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The Best Free CRM - SBG’s Top Picks

Danica Jovic Image
Written ByDanica Jovic
Updated March 22,2023

Are you looking to download a CRM software solution? Paid solutions offer better features but come with increased costs that many small businesses cannot afford. Those extra features are often not needed in the first stage of your business expansion, anyway. Instead of paying a lot of money for advanced CRM features that you won’t need at first, look for affordable CRM systems that can help you track your contacts, leads, and customers without breaking the bank or requiring you to pay for expensive support contracts.

In this article, we take a closer look at some of the best free CRM systems available today and discuss why they might be worth your attention.

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HubSpot CRM Logo
1. HubSpot CRM
Starts at
$0
START FOR FREE
Ease of Use:

EXCELLENT

Contact Management:

EXCELLENT

Third-party Integrations:

GOOD

Analytics and Reports:

GOOD

Support:

GOOD

KEY FEATURES
PRODUCT DETAILS
  • Beginner-friendly 
  • Great contact management features
  • Free integration with Gmail and Outlook
Freshales Logo
2. Freshales
Starts at
$0
START FOR FREE
Ease of Use:

EXCELLENT

Contact Management:

EXCELLENT

Third-party Integrations:

GOOD

Analytics and Reports:

FAIR

Support:

GOOD

KEY FEATURES
PRODUCT DETAILS
  • Easy to use 
  • Numerous integration options
  • Email, phone, and live chat communication with website visitors
Bitrix24 Logo
3. Bitrix24
Starts at
$0
START FOR FREE
Ease of Use:

EXCELLENT

Contact Management:

GOOD

Third-party Integrations:

EXCELLENT

Analytics and Reports:

FAIR

Support:

GOOD

KEY FEATURES
PRODUCT DETAILS
  • Unlimited number of clients and deals
  • Free mobile app
  • Team collaboration tools
Zoho CRM Logo
4. Zoho CRM
Starts at
$0 /up to three users
START FOR FREE
Ease of Use:

GOOD

Contact Management:

EXCELLENT

Third-party Integrations:

FAIR

Analytics and Reports:

GOOD

Support:

GOOD

KEY FEATURES
PRODUCT INFORMATION
  • Great lead generation
  • Workflow automation
  • Good analytics
Agile CRM Logo
5. Agile CRM
Starts at
$0 /up to ten users
START FOR FREE
Ease of Use:

GOOD

Contact Management:

EXCELLENT

Third-party Integrations:

FAIR

Analytics and Reports:

EXCELLENT

Support:

GOOD

KEY FEATURES
PRODUCT DETAILS
  • Up to 1,000 contacts and deals
  • Easy to use dashboard
  • Detailed analytics
EngageBay Logo
6. EngageBay
Starts at
$0 /up to 15 users
START FOR FREE
Ease of Use:

GOOD

Contact Management:

EXCELLENT

Third-party Integrations:

EXCELLENT

Analytics and Reports:

GOOD

Support:

GOOD

KEY FEATURES
PRODUCT DETAILS
  • Excellent contact management
  • Integration with dozens of apps
  • Predictive lead score

How To Choose a CRM With the Free Software Features You Need

The process of picking CRM software is not easy because there are tons of similar-looking choices out there. Even if you are on the hunt for a free app, the search doesn't become much easier. A lot of businesses have different requirements for  CRM software even though they share the same business objectives. Some companies have even done well with in-house solutions, but most will need a good external CRM or ERP product

The CRM software you choose must have all the essential features and functionalities your business needs to progress and achieve its goals. First, list all the functions and requirements that your free CRMs software should have. This way, it will be easier for you to choose an appropriate CRM software solution that can meet your needs

Secondly, make sure that a free version can accommodate the number of clients you have or expect to have in the future. Some software products offer thousands of contacts, but others are limited to a few hundred. 

Thirdly, you must decide if a simple contact management system is enough for you or you need additional functions, like customizable performance analytics and communication tools. If you are looking for a CRM that can integrate with other apps, you should check if the version has this capacity. You will easily find a free CRM for Gmail, but if you want additional plugins, like bookkeeping software, payment methods, or eCommerce platforms, you’ll need to do a deeper search.

Our Methodology

To help you find the best free CRM for small business purposes, we created a list of things to check for each product. This way of doing things ensures that only proven CRM vendors are listed in our article. Here are the criteria we used to evaluate the CRMs on our list. 

Ease of Use

When looking for CRM software, look for web-based software options. Every customer relationship management software should enable easy sharing and communication across the organization, streamlining the working processes significantly. Web-based CRMs allow your entire team to access the same information, no matter where their work is being done. All products on our CRM software list are apps that you can access through your web browser from any device you want.

Contact Management

The most fundamental function of CRM software is that it enables you to manage your contacts. In order for a CRM system to manage your contacts successfully, it needs to be able to store and easily access contact details such as phone numbers, email addresses, and, ideally, social media information.

Some CRM packages will enable you to manage your contacts more successfully by providing additional tools designed for specific business functions. For example, suppose you are a company that offers online chat facilities on your website. You should find free customer management software that enables you to manage chat sessions and track customers' online status.

You should also think about whether a CRM system has a number of standard contact management tools that can be customized to meet your business needs. For example, if you need to send bulk emails, it would be useful if the package enabled you to import a list of contacts from a .csv file.

These features will help you to manage your contacts better and provide a more competent service, which should, in turn, lead to improved business efficiency.

Reporting and Tracking

A customer relationship management software solution provides essential tools for tracking and understanding your company's activities and performance. With a top CRM (even a free one), you can easily see how many leads turned into sales, which customers are most profitable, and just how loyal your customers are. This information allows you to make smart business decisions moving forward.

