Insightly vs Pipedrive: which CRM should you choose to better manage your dirty pipeline?
When it comes to CRM, two names often come up: Insightly and Pipedrive. Two tools designed to help sales teams better manage their sales pipeline, automate repetitive tasks, track leads, personalise reports... and ultimately close more deals.
But even if the two software packages tick a lot of boxes, they don't work in the same way or have the same priorities:
- one focuses on customisation, the other on simplicity;
- one shines through its integrations, the other through its intuitive interface.
👉 In this article, we put Insightly and Pipedrive under the microscope: features, pricing, getting started, automation, integrations, use cases... to help you choose the CRM best suited to your business.
What is Insightly?
Overview of Insightly
Insightly is a cloud CRM that combines customer relationship management, marketing automation and project management. It's an all-in-one solution aimed primarily at SMEs and growing businesses that want to centralise their activities without multiplying the number of tools.
Its promise? To offer a single platform for tracking every lead, automating key tasks in the sales pipeline, and collaborating effectively as a team. Insightly offers a process-oriented approach, with a strong capacity for customisation, particularly to adapt sales stages, pipelines and data fields to each business.
With its simple but structured interface, Insightly is particularly appealing to companies looking for a tool that is more strategic than purely sales-oriented. And this is reflected in its product positioning: the CRM offers sales functions as well as project management and customer service modules.
Insightly's main features
Before delving into the list of features, a word about the product's logic: Insightly doesn't try to be 'all things to all people' like some of the giants, but does the essential B2B sales things well, while allowing a high level of customisation.
⚒️ Here is an overview of the key features offered by Insightly:
- management of leads and contacts with enriched records, interaction history and related activities ;
- creation of personalised pipelines, with the possibility of following several sales stages at the same time;
- workflow automation: triggers, conditional rules, automatic emails, etc;
- customisable dash boards for reporting and analysing sales performance;
- integrated project management module for tracking post-sales deliverables;
- native integrations with Google Workspace, Microsoft 365, Slack, Mailchimp... ;
- RobustAPI for connecting Insightly to other tools or creating advanced automations.
Insightly
Advantages and disadvantages of Insightly
Before choosing a CRM, you need to look beyond the product sheet: user feedback, stability, ergonomics and value for money are just as important. Insightly, like any tool, has its strengths... and its limitations.
✅ These advantages are regularly highlighted in customer reviews:
- extensive customisation of the pipeline, forms and fields - a real asset for structured teams ;
- integrated project module, rare in CRMs of this range;
- simple but clear interface, ideal for process-oriented teams;
- high level of automation, accessible without coding;
- versatiletool: CRM, marketing, project management;
- customer support appreciated: responsive and competent according to the majority of feedback.
❌ Certain points frequently come up as sources of frustration, particularly among small teams or non-tech profiles:
- steeper learning curve than simpler CRMs such as Pipedrive ;
- less intuitive mobile interface than the desktop version ;
- few advanced emailing options without upgrading to a higher level;
- advanced automation sometimes requires integration or development via the API .
What is Pipedrive?
Overview of Pipedrive
Pipedrive is a commercial CRM designed primarily for sales teams. Its objective? To help sales people manage their pipeline, track every deal, and close faster, without unnecessary complexity.
It's one of the most popular CRMs in the SME world, with a clear promise: simplicity, efficiency and visibility. There's nothing superfluous here: everything is focused on conversion. The tool offers an ultra-intuitive interface, automated functions that are just a few clicks away, and a visual reporting system that facilitates decision-making.
Pipedrive is a no-bullshit CRM, designed for sales teams who want a tool that's quick to set up, customisable but not overloaded, and capable of accelerating sales from day one.
Pipedrive's main features
Before unpacking the features, it's important to understand the product's philosophy. Pipedrive starts from the field, not from management. Everything is designed to make salespeople's lives easier by making their sales pipeline clearer, more actionable and more profitable.
