Best For | Budget-conscious SMBs needing affordable, all-in-one marketing automation tools. | Large enterprises seeking scalable, customizable CRM with advanced features. |
Price | $550/mo | $25/user/mo |
Features | Automates behavior-based emails | Manages custom CRM |
Pros | Affordable for small biz | Scales for big firms |
Cons | Lacks advanced AI tools | Costs climb real fast |
Trying to decide between SharpSpring vs Salesforce for your business? Both are top-tier CRM and marketing automation platforms, but they have different strengths.
In this comparison, I’ll highlight the pros and cons of each, from pricing to features, so you can make an informed decision.
Whether you need powerful automation or a full CRM system, we’ll break it all down to help you pick the right one for your needs.
Let’s dive into the details and find out which platform is the best fit for your business! 👇
SharpSpring Vs Salesforce: Overview
About SharpSpring
SharpSpring was founded in 2011 and is known to be cloud-based marketing automation, providing a next-generation solution regarding solutions. Its competitors are the topmost platforms in the industry when it comes to features, performance, and software functions.
SharpSpring provides flexible platforms all over the world along with CRM integration, call tracking integrated facility, universal compatibility with all devices, and much more.
SharpSpring, moreover can be connected to a mobile device and can be given commands from any and everywhere. One can also compare data to get a complete picture. Its usage is super responsive as the development team is strong and is able to manage multiple clients singly.
The best part of SharpSpring is that the company is trustworthy as, over the years, it had the power to build better goodwill than others in a similar industry.
SharpSpring is undoubtedly the most flexible platform in the market. Be it offers of integrations with 3rd party or native tools, integrated call tracking, native or 3rd party CRM integration, universally compatible CMS integrations, or a plethora of new and amazing features.
With the help of Sharpspring, you can rest assured about your lead generation funnel. Be it, customers who sign up via the phone, desktop, forms, etc, compare them all in one go and with ease.
This makes it easier to get a good overall market scenario and understand the demand-supply scenario prevalent.
CRM will help in getting a better return on investment when it comes to business revenue and earnings. SharpSpring offers seamless support and is featured by an extremely responsive development team and email response team.
About Salesforce
Founded in March 1999 by a former executive from Marc Benioff with Parker Harris, Dave Moellenhoff, and Frank Dominguez, Salesforce today serves millions of happy clients worldwide. It is basically an application that is delivered via software as a service, or one can even describe Salesforce as a cloud computing model.
The flagship product is a CRM (customer relationship management system), which is designed for every business it is a startup or established worldwide.
Salesforce was founded in March 1999 by Marc Benioff, who had previously worked with Oracle. The aim was to replace the desktop-based CRM tools with a more efficient and easily accessible cloud-based CRM system. Marc, along with Parker, Dave, and Frank. Harris, Moellenhoff, and Dominguez were the three software developers previously working at Clarify who wrote the initial automation software code for Salesforce.
A few initial members and a few external investors saw the potential in the Salesforce team. Other early investors include Halsey Minor, Mark Iscaro, Geneva Venture Partners, and a few others.
Daily, an average of 150,000 companies are increasing employee productivity, customer loyalty, lead generation, team collaboration, and seamless operations using the world’s most trusted CRM platform.
Why Should One Pick SharpSpring as CRM Software?
SharpSpring has proved itself to be a set full of sufficiency. It is one complete platform for excellent CRM service. They have been exquisitely diligent when it comes to optimizing sales and marketing.
They build powerful automation, which makes knowing the customer and sending them content that is in their interest easy.
The major features that SharpSpring offers are as follows:
- User-Behavior Based Emails
- Dynamic Forms
- Convert Leads to Sales
- Leads through Anonymous Visitor IDs
- Built-in CRM Integrations & Sales Automation
- Dynamic Landing Pages
- Blogs
- Lead scoring
- Lead segmentation
- Lead segmentation
- Web activity tracking
- Bi-directional CRM syncing
- Event management
- Split testing
- Bulk social media posting
- Sales reports
- Real-time sales alerts
- Mobile app
- Social CRM
- Customized Analytical Marketing Reports
- Automated Marketing Software Platforms
- Social Media Marketing Management Platforms
Why Should One Pick Salesforce as CRM Software?
