Salesforce Sales Cloud vs Apollo.io

HubSpot CRM

Zoho CRM

Bigin by Zoho CRM

HubSpot CRM is a lead management solution that helps businesses with recording calls, logging emails and managing customer data. It has been designed from the ground up and is ready to eliminate manual work and actually help sales teams. It was built ready for the modern world to help users get running and start selling.

Zoho CRM is a cloud-based customer relationship management (CRM) solution that helps businesses of all sizes close deals smarter, better and faster. The solution lets businesses reach customers through every channel, including telephone, email, social media, and live chat.

Bigin is a pipeline-centric customer relationship management solution designed to help small businesses manage sales pipelines, schedule follow-ups, and update customer records. It enables employees to capture and store prospect and customer details including deals, emails, activities, tweets, and more in a centralized repository.

Manage your leads with Salesforce Sales Cloud, tracking lead activity across the sales pipeline, routing and assigning leads, and tracking marketing campaigns.

Access Controls/Permissions

Accounting

Accounting Integration

Activity Dashboard

Activity Tracking

Ad hoc Reporting

Agent Management

AI/Machine Learning

Alerts/Notifications

Appointment Scheduling

Approval Process Control

Assignment Management

Audience Targeting

Auto-Dialer

Automatic Call Distribution

Batch Processing

Bid Management

Budgeting/Forecasting

Business Card/Badge Scanning

Business Process Control

Buyer Management

Calendar/Reminder System

Calendar Sync

Call Center Management

Call List Management

Call Logging

Call Management

Call Monitoring

Call Recording

Campaign Analytics

Campaign Management

Campaign Planning

Catalog Management

Change Order Management

Channel Management

Chat/Messaging

Client Management

Client Portal

Client/Property Matching

Client Tracking

Collaboration Tools

Commenting/Notes

Commission Management

Communication Management

Competitive Analysis

Configurable Workflow

Contact Database

Contact Management

Contract/License Management

Conversion Tracking

Correlation Analysis

CRM Integration

Customer Database

Customer Engagement

Customer History

Customer Management

Customer Portal

Customer Profiles

Customer Segmentation

Customer Social Profiles

Customer Support

Customizable Branding

Customizable Fields

Customizable Reports

Customizable Templates

Dashboard

Dashboard Creation

Data Entry

Data Import/Export

Data Integration

Data Management

Data Security

Data Synchronization

Data Visualization

Deal Management

Document Management

Document Storage

Drag & Drop

Drip Campaigns

Dynamic Modeling

Electronic Signature

Email Alerts

Email Management

Email Marketing

Email Response Control

Email Templates

Email Tracking

Employee Management

Engagement Tracking

Estimating

Exception Reporting

Field Sales Management

Financial Management

For AEC Industry

Forecasting

For Insurance Industry

For iPad Devices

For Mac Devices

Reviews for Salesforce Sales Cloud come from a wide variety of industries, including computer software (14% of reviewers), information technology and services (8%), and marketing and advertising (6%). The most frequent use case for Salesforce Sales Cloud cited by reviewers is CRM (49% of reviewers).

Users and use cases

Some users report that Salesforce Sales Cloud’s extensive features and integrations can justify its cost for larger organizations. However, reviewers feel the overall cost is high, especially for small businesses, and essential features often require expensive add-ons.

Value for money

The Salesforce Sales Cloud integrations most frequently cited by reviewers are: Gmail (an email management product rated 4.8 out of 5 for its integration with Salesforce Sales Cloud), Slack (a team communication product, 4.8), and SalesLoft (a sales engagement platform product, 4.5).

Integrations

Salesforce Sales Cloud is a CRM program offering key features such as customer database, interaction tracking, reporting/analytics, sales pipeline management, contact management, and lead management, among others.

Salesforce Sales Cloud

Web-based

iPhone

Android

iPad

Zendesk Suite

Pipedrive

HubSpot Sales Hub

NetSuite

Dynamics 365

Freshdesk

SugarCRM

Mailchimp

Insightly

Freshsales

ServiceNow Customer Service Management

Google Workspace

Starter Suite

Pro Suite

Enterprise

Unlimited

Einstein 1 Sales

Disruptive updates and version issues

Software developer

The only con as and integration admin, we see lot of issues with version incompatibilities and there is no option in Salesforce to use previous version in the integration .

