What is an AI CRM?

AI CRM turns chaotic spreadsheets into repeatable revenue: auto-captured leads from LinkedIn and email, context-aware replies drafted in seconds, and next-best actions that keep momentum high.

Teams of 20-50 people stop guessing and start prioritizing the deals that move today.

This shortlist compares 10 AI CRM options built for 2026 realities: mid-size teams, multi-channel outreach, fast onboarding, and clear pricing. Evaluation focuses on data capture, enrichment, routing, automated follow-ups, and how well each tool helps teams of 20-50 people book more meetings with less manual work.

The 3 best AI CRMs for startups in 2026 are:

1. folk CRM

2. Close CRM

3. Attio

9 Best AI CRM for Startups in 2026

1. folk CRM

Rating

⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐(G2)

Overview

folk is an AI-first CRM perfect for teams of 20-50 people: capture LinkedIn profiles in one click with the folkX Chrome extension, auto-enrich contacts, and sync Gmail/Outlook and WhatsApp so every touchpoint lives on a single timeline. Built-in AI drafts icebreakers and follow-ups and suggests next-best actions to keep deals moving without busywork for growing teams.

Pros

• One-click capture from LinkedIn and Sales Navigator with enrichment
• AI icebreakers and follow-ups reviewed in-app; Magic Fields for personalized lines at scale
• Unified Gmail/Outlook and WhatsApp timeline for clean handoffs
• Next-best-action guidance to prioritize the right outreach

Cons

• No perpetual free plan (free trial only)
• Some advanced roles/sequences require higher tier

Pricing

Standard: $20 per member/month billed yearly (or $25 billed monthly). Premium: $40 per member/month billed yearly (or $50 billed monthly). Custom: from $80 per member/month billed yearly. 14-day free trial.

👉🏼 Try folk now to auto-capture LinkedIn profiles and never miss a follow-up

2. Pipedrive

Rating

⭐⭐⭐⭐ (G2)

Overview

Pipedrive centralizes deal pipelines for sales-led startups and adds practical AI where it matters. Pipedrive's AI Sales Assistant surfaces tips and next steps from activity data, while the AI email assistant drafts follow-ups and summaries so reps keep momentum without manual busywork.

Pros

• Visual, drag-and-drop pipeline that helps small teams spot bottlenecks fast
• AI Sales Assistant notifications and suggestions based on pipeline activity
• AI email writer/summarizer for quick, on-brand follow-ups
• Large marketplace with WhatsApp options via partners (e.g., Twilio, TimelinesAI)

Cons

• Some automation and AI tooling sit behind higher-tier plans
• Native WhatsApp integration isn't available to new customers; relies on third-party apps
• Add-ons (LeadBooster, Web Visitors, Campaigns, Smart Docs) increase total cost

Pricing

Lite $14 per seat/month (annual). Growth $39. Premium $59. Ultimate $79. All plans include a 14-day free trial.

3. Close

Rating

⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ (G2)

Overview

Close focuses startups on outbound and follow-ups: it centralizes calling, SMS, and email, then adds AI for drafting replies, summarizing calls, and surfacing next-best actions so small teams keep momentum without manual admin.

Pros

• Built-in dialer (power/predictive) and inbox keep reps in one workflow
• AI email assistant and lead summaries speed up triage and follow-ups
• Flexible sequences, tasks, and automated workflows for lean teams
• WhatsApp available via TimelinesAI integration for two-way sync

Cons

• Advanced calling and AI features sit in higher tiers
• WhatsApp relies on a third-party integration, not native
• Add-ons and telephony usage can push total cost up

Pricing

Solo $9 per user/month (annual). Essentials $35. Growth $99 (adds AI email assistant and workflows). Scale $139 (adds predictive dialer, advanced permissions). Monthly billing available at higher rates. 14-day free trial.

4. Freshsales

Rating

⭐⭐⭐⭐ (G2)

Overview

Freshsales aide les startups à capter, qualifier et router les leads, puis à prioriser les deals avec Freddy AI. La plateforme unifie email, téléphone et chat, génère des emails assistés par IA et affiche des insights de deals pour maintenir l'élan commercial.

Pros

• Freddy AI pour scoring de contacts, emails assistés et deal insights
• Séquences, workflows et multiples pipelines dès les plans supérieurs
• Intégration WhatsApp via l'écosystème Freshworks (canal officiel)
• Essai gratuit 21 jours et plan gratuit (jusqu'à 3 utilisateurs)

Cons

• Certaines capacités IA (copilot/agents) sont des add-ons payants
• Les fonctions d'automatisation avancées arrivent à partir de Pro
• L'intégration WhatsApp passe par les canaux Freshworks, pas "nativement" dans le cœur CRM

Pricing

Growth $9 utilisateur/mois (annuel), Pro $39, Enterprise $59. Plan gratuit pour 3 utilisateurs. 21-day free trial.

5. Attio

Rating

⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ (G2)

Overview

Attio builds a flexible, AI-native CRM that startups configure fast. The platform syncs email and calendar, enriches people and companies automatically, and adds call intelligence plus embedded AI to summarize interactions, draft outreach, and recommend next steps so lean teams keep deals moving.

Pros

• Custom objects and fields adapt to early-stage sales processes
• AI workflows, summaries, and call intelligence reduce manual admin
• Clean UI with quick setup, solid reporting, and scalable permissions
• Free tier supports up to 3 seats for small teams

Cons

• Pro-level AI (e.g., call intelligence) sits in higher tiers
• WhatsApp requires third-party connectors
• Advanced automations may add extra usage costs at scale

Pricing

Free: $0 (up to 3 seats). Plus: $29 per user/month billed annually ($36 monthly). Pro: $69 per user/month billed annually ($86 monthly). Enterprise: custom.

