Space Designer 3D is one of a growing number of online services aimed at helping you design any building right from a window in your web browser. Let’s see what it has to offer and how it compares to the best interior design software we've reviewed.

Space Designer 3D: Pricing & plans

• You don’t have to subscribe to gain access to Space Designer… but it helps. However, they do offer a free tier which can be used to explore how the service works and determine if it’s right for your needs.

Space Design 3D offers 3 distinct plans for individuals, with ‘Starter’ being completely free. You get to work on a single project, have access to a limited catalog (150 objects and 100 materials), are able to export your work in a handful of image formats, and have 10 credits for image renders. It is a very obviously restricted plan, like only being able to create a single level, but this is more than good enough to try the service out before investing any money into yet another subscription.

‘Premium’ will cost you $25 per month. This allows you to work on 25 projects, you get 20 credits per month for renders, access Space Designer’s full catalog (2,500 objects and 300 materials), and can export projects as a PDF.

Then there's ‘Ultimate’. $45 a month will remove any restrictions on the number of projects you can work on, have access to the ‘Pro Catalog’ (4,500 objects and 1,500 materials), import GLTF, OBJ, FBX files, export as a DXF (a vector-based file format used for sharing 2D and 3D projects between different Computer-Aided Design software), and have 40 credits per month.

There’s also a ‘Pro’ section, designed for people working in teams or businesses, and comes with user account options, and collaborative tools. The cheapest one is ‘Team’, for $75 a month. The other two tiers, ‘Business’ and ‘Enterprise’, offer more bespoke plans and as such the price will also be bespoke.

As always, the more you pay, the more you get, but at least, ‘Starter’ is there to make sure you have a chance to try before forking out some of your hard earned money on a monthly basis.

You can check out Space Designer 3D by clicking here.

Space Designer 3D: Interface

• A simple to use interface, with great responsiveness when working on your project. It works incredibly well, marred by severe object selection limitations if you’re on the ‘Starter’ plan.

Once you’ve created a new project, you’ll be graced with a clean and simple interface: all the tools you need are in a sidebar to the right. If you’ve worked with any other online home design service, it won’t take you long to understand this one. In fact, even with very minimal experience, you should be able to quickly start building your project, as the software is very responsive and is even designed to make it as easy for you to build a structure. It understands where walls meet, and fills in the gaps, as it were, to make sure walls that are close enough to meet but aren’t, join properly, for instance.

The entire process is simple to understand: scroll through the various categories, select the tool you require, then click on your canvas to add it - if you’re building a wall, clicking a second time elsewhere will create a wall between those two clicks.

If you need to resize a wall, window or door, click on the object and drag one of its handles. To reposition it, click on it to select it, and then drag it to its new location. It’s incredibly simple and very responsive.

Exploring the Starter tier however, you’ll instantly notice its limitations: you can only choose a couple of window designs out of nearly two dozen, or a couple of single doors, one double door, one sliding door, you get the picture. It’s enough to enable you to design something, especially since you can resize these objects anyway, while making you long for the versatility offered to paying customers.

Space Designer 3D: Decorations

• Space Designer 3D has a wealth of objects to choose from to decorate your project, and the fact you can alter their dimensions and colour, greatly enhances the service’s versatility.

Building a structure, no matter how easy your chosen service makes it, is one thing, but adding furniture is what brings a concept to life.

These objects are broken down by where they’re destined to go, such as ‘Living Room’, ‘Office’ or ‘Kitchen’, and by what they are, like ‘Plants and Trees’, ‘Lighting Fixtures’ or ‘Technical Systems’. Thankfully if you’re struggling to find what you’re looking for, there’s a handy search field at the top of the sidebar.

Once again though, you’ll come across severe limitations as to what you can choose in the ‘Starter’ plan, but just as for the windows and doors, you can resize any item to suit your needs, although this time, this has to be done through the Inspector panel that appears to the right of the interface when you select an object. By default, an item’s width, length and height are linked, meaning you alter one, and all the others will change to reflect the new size, preserving its aspect ratio.

But severing that link is just a click away, enabling you to customise the size of any item you add to your project. This is also where you can alter an item’s colour, or even change its elevation. You’ll find that some items automatically know when they should be put on a raised surface like a table, but others aren’t so accommodating, although who would display a chair on top of a table anyway? With the ‘elevation’ parameter, you can do exactly that.

Space Designer 3D: Working Environment

• Three views to choose from, with 2D giving you the most tools to work with, but you can still decorate your rooms in 3D Model; 3D Immersive is simply there to walk around and observe.

By default your work environment is a top-down 2D space, which makes it very easy to construct a project, as it’s similar to what you would do when designing with a pen and paper. You’re able to customise and decorate your building as you’d expect, but to get that immersive feeling only computers can offer, you need to switch to a 3D view.

You’ve got two options: ‘3D Model View’, and ‘3D Immersive View’. The former lets you see your project from different angles and elevations, and still allows you to work on your design, like adding furniture, windows or doors (walls are reserved for the 2D view). The latter however is more of an exploration of your design, giving you the illusion of walking through your project and seeing it as if you were actually there. You can’t edit what you see: you’re unable to select any objects, and any attempt to add anything new will throw you back to the traditional 2D view. No matter which view was selected, we were impressed by how fluid the interface was, and didn’t experience any lag no matter how fast we travelled around the project.

Space Designer 3D: Sharing

• You have a couple of direct links to social media, can copy your project’s URL, and set up renders of set views. A good number of options.

When it comes to sharing your design, most of the process is done via the ‘Share’ menu, top right of the interface. You have direct links to Facebook and Twitter, an email option, or the ability to simply copy your project’s URL to add to any other document or social media platform.

You can also create digital renders of your work through the Renderings and Screenshots feature (one of the tools in the left sidebar). The more expensive monthly subscriptions also allow you to collaborate with others.

All in all, Space Designer 3D is an excellent online service which is so well integrated inside your favourite browser, you’ll forget you’re not running this on a dedicated app. It is smooth and responsive, and helps you work quickly and easily to create a project with ease. Definitely worth looking into.

Should I buy Space Designer 3D?

We've also tested out the best landscape design software and the best architecture software.

Bitrix24 is a comprehensive customer relationship management platform that goes beyond traditional CRM functionalities. It offers an extensive suite of tools for managing customer interactions, project collaboration, and internal communication.

At its core, Bitrix24 provides robust lead and deal management capabilities, making it one of the best CRM platforms on the market - but it doesn't stop there. The platform integrates project management features, time tracking, document handling, and even website building tools.

What caught my attention during my evaluation was Bitrix24's commitment to accessibility. The platform offers a generous free tier alongside paid plans, making it an attractive option for businesses of various sizes. However, this wide-ranging functionality comes with a trade-off — a steeper learning curve compared to more streamlined options.

Bitrix24 core capabilties

Despite being an all-in-one platform, Bitrix24 offers a robust collection of core CRM capabilities. I was able to create and organize detailed profiles for both individual contacts and company accounts, complete with customizable fields to capture specific information relevant to my hypothetical business needs.

I could also effortlessly track prospects from initial contact through the entire sales process. The system allowed me to assign leads to team members, set follow-up tasks, and monitor the progress of each opportunity through customizable sales pipelines.

For sales forecasting, the visual pipeline view provided an intuitive representation of deals at various stages, allowing for quick assessment of the sales funnel. I found the ability to drag and drop deals between stages particularly useful for keeping the pipeline up to date. The forecasting tools, while not as advanced as dedicated forecasting software, offered solid projections based on historical data.

