7 Best Free CRM Software For Small Business – 2023
Customer Relationship Management software or CRM software is one of the first systems that any start-up will need and one of the last systems that global enterprises would do away with. It is vitally important that you choose the best CRM software for your business and its needs now, and also for the future.
Best Free CRM Software Summary
Best
All-Rounder
Packed with features and unlimited users, HubSpot definitely deserves a spot on this page
Best for Marketing
Tailored for contact and lead management, this is a true engagement platform
Best for Expansion
A full suite of business software, Freshworks excels in CRM as well as other key areas you can add
CRMs are the lifeblood of most businesses as they hold critical information on customers, marketing, sales, and all the associated activities such as lead and pipeline management, sales forecasts, marketing campaigns and automation, notes and files, content tracking, and much, much more.
If you are in a sea of spreadsheets that just aren’t working anymore then read on as we assess all the best free CRM systems out there right now.
We will be looking at ease of use, features, scalability, cost, and free plan restrictions which will be crucial when selecting your system.
What are the best free CRM software packages?
We have taken a data-driven approach whilst creating this best free CRM guide and have assessed all the leading CRM platforms and their free credentials. Depending on what type of business you run, you may want a system that has a particular focus as after all, CRMs aren’t all the same and some excel in some areas and lack in others. Either way, we have you covered with our full round-up.
OK, let’s get to them.
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1. Hubspot
Best all-rounder
Overview
Hubspot CRM is not only free forever, but it is arguably the leading CRM system anywhere right now. If you are a growing business with a real need for a CRM and have a 3 or 5-year growth plan and need something that can scale with you, then look no further than Hubspot CRM to meet your needs.
Restrictions
🌟 Unlimited Users
🌟 Up to 1,000,000 Contacts
🌟 Free Forever
Top Features
- Unlimited users
- Full suite of marketing tools
- Sales pipeline, deal management, and forecasting tools
- Customer service tools specialized in helping to develop customer relationships
- Suite of mobile apps such as Hubspot Mobile and Business Card Scanner
- Live chat & conversational bots
- Integration with Outlook and Google Workspace
- Advanced analytics to help drive conversions
- HubSpot community has extensive knowledge
Could Be Better
- Clearer pricing structure and identification of when a user becomes a paid user
- Lack of customer support
Pricing
The free plan is, well, free. However, it’s also worth noting the pricing as if you outgrow this then you will want a suitable upgrade path that will fit your needs and be within budget.
The good news is that Hubspot CRM is modular based so you can purchase the things you need and leave the others. For instance, adding the professional marketing hub will cost you $800 per month for 2,000 marketing contacts and an entire enterprise unlock for 10 users will cost around $5,000 per month.
My Take
Hubspot CRM is by far the most complete free CRM platform available. If you are a serious business owner that will require a fully-fledged CRM with all the associated tools but you aren’t quite ready to open the wallet, then this is the system for you.
If you haven’t yet brought into the digital business card concept then apps like the Hubspot business card scanner show that Hubspot is truly investing in streamlining core, front-line sales activities and making their CRM the Hub of all sales, marketing, and customer service activities.
However, if you are looking for something a little more light touch that excels in a specific area such as sales management, email marketing or business management then read on.
2. Freshworks
Best for expansion potential
Overview
Freshworks is a great all-around CRM software package with additional options for IT Service Management, Customer Service, and a whole lot more. This may be a big draw if you are just starting to onboard business software into your business as Freshworks can not only be a great free CRM to get started but can also grow into other areas as needed.
Restrictions
🌟 Unlimited Users
🌟 100 Marketing Contacts
🌟 200 Marketing Emails
Top Features
- Unlimited users
- Excellent contact management features with contact lifecycle stages
- Build marketing lists and campaigns
- Create and manage tasks, appointments, and notes with ease
- Built-in phone with inbound caller ID
- 24×5 support – chat, phone, and email
- Full suite of mobile functionality
Could Be Better
- Lack of any useful reports or dashboards
- No sales pipeline visual view or forecasting tools
Pricing
4 plans are on offer with Freshworks’ CRM suite which includes sales and marketing features in one solution. The free CRM plan offers features across all core areas and each additional level up does offer a range of useful features for the growing business.
