A good practice management software can turn an inefficient medical practice into a great one. After all, your focus is to help patients feel better, enhance their quality of life, and improve their health. But to do that, you need to also track appointments, stay on top of billing, stay in contact with patients, and manage all your employees. Luckily, the best practice management software helps you do all that—while saving time and effort.
Compare Quotes From The Best Practice Management Software Get matched up with the practice management software that fits your needs. >> Compare QuotesWhy you need a practice management softwareYou need to present a professional appearance to the patients at your medical practice. Management software does this by enhancing your ability to manage your practice’s day-to-day operations. Some of the key components of this software include:
If your practice cannot generate accurate bills or cannot book appointments without making errors, patients will begin to lose trust in the medical practice. They may wonder whether the practice can care for their health properly if employees cannot even file insurance claims properly. The 10 Best Practice Management Software SolutionsWhen you want to create a professional appearance for your medical office, using any of the 10 best practice management software solutions on our list will help. But if the management software for your medical practice is difficult to use, any timesaving benefits disappear. To save the sanity of employees and to allow your practice to run at the best possible efficiency, consider one of our best practice management software recommendations. AdvancedMD• Excellent feature set For those who already own the AdvancedMD EMR software, its compatibility with AdvancedMD’s practice management software is seamless, creating a powerful combination. But even if you use a different EMR software, you still can use AdvancedMD as your best practice management software, as it has compatibility with many EMR systems. AdvancedMD’s interface is clean and well-organized, but some users will find it time consuming to figure out all of the various features, especially the advanced features. Pros
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Advanced Data Systems MedicsPremier• Reasonable prices For the right medical practice, MedicsPremier will be an excellent choice. But this is a software package that you must choose carefully, because it doesn’t work for everyone. It will especially help a medical practice that needs customization options at a reasonable price. It also has strong insurance claim generation features. However, training is expensive, and some users will find the navigation features difficult to understand. Pros
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AthenaHealth• Streamline billing & claims If your practice struggles when it comes to billing, the creators of athenahealth had you in mind. This software streamlines your billing processes, as well as submission of insurance claims. It even generates highly detailed reports that show areas where your practice’s billing results are lagging behind others in the industry. We also rank athenahealth highly in terms of the training it provides to its customers, getting them up to speed faster than some other software packages. Pros
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CareCloud• Easy to use When you want ease of use above everything else in your practice management software, CareCloud delivers. It has a well-organized interface, making all of the key features easily accessible. We really like CareCloud’s patient portal, which patients will find easy to use. This encourages them to spend more time entering their own data, saving your employees time in the long run. CareCloud also offers a strong EMR system, so you can mesh the two easily, if you’re in the market for an EMR system too. Pros
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DrChrono• Very versatile software With DrChrono, you’ll receive a versatile type of software that can handle the needs of small and large medical practices, offering an efficient interface that will save your employees time. It also has the ability to match any specialty needs that you may have, giving you customization options. Its cost is below other management software solutions, especially the startup costs. Pros
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eClinicalWorks• Best for smaller practices When you want a reasonably priced best practice management software that also provides high end billing services, eClinicalWorks is well worth considering. It fits nicely with practices that need extra help with verifying insurance claim codes before submission, which should reduce the number of rejected claims. If you’d like a software package that can grow with you as your medical practice expands and needs extra services, the multiple customization features in this software give you that option. Pros
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Greenway Health Intergy• Multiple customization options For a medical practice where you’ll have multiple people entering data and using the interface, the Greenway Health Intergy software is helpful. It allows people to enter data and perform tasks in several different ways, so they can work in the manner that makes the most sense to them. This will confuse some people, but it’s perfect for practices where employees like to learn to use software by jumping in and exploring on their own. Pros
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Kareo• Easy to learn to use When a smaller practice is looking for practice management software that isn’t going to break the bank or require a long subscription commitment, Kareo is an excellent choice. The interface is easy to use, but the design is a little older than some others. For those who need full billing services, Kareo has an EMR that works seamlessly with its practice management software. Pros
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NextGen Healthcare• Great for smaller practices Small practices that need multiple services will appreciate NextGen Healthcare. Its customer service is better than what you typically find for smaller practices, especially considering this software’s low price point. If you also need EMR software, NextGen Healthcare’s EMR will mesh well with the brand’s practice management software. Pros
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SimplePractice• Best for specialty practices For specialty practices, SimplePractice has features that will help them manage their specific and unique needs versus general practitioners. This is a popular software package among its customers, generating quite a bit of brand loyalty. It has a competitive price for the small practice, and it has plenty of features to help you stay in contact with patients. Pros
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How to Choose The Best Practice Management Software For YouWhat you’ll quickly learn with practice management software is one product does not fit all clients. With so many choices on the market for helping you manage your medical practice, it’s important to focus in on the features that will help your practice deal with its particular needs. Calculating PaymentsWith the billing and patient management information all in one location with practice management software, you have the ability to calculate the out-of-pocket cost for a procedure before it happens. A patient will be able to make smarter financial choices about when and how he or she would like to have a procedure done. Additionally, when the patient knows exactly what he or she will have to pay out of pocket before coming to the appointment, the medical practice will have a far better chance of being able to collect payment at the time of service, reducing paperwork. When patients feel as though they have more control over their healthcare decisions and costs, their experience is more satisfying. Coordination of SchedulingOne of the key components to running a medical practice efficiently is proper scheduling. Double bookings of patients or not having enough nurses in the office introduce hiccups in the office’s workflow. Medical practice management software keeps the office running smoothly, allowing the proper scheduling that matches the number of planned patients with the personnel required to handle them. Generating ClaimsOne of the most frustrating aspects of medical care for patients is the timeliness of billing statements and insurance claims. No patient wants to receive a bill a few months after an appointment because the medical practice failed to anticipate an insurance claim denial, delaying the entire process. Through practice management software, you can generate reports that show which types of insurance claims often generate rejections on the first attempt, allowing the office to change how it submits those claims. You also can generate reports that show any bottlenecks occurring in the processing of patient billing statements, ensuring that patients receive their charges in a timely manner. Improving EfficiencyEmployees at your medical practice often must handle a variety of tasks, especially at a small practice. Your practice management software interface should not be a hindrance to what you’re trying to accomplish. The interface must be easy to understand and use, allowing one employee to handle scheduling or to generate a report on his or her own. If the software’s features take a long time to learn or add unnecessary steps to performing simple tasks, employees will balk at having to use it. A complex software package may generate impressive statistics about how your practice is running. But if entering the data takes employees so long that they look for shortcuts or skip entering the data entirely, the data in the generated reports will be worthless. Self-Managing for PatientsMany practice management software solutions have a patient portal. This system creates a number of benefits, including:
This automation reduces the number of phone calls into your practice and shortens the length of those phone calls. This allows front desk personnel to handle other tasks, including focusing attention on face-to-face interactions with patients. Specialty NeedsIf your medical practice handles one or more specialty areas, it’s important that the practice management software can handle that specialty. If the software is too general in nature or doesn’t allow customization, it may not work well for your practice. Figuring out whether a particular piece of software can handle the specific needs for your specialty areas can be tricky. This is one area where you may want to speak to practices who have a similar situation to yours and who are already using the software you’re considering. The vendor should be able to put you in contact with some of its other customers for questions. Studying Cash FlowUltimately, you want your medical practice to succeed. The right practice management software can help by generating reports that show your cash flow and your level of profitability. Some software will be able to create more detailed reports than others. A basic system’s reports will show you which types of appointments or physicians are generating the most revenue. More complex reporting software may be able to drill down to show you the demographics of your patients, allowing you to generate efficient advertising or helping you figure out what equipment purchases you will need to make in the future to match the needs of the client base as it ages. System IntegrationMany medical practices have other types of software already in use. The practice management software you select needs to be able to mesh smoothly with these other types of software. For example, if you have an EMR solution already in place, some of the information inside the two systems could overlap. Rather than having employees waste time by entering data into two different systems, the two systems need to share data, so employees only need to enter it once. Practice management software should be able to share data with software running billing systems, as well as EMR and EHR software. (Because of the occasional overlap, if you are wondering whether you need both EMR/EHR and practice management software solutions, understand that EMR/EHR software contains medical information about patients, while practice management software gears itself toward the clerical operation of the practice.) Summary: Delivering Efficiency With Best Practice Management SoftwareWhen patients visit your medical practice, they want to feel better as quickly as possible. They don’t really care all that much about the day-to-day work that your employees must do behind the scenes to make that happen in an efficient manner. But you have to care. Making your medical office run efficiently often means having the best practice management software in hand. With the right software, your employees spend less time on mundane office tasks and more time meeting the needs of patients. Keeping your patients happy and healthy is far easier with the right practice management software, and it will help employees feel happier too. Compare Quotes From The Best Practice Management Software Get matched up with the practice management software that fits your needs. >> Compare Quotesvia Quick Sprout https://www.quicksprout.com/best-practice-management-software/
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Customer service software makes sure your customers are happy and satisfied with your business. After all, your customers make or break your success. Happy customers keep coming back and spending more money, while unsatisfied customers will cause significant damage to your reputation. In fact, an unhappy customer may tell up to 15 people about their poor experience. Negative interactions spread twice as fast as positive ones. 91% of customers who experienced poor service will never do business with you again.
On the flip side, eight out of ten consumers are more likely to buy from businesses again after a positive customer service experience. A 5% increase in customer retention can boost profits by up to 125%. The numbers speak for themselves. Customer service must be a priority for every business. Fortunately, the right customer service software can make this possible. Customer service solutions help ensure fast response times, positive interactions, and happy customers. The 8 Best Customer Service Software of 2020It’s tough to find a good customer service software. There’s many options available on the market. But some of these tools are significantly better than others. After researching and testing dozens of customer service solutions, I’ve narrowed down the top eight for you to consider.
As we continue you through this guide, I’ll give you an in-depth review of each one below. You’ll learn about the top features, benefits, use cases, pricing, and more. Best Customer Service Software ReviewsZoho Desk (Best for ticketing)• Free forever plan Zoho is one of the most popular names in the world of business software and CRM. The company has tools for sales, marketing, email, collaboration, finance, accounting, human resources, and business intelligence. But one of the best solutions that they offer is Zoho Desk—IT and help desk software. Zoho Desk has solutions for customer service agents, managers, and customers. But above all, it’s arguably the best customer service software for managing and closing tickets. Let’s take a closer look at the plans and price points for Zoho Desk: Free — $0
Standard — $12 per month per agent
Professional — $20 per month per agent
Enterprise — $35 per month per agent
No matter how big, small, or complex your business is, Zoho Desk has a plan for you. HubSpot (Best free customer service software)• 100% free forever plan HubSpot is one of the most well-recognized CRMs in the industry. They have a wide range of software and solution suites for managing relationships with customers. These offerings are segmented into three main categories—sales, marketing, and service. The HubSpot Service Hub is what we’ll be focusing on here today. It’s an exceptional solution for managing customer issues through service tickets. I like HubSpot because they offer free CRM solutions, including free software for customer service. Free features include ticketing, live chat, chatbots, team email, and a conversations inbox. You’ll also benefit from free email templates, closed ticket reports, and time-to-close reports. HubSpot is proof that you don’t need to spend a ton of money on improving your customer service with software. This won’t cost you a thing. For those of you who want access to advanced features and benefits, here’s an overview o the paid plans: Starter — $40 per month
Professional — $320 per month
Enterprise — $1,200 per month
All rates are based on an annual contract. You can get the HubSpot Service Hub month-to-month for 20% more. HubSpot also offers exceptional product bundles for all CRM categories in a single solution. So if you want to get software for service, sales, and marketing from a single provider, HubSpot is the best option for you. Bundles start at $112.50 per month. LiveAgent (Best for live chat support)• 100% free forever plan LiveAgent is a customer service solution that helps you manage all customer requests from multiple channels in a single platform. No matter where your customers are, you can merge all communication and support to one place. LiveAgent saves you time, simplifies the process, and allows you to increase the profitability of your support team. LiveAgent has tools for:
Here’s a closer look at the plans and prices for customer service software form LiveAgent: Free — $0 forever
Ticket — $15 per month per agent
Ticket + Chat — $29 per month per agent
All-inclusive — $39 per month per agent
For all of the paid plans, LiveAgent has add-on pricing for features like social media integration, time tracking, audit logs, and more. Overall, it’s a simple and flexible tool for managing live customers with ticketing and live chat. Freshdesk (Best for switching platforms)• Free 21-day trial Freshdesk is another one of the most popular help desk solutions on the market today. Above all, it’s simple. That’s why it’s trusted by 150,000+ businesses, including American Express, HP, and Panasonic. With Freshdesk, you’ll have access to an extensive list of features across a wide range of customer support categories:
It’s an excellent solution to streamline all of your customer connections in a single location. Freshdesk makes team collaboration and automation a breeze. If you’re currently using another help desk solution and you’re unhappy with it, Freshdesk makes it easy for you to switch to its software. Here’s an overview of the plans and pricing. All rates are based on an annual plan. The prices are a bit higher if you go month-to-month. Sprout — Free
Blossom — $15 per month per agent
Garden — $29 per month per agent
Estate — $49 per month per agent
Forest — $109 per month per agent
Freshdesk has omnichannel add-ons and features for field service management for an additional fee. Try it free with a 21-day trial. Zendesk (Best with support suite options)• Free trial available Zendesk is one of the best overall customer service software solutions on the market today. It’s used by 150,000+ businesses, including big brands like Uber, Venmo, Shopify, and Slack. The Zendesk support suite has everything you need to manage customer service communication across multiple channels. You can provide customer support via email, live chat, voice, Facebook, Twitter, WeChat, WhatsApp, and more. The software makes it possible to connect all of your data sources to a single location. So when a customer contacts you for support, the right information will automatically be on display. Zendesk is flexible, so it can support the needs of any business. You can get a customized solution that fits with your existing support environment. Here’s a quick overview of the plans, features, and pricing for the Zendesk support suite: Professional Support Suite — $89 per agent per month
Enterprise Support Suite — $149 per agent per month
The full-service support suite from Zendesk has it all. But not every business needs something this comprehensive. If you’re looking for something a little bit more basic, Zendesk offers more affordable options for smaller businesses.
