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Proposals · head to head

Nutshell vs SugarCRM

Nutshell logo

Nutshell

Proposals

Easy CRM for small businesses

From
$13/month
Rated
-
Full reviewWebsite
SugarCRM logo

SugarCRM

CRM

Customer relationship software for your business

From
$59/month
Rated
-
Full reviewWebsite

The short version

  • Each has a real cost: Nutshell aI usage is metered as outcomes per user per month, from 10 on Foundation to 150 on Enterprise; SugarCRM every plan carries a 15 user minimum, so the entry cost is 15 seats regardless of team size
  • They diverge on capability: Nutshell covers Lead tracking, SugarCRM covers Sales pipeline.
  • Prices and features above were last checked on 30 August 2026.

Where they differ

Only the attributes on which Nutshell and SugarCRM actually diverge.

Attributes where Nutshell and SugarCRM differ
AttributeNutshellSugarCRM
Starting price$13/month$59/month
PlatformsWebWeb, Ios, Android
CategoryProposalsCRM
Founded20092004

Identical on both: pricing model (subscription), free tier (No), 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 Nutshell

  • Lead tracking
  • Pipeline management
  • Email integration
  • Task management
  • Gmail
  • Mailchimp
  • English language support

Only in SugarCRM

  • Sales pipeline
  • Lead management
  • Marketing automation
  • Customer service
  • Mobile app
  • Salesforce
  • HubSpot
  • Microsoft 365

Both cover

  • Contact management
  • Reporting
  • Zapier
  • Slack
  • GDPR
  • Cloud deployment
  • Web support

What people use each for

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

Nutshell

  • Sales CRM for small to enterprise teamsnot SugarCRM
  • Lead management and sales pipeline trackingnot SugarCRM
  • Reporting and team analyticsnot SugarCRM

SugarCRM

  • CRM for sales, marketing and service teamsnot Nutshell
  • Managing accounts, opportunities and customer history at mid market scalenot Nutshell

Where each one falls short

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

Nutshell

  • AI usage is metered as outcomes per user per month, from 10 on Foundation to 150 on Enterprise
  • Custom pipelines are rationed by plan, at 5 on Pro and 10 on Business, with unlimited only on Enterprise at $79 per user per month
  • Sales automation and advanced reporting require the Pro plan at $42 per user per month
  • Four separate add ons sit on top of the seat price: marketing at $49 a month, engagement at $16 per user, prospecting at $37 and proposals at $79
  • SSO and SQL data access are Enterprise only

SugarCRM

  • Every plan carries a 15 user minimum, so the entry cost is 15 seats regardless of team size
  • At $59 per user on Standard that minimum makes the real floor $885 a month
  • All three tiers are billed annually with no monthly option
  • The vendor still directs buyers to sales for a package rather than treating the published rate as final

Pricing, plan by plan

Nutshell

$13/month
  • Starter$13/month
    • For individuals or small teams starting out
    • Core CRM functionality
    • Live support
  • Tier 2$25/month
    • Enhanced reporting capabilities
    • Live support
    • Saves 4 hours monthly per user
  • Tier 3$42/month
    • Additional pipelines and admin features
    • Live support
    • Saves 8 hours monthly per user
  • Tier 4$59/month
    • Customization and extra AI features
    • Live support
    • Saves 20 hours monthly per user

SugarCRM

$59/month
  • Standard$59/month
    • Accounts management
    • Lead tracking
    • Quotes
  • Advanced$85/month
    • Mail and calendar integration
    • Case management
    • Sugar Intelligence
  • Premier$135/month
    • Geo mapping
    • Enhanced storage 2x
    • LinkedIn connector

Which should you pick?

Choose Nutshell if

  • You need lead tracking.
  • You also want pipeline management.
Nutshell review

Choose SugarCRM if

  • You need sales pipeline.
  • You work on Web, Ios, Android.
  • You also want lead management.
SugarCRM review

Questions people ask

Is Nutshell or SugarCRM better?
Neither clearly leads. Nutshell starts at $13/month and SugarCRM at $59/month, and user ratings are close enough to be indistinguishable. Choose on capability and platform support.
Which is cheaper, Nutshell or SugarCRM?
Nutshell starts at $13/month and SugarCRM at $59/month.
Does Nutshell or SugarCRM run on more platforms?
Nutshell runs on Web. SugarCRM runs on Web, Ios, Android.
What is Nutshell best used for?
Nutshell is most often used for sales crm for small to enterprise teams, lead management and sales pipeline tracking, reporting and team analytics. Of those, sales crm for small to enterprise teams and lead management and sales pipeline tracking are not what SugarCRM is typically brought in for.
What can Nutshell do that SugarCRM cannot?
Nutshell covers Lead tracking, Pipeline management, Email integration, Task management. SugarCRM covers Sales pipeline, Lead management, Marketing automation, Customer service. Both handle Contact management, Reporting, Zapier, Slack.

Answered from the vendors’ own pages

Nutshell: How much does Nutshell CRM cost?

Nutshell CRM pricing ranges from $13 to $79 per user per month. Starter tier ($13/month) includes core CRM, Tier 2 ($25/month) adds enhanced reporting, and Enterprise ($79/month) includes SSO and SQL access.

Source
SugarCRM: How much does SugarCRM cost?

SugarCRM costs $59 per user per month for the Standard plan, $85 per month for Advanced, and $135 per month for Premier. All plans require annual billing and a 15-user minimum.

Source
Nutshell: Is there a free trial for Nutshell?

Yes, Nutshell offers a 14-day free trial with no credit card required. The trial includes access to core CRM functionality and live support.

Source
SugarCRM: What is included in the Advanced plan?

The Advanced plan at $85 per user per month includes everything in Standard plus mail and calendar integration, case management, Sugar Intelligence, and Sugar Predict features.

Source
Nutshell: What does Nutshell Enterprise tier include?

Nutshell Enterprise at $79 per user per month includes SSO (Single Sign-On), SQL database access for data export, priority support, and unlimited time saved estimates of 30 hours per month.

Source
SugarCRM: What distinguishes the Premier plan?

The Premier plan costs $135 per user per month and adds geo mapping, 2x enhanced storage, LinkedIn connector integration, and enhanced support compared to the Advanced plan.

Source
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