Best CRM for Shopify in 2025: Complete Merchant’s Guide

Last Updated on October 28, 2025 by Dan S
Originally Published October 28, 2025.

If you’re managing customer data in spreadsheets or struggling to keep track of who bought what, you’re leaving money on the table. The right Shopify CRM can transform how you interact with customers, automate your marketing, and dramatically increase your lifetime customer value.

In this complete guide, you’ll discover the best CRM for Shopify, how to choose the right one for your business size, and what integration features you actually need.

What is a Shopify CRM and Why You Need One

A CRM (Customer Relationship Management) system is software that helps you manage, organize, and analyze customer interactions and data throughout the customer lifecycle. When integrated with Shopify, a CRM automatically syncs your customer information, order history, and shopping behavior into one centralized platform.

Why Every Shopify Store Needs a CRM

Think about this: your Shopify store collects valuable data every single day. Customer names, email addresses, purchase history, abandoned carts, product preferences, and browsing patterns. Without a CRM, all this data sits in silos, making it nearly impossible to:

• Personalize your marketing: Send the right message to the right customer at the right time
• Recover lost sales: Automatically follow up on abandoned carts with targeted emails
• Identify your VIP customers: Recognize high-value buyers and treat them accordingly
• Automate repetitive tasks: Stop manually copying customer data between systems
• Track customer journeys: Understand how customers interact with your brand across multiple touchpoints
• Scale your business: Manage thousands of customers as easily as you managed your first ten

According to recent industry data, the CRM software market was valued at $101.4 billion in 2024 and is projected to reach $262.74 billion by 2032. This explosive growth isn’t happening by accident. Businesses using CRMs report significantly higher customer retention rates, increased sales, and better team efficiency.

What Makes a Shopify CRM Different

Not all CRMs are created equal. A proper Shopify CRM integration means:

• Automatic data sync: Customer information flows seamlessly between your store and CRM in real-time
• E-commerce specific features: Built-in tools for abandoned cart recovery, product recommendations, and purchase-based segmentation
• Order tracking: Complete visibility into customer purchase history and order status
• Marketing automation: Triggered campaigns based on shopping behavior
• Revenue attribution: Track which marketing efforts actually generate sales

Top CRMs for Shopify Ranked by Business Size

Not every CRM fits every business. Your needs as a solo entrepreneur are vastly different from a team of 50. Here’s how the best Shopify CRMs stack up based on your business size and budget.

For Solo Entrepreneurs & New Stores (0-1000 customers)

1. NoteDesk

Best for: Shopify merchants wanting task management and CRM in one native app

Pricing: Free plan available, paid plans from $19/month (Solo) to $299/month (Scale)

Key Features:

• Built specifically for Shopify stores
• AI-powered task creation and automation
• Automatically create tasks from orders
• Team collaboration with customized permissions
• Customer notes and project management
• Smart notifications and reminders
• ERP capabilities for inventory tracking
• Task library with pre-built workflows

Why Choose NoteDesk: If you want a CRM that actually understands Shopify workflows, NoteDesk is built by people who get e-commerce. It automatically creates tasks from your orders, so nothing slips through the cracks. Perfect for tracking refunds, returns, influencer outreach, custom orders, and day-to-day store management. The AI assistant helps you stay organized without the complexity of enterprise CRMs.

Watch Out For: The app requires some initial setup to configure automations properly.

Get it here: NoteDesk on Shopify App Store

2. HubSpot CRM

Best for: Startups wanting enterprise features without the price tag

Pricing: Free forever (up to 1 million contacts), paid plans from $20/month

Key Features:

• Completely free CRM with unlimited users and contacts
• Shopify integration with customer sync
• Email tracking and templates included
• Basic marketing automation in free plan
• Contact, deal, and task management
• Live chat widget for your store

Why Choose HubSpot: HubSpot offers the most generous free plan in the industry. You get real CRM functionality without spending a penny, making it perfect for bootstrapped entrepreneurs. The Shopify integration automatically imports your customers, orders, and products into HubSpot, giving you a complete view of each customer.

Watch Out For: The free plan is genuinely useful, but as you grow, you might find yourself needing Marketing Hub features, which can get expensive quickly. The contact syncing with Marketing Hub can also increase your costs if you’re not careful about your contact tiers. Some users find it difficult and not intuitive to configure for Shopify.

