⚡ Quick Verdict:
- Pricing: Freshsales CRM starts at $9/user/month vs ClickUp at $7/user/month.
- Best for: Freshsales CRM for sales teams managing leads and deals. ClickUp for project management and task management across teams.
- Key difference: Freshsales is customer relationship management software. ClickUp is project management software. They solve different problems.
- Our pick: Freshsales CRM for sales-focused businesses. ClickUp for teams that need to manage projects and complex tasks.
Freshsales CRM vs ClickUp get compared a lot online.
But they are not really competing for the same job.
Freshsales CRM is built to help sales teams close deals.
ClickUp is built to help teams manage projects and tasks.
If you want a CRM, the answer is Freshsales.
If you want a project management platform, the answer is ClickUp.
This guide breaks down both tools so you pick the right one.
Overview
This Freshsales CRM vs ClickUp comparison covers pricing, features, and ease of use.
We also break down who each tool works best for.
Our sources include published specs, documentation, and G2 reviews.
Our writer also spent hands-on time with ClickUp directly.
By the end, you’ll know which platform fits your business.
What is Freshsales CRM?
Freshsales CRM is an AI-powered customer relationship management platform.
It helps sales teams manage leads, contacts, and deals in one place.
The crm software is part of the Freshworks suite of business tools.
It launched in 2016 and now serves businesses of all sizes.
Freshsales focuses heavily on small and medium sized businesses.
Freshworks claims over 67,000 customers use its products globally.
Freshsales CRM
An AI-powered crm for sales teams. Manage leads, deals, and customer data in one place. Built-in phone, email, and chat included.
Freshsales CRM Pricing
Here’s what Freshsales CRM costs in 2026. Let’s break it down.
| Plan | Price | Best For |
|---|---|---|
| Free | $0 (up to 3 users) | Solo founders testing the platform |
| Growth | $9/user/month | Small teams starting with crm |
| Pro | $39/user/month | Growing sales teams needing automation |
| Enterprise | $59/user/month | Larger teams with custom needs |
Pricing verified May 2026.
Free trial: Yes. Freshsales offers a 21-day free trial with no credit card required to create a new account.
Money-back guarantee: Freshworks does not advertise a money-back guarantee. The 21-day free trial lets you test before paying.
📌 Note: Freshsales pricing has dropped over the years. The crm now costs 2 to 3 times less than older plans. The free plan covers up to 3 users with most essential features.
⚠️ Warning: Some Freshsales add ons cost extra. Freddy AI Co-Pilot and CPQ tools are billed separately on top of your main plan.
Key Benefits of Freshsales CRM
Here’s what makes Freshsales CRM worth considering:
- Excellent value: Paid plans start at $9 per user. The crm is excellent value for small and medium sized businesses on a tight budget.
- Freddy AI built in: Freddy AI scores leads, predicts deal risks, and suggests the next best action. It improves conversion rates without extra setup.
- 360-degree customer view: See every email, call, and chat with each contact. The platform centralizes customer data into one timeline.
- Built-in communication: Phone, email, chat, and SMS work inside the crm. No need to bounce between tools to respond to customers.
- Visual sales pipelines: Kanban boards make it easy to track sales activities and spot bottlenecks. Drag deals between stages with one click.
- 21-day free trial: Test every feature for three weeks. No credit card required, so you can try it risk-free.
- Tight Freshworks integration: Pairs well with other Freshworks products like Freshdesk and Freshmarketer for unified marketing and support.
What Our Team Noticed
Note: We have not had extensive hands-on time with Freshsales CRM yet. The information here is based on Freshsales documentation, G2 reviews, and Capterra ratings.
According to G2 reviews, Freshsales scores around 4.5 out of 5 on review platforms. The intuitive interface is frequently praised by reviewers.
Some users report cluttered navigation and slow loading times in larger workspaces.
The verifying and waiting screens during login can also feel slow on some networks.
Freshsales CRM Pros & Cons
✅ Pros
- Excellent value with paid plans starting at $9 per user per month
- Free plan available for up to 3 users with most features included
- Freddy AI scores leads and suggests next best actions automatically
- Built-in phone, email, chat, and SMS in one unified inbox
- 21-day free trial with no credit card required
❌ Cons
- Around 385 integrations, fewer than HubSpot or Salesforce
- Some users find the navigation cluttered and loading times slow
- Lacks some advanced features found in HubSpot and Salesforce
- Limited native connectors with non-Freshworks third-party tools
What is ClickUp?
ClickUp is a customizable, cloud-based project management software.
It helps teams plan, track, and collaborate on tasks in one workspace.
The project management platform replaces several disparate tools at once.
