The most visible CRM tools, October 2026

October 2026 · 12 questions asked in English, worldwide · ChatGPT, Google AI Overviews, Gemini and Google AI Mode · 96 answers read

Leader

HubSpot

89%of answers name it

Most cited source

salesforce.com

40citations

From Google AI Mode, Gemini, Google AI Overviews and ChatGPT

Where engines disagree most

Pipedrive

2/4engines put it in their top three

Top three on Google AI Mode and ChatGPT, not on Gemini and Google AI Overviews

Brands

Rank Brand Heralded Score Mentioned Recommended By engine Mentioned by Change
1 HubSpot US 86 , range 81–90 89% 67% First reading
2 Salesforce US 78 , range 72–84 77% 53% First reading
3 Pipedrive US 73 , range 62–79 65% 48% First reading
4 Zoho CRM IN 72 , range 60–78 65% 45% First reading
5 Microsoft Dynamics 365 US 38 , range 32–46 29% 18% First reading
= 6 Close US 24 , range 16–34 11% 10% First reading
= 6 Freshsales US 24 , range 16–34 14% 8% First reading
8 monday CRM IL 24 , range 17–34 17% 5% First reading
9 Creatio US 17 , range 11–29 9% 4% None First reading
= 10 Attio GB 17 , range 11–29 8% 5% First reading

“=” marks brands whose score ranges overlap, so the test cannot separate them. Every brand named in at least three answers is ranked. By engine has one dot per engine (ChatGPT, Google AI Overviews, Gemini and Google AI Mode), darker the more often it names the brand.

Most cited sources

Rank Source Type Cited in Engines Pages cited Brands its pages mention
11Withheld. Run a full Snapshot to see it.
12 rework.com Media 1.0% 1 of 4 1 0
13 slashdot.org Media 1.0% 1 of 4 1 0
14 thepipelinereport.com Media 1.0% 1 of 4 1 0
15 zdnet.com Media 1.0% 1 of 4 1 0

The questions, and who wins each

QuestionLanguageWins it
best CRM software for a SaaS company English HubSpot and Salesforce, tied
CRM software recommendations for a sales director English HubSpot
top CRM software English HubSpot and Zoho CRM, tied
how to choose CRM software English HubSpot, Pipedrive and Zoho CRM, tied
what to look for in CRM software English No brand recommended
CRM software for a team of 20 to 200 English HubSpot
CRM software that integrates with Gmail English HubSpot
CRM software with GDPR-compliant hosting English HubSpot and Pipedrive, tied
CRM software for manufacturing English HubSpot
most reliable CRM software English Salesforce

Each engine's top three

Method

Each month Heralded asks every engine the same buyer questions, twice each, and reads every answer. An answer counts 0 for a brand it leaves out, 50 for a brand it names and 100 for a brand it recommends, and the Heralded Score is built from those. A brand named in at least three answers gets a score and a place.

How the leaderboards are measured