Salesforce is an easy & manageable cloud-based system that is specifically designed to make day-to-day activities manageable for customers. Its CRM system helps businesses to engage themselves in better long-term customer relationships.
Salesforce has a unique CRM cloud-based system that actively tracks customers and manages their information. Being a cloud-based system, it connects every team member of your business through a single device.
The main features of Salesforce are as follows:
- Cloud-Based Sales System
- Cloud-Based Service System
- Cloud-Based Marketing System
- Salesforce Chatter
- Cloud-Based Analytics
- Salesforce Mobile Application Service
- Lead scoring
- Lead segmentation
- Web activity tracking
- SMS marketing
- Personalize web content
- Predictive analytics
- Bi-directional CRM syncing
- Event management
- Create invoices
- Create quotes
- Split testing
- Create membership sites
- Bulk social media posting
- Sales reports
- Real-time sales alerts
- Mobile app
- Social CRM
Working Overview – SharpSpring
Sharpspring will help your company/business drive more leads, convert those leads into sales, and generate more traffic and indirect revenue. Not only does Sharpspring save you time, but it also offers you lucrative and productive features on their platform.
Sharpspring is available for marketing automation, CRM automation, CRM Pro, CRM Ultimate, and CRM Free. SharpSpring gives you the option to assign roles to everyone having access to SharpSpring.
Different user roles defined are:
- Administrators– They have access to control all the other user roles. They are accessible to all the features, settings, and application areas.
- Sales Manager – They have access to accounts, pipelines, contacts, reports, and carts. However, they have very limited access to most of the features, such as Automation and Content.
- Salesperson– They can edit and manage all the leads in the visitor ID, Contact Manager, Accounts, etc.
- Company Managers– They are given access to all the features except the advanced settings.
- Jr Salesperson– They can only see the Visitor ID, Sales Pipeline, and Contact Manager features. However, they can only view the leads assigned to them.
- Marketing Managers– Access to Account settings is restricted. However, they have access to the Analytics, Content, Social, Automation, and Contacts menus.
Additionally, SharpSpring Mail has access to adding an unlimited number of roles above these six. Any user who has not used i.e., logged into SharpsSpring or opened emails for over 180 days, will have their system notifications and IDs suppressed.
The latest feature added to SharpSpring’s work is Automated Workflows, which are called Interactive Opportunity Nurturing Workflows. The working process for this is as follows:
- An email will be sent to the customer, asking them to take certain actions.
- Depending on the customer’s response, it will trigger different workflows built to give feature demos.
- The simple workflows send different content based on customer selection, whereas the more advanced workflows present the customers with engaging video content, pictures, and screenshots.
Working Overview- Salesforce
Salesforce brings together your marketing, sales, operations, commerce, service, and IT teams from anywhere in the world with the use of Customer 360, which is one integrated CRM platform that powers the entire suite of apps.
Customer 360 will help your company/business focus on your employees and what is important according to the market scenario. Be it restabilizing your business, reopening sales, getting back, or getting back to delivering exceptional customer experience.
Salesforce is mainly used for the following purposes:
- Engaging with customers all around in an empathetic and relevant manner utilizing digital marketing.
- Creating a smart sales funnel via which more leads can be generated and business revenue increases.
- Quick access to launching and selling e-commerce products and services built around your customers from anywhere in the world.
- Handling all kinds of data, analytics, and reports in one place saves time for team operations.
- Exclusive customer service that can be availed from anywhere.
For whom is Sharpspring?
SharpSpring is very much perfect for marketing agencies and SMBs globally.
For whom is SalesForce?
Salesforce is perfect for small to mid-sized businesses and large conglomerates.
Return of Investment on SharpSpring
SharpSpring helps to increase the return on investment as businesses are perfectly able to focus and target the core prospects that fit their business models. Along with the same, industries have been able to deliver end-to-end automated platforms that basically have low operational expense allowances.
It has also helped to streamline the proposal process for start-ups as they can hence manage to give out area-specific pre-built products that perfectly match the scope of work.