The platform offers a wide array of pre-built reports covering various aspects of sales performance, lead sources, and team productivity. I was able to generate custom reports with relative ease, though some of the more advanced reporting features were reserved for higher-tier plans. The visual representation of data through charts and graphs made it simple to glean insights at a glance, which would be invaluable for quick decision-making in a real-world scenario.

While testing Bitrix24’s mobile app, I found that it offered most of the core CRM functionalities available on the desktop version. I could access contact information, update deals, and even use the built-in communication tools while on the go. The app's interface, while not as polished as some standalone mobile CRMs, was functional and responsive.

I particularly liked Bitrix24's integration of communication tools directly within the CRM. The platform includes features like internal chat, video calls, and a social intranet, which could significantly streamline team collaboration. Any internal conversations about leads or deals can happen right alongside the relevant CRM data, making collaboration more secure and user-friendly.

Being an advanced platform, Bitrix24 offers a range of tools to streamline repetitive tasks. The system allows for the creation of custom workflows and triggers, which can automate actions like assigning tasks, sending emails, or updating deal stages based on specific criteria. While powerful, I did find that setting up complex automations required a bit of a learning curve.

The platform also includes features that extend beyond traditional CRM boundaries, such as project management tools, time tracking, and even some excellent website building capabilities. While this comprehensive approach could be advantageous for businesses looking to consolidate a software stack, it also means higher costs that won’t be feasible for those looking for a standalone CRM.

How easy is Bitrix24 CRM to use?

Logging into Bitrix24, I quickly realized that ease of use is a complex topic for this platform. While the customization options are extensive, this flexibility comes at the cost of initial complexity. For starters, Bitrix24’s dashboard presents a wealth of information, which can be daunting for new users. I found myself spending considerable time navigating through various menus and submenus to locate specific functions.

Personalizing the workspace required a deeper understanding of the system's structure, which might not be immediately intuitive for all users. The ability to create custom fields, workflows, and even modify the layout is powerful, but it also contributes to a steeper learning curve.

Still, Bitrix24's approach to user interface design has evolved over time. Recent updates have made strides in improving usability, with a more streamlined layout and clearer iconography. Despite these improvements, I found that the platform's all-in-one nature sometimes leads to a cluttered feel, with features from different modules intersecting in ways that can be confusing for newcomers.

Thankfully, there’s a wealth of self-service resources available for new users. During my research, I discovered an extensive library of video tutorials on the platform’s YouTube channel, as well as detailed online training courses specifically designed for administrators. These resources are comprehensive and cover a wide range of topics, from basic navigation to advanced feature utilization. Bitrix24 also offers weekly webinars that dive into different aspects of the platform, providing detailed use cases.

Ultimately, compared to some of its competitors, Bitrix24's learning curve is way steeper. Platforms like Freshworks, for instance, are noted for their user-friendly interfaces and ease of use. While this is partly explained by the wealth of features and customization choices available, the fact remains that there are competitors who do all of this while still retaining their intuitiveness, like Insightly.

Bitrix24 integrations

When it comes to integrations, I was impressed by the variety of options available in the Bitrix24 Marketplace. With over 300 apps in the catalog, including integrations with well-known services like Quickbooks, Google Sheets, PayPal, RingCentral, WhatsApp, and Miro, businesses can easily connect existing tools with the CRM.

For businesses looking to migrate data from other platforms, Bitrix24 also offers a range of migration apps for popular services like Jira, Asana, Trello, Zapier, Zoho, and Pipedrive. During CRM testing, I found these migration tools to be intuitive and efficient, allowing for a smooth transition without significant data loss or disruption.

Then there’s the Bitrix24 REST API, which allows developers to integrate the platform with external systems, import and export data, and even create custom widgets. It provides businesses with the flexibility to tailor the CRM to specific needs by ensuring smooth data synchronization with other tools in the software stack.

Bitrix24's commitment to integration extends beyond pre-built apps and API access. The platform also provides comprehensive documentation and resources for developers looking to create custom integrations. The detailed REST API guide, complete with examples and guidelines, empowers businesses to develop tailored solutions that address their unique requirements.

Moreover, Bitrix24 offers a range of low-code tools that allow users to solve specific problems without relying solely on the REST API. This approach democratizes integration capabilities, enabling even non-technical users to connect and automate processes involving other applications.

How good is Bitrix24 CRM customer support?

Looking into Bitrix24's customer support, I encountered a mixed bag of experiences and resources. The platform offers several support channels, but the level of assistance and response times varied depending on the plan and the complexity of the issue at hand.

Free accounts are limited to self-support resources such as product manuals, helpdesk articles, video tutorials, and free webinars. While these resources can be helpful for getting started and troubleshooting basic issues, they may not suffice for more complex or account-specific problems. But this is not unusual, since most platforms reserve live support options for paid customers only.

For paid users, Bitrix24 offers live support through chat and email. Chat support is usually responsive with average wait times of around 5-10 minutes. Support representatives are generally knowledgeable and helpful, although there are instances where more complex issues require escalation to higher-tier support agents, resulting in longer resolution times.

Email support, on the other hand, has slower response times. It often takes up to 24-48 hours to receive an initial response, which could be frustrating for users facing time-sensitive issues. However, once engaged, the email support team provides detailed and thorough assistance, often including step-by-step instructions and screenshots.

Beyond the live support options, the platform offers an extensive knowledge base with articles covering a wide range of topics, from basic setup and configuration to advanced customization and integrations. The articles are well-organized and searchable, making it easy to find relevant information quickly.

In addition to the knowledge base, Bitrix24 provides a comprehensive library of video tutorials and webinars. These resources offer visual guidance on various aspects of the platform, making it easier for users to learn and adopt the system. The webinars, in particular, are a valuable resource, as they provide live demonstrations and Q&A sessions with Bitrix24 experts.

Yet, some users on sites like G2 and Trustpilot have reported mixed experiences with Bitrix24's customer support. In online reviews, a few users expressed frustration with the support team's response times and the quality of assistance provided. Some felt that the support representatives were more focused on providing formal replies rather than solving problems, leaving customers to figure things out on their own.

It's also worth noting that Bitrix24 does not provide phone support as a standard channel. For users who prefer to discuss issues over the phone, this could be a drawback. However, the platform does offer a callback feature, where users can request a phone call from the support team at a scheduled time.

Bitrix24 CRM pricing and plans

Bitrix24 may just be one of the most flexible and affordable options in the CRM market. What immediately caught my attention was the platform's unique approach to pricing – instead of charging per user, it offers a flat fee for each plan with a base number of users, with the option to add more as you scale. This allows businesses to scale a user base without incurring as much expense.

Bitrix24 offers one of the best free CRM plans on the market with unlimited users and no time restrictions. It includes essential CRM features, task management, and document management capabilities, providing a solid foundation for businesses to get started with the platform - making it one of the best CRMs for start ups. While certain advanced features and paid support options aren’t available, it’s still a great option for those looking for an extended trial period.

For organizations requiring more advanced features, Bitrix24 offers four paid plans: Basic, Standard, Professional, and Enterprise. These plans range from $49/month for 5 users to $7,999/month for 10,000 users, with scaling levels of storage space and feature sets. What I found particularly impressive was the value Bitrix24 offers relative to its price. Compared to other CRM providers that charge per user, Bitrix24's flat-fee model can lead to significant cost savings for businesses with larger teams.