⚒️ Here are the main features offered by Pipedrive:
- visual pipeline management: drag and drop deals from one stage to another ;
- simple automation: send emails, create tasks, intelligent notifications, etc;
- email tracking (opens, clicks, replies) with templates and personalised signatures;
- real-time reporting with tables, forecasts and targets;
- top-rated mobile applications for managing deals on the move;
- rich marketplace with over 350 integrations (Slack, Zoom, Gmail, Trello, etc.);
- LeadBooster function: live chat, chatbot, intelligent forms, database prospecting.
Pipedrive
Advantages and disadvantages of Pipedrive
Pipedrive presents itself as a simple but powerful CRM. But does it live up to its promises on a day-to-day basis? Here's a look at the strengths and weaknesses identified in user reviews.
✅ Pipedrive is appealing for a number of reasons, not least because it's quick to get to grips with and effective in business terms:
- ultra-intuitive interface, designed for salespeople ;
- quick installation, no need for an IT project manager to get started;
- very good visual pipeline management tool
- fluid, well-designed mobile application
- automations accessible even without technical skills;
- wide choice of native and customisable integrations.
❌ Even good tools have their grey areas. Here are the weak points most often cited:
- less functional depth on the project management or customer service side ;
- some advanced features (LeadBooster, email campaigns...) are paid add-ons ;
- reporting is sometimes too simple for strategic management needs;
- no integrated multi-project management like Insightly;
- lack of customisation on certain CRM objects for very specific structures.
Insightly vs Pipedrive: compare features
| Functionality | Insightly | Pipedrive |
| Dirty pipeline management | Customisable and multi-pipeline | Drag-and-drop visual interface |
| Workflow automation | Advanced (rules, conditions, multiple actions) | Simple and intuitive (no code required) |
| Lead and contact tracking | Very comprehensive, multi-linked objects | Fast, clear and effective records |
| Project management | Integrated with CRM | ❌ Non-native |
| Email tracking / campaigns | ⚠️ Limited (in higher plans) | Available via LeadBooster add-on |
| Third-party integrations | G Suite, Slack, Zapier, QuickBooks... | +350 integrations (Slack, Zoom, etc.) |
| API and customisation | Advanced and documented | Good but more limited |
| Mobile application | Functional but basic | Very fluid and well rated |
| Dashboards and reporting | Strong customisation capabilities | Visual but simpler |
Focus on pipeline management
Pipedrive 's drag-and-drop interface is a model of simplicity. Everything is done in just a few clicks:
- add a deal
- move it between stages
- set reminders, etc.
Insightly, on the other hand, offers more granular management:
- you can create several pipelines,
- define specific fields
- track complex processes.
Perfect for long or technical B2B sales, but more rigid for rapid cycles.
💡 Verdict: Pipedrive for simple, fast, visual management. Insightly for a structured, personalised approach.
Focus on automation
Insightly offers advanced automation:
- multiple triggers
- logical conditions
- complex scenarios.
In short, a tool designed for organised teams with well-defined workflows.
Pipedrive, on the other hand, focuses on simplicity. You can automate the sending of an email or the creation of a task as soon as a deal changes stage, without touching a line of code.
💡 Verdict: for simple, effective automation, choose Pipedrive. For more complex, customisable workflows, Insightly is better suited.
Focus on integrations
Pipedrive dominates in terms of quantity, with a rich marketplace (+350 connectable tools) and a robust API.
Insightly focuses on key integrations (Google Workspace, Microsoft 365, Mailchimp...) and a very well-documented API for bespoke projects, but the ecosystem is less extensive.
💡 Verdict: Pipedrive can be connected with everything you already use. Insightly has a powerful API, but more targeted connectivity.
Focus on reporting
On the analysis side, Insightly offers powerful, filterable dashboards, with the ability to customise each KPI. You can :
- track deals by source
- segment by team
- and even mix CRM and project data.
Pipedrive is simpler. Its reporting is visual and pleasant, but limited for complex needs. For tracking classic business objectives, it's more than enough.
💡 Verdict: for strategic reporting, Insightly has the edge. For rapid operational monitoring, Pipedrive is more fluid.