51% of reviewers feel negative about Salesforce’s updates and version management. Some users report that frequent updates can cause system downtime, introduce new bugs, or change the user interface unexpectedly. Reviewers say that learning new features or adapting to interface changes is time-consuming and sometimes confusing. They indicate that version incompatibilities can disrupt integrations and workflows. Users find it challenging to keep up with updates, and they express frustration when critical features are moved or altered without adequate notice or support.

Challenging for small businesses

42% of reviewers feel negative about Salesforce’s suitability for small businesses. Some users report that the platform’s high cost, complexity, and need for customization make it impractical for organizations with limited budgets or technical resources. Reviewers say that setup and ongoing maintenance often require hiring consultants or dedicated administrators, which adds to the expense. They indicate that many features are excessive for small teams, and the learning curve can be steep. Users feel that Salesforce’s support and pricing models are better suited to larger enterprises than to small or growing businesses.

Complex user and account management

45% of reviewers feel negative about Salesforce’s user account management. Some users report that managing permissions, creating or deactivating users, and handling duplicate accounts is cumbersome and unintuitive. Reviewers say the authentication process can be inconvenient, with frequent password changes and multi-factor authentication requirements. They indicate that the interface for managing user roles and access is complex, often requiring administrative support. Users find it difficult to resolve permission errors, manage multiple user types, and prevent data entry issues related to duplicate or similar accounts.

Frequent technical glitches

79% of reviewers feel negative about Salesforce’s bugs and technical issues. Some users report experiencing slow load times, crashes, and system freezes, especially during peak usage. Reviewers say that glitches can cause lost data, require frequent page refreshes, and disrupt workflow. They indicate that search functionality is sometimes unreliable and that syncing with third-party tools can be problematic. Users find it frustrating to encounter errors with attachments, duplicate records, and system updates, which they feel impacts productivity and reliability.

High and escalating costs

consultant

its pricing can be too high for startups and small companies, especially when it includes in extra charges for integration, customization, and continues support.

64% of reviewers feel negative about Salesforce’s pricing. Some users report that subscription fees, add-ons, and required customizations make the platform expensive, especially for small businesses. Reviewers say costs can quickly escalate as more features or user licenses are needed. They indicate that additional charges for support, integrations, and storage add to the financial burden. Users find the pricing structure rigid and sometimes confusing, and they express frustration with contract terms, limited trial functionality, and the need for costly consultants or IT staff.

Centralized business organization

Branch Manager II

It allows us to centralize all the documentation for each individual and piece of collateral so it's centralized and accessible to all in the company

93% of reviewers feel positive about Salesforce’s organizational features. Some users report that the platform centralizes documentation, schedules, and client data, making information easily accessible to all team members. Reviewers appreciate customizable modules and reminders that help them structure workflows and keep track of tasks. They say the system supports collaboration across departments and enables efficient management of large volumes of information. Users find that Salesforce’s organizational tools help prevent missed opportunities and streamline communication, which they believe is particularly valuable for growing and scaling businesses.

Flexible cloud-based access

91% of reviewers feel positive about Salesforce’s cloud services. Some users say the cloud-based platform allows them to access business data from any device, anywhere, which they find essential for remote work and collaboration. Reviewers appreciate the scalability, flexibility, and integration options with other Salesforce products and third-party applications. Users report that cloud storage reduces the need for on-premises infrastructure and enables real-time updates. They indicate that the platform’s accessibility and seamless integrations help businesses respond quickly to customer needs and maintain operational efficiency.

Robust client relationship management

92% of reviewers feel positive about Salesforce’s client management capabilities. Some users report that the platform allows them to centralize client information, track interactions, and manage accounts efficiently. Reviewers appreciate the customizable CRM tools, which they say help maintain detailed records, facilitate communication, and streamline workflows. Users indicate that integrations with other tools and real-time analytics support better decision-making and personalized service. They find that having a single platform for managing client relationships improves collaboration, increases customer satisfaction, and supports business development.

