12 alternatives to Creatio for automating your workflows without complexity
Creatio is one of the leaders in CRM and low-code platforms. It's a robust solution, designed for companies that want to automate their business processes, manage customer relations and create business applications with virtually no code at all.
But let's be honest, Creatio can quickly become too complex, even too rigid, for some organisations. Between the learning curve associated with its low-code logic and the costs involved, many companies are now looking for a more flexible, more intuitive alternative to Creatio, or one that's simply better suited to their real needs.
👉 In this article, we present 12 alternatives to Creatio: modern tools, tested, compared, and ranked according to their key features, interface, price, and ability to adapt to your organisation.
What is Creatio?
Creatio is an all-in-one CRM and low-code platform that enables companies to manage all their business processes, from marketing and sales to customer relations and service.
What sets it apart is that it combines three functional pillars in a single interface:
- a complete CRM to manage sales, accounts and campaigns ;
- an automation tool for creating code-free workflows; and
- a code platform for developing low-code custom applications.
Designed for mid-market companies and large organisations, Creatio focuses on flexibility, agility and compliance. It lets you model complex processes, automate tasks, connect tools via native integrations and build business apps without advanced technical skills.
But this power comes at a cost: in time, in money, and sometimes in complexity of use. That's why it's worth considering an alternative to Creatio that's better suited to your organisation, your business needs and your budget.
Creatio
Why consider an alternative to Creatio?
A powerful platform... but complex to master
Creatio is designed for structured organisations with advanced needs. And it shows. Its rich functionality and process-oriented architecture often require support, or even consultants, to deploy it properly.
For teams looking for a simple, low-code tool with an intuitive interface and rapid implementation, Creatio may prove too cumbersome to manage.
High cost for small organisations
With a pricing model based on users, modules and services, Creatio can quickly become a substantial investment, especially for SMEs. Certain advanced functionalities or integrations require a higher plan, with costs in euros per month rising rapidly.
For companies on a tighter budget, there are alternative solutions that are more affordable, while still delivering high performance.
Positioning too broad for certain uses
Creatio wants to do it all: CRM, automation, application development, customer service... But not everyone needs a complete code platform. For a company looking only for a CRM tool, a simple workflow builder, or a targeted automation platform, this "gas factory" aspect can become counter-productive.
In such cases, a specialist solution such as Pipedrive for sales, or Make for automation, will be more relevant.
A low-code approach that requires real skills development
Even if Creatio is a low-code platform, it remains technical. Creating a custom application, automating complex processes or configuring a business workflow requires a real understanding of the development logic and the Creatio system.
Some alternatives offer a more visual, guided environment, or ready-to-use templates, making them much more accessible to business teams.
Comparative table of the 12 best alternatives to Creatio
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 Pipedrive | Creatio |  Appian |  ClickUp |  Freshsales |  HubSpot CRM |  Make |  Mendix |  Odoo |  Salesforce Platform |  Zoho CRM |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| For companies with 1 to 5000 employees | For companies with more than 250 employees | For companies with more than 1 employees | For all companies | For all companies | For companies with more than 1 employees | For all companies | For all companies | For companies with more than 1 employees | For all companies | For all companies |
| See software | See software | See software | See software | See software | See software | See software | See software | See software | See software | See software |
| Learn more about Pipedrive | Learn more about Creatio | Learn more about Appian | Learn more about ClickUp | Learn more about Freshsales | Learn more about HubSpot CRM | Learn more about Make | Learn more about Mendix | Learn more about Odoo | Learn more about Salesforce Platform | Learn more about Zoho CRM |
Our selection of alternatives for Creatio
Appian: for companies that want low-code on a large scale
Appian is a low-code code platform dedicated to large enterprises that need to model complex processes, create bespoke business applications, and connect their digital ecosystem with rigour.
⚒️ Here are the key features offered by Appian to replace Creatio:
- design enterprise applications via a visual interface ;
- orchestration of multi-system workflows;
- intelligent automation tools (AI, RPA, business intelligence);
- user portals, forms, personalised dashboards;
- compliance and governance integrated into the IT environment.
Appian is a premium alternative, designed for organisations that need a solid architecture, rapid scalability and a secure environment.
Appian
Cflow: automate your workflows without coding
Cflow is a no-code platform dedicated to the automation of business processes. Less well known than Creatio, it appeals to SMEs looking for a simple, visual tool for modelling their workflows without having to rely on an IT department.
⚒️ Here's what Cflow has to offer to streamline your processes without technical complexity:
- drag & drop workflow creation ;
- management of approvals, notifications and deadlines;
- integration with Google Workspace, Slack, Zapier, etc. ;
- monitoring dashboard and customisable reports;
- compliance features and access control.
Cflow is an excellent choice for companies that want to structure their internal processes without investing in a complete code platform.
