus. Its Essential plan is priced at $14 per user per month, billed annually. Pipedrive emphasizes sales pipeline management, while Apptivo offers a more comprehensive range of CRM features. Apptivo also provides greater customization options and integrated apps across all plans. While Pipedrive is known for its ease of use, especially for sales teams, Apptivo includes more advanced features such as project management and invoicing within its base plans.
WHAT AFFECTS APPTIVO'S PRICES?
Several factors influence Apptivo’s pricing structure:
- Customization Capabilities: The high degree of customization Apptivo allows, including custom fields, workflows, and dashboards, adds value and complexity to the platform, impacting its price.
- Cloud Infrastructure: As a cloud-based solution, Apptivo’s pricing includes the cost of maintaining and scaling its infrastructure to ensure reliability and performance.
- Development and Innovation: Ongoing development of new features and improvements to existing ones is factored into the pricing.
- Support Services: The provision of 24/7 support, even for lower-tier plans, contributes to the overall cost structure.
- Market Positioning: Apptivo positions itself as a comprehensive, customizable solution for small to medium businesses, which influences its pricing strategy relative to competitors.
WHAT AFFECTS PRICES IN THE CRM INDUSTRY OVERALL?
The CRM industry’s pricing is influenced by several broader factors:
- Market Competition: The CRM market is highly competitive, with numerous players vying for market share. This competition can drive prices down but also encourages feature differentiation.
- Cloud Computing Costs: As most modern CRMs are cloud-based, fluctuations in cloud computing and storage costs can impact pricing.
- Data Security and Compliance: Increasing focus on data protection (e.g., GDPR compliance) requires ongoing investment in security measures, affecting overall costs.
- Integration Capabilities: The demand for CRMs to integrate seamlessly with other business tools drives development costs and influences pricing.
- Target Market: CRMs targeting enterprise-level clients typically command higher prices due to more complex features and support needs.
HOW TO GET THE BEST DEAL WITH APPTIVO?
To maximize value and potentially reduce costs with Apptivo, consider these strategies:
- Opt for annual billing
- Accurately assess your needs
- Start with a lower tier
- Utilize the free trial
- Negotiate enterprise pricing
- Optimize user licenses
- Leverage included features
- Consider long-term commitments
- Stay informed about promotions
CAN YOU AFFORD APPTIVO'S PRICES?
First, have you calculated the Total Cost of Ownership (TCO) by multiplying the per-user cost by the number of users, factoring in add-ons, and projecting these costs over 1-3 years?
How does the potential ROI from time savings, revenue increases, and improved data insights compare to the cost of continuing with your current solution? Have you assessed your budget allocation for CRM in relation to your overall technology budget and considered the impact of cash flow on subscription costs?
Remember, affordability isn’t just about the sticker price – it’s about the value Apptivo can bring to your business. A CRM that seems expensive might actually be affordable if it significantly boosts your productivity, sales, and customer retention.
FINALLY: SHOULD YOU BUY APPTIVO OR NOT?
After careful consideration of Apptivo’s features, pricing, and market position, here’s the final recommendation:
Consider buying Apptivo if you run a small to medium-sized business and seek a versatile, customizable CRM solution. Apptivo delivers a wide range of integrated functionalities at a competitive price. You’ll appreciate its ability to adapt to your industry’s specific needs through extensive customization options and a broad feature set, even in lower-tier plans. Take advantage of the 30-day free trial to thoroughly test the platform before you commit.
Just remember to plan your implementation carefully, leverage the available training resources, and regularly reassess your usage to maximize the value of your investment.