You can try any Zendesk software or support suite with a free trial. If you’re looking for a customized solution, contact the Zendesk sales team. Salesforce Service Cloud (Best for field service agents)• Starts at $25/month Salesforce is an industry leader in sales CRM software. But they also offer tools and solutions for customer service. It’s trusted by 150,000+ companies across the world. The Salesforce Service Cloud makes it easy for any business to build customer relationships while saving time and improving customer satisfaction. Brands like Yeti and Adidas are just a couple of well-known names that use this software. Your customer service representatives will be able to resolve cases quicker with the insights and tools offered by Salesforce. The platform has a shared view of every customer interaction. Set up self-service portals so your customers can access account information, view tutorials, and view knowledge base articles. The Salesforce Service Cloud has capabilities to streamline your on-site support. Field service works, dispatchers, and on-site technicians can use these tools to resolve problems during the first visit. Salesforce uses AI to predict recommendations and provide support with an intuitive chatbot service. Let’s take a look at the plans and pricing for Salesforce Service Cloud: Essentials — $25 per user per month
Professional — $75 per user per month
Enterprise — $150 per user per month
Unlimited — $300 per user per month
All plans come with tools for collaboration, productivity, personalization, real-time insights, cross-sell and upsell tools, app integration, and solutions to automate processes. Salesforce offers add-ons for things like field service workers, digital engagement, and location-based intelligence. Groove (Best for small teams and growth startups)• Plans start at $9/month Groove isn’t as popular and well-known as some of the other options on our list. But it’s still used by more than 10,000 businesses across 140+ countries. If your company has outgrown email for customer support and you’re getting inquiries on multiple channels, Groove will be a top choice for you to consider. This solution stands out from the crowd with its team collaboration tools. You can add internal private notes to discussions, quickly mention teammates to bring them in the loop, and assign specific tasks to members of the team. Groove has exceptional automations to streamline your customer support. Set rules, tagging, canned replies, and custom folders with your preferences to eliminate busywork. Another standout feature from Groove is the ability to customize your knowledge base. This is crucial for businesses that want to offer customer self-service tools. The knowledge base themes are fully customizable, beautifully designed, and mobile responsive. Plans and pricing for Groove customer support software are as follows: Starter — $9 per month per user
Plus — $19 per month per user
Pro — $29 per month per user
Company — Custom pricing
I’d recommend Groove for small teams and startups. In fact, they have a special startup rate for businesses with less than ten employees. Eligible businesses can get a 93% discount off of the Pro plan. Help Scout (Best for nonprofits)• Plans start at $20/month Help Scout is another lesser-known solution on our list. But with that said, it’s still a high-quality software for customer service. It’s used by 10,000+ businesses worldwide. Help Scout is unique because it’s a Certified B corporation. They strive to make a positive impact on the environment and communities. So they go the extra mile to support organizations that share the same values. If you have a nonprofit that supports human rights, environmental sustainability, or underrepresentation in tech, Help Scout will provide a significant discount on your customer service software. Some of you might even be eligible for discounts of up to 100%. That’s right—free. Even if you don’t fall into one of those categories, Help Scout is still a top solution for customer service. Here’s a closer look at the plans and prices: Standard — $20 per month per user
Plus — $35 per month per user
Company — Custom pricing
The rates above are based on an annual contract. Month-to-month plans are available for an additional fee. You can try Help Scout for free with a 15-day trial. How to Choose the Best Customer Service Software For Your BusinessWhat’s the best customer service software for your business? There are certain features and considerations to keep in mind as you’re evaluating different options. This is the methodology that we use and recommend here at Quick Sprout. Number of AgentsHow big is your customer service team? Companies with five service reps won’t need the same software as a business with 50 agents. Larger teams need features for things like collaboration and role-based ticketing, but that won’t be necessary for a smaller business. Customer Communication MethodHow are customers currently reaching out to your service team? How do you want them to do so moving forward? There’s a software for everything. Whether it’s email, live chat, chatbots, or support tickets, you can find a solution to meet your needs. There are even tools for social media integration so all of your messages, including DMs and comments, can be managed from a single dashboard. Feature BundlesEvery customer service software on our list does an exceptional job of marketing its top features. But with that said, you should only focus on the features you need the most. For example, are you looking for customer service software specifically for live chat? LiveAgent will be a top choice for you. If you want a solution for your field service agents, use Salesforce Service Cloud. There are even tools for customer service, sales, and marketing CRM built into single product bundles. My suggestion is this. Identify the features you definitely need. Then look for the right plan that has all of those features. PriceThe price for customer service software varies on a wide range of factors. Lots of solutions charge you based on the number of customer service agents on your team. Available features in your package will also have a significant impact on what you pay. Customer service is definitely not something you should skimp on. It’s ok to spend money. But with that said, not all of you need to go overboard. Small businesses, startups, and nonprofits with smaller teams can use free customer service software without compromising quality. ConclusionEvery business must prioritize customer service. These are the top eight customer service software solutions on the market today:
Use this guide to help you find the best solution for your business. I made sure to include something for everyone on my list. via Quick Sprout https://www.quicksprout.com/best-customer-service-software/ Call center services are crucial to any type of business. Not only does it show you prioritize your customer support, it gives your customers multiple ways to contact your business. But managing a call center on your own can be a challenge. In-house call centers are usually costly and labor-intensive. This is especially true for smaller businesses and startups with fewer resources. Fortunately, call center services allow you to outsource your customer service phone support in a simple and cost-effective way.
Compare Quotes From The Best Call Center Services Get matched up with a call center service that fits your specific needs. >> Compare Quotes
Call center services typically record information from incoming calls, respond to FAQs based on your company script, and take messages for specific people within your organization. Advanced call centers can offer assistance for marketing campaigns and lead generation. Some services handle other communication methods as well, like email, live chat, and social media outreach. If you’re in the market for a call center service, you’ve come to the right place. I’ll show you the top options for you to consider and give you more information about choosing the best one for your business. The 5 Best Call Center Services of 2020What’s the best call center service on the market today? It depends on what you’re looking for. After extensive research, I’ve identified the five best customer call center services for you to consider. This guide contains an in-depth review, including the top features, benefits, and other information about these companies below. Best Call Center Services ReviewsTeleDirect• Inbound & outbound services TeleDirect works with Fortune 500 companies, startups, and everything in between. They offer both inbound and outbound call center services for businesses. Teledirect also has specific solutions for reservations and managing leads. Businesses can use TeleDirect’s inbound call services for things like processing orders, qualifying leads, tech support, and help desk services. Since Teledirect has agents available 24/7/365, it’s a top solution for after-hours support and call overflows. TeleDirect has experience handling calls from a wide range of businesses. Common industries that trust this call center service include retail, financial services, healthcare, insurance, and tech. The outbound calling services from Teledirect are exceptional as well. Your business can use this call center service for things like appointment setting, market research, lead generation, customer retention, event registration, surveys, and callbacks. Teledirect specializes in registration services. They’ve handled over 1.6 million customer reservations across multiple industries. It’s a fast and efficient way to get people to RSVP. This service is perfect for seminars, events, workshops, and open enrollments. The call center reps at Teledirect are friendly and professional. They know how to make an excellent first impression for both inbound and outbound calls, regardless of the call reason. I’d recommend Teledirect for businesses of all sizes. It’s even a top solution smaller businesses that just need assistance with after-hours calls and overflow. Five Star Call Center• Based in the United States Five Star Call Center has everything your business needs to manage customer service calls. They provide call center outsourcing, inbound voice, outbound voice, contact center software, and call center consulting. This company has 35+ years in the call center outsourcing industry. Common inbound call center outsourcing services from Five Star Call Center include:
Five Star Call Center also provides outbound calling for both B2C and B2B companies. Here are some of the popular outbound calling services:
As you can see from both of these lists, the services offered by the outsourced professionals at Five Star Call Center are extensive. All of the call center hubs are based in the US. There are five call centers in the midwest located in South Dakota, North Dakota, Kansas, and Oklahoma. With over three decades in the call center service industry, Five Star Call Center knows it all. They’ve helped businesses across every industry you can imagine. However, there are certain industries that Five Star Call Center specializes in. That includes retail, hospitality, product support, finance, healthcare, and professional services. Many call center services on the market today offer inbound and outbound calling. But sometimes, these providers have an edge in one category over another. Five Star Call Center definitely qualifies as a top outbound call center service. The outbound services are extensive and results-driven. These agents go above and beyond just reading from a script. They know how to connect with the caller on the other end of the line to accomplish whatever goal you’re trying to achieve. Go Answer• Specializes in inbound services Go Answer specializes in inbound call services for small businesses. They also provide answering services and legal intake services. More than 5,000 businesses throughout North America trust Go Answer for their outsourced contact enter needs. Go Answer goes beyond using the phone to communicate with your customers. They also handle communication via email, web chat, and SMS. These are some of the top features and benefits of using Go Answer as your call center service provider:
All of your messages and voicemails are available from the mobile app. You’ll get real-time updates and notifications delivered via push notification, text, or email. The contact center services from Go Answer are designed for medium to large businesses with a high call volume. They provide customized solutions for a wide range of industries. Thee agents essentially become an extension of your team. Go Answer supports multi-channel communication and ticketing for customer support inquiries as well. The answering service is geared toward smaller organizations. It’s a reliable way to make a professional impression on your customers. Go Answer boasts some of the fastest pickup times in the industry. You’ll also have free access to their mobile app, AlwaysOn. You can try the answering service risk-free for 30 days with a trial. Some of the most common industries using Go Answer include legal, real estate, publishing, finance, and ecommerce. Like most call center services, the rates for Go Answer are unavailable online. You’ll need to contact their sales team for a custom quote based on the specific needs of your organization. SAS• Specialty Answering Service SAS stands for Specialty Answering Service. As the name clearly implies, the SAS call center’s primary focuses is an answering service. In addition to the answering services, SAS provides call center outsourcing, dedicated call centers, lead generation services, and virtual receptionists. SAS has bilingual receptionists and virtual office capabilities for their live operators. The answering service is very diverse. While it’s obviously geared toward businesses, many people use SAS for personal use. Entrepreneurs, business owners, and busy professionals rely on SAS as a personal receptionist. SAS has dispatching services with operators that answer calls in three rings or less. They have toll-free numbers, emergency answering services, and support international calls. Unlike most call center services, SAS has simple and straightforward pricing listed on their website. Here’s a quick overview of those plans and prices:
SAS has a plan for everyone. Whether you need 10 minutes per month or 10,000+ minutes per month, this answering service is perfect for you. As you can see, higher volume businesses get a better discount per minute. But even the low-volume plans are affordable. While SAS specializes in answering services, they also provide outsourced calling for lead generation, dedicated customer service reps, and other popular call center services. Signius• 100% US-based Signius is a call center service that is 100% US-based. They work with small businesses to Fortune 500s and everyone in between. Your business can benefit from a custom live call center that matches your brand image and fits within your budget. Signius offers call center services as well as answering services. Some of their popular call center services fall into the following categories:
Signius takes the time to understand your business. They go through this process to become an extension of your existing team. You have the ability to outsource all or just a portion of your call center functions. Signius is known for its quick pickup times and modern technology. You’ll also have access to online reporting 24/7. Your client portal gives you the ability to measure the effectiveness of your call center strategy. The platform gives you information related to single calls as well as your historical data at scale. Common industries that take advantage of the call center services provided by Signius include:
For me, the small business call center and answering services from Signius stand out the most. As a small business owner, you likely won’t need a full call center of agents on-site handling phone calls 24/7. That’s obviously not an effective use of your resources. But Signius is available 24/7 and can answer calls even when your store is closed. Signius has call transfer services, customized scripts, and bi-lingual solutions. Even if you don’t get a high volume of calls, this will be an excellent option for you to choose. How to Choose the Best Call Center Service For Your BusinessNow that you’ve had a chance to review the top call center services on the market today, it’s time to choose one for your business. But how do you know which one is the best? There are certain factors that must be taken into consideration when you’re evaluating a prospective service. This is the methodology that we recommend here at Quick Sprout. Use this process to narrow down your options. ServicesMost call center services do much more than just answer phone calls. They usually offer a wide range of other services for things like market research, lead generation, event registration, and call forwarding. What does your company need assistance with? If you’re a small business owner that wants your customers to speak to a live agent instead of an answering machine when they call after hours, you just need an answering service. But if you’re a larger organization that needs outbound calls for things like lead qualification, sales, payment reminders, or membership renewals, you’ll need a company that offers these extra services. Availability and Call Center LocationsThe best call center services have live agents available 24/7/365. I wouldn’t consider a call center service that doesn’t offer this. In addition to their availability, you want to make sure that they have enough agents to quickly answer inbound phone calls. So it’s in your best interest to work with larger services with multiple locations and plenty of staff on hand. If working with a call center that’s based in the US is important to you, there are plenty of great choices for you to consider. You don’t have to outsource your call center overseas if you don’t want to. IndustryYour call center is an extension of your business. While the live agents making and receiving calls don’t work directly for your company, they become the primary point of contact for your customers. It’s important to find a call center service that has experience working in your industry. For example, a B2B company that is using an outbound call center service for event registrations and a doctor’s office using an answering service for post-discharge patients will have very different needs. Custom SolutionsAs consumers, we’ve all experienced phone support where the agent is clearly using a generic script. Those canned responses are applied to every business, regardless of industry or customer need. It’s frustrating when this happens. You don’t want your customers to have this same experience. That’s why you need to find a call center service that will take the time to understand your business and its needs. They’ll help you come up with a custom solution to improve the customer experience via phone support. The pricing structure for most answering services will be completely customized as well. Make sure you understand how you’re being charged before you commit to a contract. In many cases, it’s the most cost-effective to be billed based on usage. ConclusionCompare Quotes From The Best Call Center Services Get matched up with a call center service that fits your specific needs. >> Compare Quotes
