i4lead – Page 26 – i4Lead – Clever Digital Agency

The newsletter platform and social media site, Substack, has become one of the hottest spaces for online creators—and now brands and celebrities are joining the bandwagon. Boasting more than five million paid subscribers across the platform, Substack invites creators like myself to build an audience, make money, and connect with other readers and writers.

My name is Alex Lewis, and I joined Substack in December 2022. My newsletter, Feels Like Home, is now home to more than 3,500 subscribers and receives over 20,000 monthly reads. I started the newsletter to explore some of my favorite things (like music, sports, and pop culture) and to have a creative outlet outside of my 10-year career in social media marketing.

Here are the steps I took to grow my newsletter by 7,000% in less than three years and how it continues to help me avoid burnout and maintain my love for writing. Let’s get into it.

how i grew my substack newsletter

1. I wrote about what I enjoy.

The beauty of Substack is you can write about whatever you want, and there’s a good chance you’ll find people who actually want to read it.

When starting my Substack, I set out to write about things I love and the people and moments that have shaped me. This ensured that my writing would always be personal and always feel enjoyable because I’m writing about topics that I’m genuinely interested in, such as NBA basketball and healthy masculinity.

Consistency is much more attainable when writing and publishing feel like less of a burden. I get excited to return to the page because I’m following my curiosities—and what I often find on the other side of this pursuit are people who love the same things and feel seen, as well as people who aren’t as familiar with the topic but gain a newfound appreciation for it.

Ana Calin, whose How We Grow newsletter has hundreds of paid subscribers, encourages creators to “write the newsletter you would want to read—not the one you think will ‘perform.’” She adds, “Readers can tell when you’re being authentic, and they’ll stick around for your voice—not some polished version of what you think they want.”

While Substack lets you label your newsletter under 1-2 categories to help readers find your publication, you don’t have to corner yourself into a specific niche in order to grow. Sharing your interests can pave the way for connection and consistency.

2. I nurtured the people who already supported me.

Substack makes your writing accessible for people who want to read it.

Before joining Substack, sharing my work on Instagram, LinkedIn, and X felt like the only way for people to learn that I published something new. Friends would tell me they missed something I wrote because the algorithm didn’t serve my posts to them.

I chose to join Substack and start publishing a newsletter because I wanted the people who enjoyed reading my work to receive it directly in their inbox. While I still post about my publication on social media, email is my newsletter’s top traffic driver by far, generating 186% more views than the Substack app (which is my next closest).

By inviting readers to opt into an easier way to read my work, I started my Substack journey with over 100 subscribers within the first week. That’s more than 100 people who could share my newsletter and invite others to subscribe and begin sharing.

If you already have an audience but are having trouble reaching them online, consider starting a newsletter.

As noted by Seth Werkheiser, who writes his Social Media Escape Club newsletter to more than 6,000 subscribers, “Direct access to your audience is so important, and very much worth the time and energy.”

Social media algorithms are unreliable. Through Substack, you can take ownership of your email list and speak directly to your audience while making it easier for your long-time supporters to continue supporting.

3. I focused on consistent quality over consistent quantity.

Just because your favorite Substack writer posts every day doesn’t mean you need to.

What I began to observe, prior to joining Substack, is that I averaged two new essays per month. These weren’t just throwaway ideas; they were well-researched, thoughtful, long-form pieces that came as a result of reading, living, listening, and wrestling.

Once I started my newsletter, I launched a content recommendation series, Take It or Leave It, to fill in the gaps between essays. These started as weekly drops, but I shifted the cadence to monthly at the beginning of this year as I learned how challenging it was to maintain a weekly rhythm—especially since writing isn’t my full-time job.

Also, I knew my biggest metric for success was making work I’m proud of, and that takes time. Work I’m proud of is work I’m comfortable with returning to and want to share even after its publish date. This is work I believe readers can come to at any point and still find value in.

