Best CRM for Cold Calling: Features That Make or Break a Sales Team

Cold calling isn’t dead. 

It’s been actively evolving over the course of last few years. The same goes for CRMs online because they’ve been under development since 1950s.

Yes, you read that right. Regardless of the best CRM for cold calling, or for any other purpose we use these days, the origins of a customer relationship management system took off from a pen and paper trail. 

What we see these days on a virtual sales floor are two things. One is a CRM, and the other one’s a Dialer; it could be any dialer for that matter.

The important thing is that outbound sales calling companies work in a very fast paced environment, where time is LITERALLY money!

On that note, companies need latest software that offer time saving, performance optimization toward processes, better workflow and of course, better conversions. The best of the both world comes in the form of CRM for cold calling that have integrated dialers.

If you can get your hands on such software, you can definitely do a lot more. And yes, switching between a dialer and a CRM will be the least of your concern since the CRM itself is offering a built-in dialer.

The problem is that despite this integration that’s, to some extent, available in modern-day CRMs, not all CRM for cold calling are worth it. Some of these programs have a basic dialer, while other lack the ai dialing feature, which is pretty much required in terms of advanced experience. 

That aside, here’s another thing: with so many options out there, how do you pick the best CRM for cold calling that fits your team’s workflow?

Well, today, you’re in luck because we comparing top CRMs, and helping you decide which one will actually move the needle for your sales reps.

What Makes a CRM Great for Cold Calling?

Not all CRMs are built for outbound sales. And the same expression applies to many programs that are sometimes “misinterpreted” as CRMs for sales teams.

For instance, Apollo and Salesloft, due to their versatility are often treated as CRMs because of the flexibility they come with. Natively, these programs are not CRMs, but they have integration support with dialers that turn the platform environment into a CRM like experience.

Hubspot is another thing because it is a CRM, and so on and so forth with Otureach too.

Circling back to the point, the thing that matters the most in making a CRM with dialer worth it is the overall amount of features, price tag, the UX and UI experience altogether.

1. A Built-In Dialer (Or Seamless Integration)

Manually dialing numbers is a relic of the past. 

The best CRM for cold calling either has a native dialer or plays nice with third-party AI dialer tools. Look for:

• Power Dialer – Automatically calls the next number in the queue, eliminating downtime.
• Predictive Dialer – Calls multiple leads at once, connecting reps only when someone picks up.
• AI Dialer – Uses AI to optimize call timing, detect intent, and even suggest responses.

2. Call Recording & Coaching

The best sales teams learn from every conversation. And that’s where conversation AI technology comes in, which we’ll get into later.

Moving on, a CRM with call recording lets managers review pitches, spot trends, and coach reps effectively. Some even allow real-time whispering (where a manager can jump in discreetly).

3. CRM Integration (No Data Silos)

If your dialer doesn’t sync with your CRM, you’re stuck with messy spreadsheets and duplicate data. 

The best CRM for cold calling keeps everything in one place—call logs, notes, and follow-ups. In other words, integrations make your sales teams’ life easy, saves them time and helps them to perform multiple activities at lightning fast speed.

4. Smart Call Routing

No more playing phone tag. Advanced CRMs automatically route calls to the right rep based on:

• Lead location
• Previous interactions
• Skill set (e.g., technical vs. general inquiries)

5. Performance Analytics

You can’t improve what you don’t measure. Look for a calling program that tracks:

• Call volume
• Talk time vs. hold time
• Conversion rates per rep
• Best-performing scripts

6. Voicemail Drop

Leaving the same voicemail 50 times a day? 

A good CRM or an ai dialer without CRM lets you pre-record messages and drop them instantly, saving hours.

7. Mobile-Friendly

Sales don’t stop at the office. 

A solid mobile app means reps can call, log notes, and check pipelines from anywhere. Plus, it’s good to have a CRM with dialer that you can use remotely when you’re away from your workstation. 

So yes, mobile friendliness matters a lot in that context.