3. Klaviyo

Best for: E-commerce focused email marketing with CRM features

Pricing: Free up to 250 contacts, then $20/month for 251-500 contacts

Key Features:

• Purpose-built for e-commerce businesses
• Advanced email and SMS marketing automation
• Powerful segmentation based on purchase behavior
• Pre-built flows for abandoned carts, welcome series, and win-back campaigns
• Real-time data sync with Shopify (under 10 minutes)
• Predictive analytics for customer lifetime value

Why Choose Klaviyo: If email marketing is your primary growth channel, Klaviyo is unbeatable. It’s the preferred email provider for Shopify Plus merchants, and over 117,000 brands trust it for their marketing. The platform excels at turning purchase data into targeted campaigns.

Watch Out For: Following Klaviyo’s February 2025 pricing change, you now pay based on all active profiles, not just who you email. This can get expensive fast. For 10,000 contacts, expect to pay around $150/month for email only.

For Small Teams (1000-5000 customers)

4. Zoho CRM

Best for: Budget-conscious teams wanting comprehensive features

Pricing: Free for 3 users, paid plans from $14/user/month. Requires Skylio connector (separate Shopify App)

Key Features:

• AI assistant (Zia) for voice and text commands
• Sales forecasting and territory management
• Workflow automation and custom modules
• Integration with 800+ apps including Shopify
• Canvas design studio for custom interfaces
• Built-in email marketing capabilities

Why Choose Zoho: Zoho offers incredible value for money. You get sales, marketing, and customer service features at a fraction of what competitors charge. The free plan for 3 users is genuinely functional, and paid plans remain affordable as you scale.

Watch Out For: The interface isn’t as intuitive as Pipedrive or HubSpot. Expect a learning curve, especially when setting up custom workflows. Some users report that customer support can be slow to respond.

5. Endear

Best for: Retail stores with physical locations needing clienteling and personalized outreach

Pricing: From $60/month, 14-day free trial available

Key Features:

• AI-powered clienteling platform designed for retail
• Unified customer profiles combining online and in-store data
• Smart segmentation by behavior and location
• Trackable email, SMS, and WhatsApp campaigns
• One-to-one personalized messaging at scale
• Visual lookbooks and product recommendations
• Store-level performance tracking
• Appointment scheduling and follow-up reminders

Why Choose Endear: If you have retail locations (or pop-ups) alongside your Shopify store, Endear is purpose-built for your needs. It empowers store associates to build genuine customer relationships through personalized text and email outreach. Users report 50%+ increases in sales from customer outreach. The platform excels at turning store staff into sales drivers with tools they actually want to use.

Watch Out For: Pricing can get steep quickly, with some users noting it approaches $3,600/year for full features. Best suited for businesses with at least one physical retail location. The feature set is heavily retail-focused, so pure e-commerce stores might find it overkill. Some organizational tools are still being developed based on user feedback.

Get it here: Endear on Shopify App Store

6. Pipedrive

Best for: Sales-focused teams that prioritize pipeline management

Pricing: From $14/user/month (Essential) to $99/user/month (Enterprise)

Key Features:

• Visual drag-and-drop pipeline interface
• Deal rotting alerts for stagnant opportunities
• AI-powered sales assistant
• Revenue forecasting and reporting
• Email integration and automation
• Mobile app for managing deals on the go

Why Choose Pipedrive: If your team lives and breathes sales, Pipedrive’s visual pipeline is unmatched. It’s incredibly intuitive, requiring minimal training. Sales reps can see exactly where every deal stands and what actions to take next.

Watch Out For: Pipedrive doesn’t include marketing automation or customer service features. You’ll need to add paid add-ons or integrate with other tools. It’s also more expensive than Zoho for similar functionality.

7. Brevo (formerly SendinBlue)

Best for: Multi-channel marketing with CRM features

Pricing: Free plan available, paid plans from $25/month

Key Features:

• Email and SMS marketing in one platform
• Marketing automation and segmentation
• Landing page builder included
• Facebook ads integration
• Transactional email capabilities
• Real-time reporting and analytics

Why Choose Brevo: Brevo combines email marketing, SMS, and CRM features at competitive prices. The free plan is generous, and you only pay for emails sent, not contacts stored. This makes it budget-friendly for stores with large lists but moderate sending volume.

Watch Out For: The CRM features are more basic compared to dedicated CRM platforms. It works well for marketing automation but might not satisfy teams needing advanced sales pipeline management.

