Insightly, Keap, and Nutshell all target small and mid-sized B2B teams but solve different problems beyond the sales pipeline: Insightly's standout feature is…
Subscription · From Approximately $249/month (Pro plan, billed annually)
Best for: Solo entrepreneurs and small service businesses that want CRM, marketing automation, and invoicing and payment collection bundled into one platform
Subscription · From $13/user/month (billed annually)
Best for: Small and midsize B2B sales teams that want CRM with flexible pipeline visualizations and optional email marketing or AI add-ons
At a Glance
Insightly
Keap
Nutshell
Primary category
CRM
CRM
CRM
Rating
Not documented
Not documented
Not documented
Pricing model
Subscription
Subscription
Subscription
Starting price
$29/user/month (billed annually)
Approximately $249/month (Pro plan, billed annually)
$13/user/month (billed annually)
Free plan
Not documented
Not documented
Not documented
Free trial
Yes
Yes
Yes
Platforms
Web, iOS, Android
Web, iOS, Android
Web, iOS, Android
Team collaboration
Not documented
Not documented
Not documented
AI features
Yes
Not documented
Not documented
Public API
Yes
Yes
Yes
Standout Differences
Native project management on top of the CRM
Insightly lets teams convert a won deal directly into a trackable delivery project inside the same platform, a differentiator from CRMs that stop at the sale.
Insightly
Deepest built-in marketing automation and invoicing
Keap centers on a purpose-built small-business automation engine with multi-step email and SMS sequences, plus quote, invoice, and payment collection tools included in the core platform.
Keap
Flexible pipeline views including a map
Nutshell offers board, list, chart, and geographic map pipeline visualizations, useful for territory-based sales teams, alongside optional Marketing Pro and Nutshell IQ AI add-ons.
Nutshell
AI features sold differently across the three
Insightly includes an AI Copilot on its Professional and Enterprise tiers, Nutshell sells its Nutshell IQ AI layer as a separate paid add-on, and Keap does not document AI assistant features.
Insightly, Nutshell, Keap
Feature-by-Feature
Sales and Delivery Workflow
Feature
Insightly
Keap
Nutshell
Native project management for post-sale delivery
Available
Not documented
Not documented
Multiple pipeline visualizations
Available
Not documented
Available
Automation and AI
Feature
Insightly
Keap
Nutshell
AI assistant for emails or summaries
Available
Not documented
Limited
Email or SMS marketing automation
Not documented
Available
Available
Billing and Integration
Feature
Insightly
Keap
Nutshell
Invoicing and payment collection
Not documented
Available
Not documented
REST API and webhooks
Available
Not documented
Not documented
Access
Feature
Insightly
Keap
Nutshell
No-credit-card free trial
Available
Not documented
Not documented
Native iOS and Android mobile app
Available
Available
Available
Pricing Compared
Starting price reflects the lowest paid tier, not the full cost for every team size or usage level.
Insightly
Plus — $29/user/month Annual
Professional — $49/user/month Annual
Enterprise — $99/user/month Annual
Keap
Pro — Approximately $249/month Billed annually
Max — Approximately $299/month Billed annually
Ultimate — Approximately $349/month Billed annually
Nutshell
Foundation — $13/user/month billed annually ($19/user/month billed monthly) Monthly or annual
Growth — $25/user/month Annual
Pro — $42/user/month Annual
Business — $59/user/month Annual
Enterprise — $79/user/month Annual
Marketing Pro (add-on) — $49/company/month Monthly
Engagement Pro (add-on) — $16/user/month Monthly
Nutshell IQ (add-on) — $37/company/month for 100 credits Monthly
Pros & Cons
Insightly
Pros
Combines CRM and project management natively in one platform
Three clear pricing tiers with a free 14-day trial
Native iOS and Android mobile apps
AI Copilot and workflow automation available on mid-tier plans
Strong reporting with pre-built business intelligence dashboards
Cons
REST API and webhooks require the Professional tier or above
Some reviews note additional onboarding and premium support fees beyond listed pricing
Recent private-equity acquisition and Unbounce merger create some brand and roadmap uncertainty
AI Copilot query limits on lower tiers may be restrictive for heavy users
Entry-level Plus plan lacks workflow automation and API access
Keap
Pros
Deep, purpose-built automation engine for small business workflows
Combines CRM, marketing and invoicing and payments in one platform
Long track record of over twenty years refined specifically for small business needs
Mobile app supports on-the-go contact and communication management
Backed by Thryv's resources following the 2024 acquisition
Cons
Relatively high starting price for a small-business tool
Mandatory one-time Kickstart onboarding fee for new Pro and Max customers
Additional user seats and contact-tier upgrades add up quickly
Steeper learning curve than lighter competitors like ActiveCampaign
Text and voice marketing capacity is metered with overage charges
Nutshell
Pros
Fast to set up and easy for non-technical sales reps to learn compared with enterprise CRMs.
