Top Quoting Software to Streamline Your Sales Process

Winning new customers isn’t just about having a great product – it’s also about how you sell it. This is where quoting software can help your business grow.

Whether you’re struggling with time-consuming manual quote creation or complex proposal generation, quoting software and Configure-Price-Quote (CPQ) tools offer a solution. With features like automated pricing, professional templates, and seamless integrations with your CRM, it streamlines your workflow and reduces errors.

Choosing the right quoting software can transform your sales process, but to select the right one you’ll need to consider your operational needs and the complexity of your products and sales cycle.

In this article, we’ll explore the top quoting solutions, comparing their features and benefits to help you find the best fit for your business needs.

Benefits of Quoting Software and CPQ Tools

Before comparing solutions, it’s helpful to review the advantages of using a quoting tool or CPQ software to guide the sales process and generate quotes. Depending on your organization’s needs some of these features and benefits may hold more weight in your selection process.

Version Control and Audit Trails: Tracks changes to quotes, ensuring transparency and reducing the risk of errors or disputes.

Automated Pricing and Discounting: Eliminates manual calculations, ensures pricing accuracy, and enforces discount policies, reducing errors and improving profitability.

Product Configuration: Simplifies complex product configuration with guided selling, ensuring validity and faster quote generation.

Dynamic Proposal Generation: Automatically creates branded, professional proposals, saving time and ensuring consistency in customer communications.

Integration with CRM and ERP Systems: Centralizes data from sales and financial systems, enabling real-time updates and seamless workflows.

Quote Approval Workflows: Streamlines internal approvals with customizable workflows, reducing delays and maintaining compliance.

E-Signature Integration: Allows customers to sign quotes electronically, speeding up deal closures and improving the customer experience.

Analytics and Reporting: Provides insights into quote performance, win rates, and pricing trends, helping businesses refine their sales strategies.

Multi-Currency and Multi-Language Support: Facilitates international sales by accommodating global customers’ preferences, language, currency, and regional requirements.

Mobile Accessibility: Enables sales teams to create and manage quotes on the go, enhancing productivity and responsiveness.

Quoting Software vs. CPQ Software: What’s the Difference?

When evaluating quoting tools and advanced CPQ (Configure, Price, Quote) software, it’s essential to understand their unique capabilities and how they address different business needs.

Quoting Tools: The Basics

Quoting tools are designed to streamline the creation of quotes and proposals. They simplify processes like pricing, formatting, and customer communication, making them ideal for businesses with straightforward products or services. Key features of quoting tools include:

• Automated pricing and calculations
• Professional, branded quote templates
• Integration with CRMs and accounting systems
• E-signature functionality for faster deal closure

These tools excel in improving speed and accuracy, helping businesses respond to customers quickly while minimizing errors. For companies with standard offerings and pricing, quoting tools provide a reliable and cost-effective solution.

Advanced CPQ Software: A Step Further

CPQ software goes beyond the capabilities of basic quoting tools to handle more complex sales scenarios. It’s particularly beneficial for companies with configurable products, intricate pricing structures, or large-scale sales operations. CPQ software includes:

• Advanced product configuration with guided selling
• Pricing logic for tiered, volume-based, or custom pricing
• Approval workflows for complex deals
• Compatibility checks for bundled products or custom solutions
• Analytics to optimize pricing and identify trends

By automating these sophisticated processes, CPQ software empowers sales teams to deliver error-free quotes and proposals tailored to each customer’s unique requirements.

Which One Do You Need?

Choosing between quoting tools and CPQ software depends on your business’s complexity. Quoting tools are ideal for freelancers and small-to-medium-size companies looking to streamline simple processes, while CPQ software is essential for enterprise organizations with dynamic, configurable offerings and intricate pricing needs. Some solutions even combine the simplicity of quoting tools with the advanced features of CPQ software, offering flexibility for businesses as they grow.

By understanding these differences, you can select the right solution to enhance your sales efficiency and deliver an exceptional customer experience.

Top Quoting Tools for Enterprises

Enterprise organizations benefit most from CPQ solutions with advanced features and integration capabilities.

DealHub

DealHub is a quoting software that stands out by blending basic quoting functions with advanced CPQ features. It’s the ultimate tool for businesses seeking to elevate their sales process, from quote generation to deal closure, all within one powerful platform. With real-time quote generation, automated pricing, and CRM integrations, DealHub simplifies even the most complex product configurations, making it perfect for mid-sized to large organizations looking to accelerate growth and close deals faster. The platform’s flexibility and ease of use set it apart as a leading choice for companies that demand efficiency and precision.