You can manage projects, docs, calendars, and team communication in one place.
ClickUp is popular with marketing teams, agencies, and software companies.
It also works well for solo workers and smaller teams managing multiple projects.
ClickUp
An all-in-one project management platform for teams. Manage tasks, docs, and goals in one place. Free forever plan available with unlimited users.
ClickUp Pricing
Here’s what ClickUp costs in 2026. ClickUp offers a free plan and 3 paid plans.
| Plan | Price | Best For |
|---|---|---|
| Free Forever | $0 | Solo workers and small teams testing ClickUp |
| Unlimited | $7/user/month (billed annually) | Smaller teams needing unlimited storage and integrations |
| Business | $12/user/month (billed annually) | Mid-sized teams that need automation and time tracking |
| Enterprise | Custom Pricing | Large businesses needing single sign on and HIPAA |
Pricing verified May 2026.
Free trial: Yes. ClickUp offers a 15-day free trial on its paid plan tiers. No credit card required to start.
Money-back guarantee: Yes. ClickUp provides a 30-day money-back guarantee on all paid plans.
📌 Note: ClickUp’s free plan allows an unlimited number of users. The free forever plan is one of the most generous in the project management software category.
⚠️ Warning: ClickUp requires you to upgrade your entire workspace at once. You cannot have some team members on the free plan and others on a paid plan.
Key Benefits of ClickUp
Here’s what makes ClickUp worth considering:
- Generous free plan: ClickUp’s free plan supports an unlimited number of users. Most rivals limit free seats. The free plan covers task management for small teams.
- Multiple project views: Choose List, Kanban board, Gantt charts, Calendar, or Timeline. Switch between views in real time without losing data.
- ClickUp Brain ai assistant: The ai assistant summarizes tasks, drafts updates, and answers questions. Brain works across your entire workspace.
- 1,000+ integrations: Connect ClickUp with Google Drive, Slack, Zoom, and more. The wide integration list keeps your tech stack connected.
- Built-in time tracking: Track billable hours against estimates. Time tracking, time estimates, and workload views help you save time and prevent burnout.
- Whiteboard feature for ideas: The whiteboard feature supports brainstorming and team communication. You can convert sketches into new tasks instantly.
- 1,000+ pre-built templates: Import data fast with templates for sprints, marketing plans, and more. ClickUp university covers setup and live training.
What Our Team Noticed
Our writer signed up for ClickUp and spent several days exploring the platform. Here’s what stood out:
ClickUp Pros & Cons
✅ Pros
- Free forever plan with an unlimited number of users
- 1,000+ integrations including Google Drive, Slack, and Zoom
- Multiple project views including Gantt charts and Kanban boards
- ClickUp Brain ai assistant included with paid plans
- 30-day money-back guarantee on all paid plans
❌ Cons
- The user interface can feel overwhelming for new users
- No phone support, only live chat and a knowledge base
- Time tracking can feel cumbersome compared to dedicated apps
- Reports and dashboards are scattered across the platform
Feature Comparison
Ready to dive into a full comparison of Freshsales CRM vs ClickUp?
We’ll cover the core features that matter most. Remember, these tools serve different jobs.
| Feature | Freshsales CRM | ClickUp |
|---|---|---|
| Starting Price (paid) | $9/user/month | $7/user/month |
| Free Plan | ✅ (3 users) | ✅ (unlimited users) |
| Customer Relationship Management | ✅ | ❌ |
| Project Management Tools | ❌ | ✅ |
| Lead and Deal Tracking | ✅ | ❌ |
| AI Assistant | ✅ (Freddy AI) | ✅ (ClickUp Brain) |
| Built-in Phone, Email, Chat | ✅ | ❌ |
| Time Tracking | ❌ | ✅ |
| Gantt Charts and Kanban Board | Kanban only | Both |
| Integrations | ~385 | 1,000+ |
| Phone Support | ✅ (24/5) | ❌ |
| Best For | Sales teams | Project management |
1. Core Function
Freshsales CRM: Freshsales is a customer relationship management platform built for sales. The core job is to track leads, manage contacts, and move deals through your pipeline. It centralizes customer data so sales teams can respond faster.
ClickUp: ClickUp is a project management platform built for task management. The core job is to plan, track, and complete tasks across multiple projects. It’s a workspace for teams to manage tasks and team communication.
⚠️ Warning: These two tools do not replace each other. Many businesses use both: Freshsales for sales and ClickUp for project management.
2. AI Features
Freshsales CRM: Freddy AI is built into the crm. It scores leads based on behavior and profile data. Freddy also predicts deal risks and suggests the next best action to close. It improves conversion rates by helping sales reps focus on the hottest leads.