For all new users, Bitrix24 offers a 15-day free trial for the Professional plan. This trial allows businesses to test the platform's full range of features before committing to a paid subscription. During my experience with the trial, I found it to be a valuable way to explore Bitrix24's capabilities and determine if it was the right fit for my needs.

It's worth noting that while Bitrix24's pricing is generally straightforward, there are some limitations to keep in mind. For example, the free plan, while generous in terms of user count, does have restrictions on storage space and certain advanced features. Additionally, some features, such as the telephony functionality, require separate payment. But overall, I found Bitrix24's pricing model to be one of its strongest selling points.

Bitrix24 CRM review: Summary

Bitrix24 particularly excels in its core functionality, offering a comprehensive suite of features that cater to the needs of any business looking for a CRM. The platform's extensive customization options and powerful automation tools enable users to streamline workflows and adapt the system to unique requirements. However, this wealth of features does come with a learning curve, which may be steeper for users unfamiliar with all-in-one business management platforms.

The platform's unique flat-fee pricing model and feature-rich free plan make it an attractive option for businesses looking to get more out of their investment in a CRM. While the customer support experience may vary depending on the plan and the complexity of the issue, Bitrix24 offers a robust set of self-service resources that can help users navigate the platform effectively.

Overall, I’d say this is a powerful and versatile platform that offers a compelling blend of features, flexibility, and affordability. However, for users looking for a simple solution with great support, Bitrix24 may not be it.

Apptivo CRM is a cloud-based customer relationship management platform that aims to provide an all-in-one solution for managing sales, marketing, and customer service.

With a suite of over 65 integrated apps, Apptivo is one of the best CRM platforms on the market and offers a high degree of customization, allowing businesses to tailor the software to their specific needs. It also features very competitive pricing compared to other major CRM providers, with plans starting at just $15/user/month - making it a great CRM for small businesses and startups.

In this in-depth Apptivo review, I'll take a closer look at the platform's features, ease of use, customer support, and overall value to help you determine if it's the right CRM solution for your business. Let's dive in and see how Apptivo stacks up.

Apptivo core capabilities

Just like any CRM, Apptivo provides contact and account management tools that allow me to store and organize all my customer data in one centralized location. During my first few minutes with the platform, I found it easy to import my existing contacts via CSV file.

Once contacts are in the system, Apptivo makes it simple to track all interactions and communication history. You can log emails, calls, meetings, and notes for each contact. I like how Apptivo pulls in email conversations automatically when synced with Gmail or Outlook, saving the manual work of logging those touchpoints.

I can also automate lead assignment based on predefined rules, ensuring my sales reps are always working the most promising opportunities. The software offers lead scoring, which helps me prioritize leads based on their likelihood to convert.

A visual sales pipeline provides a clear overview of all my deals, allowing me to quickly identify any bottlenecks or at-risk opportunities. I can drag-and-drop opportunities through each stage. Deal values and probability are clearly displayed. I can also create customized sales stages that align with my unique sales process. Apptivo's forecasting tools use predictive analytics to provide accurate revenue projections, giving me valuable insights to guide my decision-making.

For analytics, Apptivo comes with a wide range of pre-built reports covering sales, marketing, and customer service metrics. I can also easily create custom reports and dashboards to track the KPIs that matter most to my business. For example, I can filter data, change chart types, add custom fields, and save custom views. The ability to schedule reports and have them automatically delivered to my inbox is a nice time-saver.

Beyond the core CRM capabilities, Apptivo offers a suite of integrated business apps that cover everything from project management to billing and invoicing. While I primarily use the CRM features, it's great to know I can easily expand my usage as my business needs evolve. In terms of third-party integrations, Apptivo's app marketplace also offers a variety of third-party integrations to further extend the platform's functionality.

Unlike competitors with limited on-the-go capabilities, Apptivo offers mobile apps for iOS and Android that provide full access to the CRM's features. Whether heading into a client meeting or dabbling in a bit of hybrid work, I always have the most up-to-date customer information at my fingertips. Plus, the mobile app's user interface is intuitive and easy to navigate.

While Apptivo checks the boxes for core CRM functionality, the depth of features in certain areas leaves something to be desired compared to more mature CRM systems such as Salesforce and Hubspot. For example, Apptivo lacks some of the advanced lead scoring and routing options found in enterprise platforms like Salesforce. Additionally, while the reporting and analytics are solid overall, some of the pre-built reports lack flexibility and the custom report builder has a bit of a learning curve. Apptivo also currently does not offer a sales assistant in the form of an AI tool or forecasting, like some of the leading CRM players.

How easy is Apptivo to use?

Apptivo features a clean and clear — if slightly dated — user interface. It starts you off on your agenda page, which functions similarly to a calendar view of your upcoming tasks and appointments. I like how you can quickly switch between different views to filter for just upcoming or overdue tasks. The left sidebar contains several useful project management links for tasks, emails, notes, follow-ups, and more.

The top navigation menu is where Apptivo organizes the various apps you have installed, grouped by functions like CRM, marketing, financials, etc. It’s highly customizable and modular, but it does mean the top menu can get crowded if you activate a lot of apps.

Diving into the core CRM features, I found adding new records like contacts, accounts and opportunities to be straightforward. The data entry forms are clean and support custom fields. However, this is where the dated nature of the interface starts to show itself. For example, the save button is at the top of the record, requiring lots of scrolling on longer forms.

Apptivo's interface is very customizable, which is a double-edged sword when it comes to ease of use. On one hand, you can tailor the account to your preferences, like reordering the top nav apps, adjusting page layouts, and creating custom fields and views. On the flip side, the initial setup and customization process has a bit of a learning curve. You'll likely need to invest some time upfront to optimize your account.

Luckily, Apptivo provides a variety of onboarding and training resources. There's a comprehensive knowledge base with articles and videos covering the main features. But for a guided walkthrough, Apptivo offers paid training packages and professional services to help with implementation, data migration, and one-on-one training. These services typically cost extra, but can be helpful for those struggling with the interface.

Despite its datedness, Apptivo’s web-based CRM is usually quite responsive, even when dealing with a large database. When tested, the interface scored an impressive 91/100 for desktop speed on Google PageSpeed Insights. The mobile apps for iOS and Android are also well-designed and offer access to most key CRM functions on the go.

Despite a few shortcomings, I've found Apptivo to be a user-friendly CRM overall, especially considering its extensive feature set and customization options. The modular app structure and customizable interface do require an initial time investment to set up and learn. But once configured to your liking, Apptivo is intuitive to navigate and the core CRM features are straightforward to use.

Apptivo integrations

Out of the box, Apptivo provides integrations with a limited number of popular business apps and services. The most notable of these are the Google Workspace and Microsoft 365 integrations, which allow for the smooth syncing of contacts, calendar events, and emails. Apptivo also offers pre-built integrations with a few other business tools like Quickbooks for accounting, Mailchimp for email marketing, and RingCentral for phone systems.

For situations where a pre-built integration isn't available, Apptivo provides an open API that allows for custom integrations with other software. The API documentation is comprehensive and the platform supports industry-standard REST and SOAP protocols. However, building custom integrations does require significant technical expertise, so most businesses will likely need to engage a developer for help.

Compared to some other CRM platforms like Salesforce or HubSpot, Apptivo has a much more limited selection of third-party app integrations available. While the core bases are covered, businesses that rely heavily on niche software may find they need to build custom integrations more often with Apptivo.