The Best CRM for Cold Calling in 2025 (Compared)

We understand that the aforementioned highlights could be too much, as in beyond your go-to CRM’s feature scope. 

Don’t worry, here’s a list of different software that work as an ai dialer, crm with dialer, or a customer relationship management system that allows the integration of a dialer.

Read on…

1. Close – The Ultimate CRM with Dialer

Best for: Teams that live on the phone.

Close (formerly Close.io) was built for outbound sales. It’s one of the few CRMs with a built-in power dialer, meaning no clunky integrations.

As one of the best crm for cold calling, the program’s dialinbg solution offers:

• Predictive Dialing Mode: You can automatically let the program dial up leads that are most likely to take the call during the busiest time of the day. 
• Power Dialing Mode: Let the power dialer automatically ring up your leads without you having manually enter each number, or click the dial button.
• All In One Selling: Comes with calling system, as mentioned earlier, SMS packages, Zoom support, email and calendar integrations etc. This is great for saving time and eliminates the need for relying on other apps for simple day to day collaboration. 

Why sales teams love it:

• Native calling – No need for ZoomInfo or Aircall.
• Smart workflows – Auto-log calls, send follow-ups, and trigger tasks.
• Conversation intelligence – AI analyzes calls for trends and coaching opportunities.

Downsides:

• Not great for social selling (LinkedIn, WhatsApp, etc.).
• Lacks some enterprise-level features.

Verdict: If cold calling is your bread and butter, Close is a no-brainer.

2. Pipedrive

Best for: Small to mid-sized teams who want balance.

Pipedrive has been a sales CRM staple for years. While it doesn’t have a built-in dialer, it integrates seamlessly with tools like Aircall and JustCall.

Why it works:

• Simple but powerful – Easy to learn, hard to outgrow.
• Solid analytics – Track deals, calls, and rep performance.
• Great for email sequences – Automate follow-ups effortlessly.

Downsides:

• No native dialer (you’ll need an add-on).
• Customer support can be slow.

Verdict: A reliable choice if you’re okay with adding a separate AI dialer.

3. NetHunt

Best for: Teams that live in Gmail.

NetHunt turns Gmail into a full-fledged CRM. It’s perfect for sales reps who hate switching tabs.

Key perks:

• Works inside Gmail – Log calls, track deals, and manage pipelines without leaving your inbox.
• Good for hybrid teams – Supports email, calls, and some social channels.
• Affordable – Cheaper than most enterprise CRMs.

Downsides:

• Light on advanced calling features.
• Not ideal for large sales teams.

Verdict: If your team loves Gmail, this is the best free CRM for sales reps (with paid upgrades).

4. Salesforce

Best for: Big teams with complex needs.

When it comes to the best CRM for cold calling, everyone’s heard of Salesforce.

It is the OG CRM. It’s incredibly powerful—but that also means it’s overkill for most SMBs. And yes, it has a built in dialer, which the business likes to call: Sales Dialer.

Why enterprises use it:

• Endless customization – Build pipelines, dashboards, and workflows exactly how you want.
• AI tools – Einstein AI predicts deals, automates tasks, and analyzes calls.
• Scalable – Grows with your team.

Downsides:

• Steep learning curve.
• Expensive once you add features.

Verdict: Only worth it if you have a dedicated admin.

5. HubSpot CRM

Best for: Teams that want marketing + sales in one place.

HubSpot’s free CRM is surprisingly robust. While it’s not as dialer-focused as Close, it’s great for hybrid teams.

Standout features:

• Free forever plan – One of the best free CRM for sales reps.
• Seamless marketing sync – Track leads from ad click to close.
• Good email automation – Send sequences without extra tools.

Downsides:

• Calling features are basic (better with integrations).
• Can get pricey fast.

Verdict: Ideal if you need a free starting point with room to grow.

6. Attio

Best for: Startups with a product-led growth motion.

Attio is the new kid on the block, designed for tech-savvy teams.