ClickUp: ClickUp Brain is the ai assistant inside the platform. The ai assistant summarizes tasks, drafts updates, and answers questions about your workspace. Brain helps you save time on busywork. It works across the entire workspace, not just one task.
3. Pipeline and Project Views
Freshsales CRM: Freshsales uses a visual sales pipeline with kanban board views. You drag deals between stages to track progress. The kanban view is the main way to manage sales activities. There are no Gantt charts because Freshsales is not a project tool.
ClickUp: ClickUp gives you many ways to view tasks. Use List, Board, Calendar, Gantt, and Timeline views. Each view fits a different workflow. Marketing teams can switch from kanban board to gantt charts in one click. ClickUp’s free plan even includes most views.
4. Communication and Team Features
Freshsales CRM: Freshsales includes built-in phone, email, chat, and SMS in one unified inbox. You can call leads, send emails, and chat with customers without leaving the crm software. It also integrates with WhatsApp Business, Facebook Messenger, and LINE for omnichannel communication.
ClickUp: ClickUp focuses on internal team communication, not customer-facing channels. It has built-in chat, docs, and a whiteboard feature. The team messenger and real time editing tools help with team communication on complex projects. ClickUp does not offer a phone or chat tool for customers.
5. Time Tracking and Productivity
Freshsales CRM: Freshsales does not include native time tracking. The crm tracks sales activities, calls, and email opens. But it will not log how long a rep spent on a task. For time tracking, you need a separate tool.
ClickUp: ClickUp includes built-in time tracking on every paid plan. You can track time on any task and assemble entries into timesheets. There are also time estimates and workload views to help with resource management. Time tracking can feel cumbersome at first, but it is included.
6. Automation
Freshsales CRM: Freshsales automates repetitive sales tasks. It auto-assigns leads, sends sales sequences, and triggers follow-ups based on rules. Freshsales also lets you send personalized bulk emails and monitor activities on those emails. Automation frees up sales reps to focus on selling.
ClickUp: ClickUp lets teams automate repetitive tasks with custom rules. There are over 100 pre-built automation templates. You can trigger actions when due dates pass or status changes. The automation builder works for solo workers and large teams alike.
7. Integrations
Freshsales CRM: Freshsales offers around 385 integrations and apps. It connects with Google, Microsoft 365, Slack, and Zoom. Freshsales is tightly integrated with other Freshworks products, but native connectors with non-Freshworks tools are limited.
ClickUp: ClickUp integrates with over 1,000 popular tools. You can connect Slack, Google Drive, Zoom, GitHub, and many more. The wide integration list works well if you need ClickUp to sit at the center of your tech stack.
8. Reporting and Analytics
Freshsales CRM: Freshsales provides about a dozen predefined sales reports. They are fully customizable. You get reports and AI insights for tracking team performance and forecasting revenue. The reports help managers spot pipeline gaps fast.
ClickUp: ClickUp has a centralized reporting module with pre-made dashboards. You can also build custom reports and dashboards. Sprint reports and burndown charts help development teams. Some users find the reporting tools scattered across the platform.
9. Security and Permissions
Freshsales CRM: Freshsales offers role-based user permissions and audit logs. Higher tiers add advanced security controls for larger businesses. The Enterprise plan includes single sign on and advanced data protection.
ClickUp: ClickUp supports 2-factor authentication and granular user permissions. Enterprise customers get single sign on, HIPAA compliance, and guest access controls. The enterprise plan suits regulated industries that need tight access control.
10. Support and Resources
Freshsales CRM: Freshsales provides 24/5 support across all plans. You get phone support, chat, and email help. There is also a knowledge base and a strong help center. Phone support is rare in this price range.
ClickUp: ClickUp offers 24/7 support through live chat, although users must first interact with an AI chatbot. There is no phone support, but the knowledge base is deep. ClickUp university covers tutorials, live training, and live onboarding training for paid customers.
Pricing & Cost
Let’s compare the pricing plans side by side.
| Plan | Freshsales CRM | ClickUp |
|---|---|---|
| Free | $0 (up to 3 users) | $0 (unlimited users) |
| Starter | Growth: $9/user/month | Unlimited: $7/user/month |
| Mid | Pro: $39/user/month | Business: $12/user/month |
| Top | Enterprise: $59/user/month | Enterprise: Custom Pricing |
Freshsales CRM: Freshsales offers excellent value for sales teams. The Growth plan at $9/user/month covers most essential features. The free plan supports up to 3 users with most features included. Higher tiers jump to $39 and $59 per user, which is fair for sales-focused crm software.
