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Managing small- to mid-sized businesses (SMBs) is no small feat. Working with a lean team means you work with limited human resources.
Thankfully, there’s a way to streamline your processes and improve your team’s productivity with the help of software for SMBs. In this article, we’ve listed the best small-business software options and sorted them by core software categories.
Looking for a specific type of software? Here’s the complete list of all tools we reviewed, organized by what they do best:
Find out with our free, helpful guide. Determine whether your business needs CRM and how it can benefit from implementing it.
We know choosing the right software can feel overwhelming—especially when you’re working with limited resources and budget constraints. That’s why we took a rigorous, transparent approach to selecting the 24 tools in this guide.
Every tool on this list meets these core requirements:
We evaluated each tool on these metrics (weighted by importance):
We did NOT include:
The G2 ratings you see reflect independent user feedback from thousands of verified reviews. We list them because they provide credible, third-party validation. However, a slightly lower rating doesn’t mean a tool is worse—it may simply reflect different use cases or pricing tiers that work better for specific scenarios.
Is your small business making a profit? Tracking your cash flow and financial performance is essential because doing so helps you make critical, informed decisions.
The table below summarizes the best accounting and bookkeeping software that small businesses can use:
| Software | Best for | Pricing | G2 rating |
| FreshBooks | Freelancers | Starts at $21 per month (30-day free trial available) | 4.5⭐/5 |
| Xero | Analytics | Starts at $25 per month (30-day free trial available) | 4.3⭐/5 |
| QuickBooks Online | Best overall | Starts at $19 per month (30-day free trial available) | 4.0⭐/5 |
FreshBooks is an intuitive accounting and bookkeeping software built specifically for small businesses and freelancers who handle client invoicing.
You can create and send professional invoices in minutes, and the platform even automates payment reminders so clients know what they owe.
The interface feels designed for people who aren’t accountants by trade—it’s straightforward and visual.
Starts at $21 per month (30-day free trial available)
Xero is cloud-based accounting software for SMBs that gives users a clear, real-time view into their organization’s financial health. You can easily view all your invoices, contacts, balances, and other financial information.
Unlike QuickBooks, which focuses on traditional accounting workflows, Xero emphasizes data visualization and integration. It’s built for businesses that want to understand their cash flow instantly—not just at tax time.
$25 per month (30-day free trial available)
QuickBooks Online is the market leader in accounting and bookkeeping—and there’s a reason it’s been the go-to choice for SMBs for decades.
If your accountant or bookkeeper already knows QuickBooks (spoiler: they probably do), setup and support become significantly easier. It handles everything from invoicing to tax preparation, and integrations with other SMB tools are plentiful.
Starts at $19 per month (30-day free trial available)
Small businesses can benefit from using customer relationship management (CRM) software. It can help nurture prospects, increase sales, and improve customer experience.
This table summarizes the best CRM software for small businesses:
| Software | Pricing | Best for | G2 rating |
| Monday.com CRM | Starts at $12 per seat per month (14-day free trial available) | Flexibility and customization | 4.7⭐️/5 |
| Nutshell | Starts at $13 per user per month (14-day free trial available) | Best overall | 4.3⭐️/5 |
| Pipedrive | $14 per user per month (14-day free trial available) | AI features | 4.2⭐️/5 |
Monday.com CRM is an AI-powered software that lets you build a CRM that matches how your team actually works—not the other way around.
Unlike rigid CRMs that force you into their workflows, Monday.com starts with a blank canvas. Your team defines the stages, fields, and automations. It’s a CRM that adapts to your sales process, powered by AI that helps with everything from summarizing meeting notes to forecasting deals.
Starts at $12 per seat per month (14-day free trial available)
Nutshell is a user-friendly CRM built specifically for small and mid-sized sales teams who want automation and insights without the enterprise price tag.
Nutshell combines the sales management features you need with built-in email marketing—so your sales and marketing teams work from a single source of truth. It’s designed by people who understand SMB constraints: limited IT support, lean teams, and budget pressures.
Starts at $13 per month (14-day free trial available)
Try Nutshell free for 14 days or let us show you around before you dive in.
Pipedrive is a CRM designed specifically for salespeople—not accountants or IT teams.
