Salesforce Essentials vs Salesforce Sales Cloud comparison

Salesforce Essentials and Salesforce Sales Cloud are both solutions in the CRM category. Salesforce Essentials is ranked #17 with an average rating of 7.8, while Salesforce Sales Cloud is ranked #1 with an average rating of 8.2. Salesforce Essentials holds a 0.3% mindshare in CRM, compared to Salesforce Sales Cloud’s 9.0% mindshare. Additionally, 91% of Salesforce Essentials users are willing to recommend the solution, compared to 94% of Salesforce Sales Cloud users who would recommend it.

Salesforce Essentials

Read 13 Salesforce Essentials reviews

108 Views
55 Comparison Views

91% willing to recommend

Salesforce Sales Cloud

Read 114 Salesforce Sales Cloud reviews

5,511 Views
2,933 Comparison Views

94% willing to recommend

Salesforce Essentials

Salesforce Sales Cloud

Comparison Buyer's Guide

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Executive SummaryUpdated on Dec 19, 2024

Salesforce Sales Cloud and Salesforce Essentials are competitive products in the CRM category. Salesforce Sales Cloud appears to have the upper hand due to its expansive functionality and robust feature set, although Salesforce Essentials offers a more streamlined and cost-effective solution for smaller organizations.

Features: Salesforce Sales Cloud offers robust functionality, customizable solutions, and a large ecosystem of integrations. It supports complex business requirements and provides various reporting and sales tracking features. Salesforce Essentials delivers a streamlined CRM experience, focusing on simplicity and ease of deployment.

Room for Improvement: Salesforce Sales Cloud can be overwhelming due to its complexity and costs, with users seeking more intuitive interfaces. Salesforce Essentials needs improvements in its user interface and automation capabilities, with users desiring a more user-friendly experience.

Ease of Deployment and Customer Service: Salesforce Sales Cloud is predominantly deployed on public clouds, offering private and hybrid options, and has mixed customer service reviews. Salesforce Essentials utilizes public cloud deployment with similar customer service feedback.

Pricing and ROI: Salesforce Sales Cloud is considered expensive, requiring significant investment but offering strong ROI through its features. Salesforce Essentials, while more affordable, can still be seen as costly with additional services, yet is perceived as more cost-effective for smaller organizations.

To learn more, read our detailed Salesforce Essentials vs. Salesforce Sales Cloud Report (Updated: April 2025).

Buyer's Guide

Salesforce Essentials vs. Salesforce Sales Cloud

April 2025

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Review summaries and opinions

We asked business professionals to review the solutions they use. Here are some excerpts of what they said:

Categories and Ranking

Salesforce Essentials

Ranking in CRM

17th

Average Rating

8.0

Reviews Sentiment

6.9

Number of Reviews

Ranking in other categories

No ranking in other categories

Salesforce Sales Cloud

Ranking in CRM

1st

Average Rating

8.4

Reviews Sentiment

7.0

Number of Reviews

114

Ranking in other categories

Opportunity Management (1st), Sales Force Automation (1st), Conversation Intelligence Software (2nd)

Mindshare comparison

As of April 2025, in the CRM category, the mindshare of Salesforce Essentials is 0.3%, up from 0.1% compared to the previous year. The mindshare of Salesforce Sales Cloud is 9.0%, down from 10.1% compared to the previous year. It is calculated based on PeerSpot user engagement data.