Top Features:

• Guided selling for complex product configuration that reduces errors and accelerates quote creation.
• Real-time pricing automation with dynamic pricing rules to ensure accuracy.
• Parallel approval workflows to fast-track deal closure without delays.
• Seamless CRM integration with Salesforce, HubSpot, and other major platforms, ensuring data consistency across your entire sales process.
• Interactive digital deal rooms that allow real-time collaboration, document sharing, and tracking with buyers.
• Subscription management and billing integration for seamless quote-to-revenue.

Why Users Love It:
DealHub is often rated as one of the best quoting tools on the market because of its unmatched ability to handle both straightforward and highly complex quoting needs. Its DealRoom feature allow teams and customers to collaborate in real-time, providing full visibility into the deal process and improving buyer engagement. Users rave about its speed in generating quotes and how it minimizes errors in pricing and configurations. The platform’s real-time collaboration and deep CRM integration offer a truly cohesive sales experience, allowing teams to work together more efficiently. Its guided selling feature also ensures that every quote is accurate and tailored, which helps close deals faster and boosts overall revenue.

Pricing:

• DealHub offers custom pricing tailored to each business’s specific needs. Interested users can request a demo to see how DealHub can be adapted to their sales process.

Salesforce CPQ

Salesforce CPQ is designed for businesses that want to improve their configuration, pricing, and quoting process. It’s ideal for mid-to-large companies that need a robust tool integrated into their CRM to manage complex product bundles and pricing rules.

Top Features:

• Guided selling and product bundling for quick, accurate quotes.
• Automated discounting rules and margin protection with approval workflows.
• Real-time dynamic pricing based on product selection and conditions.

Why Users Like It:
Salesforce CPQ is praised for its seamless integration with Salesforce CRM, which allows sales teams to manage everything from lead generation to quoting in one system. Users appreciate the product configurator, approval workflows, and automation features that reduce errors and accelerate deal closures.

Pricing:

• Starts at $75/user/month for the basic CPQ package. Advanced features available at $150/user/month.

Conga 

Conga is a robust document automation platform designed for businesses that need to automate their document generation, quoting, and contract lifecycle management processes. It’s best suited for mid-sized to large organizations that require complex configuration and pricing options.

Top Features:

• Automated document generation for proposals, quotes, and contracts directly within CRM.
• Advanced approval workflows to ensure compliance and minimize deal friction.
• Flexible pricing models including usage-based and tiered pricing structures.

Why Users Like It:
Users appreciate Conga for its seamless integration with Salesforce, allowing sales teams to manage everything from quoting to contract management in one platform. Its advanced automation features, like dynamic pricing and approval workflows, make it easier for businesses to close complex deals faster and with fewer errors.

Pricing:

• Custom pricing for custom solutions.

Tacton

Tacton is specifically designed for manufacturing companies that need to configure complex products. It offers advanced product configuration, pricing, and quote generation capabilities, making it a robust solution for businesses in industrial sectors.

Top Features:

• Advanced product configuration for complex manufacturing setups.
• Dynamic pricing and discount management based on real-time configurations.
• 3D product visualizations to enhance the quoting process.

Why Users Like It:
Tacton is highly valued in the manufacturing industry for its ability to handle complex configurations with ease. The platform’s 3D product visualization feature, combined with real-time pricing, helps companies reduce errors and improve the accuracy of their quotes, leading to more effective sales processes.

Pricing:

• Custom pricing based on business size and complexity.

Top Quoting Tools for SMBs

Small and mid-size companies (SMBs) tend to require fewer features and integrations in their quoting tools. SMBs should consider these solutions for generating accurate quotes and branded proposals.

PandaDoc

PandaDoc is a document automation platform designed for businesses to create, send, track, and e-sign quotes, proposals, and contracts efficiently. It’s ideal for businesses seeking to streamline their document workflows and improve sales efficiency.

Top Features:

• Drag-and-drop document editor with 750+ customizable templates.
• Real-time tracking of document views, comments, and e-signatures.
• Native CRM integrations with Salesforce, HubSpot, and other systems.

Why Users Like It:
Users appreciate PandaDoc’s simplicity and speed in creating professional documents. The platform’s real-time tracking and e-signature features help to close deals faster, while CRM integrations allow for seamless data syncing. Customizable templates save time and ensure consistency, making the tool highly efficient for both small and large teams.

Pricing:

• Starts at $19/user/month.

QuoteWerks

QuoteWerks is a quoting and proposal software designed for businesses that need to create, deliver, and track sales documents efficiently. It’s particularly well-suited for organizations looking for a CPQ solution with deep CRM and accounting integrations.

Top Features:

• Over 55 integrations, including CRM and accounting tools.
• Real-time notifications when quotes are viewed.
• Electronic signature support and integrated payment collection.