Consistency, in terms of how much you post, is often discussed as being tied to growth. But Sarah Fay, whose Substack Writers at Work newsletter has over 36,000 subscribers, says, “Substack’s algorithm doesn’t favor frequency.”

Fay adds, “Engagement is what matters.”

Posting more may get your newsletter in front of people more often, but it can also make your work harder to keep up with or even bombard readers’ already jam-packed inboxes. By focusing on consistent quality over upping your quantity, you can do a better job of delivering work your readers won’t want to miss because they know you always bring your best.

by focusing on consistent quality over upping your quantity, you can do a better job of delivering work your readers wont want to miss

4. I “stole” from my favorite writers.

Your fellow Substack writers are the best blueprint for getting started.

I began my Substack journey on a whim. After months of putting off starting a newsletter, I finally decided to jump all in. Not knowing where to begin, I looked at publications from Substack writers I already followed, such as Hunter Harris and Emily Sundberg.

By looking at their newsletters, I gained a better understanding of how I wanted to structure my About page, as well as what to include in the header and footer of my emails. While I made the words my own, they helped me learn what’s possible with my publication.

Austin Kleon, whose self-titled Substack has 297,000 subscribers, authored the book, Steal Like An Artist. Within the guide, Kleon quotes fashion designer Yohji Yamamoto: “Start copying what you love. Copy copy copy copy. At the end of the copy you will find your self.”

Your best path forward isn’t plagiarism; it’s learning from the writers and creators you admire. It’s letting the best of what they do inspire you to make the best work you can.

A few of my favorite Substackers are:

5. I embraced playfulness and experimentation.

There’s no one way to show up on Substack.

Since starting my newsletter, I’ve tried different types of posts outside of long-form essays and content recommendations. I’ve interviewed artists I admire, such as Louisville rapper Horace Gaither and senior social media manager Jenn Crim. I’ve written love letters with my best friends and collaborated on conversation series with other writers.

For the sake of self-care and creative freedom, I resist rules and restrictions when it comes to Substack. I treat my newsletter as a playground instead of a prison. I set the guidelines for my creativity. And just like my own little playground, I can pick and choose what I want to play with, as well as how long I want to play with it.

Robert Monson, whose Musings From A Broken Heart newsletter has more than 7,000 subscribers, gives himself “permission to play and not appear perfect on Substack.” Supporters of his work, including myself, resonate with Robert’s openness and tag along for the ride wherever he chooses to go.

Try stuff. Follow your curiosities and see where they might take you. Mike Sowden of the Everything is Amazing newsletter said his first year on Substack was “just experimenting with everything.”

He also noted, “I just didn’t want to write stuff that didn’t fill me with joy, curiosity, and wonder.”

Sowden now has over 31,000 subscribers. Even if your playfulness doesn’t lead to audience growth, it might lead to more joy—and that’s just as important.

for the sake of self care and creative freedom I resist rules and restructions when it comes to substack

6. I shared about my Substack off of Substack.

There’s a whole world outside of Substack that doesn’t know about your newsletter.

Before joining Substack, I wrote an essay about rapper Kid Cudi, which I’ve since re-published on my newsletter. Not thinking anything of it, I shared the essay on Twitter (now X) and tagged Cudi. Less than 10 minutes later, he retweeted the essay and introduced my writing to his millions of followers.

I carried that strategy over to Substack and now regularly promote my newsletter on social media. Some of my most popular pieces gained traction on platforms like X, Threads, and LinkedIn, which drove more traffic to my newsletter.

Andy Adams, who publishes FlakPhoto Digest to over 38,000 Substack subscribers, noted, “Instagram plays a significant role in my Substack workflow.” He added, “[Instagram] has been instrumental in growing the audience for my Substack newsletter. For me, they go hand in hand.”

You’re already on social media. Use it to get your Substack in front of more people. In some ways, it can even be an extension of your newsletter by inviting new readers to dive deeper into your work.