I was also a bit disappointed to discover that Apptivo does not yet offer a direct data sync with any major social media platforms. The ability to automatically pull in lead and customer interactions from social channels can be very valuable for sales and service teams. While you can manually import social data or build a custom integration, a pre-built option would be a welcome addition.

That said, for the integrations it does offer, I've found the data syncing to be generally reliable and performant. When configured properly, data flows seamlessly between systems without any noticeable lag or errors. Apptivo also provides detailed logs that allow you to monitor the status of integrations and troubleshoot any issues that arise.

Unlike most other CRMs, however, you can also set up automated workflows that span multiple apps. For example, you can configure a workflow that automatically creates a task in Apptivo when a lead fills out a form on your website, then sends a personalized email follow-up via Mailchimp, and finally alerts the assigned sales rep in Slack. These cross-app workflows can significantly boost productivity and ensure no leads slip through the cracks.

For most small to midsize companies, Apptivo's integration capabilities should be more than sufficient to streamline data flow and processes across their key software tools. However, enterprise customers with strong data centralization needs may want to look elsewhere.

How good is Apptivo's customer support?

Apptivo provides multiple channels for customer support, including live chat, email, and phone. The live chat is available 24/7 for all paid plans, which is a huge plus for businesses operating across different time zones or outside of regular business hours. For more complex issues or detailed inquiries, Apptivo offers email support. User reviews from around the internet mention fast response times, friendly support agents, and quick resolutions.

Apptivo also offers an extensive self-service knowledge base called "Apptivo Answers" that includes detailed user guides, video tutorials, and FAQs covering all aspects of the platform. I've found this resource to be well-organized and easy to search, with most of the usual questions answered without contacting support. The articles are clear and include helpful screenshots and step-by-step instructions.

For users who prefer a more hands-on approach, Apptivo provides live webinars you can attend on a regular basis. These cover topics ranging from getting started with Apptivo to advanced features and best practices in the CRM. If you’d prefer one-on-one training, Apptivo offers 60-minute paid sessions starting at $125 USD covering different modules and use cases. You can also enlist company professionals to migrate your existing data or implement the entire system for you for an additional fee.

While Apptivo doesn't publicly disclose its average resolution times or customer satisfaction scores, the overwhelmingly positive reviews and ratings from users speak to the effectiveness of its support. On customer review sites like Capterra and G2, many users praise Apptivo's customer service as one of its strongest assets, frequently citing the responsiveness, expertise, and friendliness of the support team.

Apptivo pricing and plans

Apptivo offers four pricing tiers — Lite, Premium, Ultimate, and Enterprise — which allows businesses to choose a plan that aligns with their specific needs and budget. Apptivo does offer a free starter plan, but it's important to note that this plan is very limited in terms of features and functionality. It's really more of an extended trial than a viable long-term solution for most businesses. That said, Apptivo's 30-day free trial for paid plans is on par with the industry standard, with ample time to test the system before committing.

As for the paid plans, the Lite plan starts at just $15 per user per month when billed annually, making it one of the most cost-effective options on the market for a fully functional CRM. Even at the Lite tier, Apptivo includes essential CRM capabilities like contact management, opportunity tracking, and customizable dashboards. As you move up to the higher-priced plans, you gain access to more advanced features and a greater number of integrated apps.

For businesses that need more advanced features, Apptivo's Premium plan at $25 per user per month (billed annually) offers a significant step up in functionality. This tier includes additional apps for project management, invoicing, and email marketing, as well as more advanced customization options and integrations. This is followed by the Unlimited plan at $40 per user per month, which also includes relationship management and inventory tracking. But in my opinion, the Premium plan provides the best balance of features and value for most small to medium-sized businesses using Apptivo.

Compared to other popular CRM platforms, Apptivo's pricing is highly competitive. For example, Salesforce's Sales Cloud starts at $25 per user per month for the Essentials plan but includes fewer features than Apptivo's Premium tier at the same price point. Similarly, Zoho CRM's Standard plan is priced at $20 per user per month, while Apptivo offers more advanced features for just $5 more.

I also appreciate that Apptivo doesn't lock you into a long-term contract, unlike some enterprise-grade CRMs. All plans are available on a month-to-month basis, giving you the flexibility to adjust as your business needs change. But opting for annual billing does provide a significant discount of 20% compared to the monthly rates.

Still, I think Apptivo could improve its pricing by offering more bundled discounts or add-on packages. While the pricing for individual plans is competitive, there are fewer options for bundling multiple apps or features compared to some other CRM providers. However, it does offer custom enterprise pricing for larger organizations with more complex needs.

Apptivo CRM FAQ

Apptivo review: Final verdict

Apptivo delivers a robust set of core CRM features, including contact management, lead tracking, opportunity management, and sales forecasting. While some advanced features may be lacking compared to enterprise CRMs, Apptivo covers all the essentials for small to midsize businesses.

24/7 live chat, responsive email support, extensive knowledge base, and regular training webinars ensure that users can get help whenever they need it. The support team is knowledgeable, friendly, and consistently goes above and beyond to resolve issues and answer questions. While there are some areas for improvement, such as expanding the third-party app marketplace and simplifying the setup process for non-technical users, Apptivo's overall impression is a promising one.

For small to midsize businesses seeking an affordable, customizable, and user-friendly CRM with excellent support, Apptivo is a strong choice.

Insightly is a cloud-based Customer Relationship Management (CRM) platform that helps businesses manage contacts, sales pipelines, and projects. Founded in 2009, it is well established as one of the best CRM platforms and serves over 1.5 million users in more than 25,000 organizations worldwide. Insightly targets small to mid-sized businesses and emphasizes affordability.

During my review, I found that Insightly provides a strong set of features, including lead and pipeline management, project tracking, and workflow automation. It aims to give a unified view for handling customer interactions, enhancing team collaboration in sales and marketing.

What distinguishes Insightly is its focus on usability. The company asserts that its interface is easy for beginners while still offering essential features for growing businesses. In this review, I will assess how well Insightly fulfills its promises and analyze its strengths and weaknesses as a CRM.

Insightly CRM core capabilities

Insightly enables users to create comprehensive contact records, featuring custom fields, tags, and connections between contacts and organizations. Importing existing contacts and organizing them into categories was straightforward.

The platform includes a flexible pipeline system that can be tailored to various sales processes. I set up multiple pipelines for different products or services, each with unique stages. The drag-and-drop feature for moving opportunities between stages offered an intuitive visual representation of deal progress.

Real-time visibility into the sales pipeline allowed me to quickly evaluate the health of my sales funnel. I could filter and sort opportunities by criteria like value, probability, or expected close date. Insightly also provides pre-built reports and the option to create custom ones. The dashboard was particularly beneficial, enabling me to visualize key metrics at a glance.

The mobile app, compatible with iOS and Android, grants access to most core features. During CRM testing, I updated contact details, managed tasks, and captured business cards using my smartphone. However, some advanced features were missing, which might restrict field users who depend on mobile access, such as sales reps who spend a lot of time on the road - something that's more and more common with the rise of hybrid work.

In addition to its CRM capabilities, Insightly serves as a project management tool. This allows for a smooth transition from opportunity to project after a deal closes. The platform offers plugins for popular email clients like Gmail and Outlook, enabling users to sync emails and calendar events. Insightly’s workflow tools automate repetitive tasks, send notifications, and update records based on set triggers. Although creating complex workflows required initial effort, they significantly enhanced efficiency once in place.

