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Checklist

Pipedrive Free Trial

Follow this checklist to make the most of your free trial of Pipedrive

You want to spend minimal time testing the platform while making sure it fits your needs as closely as possible.

If you’re not familiar with Pipedrive CRM, you may want to start on our Why Pipedrive CRM page.

Need a proof of concept?

We can quickly set up an instance of Pipedrive – an MVP based on your requirements, that you can then develop further if you decide continue using Pipedrive CRM.

Pipedrive Trial Checklist

A tried and tested process covering Pipedrive's core features

Get in touch if you need help determining whether Pipedrive is fit for purpose. We can set up a proof of concept based on your unique needs.

1. Pre-trial planning

Clarify what success looks like before you start.

This step ensures your trial focuses on solving real sales and process challenges, not just exploring features.

  • Define “success criteria” - what you must have to adopt
  • Map existing processes, flows, pain points
  • Identify stakeholders / users and their needs
  • Budget, constraints, growth expectations

We can help you figure out all of the above as part of a Discovery exercise.

2. Data & Model Setup

Map out how your customer, company, and product data fit into Pipedrive.

Getting this right early makes the rest of your trial more realistic and meaningful.

  • Define data entities (Lead, Contact, Company, Product, custom objects)
  • Create custom fields, relationships, dropdowns
  • Simulate data import (from spreadsheets, legacy CRM)
  • Test handling of duplicates, merges, invalid records
  • Permissions & role testing
  • Data export / backup / restore

A tip: define all of the above in a CRM Data Model Design Document as spreadsheet, keeping it as simple as possible.

3. Integration Testing

Connect your existing tools and data sources to see how Pipedrive fits into your broader tech stack.

The goal is to validate that key workflows and syncs work smoothly.

  • Website form leads mapping
  • Email sync / tracking / BCC / IMAP
  • Other sources (chat, ads, lead tools)
  • Bulk import & mapping
  • API / webhooks tests
  • Integration error handling

This is an opportunity to improve how you currently handle leads, eliminating or reducing manual work altogether. 

4. Pipeline / Deal Management

Build and test your sales pipelines using real or sample data.

This phase helps confirm whether Pipedrive aligns with how your team actually sells.

  • Configure one or more pipelines (deal stages)
  • Add sample deals, link contacts & companies
  • Schedule and complete activities (calls, meetings, tasks)
  • Test reminders, follow-ups
  • Test moving deals backward, lost/won statuses
  • Simulate edge cases (deal expiry, pauses)
  • User experience for sales reps

Pipelines can also be used for managing processes that are not associated to Sales. For example, tracking job applications or managing sourcing of external contractors.

5. Automations / Workflow / AI

Experiment with automations and AI tools to see how much manual work you can remove.

This is where you discover the real productivity gains Pipedrive can offer.

  • Use built-in automation templates
  • Create custom automations (e.g. trigger on stage change)
  • Chain multiple steps
  • Test with real data and see if logic works
  • Validate error handling / fallback rules
  • Use AI (if available) for email drafts, summaries, notifications
  • Monitor maintenance / updating complexity

Think of automations as applications you need to design, build, test, deploy and manage. Keep them simple and remember that the more you use, the more time you will spend maintaining them.

6. Reporting & Analytics

Set up and test reports that track your most important metrics.

You’ll quickly see whether Pipedrive gives you the visibility you need to make better decisions.

  • Define required metrics / KPIs (conversion, velocity, win rate, rep performance)
  • Check built-in dashboards
  • Build custom reports (funnel, cohort, channel attribution)
  • Validate report data accuracy
  • Filter, segment, drill-down
  • Export / share / schedule reports

Capture lead attribution data – there are default fields for this in the Lead/Deal entity – and consider integrating with a more powerful analytics tool to dig deeper in our data.   

7. Mobile / Field Use

Try using Pipedrive on your phone or tablet to replicate real-world conditions.

Check if mobile access supports your team’s productivity when they’re on the move.

  • Install and test mobile app / interface
  • Add deals / activities via mobile
  • Offline behavior, sync latency
  • Notifications / push messages
  • UI usability on small screens

Capture lead attribution data – there are default fields for this in the Lead/Deal entity – and consider integrating with a more powerful analytics tool to dig deeper in our data.   

Need help?

We can help you thorougly test Pipedrive before you commit to purchasing it

Get in touch if you need help determining whether Pipedrive is fit for purpose. We can set up a proof of concept based on your unique needs.

We can also look at:

  • User evaluation – Get feedback from stakeholders
  • Performance and scalability – Add volume to your test environment and observe system speed and stability
  • Cost and plan gating – Review which features are available on each plan and where limits might apply
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Pipedrive offers a 14-day free trial but if you sign up via the button below it’s extended to 30 days – no credit card required to start.

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