7. I benefited from Substacks’s features.

Substack is jam-packed with tools to help you grow your newsletter audience.

The Substack Network, including app features like Notes and Chat, has driven 86% of my newsletter subscribers. Because culture journalist Ayan Artan recommended my Substack using the platform’s Recommendation feature, I gained nearly 1,000 subscribers in one month at the start of this year.

I regularly connect with other writers and readers on Notes, which is similar to short-form content channels like X and Threads. Notes has also introduced me to new Substacks and kept me inspired. I’m a better artist and person because of the relationships I’ve been able to build on Substack.

Mario Gabriele of The Generalist says, “Substack isn’t just a place to publish or read – it’s an ecosystem for writers and creators to collaborate and contribute to one another’s growth.”

You don’t have to go elsewhere to grow. Your new readers are waiting for you on Substack.

Im a better artist and person because of the relationships Ive been able to build on substack

8. I stuck with it.

Substack growth could happen overnight, but it’s more likely to take time.

I’ve been on Substack for more than two and a half years, and it took over a year for me to reach my first 1,000 newsletter subscribers. Six months later, I gained nearly 1,000 subscribers in one month.

While each month looks different, my greatest achievement is that I’ve kept returning to the page. Writing has been a source of joy for me, and I’m thankful that I get to nurture that love through my newsletter.

Mika, who publishes the musings by mika newsletter, wrote about plateauing on Substack. “My secret sauce on Substack is enjoying the journey rather than fixating solely on the destination,” she shared.

Continuing on this topic, Mika wrote, “Showing up and honoring what you’re feeling called to write, embracing your authenticity, sparking real connections, and unleashing creativity is the real magic of Substack!”

Sometimes, the best thing for your growth may be setting the numbers aside and remembering what brought you to Substack in the first place. That will keep you going even if growth slows down.

B2B

Condé Nast marketing leader shares her framework for destroying your imposter syndrome

i4lead Aug 1, 2025

When I spoke to this week’s master in marketing, I was surprised at how seamlessly she had combined her two professional loves, digital marketing and life coaching. I’ll admit to having been skeptical about life coaching in the past, but this conversation changed my mind. As a life coach, she developed a framework she calls the Three See’s — more on that below — that can help any marketer up their game.

Meet the Master

Sheena Hakimian

Senior director of digital consumer marketing at Condé Nast and certified life coach

Fun fact: Sheena’s journey to becoming a life coach began at her favorite NYC restaurant, Piccola Cucina, which led her to taking an eight-month certification course. “The best decision I ever made,” she says.

Lesson 1: Focus on what you can control.

“There’s just so much change,” Hakimian says, in what I would consider a gross understatement at the moment. “From the [shift in traffic patterns] to us not knowing exactly how AI is going to shape our jobs to things going on in the world.”

If you focus on all of that at once, it becomes clutter. (See: my brain.) And all these uncertainties just breed more anxiety. But “how do you build resilience to uncertainty?” Hakimian asks. “It’s by focusing on the things you can control.”

how do you build resiliency to uncertainty? it’s by focusing on the things you can control. —sheena hakimian, senior director of digital consumer marketing at condé nast and certified life coach

As a marketer, this might look like what your data is telling you, understanding your customer needs, or growing your email lists.

Condé Nast has a very diverse set of brands — Pitchfork, The New Yorker, and Vanity Fair are just a few — so Hakimian really took the time this year to “slice and dice. Really understanding different segments of your website and how they respond to different parts of your funnel.”

“We know we can’t have a one-size-fits-all strategy on our website anymore,” she says. So about that slicing and dicing: She did A/B testing within just the politics section of Vanity Fair. And she found that allowing readers one free article before gating the content — i.e., requiring a subscription — led to a 20% increase in subscriptions in their test panels.

Hakimian and her team have taken a lot of time over the last six months to do this testing thoughtfully — because what you do with the data is something that you can control.