Focus on customisation
Insightly is a tool designed to be customised from top to bottom:
- objects,
- fields
- forms
- pipelines
- user roles, etc.
Everything can be configured to suit the reality of your business.
Pipedrive, on the other hand, allows you to customise the essentials without risking simplicity:
- custom fields
- filtered views
- targeted automation.
It's less advanced, but more secure for small teams.
💡 Verdict: Insightly for specific needs and complex structures. Pipedrive for light, fast and frictionless customisation.
Insightly vs Pipedrive: compare prices
Comparing pricing plans is essential if you want to choose the CRM that's right for your business.
| Plan | Insightly | Pipedrive |
| Basic | " Plus - from €24.73/month :
|
" Lite - from €14/month :
|
| Intermediate | " Professional - from €41.78/month :
|
" Growth - from €39/month:
|
| Advanced | " Enterprise - from €84.41/month :
|
" Premium - from €59/month:
|
| Top of the range | - | " Ultimate - from €79/month :
|
Insightly vs Pipedrive: which interface is more intuitive?
Choosing a CRM also means choosing a day-to-day working environment. A clear, well thought-out interface that is quick to master makes all the difference. Here's how Insightly and Pipedrive stack up.
| Criteria | Insightly | Pipedrive |
| Overall interface | Functional, management-oriented | Intuitive, fluid and minimalist |
| Getting started | ⚠️ Average learning curve | Very fast, no training required |
| Interface customisation | Very extensive (objects, fields, views) | Essential but limited |
| Mobile navigation (app) | Correct but could be improved | Fluid mobile app, very well rated |
| Implementation time | ⚠️ Longer (many settings) | Quick to set up |
👉 Pipedrive is renowned for its ultra-simple, user-centric interface. Everything is designed so that sales staff can find their way around without any training. Navigation is fluid, pipelines drag & drop, and menus stripped of unnecessary complexity.
👉 Insightly, on the other hand, offers a denser interface, geared towards information management and advanced parameterisation. The tool allows very fine customisation, but this comes at the price of a steeper learning curve. It's a good choice for structured teams or those supported by a digital project manager.
Insightly vs Pipedrive: compare integrations
The better a CRM integrates with your stack (marketing, support, accounting, prospecting, etc.), the more it becomes the central nerve of your business. For CRM managers or technical decision-makers, these are the three criteria that count: quantity, ease of configuration and the possibility of automation. We compared.
👉 Number of integrations available
- Insightly: ⭐⭐⭐☆☆
Around 50 to 60 native integrations. There are the classics: Google Workspace, Microsoft 365, QuickBooks, Slack, Mailchimp, Dropbox. The REST API is solid for developing your own connections. But the catalogue remains modest compared with the competition.
- Pipedrive: ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
Over 350 ready-to-use integrations via the official Marketplace. Slack, Zoom, Asana, Trello, Calendly, HubSpot, Google Ads... Pipedrive also has direct connections with prospecting tools such as Leadfeeder and Lemlist. A real asset for sales and marketing teams.
👉 Ease of configuration
- Insightly: ⭐⭐☆☆☆
Some integrations are well documented, but not very "plug & play". Configuring certain tools (QuickBooks, Outlook) can take a bit of time, especially if you want to automate behind them. It's a bit more technical than you'd expect, without being too much of a hindrance. - Pipedrive: ⭐⭐⭐⭐☆
The integration experience is fluid. The majority of apps connect in a few clicks, with little or no technical set-up. Even non-technical users can connect Zoom, Slack or Gmail without difficulty. On the downside, some advanced integrations require a higher plan or an add-on.
👉 Customisation and automation
- Insightly: ⭐⭐⭐⭐☆
Very good automation potential via native "Workflow Automations ". You can trigger actions from events linked to integrations, such as sending emails from Mailchimp, creating tasks after a call, or synchronising files. It's powerful, but less visual than some competitors.