This scope of work could be pre-determined in the vision and mission statement along with the memorandum of company articles.
Return of Investment on SalesForce
SalesForce has helped businesses raise customer expectations, as it has shown what a good service provider is and how they should treat their loyal clients.
Hence, the return on investment has been much higher, which keeps the engagements of customers on a constant basis, thus directly reducing the churn.
Salesforce allows the company to maintain every document and information in-house relating to every client in their own specific space, thus drastically reducing the need for various products that lead to one end.
SharpSpring Integrates With:
- Zapier
- Magento
- Formstack
- Zapier
- Zoho CRM
- Wufoo
- CiscoWebEx
- Gravity Forms
- Leadformly
- Outlook
- Gmail
- Salesforce
- SAP
- Oracle
- Netsuite
- SugarCRM
- Microsoft Dynamics
Salesforce Integrates With:
- Google Analytics
- Salesforce Sales Cloud
- Zapier
- MailChimp
- DocuSign
- Jira
- Quickbooks
- Hello sign
- Shopify
- Workfront
- SAP
- Outlook
- Zapier
- AppExchange- It is a collection of several apps that are integrated with Salesforce.
Comparative Analysis of Sharpspring Vs Salesforce
Audience catered
Sharpspring:
If you are technology-friendly and do not mind a bit of a learning curve while working around your CRM and Automation tool then Sharpspring is for you. The tool is ideal for marketing agencies and SMBs.
Salesforce:
It is best for people who are slightly more creative and not so technology-friendly. Marketers, small to mid-sized businesses, and large enterprises are the ideal audience when it comes to using Salesforce.
Pricing options
Sharpspring:
It is priced on a monthly billing basis. There are five plans to choose from: 1,500 contacts at $550/month, 10,000 contacts at $850/month, 20,000 contacts at $1,250, and two advanced pricing options for Agencies and Enterprises. The starting number of users allowed is only 1.
Salesforce:
- Starter Suite: $25/user/month – Basic CRM with lead and opportunity management.
- Pro Suite: $100/user/month – Enhanced tools, sales quoting, and real-time chat.
- Enterprise: $165/user/month – Advanced pipeline management and conversation intelligence.
- Unlimited: $330/user/month – Includes predictive AI, sales engagement, and full sandbox.
- Einstein 1 Sales: $500/user/month – Adds generative AI, performance management, and data unification.
Ease of Use
Sharpspring:
Most of the customers feel that Sharpspring is very user-friendly and provides a seamless experience. However, people who are slightly more technologically comfortable tend to make full use of its features. It has good navigation on the phone and desktop in general.
Salesforce:
Most of the users have positive things to say about Salesforce. The great support team, multiple features, and great UI make the user experience very seamless. Salesforce is slightly better when it comes to user satisfaction.
Customer Support
Sharpspring:
The majority of the reviews reflect a good 24/7 customer support catering to the needs of their customers via email, phone, live support, training, and tickets.
Salesforce:
The backend and support team are always available, and most of the customers are extremely happy with the support. However, there is no option for live chat support, and the only thing customers can do is send emails. They can improve on the customer support aspects as compared to Sharpspring.
Features & Functionality
Sharpspring:
Be it the availability of behavioral-based email automation, dynamic forms, lead generation, lead scoring, or analytics, Sharpspring has a lot of features. However, there are a lot of access restrictions depending on different user roles.
Salesforce:
When it comes to features, Salesforce has a plethora of options. Be it the availability of data Studio, artificial intelligence, mobile studio, multiple third-party integrations, email marketing provisions, customized quotes, or data management, Salesforce has it all covered for you.
Platforms and Training Supported
Sharpspring:
Live Support, training, ticket bookings, emails, or phones, and all kind of support is provided. The platforms supported are Android, Windows, iPhone/iPad, Mac, and Web-based platforms.
Salesforce:
Salesforce has services for training, ticketing, emails, and phone but no service for live support. The platforms supported are Android, Linux, Windows, iPhone/iPad, Mac, and Web-based platforms.