Lesson 2: Make your boss’ life easier.

“What [is my boss] talking about that might not be on the KPI sheet?” Hakimian asks. It’s not a rhetorical question: You can’t solve business problems if you don’t know what they are. “The mindset is, I’m here to make my boss’ life easier.”

That doesn’t mean Hakimian doesn’t care about herself — “it just means that I’m aligning [with] the people who are responsible for my career.”

i’m aligning [with] the people who are responsible for my career. what [is my boss] talking about that might not be on the kpi sheet? —sheena hakimian, senior director of digital consumer marketing at condé nast and certified life coach

She’s spent much of this year working on being a good communicator, even sharing her communication goal with her team and asking them to hold her accountable.

And that means being a good listener.

Wanna make an impact? “Actively listening — when you really listen,” Hakimian says, you’ll be able to ask better questions and find more clarity. Whether it’s a 1:1, a Zoom meeting, or even a company all-hands, Hakimian keeps her ears open for problems, complaints, or other bugbears.

“And then I can just shift my mindset — and solve for that.”

Lesson 3: Build a strong in-person brand.

As both a life coach and a digital marketer, Hakimian sees her own personal growth — particularly unlocking her self-confidence — as essential to her marketing career.

“A great tangible way to actively pursue building more self-confidence — and ultimately self-worth — is by building a strong in-person brand,” she tells me.

It’s not that your digital presence is less important — “we have to take control of how we’re perceived online,” she says — but Hakimian is “on a mission to remind people that how you’re perceived [in person] is important. Really important.”

So important, in fact, that Hakimian built a framework she calls the Three See’s: How you see yourself, how others see you, and how you see your future. She uses this proprietary framework in her life-coaching business to help other people build a strong, aligned personal brand.

But like any good marketer, Hakimian tested it out first — on herself.

“Getting super self-aware and honest with myself has released a lot of that imposter syndrome so that I could go in and take risks” in her job as a marketing leader at Condé Nast. And that, she says, will make you stand out.

Lingering Questions

This Week’s Question

Have you found AI making an impact on your work at Condé Nast? If so, has it been a net positive or net negative? In many ways, the proliferation of AI content is making creating quality content, especially educational content, more difficult so I’m always curious how this new technology is affecting other fields? —Max Miller, Founder and host, Tasting History

This Week’s Answer

Hakimian says: From a marketing and subscription standpoint, we’re excited to explore how AI can help us deliver more dynamic, personalized experiences on our sites. That said, the human touch is still the heart of our strategy, especially when it comes to brand voice and creative direction.

The rise of AI-generated content has actually made high-quality, thoughtful content even more valuable. It’s easier than ever to pump out content, but much harder to build trust, credibility, and originality.

At Condé Nast, our unique edge is still our storytelling and editorial integrity. AI, to us, is a tool to scale our voices around that, not replace it. So overall, I’d say it can be a net positive when used with intention. But like anything, it depends on how thoughtfully it’s integrated.

Next Week’s Lingering Question

Hakimian asks: [Our next master in marketing has] built an incredible reputation for understanding Gen Z behavior and creating authentic, community-first content. In a world that’s constantly chasing virality, how do you balance consistency with creativity, and what advice would you give to brands trying to build genuine relationships over time, not just reach?

B2B

4 best pharma CRMs in 2025

i4lead Aug 1, 2025

Managing relationships across healthcare professionals (HCPs), healthcare organizations (HCOs), and complex regulatory requirements makes choosing the right CRM critical for pharmaceutical companies. Whether you’re tracking drug samples, coordinating clinical trials, or ensuring compliance, pharmaceutical companies benefit from CRM systems with features that support their specialized workflows.

This guide examines four leading CRM solutions that help pharmaceutical businesses streamline operations and build stronger relationships with healthcare stakeholders. We‘ll compare essential features like regulatory compliance tracking, sample management, HCP engagement tools, and multichannel capabilities. You’ll discover how each platform addresses industry-specific needs, from pricing structures to integration capabilities.

