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Top 4 CRMs for UX/UI Design Agencies

CRM, Marketing, Productivity

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crm for ux/ui design agency

In today’s fast-moving creative and digital landscape, UX/UI design agencies need more than just beautiful interfaces—they need smart systems that manage leads, nurture relationships, automate tasks, and keep the sales pipeline flowing. Customer Relationship Management (CRM) tools are no longer exclusive to sales teams—they are essential for design studios seeking to scale their client base, manage projects, and automate outreach.

This article reviews four top CRM platforms ideal for UX/UI design agencies: Nimble, OnePageCRM, HubSpot CRM, and Capsule CRM. We’ll explore each tool’s features, pricing, and application in marketing automation. At the end, you’ll find a clear comparison and conclusion to help guide your decision.

1. Nimble – Unified Relationship CRM with Deep Social Integration

Overview

Nimble is a lightweight, user-friendly CRM designed for small teams, consultants, and growing businesses. What sets Nimble apart is its deep integration with social networks, contact enrichment, and real-time relationship intelligence—all valuable for a UX/UI agency that thrives on human connections.

Key Features

  • Contact Management: Sync contacts from Microsoft 365, Google Workspace, LinkedIn, Facebook, and more. View interaction history in one place.
  • Today Page: Prioritize follow-ups, tasks, and deals each day.
  • Email Marketing: Send personalized group emails with tracking.
  • Sales Pipelines: Visualize stages and customize your workflow.
  • Nimble Prospector: Pull data from anywhere on the web or LinkedIn with one click.
  • Web Forms: Capture leads from your site and trigger follow-ups.
  • Browser Extensions & Mobile App: Access the CRM from Gmail, Outlook, browsers, or your phone.
  • Workflow Automation: Automate task assignments, deal progression, and reminders.

Marketing Automation Use Case

For a UX/UI agency, Nimble can automatically assign new web inquiries to the right designer or project manager. You can also launch newsletter sequences, retarget leads based on click behavior, or automate reminders to follow up after proposal delivery.

Pricing

  • $24.90/user/month (billed annually)
  • Includes full access to features
  • No tiers or upsells
  • 14-day free trial available

Ideal For

  • Small UX agencies wanting integrated contact and marketing tools
  • Teams managing multiple design clients and ongoing relationships
  • Freelance consultants building long-term client pipelines

2. OnePageCRM – Action-Oriented CRM with a Focus on Simplicity

Overview

OnePageCRM was built for action. With a clean interface and a “next step” mindset, it keeps agencies focused on converting leads into clients—without the clutter of complex software. It’s ideal for design studios that don’t want bells and whistles, just results.

Key Features

  • Action-Based Dashboard: Every contact has a “Next Action” to keep momentum.
  • Email Integration: Track opens and clicks, and manage conversations inside the CRM.
  • Sales Pipeline: Drag-and-drop stages with filtering options.
  • CRM Widgets: Tools like Web Forms, Sales Dialer, AI Sales Navigator, and Business Card Scanner come built-in.
  • Lead Clipper: Capture leads from anywhere online in one click.
  • Mobile Support: Add contacts, update notes, or call directly from the mobile app.

Marketing Automation Use Case

OnePageCRM lets you automate repetitive client onboarding tasks. When a prospect fills out your agency’s form, you can auto-assign tasks to the design lead, set email templates to send out your portfolio, and track engagement with email sequences—all in one flow.

Pricing

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  • Professional Plan: $9.95/user/month
  • Business Plan: $19.95/user/month (includes automation and AI tools)
  • 21-day free trial, no credit card required

Ideal For

  • Freelancers and small studios with limited CRM experience
  • Teams wanting fast onboarding and minimal setup
  • Agencies that focus on high-touch sales and want no-nonsense workflows

3. HubSpot CRM – Scalable Free CRM with Marketing Power

Overview

HubSpot CRM is a feature-rich platform that offers powerful sales and marketing tools—completely free. It’s perfect for UX/UI design agencies aiming to grow aggressively without investing upfront in software. With robust automation and limitless users, it’s a strong entry point into advanced CRM territory.

Key Features

  • Contact Management: Store and organize up to 1 million contacts for free.
  • Sales Pipeline: Visual deal tracking and real-time dashboards.
  • Email Tools: Templates, tracking, scheduling, and AI-generated emails.
  • Meeting Scheduler: Let clients book consultations without back-and-forth emails.
  • Live Chat & Chatbots: Engage website visitors or collect lead data automatically.
  • Web Tracking: See what pages leads visit and trigger actions based on behavior.
  • CRM Integrations: Over 1,500 apps including Shopify, Zoom, Slack, and Gmail.