Languages Supported:
Sharpspring:
When we talk about user languages supported, Sharpspring provides a few languages to access the platform. Some of them other than English are:
- German
- Spanish
- French
However, they still do not support many globally used languages.
Salesforce:
Compared to Sharpspring, there is more variety in languages. Here are a few languages that they support other than English:
- Spanish
- French
- Italian
- Dutch
- Portuguese
- Swedish
Security with SharpSpring
All sensitive information encryption proves to be at rest. The company is providing HTTPS for every web-based page. Further, every security breach in the system leads to constant reporting till not fixed. It does not provide the users with multi factor authentication option.
Security with Salesforce
All sensitive information encryption proves to be at rest. The company is providing HTTPS for every web-based page. Further, every security breach in the system leads to constant reporting till not fixed. It has also provided the users with multi factor authentication option.
SharpSpring Vs Salesforce: Pros and Cons
SharpSpring
Pros
- Provides affordable pricing perfect for small businesses always
- Simplifies setup process for users with minimal effort
- Delivers exceptional support team response every single time
- Scales smoothly as your business grows without fuss
- Offers flexible plans to fit any budget nicely
- Boosts marketing efficiency with straightforward tools daily
- Maintains consistent performance across all campaigns reliably
Cons
- Lacks advanced AI features for deeper automation needs
- Features dated interface that feels clunky sometimes
- Limits customization options for very specific tasks often
Salesforce
Pros
- Scales seamlessly for large enterprises with big needs
- Offers extensive customization to match any workflow perfectly
- Provides top-tier support team available whenever you call
- Enhances sales team productivity with smart insights fast
- Keeps platform fresh with regular impactful updates yearly
- Builds confidence with robust security measures every day
- Connects huge community for tips and growth ideas
Cons
- Increases costs quickly as your usage scales up
- Presents steep learning curve for brand new users
- Demands powerful hardware to run smoothly without lag
FAQs on SharpSpring & Salesforce Comparison 2025
Can SharpSpring’s automation rival Salesforce’s marketing tools?
SharpSpring’s budget-friendly flows compete; Salesforce adds pro-level finesse.
What cutting-edge updates hit SharpSpring vs Salesforce this year?
SharpSpring refines forms; Salesforce rolls out sharper AI analytics.
How do SharpSpring and Salesforce differ for scaling marketers?
SharpSpring stays simple, affordable; Salesforce handles complex growth better.
Which platform’s learning curve suits non-tech teams more?
SharpSpring’s gentler start helps; Salesforce demands more tech chops.
Does SharpSpring or Salesforce lead for sales pipeline precision now?
Salesforce’s pipeline tools dominate; SharpSpring’s lighter but effective.
How robust are SharpSpring vs Salesforce integrations for multi-tool setups?
Salesforce’s 1,000+ apps soar; SharpSpring’s solid but less vast.
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Conclusion: SharpSpring & Salesforce 2025 |
When it comes to looking for platforms and tools for a company, mid-sized business, small business, marketing agency, or enterprise, both Sharpspring and Salesforce are in-demand tools.
Although most of the features provided by both of them are almost the same, they surely operate in slightly different ways.
Both tools keep customer needs and market trends in mind. However, the implementation of artificial intelligence in CRM tools is undoubtedly a revolutionary feature introduced by Salesforce. On the surface, the services offered are quite the same.
They both offer features like CRM, third-party integrations, lead-generating funnels, analytics, marketing automation, and great customer support. However, distinctions can be drawn by diving deep into the analysis above.
As far as pricing and high security are concerned, Salesforce undoubtedly leads the race there.
On the other hand, if you are someone looking for monthly pricing tools, more agency, and enterprise-friendly tools, then Sharpspring is your cup of tea. Both offer a free demo, with no need to enter credit card details. However, once plans are purchased, no refund is given.
Ultimately, it is all about understanding what suits your brand and business or agency and, accordingly, choosing the best online CRM and Automation tool in the market. Make an informed decision after reading various reviews, doing proper market research on all alternatives available, and affordable pricing, and weighing all the pros and cons.
If you really enjoyed the SharpSpring vs Salesforce comparison, then please like it and share this post with your friends. Also, please share your experience with me in the comment section.