If your business needs an outsourced call center service, these are the top five options for you to consider:
From low-volume answering services to high-volume sales calls and tech support, there’s an option for everyone on this list. No matter what industry you’re in or what type of needs your business has, I’m confident that you can use this guide to find the best call center solution. via Quick Sprout https://www.quicksprout.com/best-call-center-services/ Today’s world is digital—but phone support places a crucial role in customer service. That means having a good call center software to power your support. According to a recent study, 48% of consumers say they prefer to communicate with companies on the phone. Furthermore, 75% of people say they want human interaction for customer support. Call centers aren’t just for huge corporations anymore. Modern tech makes it possible for any business to set up a call center. Compare Quotes From The Best Call Center Software Get matched up with the call center software that fits your specific needs. >> Compare QuotesSoftware powers call centers today. That means no expensive hardware. In fact, might be able to use your existing phones and devices to manage your call center. The 7 Best Call Center Software of 2020After extensive research, I’ve narrowed down the seven best call center software solutions on the market today. As we continue you through this guide, I’ll give you an in-depth review of each provider on this list. We’ll discuss the features, benefits, pricing, and other considerations so you can make an informed decision for your business. Best Call Center Software ReviewsRingCentral Contact Center• Great for sales & service teams Most of you will probably be familiar with RingCentral. This company ranked first on our list of the best video conferencing services, and they also ranked high on our guide of the best VoIP phone systems. These are two of RingCentral’s best-known products. But the RingCentral Contact Center is also a top option for any business seeking call center software. It’s an ideal solution for both sales and customer service teams. RingCentral Contact Center has more than 40 robust features like intelligence routing, CRM integrations, and workforce management tools. You’ll also benefit from administrative and management features like surveys, call recording, and analytics. RingCentral is safe, secure, and reliable. They have a guaranteed uptime of 99.99%, and the software gives your agents the ability to work from anywhere. Here’s an overview of the RingCentral Contact Center plans: Basic
Advanced
Ultimate
You’ll need to contact the RingCentral sales team to get a quote for your business. But as you can see, they have options for everyone. Smaller teams that only need solutions for inbound calls can use the Basic plan. If you want omnichannel inbound call center support, the Advanced option will be best for you. For both inbound and outbound calling, you’ll need the Ultimate plan. RingCentral is a trusted name in the VoIP phone and video industry. Their call center software is consistent with the high-level quality you’d expect from this provider. Freshcaller• Free 14-day trial Freshcaller is call center software provided by Freshworks, which is another well-known, trusted, and established name in the world of business solutions. Like other Freshworks products, Freshcaller is a cloud-based solution that’s both simple and modern. It’s easy for any business to use, regardless of its size and technical expertise. More than 6,000 businesses use Freshcaller’s software for a call center. It’s used by inbound sales agents as well as customer support teams. Pricing for Freshcaller is a bit unique. You’ll pay a monthly rate for the plan you select based on the features offered. But you’ll also pay per minute based on usage. Let’s take a look at those plans first before we dive into the usage rates. Sprout — $0
Blossom — $19 per agent per month
Garden — $40 per agent per month
Estate — $59 per agent per month
From startups to growing teams and global companies, Freshcaller has an option for everyone. Call rates are based on factors like device (browser vs. phone), country, and whether or not the call is incoming or outgoing. Incoming rates start as low as $0.016 per minute, and outgoing rates start at $0.022 per minute. You can try Freshcaller for free with a 14-day trial. 8×8 Contact Center• Customized solutions The 8×8 Contact Center is an ideal solution for omnichannel routing. It’s a way for your company to enhance the customer experience from a single touch point. Top features include skills-based call routing, queued callback, web callback and IVR (interactive voice response). 8×8 also has inbound chat, email, and social channel contact solutions for your call center software. You’ll also benefit from real-time analytics and reports. This information is available from any device. It details customer journeys and wait times for every customer across all channels. 8×8 has tools to help you improve agency productivity. A private knowledge base, expert connect, simple interface, and comprehensive communication hub ensures that all customer communication is handled quickly and efficiently. Your 8×8 Contact Center integrates with CRMs like Zendesk, Salesforce, Microsoft Dynamics, and more. 8×8 is a top solution for large businesses and enterprises. It has advanced features with a global reach. The 8×8 Contact Center has exceptional security. It’s compliant with HIPAA, FISMA, and more. 8×8 has tools to ensure privacy for sensitive data entry fields as well. You’ll need to contact the 8×8 sales team for a custom quote on your solution. Five9• All-in-one contact center solution Five9 is an all-in-one contact center solution. It’s used by big brands like Lululemon, Expedia, Carfax, Omaha Steaks, and DHL. This company has been providing cloud-based solutions to businesses for roughly 20 years. Its 2,000+ business customers worldwide manage 5+ billion calls each year. The Five9 Intelligence Cloud Contact Center gives your customer service agents the power and flexibility to work from anywhere. Five9 is completely customizable. It’s built to meet the needs of your business, regardless of your size or industry. The software delivers crystal clear voice, strong security, and a 99.99% uptime rate. The top features and benefits of an all-in-one contact center software include:
Five9 has a wide range of solutions based on the type of business you have. They provide call center software for sales, telemarketing, customer service, collections, outsourcers, small business, medium-sized businesses, and enterprises. The Five9 contact center is fast, reliable, affordable, and easy to use. Contact their sales team to request a demo and get a custom quote. CrazyCall• 14-day free trial CrazyCall is a top call center solution for sales teams. It offers features like auto dialing, call monitoring, call script, call transfers, click to call, and a callback widget. All of the CrazyCall features and benefits are designed to make sales calls more efficient. CrazyCall has other solutions for ecommerce shops, small businesses, and support teams, but the sales features are still the highlight of this software. It even has tools for lead generation on your website. Here’s an overview of the CrazyCall plans and prices: Starter — $11 per month per user
Team — $22 per month per user
Professional — $45 per month per user
All plans come with a free phone number, API and integrations, and 24/7 customer support. The free minutes each month apply to 122 countries. Beyond that, calls to US landlines start at just $0.01 per minute. You can try CrazyCall for free with a 14-day trial. Zendesk Talk• Free lite plan Zendesk is best known for its customer service CRM. But it has a separate solution, called Zendesk Talk, for call center software. This cloud-based call center solution is built directly into the ticketing system for Zendesk Support. Your agents will have access to the full customer history and additional features like call recording and automatic ticket creation. The software is designed to improve your support process, while eliminating unproductive tasks. Your agents can focus on solutions, conversions, and customers, as opposed to workflow bottlenecks. Top features of Zendesk Talk include:
Similar to other call center software on our list, Zendesk Talk is based on a combination of your plan and usage. Zendesk Talk has a wide range of plans for you to choose from. The list and features for each one are quite extensive. So rather than giving you a complete overview of those, I’ll just quickly cover the starting prices to give you an idea of the cost.
Zendesk offers a paid partner edition starting at $9 per agent per month. This is for every agent taking calls with Zendesk Support. To estimate your usage rates, Zendesk Talk has a calculator tool that you can play around with. Talkdesk• End-to-end customer experience Talkdesk has a wide range of products and solutions for businesses. The company offers tools and software for things like customer engagement, workforce engagement, and reporting. The contact center software from Talkdesk is one of its best and most popular offerings. It’s marketed as an end-to-end customer experience solution. It’s designed the meet the needs and expectations of the modern customer. These people have a certain expectation when they call your company. Talkdesk will help you improve productivity while reducing costs and increasing the customer experience. Top features of Talkdesk include:
For the most part, Talkdesk is used by businesses across a handful of major industries. This includes retail, ecommerce, financial services, healthcare, travel, and hospitality. Talkdesk has solutions based on call center type (sales, support, BPO) and business size (small, mid, enterprise). Contact the Talkdesk sales team today for a quote. Join the 1,800+ businesses like Peleton, IBM, and Dropbox using this call center software. How to Choose the Best Call Center Software For Your BusinessAs you can see from this list, call center software is extremely versatile. There are so many different features and benefits at your disposal. But with all of these options, how can you possibly know which one is best for your company? There are certain factors that you should be evaluating when making your decision. This is the methodology that we use and recommend here at Quick Sprout. Omnichannel SupportAny business in the market for call center software is likely communicating with customers across other channels as well. Consider if you want to integrate those communication tools like email, live chat, and social media into your call center software. This will allow your agents to better serve the needs of your customers throughout each stage of the support process. Call Center TypeWhat type of call center do you have? Do you need software to support inbound calls only? Or do your agents need outbound dialing capabilities? Not every solution offers both. The purpose of these calls will also have an impact on the software you choose. There are certain options that are better for sales, while others are better for customer support, troubleshooting, and ticketing. IntegrationsThe best call center software will integrate with your CRM solution. Some of the options on our list have their own full-service CRM systems as well. So you could potentially get an all-in-one solution from the same provider. PricingIt’s important that you have a clear understanding of how you’ll be billed for customer call center software. Not every company lists their prices online. In most cases, you’ll pay based on a combination of usage and support agents. The majority of call center solutions have different plans for different the features you need. Make sure to find one that best fits your needs and budget. Compare Quotes From The Best Call Center Software Get matched up with the call center software that fits your specific needs. >> Compare Quotes
ConclusionEvery business providing phone support for customers can benefit from call center software. From startups to enterprises and everything in between, these are the top seven call center software solutions on the market today:
Whether you need assistance with sales, customer support, or both, there’s an option for your business on this list. via Quick Sprout https://www.quicksprout.com/best-call-center-software/ Human resources software helps businesses of all sizes manage various aspects of HR processes. From employee onboarding to payroll, benefits, training, and more, HR software makes everything easier for your HR staff and employees alike. Without HR software, organizations face a bottleneck in the HR department. The only way for employees to access information is by calling HR, sending an email, or physically visiting the HR office. These scenarios aren’t realistic for the modern workforce, especially with so many people working remotely or in the field. The best HR software provides employee self-service tools so people can access crucial information from anywhere. When HR solutions were first released, it was typically licensed as on-premise software. But today, cloud-based technology has made it much easier for businesses to attain and use HR tools to streamline their processes. Whether you’re a first-time buyer or looking to switch from your existing HR solution, you’ve come to the right place. I’ll help you find the best HR software for your business. The Top 7 Best HR SoftwareAfter researching dozens of HR solutions on the market today, I’ve narrowed down the top seven that you should consider. Continue below to learn more about the features, benefits, prices, use cases, and potential drawbacks of each one on the list. #1 – Zenefits — Best Overall Human Resources Software• All-in-one HR solution Zenefits is our top overall recommendation for human resources software. It’s trusted by 11,000+ businesses and used by more than 400,000 employees. As an all-in-one HR solution, Zenefits provides features for compensation packages, employee onboarding, PTO management and requests, employee management, and more. Zenefits has built-in compliance features and safeguards in place to help you prevent accidental mistakes. The software automates the majority of compliance tasks and government filings as well. With Zenefits, you’ll be able to increase employee productivity throughout your organization. Your staff can use Zenefits for things like self onboarding, choosing benefits, and signing documents. Here’s a quick overview of the plans and pricing for Zenefits: As you can see, these rates are very affordable. Depending on the size of your organization and the needs of your HR department, there’s a plan for everyone. Payroll is not included in any of the base plans, but you can add it on for $6 per employee. For a limited time, Zenefits is offering one free year of payroll to help small and midsize businesses during the COVID-19 pandemic. There are some restrictions; for example, you must sign up for an annual HR subscription plan. Try Zenefits free for 14 days. #2 – BambooHR — Best Human Resources Management System (HRMS)• For small and medium businesses For businesses seeking a complete HRMS solution, BambooHR will be a top choice for you to consider. This software is trusted by more than 17,000 companies and has 1.56+ million active employee users. As a human resources management system, the primary focus of BambooHR is on the people within your business. The software specializes in hiring, onboarding, compensation, and company culture. Designed for small and medium businesses, the solution makes it easy for business owners and HR departments to collect, maintain, and analyze data about their employees. This information will ultimately help the way you hire new talent and create a culture that empowers your team. Some of the top features offered by BambooHR software include:
BambooHR also has an exceptional mobile app that’s ideal for employees and HR administrators alike. You can purchase add-ons for things like performance management and time tracking. Pricing for BambooHR is not available online. You’ll need to contact their sales team to get a quote. Unfortunately, payroll isn’t available for this software. So you’ll need to run your payroll elsewhere. Check out our guide of the best online payroll services for some guidance in that department. Try BambooHR free for seven days. #3 – Namely — Best HR Software for Mid-Sized Companies• Made for mid-sized businesses Namely is a full-service HR solution for mid-sized organizations. It’s trusted by 1,400+ businesses, so it’s not quite as popular as some of the other options on our list. But don’t let that number fool you. Namely’s HR solution has everything you need to manage a mid-sized HR department at scale. With Namely, you’ll benefit from core features like:
The software processes over $10 billion in payroll each year, so it’s great to have that feature built-in. You’ll have access to live HR advisers, a learning management system, a living handbook, and OSHA logs to manage your HR compliance. Namely has enhanced services for things like benefits consulting as well. The software is easy to use, and employees love it. Accessing pay stubs and requesting time off is just a few clicks away from the web portal or mobile app. On average, HR departments save 11 hours per week by switching to Namely. Imagine how much more productive you could be with an extra 572 hours per year to spare. Namely integrates with third-party tools for things like applicant tracking, e-sign, time and attendance systems, background checks, international payroll, and more. If you’re using already using a tool and can’t find it on the pre-built list of integrations, you can build your own through the secure Namely API. Pricing for Namely HR is not available online. You’ll need to request a free demo and quote. #4 – Gusto — Best HR Software For Small Business Payroll• Trusted by 100k+ businesses Gusto is best known for its online payroll services. But the platform also has additional HR features, making it perfect for startups and small businesses. More than 100,000 small businesses trust Gusto for payroll and HR. The platform is super easy to use. Business owners who are managing payroll and HR on their own without a dedicated department can still navigate through Gusto with ease. Gusto automatically calculates and files local, state, and federal taxes. It seamlessly integrates with tools like Quickbooks, Xero, Clover, TSheets, and more. In addition to payroll, you can use Gusto to manage small group health insurance. There are more than 3,500 medical, dental, and vision plans available through Gusto’s licensed advisors. Other employee benefits options available on Gusto include 401(k) retirement, 529 savings, workers’ compensation, HSA, life and disability, commuter benefits, and more. Use Gusto to manage compliance for things like HIPAA, COBA, Department of Labor, IRS, ACA, and ERISA. Here’s a quick overview of Gusto pricing:
Gusto also has a free plan for businesses that haven’t hired W-2 employees. You can use Gusto to pay 1099 contractors for just $6 per month per person. All Gusto pricing is month-to-month, so you can can cancel at any time without a long-term commitment. #5 – SAP SuccessFactors — Best HCM Software Suite• Ideal for SMEs SAP SuccessFactors specializes in HR software for HCM (human capital management). They put a unique twist on HCM and HRMS with the SAP SuccessFactors HXM suite. If you’re not familiar with the acronym HXM, it’s probably because it isn’t an industry term. SAP coined the phrase “Human Experience Management” for this product suite. This cloud-based human resources software is segmented into four different categories of products:
As you can see, the product suite covers everything your HR department could possibly need. The platform is robust and feature-rich, but it’s likely overkill for most small businesses. I’d recommend SAP SuccessFactors to larger organizations and SMEs. A small and mid-sized enterprise would benefit more from some of the advanced features offered in this product suite, especially in terms of analytics and workforce management. Pricing for SAP SuccessFactors is not available online. You’ll need to contact the customer service team via phone, email, or live chat to get more information. #6 – People HR — Best For Applicant Tracking and Recruitment• Applicant tracking system The People HR software is best known for its applicant tracking and talent recruitment features. But it also has a wide range of human resources essentials that you can benefit from. This UK-based company provides HR services to companies throughout the world. In terms of the HR essentials, People HR provides features for:
Payroll is not built-in to People HR, but the software integrates with ADP, Sage Payroll, Ceridian, and Activpayroll. The ATS (applicant tracking system) is the feature that really makes People HR shine. It allows you to easily attract, identify, and secure top-level talent. Publish open positions, screen for talent, manage your shortlist, and send an offer directly through the platform. Here’s a quick overview of the plans and price points for People HR:
As you can see, the rates are extremely affordable, even for smaller organizations. Although it’s worth noting that the recruitment and applicant tracking features aren’t available in the Team or Professional plans. You’ll need to upgrade to Enterprise or Elite to access those features. Try it for free; no credit card required. #7 – Sage Business Cloud People — Best For Multinational Organizations• Made for mid-sized businesses Sage offers a wide range of products for businesses across all different shapes, sizes, and industries. From accounting tools to management and more, this is probably an organization that you’re familiar with. With that said, Sage Business Cloud People is an ultra-specific HR solution. It’s designed for medium businesses with a global presence. Managing HR when you have employees in different locations across the globe can be quite challenging. But Sage makes this easy by helping you create a single global policy for your entire organization while remaining compliant with all local and national regulations. The platform is ideal for businesses with 200 to 5,000 employees. Small businesses should look elsewhere for HR needs. Sage is robust enough to scale with your medium-sized company as it grows. It has everything you need to attract, maintain, and manage your workforce at a global level. Compared to other HR services on the market today, the setup for Sage Business Cloud People is a bit complex. They advertise as offering “rapid implementation,” but if you read the fine print, it says you can go live in as little as 90 days. Three months is a long time to get set up. So if your HR needs are time-sensitive, this platform probably isn’t for you. Pricing for Sage Business Cloud People is not available online. Contact their sales team to book a free demo. How to Find the Best HR Software For Your BusinessWith so many HR solutions on the market today, finding the best option for your business can feel like a daunting task. Fortunately, I’ll explain what factors and elements you need to take into consideration as you’re evaluating prospective solutions. This is the methodology that we used to pick the winners on our list. Business SizeThe first way to narrow your options down is by the number of employees you have. Startups and small businesses with 20 employees won’t have the same needs as a company with 200 or 2,000 employees. Startups and small businesses should look to solutions like Zenefits or Gusto. Namely and SAP SuccessFactors are better for medium businesses. It’s important to make sure that your HR software can scale with you as your company grows. HR NeedsWhat exactly do you need HR software for? My needs might not be the same as yours. Not all software provides every single HR capability. So you need to identify the main reason why you’re seeking HR software. For example, you won’t find payroll on the feature list for the majority of software on our list. In most cases, you’ll have to pay extra to get payroll on the few platforms that do offer it. Other solutions address specific needs, like human capital management (HCM), applicant tracking systems (ATS), and human resources management system (HRMS). Some providers address ultra-specific needs, such as HR software for managing international employees. Additional FeaturesIn addition to your core needs, you should look to see what other additional features are offered by the software you’re evaluating. Mobile apps and employee self-service tools are nice to have. Time tracking, time-off management, onboarding tools, and dozens of other features won’t necessarily fall into the “core HR” feature list. But they’re still great to have if you’re trying to optimize your HR department. Just don’t let a long list of additional features distract from your primary HR needs. PriceMost HR software is billed on a monthly basis per employee. These rates can start as low as $5 per employee per month. Some platforms charge a base rate for your core plan, and then charge a per employee rate on top of it. Other software has different per employee rates based on the features available in the plan you select. Not every HR solution has transparent pricing available online. In some cases, you’ll have to contact the sales team to request a quote and demo. Always test out the software with a free trial when its available before you commit to anything long term. ConclusionWhat’s the best HR software on the market today? Generally speaking, there is no “best for everyone” solution. Zenefits is our top overall recommendation because it meets the needs of most businesses. For those of you searching for a complete HRMS, try BambooHR. If your priority is small business payroll, choose Gusto. Mid-sized organizations should learn towards solutions like Namely. People HR is our top recommendation for applicant tracking and recruitment. Check out SAP SuccessFactors for an HCM product suite. For mid-sized organizations with international employees, we recommend Sage Business Cloud People. Regardless of your business size, industry, or HR needs, you can find what you’re looking for using this guide. via Quick Sprout https://www.quicksprout.com/best-hr-software/ Agile project management has become increasingly popular over the last decade or so. While this project management methodology was initially created for software development teams, the principles can be applied to any large-scale project across any industry. Traditional project management is rigid. It follows a linear path and offers little to no room for making changes. Agile project management is much more flexible. The methodology makes it significantly easier to make changes to the product throughout the process. With an agile operation, teams can manage projects by breaking the process up into multiple stages. There is constant collaboration and continuous improvement at each step as well. The final deliverable of an agile project might be different than the initial plan. Any business or project team that handles fast-changing deliverables can benefit from an agile project management system. That’s why this methodology is so popular for technology and software projects. Regardless of the type of projects you’re managing, you need to have an agile project management tool to implement this methodology properly. Use this guide to find the best project management software for your team. The Top 7 Best Agile Project Management Tools
After researching dozens of agile project management tools on the market today, I narrowed down the list to seven that I can confidently recommend. Continue below to learn more about the features, benefits, use cases, prices, and potential drawbacks for each tool. #1 – Jira Software — Best Overall Agile Project Management Tools• Supports any agile framework Jira Software by Atlassian is our top overall recommendation for agile project management. Regardless of your team size, industry, or project type, Jira can accommodate your needs. One of the reasons why we like Jira so much is its ability to fit any agile framework. This agile project management tool supports scrum, kanban, mixed methodologies, and agile at scale. For those of you who use scrum, you’ll benefit from tools for sprint planning like story points, version management, backlog grooming, and a scrum board. Jira makes it easy to track your sprints with sprint permissions, custom issue types, workflows, and a release hub. Jira Software also has tools to help prepare your team for daily scrums or stand ups. This makes these quick meetings more efficient for everyone. Teams that prefer kanban will enjoy flexible workflows, swimlanes and columns, story cards, WIP limit configuration, and full visibility to everything on your kanban boards. Whether you’re using scrum, kanban, or a mixed methodology (like scrumban or kanplan), Jira gives you insightful reports to help project managers and teams make data-driven decisions related to the project. There is a bit of a learning curve for Jira Software. If you’re new to agile project management, this isn’t a tool that you’ll master in your first hour of use. Pricing for Jira starts at $10 per month for up to 10 users. Plans for teams of 11+ start at $7 per month per user. Rates adjust based on your team size; the per-user prices decrease as more users get added to your plan. Whether you have a team of five or 5,000, Jira can accommodate your needs. You can try Jira Software free forever with up to 10 users. For those of you who want to deploy Jira on your own servers, there’s a self-managed option as well. #2 – SprintGround— Best Agile Project Management Tool For Developers• Free for up to 3 users SprintGround is a popular project management tool for development teams. The software supports scrum and kanban, as well as a linear project management approach, known as the waterfall model. With that said, the majority of you will likely lean towards the scrum and kanban methods, since the waterfall methodology isn’t agile. Some of the top features of SprintGround include:
SprintGround also makes it easy for your entire team to organize ideas, ask questions, make suggestions, and give feedback. It’s easy to track changes and view a quick summary of what happened since your last log-in. The tool allows you to accurately plan releases and even has the ability for product owners to follow the development process. Add files, share designs, upload mockups, and collaborate directly within the SprintGround platform. This agile project management tool makes it easy for you to determine how much time is left in the project and determine if you’re on schedule in real-time. Overall, SprintGround helps improve team productivity. You’ll also benefit from critical decision support for short-term and long-term planning. As a project manager for a software development project, SprintGround will give you a clear project overview for who is working on what. You’ll be able to monitor every task and decrease your incident response time. SprintGround has a free forever plan for up to three users and two projects. Paid plans start at €24 per month for up to 8 users and €59 per month for up to 20 users. For teams of 21 or more, SprintGround costs €5 per month per user. If your development team uses kanban, but you’ve outgrown Trello, SprintGround will be a top choice for you to consider. The only downside is that the file storage is limited for all plans. Additional storage can be purchased for €1 per GB per month. Try any SprintGround paid plan free for 30 days. #3 – Pivotal Tracker — Best Agile Management Tool For Integrations• Free for up to 3 users Pivotal Tracker is another agile project management solution designed for teams who build software. It has specific features for guided iteration, which allows you to break down your projects into manageable tasks and subprojects. This tool gives you a clear overview of real-time work status for everyone on the team. I’d recommend Pivotal Tracker to teams working on multiple projects simultaneously. It’s a great option for users on multiple teams as well. Pivotal Tracker supports file sharing and a powerful search syntax to find what you need within complex projects. You can add labels to projects to make your workflow more visible. The tool has a detailed breadcrumb trail of the project history so you can see how code changes were mapped out from day one to the final solution. There is one area where Pivotal Tracker really stands out compared to other tools on the market today—integrations. The platform seamlessly integrates with third-party apps like Slack, Zendesk, Zapier, GitHub, and more. You can browse the Pivotal Tracker Integrations Gallery to view more than 140+ apps to extend your agile project management functionality. They have integrations for every category you can imagine. From analytics to issue tracking, roadmapping, API, customer support, testing, and more, Pivotal Tracker has it all. The drawback of this tool is the fact that it relies on these third-party apps for full functionality. It’s not as feature-rich and robust out of the box, like other agile tools on our list. Here’s a quick overview of the pricing for Pivotal Tracker:
All rates are based on an annual contract. For teams of 50 or more, you’ll need to contact Pivotal Tracker’s sales team for enterprise pricing. Try any Pivotal Tracker plan free for 30 days. The trial comes with unlimited collaborators, unlimited projects, and unlimited storage. #4 – CollabNet VersionOne — Best For Scalability• Trusted by 50,000+ teams CollabNet VersionOne is an enterprise-grade agile project management tool built for scaling teams across every department. It’s trusted by 50,000+ teams, making it one of the most popular agile project management solutions on the market today. For those of you starting from scratch with agile and lean software development, VersionOne will be a top option for you to consider. It’s easy to scale your teams, project workplaces, portfolios, and locations throughout your entire organization. VersionOne makes it easy for large organizations to collaborate and work together in real-time. The VersionOne tool supports scrum, kanban, XP, SAFe, and hybrid development. It integrates with other tools that you’re using, like Salesforce, Microsoft TFS, HP, GIT, Jira, CA Agile, and more. Overall, there are 70+ integrations for this project management tool. VersionOne is an all-in-one agile ALM (application lifecycle management) platform. It comes with key features for things like:
For smaller teams, the features of VersionOne will be a bit overwhelming. The price likely won’t be worth it for you either. Like most enterprise solutions, pricing for VersionOne is not available online. You can try it free for 30 days or request a demo. #5 – Targetprocess — Best Agile Tool For Enterprise Security• Cloud and on-premise Similar to VersionOne, Targetprocess is another agile project management tool for enterprises. Targetprocess puts a stronger emphasis on visual portfolios and work management tools for agile organizations. In fact, the tool is branded more as a visual platform than a project management solution. With that said, it still has all of the tools and features you need for enterprise project management. Targetprocess supports kanban, portfolio dashboards, portfolio backlogs, roadmapping and milestones management, budgeting, process tracking, conflict resolution, workspaces, and workflow customization. Overall, it’s a single source of truth for agile enterprises. Targetprocess has an ideas intake solution for customers and stakeholders in projects. It has enterprise-grade security features as well. While most organizations use Targetprocess as a cloud-based SaaS, on-premise hosting is available for enterprises that want a solution on their own servers. The tool is compliant with GDPR and ISO27001. So if data privacy is a top priority for your organization, you can trust Targetprocess to take those needs seriously. They offer private cloud hosting packages for industries with strict regulations as well. You’ll also benefit from one of the best customer support teams in the industry. Targetprocess has 24/7/365 monitoring and response. The tool integrates with third-party apps like Salesforce, Zendesk, GitLab, Azure DevOps, and more. Pricing for Targetprocess is not available online. Contact their sales team to request a live demo, free trial, or price quote. #6 – ActiveCollab — Best Agile Tool For Time Tracking• Starts at $7 per month With so many agile project management tools on the market geared toward larger organizations and enterprises, it’s nice to see ActiveCollab accommodate the needs of smaller teams and small businesses. For the last 10+ years, more than 50,000 teams have used ActiveCollab as a project management solution. In addition to basic agile management tools, this platform puts a strong emphasis on time tracking software. It’s ideal for teams that charge by the hour for their work. Starting at $7 per month per user, ActiveCollab is an affordable solution for any business or team. Save 15% with an annual contract. Unfortunately, not every feature comes standard out of the box. To access the time tracking features, integrations, workload management tools, and more, you’ll need to pay an additional $4 per month per user. But it’s still relatively cheap compared to other options on the market. You won’t have as much flexibility in terms of the agile methodology that you’re using either. The dashboards for task management are limited to just column views and timelines. For a limited time, try ActiveCollab free for 90 days. This is significantly longer than the normal 14-day free trial period. #7 – Monday.com — Best Simple Agile Project Management Tool• Starts at $39 per month For teams looking for a simple agile project management solution, look no further than Monday.com. More than 100,00+ organizations across the globe trust this platform, including big names like GE, Adobe, Uber, Hulu, and Costco. Teams with remote workers rely on Monday.com as a project management solution. It’s a centralized project management hub as well as team collaboration space. Monday.com is great for product launches, sprint planning, and bug tracking. The solution is flexible enough to keep improving your project with real-time reporting, insights, and updates. But it’s easy enough for any of the non-technical users on your team. If you’ve outgrown your basic project management software, you can upgrade to Monday.com and still benefit from a simple kanban view with other advanced features. Pricing for Monday.com depends on the plan you select, the number of users on your team, and the length of your contract. Plans start at $39 for 5 users. Try it free for 14 days. How to Find the Best Agile Project Management Tools For YouWith so many agile project management tools to choose from, how can you determine which one is the best for your business? This is the methodology that I used to pick the top options on the list above. I’ll explain what’s important about these factors in greater detail below. Generally speaking, there is no “best for everyone” solution. So you’ll have to weight these elements against your personal needs. Agile FrameworkAre you currently using an existing agile methodology to manage your team? Do you prefer one framework method over another? Not every agile project management tool supports each methodology. For example, Jira Software supports scrum, kanban, and mixed methodologies. SprintGround supports scrum and kanban, while also offering support for the waterfall methodology (linear approach). Some of the enterprise-grade solutions, like Targetprocess, have frameworks for LeSS (large scale scrum), DAD (disciplined agile delivery), scrum at scale, lean-agile, SAFe (scaled agile framework), and more. Make sure you choose a tool that supports your preferred agile framework. Team SizeProject managers overseeing five or six developers won’t need the same project management tool as an organization with hundreds or thousands of team members. CollabNet VersionOne and Targetprocess are ideal for larger organizations and enterprises. Monday.com and ActiveCollab support smaller teams. Jira Software can accommodate teams of all shapes and sizes, up to 5,000 users. Ease of UseAs I said before, agile project management tools are usually geared towards the tech industry. Web developers, app developers, and teams working on software releases use agile methodologies the most. But with that said, some solutions are more technologically advanced than others. You need to make sure that users on your team who aren’t technically inclined can still navigate through the platform. By requesting a demo and taking advantage of a free trial, you can test the ease of use before committing to a paid subscription. PriceYou don’t need to spend a fortune on an agile project management solution. We’ve seen rates starting as low as $7 per month. When you’re pricing out a solution, just make sure to read the fine print. In some instances, lower rates require a minimum number of users or an annual contract. For some enterprise solutions, you’ll have to request a custom quote for your team. ConclusionWhat’s the best agile project management tool on the market today? It depends on what you’re looking for. Jira Software is our top overall recommendation, but it’s not for everyone. For those of you who want as many different third-party integrations as possible, try Pivotal Tracker. Development teams should lean toward SprintGround. VersionOne and Targetprocess are better for larger organizations. Use ActiveCollab for the best built-in time tracking. If simplicity is the most important feature to you, try Monday.com. Regardless of what you’re looking for, you can find it on our list. I made sure to include something for everyone. via Quick Sprout https://www.quicksprout.com/best-agile-project-management-tools/ We all know it’s important to drink enough water. Dehydration can lead to headaches, lack of focus, and a loss of productivity. Not everyone likes the taste of tap water, so many businesses have high-quality water delivered. If you’re looking to get fresh water delivered to your workplace on a regular basis, here’s a guide to help you choose the right water delivery service for your needs.
Compare Quotes From The Best Water Delivery Services Get matched up with a water delivery service that fits your specific needs. >> Compare QuotesThe 8 Best Water Delivery ServicesThe office water cooler serves several functions. Of course, water coolers also keep us adequately hydrated so we can deliver the best work performance possible. But it’s also a social area for many businesses—a place where employees gather and discuss movies, sports, and their weekend plans. Whether your company is big or small, you want a water delivery service that delivers a fresh product that tastes good without costing a fortune. Here are eight water delivery services to consider for your business. 1. Sparkletts• Single serve and bulk water Sparkletts delivers a lot more than just water. They also deliver a variety of other beverages like coffee and tea, breakroom supplies, and accessories like water dispensers. In business since 1925, Sparkletts serves businesses located mostly in the Southwest, including a number of them parks and attractions in California. Its other service regions include Austin, Dallas-Fort Worth, Houston, San Antonio, Las Vegas, Los Angeles, Bakersfield, Phoenix, Mesa, San Diego, Tucson, and Santa Barbara. Sparkletts delivers its own branded water in three- or five-gallon jugs. It also rents water dispenser units, coffee machines, and other equipment. The standard officer water dispenser is around $6 per billing cycle to rent. If you prefer more variety, you can also sign up for delivery of other bottled water brands, sparkling water, and a large variety of coffee and tea. Of course, you’ll need breakroom supplies to go with them, and Sparkletts can deliver those, too. It delivers plates, napkins, coffee filters, creamer, sugar packets, and other supplies. 2. Absopure• Individual servings or jugs Absopure got its start in Detroit as an ice delivery company all the way back in 1908. The company is still based in Michigan and now delivers water and other breakroom supplies to companies throughout the Midwest. Businesses can buy Absopure bottled water in individual servings, or they can select spring water dispensed from jugs in one gallon, 2.5 gallons, or five gallons. Absopure also sells purified drinking water, steam distilled water, and electrolyte water. Absopure will also deliver and stock coffee, tea, or sparkling water. It also allows companies to rent the equipment they need to dispense hot and cold water. If you prefer to use tap water, you can also purchase a water filtration system from Absopure. The company will even install it, so you can rest easy knowing it’s hooked up properly. 3. ReadyRefresh• Jugs & bottled water options ReadyRefresh delivers a variety of products, including water, tea, sparkling water, Starbucks coffee, and supplies like water dispensers. ReadyRefresh customers can pick water from spring sources or municipal water systems. For example, the company sells Nestle Pure Life water, which is sourced from municipal systems and then put through a 12-step purification process. The brands ReadyRefresh offers include Acqua Panna, Arrowhead, Deer Park, Ice Mountain, Nestle Pure Life, Ozarka, Perrier, Poland Spring, S.Pellegrino, and Zephyrhills. If you choose jugs of water, you can pick from three- and five-gallon recycled jugs. When you’re done with them, ReadyRefresh will collect them and then sanitize them before reusing them. ReadyRefresh also offers several different delivery options depending on your needs. You can get a one-time order or set up automatic delivery every week, every other week, once a month, or once a quarter. 4. FIJI• Bottled at the source You’ve probably seen individual FIJI bottles in gas stations and grocery stores, but the company also offers a subscription service for its popular artesian water. However, FIJI is a little different from other water delivery services. Unlike most other water delivery companies, it doesn’t deliver water in gallon size jugs. Instead, its water is only available in single serve bottles. You can choose a bottle size ranging from 300 ML all the way up to 1.5 liters. It also offers bottles with a sports cap in its 700 ML size. If you love the taste of true artesian water, though, FIJI might be worth considering. The water is bottled at the source in Fiji, where it filters to an aquifer after passing over volcanic rock. FIJI offers its pre-paid subscription service in three-month, six-month and 12-month terms. You can cancel at any time, but you won’t receive a refund if you cancel in the middle of a pre-paid term. 5. Costco• 3 & 5 gallon options Costco Water Delivery Services partners with local affiliates to deliver three- and five-gallon jugs of water to businesses around the country. Businesses can choose from spring water or purified water. You can also add on a water dispenser if you need it. One potential downside is that you have to sign a one-year contract. For most businesses, however, this can be a benefit, since you only need to worry about bothering with the contract once a year. The spring water is priced at around $7.50 per bottle while the purified water is cheaper at about $6.50 per bottle. If you need to add a bottom load water dispenser, the cost is about $3 per four-week billing cycle for Costco executive members and $5 per four-week billing period for Costco gold star members. 6. Diamond Springs• 100% natural spring water Diamond Springs delivers 100 percent natural spring water, as well as coffee, breakroom supplies, and snacks. Its service area covers Virginia, North Carolina, and South Carolina. Water is available in three- and five-gallon jugs, and you can add a water dispenser if you need one. There’s also an option to buy a water dispenser if you want it for the long haul and want to save on rental fees. Diamond Springs offers delivery every two or four weeks, and they say they can accommodate additional requests within 24 hours if you need extras. The company also offers a large variety of snack delivery, but this service is only available in Virginia. For smaller companies, you can order snacks by the case. Product options include potato chips, crackers, granola bars, candy, and microwavable cups of soup. If you have a larger company, such as an office with 50 or more people, Diamond Springs can install a vending machine that dispenses snacks and cold beverages. 7. Culligan• Large variety of delivery services Culligan is one of the most recognizable brands in the water delivery service industry, probably due to its commercials that air nationwide. The company offers a large variety of water delivery services in a range of bottle sizes and dispensing systems, with its bottled water delivery service starting at $9.95 per month. Businesses can choose to rent or buy water dispensing equipment, and you can even have Culligan install a reverse osmosis system. If your business is environmentally friendly, you can choose from a bottle-free water dispensing system. With these units, there is no plastic bottle, which cuts down on waste. One downside is that Culligan doesn’t let you choose a specific brand of water. When you purchase their jugs of water, it comes from Culligan’s filtered system. If you prefer a certain brand, it’s a good idea to taste Culligan’s water before you sign up. Culligan’s sign up process is a bit different compared to other water delivery services. When you contact them, they will pair you with a local Culligan representative. This rep will come to your business and assess your area’s water quality to help you find the best Culligan system for your needs. While some people like this personal touch, others just want to order water online without taking time out of their schedule to meet with a company representation. 