What makes it unique:

• Automatic data enrichment – Pulls in LinkedIn, company info, and more.
• Built for startups – Easy to set up, no training needed.
• Clean UI – Feels like a modern app, not a clunky CRM.

Downsides:

• Light on cold-calling features.
• Fewer integrations than HubSpot or Salesforce.

Verdict: Great for early-stage teams, but not a cold-calling powerhouse.

Trellus - An A.I.O Solution For a High-Performance Sales Floor

Having mentioned all these CRMs for dialers, what if you already have a robust CRM system, and you’re looking for a reliable ai dialer?

Modern sales teams tied to large-scale businesses and call centers that get contract work in bulk for selling products or services, need more than just speed. 

They need smart dialing, more so we can call it parallel dialing, better conversation rates, and tools that help them connect with the right prospects, not just dial more numbers.

That’s where Trellus comes in.

1. AI-Powered Smart Dialing

Many CRMs with ai or non ai dialers rely on the traditional dialing technology.

Why so?

Thats because these tools are not primarily meant for dialing. They are meant for customer relationship management side of things. It’s only due to advancement in technology integration that we’ve got a combination of a bunch of best free CRM with dialer options available.

For instance, Float is a great CRM, and it doesn’t have a dialer. While we didn’t initially mention it on the list above, the program has plenty of features that enable rich communication, better resource management, built-in budgeting system and plenty of other bells and whistles to get your the ball moving. 

The “problem” is that Float doesn’t have a dialer. Or atleast, when the last time ,we checked it, it didnt have one. The point being, CRMs are not traditionally made to dial.

But with Trellus, you get access to a superlightweight Google Chrome extension that works as a cold calling solution, sales enablement software, a robust tool with conversational AI technology, LinkedIn lead management system and whatnot.

This means fewer wasted calls and more actual conversations with leads that matter the most.

2. More Lines = More Connections

Speaking of close, it maxes out at power dialing and predictive dialing.

What if you need to dial multiple prospects at the same time, AND in real time? 

We’re talking about have a software with robust parallel dialing system.

To easily handle large lead pools, Trellus lets you dial up to 5 lines at once, dramatically increasing connect rates.

3. Better Coaching & Analytics

A simple CRM with dialer gives you basic call logs, but Trellus goes further with it by offering plenty of features:

• Call Recording & Playback – Review conversations to improve pitches.
• Real-Time Analytics – See which reps are crushing it and who needs help.
• Objection Detection – AI flags common objections so managers can train reps better.

Trellus’s live coaching system works through a signature AI technology that recognizes the ongoing call’s behavioral pattern. 

Anytime there’s a possibility for your teams’ callers to come up with better cold call objections and overall better conversational skills, Trellus helps to mitigate the situation with cues that show up during an ongoing live call. 

This is the best way for your SDRs to not only brush up on their conversational skills right then and there, but also learn from their experience so that such calls can go better the next time there’s a similar situation at hand.

At the same time, you can warm up your conversational skills with a practice session before hitting the phone to make every live conversation count.  

Trellus offers mock calls where agents can engage in practice sessions against A.I. prospects to develop new skills and expand their comfort zone.

4. Spam Prevention

Nothing kills outreach faster than getting marked as spam. Trellus uses caller ID reputation management to keep your numbers clean, while other AI dialers don’t offer this level of protection.

5. LinkedIn Superhuman

Take back control of your LinkedIn Inbox and never miss a message again.

See all your LinkedIn Messages, including Sales Nav, in one place.  

Organize all your DM’s by snoozing, categorizing, and tracking conversations.  

In other words, move faster than ever before with snippets and hotkeys.

Which CRM Should You Choose?

Here’s the quick breakdown:

• Best for enterprises and multi-sized businesses: Trellus
• Best CRM with dialer: Close
• Best free CRM for sales reps: HubSpot
• Best for Gmail users: NetHunt
• Best for startups: Attio

Final Tip: Go On a Trialing Spree Before Buying Or Signing Up!

Most CRMs offer free trials. Test a few with your team before committing. The best CRM for cold calling is the one your reps actually use.