Agencies & Consultants industry
Best Software for Agencies (2026 Guide)
Agencies need a CRM for new business, time tracking for delivery, and proposal tools that close deals fast.
Common problems we hear from agencies
- Scope creep on fixed-fee work
- Slow proposal turnaround
- Resource planning across clients
- Recurring retainer billing
Comparison table
The top 4 tools for agencies, side by side.
| Software | Category | Starting price | Free trial | Rating | Best for | Visit |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| HubSpot CRM | CRM | Free | Yes | 4.6 | Service businesses focused on lead capture and sales pipeline. | Visit |
| Pipedrive | CRM | $14/user/mo | Yes | 4.5 | Outbound sales teams in trades and home services. | Visit |
| FreshBooks | Invoicing | $19/mo | Yes | 4.5 | Solo contractors and small service teams that bill by the job. | Visit |
| monday.com | Project Management | $9/user/mo | Yes | 4.6 | Agencies and teams that need a flexible work hub. | Visit |
Top 4 software picks for agencies
HubSpot CRM
CRM
HubSpot offers a free CRM with email, pipelines, and marketing automations.
- Generous free tier
- Easy to learn
- Huge integration ecosystem
Starting price
Free
Pipedrive
CRM
Pipedrive is a simple, visual CRM optimized for sales reps and pipeline management.
- Clean drag-and-drop pipeline
- Affordable per-seat pricing
- Great mobile app
Starting price
$14/user/mo
FreshBooks
Invoicing
FreshBooks makes invoicing, expenses, and time tracking simple for service pros.
- Beautiful, simple invoices
- Great mobile UX
- Solid time tracking and projects
Starting price
$19/mo
monday.com
Project Management
monday.com is a flexible work management platform for teams of any size.
- Highly customizable
- Strong dashboards
- Big template library
Starting price
$9/user/mo
Frequently asked questions
What software do agencies use?+
Most agencies use field service software like HubSpot CRM or Pipedrive to handle scheduling, dispatch, invoicing, and customer follow-ups in one app.
What is the best software for agencies in 2026?+
Our top pick this year is HubSpot CRM — it balances price, features, and ease of use better than any other option we tested.
How much does agencies & consultants software cost?+
Entry-level field service software starts around $29/mo. Enterprise platforms can run several hundred dollars per user per month.
Do I need a separate CRM and invoicing tool?+
Not usually. Modern all-in-one tools like HubSpot CRM bundle CRM, scheduling, and invoicing. Standalone CRMs only make sense if you have a dedicated sales team.