Wondering what a pharma CRM can do for you? Healthcare company Fatebenefratelli generated over 350,000 sessions and 4,000 leads in a year using HubSpot Smart CRM.

AI tools generated the initial draft of this article. All content has been thoroughly reviewed, fact-checked, and revised by a HubSpot staff writer to ensure accuracy and quality.

Table of Contents

What is a CRM for pharmaceutical companies?

A pharmaceutical CRM is a customer relationship management software designed to manage the complex relationships between pharma companies and their stakeholders, including healthcare professionals, healthcare organizations, patients, and medical science liaisons. While some platforms like Veeva are built specifically for pharmaceuticals, others like HubSpot provide flexible CRM foundations that healthcare companies can configure for their pharmaceutical operations.

Best CRMs for Pharmaceutical Companies at a Glance

CRM	Best For	Key Features	Pricing	Free Trial Available
HubSpot	Growing pharmaceutical companies seeking an all-in-one platform that scales from startup to enterprise	Contact and activity management, advanced marketing campaign tools, communication and workflow features	Free CRM. Paid plans start at $15/seat/month. To store sensitive information and enable HIPAA-supporting features, you need the Enterprise plan for its products, which starts from $150/month/seat for Sales and Service Hubs.	Free plans available
Creatio	Mid-size pharmaceutical companies wanting a platform with pharma-specific features and no-code customization	Field force features, compliance features, Copilot AI assistant	Starts at $25/user/month	14-day free trial
Salesforce Life Sciences Cloud	Enterprise pharmaceutical organizations requiring a platform with life sciences-specific features	HCP engagement features, clinical trial participant management, patient services features	Starts at $325/user/month	30-day free trial
Veeva CRM	Large pharmaceutical companies seeking a CRM and suite of software purpose-built for the life sciences industry	Compliance features, mobile and offline support, AI features	Contact for pricing	No free trial

Best CRM Software for Pharmaceutical Businesses

1. HubSpot

pharma crm: hubspot

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Best for: Growing pharmaceutical companies seeking an all-in-one platform that scales from startup to enterprise

Key HubSpot Features

Contact and activity management: HubSpot’s CRM provides contact management, email tracking, and meeting scheduling features. The platform enables companies to track interactions across multiple touchpoints with activity logging and user attribution. Teams can set up custom properties and workflows to match their specific needs.
Advanced marketing campaign tools: HubSpot’s marketing features include email marketing, landing pages, and forms. Users can create marketing campaigns and segment contacts using lists. The platform offers marketing automation workflows that can be customized for different use cases.
Communication and workflow features: For managing communications, HubSpot offers email templates, workflow automation, and custom forms.

HubSpot Pricing

HubSpot’s CRM is free. In addition, it offers free plans for all six core products (marketing, sales, service, content, operations, and commerce).
Each core product has a free, Starter, Professional, and Enterprise plan. Paid plans start at $15/seat/month and go up to $3,600/month for the Marketing Hub Enterprise plan (which includes five core seats).
Please note that if you’re seeking HIPAA compliance, you must purchase the Enterprise plan to get HIPAA-related security features. The Enterprise Customer Platform bundle (which includes Enterprise access to HubSpot’s marketing, sales, customer service, content, and operations software) starts at $4,700/month and includes seven seats.
HubSpot pricing depends on your specific needs and add-ons. Use this HubSpot pricing calculator to see your custom price.

2. Creatio

pharma crm: creatio

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Best for: Mid-size pharmaceutical companies wanting a platform with pharma-specific features and no-code customization

Key Creatio Features

Field force features: This CRM offers field management software that enables you to set up rep visit schedules, optimize routes between meeting locations, log employee activities during each visit, and create rules and actions for the HCPs and HCOs your reps work with.
Compliance features: This CRM has safety information management, privacy management, legal case management, and internal audit features.
Copilot (Creatio AI assistant): Get recommendations and insights powered by AI.