8. Mountain Glacier• 3 or 5 gallon jugs Mountain Glacier is a smaller water delivery service, but it offers flexible delivery options. The company services businesses in Tennessee, Texas, and Indiana. Companies can choose from three-gallon or five-gallon jugs, as well as water dispensers. Companies can also purchase cases of water, and Mountain Glacier offers a free case when you buy five cases. Mountain Glacier delivers water once a month, but the company says it will arrange for more frequent delivery if a customer requires it. The company uses all recycled water jugs, making it more environmentally friendly than some other water delivery providers. How to Choose the Best Water Delivery Service for YouThere are a lot of factors to consider when it comes to choosing a water delivery service for your business. Here are six things to keep in mind before you sign on with a company. Compare Quotes From The Best Water Delivery Services Get matched up with a water delivery service that fits your specific needs. >> Compare Quotes1. CostObviously, cost is going to be a major consideration. Some water delivery companies offer discounts if you sign up for automatic billing or put your contract on auto-renew terms. You should also consider the company’s billing practices. Is your business prepared to sign a one-year contract for water? Or do you prefer taking things a little more conservatively and sticking to a monthly billing cycle? Make sure you understand the contract’s cancellation terms so you don’t get stuck paying for water long after you decide to end the service. 2. EquipmentMost companies need a way to dispense the water they purchase. Ask what kind of equipment and amenities the water delivery service offers. Many companies include coffee and tea delivery in their offerings, so you can take care of restocking your breakroom all at once. If you need a water dispenser, look for a company that offers rentals and maintenance. This is the most hassle-free way to get water in your office. If the dispenser breaks or malfunctions, you can simply call up the company and get it serviced or replaced. 3. Water and Product SelectionWhile some people are happy with tap water, others prefer spring water or other beverages. If selection is important to you, look for a water delivery service that gives you a wide menu of options. For example, some companies source from natural springs, and companies like FIJI even offer water from remote parts of the world with their own aquifers. You can also opt for jugs of water or a water filtration system the company installs. Keep in mind, however, that some employees won’t drink tap water, even if it has a filter attached. If you think your workers are more likely to drink from a water cooler, it’s probably best to stick with delivered water. Also keep in mind that some water delivery services also offer coffee, tea, breakroom supplies, and snacks. If you want to bundle these services, it can be easier and less time-consuming to go with a water delivery service that can handle everything. 4. Bottle SizesThe most common sizes you’ll see for water delivery are three-gallon and five-gallon jugs. Depending on the size of your company, these can last a month or longer. However, some water delivery services offer a larger variety of sizes. Additionally, you can choose a service that delivers individual servings of water and other beverages. Keep in mind, however, that individual bottles use a lot of plastic, and they can generate a great deal of waste in your office trash cans. If you don’t want plastic bottles piling up, you’re probably better off choosing the larger jugs. 5. Delivery OptionsWhen you search for a water delivery service, ask about the frequency of the delivery options. While some companies can get by with water delivery once a quarter or every other month, some businesses will need water delivered once a month or maybe even weekly. Delivery frequency can affect the price of the service, especially if your business needs a more frequent delivery schedule. 6. Subscription OptionsSubscription options are usually closely tied to delivery options, as the price you’ll pay is often dictated by how often you need water delivered. On the other hand, you can often save money by signing up for a longer contract or bundling water delivery services with other things like breakroom supplies or coffee and tea delivery. It’s definitely worth speaking with a company representative to see if you can negotiate a lower price. This is especially true if you have a large company that needs regular water delivery at multiple locations. Ask a water delivery service if it will tailor a contract to fit your company’s needs. Many service providers are willing to make adjustments if it means securing business from a large company looking to purchase a large volume of products. ConclusionKeeping your employees hydrated can make them happier and more productive. A water delivery service is a good choice if you want to ensure a steady supply of great-tasting water for your workforce and your customers. Before you pick a supplier, make sure you review their offerings, contract terms, and delivery options. Compare Quotes From The Best Water Delivery Services Get matched up with a water delivery service that fits your specific needs. >> Compare Quotesvia Quick Sprout https://www.quicksprout.com/best-water-delivery-services/ A good customer relationship management (CRM) software can take your business to the next level. That’s because it focuses on the one thing that makes a great business: the customer. Finding the right CRM platform for your business can be difficult if you don’t know what to look for. That’s what inspired me to create this guide. What is CRM ?CRM stands for “customer relationship management.” It’s a system that lets you manage all your organization’s interactions with your customers. Typically, CRM refers to specific software that accomplishes this for you. A good CRM software improves sales log communication, lead management, and even helps with marketing campaigns. At the end of the day, though, it’s there to improve your relationship with your customers. Doing so can help retain the ones you have while drawing new customers in. Why you need CRMYour customers are the most crucial lever for success. Plain and simple. CRM software gives everybody in your company an opportunity to improve the relationship with your customer through tools such as:
Historically, CRM software was only used by large businesses and enterprises. But today, CRM has evolved to fit the needs of all organizations, regardless of size or industry. That means that you should invest in a CRM software—even if your company is small. The 7 Best CRM Software Solutions of 2020After researching and testing dozens of different CRM software, I’ve determined that these are the top seven options on the market today: We’ll take a closer look at the features, benefits, and pricing of each software in the reviews below. Use this guide to help you find the best CRM software for your business. Best CRM Software ReviewsHubSpot• 100% Free CRM software HubSpot is another well-recognized name in the business world. Their blog is one of the best resources for content related to sales, marketing, and services. HubSpot is unique because they offer free CRM software. They also have CRM for multiple roles within an organization, like:
Some CRM providers offer a free trial or free plan with basic features. But HubSpot’s goes above and beyond what you’d normally get for free. These are some of the top features for the free sales CRM:
As for the paid software, prices vary based on the type of CRM you’re looking for and the number of contacts you have. The Marketing CRM, Sales CRM, and Service CRM all have plans starting at $50 per month. Enterprise plans for Service and Sales start at $1,200 per month, and the Marketing Enterprise begins at $3,200 per month. For those of you who want CRM solutions for multiple departments and uses, you can buy a bundle from HubSpot as well. Growth Suites (include Sales, Marketing, Service) starts at $112.50 per month. You can also create your own bundle based on the specific tools that you’re looking for. Zoho CRM• Plans start at $18/month Zoho is a global leader in business SaaS. More than 50 million users across the world use their solutions. In fact, Zoho Books made our list of the best business accounting software, and Zoho Inventory is on our list of the best inventory management software. Above all, Zoho CRM is arguably one of the best solution offered by this provider. It’s used by 150,000+ businesses in 180+ countries. You can use Zoho CRM to convert leads, engage with customers, and grow your company’s revenue. Big brands like Bose, Netflix, Amazon, Ducati, and Suzuki all use Zoho CRM for customer relationship management. Here’s a brief overview of the plans and pricing for Zoho CRM: Standard — $18 per user per month
Professional — $30 per user per month
Enterprise — $45 per user per month
All of the prices are for month-to-month plans. You can save 20% with an annual contract. Zoho offers an Ultimate plan that’s only available yearly. It has features like advanced customization, enhanced storage, email sentiment, and automation suggestions. But you’ll need to contact the Zoho sales team for a custom quote. Additionally, there’s a free version of Zoho CRM—although it’s extremely limited and only realistic for a small home-based business. Salesforce• Plans start at $25/month With more than 150,000 businesses using Salesforce CRM, this is another one of the most popular customer relationship management solutions on the market today. Salesforce has an extensive suite of CRM products for you to choose from. They offer solutions based on business type, role, need, and industry. Examples include:
Salesforce offers advisory services, success plans, productivity tools, integrations, and detailed analytics. It’s one of the most extensive CRM product offerings that you’ll find on the market today. For the purpose of this review, I’m going to focus on the Sales CRM from Salesforce. In my opinion, this is the best one that they offer. Here’s an overview of the Sales plans: Essentials — $25 per user per month
Professional — $75 per user per month
Enterprise — $150 per user per month
Unlimited — $300 per user per month
Even the Essentials and Professional plans will be more than enough for most businesses. You can try Salesforce for free with a 30-day trial. Freshsales• Plans start at $19/month As the name implies, Freshsales is a CRM software that’s designed for sales teams. It’s not quite as popular as some of the other solutions on our list. But Freshsales CRM is still used by more than 15,000 businesses. A couple of recognizable brands include Best Western and Dyson. Freshsales will help your team find and manage the best sales leads. You’ll be able to have relevant conversations with prospects and improve your sales pipeline. Let’s take a closer look at the prices and top features associated with each Freshsales subscription plan: Blossom — $19 per month per user ($12 with annual contract)
Garden — $35 per month per user ($25 with annual contract)
Estate — $65 per month per user ($49 with annual contract)
Forest — $79 per month (billed annually)
You can try out any of these plans for free with a 21-day trial. Freshsales also has a free forever startup plan with basic features. I like Freshsales because it’s affordable and perfect for a growing sales team. You can easily upgrade to a higher tier as your company grows. Insightly• Plans start at $29/month More than 25,000 companies use Insightly for CRM software. This includes big names like Bosch, AT&T, and Bloomberg. Insightly is a bit unique compared to some of the other options we’ve reviewed so far. In addition to sales and marketing, Insightly CRM puts a strong focus on project management. You’ll get all of these feature sets in a single solution. Some of the benefits of Insightly CRM include:
Insightly has an exceptional mobile app that allows you to work from anywhere. You can scan business cards, update your tasks in real-time, and create new opportunities on-site at a client’s location. Popular tools like G Suite, Gmail, QuickBooks, Google Drive, Mail Chimp, Slack, and Dropbox all integrate with Insightly. All Insightly CRM plans are billed on an annual basis. Here’s a look at those rates:
You can request a demo and try it out for free. Insightly has a free forever plan with basic features for two users. Apptivo• Plans start at $0/month Apptivo is another top choice for CRM software. It’s used by 200,000+ organizations in roughly 200 countries. The Apptivo CRM is unique because it combines multiple apps into a single solution. In addition to CRM, Apptivo also offers:
So for those of you who are in the market for these additional services, you can manage everything in the same place with Apptivo CRM. This is much simpler than juggling multiple apps for different uses. The CRM apps for Apptivo fall into the following categories:
Apptivo integrates tools like Slack, Office 365, G Suite, and more. Here’s a brief overview of the plans and prices for Apptivo CRM: Starter — $0
Premium — $10 per month per user ($8 with annual contract)
Ultimate — $25 per month ($20 with annual contract)
Enterprise — Custom pricing
You can save 20% if you sign up for yearly billing instead of month-to-month. Apptivo is commonly used for businesses in real estate, travel and hospitality, retail, wholesale, manufacturing, utilities, and energy industries. Pipedrive• Plans start at $17/month Pipedrive CRM is designed to simplify your sales process. More than 90,000 businesses use Pipedrive CRM. It’s a straightforward platform that’s easy for anyone to figure out. This CRM was created to generate more leads and sort your sales in a single location. It helps eliminate administrative tasks that are unproductive. It’s designed to drive more sales with less legwork on your end. Some of the top features and benefits of Pipedrive CRM include:
More than $24 billion in sales have been closed using Pipedrive. On average, businesses increase their close rate by 28% after the first year using this CRM. These are the plans and prices for Pipedrive CRM: Essential — $17 per month per user ($12.50 with annual contract)
Advanced — $31 per month per user ($24.90 with annual contract)
Professional — $59 per month per user ($49.50 with annual contract)
Essential — $99 per month per user (billed annually)
Pipedrive also has a “Leadbooster” add-on for $39 per month ($32.50 with annual contract). This tool is billed per company, not per user. It’s designed to turn more web visitors into leads. Leadbooster is basically a chatbot. It engages with customers with instant responses and makes it easy for them to schedule a meeting. Try Pipedrive CRM free with a 14-day trial. How to Choose the CRM Software For Your BusinessCRM software can be a complicated subject. With so many options to choose from, finding the best solution for your business might be overwhelming. This is the methodology that we recommend here at Quick Sprout to help narrow your search. I’ll explain each element in greater detail so you can make a decision based on your needs. Compare Quotes From The Best CRM Software Get matched up with the CRM software that fits your specific needs. >> Compare QuotesTeam SizeThe size of your business and team will have a significant impact on the CRM you choose. Some solutions are better for small businesses, while other options specialize in enterprise software. You can even find CRM tools for small teams of just one or two people. CapabilitiesCustomer relationship management software is so diverse. It’s such a broad term, and it’s used across multiple departments and for various reasons. Common CRM categories include:
There are even other solutions for things like customer service. Some companies offer all CRM capabilities into a single platform. Others specialize in one category over another. There are CRM solutions offered as an all-in-one solution. But other times, you’ll have to buy the software separately or bundle it into a single package. IntegrationsYou should look for CRM software that integrates with popular tools that you’re already using. This will allow you and your team to manage everything from a single dashboard. If you constantly have to bounce back and forth between multiple platforms to manage your leads and customers, it defeats the purpose of using CRM to streamline your process. PriceAs always, price will be a significant factor in which CRM you choose. In most cases, pricing is based on the number of users you have. Depending on the platform, pricing can also be based on the number of contacts or storage you’ll need as well. Make sure to find something in your price range. The pricing for CRM software ranges from $0 to $300+ per user. ConclusionWhat’s the best CRM software? The answer varies depending on your business type and what you’re looking for. Here’s a quick recap of the top seven options on our list: From startups to enterprises, and sales to marketing and project management, I’m confident that you can find the best CRM software for your company on this list. Compare Quotes From The Best CRM Software Get matched up with the CRM software that fits your specific needs. >> Compare Quotesvia Quick Sprout https://www.quicksprout.com/best-crm-software/ Cleaning and sanitizing a business requires a lot more work than simply straightening up around the house. Whether you run a small retail store or a company with hundreds of employees, you need a professional cleaning service that has the staff, resources, and materials to handle a big job. Bottom line: Get a commercial cleaner. While most of them operate nationwide, it’s common for them to franchise. Much like the chain fast food restaurants in your neighborhood look and feel like every other location around the country, they’re owned by a local person who follows corporate rules and regulations. So how do you find a good commercial cleaning service? Fortunately, there are plenty to choose from. Even better, most have been in business for decades. These big national cleaners can handle everything from vacuuming your company’s carpets to sanitizing surfaces after a viral outbreak.