ClickUp: much more than a task management tool
At the crossroads between productivity tool and automation platform, ClickUp offers an alternative to Creatio for teams who want to centralise the management of tasks, projects and workflows in a single collaborative space.
⚒️ Here are the key features that make ClickUp a flexible solution for agile teams:
- management of tasks, projects, documents and objectives ;
- simple and powerful internal automations ;
- creation of forms, custom fields and multiple views;
- team monitoring dashboards;
- integration with +1000 tools via Zapier or Make.
ClickUp does not replace a pure CRM like Creatio, but it will appeal to companies that want to streamline their organisation and automate their processes without a complex platform.
ClickUp
FlowForma: digitalise your processes without a developer
FlowForma is a no-code workflow management solution designed for organisations that want to rapidly digitise their business processes. It is particularly suited to regulated sectors such as healthcare, construction and public services, where compliance and traceability are key.
⚒️ Here are the features FlowForma offers to automate your business workflows:
- no-code process creator with rules, forms and business logic;
- tracking of approvals, steps and roles in the workflow;
- integration with Microsoft 365, SharePoint, Power BI, etc;
- reporting and document generation tools;
- compliance, security and access management functionalities.
FlowForma is an ideal alternative to Creatio for companies that want to keep control of their processes without relying on development code.
Freshsales: the modern, intuitive CRM from Freshworks
Freshsales is a cloud CRM solution that focuses on simplicity, automation and user experience. Less modular than Creatio, it offers a complete CRM with all the key functionalities for customer relations, in a clean and efficient interface.
⚒️ This is what Freshsales offers as an accessible alternative to Creatio:
- management of leads, contacts, accounts and sales pipelines ;
- intelligent scoring based on customer engagement
- automation of tasks, emails and workflows;
- customisable visual dashboards and reports;
- native integrations with Freshdesk, Gmail, Zapier, etc.
Freshsales is ideal for businesses that want a powerful yet intuitive CRM tool, without getting lost in the complexity of a code platform.
Freshsales
HubSpot CRM: frictionless centralisation of sales, marketing and service
HubSpot CRM is an all-in-one solution combining CRM, marketing automation, customer support and content creation. Unlike Creatio, its strength lies in its ultra-intuitive interface, modular logic and gradual ramp-up.
⚒️ Here are the key features that make HubSpot a natural alternative to Creatio:
- management of contacts, transactions, activities and tickets ;
- sales automation and marketing campaigns
- tools for creating landing pages, forms and emails;
- dynamic dashboards and customisable reporting;
- integration marketplace (Slack, Zoom, Shopify, etc.).
HubSpot's appeal lies in its ease of deployment and its ability to adapt to all types of organisation, from the solo entrepreneur to the marketing team of a tech SME.
HubSpot CRM
Make: connect, automate, orchestrate... without coding
Formerly Integromat, Make is a visual automation tool that lets you create multi-application scenarios without a single line of code. It's one of the most flexible alternatives to Creatio for automating processes without deploying an entire platform.
⚒️ Here's what you can easily automate with Make:
- connect over 1,500 apps (CRM, e-commerce, internal tools, etc.);
- create visual scenarios with conditional logic;
- webhooks, filters, functions and integrated error management;
- real-time monitoring of automated processes;
- flexible pricing with a free version.
Make is an agile, intuitive and highly effective solution for automating your business processes, bypassing the cumbersome nature of an enterprise platform like Creatio.
Make
Mendix: creating low-code custom applications
Mendix is a low-code development platform designed for companies that want to create scalable business applications, combining speed of development with total control over the process.
⚒️ Here are Mendix's main advantages as an alternative to Creatio:
- development of web and mobile apps via a visual interface ;
- app lifecycle management: design, build, test, deploy ;
- integration with enterprise systems (ERP, CRM, databases);
- AI capabilities and intelligent automation;
- cloud, on-premise or hybrid hosting.
Mendix is particularly well suited to large companies or IT teams looking for a high-performance code platform capable of rapidly digitising their internal processes.
Mendix
Odoo: the open source Swiss Army knife for agile businesses
Odoo is a modular ERP platform that goes far beyond simple CRM. It manages customer relations, invoicing, projects, HR and much more. It's an ideal alternative to Creatio for businesses looking to centralise their operations in a single tool.
⚒️ Here are the functionalities Odoo offers to automate and manage your business processes:
- CRM, sales, invoicing, support, HR, projects, etc. modules;
- Workflow creation and internal automation tools;
- mobile application and customisable interface
- native integration between different business modules;
- free community version and pay-as-you-go enterprise version.
Odoo stands out for its functional flexibility, its open source philosophy, and its ability to adapt to a wide variety of use cases.
Odoo
Pipedrive: visual CRM focused on sales and simplicity
Pipedrive is a sales CRM renowned for its ease of use and visual pipeline interface. Less platform-oriented than Creatio, it focuses on operational efficiency to help sales teams close more sales, faster.
