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vsSalesforce

STEPS.CRM vs Salesforce

Last updated November 2026

Looking for a European alternative to Salesforce? Here's how STEPS.CRM compares, on EU hosting, GDPR and what it does.

Our pick for a European buyer: STEPS.CRM. We weight data residency, GDPR and EU jurisdiction above everything else — that is the constraint this directory exists to solve.

STEPS.CRM
Salesforce
What it is
German CRM for sales pipelines, contracts and recurring billing
Cloud-based CRM platform for sales, service, marketing, and more.
Headquarters
🇩🇪 DE
🇺🇸 US · 1999
EU data residency
Yes, for all customersGermany
Available on some plansEU data residency available in Frankfurt on request or specific plans.
DSGVO / GDPR
Yes
Yes
Certifications
No
ISO 27001, BSI C5
Price from
No
No
Free plan
No
No
Open Source
No
No
Ratings
No
No
Integrations
estos ProCall, Outlook, eBay, Powergap, Zalando +4
Slack, Microsoft Teams, Google Workspace, DocuSign, QuickBooks +3

Where each one wins

STEPS.CRM

Strengths

  • +Handles complex, industry-specific workflows like variable IT-service contracts and billing cycles
  • +Centralizes work and data in one shared system for consistency
  • +Offers flexibility to adapt standard functions to individual processes
  • +Provides reliable day-to-day support for employees
  • +Reduces tool sprawl with an all-in-one platform

Limitations

  • −External integrations, especially with calendars, could be easier
  • −Usability could be improved
  • −Onboarding, reporting, and analysis speed need simplification

Salesforce

Strengths

  • +Highly scalable for enterprises
  • +Extensive customization options
  • +Strong ecosystem with AppExchange
  • +Reliable uptime and performance

Limitations

  • −Steep learning curve for new users
  • −High cost for small businesses
  • −Complex setup and configuration
  • −Limited transparency in subprocessors

Data residency & compliance

STEPS.CRM
Salesforce
EU data residency
Yes, for all customersGermany
Available on some plansEU data residency available in Frankfurt on request or specific plans.
Transfer mechanism
Not required — data stays in the EU
Standard Contractual Clauses
DPA
not established
Published →
Sub-processors
not established
not established
Certifications
No
ISO 27001, BSI C5

Features

STEPS.CRM

Contacts and relationship management
Multi Relation Management (MRM) for flexible data linking, Retains person data when changing employers, Data-quality assistants, Duplicate checking and merging
Sales and marketing
Sales pipeline management, Opportunity tracking, Campaign management, Offer creation and monitoring
Customization and usability
Process customization via Application Designer, Configurable one-click interfaces, Mobile-optimized access
Mobile access and data availability
Mobile device usability, Rapid data availability, mySTEPS for mobile business information access
Integration capabilities
Compatibility with all ERP systems, CTI integration with estos ProCall, Outlook add-in (tested in customer reference)

Salesforce

Core CRM
Lead and opportunity management, Contact and account tracking, Customizable dashboards, Activity and task automation
Data & Security
Role-based access control, Field-level encryption, Audit trails, Compliance with GDPR
Integration & Extensibility
REST and SOAP APIs, AppExchange marketplace, Custom objects and fields, Third-party app integrations
Analytics & Reporting
Custom report builder, Real-time analytics, Forecasting tools, AI-driven insights
Collaboration
Chatter for team communication, File and document sharing, Mobile access, Team workspaces
See STEPS.CRM →More Salesforce alternatives