Combines CRM, email marketing, and sales engagement in one subscription rather than requiring separate tools.
Multiple pipeline visualizations, including a map view, help territory-based sales teams.
Responsive customer support with free data migration and guided onboarding on most plans.
Transparent, predictable per-user pricing with five tiers to grow into.
Cons
Advanced marketing automation and AI insights are sold as paid add-ons rather than included at every tier.
Reporting and customization are less deep than enterprise-grade CRMs such as Salesforce.
Higher-tier plans (Business and Enterprise) can get expensive for very small teams.
Some users report a learning curve when configuring multi-step sales automation.
Third-party integration marketplace is smaller than larger CRM competitors.
Use Cases
Choose Insightly: Teams that need to hand closed deals directly into tracked delivery projects without switching to a separate project-management tool
Choose Keap: Solo entrepreneurs and small service businesses that want CRM, marketing automation, and invoicing and payment collection bundled into one platform
Choose Nutshell: Small and midsize B2B sales teams that want CRM with flexible pipeline visualizations and optional email marketing or AI add-ons
Insightly
Sales pipeline management — Sales teams track leads and opportunities through a Kanban-style pipeline from first contact to close.
Post-sale project delivery — Teams convert closed deals directly into tracked delivery projects without switching to a separate project management tool.
Marketing and CRM integration — Businesses combine Insightly's CRM with Unbounce's landing-page tools for connected lead capture and pipeline management.
Keap
Solo entrepreneur automation — Coaches and consultants automate follow-up and nurture sequences without needing a marketing team.
Service business lead-to-invoice workflow — Contractors and agencies manage leads through to invoicing and payment in one connected system.
Small business marketing automation — Non-technical small business owners run sophisticated automated campaigns without hiring developers.
Nutshell
Small business sales pipeline management — Sales teams of 2-50 reps use Nutshell to track leads through a visual pipeline, automate follow-up tasks, and forecast revenue without a dedicated CRM administrator.
Combined CRM and email marketing — Marketing and sales teams that want to manage contacts, deals, and email campaigns in one system add Marketing Pro to run newsletters and drip sequences directly from CRM contact data.
Territory-based field sales — Field sales organizations use Nutshell's map view to plot prospects and customers geographically and plan efficient in-person visit routes.
Frequently Asked Questions
Which of these three is best for handing off closed deals into project delivery?
Insightly is purpose-built for this, letting sales teams convert a won deal directly into a trackable delivery project inside the same platform rather than exporting to a separate tool.
Which includes invoicing and payment collection?
Keap includes quote, invoice, and payment collection tools as part of its core platform. Insightly and Nutshell do not document built-in invoicing.
Which has a geographic map pipeline view?
Nutshell is the only one of the three that documents a map pipeline view, alongside board, list, and chart views.
Which is the most affordable to start with?
Nutshell's Foundation plan starts at $13 per user per month, well below Insightly's $29 per user per month and Keap's roughly $249 per month bundled starting price.
Which offers a documented free trial?
Insightly documents a free 14-day trial across all its plans. Keap and Nutshell do not document a free trial in the provided pricing information.
Which of these include AI features?
Insightly includes an AI Copilot for email summaries and reply drafting on its Professional and Enterprise tiers. Nutshell offers AI-generated insights through its separately priced Nutshell IQ add-on. Keap does not document AI assistant features.