CRM Comparisons:

 

Salesforce CRM VS popcorn CRM

A no-nonsense comparison for Small and Startup Businesses 

boy in tv image customer support

Salesforce vs popcorn CRM – Which is better for small businesses?

Choosing the right CRM can feel like trying to crack a safe with a wet sponge – especially when you’re a small or startup business with no time (or budget) to waste.

Salesforce CRM  is a global giant, packed with features and customisation options, but is that what you really need when you’re just trying to keep track of your leads, follow-ups, and sales?

On the other hand, popcorn CRM is designed with simplicity and clarity at its core – created specifically for small UK businesses who want results, not headaches.

Below, we take an unbiased look at how Salesforce compares to popcorn CRM, so you can decide what’s best for your business.

Feature

popcorn CRM

HubSpot CRM

Dashboard

popcorn dashboard

Built for small businesses

✅ Yes – Built specifically for UK small & micro businesses
🚫 No – Built for larger, complex organisations

Ease of use

✅ Very simple and intuitive – no training needed
❌ Steep learning curve – will require onboarding and customisation

Email marketing tools

✅ Built-in email marketing with automation
✅ Available – with upgrades & setup

Workflow automation

✅ Built-in with full control, no add-ons needed
⚠️ Limited or behind paywall

Lead & contact management

✅ Visual drag-and-drop boards
✅ Built-in email marketing with automation
⚠️ Available – with add-ons & setup

Automation

✅ Simple, powerful automation built in
✅ Highly customisable automation

Task reminders & follow-ups

✅ Easy to set, with alerts
✅ Available

Landing pages & forms

✅ Simple drag-and-drop editor
⚠️ Requires upgrade for full features

GDPR friendly

✅ Fully integrated with UK GDPR tools
❌ Manual setup or third-party tools required

Learning curve

🟢 Low – get going in 15 mins
🔴 High – time and customisation needed

Support

✅ UK-based, human support that speaks your language
⚠️ Global support – slower response times

Customisation

⚠️ Limited – but ideal for keeping things simple
✅ Extensive – but can be overwhelming

Integration

✅ Integrates with major tools (e.g. Outlook, Xero, FreeAgent, etc.)
✅ Huge app marketplace

Pricing transparency

✅ 4 plans, NO Contracts, Hidden or Setup Fees
⚠️ Complex tiered pricing, add-ons add up
❌ Annual contracts often required

Cost for essential features

💷 £29 - 59/month
💷 £40–£800+/month (depending on needs)

Why small businesses often choose popcorn over Salesforce

1. No-nonsense simplicity
Salesforce is powerful – no doubt about that. But if you’re not a CRM wizard, all those bells and whistles can actually slow you down. popcorn gives you exactly what you need, and nothing you don’t.

2. Made with small businesses in mind
While Salesforce is geared towards big teams and complex workflows, popcorn is tailored for businesses like yours – where you wear many hats and need things to just work.

3. All-in-one, with no extra costs
No need to juggle bolt-ons or hire a consultant to set it up. popcorn comes with built-in email marketing, sales pipelines, reminders, Deal management, GDPR tools and more. 

4. Personal UK support
With popcorn, you’ll always talk to a human (who knows what GDPR means). No chatbots, no call centres, just friendly support from a UK-based team.

When might Salesforce be a better fit?

If you’re running a larger business with complex, multi-stage sales processes, or need a highly customised CRM that integrates deeply with a huge tech stack – Salesforce could be worth the investment. But be prepared for a learning curve, ongoing setup, and significantly higher costs.

What our customers say

Everything about popcorn is so simple yet effective. It’s exactly what we need!
charlotte thorp kinetic communications how popcorn gave kinetic communications control over their prospecting process

Charlotte Thorp

Communications Specialist, Kinetic Communications