CRM

Featured Reviews

Srini-Dhanaraj

Founder & CEO at imfine.club

Manages service requests and dispatches engineers to resolve issues

I work from home for a heater manufacturing company. They wanted to move away from their current SAP CRM system to Salesforce. There is a fulfillment process, which involves taking an order, delivering it, and providing service. Salesforce is used to manage the order-taking process. Once an order is taken, the backend system, SAP ERP, handles product manufacturing, delivery, and installation. After installation, the Service Cloud in Salesforce takes over for ongoing service management. Once your order is confirmed, integration with the SAP ERP backend will be seamless. The system takes the sales order from Salesforce and starts processing it for procurement, starting with creating a production order, manufacturing, and then delivery. Once the product is delivered, this information is passed back to Salesforce Service Cloud. In the Service Cloud, a service engineer receives a notification indicating that a product needs to be delivered to a specific location for installation. The engineer then inspects and installs the product at the designated site. SAP ERP manages the product manufacturing and delivery processes. After the product is delivered to the customer, Salesforce Service Cloud takes over. It manages service requests and dispatches engineers to resolve issues reported by customers. Service Cloud captures the information and creates an incident record when a customer reports a product fault. Engineers receive this information and promptly visit the client site to fix the issue. The solution is easy to implement. Overall, I rate the solution a nine out of ten.

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Richard Mottershead

Enterprise Architect at a non-profit with 501-1,000 employees

Infinitely customizable, good end-to-end sales and customer management processes but lacks good documentation

Essentially, it's the CRM solution for managing customers and leads. The features that had the most significant impact on our sales efficiency include flexibility, regular updates, and very good end-to-end sales and customer management processes. AI and machine learning are on the agenda for next year. Initially, it will be very silo-based, but eventually, we'll be integrating MIBI data into our solution. Sales Cloud's reporting and analytics capabilities influenced our sales strategy quite a lot. We can build every report as a dashboard, and there are various sorts of things. We are using Tableau as our MIBI analytic solution, which is also owned by Salesforce these days.

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Quotes from Members

We asked business professionals to review the solutions they use. Here are some excerpts of what they said:

Pros

"I've found the product's basic AI functionalities, such as predictive analytics and workflow automation useful for optimizing processes and improving productivity."

"High availability is really important for us when getting our reports as a vendor."

"The product is stable."

"In terms of features, the cloud-based solution and easy deployment are standout elements that have made a difference."

"The CRM system has SAP Sales, SAP Service, and SAP Billing, with everything integrated into an on-premise SAP CRM system. Salesforce Essentials replaced this on-premise system, bringing all functionalities onto the cloud platform."

"The solution is very scalable and flexible. It can be customized as per the business need."

"The most important feature is how Salesforce Essentials brings together information from multiple channels. The nature of our complex custom product data has been challenging due to our manufacturing nature. Salesforce also allowed business processes like finance, credit lines, customer complaints, and quality issues to integrate seamlessly. I haven’t used the mobile app functionality, because we haven't fully utilized because of our preferance of more personal interactions over using mobile apps."

"The solution helps to track the performance of salespersons before closing deals."

More Salesforce Essentials pros

"The tool is quite flexible."

"It is a one-stop shop for running anything related to sales. You can do a lot of things."

"I would recommend Sales Cloud for anyone who has a sales team that needs to be optimized and for any size of enterprise."

"I would rate Salesforce Sales Cloud's scalability as very good. We have scaled from 30 to 150 within three years without a glitch."

"When it comes to the lead management process, we track and evaluate the different stages and the challenges in each stage. It's so that the entire team has visibility of what's going on with each individual lead."

"Our use case within the organization covers the entire cycle from lead generation, demand planning, and opportunities to realization and closure. For our clients, Salesforce is used more to plot the cycle from products to cash and lead to revenue. They mostly build offers and pricing quotations in the Salesforce environment through their field marketing agents."

"The most valuable features of Salesforce Sales Cloud are the ability to track portfolio opportunities and reporting capabilities. The notification process inside the platform is also very valuable, and extracting reports is extremely useful. However, we are currently using only a small part of its functionality."

"Salesforce Sales Cloud is a stable solution."

More Salesforce Sales Cloud pros

Cons

"The solution's UI is not user-friendly."

"I have seen Salesforce evaluate a lot of AI and analytics into that. But as an end user, I don’t have that much input."

"The primary area for improvement in Salesforce Essentials is its pricing. There are other competitors, like Zoho CRM, that offer similar features at a lower cost."

"Less integration would be better. It should work independently."

"The solution could be cheaper."

"Areas that could be improved or upgraded in the next release include analytics, automation capabilities, and stability."

"The product's reporting area has certain shortcomings, making it an area where improvements are required."