For Growing Businesses (5000-25,000 customers)

8. Gorgias

Best for: E-commerce businesses prioritizing customer support with CRM features

Pricing: From $60/month, pricing based on monthly tickets (50-5000+ tickets)

Key Features:

• Deep Shopify integration with order data in every ticket
• AI Agent for automated responses and task handling
• Unified inbox for email, chat, social, voice, and SMS
• Process refunds and edit orders without leaving the helpdesk
• Automation rules and macros for common queries
• Self-service FAQ and Order Management features
• 100+ e-commerce app integrations
• Revenue tracking and performance analytics

Why Choose Gorgias: If customer support is your competitive advantage, Gorgias transforms it into a revenue driver. Unlike traditional helpdesks, Gorgias is built specifically for e-commerce, with Shopify data embedded directly in support tickets. Agents can see order history, process refunds, and update shipping addresses without switching tabs. The AI Agent automates repetitive tasks while maintaining your brand voice. Fashion retailer Princess Polly saw a 40% efficiency increase and 80% faster resolution times.

Watch Out For: Pricing is ticket-based, which can get expensive as you grow. Additional tickets beyond your plan cost extra ($0.40 per ticket on Starter plans). The interface can feel cluttered initially, and some advanced features require higher-tier plans. Best suited for stores handling significant support volume rather than occasional inquiries.

Get it here: Gorgias on Shopify App Store

9. Salesforce

Best for: Businesses ready for enterprise-grade features

Pricing: From $25/user/month (Starter) to $100/user/month (Pro Suite). Requires separate Shophop Shopify app to connect.

Key Features:

• Highly customizable platform with unlimited potential
• Advanced automation and workflow capabilities
• Comprehensive reporting and dashboards
• AppExchange marketplace with thousands of integrations
• Territory and quota management
• Einstein AI for predictive insights

Why Choose Salesforce: When you outgrow simpler CRMs, Salesforce provides the scalability and power you need. It handles complex sales processes, multiple teams, and sophisticated reporting requirements. The ecosystem is massive, so you’ll find integrations for virtually any tool.

Watch Out For: Salesforce has a reputation for complexity and cost. Implementation can take months, and you’ll likely need dedicated admin staff or consultants. The learning curve is steep, and total cost of ownership extends beyond the subscription fees.

10. Nutshell

Best for: Teams wanting simplicity with powerful features

Pricing: From $13/user/month

Key Features:

• Seamless Shopify order-to-lead sync
• Built-in email marketing (no extra cost)
• Sales pipeline and contact management
• Reporting and analytics included
• Territory and team management
• Excellent customer support

Why Choose Nutshell: Nutshell strikes a balance between simplicity and functionality. It’s easier to use than Salesforce but more powerful than basic CRMs. The built-in email marketing is a huge bonus, saving you from paying for separate tools.

Watch Out For: While Nutshell is user-friendly, it lacks some of the advanced customization options found in Salesforce or Zoho. The integration marketplace is smaller compared to industry giants.

Detailed Comparison Table

How to Choose the Best CRM for Your Shopify Store: Decision Framework

Choosing a CRM isn’t about picking the one with the most features or the lowest price. It’s about finding the right fit for your specific business needs. Here’s a practical framework to guide your decision.

Step 1: Define Your Primary Goal

What’s the main problem you’re trying to solve? Different CRMs excel at different things:

• If you need better email marketing: Klaviyo or ActiveCampaign
• If you want to manage a sales pipeline: Pipedrive or Salesforce
• If you need an all-in-one solution: HubSpot or Zoho
• If you’re on a tight budget: HubSpot Free, Zoho, or Brevo
• If customer support is crucial: Zendesk Sell

Step 2: Consider Your Team Size & Technical Skills

Be honest about your team’s capabilities:

• Solo entrepreneur or small team (1-5 people): Choose user-friendly options like HubSpot Free, Brevo, or Klaviyo. You don’t have time for complex setup.
• Growing team (5-20 people): Look at Pipedrive, Zoho, or HubSpot paid plans. You need collaboration features without overwhelming complexity.
• Established business (20+ people): Consider Salesforce, Nutshell, or enterprise-tier HubSpot. You have the resources for proper implementation and training.

Step 3: Calculate True Total Cost

Don’t just look at the monthly subscription price. Factor in:

• Per-user costs: How much when you add your entire team?
• Contact limits: What happens when you exceed the tier?
• Add-ons: Do you need SMS, advanced reporting, or extra integrations?
• Implementation: Will you need consultants or developers?
• Training: How much time (and money) for team onboarding?