Marketing Automation Use Case

HubSpot’s chatbot and form builder are especially valuable for agencies. Design studios can use live chat to offer UX audits, run email sequences post-meeting, and send automated nurturing campaigns. It’s also ideal for sending free resource downloads in exchange for emails.

Pricing

  • Free Plan: $0 forever
  • Unlimited users and contacts
  • Paid upgrades (Marketing Hub, Sales Hub, CMS Hub) start at $18/month per hub
  • Free trial for premium features available

Ideal For

  • Agencies just getting started with CRM
  • Studios that want to blend sales and marketing automation in one place
  • Mid-sized teams looking to scale with layered upgrades later

4. Capsule CRM – Clean, Scalable CRM for Organized Client Work

Overview

Capsule CRM is a minimalist, intuitive solution for small teams that need structure without complexity. With a strong mobile app and rich contact management, it’s great for UX/UI teams working on the go or juggling multiple design contracts.

Key Features

  • Contact Management: Full interaction history with notes, calls, tasks, and files.
  • Sales Pipelines: Custom stages and visual tracking for design proposals and deals.
  • Task Management: Assign follow-ups and schedule actions easily.
  • Email Sync & Social Integration: Connect Gmail, Outlook, LinkedIn, and more.
  • Reports & Dashboards: Track performance by deal stage, contact source, or user.
  • Mobile App: Great for freelancers or teams meeting clients in person.

Marketing Automation Use Case

UX agencies can use Capsule to send targeted emails to clients based on tags (e.g., “Branding Lead” or “Figma Workshop Attendee”). You can create workflows to follow up post-project with feedback forms, referrals, or retargeting messages—keeping clients in the loop and loyal.

Pricing

  • Free Plan: $0 for up to 250 contacts and 2 users
  • Starter: $18/user/month
  • Growth: $36/user/month (adds advanced analytics)
  • Advanced: $54/user/month (adds workflow automation and permissions)
  • 14-day trial for all paid plans

Ideal For

  • UX/UI teams needing a clean, reliable tool for contacts and projects
  • Agencies that require mobile CRM access at events or co-working spaces
  • Freelancers looking to move beyond spreadsheets

CRM Comparison for UX/UI Design Agencies

Let’s compare these CRMs based on the most relevant factors for design studios:

1. Ease of Use

  • OnePageCRM: Extremely simple. Best for action-driven people who hate clutter.
  • Nimble: Clean and fast with helpful social integrations.
  • Capsule CRM: Balanced interface, great mobile app.
  • HubSpot: Rich UI, but more features may mean a longer learning curve.

2. Marketing Automation Strength

  • HubSpot: Powerful—includes sequences, web tracking, chatbots, and landing pages.
  • Nimble: Excellent for prospecting and email campaigns.
  • Capsule: Good tagging and personalization, moderate automation.
  • OnePageCRM: Light automation, focused on sales actions.

3. Price (per user/month)

  • OnePageCRM: $9.95–$19.95
  • Nimble: $24.90
  • HubSpot: Free core features, paid upgrades optional
  • Capsule CRM: Free to $54, with strong flexibility

4. Best Use Case

  • HubSpot: Best for growth-focused agencies needing a long-term free CRM.
  • Nimble: Ideal for outreach-heavy agencies wanting social and email synergy.
  • OnePageCRM: Perfect for small agencies wanting quick results and daily focus.
  • Capsule CRM: Great for structured project management and mobility.

Conclusion: Which CRM Is Right for Your UX/UI Design Agency?

Choosing the right CRM depends on your team size, goals, and how tech-savvy your team is. Here’s how to decide:

  • Choose Nimble if your agency thrives on relationships, email campaigns, and social outreach. It’s excellent for managing follow-ups and cutting data entry.
  • Choose OnePageCRM if you want to move fast, keep your pipeline full, and never miss a follow-up. It’s incredibly affordable and effective for lean teams.
  • Choose HubSpot CRM if you need advanced automation, scalability, and integration—all while staying free. Ideal for agencies ready to grow but wanting to avoid software costs initially.
  • Choose Capsule CRM if you prioritize simplicity and task organization across multiple design projects. It’s great for mobile use and clean workflows.

No matter which CRM you choose, the key is consistency—keep your client interactions organized, automate when possible, and make data-driven decisions.

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