The interface focuses on what matters: your deals, your pipeline, your revenue forecast. Every screen is optimized to answer the question salespeople actually care about: “What deals are closing, and when?” Pipedrive’s AI features help you prioritize hot prospects and predict which deals will close.
$14 per user per month (14-day free trial available)
When you’re looking for a product or service, do you search online to find more information or to find a deal? If you do, you’re not alone—80% of consumers start their product research online.
When you’re looking for a product or service, do you search online to find more information or to find a deal? If you do, you’re not alone—80% of consumers start their product research online.
Having an online presence through their own website is important for SMBs to attract prospects.
Small businesses can use any of the following website builders, which don’t require coding skills:
| Software | Pricing | Key features | G2 ratings |
| Shopify | Starts at $29 per month (3-day free trial available) | – POS system- Free selling tools (domain name generator) | 4.4⭐/5 |
| WordPress | Starts at $4 per month (Free limited version available) | – Website design templates- Drag-and-drop editor | 4.4⭐️/5 |
| Wix | Starts at $17 per month (Free limited version and free trial available) | – Built-in templates- Drag-and-drop editor | 4.2⭐️/5 |
Shopify is an e-commerce platform that handles everything a product-based business needs: inventory management, payment processing, shipping, and customer data—all in one place.
You don’t need to be technical to set up a professional online store. Shopify provides templates, a point-of-sale system, and tools to manage your entire business from your phone. Whether you’re selling on your website, social media, or in person, Shopify keeps everything synchronized.
Starts at $29 per month (3-day free trial available)
WordPress is a website builder that powers over 40% of all websites on the internet—for good reason.
If your business relies on content (blogging, thought leadership, education), WordPress is the gold standard. It’s the most SEO-friendly website platform available, gives you complete design control, and integrates with nearly every marketing tool you’ll use.
Starts at $4 per month (Free limited version available)
Wix is the easiest website builder to use if you want to skip learning curves entirely.
Choose a template, customize colors and text with drag-and-drop, and your website is ready to launch. Wix handles hosting, security, and technical details behind the scenes.
It’s perfect for solopreneurs and small teams who need a professional presence fast—without hiring a developer.
Starts at $17 per month (Free limited version and free trial available)
Streamline your payment collection and processing with helpful software. The tools below provide your customers with a safe way to pay.
| Software | Pricing | G2 ratings |
| Square Payments | Starts at $0 per month + processing fees | 4.6⭐️/5 |
| PayPal Business | From 2.29% to 3.49% + fixed fee per transaction (depending on payment method) | 4.4⭐️/5 |
| Stripe | 2.9% + $0.30 per successful charge for domestic cards | 4.3⭐️/5 |
Square Payments makes collecting payments simple—whether customers pay online, over the phone, or in your physical location.
Square doesn’t charge a monthly fee, only transaction fees. You get a virtual terminal for phone orders, card reader hardware for in-person payments, and checkout links to share with customers. It’s built for flexibility—you literally can run your entire payment business from your phone.
Starts at $0 per month + processing fees
PayPal is the most recognized name in online payments, and justifiably so.
If your customers are anywhere online (and many are), PayPal is the payment method they’re most likely to trust. You can accept credit cards, debit cards, and PayPal accounts. Send invoices, accept payments on your website, or simply share a payment link.
PayPal has been handling online payments for 25 years—they know what they’re doing.
From 2.29% to 3.49% + fixed fee per transaction (depending on payment method)
Stripe is the payment processor that powers thousands of online businesses—from solopreneurs to enterprise companies.
Stripe’s advantage is flexibility. Developers love it because the API is elegant and powerful. Non-technical users can set up checkout in minutes. You get payment processing, invoicing, subscription management, and even financial reporting. Stripe literally processes billions of dollars annually—they’ve handled every edge case.