Creatio Pricing

Creatio has modular pricing that allows you to build a solution based on the products and features you need. You can add on sales, marketing, or service products, plus AI tokens, additional user types, and support plans. There is a minimum purchase of $10,000/year for new customers.

The platform plans are as follows:

Growth: $25/user/month
Enterprise: $55/user/month
Unlimited: $85/user/month
14-day free trial of Creatio CRM available

3. Salesforce Life Sciences Cloud

pharma crm: salesforce

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Best for: Enterprise pharmaceutical organizations requiring a platform with life sciences-specific features

Key Salesforce Life Sciences Cloud Features

HCP engagement features: Offer providers a personalized online portal with AI-powered agents and content relevant to their prescriber activity.
Clinical trial participant management: Screen candidates, onboard participants, and access reporting dashboards.
Patient services features: Help patients verify pharmacy benefits, access financial assistance, and report outcomes.

Salesforce Life Sciences Cloud Pricing

Salesforce Life Sciences Cloud pricing is as follows:

Life Sciences Cloud Enterprise: $325/user/month
Life Sciences Cloud Unlimited: $500/user/month
Life Sciences Cloud Agentforce 1 for Service: $750/user/month
Life Sciences Cloud Agentforce 1 for Sales: $750/user/month
30-day free trial of Life Sciences Cloud available

4. Veeva CRM

pharma crm: veeva crm

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Best for: Large pharmaceutical companies seeking a CRM and a suite of software, all purpose-built for the life sciences industry

Key Veeva Features

Compliance features: Admins can define restricted phrases, which will prevent these phrases from being sent in the Engage tab chat in the CRM. In late 2025, this CRM plans to release “compliant free text,” which will use AI to automatically check free text and flag entries that present a risk to compliance.
Mobile and offline support: Give your field team the tools they need with this CRM’s offline capabilities on mobile devices.
AI features: Use Voice Control to record and transcribe voice notes after HCP visits (planned release in late 2025).

Veeva Pricing

Contact Veeva for pricing. No free trial.

Benefits of CRM Software for Pharmaceutical Companies

Improved communications: CRM platforms enable teams to track interaction history and preferences to deliver more relevant communications. DocPlanner, a healthcare marketplace, uses HubSpot to enter new markets quickly by cloning and translating templates, cutting time and ensuring cohesive messaging.

Unified data management: CRM platforms centralize all customer data in one accessible system, breaking down silos between departments. HubSpot’s unified customer platform spans sales, marketing, customer service, operations, and commerce.

Streamlined operations: CRM systems centralize data management and provide workflow automation capabilities. Teams can use these platforms to manage various processes from marketing campaigns to field activities, though specific features depend on the chosen platform and configuration. Emergency medical information service MedicAlert Foundation Canada replaced its disconnected systems with HubSpot, achieving implementation costs that were “10X less than Salesforce,” according to MedicAlert’s CEO.

Data analytics and reporting: CRM platforms provide reporting and analytics features to help teams track performance and make informed decisions. Most platforms offer dashboards and custom reporting options, though the depth of analytics varies by solution. Cancer software platform CancerIQ uses HubSpot’s Dashboard & Reporting Software add-on to enable better data-driven business decisions.