Compare Quotes From The Best Commercial Cleaning Services Get matched up with a commercial cleaning service that fits your needs. >> Compare QuotesThe 10 Best Commercial Cleaning ServicesGood commercial cleaners take care of any cleaning task you have. Most of the big names can even deliver medical-grade cleaning services, which requires certain protocols and products to remove bloodborne pathogens and microorganisms. 1. Anago Cleaning Systems• Customized pricing In business since 1989, Anago Cleaning Systems services just about every industry you can think of. Their site touts their experience in education, government, manufacturing, health care, hospitality, worship facilities, and property management. Basically, they do it all. They also offer cleaning services 24/7, which is ideal if you don’t want your customers or employees sidestepping cleaners during the day. Every franchise in Anago’s network gives its customers a Total Satisfaction Guarantee, which means an Anago cleaning team will show up at your site within two hours if you call with any concerns after their initial visit. This is great for those times when you notice the cleaners missed a spot on the carpet or neglected to take care of some overflowing trash. Headquartered in Florida, Anago has over 1,700 locations. Most locations are located in the United States, but the company also has a handful of franchises in Canada. 2. Bonus Building Care• Customized pricing Bonus Building Care is a smaller national cleaner compared to others on the list, but it has a good reputation online. It also has an impressive pedigree, having been founded in 1997 by Arleen Cavanaugh, one half of the husband and wife team who started commercial cleaning behemoth Jani-King. Using her experience and background in the commercial cleaning space, Arleen started Bonus Building Care after the couple’s divorce. Headquartered in Oklahoma, the majority of Bonus’s franchisees are located in the south. Bonus also offers totally green cleaning through its BoGreen program, which uses plant-based cleaners rather than harsh chemicals. 3. Buildingstars• Customized pricing Buildingstars was founded in 1994, and it breaks its commercial cleaning services down to five industries: health care, offices, financial, industrial, and educational. The company has four primary headquarter locations in Arizona, Missouri, Florida, and Illinois. It has around 800 franchisees spread across the United States. As part of its routine office cleaning program, Buildingstars disinfects “common touch” areas like door handles, elevator buttons, vending machines, and water coolers. It also provides hand sanitizer stations to cut down on viral transmissions (since, as the Buildingstars website points out, 15 percent of men and 7 percent of women don’t wash their hands). Buildingstars’ comprehensive cleaning service offers nightly cleaning, floor care, window washing, and carpet cleaning. 4. CleanNet USA• Customized pricing According to CleanNet USA, the company cleans over 160 million square feet of commercial space each day. The company got its start in 1987 and now operates about 1,700 franchises throughout the country. CleanNet USA also oversees its franchisees by using proprietary quality control software that lets corporate keep track of maintenance standards. If needed, the company can step in and provide remedial training if a particular franchise is failing to meet CleanNet standards. Businesses that use CleanNet can also track their cleaning services through the company’s mobile app. The company is headquartered in Virginia and also pairs with local licensed contractors to offer pest control, painting, and handyman services. 5. Coverall• Customized pricing Founded in 1985, Coverall has over 8,000 franchises in the United States. The company’s focus is on medical facility cleaning, and it services over 14,000 health providers. This makes it a good choice for doctor’s offices, hospitals, dental clinics, dialysis centers, and veterinarian offices. However, Coverall also operates in a wide variety of other industries, including business offices, schools, industrial, retail, and fitness centers. The company uses hospital-grade disinfectants, no-dip flat mops, HEPA vacuums, and microfiber cleaning cloths. Unlike a lot of commercial cleaning services, Coverall offers a cost estimate on its website. While you’ll still need to get a quote to determine exactly how much you’ll pay, Coverall says that basic service for a small office a couple times a week ranges between $170 and $250 per month, with service for larger facilities spanning anywhere from $800 to thousands per month. 6. JAN-PRO• Customized pricing JAN-PRO got its start in Rhode Island in 1991. Today, it has over 8,000 franchises in the United States. Its main service offering is its EnviroShield® disinfection process, which adheres to the same cleaning requirements used to sanitize hospital operating rooms. JAN-PRO cleaners also use color coded microfiber cloths to avoid cross-contamination from one cleaning area to another. Founded by a military veteran, the company also features a special program designed to make it easier for veterans to open a franchise. JAN-PRO also gives all its franchisees five weeks of rigorous training in the company’s procedures and protocols. JAN-PRO also offers a satisfaction guarantee. If a customer is unhappy with a cleaning, the next standard cleaning service is free. 7. Jani-King• Customized pricing Jani-King bills itself as the “world’s largest commercial cleaning franchise company” and it has the numbers to back this up. The company operates 120 support offices in 10 countries and maintains a global network of 9,000 franchisees. Jani-King handles just about every industry out there, including office buildings, retail, sports venues, hotels, health care, restaurants, college campuses, and manufacturing facilities. The company is also one of the oldest commercial cleaning services on the list, having been founded in 1968. Jani-King offers a number of video reviews from big name clients on its website. Reviewers include the House of Blues, Methodist Hospital for Surgery, Marriott Hotels, and Coca-Cola. 8. ServiceMaster Clean• Customized pricing ServiceMaster Clean has been in business since 1929, when it started out as a moth-proofing company. It switched to commercial cleaning in 1952 and has grown to become one of the largest commercial cleaning services in the country, with over 8,000 company-owned and franchise locations. ServiceMaster Clean also has several well-known brands under its corporate mantle, including Merry Maids and Terminix. One of the company’s mottos is “any building, any industry, we can clean it.” Indeed, ServiceMaster Clean counts every industry from banks and hospitals to schools and retail stores among its customers. 9. Steamatic• Customized pricing Steamatic is a bit different from the other commercial cleaning services on the list in that it offers disaster recovery services in addition to commercial cleaning. The company handles restoration and recovery cleaning following fire, mold damage, flooding, and wind damage from hurricanes and tornadoes. The company also offers customers the option of bringing a Steamatic crew on site or shipping damaged items to a Steamatic location for cleaning. If a customer chooses the “pack-out” option, Steamatic can handle the inventory, packing, transportation, and property storage. This can work well for things like document recovery, dehumidification, and art restoration, which are all services offered by Steamatic. Steamatic was founded in Texas in 1948 and began franchising under the Steamatic, Inc. name in 1967. 10. Vanguard Cleaning Systems• Customized pricing Vanguard Cleaning Systems was founded in 1984. Today, it has over 3,000 franchisees around the United States and Canada. It also offers janitorial services, which can be convenient for a business looking to hire one company to handle both commercial cleaning and janitorial duties. According to Vanguard, it operates over 18,000 commercial cleaning accounts. While Vanguard has earned a number of awards for its franchising opportunities, its site doesn’t list any cleaning or eco-friendly cleaning certifications. How to Choose the Best Commercial Cleaning Service for YouCommercial cleaning can be a pricey addition to your business’s budget, so you want to make sure you get the most value for your investment. Compare Quotes From The Best Commercial Cleaning Services Get matched up with a commercial cleaning service that fits your needs. >> Compare Quotes
And that’s exactly how you should view commercial cleaning services: as an investment. Ideally, you want to find a cleaner you can work with over the long haul. That way, you’re not constantly getting quotes and dealing with a revolving door of cleaning crews. So what should you look for in a commercial cleaning service? What kinds of criteria should you use to measure the various companies side by side? Here are five tips for picking a cleaner that will keep your business sanitized and healthy for your employees and customers. 1. ExperienceLook for a commercial cleaner that’s both reliable and knows your business. This means you want to look for a company that’s been around for at least several years. Fortunately, the majority of national cleaning companies have decades of experience under their belts, so this shouldn’t be an issue. However, also make sure the cleaning service has experience handling your type of business. Some commercial cleaners are known for their excellent work in a medical setting. While they might be perfectly capable of cleaning your 10-person office, do you really need that level of cleaning? Furthermore, are you prepared to pay for it? In this case, you’re probably just fine going with a cleaning service that focuses on retail stores or office buildings. 2. Availability and FlexibilityWhat kind of hours is the cleaning service willing to work? Does it charge more if you request a nighttime cleaning? The reality is that most businesses don’t want a cleaning crew coming through in the middle of the workday. Not only is this disruptive to employees, but it can be a major turn off and inconvenience for customers. A good commercial cleaning service will accommodate your schedule rather than trying to strongarm you into working around theirs. The majority of national commercial cleaners state explicitly that they offer nighttime cleaning as a standard service. 3. Scope of ServicesWhen you hire a commercial cleaner, you’ll often save money by combining two or more services. For example, many commercial cleaning companies offer janitorial services as well as cleaning. It’s also common to see cleaners provide regular maintenance cleaning along with more in-depth cleaning on a quarterly or semiannual basis. Think about the cleaning tasks your office needs and what makes your facility unique. Do you have industrial work areas that gather a lot of dust or debris? Or maybe your office building features dozens of windows that require regular cleaning. These are all considerations you should take into account when looking for a commercial cleaner. 4. Supplies and EquipmentIf you’ve ever hired a residential cleaner, you might have encountered a service that required you to supply the cleaning products and equipment. This isn’t something you want in a commercial setting. For one thing, the cleaners required to achieve a deep clean or a hospital-grade sanitation usually need to be stored in specific temperatures and under certain conditions. Also, most business owners don’t have time to source a large volume of cleaning supplies and equipment, price it out, and manage the inventory needed for an entire office building or business with multiple locations. A good commercial cleaning service will have its own cleaning products and equipment, and its workers will be trained on their proper use. Additionally, many commercial cleaning services offer green or eco-friendly cleaning services that use plant-based cleaning solutions. If this is important to you and your business, ask a commercial cleaner what kind of products it uses, if it carries any environmental certifications, and if it’s willing to provide you with a list of ingredients in its products. 5. TrustworthinessMost commercial cleaning services do their work at night. This means they’ll need to work inside your building when employees are absent and the office is closed to the public. You want to make sure you contract with a commercial cleaner that employs reliable and trustworthy professionals. If your business handles sensitive records, such as patient information or customers’ financial account data, you need to know you’re working with cleaners who will take appropriate steps to protect records and documents. You should also verify that the commercial cleaning service is insured. That way, you’re not responsible for any injuries a cleaner suffers while working on your property. ConclusionLife gets messy, whether you’re at work or at home. In a business setting, foot traffic and product production can create industrial size messes. Fortunately, commercial cleaning services have the manpower and resources to tackle even the biggest jobs. If you do your homework and take time to get a few quotes, you can find a commercial cleaning service that eases the burden of keeping your business in top shape. Compare Quotes From The Best Commercial Cleaning Services Get matched up with a commercial cleaning service that fits your needs. >> Compare Quotesvia Quick Sprout https://www.quicksprout.com/best-commercial-cleaning-services/ You’re likely here because you don’t want to pay more than you need to for web hosting. Why pay more, right? But I’m sure you’re also wondering, if you’ve come across web hosting that’s completely free: What’s the catch? We’ve all heard the saying there’s no such thing as free lunch, but is there really such a thing as free hosting? Yes, and no. Free hosting isn’t great. You may even pay in the long run in lost sales, man-hours, frustrations, etc. To be brutally honest, even the best free web hosting only makes sense for a very narrow scope of websites. If you are going to run a small business or build an online presence you want to grow, I recommend paying for hosting. Some of the best web hosting services start for as little as $4/month. For the price, you’ll get increased functionality, more reliability, and better customer support. For $50 a year, it’s an investment I think is worth it for just about every site. I also have a guide on the best cheap hosting plans, which is much better than many of the free options. All that said, I’ll walk you through the most popular free web hosts (the good and the bad), explain “the catch,” and point out a few other free options you should consider.
Compare The Top 5 Free Web Hosts
Educators and nonprofits often qualify for free (or deeply discounted) hosting by some truly excellent providers. Jump here to read more. Pro Tip: Two Free Website Builders Offer Free Hosting
Hands-down the easiest way for most people to get a website up and running is using a website builder, where you can drag-and-drop content blocks and tinker around with customizable templates. Most website builders are only free if you use a subdomain (for example, our URL on a Wix subdomain would look like: quicksprout.wix.com), which is a dealbreaker for anyone who wants to run a professional-looking site. I don’t like it one bit.