"When we use mixed languages, it can be uncomfortable because there seems to be no consideration for right-to-left speakers. It feels like these tools were developed by people who only speak left-to-right languages and didn't consider other language types' needs."

More Salesforce Essentials cons

"They should also include ATP and CTP functionality."

"The areas revolving around archiving and backup in Salesforce Sales Cloud are not as advanced as some of the other solutions in the market."

"The performance is sometimes slow. There is too much information and this makes it difficult to find the answers we are looking for."

"The deployment of data from the development environment to production is also a weaker point because their solution is not powerful."

"There are things that could be improved with respect to file sharing. There is a limited file size."

"The solution could improve the partner management and communities. For the enterprise licenses, we have the help, but it should also be extended with the features to the partner community."

"Salesforce Sales Cloud needs a more user-friendly interface."

"The solution is secure. However, they could always improve on security."

More Salesforce Sales Cloud cons

Pricing and Cost Advice

"Salesforce Essentials is quite expensive, almost 10 out of 10. I don't have the exact cost, but we found it to be very expensive based on our budget constraints."

"I rate Salesforce Essentials' pricing an eight out of ten."

"The pricing is a bit on the expensive side."

"The tool is moderately priced."

"There is a need to make yearly payments towards the licensing costs attached to the solution."

"It's a perpetual license, and the subscription can be expensive."

"The pricing is on the higher side, especially with additional costs for professional services like consultants."

"We chose quarterly payments."

"The main issue is the price. Because it's SaaS, you will have to pay on a monthly or yearly basis."

"It's expensive, storage being the most costly aspect."

"Being license based, the license varies by type. The pricing is considered average."

"Sales Cloud is quite expensive."

"I've seen the prices for Salesforce Sales Cloud, but I haven't been the one to handle the money. As someone who's only visually looked at the price, I would imagine it's on the pricier side, but they do have a ton of leverage, and seeing that everyone I've worked for has always been dedicated to continuing Salesforce. I've never worked for anyone who has threatened to leave. Everyone has accepted the pricing for what they offer."

"Implementation and add-ons may be additional costs."

"Price-wise, the product does not fall under the category of cheaply priced products."

"Sales Cloud is expensive."

More Salesforce Sales Cloud pricing and cost advice

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Top Industries

By visitors reading reviews

No data available

Educational Organization

76%

Computer Software Company

Financial Services Firm

Manufacturing Company

Company Size

By reviewers

Large Enterprise

Midsize Enterprise

Small Business

Questions from the Community

What do you like most about Salesforce Essentials?

Salesforce provides the best they have with the current version. Most of the features we need are already there, and it's very easy to use.

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What is your experience regarding pricing and costs for Salesforce Essentials?

The pricing is a bit on the expensive side, maybe when we compare it with other solutions. I would rate the pricing a nine out of ten, with one being low price and ten being high price. The licensi...

See all answers

What needs improvement with Salesforce Essentials?

I have seen Salesforce evaluate a lot of AI and analytics into that. But as an end user, I don’t have that much input. So, I would like to have more AI functionality here. That would be really help...

See all answers

What do you like most about Salesforce Sales Cloud?

The features of Sales Cloud most useful for testing and running email campaigns are highly valuable.

See all answers

What needs improvement with Salesforce Sales Cloud?

Improving system performance and processing speed would enhance productivity and allow for even smoother workflows according to my view. Additionally, introducing faster data retrieval and real-tim...

See all answers

What is your primary use case for Salesforce Sales Cloud?

My primary use case for Salesforce is to streamline sales strategies, define key sales parameters, and manage focus areas effectively. I leverage Salesforce to record, track, and optimize our sales...

See all answers

Comparisons

No data available

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Compared 29% of the time

SAP CRM vs Salesforce Sales Cloud

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Oracle CX Sales vs Salesforce Sales Cloud

Compared 7% of the time

Oracle CRM vs Salesforce Sales Cloud

Compared 4% of the time

Camunda vs Salesforce Sales Cloud

Compared 4% of the time

More Salesforce Sales Cloud Competitors

Product Reports

Buyer's Guide

Salesforce Essentials

March 2025

Download Salesforce Essentials product report

Buyer's Guide

Salesforce Sales Cloud

March 2025

Download Salesforce Sales Cloud product report

Also Known As

No data available

Sales Cloud, SFDC, Salesforce

Overview

Salesforce Essentials is a cloud-based CRM tool for businesses seeking flexible, scalable, and customizable solutions to enhance sales and customer support processes.