My Take
The free plan offers much of what a small business will need if you have a very small team. If you want strong email marketing right out of the gate then I would look elsewhere on this list.
However, if you really do need a simple-to-use, basic solution that can also grow into other areas then Freshworks is a truly, accessible platform that can offer that and a whole lot more in the long run.
3. Agile CRM
Best for Customer Service
Overview
Agile CRM is a strong CRM, period. It has extensive features and truly excels in its customer service tools, and most of that is included in the free CRM plan. It also has a strong sales focus so if you are ramping up sales resources and are looking to manage deals across the full lifecycle, Agile CRM is worth exploring further.
Restrictions
🌟 1,000 Contacts
🌟 Up to 10 Users
Top Features
- Graphical and clean interface to add, view, and analyze data
- Unlimited deals, tasks, and documents can be stored
- Lead scoring to better understand where to focus your time
- Custom data fields
- Extensive helpdesk features including, groups, canned responses, activities, and reports
- Create and manage email campaigns with template builders and a landing page builder
- Email support
- Google sync
Could Be Better
- Lack of any accounting information which could be pivotal for some
- No marketing automation, at all!
Pricing
There are 3 paid plans on top of the free plan with each adding more contacts & companies you can hold along with campaign workflows and integrations. The paid plans are charged on a per-user, per-month basis so before you make the transition, make sure you have an idea of how many users you will require now as well as what you will need for the next 1 to 3 years to truly assess the potential cost of this CRM.
My Take
Agile CRM is one of the leaders in look and feel. You will be able to login and know where to go to do what you need with little to no training. The graphical first nature makes it appealing just for that and will be sure to get engagement from front-line staff by reducing the friction in daily use.
If you have a small team and won’t be scaling so fast you will need more than 10 users anytime soon then I would definitely recommend Agile CRM for a deeper dive.
4. Zoho CRM
Best for an upgrade path
Overview
Zoho CRM is one of the top CRMs available so should definitely be looked at. Zoho offers a feature-rich CRM system as well as a breadth of other business software. Being able to integrate other business functions does provide some real advantages so this should be considered when assessing Zoho.
Restrictions
🌟 Up to 3 Users
🌟 1GB Data Storage
🌟 5,000 Branded Emails
Top Features
- Full lead, account, and contact management
- Deal management with graphical views
- Log calls, emails, and set tasks
- Custom email templates and campaign management
- Fully customizable workflow automation
- Customizable user interface
- Integrates with other Zoho business software
- Email, phone, and chat support
Could Be Better
- Lack of any external integration capability
- No sales forecasts or custom reporting
- No bulk email automation
Pricing
Zoho offers 5 plans, the free option plus 4 paid plans. The standard plan adds many of the features that you may miss from the free plan. As you scale and grow you may look for more complex features and automation and this is where the Professional, Enterprise and Ultimate plans will be most suited.
My Take
If you are at an early stage in your journey and require a CRM that can offer a full range of features in time then Zoho CRM will definitely fit the bill. The 3-user limit is low and may mean you are already in need of a paid plan but at $14 per user, per month, it’s one of the most competitivley priced for the range of features and functions you will get.
5. Engage Bay
Best for marketing tools
Overview
Engagebay is a solid solution that combines sales, marketing, and customer service into one platform in a truly integrated platform. It is super simple to set up and you can get going in days, not weeks. The advanced features available are rivaling some of the top SaaS companies so if prospect and client engagement is critical to you, read on.
Restrictions
🌟 500 Contacts
🌟 Up to 15 Users
🌟 500MB Data Storage
Top Features
- Integrated nature of all modules to enhance user experience
- Unique 360-degree contact view
- Predictive lead scores
- Live chat feature
- Video marketing
- Deals, tasks, and appointment scheduling
- Gmail, Outlook, and O365 integration
- Email and chat support
Could Be Better
- Very basic customer service features
- No customization of deal milestones
Pricing
Another of the CRMs that have 4 plans available. The basic plan upgrade mainly adds customer service features so as you grow, you will most likely need to upgrade to the ‘Growth’ plan which currently sits at $39.99 per user, per-month, not to be taken lightly.
