9 Best Sales Planning Tools: Features and Reviews

Looking for the best sales planning tools to boost your team's performance and revenue? We've got you covered with our curated list of the top 9 solutions, carefully selected based on key features, pros and cons, and authentic customer reviews. In this comprehensive guide, you'll find a detailed overview of each tool, empowering you to make an informed decision that aligns with your unique sales prospecting needs.

From AI-powered automation to robust CRM integrations, these tools offer a range of capabilities to streamline your processes, optimize your pipeline, and drive better results. Whether you're a small business or an enterprise, this resource will help you identify the ideal sales planning software to take your team to the next level.

1. Bardeen

Bardeen is an intelligent automation tool that helps sales professionals save time and increase productivity by automating repetitive tasks. With its AI-powered features and ability to integrate with over 100 apps, Bardeen is a top choice for streamlining sales planning processes. Install Bardeen's Chrome extension for free and start automating your workflows today.

Key Features

Bardeen's key features make it a valuable tool for sales planning:

• Integrates with your favorite apps like Salesforce, HubSpot, and LinkedIn
• Use AI-powered Magic Box to create automations with everyday language
• No-code workflow builder for customizing playbooks
• LinkedIn data scraper for lead generation and enrichment

Popular Use Cases

• AI sales automation for prospecting, outreach, and follow-up
• Automated lead enrichment and qualification
• Sales prospecting automation for building targeted lists

Pros

• Saves time by automating repetitive tasks
• Ideal for teams with shared workflows and onboarding
• AI-powered features for intelligent automation

Cons

• Steeper learning curve compared to simpler tools
• Higher pricing for premium features and credits
• Limited mobile app functionality

Reviews

Bardeen has an overall rating of 4.5 out of 5 on Capterra, with users praising its ease of use and practical automation capabilities. One reviewer noted, "Bardeen is one of the best no-code automation platforms and won the runner-up award from Product Hunt in the SaaS category."

On G2, Bardeen has an impressive 4.9 out of 5-star rating. A user shared, "Bardeen solves the problem of manually doing repetitive tasks, which saves me a lot of time. Prices are also affordable."

While Bardeen has limited discussions on Reddit, users who have tried it for automating tasks like web scraping and data transfer to Notion have found it user-friendly and helpful.

Pricing

• Free plan: Unlimited non-premium usage, 2 weeks of Pro tier access
• Professional plan: $10/month for 500 credits, generative AI actions, CRM integrations, advanced scraping
• Business plan: $15/month for teams under 100 people, includes onboarding, training, and teamwide automations
• Enterprise plan: Custom pricing for larger teams with specific needs

Bardeen is a robust sales planning tool that helps automate time-consuming tasks, so you can focus on closing deals. Sign up for free and start a 14-day trial of premium features to experience the power of AI-driven automation.

2. HubSpot Marketing Hub

HubSpot Marketing Hub is a comprehensive marketing software solution that helps businesses attract, engage, and delight customers. With its powerful features and seamless integration with the HubSpot CRM platform, Marketing Hub enables marketers to create remarkable customer experiences and drive business growth.

Key Features

Marketing Hub offers a suite of tools to fuel your entire marketing funnel:

• AI-powered lead generation and marketing automation
• Blogging, landing pages, and email marketing
• Social media management and ad tracking
• SEO optimization and content strategy

Popular Use Cases

• Generating and nurturing high-quality leads
• Creating content for every stage of the customer journey
• Measuring marketing ROI with integrated analytics

Pros

• Intuitive and user-friendly interface
• Seamless integration with HubSpot CRM and other tools
• Robust marketing automation and personalization capabilities

Cons

• Initial learning curve due to extensive features
• Pricing can be high for small businesses
• Some limitations with third-party integrations

Reviews

G2 users give HubSpot Marketing Hub high praise, with an average rating of 4.4 out of 5 stars from over 11,000 reviews. Users appreciate the platform's ease of use, powerful automation, and ability to align marketing and sales efforts.

On Capterra, reviewers highlight Marketing Hub's value for boosting sales and marketing synergy. They note the seamless integration and intuitive automation as key benefits. Setup can take effort but is worth it according to users.

Reddit sentiment is generally positive, with users finding Marketing Hub feature-rich albeit with a learning curve. Email marketing, social media scheduling, and CRM integration are praised as standout capabilities.

