5 Best CRM alternatives to Salesforce Health Cloud

Salesforce Health Cloud offers healthcare organizations a platform to manage patient relationships and coordinate care-related interactions. 

However, putting the platform to work can require significant investment in licensing and implementation. Organizations with specialized intake and referral processes may also need technical expertise to configure workflows and connect existing systems. 

This can make Salesforce a substantial commitment, particularly for teams that need greater flexibility without relying heavily on developers or implementation partners. 

Fortunately, if you are looking for alternatives to Salesforce, several healthcare CRM platforms offer better approaches to managing these requirements. 

This guide compares 5 best CRM alternatives to Salesforce Health Cloud to help you evaluate their capabilities, costs, and suitability for your organization. 

Why are healthcare organizations looking for Salesforce Health Cloud alternatives? 

Salesforce Health Cloud offers extensive healthcare capabilities, but its cost and implementation requirements can make it a substantial investment. Here are three reasons healthcare organizations evaluate other options. 

1. High licensing and implementation costs 

Salesforce Health Cloud starts at $350 per user per month. Higher editions cost between $525 and $725 per user per month, billed annually. For a 20-member team, the starting subscription alone amounts to $84,000 annually. 

Implementation adds to this expense. Organizations must account for data migration, EHR integrations, workflow configuration, and ongoing administration. One Medicare plan in LeadSquared’s internal sales discussions reportedly received an implementation estimate of approximately $300,000. This illustrates why buyers should evaluate total implementation costs rather than subscription fees alone. 

2. Dependence on technical resources for customization 

Healthcare organizations often have specialized workflows based on their locations and intake requirements. Configuring Salesforce to support these processes can require technical expertise, particularly when integrations and complex automations are involved. 

Although administrators can manage many routine changes, more advanced customization may require developers or implementation partners. This can make adapting workflows more resource-intensive. 

3. Managing high inquiry volumes requires effective lead qualification 

Capturing inquiries is only the beginning of patient acquisition. Healthcare teams also need to identify genuine prospects and ensure they receive timely attention. When qualification and follow-up depend heavily on manual effort, intake teams can struggle to keep up with growing inquiry volumes. 

For example, an anonymized multi-state ABA provider reportedly had to manually call 47,000 leads to identify approximately 9,000 genuine prospects while using Salesforce. This illustrates the need for workflows that help teams qualify inquiries and prioritize follow-ups rather than relying on manual screening. 

Salesforce Health Cloud alternatives at a glance 

5 best Salesforce Health Cloud alternatives 

1. LeadSquared 

Best for 

LeadSquared is best suited to healthcare organizations that manage high volumes of patient inquiries and referrals across multiple teams, locations, or service lines. It helps centralize patient acquisition and intake workflows, automate follow-ups, and give teams visibility into how inquiries progress toward appointments. 

Patient acquisition and intake 

LeadSquared supports patient acquisition and intake through features such as: 

• Capturing inquiries from website forms, advertising channels, and connected communication platforms. 

• Assigning inquiries to the right team based on configurable rules, such as location, service line, or staff availability. 

• Automating follow-ups through email, SMS, WhatsApp, and other supported communication channels. 

• Tracking inquiry sources, referral activity, intake stages, and conversion performance through configurable reports. 

Healthcare integrations 

LeadSquared works alongside EHRs and other applications used by healthcare organizations. Its published integrations include platforms such as AthenaOne, AdvancedMD, CentralReach, ModMed, and DrChrono. 

For other applications, LeadSquared’s Universal Data Sync (UDS) allows teams to configure inbound and outbound data flows through APIs. This can support workflows such as transferring patient inquiry details to an EHR or bringing appointment updates back into the CRM. The exact data exchanged depends on API access, field mapping, and the integration setup. 

HIPAA, BAA, and security 

LeadSquared offers a HIPAA-compliant healthcare CRM with a Business Associate Agreement (BAA) in place. Its security measures include: 

• Role-based access controls to restrict who can view or modify patient information. 

• Encryption for data in transit and at rest. 

• Audit trails to track user activity and changes to records. 

Pricing model 

LeadSquared offers subscription-based pricing. The total cost for a healthcare deployment depends on the number of users, required modules, integrations, and implementation scope. Healthcare organizations should request a quote based on their workflows and technology stack. 

Limitations to weigh 

• LeadSquared manages patient acquisition, engagement, and intake workflows. It does not replace an EHR or serve as the system of record for clinical documentation. 

• UDS is a configurable integration capability, not a ready-made connector for every external application. Custom data flows require compatible APIs, appropriate access, and configuration. 