Why Users Like It:
Users appreciate QuoteWerks for its robust integrations and ease of use in creating professional quotes quickly. The platform’s real-time notifications and centralized document storage improve visibility and reduce errors, making it easier for sales teams to manage their pipeline and close deals faster.

Pricing:

• Starts at $15/user/month.

HubSpot Quoting Software

HubSpot CPQ is designed for businesses that want to optimize the process of creating quotes directly within HubSpot Sales Hub. It’s an excellent choice for small to mid-sized companies looking for a quoting solution that integrates seamlessly with HubSpot’s CRM.

Top Features:

• Generate quotes directly from HubSpot CRM with real-time deal tracking.
• Collect payments and signatures from within the quote.
• Customize quotes with templates and branding options.

Why Users Like It:
Users appreciate the simplicity of creating quotes within the HubSpot CRM, allowing for a smooth, unified sales workflow. The ability to integrate quotes with HubSpot’s marketing and sales tools helps keep data consistent across teams, making it easier to track and manage the entire sales process.

Pricing:

• HubSpot Quotes is part of HubSpot’s Sales Hub, with pricing starting at $20/month.

iQuoteXpress (IQX)

IQX is a solution designed to refine sales proposal creation and quote management for small to mid-sized businesses. It provides a flexible and customizable platform with various pricing tiers to suit different business needs.

Top Features:

• Dynamic product catalog and relational product trees.
• Integrate with Outlook 365 and Gmail.
• Multiple pricing lists, approval systems, and discount management.

Why Users Like It:

Users appreciate IQX for its easy setup, customizable features, and the ability to track proposal interactions. The tool is especially favored for improving sales efficiency by automating quote creation and management.

Pricing:

• Standard Plan pricing starts at $39/user/month.

Quoter

Quoter is a cloud-based quoting software designed to help businesses automate their quote-to-cash process. It is ideal for small to mid-sized businesses looking to simplify their sales operations and eliminate bottlenecks in the quoting process.

Top Features:

• Automated quote-to-cash workflows with optional items and upsell opportunities.
• Real-time client engagement tracking and integrated e-signatures.
• Unlimited user pricing with CRM, accounting, and payment integrations.

Why Users Like It:
Users appreciate Quoter for its ability to automate the quoting process, saving time and reducing errors. The platform’s integration with CRMs and other business systems allows for real-time tracking and simplifies approvals, making it easier to close deals faster. The unlimited user pricing model is another standout feature, helping businesses scale without extra costs.

Pricing:

• Starts at $119/month.

Freshsales

Freshsales Quotes is part of the Freshsales CRM, designed to help small to mid-sized businesses generate and manage quotes directly within the CRM. It is ideal for sales teams looking to expedite their quoting process while keeping track of customer interactions.

Top Features:

• Create and manage quotes within Freshsales CRM.
• Automate customer data entry and track deal progress.
• Integrated with other Freshworks products for a seamless sales workflow.

Why Users Like It:
Users appreciate the simplicity and seamless integration of Freshsales Quotes with their existing CRM. It allows for easy tracking of quotes within the sales pipeline, reducing the need for external tools and improving sales efficiency.

Pricing:

• Available as part of the Freshsales CRM suite, starting at $9/user/month.

Scoro

Scoro is an all-in-one work management software ideal for businesses that need to manage projects, finances, and sales in a single platform. Particularly useful for consultancies and agencies, Scoro combines quoting, project management, and financial tracking into one cohesive system, streamlining the sales-to-delivery process.

Top Features:

• Create and manage quotes within the same platform as projects and finances.
• Integrate resource planning, project timelines, and financial reports.
• Collaborate across teams with centralized data and task management.

Why Users Like It:

Users appreciate Scoro for its ability to combine project management, sales, and financials into one platform, eliminating the need for multiple tools. Its real-time resource planning and financial tracking give businesses full visibility into their operations, helping them make informed decisions and improve profitability..

Pricing:

• Pricing starts at $26/user/month.

Zoho Quoting

Zoho CRM Quotes is a built-in quoting solution that allows businesses to create and manage quotes within their CRM. It is ideal for small to medium-sized businesses looking for an affordable, integrated CRM and quoting tool.

Top Features:

• Create and send quotes directly from Zoho CRM.
• Convert accepted quotes into invoices and sales orders.
• Track customer interactions and manage the entire sales cycle from one platform.

Why Users Like It:
Users appreciate the seamless integration of quoting functionality with Zoho CRM, which allows them to manage customer data, quotes, and invoices in one place. The automation features also help to reduce manual work and improve accuracy.

Pricing:

• Zoho CRM starts at $14/user/month, with the quoting feature included in higher-tier plans.

