Generating professional quotes and streamlining approvals is critical for closing more business and making a solid first impression on prospective clients. Rather than managing the quote process through a combination of emails, spreadsheets and proposals, quote management software centralizes it all digitally in one place.
In this comprehensive guide, we will compare the top 12 quote management platforms on the market while breaking down the key features to evaluate during your search.
What is Quote Management Software?
Quote management software, also referred to as proposal software or quoting software, enables teams to efficiently create polished, branded quotes and invoices, collaborate with stakeholders during approvals, integrate with existing systems to auto-populate accurate product/pricing info, and speed up the payment process through automations.
Key capabilities provided by quote tools include:
Intuitive Proposal Builder – Customizable templates, product/price catalogs and workflows to quickly draft client-ready quotes that reinforce brand identity.
Approval Workflows – Streamline multi-level quote reviews, gathering electronic signatures before sending finalized quotes to the prospect.
Integration Hub – Connect seamlessly with your CRM, accounting platform, payment systems and more to synchronize data.
Analytics Dashboard – Reporting provides visibility into quote performance – view win/loss rates, acceptance timing, sales cycle trends and more.
Payment Processing – Collect payments from customers upon project completion or signup renewal through integrated gateways.
Recurring Billing – Schedule automated recurring quote generation and payments for ongoing services via subscriptions.
Key Evaluation Criteria for Quote Software
With many solutions on the market, it can get overwhelming finding the right platform for your unique business needs. Here are 12 key aspects to analyze as you compare options:
1. Template and Proposal Customization
Does the software offer ample industry-specific templates to choose from or custom branding capabilities to match proposals to your business identity?
2. Collaboration Tools
Can multiple stakeholders comment on, review or approve quotes before sending to the prospect?
3. Integration Ecosystem
What is the platform‘s integration network – do they natively connect to the accounting, payment, CRM and other tools you rely on?
4. Reporting and Analytics
Does the software provide visual reports and dashboards covering proposal status updates, conversions, customer insights and sales team productivity?
5. Mobile Optimization
Can your team efficiently manage the quoting process on-the-go through iOS and Android apps? Offline access?
6. Security Standards
What compliance certifications, data encryption methods and access controls does the platform offer?
7. Scalability
Does the solution offer enterprise-grade scalability and availability needed to keep up with company growth objectives?
8. Implementation and Training
Is the vendor committed to ensuring seamless onboarding, proactive setup assistance and ongoing user adoption?
9. Customer Support
Do they provide multiple real-time support channels such as live chat, phone support and community forums?
10. Total Cost of Ownership
Beyond transparent per user pricing, is the overall value derived higher than the fees paid?
11. Company Stability
Does the software vendor have a solid company history, growing client base and roadmap for continued innovation?
12. Ease of Use
Can your team quickly create, customize and circulate quotes in the platform without technical complexity or rely on ongoing support?
Carefully assessing solutions against these 12 criteria will help uncover the right fit for your unique quote management requirements both now, and in the future as your needs grow over time.
Next let‘s compare 12 of the highest rated quote platforms on the market.
Top 12 Quote Management Software Solutions
1. Quoter
Quoter is an intuitive quoting software trusted by over 6000 businesses globally. Key highlights include:
- Visually customize quotes with your logo, colors and content
- Sync quotes with QuickBooks Online, Xero, FreshBooks and other accounting tools
- Accept client payments via Stripe, Braintree and others
- Set reminders for following up on sent quotes
- Client portal for easily sharing quotes
- Robust Zapier integration hub
Quoter stands out with its simple interface, extensive accounting integrations and focus on enabling services businesses to scale their sales processes.
Pricing starts at $15 per user/month with discounts for annual plans.
2. PandaDoc
PandaDoc is a document management platform with specialized quoting and proposals capabilities. Key features include:
- 750+ templates for quotes, invoices, contracts and more
- Legally-binding eSignatures integrated
- Payment widgets to collect customer payments
- Email tracking for sent proposals
- Connections with Zapier, Salesforce, PayPal, Stripe and more
- iOS and Android mobile apps
Over 25,000 customers use PandaDoc to streamline their document workflows while closing more business.
Plans start at $25 per user/month paid annually.
3. CPQquote
CPQquote from Configure One focuses squarely on streamlining the CPQ (Configure, Price, Quote) process for sales teams. Key highlights:
- Guided selling questions to build personalized product bundles
- Multi-tiered pricing and discount rules
- Document version control
- CPQ data analytics focusing on product trends, customer insights and ROO forecasts
- Configure One also offers specialized quoting tools for the communications, manufacturing and distribution verticals
Pricing starts at $65 per user/month.