• The scope and complexity of an integration depend on the data being exchanged and the workflows being automated. Organizations should confirm integration requirements and costs before implementation. 

2. Microsoft for Healthcare

Best for 

Microsoft for Healthcare is best suited to healthcare enterprises that already use Microsoft technologies and want to connect patient engagement, care coordination, and healthcare data workflows. It is particularly relevant to organizations looking to build connected experiences across multiple departments using Dynamics 365, Microsoft Teams, Power Platform, and Azure. 

Patient engagement and care coordination 

Microsoft Cloud for Healthcare offers healthcare-specific applications and workflows that support activities such as: 

• Managing patient access and engagement through patient-facing experiences and outreach. 

• Creating unified patient views that bring information from different sources together. 

• Coordinating care teams through care management applications and Microsoft Teams. 

• Supporting virtual consultations through Microsoft Teams and its virtual health capabilities. 

Healthcare data integration 

Microsoft Cloud for Healthcare includes tools for connecting healthcare data from different sources and making it available for operational and clinical insights. Its capabilities include: 

• Azure Health Data Services for managing and exchanging healthcare data using standards such as FHIR. 

• Data Integration Toolkit and Dataverse healthcare APIs for connecting external healthcare applications. 

• Healthcare data models that help structure patient, provider, and payer information. 

• Power BI integrations for analyzing clinical and operational data. 

For example, a healthcare organization can use Azure Health Data Services to bring FHIR-formatted data from an EHR into its broader Microsoft environment. 

HIPAA, BAA, and security 

Microsoft offers a Business Associate Agreement (BAA) for customers using eligible Microsoft services. Its in-scope services include Dynamics 365, Azure, Microsoft 365, and Power Platform. However, the BAA does not automatically make an organization’s implementation HIPAA-compliant. Customers remain responsible for configuring services appropriately and meeting their own HIPAA obligations. 

Pricing model 

Microsoft Cloud for Healthcare does not have a single, straightforward CRM subscription price. Costs depend on the applications and services an organization deploys. These can include: 

• Dynamics 365 and Power Platform licenses required for specific healthcare applications. 

• Microsoft 365 licenses for services such as Teams. 

• Azure services, which can involve separate consumption-based charges. 

• Implementation, configuration, and ongoing administration. 

Healthcare organizations should work with Microsoft or an implementation partner to establish the licenses and services required for their intended workflows. 

Limitations to weigh 

• Microsoft Cloud for Healthcare is not a single CRM subscription. Its healthcare applications depend on products such as Dynamics 365 Customer Service, Power Apps, Power Pages, Microsoft Teams, and Azure. Some components require separate licenses and deployment. Organizations need to account for the full Microsoft stack when estimating costs. 

• Microsoft has changed how new customers access and deploy some of its healthcare application templates. Instead of deploying these solutions directly through the Power Platform admin center, new customers must download the source code and documentation and arrange their own implementation. This can require additional technical resources or help from a Microsoft implementation partner. 

3. Creatio 

Best for 

Creatio is best suited to healthcare organizations that need to adapt CRM records and workflows to their operational requirements. Its low-code platform allows teams to customize how they capture information, manage referrals, assign work, and automate processes across departments. 

Workflow customization and automation 

Creatio combines CRM applications with visual tools for designing business processes. Its capabilities include: 

• Creating custom records and adding fields and relationships to existing records. 

• Designing workflows with conditions, automated actions, approvals, and task assignments. 

• Automating lead qualification, distribution, and follow-up activities. 

• Building different process flows for sales, marketing, and service teams. 

Healthcare applications 

Creatio offers healthcare-oriented solutions built on its CRM and no-code platform. Its healthcare deployments demonstrate how organizations can adapt the platform to different operational needs. 

Integrations 

Creatio supports integrations through REST and SOAP APIs, and other development tools. Its low-code capabilities also allow teams to connect external applications and automate data exchange. 

For a healthcare organization, this can support integrations with an EHR or other operational applications. For example, patient or referral information could be transferred between Creatio and an EHR, depending on the available APIs and integration design. 

HIPAA, BAA, and security 

Creatio states that its software complies with HIPAA security requirements. Its documented safeguards include role-based access controls, audit logs, encryption, and regular security testing. 

However, organizations planning to store or process protected health information (PHI) should confirm BAA availability and the contractual coverage of their specific deployment with Creatio. 

Pricing model 

Creatio follows a modular pricing model, with separate charges for its platform and CRM applications. 

• Business Studio Growth: $40 per user/month. 

• Business Studio Enterprise: $75 per user/month. 

• Sales, Marketing, and Service CRM: $15 per user/month for each application. 

• Unlimited: Custom pricing for organization-wide access to the platform and CRM products. 