Nonetheless, Insightly’s social media integration features need enhancement. While it provides basic social profile linking, it lacks advanced social listening and engagement tools found in some other CRMs. Additionally, the useful workflow automation is only included in higher-priced plans. Although there is a built-in dialer and call routing for phone-based sales teams, these features are only available as paid add-ons.

How easy is Insightly CRM to use?

Insightly is a standout in the CRM world for its user-friendly design. As soon as I logged in, the clean interface made me feel at ease. The customizable dashboard lets me arrange widgets and data visualizations to prioritize the most important information for my workflow.

Navigating modules is simple thanks to a clear menu structure that helps me quickly locate what I need. The consistent layout across sections lessened the learning curve as I explored features beyond the main dashboard. I especially valued the quick access to recent items and favorites, which made my daily tasks much smoother.

Beyond the customizable dashboard, creating custom fields, pipelines, and workflows is quick and easy. This level of flexibility means Insightly can evolve with my business, which is vital for long-term use.

The onboarding process is well-organized, featuring guided tours and tooltips that introduce key features while I explore the platform. Insightly also has a thorough knowledge base, video tutorials, and webinars covering everything from basic functions to advanced features. I found these resources to be informative, straightforward, and easy to navigate.

Within a few hours, I felt at ease managing contacts, tracking opportunities, and generating basic reports. More complex tasks, like setting up automated workflows or customizing advanced reports, took longer to learn but were still manageable without extensive training.

But while it is generally user-friendly, some users may find certain advanced features less intuitive. For instance, the relationship mapping feature, although powerful, required some trial and error. Setting up complex automation rules also needed a closer look at the documentation. Nonetheless, my overall experience regarding ease of use remained positive.

Insightly CRM integrations

Insightly features the AppConnect hub for third-party integrations, providing numerous pre-built connectors for popular business tools. Users can link Insightly with finance, ERP, marketing, HR, and other vital applications. Setting up integrations with Slack, Google Apps, and Microsoft Outlook was straightforward.

The platform offers plugins for both Gmail and Outlook, enabling direct syncing of emails and calendar events with the CRM. It also works with sales and marketing automation tools like MailChimp, Gong, Drift, and ZoomInfo. For ecommerce, connections are available with Shopify, Magento, and WooCommerce. These integrations use an intuitive no-code platform, allowing easy setup of custom workflows without technical expertise.

For businesses needing complex integrations, Insightly offers access to its REST API. This open API supports custom integrations with nearly any system, providing flexibility for unique workflows or proprietary software. Advanced use cases become possible, such as connecting Power BI to Insightly via the API for detailed analyses and visualizations of CRM data.

Larger organizations benefit from Insightly's integration with single sign-on (SSO) tools like the identity management solutions OneLogin, AuthO, and Okta Identity Management. This feature enhances security, data protection, and identity management while linking to preferred third-party applications, boosting productivity. This advantage is not fully utilized by many other CRMs.

One area for improvement is social media integration. While the platform allows basic social profile linking, it lacks advanced social listening and engagement features found in some competing CRMs. However, Insightly can connect with an iPaaS vendor like Zapier for more advanced social media integrations.

How good is Insightly's customer support?

When it comes to customer support, Insightly offers a mix of self-service resources and direct assistance channels. But during my evaluation, I found lots of room for improvement in the support system, especially when it comes to the live communication options available to entry-level users. Issues like long wait times, insufficient product knowledge, and inactive community forums further accentuate this problem.

In the absence of 24/7 live support, Insightly’s primary customer service channel is by email. However, its response times can vary, which makes it unreliable during a busy workday. Thankfully, phone support is available between 9 AM - 4 PM PT on weekdays for regular users. On the other hand, the self-service knowledge base covers a wide range of topics, from basic setup instructions to more advanced features and troubleshooting guides. I found the articles to be clear and easy to follow, often accompanied by screenshots or video tutorials.

For users willing to pay extra for premium live support, Insightly offers the Guided Onboarding Program and the Premier Support and Success Plan. While the former costs $1,500 one-time, the latter is priced upwards of $3,000/year. User testimonials reveal the quality of support received to be quite good, but it’s unfortunate to have to pay thousands of additional dollars each year for some features that competitors are offering free of cost, such as integration and developer support.

Insightly CRM pricing and plans

Insightly CRM's pricing is clear and structured, accommodating different business sizes and requirements. Currently, there are three main pricing tiers: Plus, Professional, and Enterprise, all billed monthly per user. The platform also used to offer one of the best free CRM plans, but this is no longer available.

The Plus plan costs $29 per user per month when billed annually. This plan is suitable for small teams or new businesses using CRM. It includes essential features like lead and pipeline management, custom email templates, and basic reporting. However, it lacks advanced features like workflow automation and lead assignment rules.

The Professional plan costs $49 per user per month, offering more advanced features. This tier includes workflow automation, lead assignment rules, and configurable dashboards. For businesses with complex sales processes or those looking to grow, this plan balances features and cost well.

The Enterprise plan at $99 per user per month when billed annually is Insightly's most comprehensive choice. It offers advanced features like advanced permissions, custom objects, and API access. While it may be too much for smaller organizations, it provides the scalability and customization that larger enterprises or rapidly growing businesses may require.

Insightly offers a 14-day free trial for all plans but does not provide a money-back guarantee. For users needing more than a CRM, Insightly All-in-One combines CRM, Marketing, Service, and AppConnect, with a 30% discount compared to separate purchases. Although I did not find specific discount codes, choosing annual billing results in a slight discount compared to monthly billing.

Insightly CRM FAQ

Insightly CRM review: Summary

From my experience with Insightly, it is a reliable choice for small to medium-sized businesses looking for a user-friendly and feature-rich CRM. The platform offers strong core capabilities, with a quick interface that creates a seamless experience.

Insightly's easy-to-use interface and customization options enhance its attractiveness, making it suitable for both beginners and experienced users. While customer support is adequate, there is room for improvement, especially in response times. Additionally, the lack of advanced social media integrations without using Make or Zapier is a notable drawback.

Overall, Insightly is a capable CRM dedicated to providing a good user experience. It may not match enterprise-level solutions like HubSpot CRM or Salesforce, but it certainly earns a spot as one of the best small business CRM platforms on the market.

Just like Floorplanner, HomeByMe is an online 3D home design tool. Based on the content of its homepage, the focus appears to be on photorealistic high resolution images of highly detailed 3D plans, and those on display sure are impressive. But is the wow factor merely skin deep or is this one of the best interior design software tools around? Let’s find out.

HomeByMe: Pricing and plans

• An impressive amount of choices, but it all starts with the selection of a subscription plan - even if you opt for the free one. Packs are like add-ons to grant you additional features, and if you want the HomeByMe team to work on your project for you, then explore their Services section

HomeByMe offers a vast array of tiers, which are divided into three categories: ‘Plans', ‘Packs’ and ‘Services’. The most easily recognisable ones are ‘Plans’, which includes the ‘Starter Pack’, ‘Premium’ and ‘Unlimited’.

The former is the most accessible, as it’s free, and is a great way to explore HomeByMe and see if it suits your needs. With it, you can create up to 5 projects, produce 3 high resolution images, 9 standard resolution ones and access to a vast catalog of 3D objects, among others.

Premium and Unlimited and subscription models. You can pay monthly or get the whole year upfront for a 15% discount. Premium would cost you $32 per month, or $329 for the year, gives you unlimited projects, and HD images, and offers you free packs for 4K and 360˚ images.

Unlimited adds unlimited 4K images to the bundle, allows you to remove the HomeByMe logo, gives your a pack of 360˚ images, lets you prevent your projects from being copied, and allows you to keep your models private, for $72 a month, or $704 for the year.