ClickUp: ClickUp’s paid plan tiers are affordable for project management. The Unlimited plan at $7 per user is one of the cheapest entry points in this category. The Business plan at $12 adds time tracking and automation. ClickUp’s free plan also supports an unlimited number of users.
Different Scenarios
| If You Need… | Choose | Why |
|---|---|---|
| A sales crm | Freshsales CRM | Built for leads and deals |
| Project management software | ClickUp | Built for tasks and projects |
| Built-in phone and chat | Freshsales CRM | Customer-facing channels included |
| Time tracking | ClickUp | Built into every paid plan |
| Free plan with unlimited users | ClickUp | Free forever plan |
| Phone support | Freshsales CRM | 24/5 phone support included |
| Beginner-friendly platform | Freshsales CRM | Less complex interface |
💰 Your Budget
ClickUp’s Unlimited plan starts at $7 per user per month. Freshsales CRM’s Growth plan starts at $9 per user. Both have generous free tiers if you want to test before paying.
🔌 Your Tech Stack
ClickUp connects with over 1,000 tools including Google Drive and Slack. Freshsales has around 385 integrations and works best with other Freshworks products.
🎯 Your Job to Do
If you sell things, pick Freshsales CRM. If you run projects and manage tasks, pick ClickUp. Mixing them up will frustrate your team within the first week.
🎓 Your Experience Level
Freshsales has a more focused interface that’s easier to learn. ClickUp has more features and more flexibility, but the learning curve is steeper for new users.
🆓 Free Trials and Demos
Freshsales offers a 21-day free trial with no credit card required. ClickUp offers a 15-day free trial on paid plans plus a free forever plan. Test both before deciding.
🛟 Support Options
Freshsales gives you 24/5 phone, chat, and email support on all plans. ClickUp offers live chat support and a deep knowledge base, but no phone support is available.
Switching Guide
Already using one of these tools? Here’s what to expect if you switch.
🔄 Switching from Freshsales CRM to ClickUp?
✅ What you’ll gain:
- Project management with multiple project views and gantt charts
- Built-in time tracking and workload management for teams
- 1,000+ integrations with tools like Google Drive and Slack
❌ What you’ll lose:
- Sales-specific features like lead scoring and deal pipelines
- Built-in phone, email, and chat for customer communication
- 24/5 phone support across all plans
📋 How to switch:
- Export your contacts and deals from Freshsales as CSV files
- Create a new ClickUp account and choose a workspace template
- Import data into ClickUp using the built-in CSV importer
🔄 Switching from ClickUp to Freshsales CRM?
✅ What you’ll gain:
- A real customer relationship management platform for sales teams
- Built-in phone, email, chat, and SMS in a unified inbox
- Freddy AI lead scoring and deal risk predictions
❌ What you’ll lose:
- Project management tools and gantt chart project views
- Built-in time tracking and team communication features
- 1,000+ integrations and the whiteboard feature
📋 How to switch:
- Export tasks and contacts from your entire ClickUp workspace
- Create a new account on Freshsales and start the 21-day free trial
- Import contacts and deals into Freshsales using the import wizard
What Our Review Didn’t Cover
This Freshsales CRM vs ClickUp comparison focused on small and medium sized businesses. We did not test enterprise plan deployments at scale or evaluate custom api access setups. Our writer used ClickUp hands-on, but our Freshsales notes come from documentation, G2, and Capterra reviews. If you need a full Salesforce-replacement crm or a development team running sprints with hundreds of users, your priorities may differ from what we covered here.
Final Verdict
| Category | Winner |
|---|---|
| 💰 Pricing | ClickUp |
| 🚀 Sales / CRM Features | Freshsales CRM |
| 📋 Project Management | ClickUp |
| 📞 Customer Communication | Freshsales CRM |
| ⏱️ Time Tracking | ClickUp |
| 🔌 Integrations | ClickUp |
| 🛟 Support Options | Freshsales CRM |
| 🏆 Overall Winner (For Sales) | Freshsales CRM |
🏆 WINNER: Freshsales CRM (For Sales-Focused Buyers)
Freshsales CRM wins the head-to-head as a crm. ClickUp wins as a project management platform.
Best for: Small and medium sized businesses, sales teams managing leads, and businesses needing built-in phone and chat.
Freshsales CRM and ClickUp are two very different products. They appear in the same searches because both are popular business software. But they solve different problems for different teams.
Freshsales is a customer relationship management platform built for sales. It tracks leads, manages contacts, and helps sales reps close deals faster. The crm is excellent value for small and medium sized businesses, with paid plans starting at $9 per user.