- Pipedrive: ⭐⭐⭐⭐☆
Excellent integration with Pipedrive's native automation: you can automate the creation of leads, emails or tasks based on events linked to connected apps. Some advanced workflows require the addition of the "Smart Docs" or "LeadBooster" add-on, but the level of customisation remains high for a "mainstream" CRM.
💡 Conclusion:
- Pipedrive comes out on top in terms of the number of integrations available and the ease with which it can be set up. It's a solution cut out for agile sales teams, who want to quickly connect their tools without relying on a developer.
- Insightly, which is more modest in terms of volume, makes up for this with a robust API and advanced automation, making it an interesting choice for structured teams or technical integrators.
When should you choose Insightly or Pipedrive?
A good CRM is not necessarily the most comprehensive or the most popular. It's the one that suits the way you sell, the structure of your team and the complexity of your sales cycles. Here's where each solution comes into its own.
Typical use cases for Insightly
Insightly is primarily aimed at companies that need a structuring CRM: when processes are complex, when several teams are involved in the same deal, or when you need to manage projects in addition to customer relations.
It's a tool that will be particularly suitable if you're looking for a customisable platform that can do much more than just manage opportunities.
📌 You should consider Insightly if:
- you are a B2B SME or ETI with a long or technical sales cycle ;
- you need a 3-in-1 tool: CRM, marketing automation, project management ;
- your team wants to customise pipelines, fields and forms in depth;
- you have mixed teams (sales, project, customer service) who need to work together on the same platform;
- you're looking for strong traceability of customer actions (tasks, notes, events) in a centralised file;
- you are prepared to invest time in onboarding for a tool that will provide long-term structure.
Typical use cases for Pipedrive
Pipedrive is designed for sales teams on the move, who want a tool that's quick to learn, that helps them sell better without complexity. It's a CRM for salespeople first and foremost, not for project managers or IT administrators.
It's perfectly suited to organisations that want to accelerate their sales, without necessarily managing complex projects or customer relationships.
📌 Pipedrive is particularly suitable if :
- you are an SME with a dedicated sales team (even a small one) ;
- you're looking for a CRM that's quick to set up, with no need for extensive training ;
- your sales cycles are simple to moderately complex, with opportunities to track in a continuous flow;
- You want an intuitive interface that can be used on both desktop and mobile devices;
- You need to easily connect your prospecting, appointment setting or emailing tools;
- you want to automate without coding (reminders, tasks, reminders) with a visual configuration.
Insightly or Pipedrive: two visions of CRM, one strategic choice
Insightly and Pipedrive don't exactly play in the same league, and that's precisely what makes them so interesting to compare.
- Choose Insightly if you need a more global CRM, tailored to organising and managing commercial AND operational activity. It's an excellent choice for complex B2B structures or interconnected teams.
- Choose Pipedrive if you want a simple, fast and intuitive sales tool that's ready to boost your pipeline from day one. Ideal for dynamic SMEs, freelancers or closing-focused startups.
🧠 Take the test. Both tools offer a free, no-obligation trial version. It's often by testing on your real processes, with your real data, that the right choice becomes obvious.
FAQ - Insightly vs Pipedrive
Can Pipedrive pipelines be customised?
Yes, Pipedrive allows you to customise pipelines, sales stages, deal fields and user views. Customisation is designed to be simple, without requiring any technical skills. It's a good compromise between flexibility and accessibility.
Which solution is best suited to customer service teams?
Insightly is best suited to managing both sales and customer service in the same tool. Its 'Service' module allows you to track tickets, assign tasks and manage post-sales projects, something that Pipedrive does not offer natively.
Which CRM works best on mobile?
Pipedrive has a highly-rated mobile application, which is fluid and packed with features (call, email, notes, reminders).
Insightly also offers a mobile app, but user feedback points to an experience that is sometimes less intuitive.
Can Pipedrive be integrated with tools such as Zoom or Calendly?
Yes, Pipedrive offers native integrations with Zoom, Calendly, Slack, Google Workspace, Trello, and more via its marketplace. Adding these is simple and can often be done without technical assistance. This makes it much easier to automate appointment scheduling and customer follow-up.
Article translated from French