Example: A CRM that costs $50/month might seem cheaper than one at $100/month, but if you need to buy five add-ons at $20 each, you’re suddenly at $150/month.

Step 4: Evaluate Integration Requirements

Your CRM needs to play well with your existing tools. Check for native integrations with:

• Email providers: Gmail, Outlook
• Marketing tools: Mailchimp, Facebook Ads, Google Ads
• Customer service: Zendesk, Gorgias, Help Scout
• Accounting: QuickBooks, Xero
• Other Shopify apps: Your review platform, loyalty program, etc.

Native integrations are always better than third-party connectors or Zapier workarounds. They’re more reliable and usually sync in real-time.

Step 5: Test Before You Commit

Never choose a CRM without testing it first. Most offer free trials:

• HubSpot: Free forever
• Klaviyo: Free up to 250 contacts
• Pipedrive: 14-day free trial
• Zoho: Free for 3 users, 15-day trial on paid plans
• Salesforce: 30-day free trial

During your trial, actually use the CRM for real work. Import your customers, set up a workflow, send a campaign. Don’t just click around the demo.

Step 6: Plan for Growth

Think 12-24 months ahead. Ask yourself:

• Will this CRM scale with us?
• What happens when we double our customer base?
• Can we add features as we need them?
• Is migration to a more powerful CRM easy if needed?

Starting with a free plan is smart, but if you’ll outgrow it in 6 months, factor in migration time and potential data loss.

Shopify CRM Integration: What You Need to Know

Integration quality varies dramatically between CRMs. Here’s what separates good integrations from great ones.

Types of Shopify CRM Integrations

Native Integrations (Best)

Built directly by the CRM provider, these offer the deepest functionality:

• Real-time sync: Data updates within seconds or minutes
• Bidirectional sync: Changes flow both ways between Shopify and CRM
• Automatic field mapping: Customer data, orders, products sync automatically
• No third-party tools needed: Direct connection, more reliable

CRMs with excellent native Shopify integrations: HubSpot, Klaviyo, Nutshell

App Store Integrations (Good)

Available through the Shopify App Store, usually built by the CRM provider or certified partners:

• One-click installation
• Pre-configured settings
• Generally reliable but may have limitations
• Updates managed by the app developer

CRMs with App Store integrations: Zoho, Pipedrive, Salesforce (via partners)

Third-Party Connectors (Acceptable)

Tools like Zapier, Make, or Sync Made Easy bridge the gap:

• More flexible but require setup
• Can introduce sync delays (15 minutes to hours)
• Additional cost for the connector tool
• May have monthly action limits

API Integrations (Advanced)

Custom-built by developers using the Shopify and CRM APIs:

• Completely customized to your needs
• Expensive to build and maintain
• Requires ongoing developer support
• Best for unique or complex requirements

Key Data Points That Should Sync

A proper Shopify CRM integration should sync:

Customer Information:

• Name, email, phone number
• Shipping and billing addresses
• Customer tags and notes
• Marketing consent status
• Account creation date

Order Data:

• Order ID and date
• Products purchased
• Order value and currency
• Fulfillment status
• Shipping information
• Discount codes used

Behavioral Data:

• Abandoned cart information
• Product views and searches
• Email engagement (opens, clicks)
• Customer lifetime value
• Purchase frequency

Integration Setup: What to Expect

Setting up a Shopify CRM integration typically follows this process:

1. Install the app or connector (5-15 minutes)
2. Authorize the connection between Shopify and your CRM
3. Configure sync settings: Choose which data to sync and how often
4. Map custom fields if you use non-standard fields
5. Run initial sync: Import historical data (can take hours for large stores)
6. Test the connection: Place a test order and verify it syncs correctly
7. Set up workflows: Create automated campaigns and processes

Total setup time ranges from 30 minutes for simple integrations (HubSpot, Klaviyo) to several days for complex implementations (Salesforce with customization).

Common Integration Challenges & Solutions

Challenge: Duplicate Records
Solution: Most CRMs include deduplication rules. Configure them to merge records based on email address or customer ID. Run cleanup regularly.

Challenge: Sync Delays
Solution: Choose CRMs with real-time or near-real-time sync. HubSpot and Klaviyo both sync within 10 minutes.

Challenge: Missing Historical Data
Solution: During setup, ensure historical sync is enabled. Some CRMs limit how far back they’ll import (typically 90 days to 2 years).

