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CRM · head to head

Insightly vs Shortcut

Insightly logo

Insightly

CRM

CRM & project management for any business

From
Free
Rated
-
Full reviewWebsite
Shortcut logo

Shortcut

Technology

Project management for software teams

From
Free
Rated
-
Full reviewWebsite

The short version

  • Each has a real cost: Insightly record counts are capped by plan, at 100,000 on Plus and 500,000 on Enterprise, so the database size decides the tier; Shortcut limited reporting compared to Jira
  • They diverge on capability: Insightly covers Contact management, Shortcut covers Stories & epics.
  • Prices and features above were last checked on 30 August 2026.

Where they differ

Only the attributes on which Insightly and Shortcut actually diverge.

Attributes where Insightly and Shortcut differ
AttributeInsightlyShortcut
Pricing modelsubscriptionUnknown
PlatformsWeb, Ios, AndroidWeb, macOS, Windows, Linux
CategoryCRMTechnology
Founded20102014

Identical on both: starting price (Free), free tier (Yes), user rating (Not yet rated).

What each one covers

Drawn from each product's published feature list. An absence here means we hold no record of it - not that the product lacks it.

Only in Insightly

  • Contact management
  • Deal tracking
  • Project management
  • Task management
  • Email integration
  • Mobile app
  • Mailchimp
  • Google Drive

Only in Shortcut

  • Stories & epics
  • Iterations (sprints)
  • Kanban boards
  • Roadmaps
  • Docs
  • API & webhooks
  • Mobile apps
  • GitHub

Both cover

  • Reporting
  • Slack
  • Zapier
  • SOC2
  • GDPR

What people use each for

The jobs each tool is most often brought in to do.

Insightly

  • CRM with project delivery tracking after the salenot Shortcut
  • Managing leads, opportunities and customer projects in one record setnot Shortcut

Shortcut

  • Sprint planningnot Insightly
  • Bug trackingnot Insightly
  • Feature developmentnot Insightly
  • Product roadmappingnot Insightly
  • Team collaborationnot Insightly

Where each one falls short

Documented limitations, not opinions. Every one is a constraint you would hit in normal use.

Insightly

  • Record counts are capped by plan, at 100,000 on Plus and 500,000 on Enterprise, so the database size decides the tier
  • Workflow automation requires the Professional plan at $49 per user per month
  • AI Copilot is metered by query, at 75 on Plus and 100 on Professional
  • Mass email is capped daily, at 2,500 on Plus and 10,000 on Enterprise
  • CRM, Marketing and Service are sold as three separate products, and Marketing is priced per account by prospect count starting at $99 for 2,000
  • Sandboxes and audit logging are Enterprise only at $99 per user per month

Shortcut

  • Limited reporting compared to Jira
  • Designed specifically for software teams, not general project management
  • Can experience slow loading times with very large projects

Pricing, plan by plan

Insightly

Free
  • CRM Plus$29/user/month
    • lead and contact management
    • project management
    • advanced reports
  • CRM Professional$49/user/month
    • all Plus features
    • lead assignment/routing
    • workflow automation
  • CRM Enterprise$99/user/month
    • all Professional features
    • sandboxes
    • products/pricebooks/quotes

Shortcut

Free
  • FreeFree
    • Kanban boards
    • Sprints
    • Roadmaps
  • Team$8.5/user/month
    • Unlimited users
    • Advanced reports
    • WIP limits
  • Business$12/user/month
    • Unlimited workspaces
    • OKRs
    • Advanced custom fields
  • Enterprise$undefined/custom
    • Volume discounts
    • SSO/SCIM
    • Premier support

Which should you pick?

Choose Insightly if

  • You need contact management.
  • You want to start without paying.
  • You work on Web, Ios, Android.
  • You also want deal tracking.
Insightly review

Choose Shortcut if

  • You need stories & epics.
  • You want to start without paying.
  • You work on Web, macOS, Windows, Linux.
  • You also want iterations (sprints).
Shortcut review

Questions people ask

Is Insightly or Shortcut better?
Neither clearly leads. Insightly starts at Free and Shortcut at Free, and user ratings are close enough to be indistinguishable. Choose on capability and platform support.
Which is cheaper, Insightly or Shortcut?
Insightly starts at Free and Shortcut at Free.
Does Insightly or Shortcut run on more platforms?
Insightly runs on Web, Ios, Android. Shortcut runs on Web, macOS, Windows, Linux.
Can I use Insightly for free?
Both have a free tier, so you can try either at no cost before committing.
What is Insightly best used for?
Insightly is most often used for crm with project delivery tracking after the sale, managing leads, opportunities and customer projects in one record set. Of those, crm with project delivery tracking after the sale and managing leads, opportunities and customer projects in one record set are not what Shortcut is typically brought in for.
What can Insightly do that Shortcut cannot?
Insightly covers Contact management, Deal tracking, Project management, Task management. Shortcut covers Stories & epics, Iterations (sprints), Kanban boards, Roadmaps. Both handle Reporting, Slack, Zapier, SOC2.

Answered from the vendors’ own pages

Insightly: How much does Insightly CRM cost?

Insightly CRM plans are priced per user per month when billed annually: Plus at $29, Professional at $49 (the most popular option), and Enterprise at $99. All plans include a 14-day free trial that requires no credit card.

Source
Shortcut: Does Shortcut have a free plan?

Yes, Shortcut offers a free plan for up to 10 users with core features like kanban boards, roadmaps, sprints, and reports. Paid plans start at $8.50 per user per month.

Source
Insightly: Is there a free trial for Insightly?

Yes, Insightly offers a 14-day free trial across most products with no credit card required, allowing you to test CRM, Marketing Automation, Support & Ticketing, and AppConnect features.

Source
Shortcut: Does Shortcut integrate with GitHub?

Yes, Shortcut has native GitHub integration that automatically syncs pull requests and commits to stories, and includes GitLab and Bitbucket support as well.

Source
Insightly: What record storage limits apply to Insightly CRM plans?

Insightly CRM Plus includes 100,000 records, Professional includes 250,000 records, and Enterprise includes 500,000 records. File storage increases from 10 GB on Plus to 100 GB on Professional and 250 GB on Enterprise.

Source
Shortcut: Can I use Shortcut for non-technical projects?

Shortcut is built for software teams, though you can customize workflows for other use cases. Linear and Asana may be better suited for non-technical project management.

Source
Shortcut: Does Shortcut support SSO and SCIM?

Yes, SSO and SCIM support are available on the Enterprise plan, allowing centralized identity management for large organizations.

Source
Shortcut: What's the difference between Shortcut and Jira?

Shortcut is lighter and faster with less setup required, while Jira offers deeper customization and enterprise features. Shortcut works better for modern software teams wanting simplicity; Jira suits enterprises needing extensive configuration.

Source
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