Limitations to weigh 

• Healthcare workflows require configuration: Creatio’s low-code tools provide flexibility, but organizations still need to define their data structures and automation rules. More complex workflows may require developers or implementation partners. 

• Creatio’s HIPAA security statements do not, by themselves, establish that a BAA is available for the intended deployment. Organizations handling PHI should confirm the contractual terms and security responsibilities before implementation. 

4. HubSpot 

Best for 

HubSpot is best suited to marketing-led healthcare organizations that want to attract prospective patients, manage inquiries, and measure campaign performance. Its connected marketing and sales tools help teams track interactions from the first website visit or form submission through follow-up and conversion. 

Marketing and patient acquisition 

HubSpot provides tools to attract and capture prospective-patient inquiries through different digital channels. Its capabilities include: 

• Creating website forms and landing pages to collect inquiries about services, treatments, or consultations. 

• Running email marketing campaigns and segmenting contacts based on their interests and interactions. 

• Tracking website activity, campaign engagement, and lead sources through its CRM. 

• Automating follow-up emails and other actions after form submissions or changes in contact activity. 

Healthcare integrations 

HubSpot connects with external applications through its App Marketplace, APIs, and integration partners. Healthcare organizations can use these options to connect the CRM with scheduling applications, communication tools, and EHR platforms. 

Organizations should verify whether the integration supports the required patient data and has appropriate security and contractual arrangements. 

HIPAA, BAA, and security 

HubSpot supports HIPAA-related data handling for qualifying Enterprise customers. Organizations must enable Sensitive Data settings, identify themselves as a HIPAA-covered entity or business associate, and accept the applicable Sensitive Data Terms and BAA. 

Its documented safeguards include:

• Encryption and access controls for sensitive CRM properties. 

• Audit logs to monitor activity involving sensitive information. 

• Controls for restricting which users can view or edit sensitive fields. 

Not all HubSpot tools support sensitive data. Organizations should review the covered services and restrictions before storing PHI in the platform. 

Pricing model 

HubSpot offers separate subscriptions for its marketing and sales products. Its published U.S. pricing includes: 

• Marketing Hub Starter: $20 per month per Core Seat. 

• Marketing Hub Professional: Starts at $890 per month and includes three Core Seats. 

• Marketing Hub Enterprise: Starts at $3,600 per month and includes five Core Seats. 

• Sales Hub Starter: $20 per month per Core Seat. 

• Sales Hub Professional: $100 per month per Sales Seat. 

• Sales Hub Enterprise: $150 per month per Sales Seat. 

Professional and Enterprise plans also have mandatory one-time onboarding fees. Additional seats and marketing contacts can increase the total subscription cost. Organizations should account for the products and subscription tiers needed to support their workflows. 

Limitations to weigh 

• Lead scoring and more extensive workflow automation are available only with Professional and Enterprise subscriptions. Organizations relying on these features should account for the higher subscription costs. 

• Sensitive Data requires an Enterprise subscription and acceptance of the BAA. Certain tools, including chatbots, personalization tokens, and playbooks, do not support Sensitive Data. Highly Sensitive Data also cannot be used in workflows, lists, search, or reporting. 

• Organizations using both Marketing Hub and Sales Hub may need separate subscriptions. Marketing contact limits, additional seats, and onboarding fees can increase the total cost. 

5. Freshsales

Best for 

Freshsales is best suited to healthcare organizations that need a straightforward CRM to organize prospective-patient inquiries, assign leads to staff, and automate follow-ups. Its territory management and contact scoring features can help teams prioritize inquiries and coordinate outreach across different service areas. 

Lead management and follow-up automation 

Freshsales provides tools to capture, organize, and manage leads through different stages of the sales process. Its capabilities include: 

• Capturing website inquiries through web forms and adding them to the CRM. 

• Organizing leads, contacts, and accounts with custom fields and lifecycle stages. 

• Scoring contacts based on their attributes and engagement to help teams prioritize follow-ups. 

• Using workflow automation to update records, assign tasks, and trigger actions based on defined conditions. 

• Creating sales sequences with scheduled emails, call reminders, follow-up tasks, and SMS actions. 

Integrations 

Freshsales supports integrations through its marketplace and APIs. Its marketplace includes connectors for applications such as Mailchimp, Calendly, and other business tools. Its APIs allow developers to create, retrieve, and update CRM records, including contacts, accounts, deals, appointments, and custom-module records. 

A healthcare organization could use an API-based integration to exchange inquiry or appointment information with an EHR or scheduling application. However, the integration would need to be developed or configured around the available endpoints and data requirements. Freshsales does not provide a universal, ready-made EHR integration. 