2.9% + $0.30 per successful charge for domestic cards
Marketing and email automation software can help SMBs streamline their processes. If you’re looking for free software for small businesses (or freemium ones) that can help you automate email send-outs and other marketing efforts, check out our list below:
| Software | Pricing | Best for | G2 ratings |
| Canva | Starts at $120 per year (Free limited version available) | Graphic design | 4.7⭐/5 |
| Woorise | Starts at $23 per month (14-day free trial available) | Lead generation | 4.6⭐/5 |
| Google Analytics | Free | Website traffic insights and analysis | 4.5⭐/5 |
| Analytify | Starts at $99 per year (Free limited version available) | Website traffic insights and analysis within WordPress | 4.4⭐/5 |
| MailChimp | Starts at $20 per month (Free limited version available) | Email automation | 4.3⭐/5 |
| Nutshell’s Email Marketing | Starts at $5 for 100 contacts with a Nutshell subscription (Nutshell customers get 150 free emails per month) | Email automation | 4.3⭐/5 |
| Buffer | Starts at $5 per month for one social channel (Free limited version available) | Social media content scheduling | 4.3⭐/5 |
Canva makes graphic design accessible to anyone—even if you can’t draw a straight line.
Whether you need social media graphics, presentation slides, or marketing materials, Canva has a template. Customize colors, fonts, and images with a simple drag-and-drop editor. Your marketing team doesn’t need a designer when Canva is available.
Starts at $120 per year (Free limited version available)
Woorise helps you generate leads by creating interactive content that people actually engage with—not just another email signup form.
Create landing pages, surveys, quizzes, contests, and giveaways without writing a single line of code. Woorise makes it easy to build engaging experiences that capture leads and grow your email list. It integrates with email platforms, CRMs, and payment processors, so leads flow automatically into your workflow.
Starts at $23 per month (14-day free trial available)
Google Analytics is the gold standard for website analytics—and it’s completely free.
It answers critical questions:
This data informs every marketing decision you make. If you have a website, you need Google Analytics.
Free
Analytify brings Google Analytics data directly into your WordPress dashboard—no more switching between tabs.
If you manage a WordPress site, Analytify simplifies analytics. You see traffic stats, top pages, conversion data, and visitor behavior right where you manage your website. Perfect for non-technical users who find Google Analytics overwhelming.
Starts at $99 per year (Free limited version available)
MailChimp is the email marketing platform trusted by millions of small businesses.
Build your email list, segment subscribers, send automated campaigns, and track performance—all in one place. MailChimp handles everything from beautiful email templates to advanced automation workflows. The free plan is surprisingly generous, making it perfect for SMBs starting out.
Starts at $20 per month (Free limited version available)
Nutshell’s email marketing is built directly into the CRM, so your sales and marketing teams work from the same contact database.
You don’t need to sync data between platforms—contacts in Nutshell are automatically available for email campaigns. Send newsletters, drip sequences, and broadcast campaigns without leaving your CRM. Your email data feeds back into sales, creating one unified view of customer relationships.
Starts at $5 for 100 contacts with a Nutshell subscription (Nutshell customers get 150 free emails per month)
Buffer simplifies social media management by letting you plan, schedule, and publish content across multiple platforms from one dashboard.
Write your post once, schedule it to publish at optimal times across Facebook, Instagram, LinkedIn, Twitter, and TikTok. Buffer’s analytics show which posts drive engagement, and AI helps you optimize timing and content. Your whole team can collaborate on the social media calendar.
Starts at $5 per month for one social channel (Free limited version available)
We’ve covered some of the major categories of the best small business management software. Here are several other miscellaneous tools you’ll likely find useful:
| Software | Pricing | Best for | G2 ratings |
| Google Workspace | Starts at $7 per user per month (Free limited version available) | Team collaboration and document management | 4.6 out of 5 stars |
| Slack | Starts at $7.25 per person per month (Free limited version also available) | Team communication and collaboration | 4.5 out of 5 stars |
| Gusto | Starts at $49 per month + $6 per month for each user | Human resources and payroll | 4.5 out of 5 stars |
| Udemy | Starts at $20 per month | Online learning and skill development | 4.5 out of 5 stars |
| Trello | Starts at $5 per user per month (Free limited version available) | Project management | 4.4 out of 5 stars |
Google Workspace is a complete suite of business tools: email, documents, spreadsheets, presentations, video conferencing, calendar, and cloud storage—all integrated and powered by AI.
Everything works together seamlessly. Write a document, share it with your team, collaborate in real-time, attach it to an email, schedule a meeting to discuss it—all without leaving Google Workspace. It’s the most integrated productivity suite for remote and hybrid teams.
Starts at $7 per user per month (Free limited version available)
Slack is the messaging platform that replaces endless email threads with organized channels and direct conversations.
