Top 10 Free CRM Software for Small Businesses

Customer Relationship Management (CRM) software has become essential for small businesses looking to grow. The good news? You don't need a massive budget to get started. Several excellent CRM platforms offer robust free plans that can power your sales and customer service operations.

In this guide, we'll explore the top 10 free CRM solutions for small businesses, examining what each offers without spending a dime.

What to Look for in a Free CRM

Before diving into specific tools, understand what makes a free CRM valuable for small businesses:

• User limits: How many team members can use it?
• Contact capacity: How many customers can you track?
• Core features: Contact management, deal tracking, email integration
• Upgrade path: What happens as you grow?
• Support quality: Will you get help when stuck?

best Free crm software

1. HubSpot CRM - Best Overall Free CRM

HubSpot CRM sets the standard for free CRM software. It's not a stripped-down trial - it's a genuinely powerful platform that remains free forever.

What's included:

• Unlimited users and up to 1 million contacts
• Deal and pipeline management
• Email tracking and notifications
• Live chat and chatbots
• Meeting scheduling tool
• Basic reporting dashboards

Limitations: Advanced automation, custom reporting, and marketing tools require paid plans.

Best for: Startups and small businesses wanting room to grow without forced upgrades.

2. Zoho CRM - Best for Customization

Zoho CRM offers an impressive free tier for up to 3 users. Despite being free, it includes features many paid CRMs charge for.

What's included:

• 3 users maximum
• Workflow automation (5 rules)
• Custom modules and fields
• Mass email (up to 250/day)
• Mobile apps (iOS and Android)
• Reporting and dashboards

Limitations: Limited to 3 users; some advanced features locked behind paid tiers.

Best for: Very small teams (2-3 people) needing powerful features.

3. Freshsales - Best User Interface

Freshsales by Freshworks provides a clean, intuitive interface with solid free features.

What's included:

• Up to 3 users
• Contact and account management
• Deal pipeline visualization
• Built-in phone and email
• Mobile apps
• Basic reporting

Limitations: Limited to 3 users; advanced lead scoring and automation require paid plans.

Best for: Small sales teams wanting an easy-to-use, modern CRM.

4. Bitrix24 - Best for Features

Bitrix24 packs an overwhelming number of features into its free plan, including project management and collaboration tools.

What's included:

• Unlimited users
• 5GB storage
• Lead and deal management
• Task and project management
• Video calls and chat
• Website builder

Limitations: Interface can feel cluttered; storage is limited on free plan.

Best for: Teams wanting CRM plus collaboration tools in one platform.

5. Agile CRM - Best for Marketing Integration

Agile CRM combines sales CRM with marketing automation on its free tier.

What's included:

• 10 users maximum
• Contact management (50,000 contacts)
• Email campaigns
• Basic marketing automation
• Appointment scheduling
• Mobile apps

Limitations: Limited email credits; advanced features require upgrades.

Best for: Small businesses wanting basic marketing automation alongside CRM.

6. Streak - Best for Gmail Users

Streak lives entirely inside Gmail, making it perfect for teams already living in Google Workspace.

What's included:

• 1 user on free plan
• Gmail integration (lives in inbox)
• Pipeline management
• Email tracking
• Contact history
• Mobile app

Limitations: Only 1 user; limited to 500 contacts on free plan.

Best for: Solo entrepreneurs or consultants who work primarily in Gmail.

7. Really Simple Systems - Best for UK Businesses

Really Simple Systems offers a genuinely free CRM designed for small businesses, particularly popular in the UK.

What's included:

• 2 users maximum
• 100 accounts and contacts
• Sales pipeline
• Email integration
• Basic reporting
• Phone and email support

Limitations: Very limited contacts (100); only 2 users.

Best for: Micro businesses just starting with CRM.

8. Flowlu - Best for Project Management Integration

Flowlu combines CRM with project management, making it ideal for service businesses.

What's included:

• 2 users maximum
• 1GB storage
• CRM and pipeline
• Project management
• Financial management
• Knowledge base

Limitations: Only 2 users; limited storage.

Best for: Freelancers and agencies managing client projects.

9. Capsule CRM - Best for Contact Management

Capsule CRM focuses on doing contact management really well, without overwhelming features.

What's included:

• 2 users maximum
• 250 contacts
• Sales pipeline
• Task management
• Email integration
• Mobile apps

Limitations: Only 250 contacts; limited customization on free plan.

Best for: Small B2B companies with focused customer lists.

10. Insightly - Best for G Suite Integration

Insightly offers solid CRM functionality with excellent Google Workspace integration.

What's included:

• 2 users maximum
• 2,500 records
• Contact and organization management
• Pipeline and opportunity tracking
• Task management
• Email integration

Limitations: Only 2 users; workflow automation requires paid plans.

Best for: Small teams using Google Workspace.

How to Choose Your Free CRM

Selecting the right free CRM depends on your specific needs:

If you're a solo entrepreneur: Start with HubSpot CRM or Streak (for Gmail users).

If you have a small team (2-3 people): Zoho CRM, Freshsales, or Insightly offer good free options.

If you need unlimited users: HubSpot CRM or Bitrix24 are your best bets.

If you want marketing tools included: Consider HubSpot CRM or Agile CRM.

If you live in Gmail: Streak is purpose-built for you.

Understanding the Catch

Free CRMs are genuinely free, but here's what companies expect in return:

Upsell opportunities: Most free CRMs hope you'll eventually upgrade as your business grows. They're betting on your success.

Limited users or contacts: Free plans often restrict team size or database size to encourage paid upgrades.

Reduced support: While most offer documentation and community forums, priority support typically requires a paid plan.

Feature restrictions: Advanced automation, custom reporting, and integrations often sit behind paywalls.

When to Upgrade

Consider upgrading from a free CRM when:

• You hit user or contact limits
• You need advanced automation to save time
• Custom reporting becomes essential for decision-making
• You require integrations with specialized tools
• Your team needs priority support

Conclusion

Free CRM software has evolved dramatically. Today's free plans offer functionality that would have cost thousands just a decade ago. For most small businesses, these tools provide more than enough capability to organize customer relationships, track deals, and grow revenue.

Start with HubSpot CRM if you want the most flexibility and room to grow. If you're a very small team wanting powerful features, try Zoho CRM. Gmail power users should explore Streak.

The best approach? Sign up for 2-3 options and test them with real data for a week. The right CRM is the one your team will actually use consistently - and at zero cost, there's no risk in finding out which one fits best.