4. QuoteWerks
QuoteWerks simplifies quoting for manufacturers and distributors managing complex sales cycles. Key features include:
- pciXpress connector for real-time integration with Sage 100, Acumatica, SAP Business One and other platforms
- Shop floor data collection (SFDC) for product configurations
- API to integrate with nearly any system
- Advanced discounting capabilities such as cumulative tiers
- Custom reporting with Microsoft Reporting Services
Over 56,000 businesses use QuoteWerk‘s platform.
Subscription plans start at $32 per user/month paid annually.
5. Quotient
Quotient is a sales proposal software focused on clear analytics for better forecasting. Key features:
- Integration withSalesforce, SugarCRM, HubSpot, Quickbooks Online and others
- Track drafts, views, comments and interests levels on sent proposals
- Measure reply rates, decision cycle times and other sales funnel metrics
- iOS and Android apps
Quotient positions itself as an "all-in-one quoting platform designed to help you analyze, forecast, quote, and close more deals."
Pricing starts at $12 per user/month paid annually.
6. Quote Roller
Quote Roller streamlines creating, sending and eSigning quotes. Key capabilities:
- Online signature capture
- Apply discounts, taxes and shipping
- Send and manage invoices
- Sync data with QuickBooks Desktop and Online, Xero, Zoho Books and Wave
- Client portal for accepting electronic payments
Given Quote Roller‘s focus areas, it best serves freelancers, agencies and service providers.
Plans start at $15 per user/month.
7. Better Proposals
Better Proposals enhances sales productivity by automating proposal creation. Highlights include:
- Real-time data sync with Salesforce
- Customizable CPQ workflows
- Robust approvals process
- Centralized document storage
- Payment capture via Stripe and PayPal
The software aims to reduce operations tasks for sales reps by 90% through its streamlined system.
Pricing starts at $25 per user/month.
8. Qwilr
Qwilr helps produce client-ready quotes with premium design. Key features:
- 100+ customizable templates
- Drag and drop editor
- Share via personalized client web page
- Get real-time insights into client engagement
- Integrate Qwilr data with CRMs
- iOS and Android apps
Qwilr is geared towards modern sales teams wanting beautiful proposals coupled with analytics.
Plans start at $30 per user/month.
9. QuoteWerks
QuoteWerks is tailored to the needs of the distribution industry, especially manufacturers. Key capabilities:
- Real-time ERP sync removing data errors
- Advanced margin control for distributors
- Robust discounting modules
- PCI compliance
- Custom reports with Microsoft Reporting Services
- Native integration with SAP, Epicor, Sage and others
Over 50,000 businesses trust QuoteWerk for distributing quotes and channel sales.
Pricing starts at $32 per user/month when paid annually.
10. Quosal
Quosal focuses on enterprise-level quoting and proposals handling high complexity/volume. Features include:
- CPQ capabilities for intricate product bundles
- Scalable cloud architecture
- Role-based permissioning
- Multilingual support
- SSO authentication
- Sandbox testing environments
Quosal is purpose-built for global B2B organizations with large sales teams.
Pricing is customized based on individual needs.
11. QuoteUp
QuoteUp streamlines creating, delivering, tracking and getting signatures quotes. Key features:
- Email tracking pixels see who opened proposals
- Legally-binding signatures
- Attach files and media
- Team collaboration tools
- Client portal
- Integrates with Office 365, Gmail, Outlook
QuoteUp positions itself as an intuitive platform to simplify sending polished proposals.
Free plan includes 1 user sending 5 quotes/month. Premium plans start at $12 per user/month.
12. Zomentum
Zomentum combines intelligent CPQ software with supporting sales enablement tools. Capabilities include:
- Guided selling solution for configuring the optimal product bundle
- Unified customer profiles and history
- Content library to track sales collateral
- Email templates personalized for each client
- Calendar automation based on deal updates
Zomentum aims to be an all-encompassing sales acceleration platform with deep CPQ functionality at its core.
Pricing starts at $25 per user/month paid annually.
Making the Right Platform Choice
With the wide range of solutions profiled above available to streamline quote creation and management, conduct an evaluation across the 12 key considerations outlined earlier before selecting the platform that best aligns to your specific business needs.
Align stakeholders, document detailed requirements, score high priority must-haves and carefully assess vendor responses to RFPs through demos.
While quoting will always remain a central part of driving sales, choosing the right software removes many manual headaches for your team to spend time building customer relationships rather than just paperwork.
Evaluate your organization‘s sales objectives, existing software stack synergies the vendor ecosystem can provide, total cost comparisons and scalability requirements as you navigate the quote management software selection process.
