Freshsales Review: AI-Driven Sales Made Affordable
Freshsales (part of the Freshworks suite) brings enterprise-level AI capabilities to small and mid-sized sales teams without the enterprise price tag. With Freddy AI built in, it promises to help you focus on the deals most likely to close.
We tested Freshsales for six weeks, focusing on its AI features, built-in communication tools, and value for money. Here's what we found.
The Verdict: Freshsales
Freshsales offers excellent value with built-in phone, email, and AI-powered lead scoring. It's part of the larger Freshworks ecosystem for seamless integration.
Pros
- Built-in phone and email
- AI-powered lead scoring (Freddy AI)
- Affordable pricing tiers
Cons
- Limited third-party integrations
- Mobile app could be better
- Advanced features need higher plans
The Freshworks Ecosystem
Freshsales is part of Freshworks, a company that also offers Freshdesk (support), Freshmarketer (marketing), and Freshservice (IT). This ecosystem approach means seamless data flow between sales, marketing, and support—a significant advantage for growing companies.
Key Features
- Freddy AI: AI-powered lead scoring, deal insights, and next-best-action recommendations.
- Built-in Phone: Make and receive calls directly from the CRM. Auto-logging and call recording included.
- Email Integration: Two-way email sync, tracking, templates, and bulk email capabilities.
- Contact Scoring: Automatically score leads based on engagement, behavior, and fit.
- Visual Pipeline: Drag-and-drop deal management with weighted revenue forecasting.
- Workflow Automation: Automate lead assignment, follow-ups, and deal updates.
- Territory Management: Organize teams by geography, product, or any custom criteria.
Pricing Options
- Free: Up to 3 users, contact management, built-in phone, email, and chat.
- Growth ($15/user/month): Visual pipeline, AI contact scoring, workflows, 2,000 bot sessions.
- Pro ($39/user/month): Multiple pipelines, territory management, advanced reports, 3,000 bot sessions.
- Enterprise ($69/user/month): Custom modules, audit logs, dedicated account manager.
Freshsales vs Zoho CRM
| Feature | Freshsales | Zoho CRM |
|---|---|---|
| Free Plan | Yes (3 users) | Yes (3 users) |
| Built-in Calling | Yes | Add-on |
| AI Features | Freddy AI | Zia AI |
| Ecosystem | Freshworks | Zoho Suite |
| Starting Price | $15/user/mo | $14/user/mo |
| Mobile App | Good | Excellent |
Best For
- Growing Startups: Affordable pricing with room to scale.
- Inside Sales Teams: Built-in phone and email eliminate tool juggling.
- Companies Using Freshworks: Seamless integration with Freshdesk and Freshmarketer.
- Teams Wanting AI Features: Freddy AI is included, not an expensive add-on.
Drawbacks
- Third-party Integrations: Fewer native integrations compared to HubSpot or Salesforce.
- Mobile App: Functional but not as polished as Pipedrive's.
- Advanced Customization: Custom modules require Enterprise plan.
Final Verdict
Freshsales punches above its weight with AI features typically found in more expensive CRMs. The built-in phone and email make it an all-in-one solution for inside sales teams.
Our recommendation: Excellent choice for budget-conscious teams who want AI-powered sales tools without breaking the bank. Especially compelling if you're already using other Freshworks products.