But what are ‘Packs’? Think of them as add-ons. You could for instance buy extra projects for your free Starter Pack (2 new projects would cost you $5.49), or 10 additional HD images (also for $5.49). You’ll also find video Packs, helping you turn your projects into virtual tours. 10 seconds of 720P video would cost you $1.10, or $16.50 if you opt for a 4K version. And as is the case for all these packs, the more you pay in one go, the cheaper each chosen item will get.

And as for ‘Services', you can commission HomeByMe to draw your plans for you (this service starts at $16.49), or get them to decorate your room on your behalf, starting at $75.90.

That’s a lot of options to be sure.

• Score: 4/5

HomeByMe: Getting started

• HomeByMe comes with a good number of tutorials, but the interface is so well designed, you shouldn’t need them to start experimenting with all available features, and you’ll start building your project in no time

Once you’ve created an account (which is free of course), you’ll be taken to your home page, where all your projects and custom furniture will be displayed. If you’ve just started, there won’t be much for you to see, although the ‘Get Started’ menu does offer a good number of video tutorials which go well beyond the basics.

To be honest, ‘the basics’ don’t really need a tutorial, as it’s incredibly easy to understand what you need to do, and how to do it, as you experiment with the service’s features, by building your first project.

The interface is pretty minimalist, with 6 menus top left of the window, and undo, share and save buttons top right. The former are where your building tools are located. Everything from adding a wall, an entire room, decorating your house and furnishing it, taking screenshots, adding annotations, and checking your measurements, it’s all done from there.

Adding anything to your project is pretty much done through clicking and dragging, and you’ll find that everything is fully customisable: you can alter the length of a wall, change the distance between it and others, break it up, extend it, etc. It is all pretty simple. Not quite as intuitive as Floorplanner, but pretty close, and you’ll be recreating your room, or even your entire dwelling virtually, in next to no time.

HomeByMe: Furnishings

• The amount of choice you have to furnish and customise your project is most impressive, from dozens of doors, to hundreds of brand names, you can truly decorate your project in a totally unique way

Adding walls is one thing, but what about doors, windows, and the rest? You’ll find the level of choice available is quite impressive. You can choose from dozens of doors, both internal and external, windows, staircases, garage doors, and so. Much more. All are available through the ‘Build’ submenu.

Everything is organised by category, and there’s a handy search field to quickly find what you’re looking for. The ‘Decorate’ sections lets you paint your walls and choose your flooring, and forget about generic colours: you have hundreds of styles to choose from.

As for furnishings, the sky’s pretty much the limit: thousands of photorealistic items are available, including the ability to browse through hundreds of brand names, although some only have a single item available. Still, the amount of choice and versatility is impressive.

Once you’ve found the item you’re after, click on it to select it, and it’ll appear in your project. Drag it around and rotate it until you’re happy with its position - you can even alter its elevation, although this is easier to do in 3D view. Some objects can be resized, so they fit your space exactly, although many cannot.

• Score: 4.5/5

HomeByMe: Views

• You have three views to help you design and experience your project. All easy to switch between, and each have their own strengths and weaknesses

By default you’ll be working in 2D view, as if you’re drawing a floor plan. This is the only view you have to alter your walls: we couldn’t find a way to do that in 3D, but in 2D, it’s a simple matter of selecting your wall and dragging it. The same goes for windows and doors, as 2D lets you resize them right on the plan itself.

When working in 3D, you have some customisation options, but this has to be done through the edit button and altering the numerical values shown there - not as intuitive. Furniture and decoration doesn’t have such limitations and are easily done in either view.

The 3D view is very smooth and easy to operate. You have a figure you can move around. When you rotate your plan, everything will turn with that figure as its centre. You can zoom in and out of course, and if a wall or some furniture happens to get in the way, it’s automatically made transparent so it doesn’t obstruct your view.

Finally there’s ‘Walkthrough’. Having selected it, you can choose your preferred height, and then navigate through your project as if you were actually there… well almost, unless you’re able to walk through walls in the real world! Still it’s a fun way to experience your project as you’re building it.

• Score: 4/5

HomeByMe: Sharing

• A sharing option that doesn’t work, and unlimited shots which are no longer unlimited. That’s the downside. The results of these photorealistic shots are truly stunning, and if you’re on a budget, you’re able to take as many low res screenshots of your project as you wish

Being able to easily work on a project is crucially important for such a service, of course, but how about sharing your work with others? And what’s the deal with those photorealistic shots?

Let’s look at what’s available. While working on your project, you’ll find a Share button, right next to the Save icon. If offers to share your 3D project through social media or email. Sadly, we couldn’t get it to work. Everything we tried, returned an error that the page in question couldn’t be found. We even tested it on a project we’d created years ago - same difference.

So, not a good start.

What’s better are those realistic photos you can take. You have various options. All realistic shots now have to be paid for. There was a time when the ‘Starter Plan’ allowed you to take as many ‘standard definition’ (640x360) shots are you wanted, but that is sadly no longer the case. Just like the ‘high definition’ (1920x1080) ones, you have a set number before you need to purchase additional ones. Crazily enough, even though these shots are no longer free, they still take a huge amount of time to be processed - way longer than waiting for those high def ones. Despite this, the results of these shots are truly stunning, and it’s no surprise they’re prominently advertised on HomeByMe’s main page.

Other media options include being able to take a 360˚ photo, a top view of your project, or a photo realistic video. The quality for all of them is the same as the high definition photos. Obviously, you get what you pay for. If you’re on a tight budget, you have ‘Screenshot’ which does exactly what it says on the tin: takes a screenshot of what you currently see. It’s definitely not ‘photorealistic’ - it’s exactly as you see your project as you’re working on it - but at least it’s better than nothing.

• Score: 3/5

Should I buy HomeByMe?

Buy it if...

If you’re sold on the photorealistic renders, then getting a ‘Premium’ subscription is a must, unless you feel the various packs would offer you better value for money for what you’re after.

Don't buy it if...

If you feel you have more than enough options with the free Starter Plan, which offers you pretty much everything you need to start designing your project with ease, with a wealth of options and customisations. Why pay?

For more design apps, we've tested out the best landscape design software and the best architecture software.

Floorplanner’s ‘About’ page states, it was “created in 2007 by three architects and a civil engineer who strongly felt that 3D CAD software could be simpler, lighter, and more accessible”.

Have they achieved their goal? I tested out one of the best architecture software tools out there to see how it measures up.

• Interested in Floorplanner? Check out the website here

Floorplanner: Pricing and plans

• A broad range of plans, from individuals to businesses, with free options, and a side order or credits, so you can buy the feature you occasionally need, only when you need it

The accessibility is there front and centre, as Floorplanner's ‘Basic’ plan is actually free. Of course there are limitations, as you’d imagine: your exports are limited to 960x540 pixels, will be watermarked, you’ll have to endure a 10 minute cooldown between exports, and are limited to 3 floors per project, with a maximum of 5 projects at any one time.

‘Plus’ will cost you $5 a month, or $60 for the year (no discounts for paying annually upfront). You’re also given 4 credits a month or 45 for the year (which means it might be actually better to pay monthly as you end up getting slightly more free credits that way). That level removes the timelock on exports, and allows you to build a library of your favourite objects.

The top plan is called ‘Pro’. $29 a month, or $348 for the year, brings custom templates, custom room presets, and premium projects. You also get 25 credits a month, or 303 for the year.

