Methodology
This page explains how the CRM Stack Cost / Fit Calculator estimates platform cost and illustrative ROI, and how it ranks vendors. Formulas are implemented in open source TypeScript.
Monthly platform cost
For each vendor we apply a small, documented ruleset to your team size, contact count, workflow flags, per-seat budget, and main priority. The goal is a comparable monthly total across different pricing shapes:
- Per-seat CRMs (e.g., Pipedrive, HubSpot paid tiers, monday paid tiers): monthly = perSeat × seats
- Small-team bundles (e.g., Close Startup): flat monthly for up to three modeled seats
- Suite bundles (e.g., Keap): flat monthly tiers with included users and contact caps
- Free tiers (HubSpot CRM Free, monday Free): $0 when your inputs match the modeled free profile
Annual cost
annual = monthly × 12 — we do not model annual prepay discounts in v1.
Illustrative ROI
ROI is not a revenue forecast. It is a sanity-check number built from your "monthly new deals" input and a capped uplift percentage that increases slightly when you select workflow needs (automation, lead scoring, email tracking, calling).
additionalDealsPerYear = round(monthlyNewDeals × 12 × uplift) where uplift is capped in code (see estimateAdditionalDealsPerYear).
potentialRoi = additionalDealsPerYear × avgDealValue − annualPlatformCost
Your "expected ROI timeframe" input is collected for context; v1 does not compound it into a separate formula.
Cost comparison table
The results page lists every vendor at your current seat count and inputs so you can compare modeled monthly cost, annual cost, and the same illustrative ROI formula apples-to-apples.
Platform scoring
Each vendor has editorial scores (1–10) across eight dimensions: pipeline management, email integration, automation depth, reporting & analytics, ease of use, customization, scalability, and value for money.
The recommendation engine combines these with your answers:
- Workflow checkboxes increase weight on related dimensions
- Cost fit compares modeled monthly cost to your total and per-seat budget inputs
- Priority boosts apply for lowest cost, pipeline, calling, automation, free tier, and all-in-one
- Keap receives an explicit anchor when your priority is all-in-one consolidation
Important disclaimers
- Pricing is based on approximate published rates at each page's "last updated" date.
- We do not scrape or call live pricing APIs — always verify quotes on vendor sites.
- This is not financial, tax, or legal advice.
- Scores are editorial assessments, not lab benchmarks.