Best CRM For
Best CRM for Agencies
Quick answer: HighLevel is purpose-built for agencies and lets you white-label sub-accounts for clients, while HubSpot and monday CRM suit agencies that want a more general-purpose tool shared across internal teams.
What agencies need from a CRM
Agencies have a different problem from most CRM buyers: they're often managing relationships and pipelines for multiple clients at once, sometimes needing to hand clients visibility into their own sub-account. Few CRMs are built for that structure specifically.
Top picks at a glance
| CRM | Best for | Notable strength |
|---|---|---|
| HighLevel | Agencies managing client sub-accounts | White-label, multi-account structure |
| HubSpot | Agencies wanting a general-purpose tool | Marketing + CRM ecosystem |
| monday CRM | Agencies tracking internal + client work together | Flexible boards |
| Pipedrive | Agencies wanting simple internal pipeline | Ease of use |
| Zoho CRM | Budget-conscious agencies | Wider connected app suite |
1. HighLevel — best for agencies managing multiple clients
HighLevel was built with agencies specifically in mind — it supports white-labeling the platform under your own brand and spinning up separate sub-accounts per client, which most general-purpose CRMs simply don't offer.
Pros
- White-label and multi-client sub-account structure
- Built-in marketing tools (funnels, SMS, email) per client
Cons
- More setup complexity than a single-account CRM
2. HubSpot — best general-purpose option
Agencies that need a CRM primarily for their own internal sales and client relationship tracking, rather than reselling the CRM itself to clients, often find HubSpot's broader ecosystem and integrations a better fit than a niche agency-specific tool.
Pros
- Strong integration ecosystem
- Useful if the agency also runs its own marketing through HubSpot
Cons
- No native multi-client sub-account structure like HighLevel
Other solid options
monday CRM suits agencies that already run project and content workflows on monday-style boards and want the CRM to live in the same place. Pipedrive is a solid, low-friction choice for agencies that just want a clean internal sales pipeline without extra complexity. Zoho CRM is worth a look for agencies watching costs closely who also want access to a wider suite of connected business apps. Outbound-focused agencies (lead gen, cold outreach) should also consider Close for their own internal pipeline, since it's built around the calling and email volume that outreach agencies run daily.
Pricing (entry-level plans)
| CRM | Starting price | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Close | Solo $9 · Essentials $35 · Growth $99 · Scale $139 | Per user/month. Free 14-day trial, no credit card required. |
| HubSpot | Free $0 · Starter from ~$15–20 · Professional/Enterprise Suite bundles from ~$1,000+/mo | HubSpot prices per "Hub" (Marketing/Sales/Service/etc.) and by contact tier, so the total varies a lot by what you bundle. |
| Pipedrive | Lite $14 · Growth $39 · Premium $59 · Ultimate $79 | Per seat/month, billed annually (monthly billing costs more). 14-day free trial. |
Prices above are current as of writing and shown for the entry-level tiers — always confirm the latest numbers on each provider's pricing page before buying, since SaaS pricing changes often.
“A lot of times a specialized CRM for your type of company may make more sense than something generic.”
How to choose
The key question is whether you need to manage the CRM on behalf of clients (in which case HighLevel's sub-account model is hard to beat) or just for your own internal pipeline (in which case a general-purpose CRM will usually serve you better and cost less).
Frequently asked questions
What is the best CRM overall for this use case?
HighLevel is our top overall pick for this use case, based on ease of setup, pricing, and fit for typical workflows — though the right choice depends on team size and budget, covered in the sections above.
Do I need a paid CRM, or is a free plan enough?
A free plan is usually enough for a single user or a very small team just getting started. Growing teams typically outgrow free tiers once they need automation, reporting, or more than a couple of users.
How long does it take to set up a CRM?
Simple CRMs can be set up in under an hour. More full-featured platforms with custom pipelines, automations, and integrations typically take a few days to a few weeks to configure properly.