5 Important Features for a Pharmaceutical CRM

Contact and interaction tracking: Essential for pharmaceutical companies to maintain comprehensive records of all HCP engagements. Look for platforms that offer detailed activity logging, custom properties for tracking interaction types, and easy reporting capabilities. While it isn’t tailored to pharma compliance needs out of the box, HubSpot’s flexibility allows for configuration to approximate key pharma use cases.
Marketing automation capabilities: Pharmaceutical companies need tools to create targeted campaigns for different HCP segments and therapeutic areas. HubSpot’s marketing automation helped Mesa Labs, a medical safety company, connect with specialized audiences using precise targeting informed by its CRM data, improving its ability to reach the right audience.
Multichannel engagement tools: Modern pharmaceutical sales require coordinating interactions across in-person visits, virtual meetings, email, and digital channels. HubSpot offers tools for email, social media, and content management, allowing you to personalize your outreach across many channels.
Integrations: Pharmaceutical companies often need to connect their CRM with other systems for a complete view of operations. HubSpot has over 1,900 apps, a network of solutions partners for custom integrations, plus plentiful API documentation for DIY integrations.
Scalability and ease of use: As pharmaceutical companies grow, their CRM needs to scale without requiring complex migrations or extensive technical resources. CancerIQ was able to set up its sales process on HubSpot without needing a CRM engineer, highlighting how user-friendly and intuitive the platform is.

How to Choose a CRM for Pharmaceutical Companies (Step-by-Step)

Step 1: Map your workflows. Document current processes for HCP engagement, sample management, medical inquiries, and compliance reporting. Identify pain points where manual work slows teams down or creates compliance risks. Include input from sales, medical affairs, marketing, and regulatory teams.

Step 2: Identify must-have features. Based on your workflow analysis, prioritize features that address your biggest challenges. Consider regulatory requirements in your markets, integration needs with existing systems, and mobile capabilities for field teams. Distinguish between immediate needs and future requirements.

Step 3: Evaluate user experience and support. Request demos and trials to test actual functionality with your team. Check vendor support options and whether they have pharmaceutical industry expertise.

Step 4: Check cost at scale. Look beyond initial licensing to understand total cost of ownership. Factor in implementation, training, ongoing support, and integration costs.

Step 5: Select a platform that meets your needs. Choose a CRM based on your specific requirements and budget. Look for one that is flexible enough to be configured based on your unique needs. 258,000+ customers across various industries in over 135 countries use HubSpot to grow their businesses.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the best CRM for pharmaceutical companies?

The best CRM depends on your company’s specific needs, size, and budget. HubSpot offers a strong option for growing pharmaceutical companies with its flexible platform and scalable features.

What features should I look for in a CRM for pharmaceutical companies?

Look for CRM features such as contact and interaction tracking, marketing automation, and multichannel engagement tools. Additionally, consider mobile access for field teams and integration capabilities with existing systems. Remember that many advanced features may require configuration or additional modules.

Is HubSpot good for pharmaceutical companies?

HubSpot provides a strong foundation for pharmaceutical companies with its healthcare-focused features. It has features that support HIPAA compliance. Pharma companies can configure this flexible, reliable platform to fit their needs and access powerful marketing and sales tools.

How much does a CRM for pharmaceutical companies cost?

CRM costs for pharmaceutical companies vary significantly. HubSpot offers a free CRM, but please note that HIPAA-related features are available only on Enterprise plans. To bundle all of HubSpot’s tools at the Enterprise plan level (marketing, sales, service, content, operations, and commerce), you can get the Enterprise Customer Platform for $4,700/month, which includes seven seats. When evaluating costs, consider implementation, training, and any required add-on modules for pharmaceutical-specific features.

Meet HubSpot, the Top CRM Choice for Pharmaceutical Companies

HubSpot provides a scalable CRM platform that pharmaceutical companies can customize for their needs. The platform combines core CRM functionality with marketing and sales tools that teams can configure for pharmaceutical use cases.

Unified platform approach: HubSpot’s CRM provides contact management and deal tracking that pharmaceutical teams can adapt to their needs.
Marketing excellence for healthcare: Create targeted campaigns using HubSpot’s marketing features, including email, landing pages, and workflows.
AI-powered CRM: HubSpot’s Breeze AI is integrated into the platform, allowing you to use AI to automate customer support replies, analyze marketing campaign performance, and craft content targeting your ideal audience.