Designed for seamless integration across multiple channels, Salesforce Essentials includes Sales and Service Cloud to simplify sales tasks and customer management. It enhances finance, credit, and quality processes with user-friendly AI capabilities and predictive analytics. Despite its strengths, there is room for improvement in SAP integration, interface simplicity, and report generation. Cost-effectiveness and support for diverse languages are also potential upgrade areas. Businesses use this CRM solution for lead management, opportunity tracking, and automating sales workflows, transitioning from paper-based methods to digital efficiency.

What are the essential features of Salesforce Essentials?

Scalability and Flexibility: Accommodates growth and customization needs.
Multiple Channel Integration: Enhances finance and quality processes.
User-Friendly: Easy navigation with AI capabilities.
Cloud Deployment: Includes Sales and Service Cloud features.
Predictive Analytics: Improves productivity and tracking.
Mobile App Support: Facilitates on-the-go access and management.

What benefits or ROI can users expect from Salesforce Essentials?

Improved Productivity: Automation features save time and streamline tasks.
Enhanced Customer Management: Centralizes interaction and data handling.
Ease of Transition: From manual to automated workflows.
Performance Monitoring: Standardizes processes for better oversight.

In the retail industry, businesses employ Salesforce Essentials for customer data management and transparency in order processing. Healthcare providers use it for patient engagement and streamlined communication. Financial services utilize it for billing management and compliance, harnessing automation tools for efficient data handling.

Salesforce

Salesforce Sales Cloud is a comprehensive CRM platform designed for efficient lead management, sales forecasting, and customer engagement, offering extensive customization and cloud-based accessibility.

Aimed at enhancing business efficiency, Salesforce Sales Cloud supports core business processes like CRM, lead and opportunity management, sales forecasting, and customer engagement. Its robust integration capabilities allow seamless connectivity with ERP systems and various applications. The platform offers pipeline tracking, process automation, and advanced sales cycle management. Users appreciate its cloud-based accessibility, allowing teams to operate remotely and manage sales operations effectively. However, users highlight concerns about its complexity, cost, and the need for a more intuitive interface.

What features does Salesforce Sales Cloud offer?

Customization: Tailor the CRM to meet specific business requirements.
Robust Reporting: Comprehensive analytics and data insights.
Lead Management: Efficiently manage and convert leads.
API Integration: Seamless connectivity with multiple applications.
Cloud Accessibility: Work from anywhere with cloud-based access.

What benefits should be evaluated in Salesforce Sales Cloud reviews?

Enhanced Productivity: Streamline sales processes with automation.
Improved Collaboration: Facilitate team coordination and client engagement.
Accurate Forecasting: Make informed decisions with reliable sales forecasts.
Flexibility: Accommodate diverse industry needs with ease.
Legacy System Integration: Efficiently update and integrate with existing systems.

Salesforce Sales Cloud is widely implemented across industries such as finance, healthcare, and retail, supporting sales teams in tracking and managing sales operations. Its use extends to reporting, collaboration, and enhancing client interactions, allowing companies to tailor Salesforce to meet industry-specific requirements efficiently.

Salesforce

Sample Customers

Information Not Available

Coca-Cola Enterprises, Kuoni Global Travel Services, Financial Times, Just Eat, Jobsite, H.R. Owen, PlayerLayer, O2, DMGT, Philips, Xtreme.ie, Business Stream, Remote Asset Management, Dialogue Group

Buyer's Guide

Salesforce Essentials vs. Salesforce Sales Cloud

April 2025

Free Report: Salesforce Essentials vs. Salesforce Sales Cloud

Find out what your peers are saying about Salesforce Essentials vs. Salesforce Sales Cloud and other solutions. Updated: April 2025.

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