Challenge: Custom Fields Don’t Sync
Solution: You’ll need to manually map custom fields in your integration settings. Some integrations don’t support custom fields at all.

Frequently Asked Questions

Does Shopify have a built-in CRM?

Shopify doesn’t have a comprehensive CRM built into the platform. While Shopify stores customer data and order history, it lacks true CRM functionality like advanced segmentation, automation workflows, pipeline management, and integrated marketing tools. You’ll need to integrate a third-party CRM to unlock these capabilities.

What’s the cheapest CRM for Shopify?

HubSpot offers the most capable free CRM, followed by Zoho (free for 3 users) and Brevo (free with unlimited contacts but limited sends). For paid options, Zoho starts at $14/user/month and Pipedrive at $14/user/month, making them the most affordable full-featured CRMs.

Can I use HubSpot with Shopify?

Yes, and it’s one of the best combinations available. HubSpot offers a native Shopify integration that automatically syncs customers, orders, and products. The integration works with all HubSpot plans, including the free CRM. Setup takes about 10 minutes, and data syncs automatically going forward.

Is Klaviyo a CRM or email marketing platform?

Klaviyo markets itself as an “AI-first B2C CRM” but started as an email marketing platform. It includes CRM-like features such as customer profiles, segmentation, and lifecycle tracking, but lacks traditional CRM features like sales pipeline management and lead scoring. It’s best described as an e-commerce marketing platform with CRM capabilities.

How much does a Shopify CRM cost?

Costs vary widely based on your needs. Free options (HubSpot, Zoho for 3 users) work for startups. Small businesses typically spend $20-100/month. Growing businesses with teams spend $200-1,000/month. Enterprise solutions like Salesforce can cost $5,000-50,000+/year depending on users and features.

Do I need a CRM if I only have 100 customers?

Even with 100 customers, a CRM helps you stay organized and grow faster. The free plans from HubSpot or Klaviyo require zero investment but help you automate follow-ups, track customer behavior, and segment your audience. Starting with a CRM early builds good habits and makes scaling easier later.

Can I migrate from one CRM to another?

Yes, but it requires planning. Most CRMs offer CSV import/export, making basic data migration possible. However, you’ll lose automation workflows, custom fields, and integration settings. When migrating, budget for setup time, data cleanup, and potential data loss. Some CRMs offer migration services or partner with consultants who specialize in transitions.

What’s the difference between a CRM and email marketing software?

Email marketing software (like Mailchimp) focuses primarily on sending campaigns and newsletters. A CRM (like Salesforce) manages the entire customer relationship including sales pipelines, contact management, and customer service. Many modern platforms blur these lines, offering both email marketing and CRM features (like HubSpot, Klaviyo, and ActiveCampaign).

Making Your Final Decision

Choosing the best CRM for your Shopify store isn’t about finding the “perfect” solution. It’s about finding the right fit for your current needs and future growth.

Here’s your action plan:

1. Start with the free options. Test HubSpot and Klaviyo at no cost. They’re both genuinely useful without paying.
2. Focus on your primary use case. Need email marketing? Go with Klaviyo or ActiveCampaign. Need sales pipeline management? Try Pipedrive or Zoho.
3. Don’t over-engineer. The best CRM is the one your team will actually use. Simplicity beats feature bloat.
4. Plan for growth. Choose a platform that scales with you, but don’t pay for features you won’t use for two years.
5. Test thoroughly. Spend at least a week using your top 2-3 choices with real data before committing.

Quick Recommendations by Business Type:

• Just starting out: NoteDesk (free plan) or HubSpot Free
• Need native Shopify task management: NoteDesk
• E-commerce marketing focused: Klaviyo
• Retail with physical stores: Endear
• Budget-conscious with a team: Zoho CRM
• Sales-driven business: Pipedrive
• Customer support is priority: Gorgias
• Need enterprise power: Salesforce
• Want simplicity with power: Nutshell

The CRM market will continue evolving, with AI features and automation becoming standard. But fundamentally, your CRM should help you do three things better:

1. Understand your customers
2. Communicate with them effectively
3. Build relationships that drive long-term value

Choose the CRM that helps you accomplish these goals most efficiently, and you’ll see the impact in your bottom line.

Ready to transform how you manage customer relationships? Pick a CRM from this guide, sign up for a free trial, and start building stronger connections with your customers today.