Loopio

Loopio is an RFP (Request for Proposal) response platform designed to help businesses streamline and automate their RFP, security questionnaires, and proposal management processes. Ideal for teams looking to save time while improving the quality and consistency of their proposals, Loopio leverages AI to help automate responses.

Top Features:

• AI-powered automation for faster RFP and proposal drafting.
• Centralized content library for managing approved answers.
• Collaboration tools to engage SMEs (subject matter experts) and finalize responses.

Why Users Like It:

Users appreciate Loopio’s ability to speed up the RFP process, saving time while ensuring accurate and compliant responses. The platform’s robust AI features and content library allow teams to handle large volumes of proposals with efficiency and ease.

Pricing:

• Custom pricing based on business needs. A demo is available upon request.

Top Quoting Tools for Freelancers and Small Businesses

Quoting tools with basic capabilities and integrations enable freelancers, agencies, and small businesses to generate accurate quotes without overspending on unnecessary features.

Xero Quotes

Xero Quotes is ideal for small businesses and accounting professionals who want to create and manage quotes within a broader financial management platform. Integrated within Xero’s accounting software, it allows users to streamline their sales and invoicing processes seamlessly.

Top Features:

• Create, send, and track quotes within Xero’s accounting platform.
• Convert accepted quotes into invoices with a single click.
• Customize quotes with templates and branding.

Why Users Like It:

Users appreciate Xero’s integration of quoting with their broader accounting and invoicing tools. The ability to handle quotes and financial tasks in one system simplifies workflows and improves efficiency for small business owners.

Pricing:

• Available as part of Xero’s broader accounting plans, starting at $15/month.

Better Proposals

Better Proposals is an intuitive proposal software designed to help small businesses, freelancers, and agencies create visually appealing, professional documents. It’s ideal for those looking to smoothen their proposal process and leave a lasting impression on clients.

Top Features:

• Easy-to-use editor with real-time document preview and customizable templates.
• Legally binding e-signatures and document tracking.
• Integration with popular CRMs and payment systems for seamless workflows.

Why Users Like It:
Users love Better Proposals for its clean, professional design that elevates the quality of their proposals. The platform’s ability to track when documents are opened and read helps small business owners follow up more effectively. The intuitive editor, combined with responsive customer support, makes it easy to create and send impressive proposals in minutes.

Pricing:

• Plans start at $19/user/month.

Proposify 

Proposify is a proposal software designed to help businesses create, track, and sign winning proposals quickly. It is ideal for teams that need professional, branded sales documents and want to improve their close rates.

Top Features:

• Drag-and-drop templates for creating branded, customizable proposals.
• Real-time tracking of document engagement and e-signature capabilities.
• Centralized content library with reusable templates to speed up proposal creation.

Why Users Like It:
Proposify is praised for its ease of use, especially in creating professional proposals in minutes. The software’s real-time tracking and CRM integrations allow sales teams to manage the entire proposal lifecycle efficiently. Users also appreciate the platform’s ability to eliminate errors through data syncing and approval workflows, which enhances their overall sales process.

Pricing:

• Starts at $35/user/month.

Qwilr

Qwilr is a web-based proposal and quoting software that allows businesses to create interactive, visually engaging proposals. It’s perfect for sales teams looking to impress clients and speed up deal closures with dynamic, trackable proposals.

Top Features:

• Create interactive, web-based proposals with real-time updates.
• Integrated payments and e-signatures for seamless transactions.
• Detailed buyer engagement analytics, including time spent on each section.

Why Users Like It:
Qwilr stands out for its unique approach to proposals, allowing users to send interactive, trackable documents that update in real time. Users love the detailed analytics that offer insights into how prospects engage with their proposals, helping to tailor follow-ups and improve close rates. The ability to collect payments directly from proposals also simplifies the sales process.

Pricing:

• Starts at $35/user/month.

Choosing a Quoting Software

Choosing the right quoting software can significantly impact your business’s ability to win new customers and grow. As we’ve seen from the diverse options available, there’s no one-size-fits-all solution. The best choice for your company depends on your specific needs, budget, and existing tech stack. A lot of these platforms offer free trials – so consider taking them up on the offer!

When evaluating quoting software, consider these key factors:

• Ease of use and customization options
• Integration capabilities with your CRM and other tools
• Scalability to grow with your business
• Advanced features like e-signatures, analytics, and payment collection
• Price and return on investment

And remember, while some tools focus solely on quoting, others like DealHub offer both quoting and CPQ functionalities. This can be particularly valuable if you anticipate needing more complex product configuration capabilities in the future.

Ultimately, the right quoting software should streamline your sales process, reduce errors, and help your team close deals faster. By choosing wisely, you’ll equip your sales team with a powerful tool to impress clients and drive business growth.