HIPAA, BAA, and security 

Freshworks’ Freshsales-specific HIPAA documentation states that it may execute a BAA with customers that qualify as covered entities or business associates. The BAA covers Freshsales, subject to mandatory security configurations. 

These requirements include: 

• IP whitelisting and role-based access controls. 

• A custom mailbox managed through the customer’s own mail server. 

• TLS 1.2 for email communication. 

• SAML single sign-on or an appropriately configured password policy with two-factor authentication. 

• Secure endpoints and appropriate data sanitization measures. 

The BAA does not automatically cover custom mailboxes or third-party applications connected to Freshsales. Customers must configure and assess these independently. They must also continue to meet the mandatory security requirements for the BAA to remain valid. 

Pricing model 

Freshsales offers a free plan and three paid subscription tiers. Its published U.S. pricing, billed annually, includes: 

• Free: $0 for up to three users. 

• Growth: $9 per user/month. 

• Pro: $39 per user/month. 

• Enterprise: $59 per user/month. 

Limitations to weigh 

• Freshsales is a general-purpose sales CRM. Organizations need to configure their own patient inquiry stages, referral records, intake processes, and assignment rules rather than relying on ready-made healthcare workflows. 

• Freshworks’ BAA is conditional on customers following its Freshsales secure operating environment. Custom mailboxes and third-party applications are not automatically covered, so organizations must assess these components independently. 

• Contact scoring, territory management, and sales sequences are included in Pro and Enterprise, not Growth. Organizations needing these capabilities should factor the higher subscription cost into their evaluation. 

How to choose the right Salesforce Health Cloud alternative 

Choosing a healthcare CRM involves more than comparing features. Evaluate each option against your workflows, existing technology, and long-term costs. 

1. Implementation time and total cost of ownership 

Ask for a breakdown of subscription fees, implementation, data migration, integrations, customization, training, and ongoing support. Request a realistic implementation timeline based on your requirements. 

2. Healthcare workflow capabilities 

Check whether the CRM supports patient inquiry capture, intake, referral management, lead assignment, and automated follow-ups. Find out which capabilities work out of the box and which require custom development. 

3. HIPAA compliance and data security 

Confirm whether the vendor will sign a BAA covering the services you plan to use. Review its security measures, including encryption, access controls, and audit trails. 

4. EHR and EMR integration 

Verify compatibility with your existing EHR. Ask which data fields can be exchanged, how frequently records sync, and whether the integration supports updates in both directions. 

5. Customization and ongoing administration 

Establish whether your team can modify forms, workflows, assignment rules, and reports independently. Clarify when changes require developer involvement or vendor support. 

Before making a decision, ask each vendor to demonstrate your key workflows and provide a detailed implementation and integration plan. 

How LeadSquared’s healthcare CRM supports the patient acquisition journey 

Consider a prospective patient who contacts a multi-location dermatology practice to ask about acne treatment. LeadSquared’s healthcare CRM and connected tools can help the practice manage the inquiry through the following stages. 

1. Respond to patient inquiries with Invorto 

The patient calls the practice outside regular office hours. LeadSquared’s AI voice agent, Invorto, can handle the conversation using the practice’s configured knowledge base. It can collect the caller’s details and treatment interest, then generate a call transcript and summary. The team can use this information to understand the inquiry and plan the next step. 

2. Guide the patient toward a consultation with FloStack 

The patient wants to book an appointment. FloStack can direct them to a relevant booking link or personalized microsite, where they can view available slots and schedule a consultation based on configured availability. This reduces the back-and-forth involved in arranging an appointment. 

3. Keep appointment information updated through UDS 

Once the patient books, UDS can sync the appointment details to LeadSquared. Its configurable workflows also support updates such as rescheduling, cancellations, and callback requests. This helps the practice keep its inquiry records aligned with booking activity across connected applications. 

4. Track the inquiry and its outcome in LeadSquared 

The practice team can review the original inquiry, call history, appointment updates, and follow-up activity in LeadSquared. Managers can use reports to understand how inquiries progress and identify where prospective patients are dropping off. With the required appointment data connected, they can also assess which sources generate consultations. 

Together, these capabilities help practices manage patient acquisition from the first conversation through appointment booking, while their EHR continues to support clinical records and care delivery. 

Could LeadSquared be the right fit for your healthcare organization?

If the capabilities discussed in this guide align with your organization’s patient acquisition and intake needs, a demo can help you explore how LeadSquared’s healthcare CRM, Invorto, FloStack, and UDS can support these workflows. 

Book a demo today to discuss your organization’s growth goals and see how LeadSquared can fit into your existing healthcare technology setup. 

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