Create channels for projects, departments, or topics. Integrate your favorite tools (hundreds available) so notifications and updates flow directly into Slack. Your team stays connected without inbox overload. Slack is where work happens in modern teams.
Starts at $7.25 per person per month (Free limited version available)
Gusto handles payroll, benefits, and HR—the stuff that keeps a business running but takes up a lot of time.
Set up payroll once, and it runs automatically. Employees can update their own information, request time off, and access pay stubs from their phones. Gusto handles tax calculations, filings, and compliance so your team doesn’t have to.
Starts at $49 per month + $6 per month for each user
Udemy is an online learning platform with over 200,000 courses on everything from technical skills to soft skills.
Give your team access to training on topics relevant to their roles. Employees learn at their own pace through video courses. Track progress and see which employees are upskilling. It’s one of the most affordable ways to invest in your team’s development.
Starts at $20 per month
Trello is a web-based project management tool that works the way your brain thinks—visual and intuitive.
Create boards with lists and cards. Drag cards between lists to show progress (to do, doing, done). Assign team members, set deadlines, add checklists, and attach files. Trello makes it easy to see what everyone is working on and what’s blocked.
Starts at $5 per user per month (Free limited version available)
Yes, if you’re managing more than a handful of leads or customers. A CRM centralizes customer data, automates follow-ups, and helps your team stay organized as you grow.
Even small businesses benefit from having one system of truth instead of scattered spreadsheets and emails. The cost of a CRM is far lower than the cost of lost deals due to poor follow-up or duplicated contacts. Most SMBs see ROI within two to three months.
Implement a CRM when manual processes start slowing you down—typically when you have more than 10 regular customers or 50 or more monthly leads. The sooner you establish good data habits, the easier scaling becomes.
Many SMBs wait too long; starting early gives you a competitive advantage. Even if you’re just starting, learning your CRM system early means it becomes second nature as you grow.
Most SMB CRMs range from free to $50/user/month, though pricing varies based on . Studies show businesses gain $8.71 in revenue for every dollar spent on CRM. With proper implementation, you’ll see ROI within 2-3 months through improved sales cycles, reduced manual work, and better customer retention.
The math is straightforward: if your average deal is worth $5,000 and a CRM helps you close one additional deal per quarter per sales rep, the software pays for itself.
Most SMBs go live in four to six weeks with minimal disruption. A phased rollout—starting with a pilot team—ensures smooth adoption.
Choose a user-friendly CRM designed for small teams, and you’ll see productivity gains within the first month, not losses. The key is selecting software that doesn’t require extensive IT support or developer customization.
Yes. Quality CRMs integrate with QuickBooks, Xero, and other accounting platforms, eliminating double data entry. This creates a single customer view, automates invoicing, and gives your finance team real-time visibility into customer payment history and financial health.
Most modern CRMs connect to email, calendar, and automation platforms too—ask about integration availability before choosing a solution.
The key differences come down to three factors:
Nutshell and Pipedrive are sales-focused with straightforward pricing. Monday.com offers extreme flexibility for teams willing to invest in set up time.
If your marketing team needs integrated email capabilities, Nutshell’s built-in email is a major advantage. If you need maximum customization, Monday.com wins.
Most reputable SMB software providers offer data migration as part of their implementation process. You’ll typically export data from your current system (or provide access), and the new software’s team handles the import and data cleanup.
Set aside a week for testing before going live with real customer data. Involve your team to identify any data that’s been missed—this is also a good opportunity to clean up duplicate or outdated records.
Focus on answering these questions:
Read user reviews on platforms like G2 and test free trials with your actual team—your team’s comfort matters more than any feature list.
Start with one tool and expand as you grow. Most successful SMBs begin with either accounting (QuickBooks/Xero) or CRM (Nutshell/Pipedrive), then add email marketing, project management, and communication tools later.
This phased approach spreads implementation burden and cost. You also learn what your team actually needs before committing a budget to additional platforms.
Ready to enhance your tech stack to improve your processes? Consider adding Nutshell to take your marketing and sales processes to the next level.
With Nutshell, you get a user-friendly CRM with powerful contact management, sales automation, and team collaboration features. Plus, you get fast, friendly customer support and access to add-ons, including a built-in email marketing platform, a landing page builder, and a scheduling tool.
To try Nutshell, just start a free 14-day trial. If you have questions, don’t hesitate to contact our team!
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