Pricing

• Starter: Starts at $45/month
• Professional: Starts at $800/month
• Enterprise: Starts at $3,200/month
• Free tools available with limited features

3. Gong.io

Gong.io is a powerful revenue intelligence platform that leverages AI to transform organizations by capturing and analyzing customer interactions across all channels. As a leading tool in its category, Gong.io stands out for its ability to provide real-time data insights and boost team productivity through automated actions based on customer conversations.

Key Features

Gong.io offers a range of features designed to enhance sales performance and drive revenue growth:

• Conversation intelligence to analyze sales interactions
• Deal intelligence for pipeline management and forecasting
• Revenue intelligence for data-driven decision making
• AI-powered insights and recommendations

Popular Use Cases

• Identifying winning sales strategies and best practices
• Coaching and training sales teams based on real customer interactions
• Forecasting revenue and managing pipeline health

Pros

• Provides deep insights into customer behavior and sales processes
• Offers real-time guidance and actionable recommendations
• Integrates with various communication channels for comprehensive analysis

Cons

• Pricing information is not transparently available on the website
• Initial setup and onboarding may have a learning curve for some users

Pricing

• Pricing is available upon request and is based on the specific needs and size of the organization

Reviews

On G2, Gong.io has an impressive average rating of 4.7 out of 5 stars from over 5,750 reviews. The majority of users (5,041) gave it a 5-star rating, praising its ability to enhance self-reflection and improve sales techniques.

Capterra reviewers highlight Gong.io as a "crucial tool for sales professionals," with an enthusiastic user describing it as highly impactful across sales, customer success, and product management. They appreciate the aggregation of account information and effective integrations.

Gong.io facilitates seamless team collaboration and detailed, frequent forecasting, aiding informed decision-making based on real-time insights.

However, some users on Reddit express concerns about Gong.io's valuation and competition in the market. They question the uniqueness of its offerings compared to alternatives like Chorus and mention the obnoxiousness of some Gong.io sales representatives on LinkedIn.

4. Anaplan

Anaplan is a transformative way to see, plan, and run your business. Using its proprietary Hyperblock™ technology, Anaplan lets you contextualize real-time performance, and forecast future outcomes for faster, confident decisions. It serves multiple functions across the business including Finance, Marketing, Sales, Supply Chain, and Workforce, making it a comprehensive tool for sales planning.

Key Features

Anaplan offers key features for sales planning such as:

• Predictive Insights with unlimited modeling capabilities and machine learning for continually optimizing forecasts
• Revenue planning to connect forecasting cross-enterprise for visibility into key drivers
• Scenario modeling to dynamically plan and evaluate long-term objectives
• Integration with CRM, email, and other systems for end-to-end workflow

Popular Use Cases

• Connecting finance, sales, and operations planning processes on a single platform
• Optimizing sales expenses to revenue and monitoring headcount decisions
• Dynamic, collaborative sales planning and forecasting

Pros

• Highly flexible and customizable to specific business requirements
• Powerful calculation engine can handle large, complex data sets in real-time
• Extensive integration capabilities with other systems

Cons

• Steep learning curve and significant training required for model builders
• Cost based on data volume can become expensive for very large models
• Fully leveraging the platform requires dedicated resources to build and maintain

Reviews

On G2, Anaplan has an average rating of 4.6 out of 5 stars from 349 reviews. Users praise its flexibility, calculation speed on large data sets, and ability to connect planning across the organization. Some cite the learning curve and maintenance as potential drawbacks.

Capterra reviewers give Anaplan an overall rating of 4.0, noting its agility and real-time capabilities as positives. A few mention some minor functionality issues and implementation investment as cons.

Commentary on Reddit suggests Anaplan is extremely flexible but requires significant resources to properly implement and maintain. The general consensus is it can be very powerful in the right hands but is not a simple, lightweight tool.

Pricing

• Pricing is not publicly available - contact Anaplan for a quote

5. Clari

Clari is an AI-powered revenue analysis platform that helps sales teams improve execution by providing actionable insights and predictive analytics. With its ability to analyze data from various sources and deliver real-time visibility into sales pipelines and forecasts, Clari is a top choice for sales planning and optimization.

Key Features

• Advanced sales forecasting using AI for precise predictions, risk recognition, and data-driven decisions
• Integrated deal management to track opportunities, activities, engagement, and stakeholders
• Performance insights and coaching opportunities to guide sales teams toward better results

Popular Use Cases

• Accurately forecasting sales and understanding deal trends at any point in time
• Providing managers with tools to coach teams using call recordings and transcripts
• Generating repeatable pipeline in a structured format

Pros

• Provides a clear, concise view of the sales forecast for sharing with executives
• Offers a single source of truth for the forecast, pipeline, and quotas
• Enables comparisons of current data to past periods via helpful snapshots

Cons

• Requires creating separate Clari users for each forecast node, using up Salesforce licenses
• Occasionally requires browser refreshes for pages to properly update
• Has some limitations in customizing opportunity grid columns and dashboard visualizations

Reviews

G2 reviewers give Clari an average rating of 4.5 out of 5 stars, praising its user-friendly interface, visibility into forecasts, and responsive support. A few noted minor UX quirks and dashboard limitations as areas for improvement.