There’s also a series of plans for businesses, from $59 to $599 per month. As you'd expect, the more you pay, the more features you get. The cheapest allows up to 10 users; there are no such restrictions for the most expensive tier. You can bring in custom 3D assets, direct API access, and more.

Whichever plan you choose, be aware you may also end up having to purchase additional credits. These allow you to perform actions which aren’t normally available with your chosen plan. Even ‘Basic' accounts can get credits, to export your project in higher quality, or create a 3D tour, for instance.

The more you pay per month, the cheaper these credits get: one credit will cost you $1.58 on ‘Basic’, but just $0.79 for ‘Enterprise’, the most expensive business plan. This feels like a good balance between features and subscriptions, as it doesn’t force you to pay for a feature each month which you might only use occasionally.

• Score: 5/5

Floorplanner: Getting started

• As per the designers’ intentions, starting a new project couldn’t be simpler. The wizard section is surprisingly customizable, and even adds furniture for some select room types

Now a free account is great to get going, but what’s even better is not having to install any software on your computer. That’s right: Floorplanner is all done through your web browser. And while some restrict their services to Google Chrome, Floorplanner does not believe in such segregation. We didn't test it on all of them, but Firefox, Opera, and Safari all worked fine.

In order to use the service, you need to create an account. You can use your Google login or Apple ID for instance, or simply give them your email address, invent yet another new password, agree to their terms and conditions, and you're good to go.

You're given three options when creating a new project, either use Floorplanner's Wizard, upload an existing 2D plan already in your possession (the service supports various formats including JPEG, PNG, and PDF), or start with a blank slate.

The Wizard is a great way to get started, and don’t forget, once you're through that process, you can fully customise the results afterwards. It offers you 18 different variations on the initial shape of your room, followed by a the ability to fully customise the dimensions. To make it easier, the measurements are colour-coded, matching the arrows on the plan. Just type in new values in the right field to make your changes. This process could've been easier, by allowing the user to manually drag the walls on the plan itself, but that’s a feature that will come into its own later.

The Wizard’s third and final step is to add furniture. You select the type of room this is, from a dining room, to a kitchen, to a patio, and more, and based on that selection, a series of furniture templates are presented to you. Only Living Room, Bedroom, and Bathroom offer you choices which are added automatically based on your room’s dimensions; you’ll have to furnish the others from scratch.

• Score: 4.5/5

Floorplanner: Refinement

• The amount of customization is quite remarkable, from changing the structure, to adding windows, doors, stairs, and so on, to placing any furniture you'd like. Not only is there a wealth of choice, but everything is as easy as clicking and dragging

Your customization options are extensive. Virtually everything on your floor plan can be altered with just a handful of clicks. Mouse over a wall, and it turns blue. You can then click and drag it to increase or decrease your room’s surface area. Move it to a junction point, to make a large blue dot appear. Drag that dot to alter the shape of the two connected walls, even creating angled walls in the process should you want to. Click on a wall to bring up a menu from which you can join a new wall to it, create a junction point, turn a straight wall into a curved one, or delete it. As you make any changes, the dimensions are altered in real time, helping you be as precise as you can with little to no effort. It’s hard to think how it could be simpler.

Need to add windows, doors, stairs, fireplaces, ceiling fans, escalators, balconies, electrical points, gas connections, and more besides? Floorplanner has numerous examples for each, all of which can be customised with specific width and height, right down to the centimetre (or inch).

And what would a room be without furniture? Well, Floorplanner has got you covered, from sofas, to plants, to office desks, to computers, to fridges, and more. Everything is sorted by category. You can use the search field to find what you’re after, narrowing down your results by colour or even brand.

• Score: 5/5

Floorplanner: Presentation

• Your options don’t stop when assembling your project: you have numerous changeable parameters to alter how your work is displayed, from 2D to 3D views, and export options

By default, you’ll be working on a top down 2D view, although you have various options as to its look. You have a basic black and white view, one where the floor is coloured beige, and one which reflects your chosen furnishing’s actual colours. You have additional preferences, such as a blueprint mode, the ability to view and move around cameras for 3D exploration, switch on lights, along with other display options.

And then there’s 3D. This is where those cameras come in handy, as you view your design through them. You can pan and zoom, rotate around your project, all by clicking and dragging. You’re also able to select items, move them around, and even alter their elevation (something you can do in 2D but can’t really appreciate the results of in that view). To add an extra touch of realism, you get to choose the outside view you can see through the windows, from a digital field, to skyscrapers, villages, or even beaches. Take your pick and enjoy.

And how do you share your work with others? By making 2D and 3D renders of your build, although as mentioned above, free accounts can only do this once every 10 minutes - unless you spend credits to speed up the process of course. One thing worth noting if such renders are important for your work: the more you pay monthly, or the more credits you spend the higher their resolution, up to 8K.

• Score: 5/5

Should I buy Floorplanner?

Buy it if...

You’re looking for an incredibly easy to use CAD design tool with a wealth of options, and a plethora of features which are so well crafted, you’ll be creating virtual buildings in no time.

Don't buy it if...

The free plan is so full featured, you’ll wonder why you need to pay for more, especially if you’re only designing for fun.

For more essential tools, we tested and reviewed the best landscape design software and the best interior design software.

Many backup software suites emerge from software houses that handle loads of different tools and functionality, but that’s not the case with Genie9 – it’s built by a London-based team of specialists.

And when the developers count big names like Dell, Acer, and Canon among their partners, it immediately sounds impressive.

Genie9 is available in Home and Business versions, with various backup products in those two categories. One such backup suite is Genie Backup Manager. We've put the software through its paces with small business use in mind, and this is what we think.

We've also listed the best cloud backup services right now.

Plans & pricing

Head into the Home category, and you’ll find Genie Backup Home 9.0, which delivers secure offline and online backups for a one-time $50 payment per PC, with price rises deployed if you want to use those apps on up to five devices. Genie Timeline Home is a cheaper alternative, at $40, but it doesn’t include features like encryption or cloud backup.

Business users have more options. Genie Timeline Pro is a more robust local backup tool that costs $60, and Genie Backup Manager Pro (the software we’ve reviewed primarily) adds features and adds $10 to the price.

If you’re preserving and protecting data in a larger organisation, Genie Timeline Server costs $250 for each device, and Backup Manager Server costs $500 per device with SQL or $250 without.

Those are moderate prices – certainly more affordable than a rival like EaseUS ToDo – and we’re pleased to see that licences aren’t further divided into annual plans. Sadly, though, there’s no free version.

We’re also a little disappointed that Genie Backup Manager Pro peaks at five licences unless you buy multiple apps. It can get expensive if you need to manage lots of PCs in a business.

Features

Genie is designed to run in the background, backing up the contents of your entire system or whatever file types you choose. Users can choose from Full, Incremental, and Mirror backup tiers to manage exactly how Genie offloads.

As with many apps, you’ll have to follow a Wizard-style dialog to create a new backup and, handily, a summary of the job is always visible and changes as you alter settings.

You can backup local files and folders, entire operating systems and data from individual apps using Genie, and it has a range of plugins that increase support for specific pieces of software. Once you’ve picked your backup data, it can be sent to local destinations, cloud servers, removable devices or remote FTP-based locations, like NAS drives.

Compression is available for backups, AES or password protection can be used to protect files, and the app can send notifications, shut down your PC once the backup has completed or run commands before or after the backup has completed.