I have great news, though. There are two builders that host websites for free and connect to a custom domain. They are super simple and have limited functionality — but since super simple, limited websites are the only ones I recommend hosting for free, that’s not really a problem. The two that meet these criteria are Ucraft and Google Sites. If all you need is a super simple page — AKA the only kind of site that should run on a free host anyway — I recommend you try a free website builder that hosts custom domains, like Ucraft or Google Sites. We’ll go into more detail on those later. First, let’s review the top five free web hosts. The 5 Best Free Web HostsAwardspace
Awardspace is a big player in the free hosting space and has been around for more than a decade. It stands out for offering a full gig of storage, more than many others, and, according to a friendly sales rep we chatted with, up-to-date versions of PHP and MySQL. It also offers the Zacky drag-and-drop website builder, plus an easy-to-use WordPress and Joomla installer. Note: If your site receives no traffic for 12 months, it will automatically be set to inactive; after two more weeks of notices, it will be deleted. More Awardspace specsPHP 7.2, MySQL 5.7, 30MB database storage, 1 email account, no SSL Atspace
Atspace has nearly identical stats to Awardspace, with the exception of unlimited bandwidth (as opposed to Awardspace’s 5GB) and a claim of 24/7/365 support. (Digging deeper, though, Atspace lists that support as “limited 24/7/365 support” so take that with a big fat grain of salt.) Atspace also uses the Zacky website builder and app installer for apps like WordPress and Joomla. More Atspace specsPHP 7.2, MySQL 5.7, 30MB database storage, 1 email account, no SSL Freehostia
Freehostia offers free cloud hosting on its Chocolate plan (your guess is as good as ours). That means it should be fast, but the Chocolate plan is also very small: only 250MB of disk space and 10MB of database storage. That said, it does include a free self-signed SSL certificate, a site builder with free templates, and the promise of a response to help tickets in under one hour — pretty much unheard of. If you have a small enough site, the customer service promise alone makes Freehostia a compelling pick. More Freehostia specsPHP 4 / 5 / 7, MySQL 5, 10MB database storage, 3 email accounts, self-signed SSL Agilityhoster
Agilityhoster’s free tier is slightly smaller than what’s offered from Awardspace and Atspace: only 1000MB of storage and one 20MB MySQL database. It also lacks any sort of website builder, although it does have a simple WordPress and Joomla installer to get you up and running quickly. A sales rep confirmed that it runs up-to-date PHP and MySQL. More Agilityhoster specsPHP 7.2, MySQL 5.7, 20MB database storage, 1 email account, no SSL Byethost
Byethost is by far the most generous free web host with unlimited sites, unlimited storage, unlimited bandwidth, and five email accounts. It also provides an automatic SSL on all domains, and includes a free site builder with templates. That said, Byethost is one of the least professional-looking hosts I looked at, with a poorly written website and enough vagueness that I wonder how unlimited its unlimited offerings actually are. Unless you think you need a lot of database space, I recommend going with a different free host. More Byethost specsPHP 5.4, 5.5, 5.6, 7.0; unlimited database storage; 5 email accounts; self-signed SSL Free Hosting for Ecommerce SitesSelling products through a website that’s hosted for free isn’t easy. I wouldn’t be able to sleep at night if I didn’t say this: if you’re serious about starting a business online, you need to run your ecommerce with Shopify. It’s the only contender in this space, and the subscription cost is well worth it. Most free sites don’t support ecommerce, and when they do, the experience is pretty limited. Strikingly
I was actually pretty surprised to find Strikingly, a website builder that also offers built-in ecommerce on its free plan. The catch here is pretty big: You’ll be limited to selling one single product, and you’ll be limited to using a Strikingly.com subdomain. So, it’s ecommerce but it’s definitely no place to build an ecommerce business. If that’s what you’re doing, you should head over to our guides How to Create an Ecommerce Website in 9 Easy Steps and How to Start an Online Store That Drives Sales in 2019. You won’t regret it.
Though selling only one product on a subdomain is super limiting, it’s very rare to find a free option that’ll let you sell anything at all. That’s why I included it at all. But, you already know how I feel about subdomains. (They are instant trust breakers for people who aren’t already convinced to buy from you.) Free online stores are a little easier to come by. The difference? Online stores are just the stores, without the bells and whistles of a full-fledged website. That means no blog, no additional content — just products. Square
Square is a powerhouse business that was originally best known for its point-of-sell credit card swipers found at every farmers market and craft fair. Its free online store hosts unlimited products and has decent functionality.
Ecwid
Ecwid is a really interesting option. While it offers a free online store like Square (Ecwid calls it a “Starter Site”), Ecwid also offers a free online store widget with code you can insert into pretty much any platform your site is on from Wix to WordPress to Tumblr just like you’d insert a YouTube video. That widget also means you sell simultaneously on multiple sites.
The 2 Free Website Builders with Free HostingDesign limitations are probably the biggest downside to using a free website builder. If the templates available on Ucraft and Google Sites aren’t what you’ve envisioned for your site, the next easiest free option is to find a free template you like and pair it with a free web host. I may be beating a dead horse, but the best web hosting services aren’t that expensive. We’re talking around $4/month for the initial contract. I think the price more than pays for itself in customer service, security, and speed. Ucraft Review
Ucraft has a free plan for a single-page website that’s built with what it calls “elements.” An element is any individual piece of content: a title, a text block, a video, an image, an image gallery, a button. Ucraft’s free tier supports up to 50 basic elements, so that single-page website can hold a decent amount of content — just nothing too snazzy.
Google Sites Review
Google Sites is your other option for a super simple free site. And when I say “super simple,” I mean it. There are only six versions of the same template to choose from, and a limited number of layouts to work in. It’s super basic. In fact, lots of Google Sites are used for basic things like internal wikis. Google Sites offers one basic template in six simple themes. That said, Google Sites hosts as many pages as you want at no cost. It connects to your custom domain. It integrates with every other Google service, like Docs, Forms, and Slides. And it’s absurdly simple to use, especially if you’re used to working in Google products. If you already have a Google account, or are paying for GSuite for email hosting (which I wholeheartedly recommend), it’s a no-brainer. Free Web Hosting Alternatives for Subdomain SitesIf you’re okay with a subdomain (as opposed to a custom domain) your options for free hosting increase. That’s because lots of great website builders offer freemium versions of their platforms when you use a subdomain — for example, our URL would be quicksprout.wordpress.com or quicksprout.wix.com. Obviously, a subdomain lacks the professionalism of a custom domain, and free versions of any website builder product or platform tend to be pretty stripped down. But if you’re interested in launching content quickly, subdomains offer a really low barrier of entry. Most can launch in just a few minutes. Even better, if you envision a more robust web presence in the future, starting for free on the platform you ultimately want to use means you’ll have everything already built. You’ll just need to upgrade. At the free level, these 3 are pretty comparable. They’ve all got an assortment of free templates or themes, an easy-to-use editor, limited storage, and ads for their service floating near the footer or in a bottom corner of the site. If you may eventually upgrade to a paid plan, check out our review of website builders. I go into a lot more detail than I do here. Weebly
The free version of Weebly includes ads and a Weebly subdomain. You’ll be limited to 500MB of storage, but will have the full drag-and-drop builder plus templates. You can always start with the free version and upgrade later, though Weebly’s ads are pretty obvious. Wix
Wix’s free plan is a lot like Weebly’s — you’ll get 500MB of storage and a drag-and-drop builder with templates. But you’ll subsidize your free plan with ads and one of the most eggregious subdomains out there, username.wixsite.com/siteaddress. You have the option to start for free and upgrade at a later time. WordPress.com
I love WordPress, but typically recommend people go with WordPress.org, the self-hosted version. The fully hosted version does have a free subdomain plan with free themes, but you’ll be using a subdomain and displaying WordPress ads. To get rid of those elements, it’ll be $4 a month, or about the price of some of the best web hosts. I think it’s better to go the self-hosted route at that point. Best Free Web Hosting for Nonprofits and EducatorsThere are excellent — and extremely robust — free hosting options available for nonprofits and educators. These typically aren’t stripped-down versions, but full-blown shared hosting plans that are available for free, including custom domains, full technical functionality, and attentive customer support. For nonprofits, I recommend DreamHost.DreamHost offers one free Unlimited shared hosting plan (which includes email hosting) for 501(c)(3) organizations, plus a 35% discount on its suped-up DreamPress managed WordPress hosting. Both are killer deals. DreamHost is a really big name in web hosting. It’s one of our top picks for best web hosts for small businesses and is one of three recommended hosts by WordPress itself. Most of the other free web hosts for nonprofits don’t have nearly as strong of reputations, nor offer as robust free plans. This plan has unlimited bandwidth, unlimited storage, and you can host an unlimited number of sites. Read more about the company in my Dreamhost web hosting review. Best Free Web Hosting for EducatorsSome of our favorite web hosts provide free or deeply discounted services for teachers and university administrators. SiteGround Hosting for Educators
SiteGround, one of our picks for best web host, has some of the most robust shared hosting technology available — and arguably the best reputation in an industry of hundreds. SiteGround offers all the features and functionality of its StartUp Plan (including 24/7 support on chat, phone and ticket) to teachers for free with a SiteGround subdomain. SiteGround also discounts its hosting for students. Learn more about SiteGround plans and features in my SiteGround hosting review. InMotion Hosting for Educators
InMotion Hosting, our pick for best web host for beginners and another standout in the world of shared hosting, gives its mid-tier Power plan to educators for free. Check out my InMotion hosting review for more info on the hosting company. Weebly for Educators
Weebly has a eductor-focused arm of its website builder business. It works just like Weebly for any small business or personal website, but is geared for educators. The edu-version of Weebly gives the option of publishing content to a custom domain, not a Weebly subdomain. It also skips all Weebly advertising. If you like the sound of Weebly and a website builder, check out WordPress’s version, Edublogs. Similarly, it offers an ad-free environment with class and student management functionality, edu-focused plugins, and an Edublog subdomain. The Cons of Free HostingLike I mentioned above, I’m not going to dance around the fact that there are plenty of downsides to free web hosting. To make my recommendations for the best free host, which is definitely a title that’s relative to the niche, I took the following six criteria into consideration. AdsSome free web hosts stay afloat by selling ad space. We wanted to avoid those providers — no one wants random ads appearing in the middle of their content — and opted for hosts that support their free tier from sales of their paid hosting plans. Email hostingMy recommendations offer at least one custom email address and free email hosting since that is one of the glaring things lacking from a free website builder. (Ucraft doesn’t offer email hosting at all and Google Sites only offers a custom email address if you pay $5/month for GSuite.) An email that’s attached to your website and domain name is great to have for one-off correspondences (plus looks pro on a business card), and a free web host provider’s email hosting is perfect for that. But be warned, your legit emails may be flagged as spam. Why? Free hosting is a hotbed for less-than-savory online activity, and your site might get lumped into a server of bad actors. In other words: spam filter activated. If you’re going to use your email a lot or for anything important — say for sending out a newsletter or for marketing promotions — we recommend upgrading to email hosting through a service like GSuite or even a domain registrar like Namecheap, which sells email hosting starting at $10/year. Storage and bandwidthFree web hosting has famously low limits for both disk space and bandwidth. If you go over your limit, your site may get suspended or you may be automatically upgraded to a paid service. Even when providers like Byethost offer unlimited bandwidth and storage, it’s not infinite. Just like with a paid service, unlimited storage and bandwidth only last until you start negatively impacting the other sites on your server — and all hosts are extremely vague about how much traffic or storage is too much traffic or storage. Have a negative impact and your site may still be suspended or auto-upgraded. PHP and MySQLPHP is one of the most popular programming languages. It’s what apps like WordPress, Joomla, and Drupal run on, and therefore what a lot of websites use. MySQL are databases those apps store information on. Your web host needs to support up-to-date versions of both. The problem: Most hosts don’t disclose the exact version of the PHP or MySQL they run. And even if these apps do work, there is a high likelihood that with any free host they are going to load slowly — a PHP application requires a lot more lift from what is probably an extremely burdened server. If you’re worried at all about page load time (and you should be — Google takes it into account), we recommend limiting anything you build on a free host to a simple static HTML/CSS site. Another thing to keep in mind is database limitations. Every piece of software you want to use on your site requires a database to store its information. If you are running WordPress, it needs a database. If you’re running another app, it’s going to need its own database. Most free hosts impose a limit on the number of databases your site can access, and the amount of storage available in that database. SSL certificateSecure Sockets Layer encryption is what confirms a website is secure enough to receive sensitive data like credit card data and passwords. SSL certificates are the only way a site can do any sort of ecommerce at all, but Google also considers it a factor for where any site, ecomm or not, shows up in search rankings. Most free web hosts don’t offer a free SSL certificate; the ones that do tend to offer a “self-signed” SSL. Self-signed SSLs are issued by servers, not by a certificate authority (Comodo, Digicert, Let’s Encrypt, etc). They offer the same level of encryption, but it’s not the standard version, so web browsers will still flag your site and issue a security warning to visitors. Customer supportWith any free host customer support is going to be limited, slow to respond, and not all that helpful. That’s just the way it is.
Recap: The Best Free Web Hosting (If It Makes Sense for You)If you’re after free web hosting, you might really want the simplicity and ease of a free website builder. I’m impressed with both Ucraft and Google Sites which provide easy to use drag-and-drop templates and support custom domains. Yes, you’ll be limited in design and there will be some sort of “Powered by” ad in the footer on both. If those are deal-breakers, you probably do want web hosting. Any free host will have similar drawbacks: limited storage and bandwidth, potential for spam-flagging email, and limited customer support. Go with Awardspace for more storage (1GB), Atspace for 24/7/365 help, or Freehostia if your site is really small (under 250MB). If you’re an educator or nonprofit, you have a lot more — and better — options. SiteGround and InMotion Hosting, two of our very favorite web hosts, have excellent free plans for educators. So does website builder Weebly. And Dreamhost, another of our favorite web hosts, doesn’t charge nonprofits for one free Unlimited shared hosting plan. via Quick Sprout https://www.quicksprout.com/best-free-web-hosting/ |
Sean BrianWhile radishes deter certain insects naturally, they require similar growing conditions as carrots. Although the crops both have roots, radishes grow and germinate quicker, allowing carrots to continue growing in the soil space available when the radishes are harvested, Archives
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