A Clari user on TrustRadius highlighted the platform's benefits for sales forecasting, pipeline management, and analytics - noting it has been a "complete game changer" for revenue operations at their last two companies.

On Reddit, users discuss Clari in a positive light, with one mentioning their team finds it really good from a product perspective. Commenters also point out Clari's strong leadership and helpful customer success managers.

Pricing

• No platform fees
• Complimentary premier customer support package
• Fully implemented in 8 weeks

6. ZoomInfo Sales

ZoomInfo Sales is a powerful sales intelligence platform that provides an extensive database of company and contact information. With advanced search filters, analytics, and automation features, ZoomInfo helps sales teams identify ideal prospects, gather valuable insights, and accelerate their sales cycles.

Key Features

• Access to a vast database of over 70M direct dial phone numbers and 174M verified email addresses
• Buyer intent data to identify prospects actively researching solutions
• Conversation intelligence to analyze customer interactions and forecast sales
• Automated sales cadences with direct phone dialer and email tools

Popular Use Cases

• Building targeted account lists based on ideal customer profiles
• Enriching lead data with accurate contact information and company insights
• Automating personalized outreach across multiple channels

Pros

• Extensive and accurate B2B contact database
• Advanced search filters to find best-fit prospects
• Integrates with popular CRMs and sales tools

Cons

• Pricing can be steep for smaller businesses
• Some users report occasional inaccuracies in contact data
• Learning curve to fully utilize all features and integrations

Reviews

On G2, ZoomInfo Sales has an average rating of 4.4 out of 5 stars from over 8,400 reviews. Users praise its comprehensive database, powerful search capabilities, and ability to streamline prospecting efforts.

Capterra reviewers appreciate ZoomInfo's data accuracy and time-saving features, with some noting minor glitches and a learning curve. The platform has an overall rating of 4.5 out of 5 on Capterra.

Discussions on Reddit highlight ZoomInfo's strengths for sales teams in mid-market and enterprise companies. While not perfect, many consider it the best option compared to alternatives, especially when combined with LinkedIn Sales Navigator.

Pricing

• Pricing starts at around $15,000 per year for 3 seats
• Four tiers available: Professional ($14,995), Advanced ($24,995), and Elite ($39,995)
• Custom enterprise pricing available
• Annual contract required, with some flexibility for quarterly payments

7. Pipedrive

Pipedrive is a sales-focused CRM tool that helps teams manage leads, track sales activities, and close more deals. It offers a visual pipeline view, customizable stages, and AI-powered insights to optimize sales performance. Pipedrive's intuitive interface and robust feature set make it a popular choice for small to medium-sized businesses looking to streamline their sales processes.

Key Features

Pipedrive's key features focus on simplifying sales management:

• Visual deal pipeline for tracking progress
• Customizable sales stages and fields
• Email integration and tracking
• AI-powered sales assistant for insights and recommendations

Popular Use Cases

• Managing sales pipelines and deals
• Automating follow-up tasks and reminders
• Analyzing sales performance and forecasting revenue

Pros

• Easy to set up and use
• Customizable to fit unique sales processes
• Strong mobile apps for on-the-go access

Cons

• Limited customization for reporting
• Integrations can be complex to set up
• Higher pricing compared to some competitors

Pricing

• Essential: $14.90 per user/month billed annually
• Advanced: $24.90 per user/month billed annually
• Professional: $49.90 per user/month billed annually
• Enterprise: $99 per user/month billed annually
• Free 14-day trial available

Reviews

On Capterra, Pipedrive has an overall rating of 4.5 out of 5 based on 1,500+ reviews. Users praise its ease of use, visual pipeline, and mobile apps. Some note limitations with reporting and integrations.

G2 reviewers give Pipedrive 4.3 out of 5 stars. Positive feedback highlights the customizable pipelines and helpful AI insights. Critiques mention the learning curve and lack of advanced features compared to enterprise CRMs.

Pipedrive has a 9.2 out of 10 rating on TrustRadius. Customers appreciate the intuitive interface, email sync, and activity management. A few reviews point out the need for more granular permissions.