My Take
Engagebay is a great product that is tailored toward marketing, lead generation, and contact management. The sales tools are more than enough for most but where it falls down is the customer service capability on the free plan. If you feel you will need these features then you will be upgrading quickly to the ‘Basic’ or ‘Growth plan’.
6. ClickUp
Best for quick customization
Overview
ClickUp is one of the only free CRM packages out there that has developed into a CRM after initially offering Project Management tools geared toward technology projects. You will find a feature-rich platform that really does offer great collaboration tools along with the traditional sales and marketing features you would expect from a CRM.
Due to this, for a free CRM software package, this is definitely worth a look.
Restrictions
🌟 Unlimited Users
🌟 100MB Data Storage
Top Features
- Unlimited users
- Simple to use and intuitive user interface
- CRM templates to get started quickly
- Build custom statuses for deal workflow
- Field configuration and layout options for enhanced customization
- Unlimited tasks and assignments with alerts
- Real-time chat
- Over 50 dashboard widgets to easily visualize customer data
- Embedded email integration for internal and external collaboration
Could Be Better
- More detailed analytics across pipeline management
- Does not excel in its marketing capability with little automation offered
Pricing
ClickUp provides 5 license levels and it can get confusing with what you get in each one, however, they do have quite an extensive feature list per plan to get stuck into if you wish.
My Take
ClickUp is worth considering if you are looking for a light-touch sales and contact management platform with some basic marketing features. The interface is truly excellent and makes using the system a pleasure.
If you want custom field and workflow configuration then this free CRM can provide it but if you want to get deeper into sales and marketing analysis then you may want to start elsewhere.
7. Apptivo
Best for solo use
Overview
Apptivo only just made the list but for a truly free CRM, I think it has something unique to offer. There is a one-user limit on the free plan but it offers great features that are easy to use and really will speed up daily tasks that a single business owner can spend all too much of their valuable time on.
Restrictions
🌟 Up to 1 User
🌟 500MB Data Storage
Top Features
- Highly intuitive system to use
- Contact and lead management with centralized views
- Add tasks, appointments, and notes
- Advanced financial tools – estimates, proposals, approvals, and invoicing
- Full suite of customer service functions
- Full data backup at no additional cost
- All standard reports available
- Email support
Could Be Better
- Sales tools are basic
- No real marketing functions and a lack of automation
Pricing
Apptivo offers 4 paid plans on top of the free plan. All paid plans add more advanced sales and marketing functions that are lacking in the free plan as well as offer a range of reporting and integration enhancements.
My Take
This free CRM offers great business management functions for the solopreneur. It will help streamline your processes and bring content and workflows all into one place.
The pricing is primarily scaled based on limits on the functionality rather than the functionality itself. That means if you need to scale, you will get a ton of great features that you can use and then only increase the plan as you start hitting those limits.
FAQ
Which is best free CRM?
The best free CRM software is Hubspot. It offers a feature-rich, free forever system with all the features and functions that most small businesses will need. With unlimited users, you know you will be able to scale without worrying about CRM license costs.
Is there a totally free CRM?
Yes. All the free CRM software on this list can be used in anger with no cost associated. There are limits on users, contacts, features, and data storage that need to be assessed to truly understand which free CRM would be best for you.
Is Zoho completely free?
Zoho is a completely free CRM and is one of the best free CRM systems available. The user limits need to be assessed as well as the limit of the functionality but this article should help you understand if Zoho CR is the best suited to your needs.
Is HubSpot CRM really free?
Yes – Hubspot is arguably the best free CRM software on the market right now. It offers extensive functionality, unlimited users, and up to 1M contacts. Most small businesses won’t need more than this and it won’t cost anything to get it up and running.
Summary
The best free CRM is undoubtedly Hubspot. It is a market leader for a reason and the very generous restrictions mean it is most likely a no-brainer for many.
Hubspot isn’t perfect though. If you are after a simple business management CRM or think you will need a lot of support to get up and running then the other free CRM software packages on this list should be looked at as they all have some strong features.
Most CRMs do not offer strong sales forecasting tools either which is vital in the competitive world we are in today. Something to be considered if you want to move into next-gen sales technology that is becoming more available.