6. Zoho CRM

Rating

⭐⭐⭐⭐ (G2)

Overview

Zoho CRM brings Zia AI to startups with predictions, lead scoring, email and call insights, and anomaly alerts that highlight the next best move. The platform unifies email, phone, forms, and chat, and supports WhatsApp via marketplace apps so small teams work one pipeline without tab-hopping.

Pros

• Zia predictions, scoring, and recommendations help prioritize deals
• Robust automation (workflows, Blueprints, webhooks) supports growing teams
• Large marketplace and native apps cover most early-stage needs
• Competitive pricing with a 15-day trial

Cons

• Advanced Zia features sit in Enterprise/Ultimate tiers
• Setup can feel heavy compared to lighter, outreach-first CRMs
• Some channels rely on paid marketplace connectors

Pricing

Standard $20 per user/month (annual). Professional $35. Enterprise $50. Ultimate $65. 15-day free trial.

7. Copper

Rating

⭐⭐⭐⭐ (G2)

Overview

Copper streamlines pipeline management for startups that live in Google Workspace. The platform syncs Gmail and Calendar, automates contact creation from inbox activity, and supports sequences and workflow automation so small teams move deals without juggling spreadsheets.

Pros

• Native Gmail/Calendar integration keeps email, tasks, and deals in one place
• Simple pipelines and automations fit lean, non-technical teams
• Large integration ecosystem; WhatsApp possible via partners (e.g., respond.io, TimelinesAI)
• Competitive entry pricing with a 14-day free trial

Cons

• Advanced sequences and bulk automation sit in higher tiers
• No native WhatsApp; relies on third-party connectors
• Reporting and customization are lighter than enterprise CRMs

Pricing

Starter $9 per user/month (annual) or $12 monthly. Basic $23 (annual) or $29 monthly. Professional $59 (annual) or $69 monthly. Business $99 (annual) or $134 monthly. 14-day free trial.

8. Salesflare

Rating

⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ (G2)

Overview

Salesflare automatizes data entry for startups: it pulls contacts and activity from email and calendars, enriches records, and uses built-in AI to summarize timelines, suggest next steps, and score leads so small teams keep pipelines moving with minimal admin.

Pros

• Zero-input data capture from email and calendar keeps records fresh
• AI assistant summarizes threads and proposes next actions in context
• Automated email sequences and reply reminders reduce manual follow-ups
• Simple pricing and quick onboarding for lean teams

Cons

• No native calling; relies on integrations for telephony
• Limited custom objects versus heavier CRMs
• Smaller app ecosystem than incumbents

Pricing

Growth $29 per user/month (annual) or $39 monthly. Pro $49 (annual) or $64 monthly. Enterprise $99 (annual, 5-seat minimum) or $124 monthly. 30-day free trial.

9. Streak

Rating

⭐⭐⭐⭐ (G2)

Overview

Streak runs entirely inside Gmail and adds AI Co-Pilot to handle data entry, summarize deal timelines, answer questions from email history, and generate meeting agendas. Startups manage pipelines, mail merges, and follow-ups without leaving the inbox, keeping outreach fast and consistent.

Pros

• AI data entry autofills pipeline fields from email threads
• Deal summaries and Q&A highlight next steps without manual digging
• Mail merge, templates, and shared pipelines streamline team outreach
• Simple pricing with Pro/Pro+ tiers and a 14-day free trial

Cons

• Works best for teams standardizing on Gmail; limited if not on Google Workspace
• Native calling is minimal; telephony and WhatsApp rely on integrations
• Some AI capabilities require higher tiers

Pricing

Pro $49 per user/month (annual) or $59 monthly. Pro+ $69 (annual) or $89 monthly. Enterprise $129 (annual) or $159 monthly. 14-day free trial.

9 AI CRM for Startups: Quick Recap

👉🏼 Try folk now to centralize email, LinkedIn, and WhatsApp timelines for your 20–50 person team

Conclusion

AI CRM is no longer optional for startups with teams of 20-50 people. Organizations that automate capture, enrichment, triage, and follow-ups win more meetings and close faster, without adding headcount. The winners combine clean data, context-aware writing assistance, clear next-best actions, and a unified timeline across LinkedIn, email, and WhatsApp.

For teams of 20-50 people that need outcomes now, folk CRM stands out: one-click LinkedIn capture with automatic enrichment, human-sounding AI icebreakers and replies, and action suggestions that keep deals moving. Fast onboarding, simple pipelines, and a single contact timeline make it the most startup-friendly option in this list for mid-size sales teams looking to scale efficiently.

FAQ

What is an AI CRM?

An AI CRM uses machine learning to auto-capture and enrich contacts, draft emails, and suggest next-best actions. It unifies outreach across email, LinkedIn, and sometimes WhatsApp so teams book more meetings with less manual work.

How to choose an AI CRM for a 20–50 person team?

Evaluate capture (LinkedIn, email), enrichment, routing, AI follow-ups, onboarding time, and pricing. For 20–50 users, favor a unified timeline, clear next-best actions, and quick setup to reduce admin and speed pipeline movement.

Do AI CRMs integrate with LinkedIn and WhatsApp?

Yes. Many CRMs capture LinkedIn profiles via browser extensions and sync WhatsApp via native channels or partners. Check if LinkedIn one-click capture, WhatsApp two-way sync, and unified timelines are supported on your plan.

What is the best CRM for personal use?

For solo users, prioritize simple setup, Gmail integration, and light automation. Streak or Copper Starter fit inbox-focused workflows. If future team growth and AI help are needed, consider folk for scalable pipelines and writing assistance.