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Head-to-head · Pipeline Management

Freshsales vs Nutshell

  • Updated Oct 2026
  • Both researched from official sources
  • 2 checks side by side
Higher score Freshsales #2 in Pipeline Management 9.2/10 Free plan · 21-day trial Free planFree trial✓ 0 of 4 features Visit Freshsales
Nutshell #6 in Pipeline Management 8.7/10 14-day trial Free trial✓ 0 of 4 features Visit Nutshell

Freshsales leads on 2 checks, Nutshell on 0, and 0 are even. Who comes out ahead on the 2 yes/no, price and count checks where we have data for both products. The editor score weighs everything else too.

Our verdict

  • Highest scoreFreshsales · 9.2/10
  • Lowest starting priceFreshsales · $9/user/mo
  • Free planonly Freshsales
  • Free trialboth

Freshsales scores higher on our rubric for pipeline management: 9.2 against 8.7 out of 10; our editors rank them #2 and #6.

Freshsales offers free plan; Nutshell doesn't. Freshsales is cheaper to start at $9/user/mo against $13/user/mo.

Freshsales is the better fit for teams seeking a capable CRM on a free or low-cost plan. Nutshell is the better fit for small teams combining sales and marketing in one CRM.

  • Freshsales fits best

    Teams seeking a capable CRM on a free or low-cost plan

  • Nutshell fits best

    Small teams combining sales and marketing in one CRM

Advertiser disclosure: iTechGuides is reader-supported. Vendors can pay for top positions in our rankings and for a place on other products' pages, and we may earn a commission when you click some links. Bought places stand at the number bought; this page and our disclosure say so. Paying vendors may get a fuller, more detailed review from our editors, and that review can change their score. How we rank.

Side by side

Feature Freshsales 9.2/10 Visit ↗ Nutshell 8.7/10 Visit ↗
At a glance
Editor score 9.2 8.7
Ranking #2 in Pipeline Management #6 in Pipeline Management
Best for Teams seeking a capable CRM on a free or low-cost plan Small teams combining sales and marketing in one CRM
Pricing model Free plan + paid Paid
Starting price $9/user/mo (best) $13/user/mo
Free plan ✓ (best) —
Free trial 21 days 14 days
Free trial length 21 days · no card needed 14 days · no card needed
Deployment Cloud, Mobile Cloud, Mobile
Platforms Web, iOS, Android Web, iOS, Android
Support Email, Live chat, Phone, Community, Docs Email, Live chat, Phone, Docs
Compliance SOC 2, ISO 27001, GDPR SOC 2, GDPR, SSO/SAML
Integrations 100+ integrations 5,000+ integrations
Built for Small business, Mid-market, Enterprise Small business, Mid-market
Features Freshsales 0/4 · Nutshell 0/4
Workflow automation Not checked yet Not checked yet
Custom stages Not checked yet Not checked yet
Pipeline reporting Not checked yet Not checked yet
Mobile apps Not checked yet Not checked yet
Specs
Pipelines Not checked yet Not checked yet
Pipeline views Not checked yet Not checked yet
Our review
Pros
  • Free plan includes CRM access for up to 3 users.
  • Growth adds a kanban pipeline, communication tools, and basic workflows.
  • Pro adds contact scoring, deal insights, and sales sequences.
  • Visual pipeline views include kanban, list, map, and chart formats.
  • Combines sales workflows with forms, landing pages, email, and SMS marketing.
  • Five annual plans add forecasting, automation, and pipeline controls progressively.
Cons
  • The free plan is limited to 3 users.
  • Contact scoring and sales sequences start with the Pro plan.
  • Forecasting insights and field-level permissions require Enterprise.
  • No free plan; paid subscriptions start at $13 per user per month, billed annually.
  • Advanced reporting, automation, and multiple custom pipelines require higher tiers.
  • Its breadth may be unnecessary for teams seeking pipeline tracking alone.
Our verdict

Freshsales brings contact and account management, deal tracking, communications, and sales pipeline views into a cloud CRM from Freshworks. It is aimed at sales teams and businesses that want customer context alongside pipeline work, with…

Read the review →

Nutshell is a cloud CRM for small and mid-sized businesses that want contacts, leads, deals, communications, and sales activity in one system. Its visual pipelines support kanban, list, map, and chart views, while built-in forms, landing…

Read the review →
  1. FreshsalesPipeline Management 9.2Free plan · 21-day trial
  2. NutshellPipeline Management 8.714-day trial

Strengths and trade-offs

  • Freshsales — where it wins

    • Free plan includes CRM access for up to 3 users.
    • Growth adds a kanban pipeline, communication tools, and basic workflows.
    • Pro adds contact scoring, deal insights, and sales sequences.

    Where it doesn't

    • The free plan is limited to 3 users.
    • Contact scoring and sales sequences start with the Pro plan.
    • Forecasting insights and field-level permissions require Enterprise.

  • Nutshell — where it wins

    • Visual pipeline views include kanban, list, map, and chart formats.
    • Combines sales workflows with forms, landing pages, email, and SMS marketing.
    • Five annual plans add forecasting, automation, and pipeline controls progressively.

    Where it doesn't

    • No free plan; paid subscriptions start at $13 per user per month, billed annually.
    • Advanced reporting, automation, and multiple custom pipelines require higher tiers.
    • Its breadth may be unnecessary for teams seeking pipeline tracking alone.
  • Freshsales9.2/10 · Free plan · 21-day trial

    A flexible sales CRM with a free entry point, pipeline views, and AI-assisted insights.

    Visit FreshsalesFull verdict →
  • Nutshell8.7/10 · 14-day trial

    A broad sales-and-marketing CRM for small teams, with plans that scale by workflow depth.

    Visit NutshellFull verdict →

More comparisons

All pipeline management comparisons → · Full ranking →

Reviewed by iTechGuides Editors · Editorial team · Updated Oct 2026

Last updated · How we research and update