COMPARISON | 4 MIN READ
Microsoft Dynamics 365 CRM vs. SugarCRM
Compare two of the top CRM solutions for sales.
TABLE OF CONTENTS
Microsoft Dynamics 365 CRM and SugarCRM are two leading customer relationship management solutions with similar features and functions. While they share some capabilities, several vital differences may make one a better fit for your business than the other. In this article we will be comparing the similarities and differences. If you want a side-by-side report, unlock our Dynamics 365 CRM vs. SugarCRM Comparison Report.
Small Business vs. Mid-Market
The size and scale of your business will play a huge role in figuring out which sales CRM is a better fit for your company. Sugar’s products are better suited for small businesses looking for low price points and quick implementations. Sugar Sell is a great option for these companies; its narrow scope supplies plenty of focus for small organizations. Mid-market companies can use Sugar products, but the streamlined focus may limit growth.
Microsoft is a software powerhouse, and its Dynamics 365 CRM solution is a great fit for mid-size businesses hoping to scale and succeed all at once. The software pairs seamlessly with related solutions like Microsoft 365, Power BI, and other Dynamics 365 products, making it an excellent choice for Microsoft-oriented companies that want to add to their existing architecture.
Sugar Sell is a great stepping stone if you’re a small business dipping your toes into the world of CRM. Dynamics 365 CRM may be your speed if you’re a more seasoned company.
Features
Both Microsoft Dynamics 365 CRM and SugarCRM offer robust sales and customer relationship management tools, but they differ in approach and ecosystem. Microsoft Dynamics 365 Sales is built for businesses already using Microsoft products, offering deep integrations with tools like Outlook, Teams, and Excel, as well as native AI features to support sales forecasting and automation. SugarCRM, on the other hand, is known for its flexibility and customization. It delivers a modern user experience with strong capabilities in lead tracking, customer journey mapping, and workflow automation—especially appealing to businesses that prioritize configurability over pre-built functionality.
Dynamics 365 CRM Core Features:
- Forecasting
- Lead and Opportunity Management
- Task and Activity Management
- Marketing Lists and Quick Campaigns
- Products, Price Lists, and Product Bundles
- Quotes, Orders, and Invoices
- CPQ and Data Enrichment Solution Delivery
- Live Org Charts
- Product, Relationships, and Hierarchies
- Competitors, Sales Goals, and Territory Management
- Partner Relationship Management
- Microsoft Office 365 Integration
SugarCRM Core Features:
- Accounting & Financial Services
- Construction
- Government
- Education
- Healthcare & Life Sciences
- Hospitality
- Media & Communications
- Professional Services
- Retail
- Software Companies
Suppose you’re eager to explore additional core and advanced module features offered by Microsoft Dynamics 365 CRM or SugarCRM. In that case, our comparison report is the perfect resource for you. Explore a detailed side-by-side comparison report.
Pricing
oth Microsoft Dynamics 365 Sales and Sugar Sell are priced for mid-sized organizations, but there are some key differences in licensing structure and minimum commitments.
Microsoft Dynamics 365 Sales is priced at $95 per user per month for the Enterprise license. This tier includes advanced functionality for managing the full sales cycle, and additional licenses can be purchased as needed. Microsoft also offers a Professional license at a lower cost, as well as optional add-ons for advanced automation and AI-driven insights.
Sugar Sell, priced at $85 per user per month for the Advanced license, may appear more affordable at first glance. However, Sugar requires a minimum of 10 users for an advanced-tier implementation, bringing the true entry point to $850 per month. Businesses looking to bundle Sugar Sell with other SugarCRM products like Sugar Market or Sugar Serve will need to evaluate those additional costs separately.
Pricing for both platforms can vary significantly depending on your configuration, so it’s always a good idea to request a quote tailored to your organization’s specific needs.
Implementation Timeline
The amount of time needed to implement these solutions will be unique to your business depending on your needs, the modules you choose to implement, and any additional customizations or integrations that are part of your implementation project.
Microsoft Dynamics 365 Sales typically takes 8–12 weeks to implement. This timeline can vary based on factors like data migration complexity, the number of customizations, and how deeply it’s integrated with other Microsoft products.
Sugar Sell implementations are generally faster, ranging from 4–8 weeks. Sugar’s more streamlined approach and lower initial complexity often allow for a quicker rollout, especially for teams with straightforward requirements or those transitioning from basic CRM systems.
Integrations
Both Microsoft Dynamics 365 Sales and Sugar Sell offer robust integration capabilities, but they differ in ecosystem depth and approach.
Microsoft Dynamics 365 Sales is part of the larger Microsoft ecosystem, making it a natural fit for businesses already using tools like Outlook, Teams, SharePoint, and Excel. It also integrates seamlessly with other Dynamics 365 modules—such as Marketing, Customer Service, and Business Central—as well as with Microsoft Power Platform tools like Power BI and Power Automate. These native integrations can significantly enhance cross-departmental workflows and data visibility.
Sugar Sell, on the other hand, offers strong flexibility through its open API and pre-built integrations with popular business tools like Gmail, Slack, Zendesk, and various marketing automation platforms. While not as tightly coupled with a unified suite of products, Sugar’s integration capabilities are well-suited for organizations looking to tailor their CRM stack with best-of-breed third-party apps or custom-built connections.
Overall, Dynamics 365 is ideal for businesses committed to the Microsoft stack, while Sugar Sell appeals to teams seeking a more open and modular integration strategy.
Sum It Up
Sugar Sell is a powerful solution for small businesses with tight budgets. Its CRM functionality is completely cloud accessible, allowing your team to track leads, forecast revenue, and manage campaigns, leads, and more. And, since Sugar Sell is cloud software, you won’t have to worry about hardware maintenance or manually scheduling and managing quarterly upgrades.
Dynamics 365 CRM is a solution you can deploy in the cloud, on-premise, or through a mix of the two. It offers modules like Sales and Marketing that you can mix and match to suit your business needs. The software is an excellent option for mid-market organizations and companies using other Microsoft products.
At Cargas, our expert consulting team specializes in Microsoft Dynamics 365 CRM. If you’re struggling to decide which of these solutions is the best fit for your business, we’d love to help. Let’s connect to talk about your needs and what you’re looking for in a software solution.
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