It’s a solid slate of features that doesn’t stand out, but we must highlight Genie’s scheduling tool – it’s one of the most comprehensive we’ve ever seen and gives you a vast amount of control over when you back up data.

A similar Wizard is used to restore your backups, too, and elsewhere Genie offers customers some basic formatting and rewriting options, although you’ll find more additional tools from other backup apps.

Users can adjust resource use during backups, use a laptop-specific battery-saving mode, and use purging, file filtering and multiple compression levels to save space.

For relatively basic home and business use it’s a fine slate of features, although you’ll have to upgrade to one of the server versions if you need SQL or Exchange support.

Interface & use

Genie’s interface is fine – easy to navigate and use, with a straightforward design. In the left-hand panel, you can run backups, update the app, and change settings. Large buttons in the middle of the Home screen invite you to back up, restore, or deploy disaster recovery settings.

Create a backup, and you’ll be provided with a step-by-step process and a summary on the left-hand side. The central window is used to choose files and destinations and modify settings.

It’s similar to many other backup tools, but there’s no denying that it looks a bit dated, with its underwhelming colors and archaic fonts. It gets the job done, but that’s about it.

That’s about all we can say about Genie’s speeds, too.

We tested our latest slate of backup apps with a 42GB document folder, a 2.5GB spreadsheet folder, a 162GB folder of media and an 82GB file that mixes all of those file types. We backed them up to three different SSDs to weed out any inconsistency.

Genie’s best result came with a 6 minutes and 12 seconds average when backing up Excel files but, even then, it was a mid-table output. Its document time of 34 minutes and 55 seconds was mediocre, and it took over an hour to preserve our Media and Mixed folders – times that were among the worst in our tests.

This is clearly an app better suited to spreadsheets and documents than media or mixed groups of files, but it’s never particularly quick.

Support

Technical support options for Genie’s products are not particularly extensive – the key contact method is a form on the firm’s website.

There’s a Wiki with plenty of advice, but that’s about it. For mission-critical backup, looking into other apps that offer more in this area would be wise.

The competition

Genie9 is up against a solid lineup of competitors. Chief amongst them is Acronis Cyber Protect Home Office. Acronis offers backup services for phones, laptops, cloud accounts, and the ability to package all these devices together for a synchronized, full-disaster recovery solution. You can also manually select files for backup, or create hourly, daily, or weekly upload schedules. There are plenty of great security features, too, including AES-256 encryption. 

EaseUS ToDo Backup is another great backup platform, especially for first-time users. Not only do you get full Windows and macOS support, users can choose from free, paid, and lifetime subscription tiers. The interface is quick and easy to navigate, and there are plenty of security features and excellent customer support to complete your backup experience.

Verdict

Genie9’s apps offer decent core backup services, and if you’re buying for home or small business use – up to and including single-server backups – then its pricing makes sense.

However, if you need to back up loads of PCs, laptops, or servers, then Genie9’s tools can become expensive, and the support options could be broader.

It’s well-suited to smaller and more conventional jobs, but power users should look elsewhere.

Remote desktop software provides an instant gateway between you, your location, and whatever computers you want access to in a pinch -- whether there’s a file or two you want to pull up remotely, or perhaps you’re quarantining at home and need access to your work PC to kickstart your daily workflow. 

Whatever the reason, you’ll want to use remote desktop software that authentically replicates the user experience of whichever devices you want to access on-th-ego. You’ll also want to make sure that the software you choose offers security features like end-to-end encryption, two-factor authentication when logging in, as well as 24/7 support.

• Interested in IDrive Remote Desktop? Check out the website here

One such remote access tool is Remote Desktop, a Windows-only desktop client offered through IDrive. We spent some time with this great software and have plenty to say about our own experience. 

• Also check out our roundup of the best help desk software

Features and user experience

It’s clear right off the bat that Remote Desktop aims to be one of the most intuitive remote desktop clients on the market. The key services on offer are bountifull, so it’s worth it to start with the basics. 

Like many competitive remote desktop clients, Remote Desktop relies on two major downloads to kick things off - a remote desktop agent to be installed on the computer(s) you wish to access, and a remote desktop viewer for the devices you’ll be using to tap into your remote PC. Do keep in mind that the desktop agent is only compatible with Windows-based computers. That being said, you can use both PCs and Mac computers to pull up your remote PC. 

Once your remote session goes live, you’ll have plenty of tools at your disposal. For starters, you’ll be able to quickly transfer files between the agent-hosted device and whatever hardware you’re using for remote viewing. This can be anything from images and documents to music and video files. Additionally, you’ll also be able to launch software that’s installed on your agent PC from your viewing device, even if some of your agent computer’s programs are Windows-only applications.

On top of that, let’s say you have accessories like printers, video-capture devices, and specific drivers installed on your agent PC. Yes, you guessed it - you’ll be able to tap into these ancillary devices from your remote viewer, too.

If you plan on using your Remote Desktop membership for business purposes, whether for individual needs or team-based workflows, you’ll be glad to know that the remote agent allows you to set up multiple users for one account. Once you’ve added one or more additional users, the agent software lets you choose what devices your teammates can tap into. And with the built-in activity log, you’ll be able to see when your companions are logged in and what applications they’re using on the agent-PC. 

Privacy and security

On top of its feature-rich palette of access tools, we love that Remote Desktop prioritizes safety for your every remote session, for both the agent and view-only computer(s). Protection starts the moment you log into the agent PC from a new device, where you’ll be required to authorize the remote-viewer as a trusted device for your Remote Desktop subscription. Only authorized computers will be able to interact with the host PC. 

Furthermore, two-factor authentication (2FA) adds another buffer between you and the host PC by requiring you to input your email address to log into your Remote Desktop account. Once a connection is established, rest assured that Remote Desktop cares just as much about the hardware-handshake. 

Employing end-to-end encryption, each session is TLS and 256-bit AES encrypted. And when it comes to working with data you want to keep under lock-and-key, you’ll be able to turn on a Lock Screen from your view-device, keeping your most vital info safe and secure.

Plans and pricing

Remote Desktop subscriptions run $9.95/month. While you can add as many agent-computers as you want to your account, do be aware that you’ll need to pay the $9.95 for every PC you want remote access to. 

If you want to try out Remote Desktop, the company offers a seven-day free trial that grants you access to every tool you would normally be able to use under a fully-paid subscription.

The competition

There are numerous remote software packages available, giving Remote Desktop a decent amount of competition. RemotePC is one of our favorite remote desktop suites, offering customizable pricing options that cover at least two computers. RemotePC operates smoothly, offers multiple ways to connect with your hardware (including a mobile app), as well as top-notch encryption and security.

Zoho Assist is another big name in the remote desktop marketplace, offering some of the most competitive prices around, a grand suite of features, solid performance, and plenty of other add-ons. The only downfall is that the standard plan doesn’t come with mobile app support. That being said, Remote Desktop is browser-based only, with not even a paywall to break to get you into a mobile app.

Final verdict

In our opinion, Remote Desktop provides all the necessities for a well-balanced remote desktop suite experience. While it’s a bit limiting to only be able to install the agent on Windows machines, being able to access your Windows content through Mac and Linux hardware (and as smoothly as Remote Desktop does so) helps to soften the blow.

If we had to zero in on a target group, we would recommend Remote Desktop to the Windows users of the world that have never used a remote-access platform before. It gives you everything you need (and more) to get a taste for what remote agents can do. Once you’ve been using it for a while though, you may have the itch to switch to another remote package with more pricing options and multi-OS support.

• We've also featured the best remote desktop software