As we move through 2025, the line between customer relationship management (CRM) and project management continues to blur. Businesses now demand tools that not only help track customer interactions but also enable seamless collaboration across teams, departments, and even continents. The search for the best CRM for project management is no longer just about keeping tabs on leads—it’s about streamlining entire workflows, aligning internal efforts, and driving consistent outcomes for clients.
As someone who has tested and implemented various CRMs across small startups and medium-sized enterprises over the last decade, I can say with confidence that the best CRM for project management is one that fits your workflow, team size, and business goals. Let’s explore the top options, what makes them stand out, and how to make the right decision for your unique situation in 2025.
Why Combine CRM and Project Management?
Before diving into the top contenders, it’s worth addressing why you might want a CRM with project management capabilities in the first place. Traditionally, CRMs have been focused on customer interaction tracking—sales pipelines, contact info, communications, and follow-ups. Meanwhile, project management tools have helped internal teams with task assignments, deadlines, milestones, and collaboration.
In today’s agile business environment, keeping these two areas separate can create silos. When sales teams close deals, there needs to be a direct, seamless handoff to project teams. The client’s preferences, expectations, and communications should carry over without repetition or loss of context. That’s why integrated platforms or hybrid CRMs with robust project management features are becoming essential.
Key Features to Look for in a CRM for Project Management
Choosing the best CRM for project management in 2025 isn’t just about ticking off a feature list. It’s about how well those features fit into your daily operations. However, based on firsthand experience, the following capabilities should be considered non-negotiable:
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Task and Milestone Tracking: Assign tasks, monitor progress, and stay on top of deadlines.
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Time Tracking and Scheduling: Especially important for agencies and service-based businesses.
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Communication History: Every team member should be able to access client emails, calls, and notes.
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Automations: Workflows that reduce manual tasks and improve consistency.
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Custom Dashboards and Reporting: To get real-time visibility into projects and sales simultaneously.
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Scalability and Integration: As your business grows, the CRM should grow with you.
My Top Pick for 2025: Monday.com CRM
After testing many tools across multiple industries and teams of varying sizes, Monday.com currently stands out as the best CRM for project management in 2025. Originally a project management tool, Monday has matured into a highly customizable platform that seamlessly blends CRM functionalities.
It allows you to build a pipeline to manage leads and sales, and simultaneously manage the post-sale projects using the same interface. You can use it to track timelines, assign team responsibilities, and generate automated updates—all in a way that feels intuitive, even for non-tech-savvy users.
One of the things I love most is the visual clarity it provides. You can view your pipeline, tasks, and communication threads in a grid, Gantt, or Kanban format—whichever suits your style. For growing teams that need transparency and collaboration, this makes a massive difference.
Other Excellent CRM-Project Management Hybrids
While Monday.com is my personal favorite, I understand that every team has different dynamics. Here are a few other CRMs that deserve recognition in 2025, based on usability, performance, and real-world success stories.
ClickUp
ClickUp has taken the productivity world by storm. It’s not a traditional CRM, but with the right setup, it can do just about anything—including pipeline tracking and customer lifecycle management. I’ve used it with marketing teams that appreciated how they could connect deals directly to campaign projects and view progress all in one workspace. The learning curve is a bit steeper, but the customization potential is enormous.
Zoho CRM Plus
Zoho has built a full suite of business tools, and its CRM Plus package integrates project management with sales, marketing, help desk, and even analytics. If you’re running a service-based business where the client relationship continues well past the sale, Zoho CRM Plus can act as your centralized hub. It’s also ideal for businesses operating in multiple regions, thanks to its strong multilingual and multi-currency support.
HubSpot (With Project Management Add-ons)
HubSpot is a CRM giant, and while it’s mostly known for sales and marketing automation, it now offers project management through integrations and its Ops Hub. It’s a smart choice for businesses heavily invested in content marketing or customer success initiatives. I’ve implemented it for B2B SaaS companies where the customer journey is closely tied to onboarding projects, and the results were impressive.
Notion (With CRM Templates)
Notion has gained massive popularity among small business owners and solopreneurs. With the right templates, it can function as both a CRM and a project management tool. It’s not ideal for large teams, but if you’re a consultant or running a boutique agency, the simplicity and flexibility make it a strong contender.
What to Consider When Choosing the Right CRM for You
While it’s tempting to jump on the platform with the most buzz, your best bet is to choose based on your team’s actual needs. Here are a few real-world scenarios I’ve encountered to help guide your decision:
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Startup with a small sales team and outsourced projects: Go for an all-in-one platform like Monday.com or ClickUp where everything is visible and connected. It helps reduce friction and saves time.
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Marketing agency handling long-term client work: Zoho CRM Plus or HubSpot are excellent, especially if you’re running multiple campaigns and client onboarding simultaneously.
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Consultant or freelancer: Notion may be more than enough. You don’t need enterprise features, just clarity and control.
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Mid-size service firm with growth plans: Invest in a scalable platform. Monday.com, Zoho, or even Salesforce (with add-ons) will allow you to evolve over time without switching platforms.
CRM and Project Management in the AI Era
One of the most exciting developments in 2025 is how AI is being embedded in CRMs for predictive analytics, task automation, and workflow optimization. Platforms like ClickUp and HubSpot are already leveraging AI to assign tasks based on past behavior, predict deal closures, and send proactive client updates.
I’ve personally seen how this changes the game—less time is spent on admin tasks, and more time is spent building meaningful relationships or delivering client work. As AI becomes more embedded, the best CRMs will be those that use it to empower teams, not confuse them.
Final Thoughts
There’s no universal “best CRM for project management” in 2025 because the right choice is all about alignment—between your team, your clients, your workflow, and your future goals. That said, if I had to recommend one solution for most businesses looking for a powerful, user-friendly, and future-ready tool, it would be Monday.com.
It blends flexibility with functionality, gives your team clarity without complexity, and adapts as your needs evolve. But don’t just take my word for it—try a few demos, involve your team in the decision-making, and choose the platform that feels like a natural extension of how you already work.
Because at the end of the day, the best CRM is the one your team will actually use—and love using.
If you’d like help selecting or implementing a CRM for your business in 2025, feel free to reach out. I’ve helped dozens of teams make the transition smoothly and would be happy to share more personalized insights.