8. Salesforce

Salesforce is a comprehensive CRM platform that offers AI-powered sales tools to help businesses optimize their sales processes and drive revenue growth. Salesforce's AI capabilities, such as predictive lead scoring and opportunity insights, make it a top choice for sales teams looking to leverage the power of artificial intelligence.

Key Features

• Predictive lead scoring identifies high-potential prospects
• Opportunity insights recommend next best actions to close deals
• Automated data capture minimizes manual data entry
• Customizable dashboards and reports provide real-time visibility into sales performance

Salesforce's AI features are designed to help sales teams focus on the most promising opportunities and take the right actions to convert them into customers.

Popular Use Cases

• Prioritizing and nurturing high-quality leads
• Optimizing sales strategies based on AI-driven insights
• Automating repetitive tasks to increase sales productivity

Pros

• Robust AI capabilities for sales optimization
• Seamless integration with other Salesforce products
• Extensive customization options and app ecosystem

Cons

• Steeper learning curve compared to simpler CRM tools
• Higher pricing than some alternatives
• May require significant customization for optimal results

Pricing

• Starter: $25 per user/month billed annually
• Professional: $80 per user/month billed annually
• Enterprise: $165 per user/month billed annually
• Unlimited: $330 per user/month billed annually

Reviews

On Capterra, users praise Salesforce's versatility and customization capabilities, with an overall rating of 4.0. However, some note that the platform can be sluggish at times and requires significant training to implement effectively.

G2 reviewers give Salesforce Platform an average 4.5-star rating, highlighting its user-friendly interface, scalability, and vibrant community. A few users mention that performance can be an issue with large datasets.

Reddit sentiment is generally positive, with users appreciating Salesforce's automation, forecasting, and integration capabilities. Some criticize its cost and complexity, while others suggest alternatives like Pipedrive for simpler needs.

9. EngageBay

EngageBay is an all-in-one marketing, sales, and support CRM that helps companies streamline their inbound efforts and convert visitors into customers. As an affordable alternative to HubSpot, EngageBay offers a comprehensive suite of features for attracting web visitors, capturing leads, nurturing them into sales, and providing excellent customer support.

Key Features

These key features make EngageBay a strong HubSpot alternative for sales and marketing automation:

• Attract targeted web visitors with inbound marketing tools
• Capture and nurture leads with forms, email sequences, and workflows
• Manage deals and automate sales processes to close more deals faster
• Provide multi-channel customer support with the integrated helpdesk

Popular Use Cases

• Aligning marketing and sales to manage the complete customer lifecycle
• Automating lead generation, qualification, and nurturing
• Streamlining sales activities and pipelines for higher conversions

Pros

• Offers a free CRM with extensive sales and marketing features
• Intuitive platform that is easy to set up and use
• Responsive customer support available 24/7 via live chat

Cons

• Automation sequences can be tricky to set up initially
• Reporting features have a learning curve to master
• Native CRM integrations are limited compared to HubSpot

Pricing

• Free plan for up to 250 contacts and companies
• Paid plans start at $14.99/user/month for 500 contacts
• 20% discount available for annual billing

Reviews

On Capterra, EngageBay has an overall rating of 4.0 out of 5. Users praise its value for money, ease of use, and customer service. Some noted it took time to learn all the features.

G2 reviewers give EngageBay 4.6 out of 5 stars. They find it user-friendly, feature-rich and a life-saver for syncing customer data. A few mentioned the automations can be confusing to set up.

EngageBay is frequently recommended on Reddit as a more affordable alternative to HubSpot with a robust feature set. Users appreciate the simple pricing and ability to consolidate sales and marketing tools.

Conclusions

When choosing the best sales planning tool for your needs, consider key criteria such as AI-powered automation, integration with your existing tech stack, customization options, and pricing. Look for a platform that can streamline your workflows, provide actionable insights, and scale with your business.

Among the top choices are Bardeen, HubSpot Marketing Hub, and Gong.io. Bardeen stands out for its intelligent automation capabilities, intuitive no-code builder, and ability to integrate with over 100 apps. Download and install Bardeen's Chrome extension to start automating your sales planning processes and saving valuable time.

HubSpot Marketing Hub offers a comprehensive suite of tools for lead generation, content creation, and analytics, while Gong.io leverages AI to analyze customer interactions and provide revenue intelligence.

To experience the power of AI-driven automation firsthand, sign up for Bardeen for free and start a 14-day trial of its premium features. Take the first step towards optimizing your sales planning and closing more deals today.