ClickUp is a project management platform built for task management and team communication. The free plan is hard to beat, with unlimited users and most essential features included. The Unlimited plan at $7 per user adds unlimited storage and a wide integration list.
If you want to manage sales activities and customer data, pick Freshsales. If you want to manage projects, manage tasks, and collaborate on complex projects, pick ClickUp. Many businesses use both side by side.
More of Freshsales CRM Compared
Here’s how Freshsales CRM stacks up against other crm software competitors:
Freshsales wins on: Lower starting price ($9 vs HubSpot’s higher tiers), built-in phone in lower plans, simpler interface for small teams.
HubSpot wins on: Larger marketplace of integrations, more advanced marketing automation, stronger inbound marketing tools.
Freshsales wins on: Cleaner Freddy AI rollout, tighter Freshworks suite of products, faster setup for new users.
Zoho CRM wins on: Wider product suite for finance and ops, more customization options, broader third-party integration list.
Freshsales CRM vs Pipedrive
Freshsales wins on: Built-in phone and chat in lower tiers, free plan for up to 3 users, AI features included on paid plans.
Pipedrive wins on: More focused pipeline-first design, smoother deal-stage automation, simpler reporting for solo salespeople.
Freshsales wins on: Much lower price for small teams, faster onboarding, fewer add ons needed for basic crm work.
Salesforce wins on: Advanced enterprise customization, massive AppExchange marketplace, advanced reporting for large sales orgs.
More of ClickUp Compared
Here’s how ClickUp stacks up against other project management tools:
ClickUp vs Asana
ClickUp wins on: Free plan supports an unlimited number of users, more project views included in free tier, ClickUp Brain ai assistant.
Asana wins on: Cleaner interface that’s easier for new users, more polished onboarding, better workflow templates for marketing teams.
ClickUp vs Monday.com
ClickUp wins on: Better value for money, free forever plan with unlimited users, more enough features in lower tiers.
Monday.com wins on: Easier learning curve for non-technical teams, more polished visual design, smoother onboarding flow.
ClickUp vs Trello
ClickUp wins on: Multiple project views beyond kanban board, built-in time tracking, more advanced custom fields and automations.
Trello wins on: Simpler interface for solo workers and smaller teams, faster setup, lighter weight for casual task management.
ClickUp vs Notion
ClickUp wins on: Stronger task management and gantt charts, dedicated time tracking, built-in resource management for complex projects.
Notion wins on: Better docs and knowledge base features, cleaner real time editing, more flexible page-style content blocks.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is Freshsales a CRM?
Yes. Freshsales is a customer relationship management software for sales teams. It is part of Freshworks and helps businesses manage leads, contacts, and deals. The crm is widely used by small and medium sized businesses.
Is Freshsales free forever?
Yes. Freshsales has a free plan for up to 3 users with most essential features. There is also a 21-day free trial of paid plans with no credit card required. After the trial ends, you can keep using the free plan or upgrade.
What is ClickUp used for?
ClickUp is project management software that helps teams plan, track, and collaborate on tasks. It centralizes tasks, docs, calendars, and team communication in one workspace. ClickUp’s features cover task management, time tracking, and team messaging.
Is ClickUp actually free?
Yes. ClickUp’s free plan is completely free and supports an unlimited number of users. The free forever plan limits some features like custom fields. ClickUp plans start at $7 per user per month for the Unlimited tier.
Which is better for sales: Freshsales CRM or ClickUp?
Freshsales is the better choice for sales teams. It is built as a crm with lead scoring, deal pipelines, and built-in phone, email, and chat. ClickUp is project management software, not a sales tool. For sales activities, pick Freshsales.
Why does the website sometimes show a “verifying you are human” or “verification successful waiting” screen?
Both Freshsales and ClickUp use Cloudflare to protect their site. You may see a “checking your browser” or “verification successful waiting” message for a few seconds. The screen also shows a Ray ID for support. If the site doesn’t display properly or the site properly fails to load, a slow connection is usually the cause. Refresh and the page should load.
Do Freshsales CRM and ClickUp offer discounts for small businesses?
Yes. Both crm software and the project management platform offer discounts on annual billing for small businesses. ClickUp’s free plan and Freshsales’ 21-day free trial give business operations teams a low-risk way to test other features before paying. Both tools also let you assign tasks, track new features, and manage business operations without extra fees on day one.
Which tool gets a higher score in my ClickUp review research?
ClickUp scores around 4.3 to 4.7 on G2 and Capterra. Freshsales scores around 4.0 to 4.5. Both earn a high score, but the score reflects different jobs. Pick the tool that matches your need, not the one with the slightly higher score.
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