Customer Service

Having the client information and last movement in their orders in a section of the screen is very helpful during customer support calls as this facilitate the overview of the ticket and  provide that upfront understanding of the situation.

CRM Analyst

It brought structure, clarity, and automation to our entire sales workflow, making follow-ups and reporting much easier. Once we completed proper set up and trainin,  productivity improved significantly.

Account Executive

Salesforce has become a central hub for managing customer relationships, forecasting deals, and aligning cross-functional teams. While there’s a ramp-up phase, once optimized, it significantly enhances efficiency, reporting accuracy, and team collaboration.

Executive Marketing Assistant

As someone working in the field of dental marketing—Sales Cloud provides a centralized place to capture and manage every inquiry when it comes to getting leads from Google Ads, Facebook and our website.  

Automated lead assignment helps ensure new patient calls or form fills don’t fall through the cracks and custom lead stages allow our practice to tailor pipelines around consultations, insurance verification, treatment plans, and follow-up sequences.

Lead application support analyst

When I was technical support lead in GCP team, we use Salesforce Sales Cloud to customize issue tracking forms, then integrate it to our internal bug tracking and existing support systems.

Sales Director

Sales Force Cloud is a comprehensive solution that allows you to track customers, opportunities, quotes, and even contracts.  

Senior Business Development Representative

It’s a very capable platform with a lot of flexibility, especially for teams that need detailed reporting, custom workflows, and strong pipeline visibility.

Sr Analyst, Commissions

The reporting and dashboard functionality is particularly powerful—highly customizable and flexible enough to support a wide range of business metrics and analysis needs.

IT Associate

I really like automation flows such as notify to admin when new lead has been created, and sending some personalized email to client and other user with easy in few clicks.

Great tool to allow reporting, reviewing accounts and notes, whilst also tracking pipeline and deals.

Admin

My favorite thing about Salesforce Sales Cloud is the ability to customize it to the most intricate sales processes.

I can also probably count on two hands the amount of days spent looking at a Salesforce loading screen when I have the fastest internet possible, so the speed of the platform needs to be improved.

Customer Service Coordinator

We were able to bring almost all of our sales processes into Sales Cloud; legal/contracts, AR/PO's, scheduling, invoicing, marketing, etc.  

Exhibit and Sponsorship Sales Manager

I used Salesforce Sales Cloud primarily to maintain contacts, build my pipeline and manage my opportunities as well as creating reports to share with colleagues.

system technique

It helps to better manage daily activities and business objectives, better focus all sales information by having better visualized graphics and thus making the best decisions.

Account Manager

I have used the software for years and it is amazing because it is the gate keeper for storing leads and contacts that a business owner can use in their sales approach in order to increase their revenue of their organization significantly.

Founder

The platform would freeze , I would make calls and a customer information from five calls ago would appear and the forms I used to collect information would receive 404 error messages when user would try to submit their answes

Product Marketing Manger

Skin customization, lead tracking, engagement tracking, reporting, account overviews, campaign tracking.

Senior Account Executive

This includes ownership, contact/account details, and pipeline management (activity, logging calls, etc.).

Office Coordintator

The customisability of the tool itself is great pro but it can also cause issues once you have finished your setup, particularly if you integrate third party apps from the app exchange.

Customer Marketing Manager

Overall, Salesforce sales cloud is highly reliable for our team to store, organize, and update customer data across each team.

The platform might seem a bit complicated for new customers, and getting everything set up right takes time and a skilled admin. Plus, it can get pricey, especially if you want add more modules or integration.

Customer and Guest Support

It’s a powerful tool that has supported countless businesses in streamlining operations, improving customer management, and driving measurable growth.

Salesforce Sales Cloud vs Apollo.io Comparison (2026)

Salesforce Sales Cloud

Apollo.io

Overview

Video & Screenshots

Pricing

User reviews

Key features

Integrations

Alternatives