Barclay Ballard

Barclay Ballard

Barclay has been writing about technology for a decade, starting out as a freelancer with ITProPortal covering everything from London’s start-up scene to comparisons of the best cloud storage services.  After that, he spent some time as the managing editor of an online outlet focusing on cloud computing, furthering his interest in virtualization, Big Data, and the Internet of Things. 


The role also allowed him to gain knowledge of SEO and social media hashtags, as well as take part in a press trip or two. A visit to Prague for the Huawei Cloud Congress Europe 2016 was a particular highlight. He eventually returned to freelancing, writing news and feature pieces for TechRadar Pro. Cloud remains a primary interest but he’s also happy covering the hardware and software that powers productivity in workplaces around the world as they attempt to manage the transition to hybrid working.

Articles by: Barclay Ballard

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Best open source CRM of 2026

By Barclay Ballard last updated

We list the best open source CRM solutions, making it simple to deploy, customize, and maintain total data sovereignty without expensive per-user subscription fees.

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Best CRM for real estate of 2026

By Christian Rigg last updated

We list the best CRM for real estate, making it simple and easy for realtors and brokerages to manage listings, track leads, and close transactions.

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How to choose a CRM for a small business

By Barclay Ballard last updated

A small business CRM may have specific features or pricing plans. This guide will outline the things to look for.

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Best CRM for startups of 2026

By Matt Moran last updated

We list the best CRM for startups, making it simple and easy for a new business to manage communications, track pipelines, and scale customer relationships.

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Best free CRM software of 2026

By Ioana Andrei last updated

We list the best free CRM software, to make it simple and easy to manage your sales and customer relationships, without having to pay for a subscription.

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Best small business CRM of 2026

By Christian Rigg last updated

We list the best small business CRM to make it simple and easy to set up and manage a contact platform for customers, staff, and suppliers.

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Best Password Manager of 2026: Expert Recommendations for Your Credential Security

By Benedict Collins last updated

We've tested all the best password managers on their key features, security, and additional extras - and ranked them here for your convenience.

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Insightly CRM review 2026

By Ritoban Mukherjee last updated

Insightly CRM is a decent small business CRM with good UX design, but average support

apptivo logo

Apptivo CRM review 2026

By Ritoban Mukherjee last updated

Review Apptivo offers a comprehensive suite of tools for contact management, lead tracking, opportunity management, and sales forecasting, all within a highly customizable interface.

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Less Annoying CRM review 2026

By Ritoban Mukherjee last updated

Less Annoying CRM review is a simplicity-focused CRM for small business efficiency

SugarAI

SugarAI CRM review 2026

By Ritoban Mukherjee last updated

SugarAI is a customizable CRM with strong automation-driven features

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Keap review 2026

By Ritoban Mukherjee last updated

Review Keap CRM provides a comprehensive suite of tools designed to help small businesses manage customer relationships, automate marketing efforts, and streamline sales processes.

Zendesk Sell

I reviewed Zendesk Sell and the CRM's robust mobile app makes it an excellent choice for mobile sales teams

By Ritoban Mukherjee last updated

Zendesk Sell is a user-friendly CRM with strong support integration

Pipedrive

Pipedrive CRM: Hands-on testing - I can't believe how easy it is to navigate

By Ritoban Mukherjee last updated

Review Pipedrive CRM gives users a visual sales pipeline for intuitive deal management

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Zoho CRM review 2026

By Ritoban Mukherjee last updated

Zoho CRM has an impressive array of core capabilities. Features like lead and opportunity management, sales forecasting, and reporting, are well-designed and effective.

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Monday Sales CRM review 2026

By Ritoban Mukherjee last updated

Monday.com provides a versatile solution for managing customer relationships, featuring customizable pipelines, powerful automation capabilities, and extensive integration options.

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Freshsales CRM review

By Ritoban Mukherjee last updated

Review Freshsales is a great CRM for sales professionals

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Salesforce CRM review

By Ritoban Mukherjee last updated

Review Salesforce CRM is an infinitely customizable CRM for medium-to-large businesses

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Workbooks CRM review 2026

By Ritoban Mukherjee last updated

Workbooks CRM Review Workbooks CRM is a user-friendly solution representing great value for mid-market businesses

HubSpot CRM review: hubspot logo

HubSpot CRM review

By Ritoban Mukherjee last updated

Review Our in-depth HubSpot CRM review, tested and analyzed by our industry specialists.

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Vonage for Home review 2026

By Bryan M Wolfe last updated

Vonage for Home delivers affordable, reliable VoIP calling with easy setup, professional features, and flexibility ideal for homes, freelancers, and small businesses.

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Best Parental Control App of 2026: Expert Testing, Ranking and Reviews

By James Capell last updated

Updated We've tested, reviewed and ranked the best parental control apps, to help you make the best decision on how to keep your family safe online.

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Best business cloud storage of 2026

By James Capell last updated

We list the best business cloud storage, to help your business safely and securely backup all of your data online.

Cloud in Hand

Best cloud storage of 2026: tested, reviewed and rated by experts

By James Capell last updated

I've ranked the best cloud storage services of 2026, to help you keep your data secure in the cloud.

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Best client management software of 2026

By Barclay Ballard last updated

We list the best client management software, to make it simple and easy to better organize your customer base through sales, upselling, and retention.

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