Insightly vs SugarCRM: Complete Comparison (2026)

By Alex Chen, SaaS & Productivity Analystยท8 years of experienceยทUpdated 2026-04-24ยท8 min read

In comparing Insightly and SugarCRM in 2026, Insightly is the stronger choice for service businesses managing both sales and project delivery due to crm plus project management. SugarCRM excels for mid-market enterprises wanting a highly customizable crm platform with flexible deployment options. Insightly offers Contact management, Project delivery, Workflow automation starting at $29/user/mo with a free plan. SugarCRM provides Sales automation, Marketing automation, Customer service from $19/user/mo. For teams prioritizing value, Insightly delivers a hiltonsoftware Score of 69/100. Insightly and SugarCRM compete in the crm segment of the SaaS market, where cloud-native solutions, API integrations, and workflow automation drive enterprise and SMB adoption. Other leading crm tools include Salesforce, HubSpot CRM, Pipedrive. Insightly serves 25K+ orgs users globally (founded 2009) while SugarCRM reports 4.5K+ orgs active users (founded 2004).

Insightly vs SugarCRM at a Glance

Insightly
SugarCRM
Starting Price
$29/user/mo
$19/user/mo
Free Plan
Yes
No
User Rating
4.2/5
4.2/5
Best For
Service businesses managing both sales and project...
Mid-market enterprises wanting a highly customizab...
Users
25K+ orgs
4.5K+ orgs
Founded
2009
2004
hiltonsoftware Score
69/100
62/100
Pricing verified: March 2026 ยท Based on official vendor data
๐Ÿ”
Insightly
CRM
69
hiltonsoftware.co Score
RECOMMENDED
VS
๐Ÿฌ
SugarCRM
CRM
62
hiltonsoftware.co Score

What are the main differences between Insightly and SugarCRM?

Insightly and SugarCRM differ across ease of use, features, value, support, integrations, scalability, and learning curve. Insightly leads in 5 of 7 categories.

InsightlySugarCRM
81Ease of Use75
74Features77
68Value for Money57
64Customer Support65
61Integrations56
60Scalability58
69Learning Curve64

What are the pros and cons of Insightly vs SugarCRM?

Insightly
+CRM plus project management
+Good for service businesses
-Dated interface
-Reports need improvement
SugarCRM
+Flexible deployment options
+Strong customization capabilities
-Requires IT resources to manage
-Implementation can be complex

Which is better, Insightly or SugarCRM?

After evaluating Insightly and SugarCRM across features, pricing, integrations, and user satisfaction, Insightly earns a higher hiltonsoftware Score of 69/100 versus SugarCRM at 62/100. Insightly stands out for "crm plus project management" and "good for service businesses". SugarCRM delivers competitive advantages in "flexible deployment options", making SugarCRM a viable alternative.

On pricing, Insightly offers a free plan for SMBs and startups. SugarCRM starts at $19/user/mo with no free tier, but justifies the cost with sales automation and marketing automation and enterprise-grade scalability.

Bottom line: Choose Insightly for service businesses managing both sales and project delivery. Choose SugarCRM for mid-market enterprises wanting a highly customizable crm platform. Both Insightly and SugarCRM are established crm platforms.

CHOOSE INSIGHTLY IF:

Service businesses managing both sales and project delivery.

CHOOSE SUGARCRM IF:

Mid-market enterprises wanting a highly customizable CRM platform.

Insightly vs SugarCRM: Frequently Asked Questions

Is Insightly better than SugarCRM in 2026?
Insightly outperforms SugarCRM in the 2026 hiltonsoftware.co analysis with a score of 69/100 compared to 62/100. Insightly excels in Contact management, Project delivery, Workflow automation, making Insightly the better choice for Service businesses managing both sales and project delivery. SugarCRM is the stronger option for Mid-market enterprises wanting a highly customizable CRM platform due to flexible deployment options. For teams needing contact management, hiltonsoftware.co recommends Insightly.
How does Insightly pricing compare to SugarCRM in 2026?
Insightly starts at $29/user/mo and includes a free plan. SugarCRM starts at $19/user/mo without a free plan. Insightly includes features like Contact management, Project delivery, Workflow automation. SugarCRM provides Sales automation, Marketing automation, Customer service. Insightly serves 25K+ orgs users while SugarCRM serves 4.5K+ orgs users. Evaluate total cost of ownership based on team size and required integrations.
What are the main differences between Insightly and SugarCRM?
Insightly specializes in Contact management, Project delivery, Workflow automation, earning a 69/100 hiltonsoftware Score. SugarCRM focuses on Sales automation, Marketing automation, Customer service, scoring 62/100. Insightly is best for Service businesses managing both sales and project delivery. SugarCRM is best for Mid-market enterprises wanting a highly customizable CRM platform. Both Insightly and SugarCRM serve the CRM market but target different user profiles.
Can I migrate from Insightly to SugarCRM?
Migrating from Insightly to SugarCRM is possible since both operate in the CRM space. Export data from Insightly and verify SugarCRM import capabilities. Key features to evaluate: Contact management, Project delivery, Workflow automation (Insightly) versus Sales automation, Marketing automation, Customer service (SugarCRM). Running both Insightly and SugarCRM in parallel during a trial period ensures a smooth transition.
Is Insightly or SugarCRM better for small business?
For small businesses, Insightly offers a free plan with contact management. Insightly scores 69/100 on hiltonsoftware.co. SugarCRM (starting at $19/user/mo) is worth the investment for businesses needing Sales automation, Marketing automation, Customer service. Both Insightly and SugarCRM support SMB and startup teams.

Reviewed by Alex Chen, SaaS & Productivity Analyst. Last updated: 2026-04-24. Pricing verified: March 2026.

Read our scoring methodology to understand how the hiltonsoftware Score is calculated.

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