CRM with no lock-in: what to check in the contract

A CRM with no lock-in is one you can cancel when you want, without paying out a fixed term or paying to leave, and whose data you can take with you. The label alone is not enough. What counts is the contract, not the marketing page. These are the clauses to read before you sign with any CRM vendor.

The five clauses to read

What lock-in means in practice

Lock-in is a commitment to keep paying for a fixed period, even if you stop using the tool. Hypothetical example: a yearly plan you cancel in month four may still require payment for the other eight months, depending on what the contract says.

If you contract as a business rather than a consumer, consumer protection rules may not apply to you. Check the contract with your adviser before you sign.

What happens to your data when you cancel

• Ask in writing how long your data is kept after cancellation and how it is deleted.
• Confirm that the vendor processes your customers' data as a processor, under a data processing agreement, as the GDPR requires (the text is on EUR-Lex).
• Export before you cancel, not after. An export that is only available once the account is closed is no use.

Warning signs

• Lock-in terms buried in an appendix or a linked document, not on the pricing page.
• Export only available on a higher plan.
• Cancellation possible only by phone, with no written confirmation.
• A "from" price that does not say which plan includes what you need.

How to test it before you buy

Ask for a trial with real data, and export a sample during the trial. Ask the salesperson, in writing, how cancellation works and what happens to your data. If the answer is vague, keep it on file: it is the one you will rely on if something goes wrong.

Current Flowgration plans are on the pricing page. To compare what separate tools cost over a year, read how much a CRM costs. If you are looking for an affordable option, the affordable CRM page explains what to check.

Frequently asked questions

Is a CRM with no lock-in always more expensive?

Not necessarily. A yearly contract can cost less per month. What matters is being able to leave without a fee if the tool does not fit.

Can I cancel at any time?

It depends on the contract. Some let you cancel at the end of each period, others require notice. Confirm it in writing.

What should I export before cancelling?

Contacts, companies, deals, activities and orders, plus attachments if you need them. Check that the file opens and that the fields make sense.

What if the vendor raises prices in the middle of a contract?

Read the price change clause. If there is no notice period and no room to leave, ask for that term to be written into the contract before you sign.

Does a no lock-in contract protect my data?

Not on its own. Protection depends on the data processing agreement, the security measures and how data is deleted when you cancel. See the security page.

Where are Flowgration's terms?

Current plans are on the pricing page. If you have questions about cancellation or export, ask for the answer in writing before you sign up.