⚒️ Here are the features that make Pipedrive a good choice for companies focused on customer relations and conversion:
- drag-and-drop lead and pipeline management;
- automation of tasks and reminders
- integrations with Google Workspace, Slack, Zapier, etc;
- mobile application and customisable dashboards;
- a marketplace of extensions and add-ons.
Pipedrive is aimed at businesses that want to become more agile, without the burden of an overly complex tool like Creatio.
Pipedrive
Salesforce: the ultra-powerful (but not low-code) CRM benchmark
It's impossible to talk about alternatives to Creatio without mentioning Salesforce. The world leader in CRM, this cloud platform is aimed at medium-sized to large companies looking for an ultra-complete solution for customer relationship management and sales automation.
⚒️ Here are the key features that make Salesforce a direct competitor to Creatio:
- scalable CRM with management of leads, accounts, opportunities ;
- Workflow automation and personalised sequences;
- AppExchange: a marketplace for business applications;
- advanced reporting and dynamic dashboards;
- advanced integration with the Salesforce ecosystem and beyond.
Salesforce is more complex to deploy than other tools, but its functional power is hard to match.
Salesforce Platform
Zoho CRM: the simple, effective and well-integrated alternative
Zoho CRM is a complete cloud solution that combines CRM, automation, reporting and integrations in a fluid interface. Much more accessible than Creatio, it enables SMEs and start-ups to structure their customer relationships without getting lost in the complexity.
⚒️ Here are the main features offered by Zoho to replace Creatio in a simpler way:
- management of contacts, sales, campaigns and customer service ;
- automated workflows and customisable scenarios;
- real-time dashboards and reports;
- integration with Zoho tools (Books, Projects, Desk, etc.);
- free version available and full mobile application.
Zoho CRM is a reliable and scalable solution, offering excellent value for money, especially for companies in the process of structuring their business.
Zoho CRM
Summary table: focus on the features of alternatives to Creatio
| Software | For whom | Key features | Entry price |
| Appian | Large enterprises, IT, finance | Low-code app development, RPA, complex automation, security | On quotation |
| Cflow | SMEs and non-technical teams | No-code workflow builder, automation, compliance, reporting | From €9.44/month |
| ClickUp | Project teams, ops, digital | Tasks, automation, multiple views, integrations, docs | Free offer |
| FlowForma | Regulated sectors, IT, HR | No-code workflow, compliance, SharePoint, forms, reporting | From €2,067/month |
| Freshsales | Commercial SMEs | Full CRM, scoring, automation, reporting, mobile support | Free offer |
| HubSpot CRM | VSEs, SMEs, marketing and sales teams | CRM, marketing automation, customer service, reporting, content creation | Free offer |
| Make | Agile teams, digital, automation | Connecting apps, no-code scenarios, conditional logic, multiple integrations | Free offer |
| Mendix | Large groups, IT departments, IT | Low-code app development, complete lifecycle, system integrations, AI | Free offer |
| Odoo | Multi-department companies | CRM, ERP, HR management, billing, support, open source | Free offer |
| Pipedrive | Sales-oriented SMEs | Visual pipeline, automation, mobile, integrations | From €14/month |
| Salesforce | Large B2B companies | Complete CRM, advanced automation, AppExchange, powerful reporting | From €25/month |
| Zoho CRM | SMEs, start-ups, freelancers | CRM, automation, dashboards, Zoho integrations | Free offer |
How do you choose your CRM or automation platform?
Choosing an alternative to Creatio depends above all on your business objectives, your level of digital maturity and your internal resources. You don't need a low-code behemoth if you're just looking to automate simple tasks.
📌 Here are the essential criteria to take into account:
- your real needs: pure CRM? Automation? Application development? Or a mix of all three? ;
- Your team's level of technical expertise: do you have the resources to manage a code platform, or do you prefer a turnkey no-code solution ; ;
- the size and structure of your company: an agile SME does not have the same requirements as a multi-site group;
- the budget available: some solutions start at around €10-20 per month, while others require a much more structured budget;
- scalability: your tool must be able to grow with you, without becoming a hindrance (adding users, modules, integrations);
- user experience: a clear interface, quick learning curve, easy adoption... this is often the key;
- compliance and security: crucial in sensitive sectors, or if you process personal or regulated data.
Forget the all-in-one... and choose the all-in-one
Creatio is a powerful platform, but it's not for everyone. Too broad, too complex or too expensive, it can quickly become a brake where it should be a lever.
Today there are alternatives to Creatio that are more agile, more affordable, more targeted, sometimes simpler, sometimes more powerful, but always better suited to your real needs.
💡 Whether you're looking to boost your sales, automate your processes, create a business application, or streamline your customer relationship management, you now have all the cards in your hand.
Article translated from French