Healthcare company Santagostino grew its customer base from 90,000 to 830,000 contacts using HubSpot’s CRM and marketing tools. Mesa Labs increased conversion rates by 20% by implementing HubSpot’s Google Ads integration.

Ready to explore how HubSpot can support your pharmaceutical operations? Get started with HubSpot’s free CRM.

Disclaimer: This blog post is not legal advice for your company to use. Instead, it provides background information to help you better understand pharma CRMs and compliance. This legal information is not the same as legal advice, where an attorney applies the law to your specific circumstances, so we insist that you consult an attorney if you’d like advice on your interpretation of this information or its accuracy.

In a nutshell, you may not rely on this as legal advice, or as a recommendation of any particular legal understanding.

B2B

5 best healthcare CRM software in 2025

i4lead Aug 1, 2025

There‘s more to healthcare than the visit itself. Whether you’re a doctor’s office, dental practice, or senior living facility, you know that consistent, personalized communication is key to meeting patients’ changing health needs. In fact, it’s what patients prefer. Research by global healthcare company Abbott found that 72% of patients want more personalized care.

But keeping patients’ protected health information safe is a requirement, not just a nice-to-have. A good healthcare CRM will protect sensitive information and help you use it to power more personalized communications and stronger relationships with your customers.

Healthcare company Santagostino used HubSpot Smart CRM to send personalized pediatric communications to parents based on patient segments. This shows the power of combining CRM data with marketing tools in one platform.

Below, we’ve put together a list of healthcare CRM software with features that support HIPAA compliance. We’ll go over the features, pricing, and comparisons of different CRMs to help you choose the right one for your business. We used generative AI tools to enhance research and drafting, and a HubSpot staff writer fact-checked and reviewed this article before publication.

Table of Contents

What is a CRM for healthcare?

While an EHR stores the full digital chart and medical records of your patient, a healthcare CRM complements an EHR by storing only the limited, relevant patient data that your marketing, sales, and service teams need to create a cohesive patient experience.

This data might include a patient’s needs or interests so marketing can send condition-specific campaigns or a patient’s chosen communication preferences, such as receiving calls only in the evenings. And of course, it is critical to maintain HIPAA compliance, which is a shared responsibility between the CRM software provider and the customer.

Best CRMs for Healthcare at a Glance

CRM	BEST FOR	KEY FEATURES	PRICING	FREE TRIAL AVAILABLE
HubSpot	Healthcare businesses seeking an all-in-one customer platform built for HIPAA compliance	Features that support HIPAA compliance, unified customer platform, advanced marketing automation	HubSpot’s CRM is always free and includes free tiers for all six core products. Paid plans start at $15/seat/month. To store sensitive information and enable HIPAA-supporting features, you need the Enterprise plan for its products, which starts from $150/month/seat for Sales and Service Hubs.	Free plans
Epic Cheers	Providers seeking a healthcare CRM that’s seamlessly integrated with the Epic EHR ecosystem	Natively integrated with Epic’s EHR, helps patients find new doctors, streamlines call center operations	Contact for pricing	No
Salesforce Health Cloud	Enterprise healthcare organizations seeking an out-of-the-box healthcare CRM solution	Features that support HIPAA compliance, access to MuleSoft integration platform, powered by Agentforce AI	From $325/user/month	Yes, 30-day free trial
Zoho	Healthcare businesses seeking an affordable CRM with built-in scheduling	Features that support HIPAA compliance, built-in appointment scheduling, EHR integrations	From $14/user/month	Yes, 15-day free trial
LeadSquared	Healthcare businesses wanting to manage the full patient journey in one CRM	Features that support HIPAA compliance, automated personalized patient outreach, EHR integrations	From $60/user/month	Yes, free trial available

Best CRM Software for Healthcare Businesses

Choosing the best healthcare CRM for your business requires knowing the unique advantages of the top platforms. We’ve evaluated the following popular healthcare CRMs based on their HIPAA-related features, sales and marketing automations, and ability to provide a more personalized patient experience.