A good CRM software solution should have easy-to-use features that let you analyze this data in a way that's convenient for you, allowing you to create graphs or other visual aids. Some CRM solutions even assist you in making better business decisions by offering predictive analytics that let you proactively identify sales trends. Unfortunately, these features are generally available only with paid software versions.

Integrations

Even the best free CRM in the world isn’t going to help you out much if it can’t communicate with other programs that your company uses on a daily basis. While this won’t always be the case, good CRM software products should seamlessly integrate with apps such as Xero, Quickbooks, Shopify, Google Suite, and MS Office.

Mobile App

While there are some free CRM software providers that only operate via the website, many of the top products can also be accessed through mobile devices and tablets. This flexibility allows you to access your data and programs from anywhere, which can make your job as a business owner much easier.

Best Free CRM Software in 2022: Top 5

  1. HubSpot CRM
  2. Freshsales
  3. Bitrix24
  4. Zoho CRM
  5. Agile CRM
Featured Snippet Image

Reviews

HubSpot CRM Review Logo

HubSpot CRM Review

Ease of Use:

EXCELLENT

Contact Management:

EXCELLENT

Third-party Integrations:

GOOD

Analytics and Reports:

GOOD

Support:

GOOD

  • ⦿ Customizable dashboard
  • ⦿ Free mobile app
  • ⦿ Live chat with your website visitors

Overview 

When looking for the best free CRM software for businesses, Hubstaff is a name you’ll no doubt come across often. Since it was founded in 2006, HubSpot has been one of the key players in this market. HubSpot’s system allows business owners to get all of the important sales, marketing, and customer service tools in one place. The software offers several hubs, including marketing, sales, service, operations, and CRM. They are all excellent and work particularly well together, but in our CRM review here, we will focus on the free HubSpot CRM software tools.

Ease of Use

Creating an account with HubSpot is a breeze and can be done through the company’s website. Go to HubSpot.com, fill out your personal details (name and email address), and provide information about the business type you run, your job position, and the number of employees you have.

This free online CRM is beginner-friendly, but if you haven’t used similar tools before, the free wizard will show you how to set up the software and make the most of it for your business

HubSpot has a clear and well-organized dashboard. We didn’t have any problem exploring the software’s tools and features. Moreover, you can customize the dashboard to fit your needs.  

Features 

HubSpot’s free version comes with a wide range of tools, unavailable at most other free CRM systems. You can add up to 1,000,000 contacts and an unlimited number of users. Moreover, you’ll get free forms and landing pages, free sales tools, and live chat options for your customers

When it comes to contact management features, the free CRM system enables you to organize and manage your contacts effortlessly. The same features are available regardless of whether you manage personal contacts or companies. You can see details like email, phone number, and lead status. Among many useful tools is a call analyzer. After you finish your meeting or a video conference call, you can use the Conversation Intelligence tool to analyze your conversations. 

Third-party Integrations

When it comes to CRM integration, HubSpot's free version is limited to only a few options. You will be able to connect the software with Gmail, G Suite, and Outlook in order to import contact details

However, other integrations with this CRM are not free, and you’ll need to upgrade your subscription. Suppose you want to publish your content on social media (LinkedIn, Facebook, Instagram, and Twitter) or link your blog to your social media accounts? You must pay for the Marketing Hub plan. There’s also workflow automation for your marketing companies, but you’ll need to subscribe to a paid version of the app for this feature, too. 

Analytics and Reports 

When it comes to reporting, free HubSpot CRM stands out from the rest of the competitors. It allows you to see your report library with the revenue and sales performance. That said, if you want to get custom reports, you must upgrade to one of the paid versions of the software.

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Freshsales Review Logo

Freshsales Review

Ease of Use:

EXCELLENT

Contact Management:

EXCELLENT

Third-party Integrations:

GOOD

Analytics and Reports:

FAIR

Support:

GOOD

  • ⦿ Native integration with Freshworks apps
  • ⦿ Free website monitoring tool
  • ⦿ iOS and Android apps available

Overview

The next one on our list of free CRM tools is Freshsales. Launched in 2016, Freshsales is a cloud-based CRM software product designed for small and mid-sized businesses. Freshsales is created by Freshworks, an India-based software company that creates different SaaS products - from CRM software and recruitment apps to customer support software. Freshsales CRM software is available in several versions, including one that you can use for free for a lifetime. However, the free software is not feature-rich compared to paid versions

Ease of Use

Freshsales is designed for small businesses, startups, and mid-sized companies. It can be a valuable CRM tool for different industries, including sales, eCommerce, real estate, finance, education, healthcare, retail, and more

Like other free sales CRM products, Freshsales is a lightweight app that works on various platforms and operating systems. There’s also a mobile application for iOS and Android phones that you can quickly download to help manage your business operations while on the go. Just like the desktop version, the mobile app has a modern yet straightforward interface. You can access the main dashboard with a few simple clicks and instantly get essential information about your clients

Features

Depending on the version of the software you use, you can check up on your next meetings, track sales performances, get performance metrics, and so on. Unfortunately, the free CRM tool is not feature-rich as the paid versions of Freshsales. The features you get are limited to contact management and customer communication tools

You will be able to add contacts and accounts to your CRM system. You can track information about your leads, prospects, and customers. There’s also an option to import contacts from .csv and .xlsx files. 

When it comes to sales management, the free version of the app grants access to chat software that allows you to communicate with your customers in real-time. 

Third-party Integrations

One of the best things about Freshsales is its seamless integration into the Freshworks business ecosystem. Freshsales allows you to connect the CRM app with other native Freshworks apps, including Freshdesk, Freshmarketer, Freshconnect, and more. Additionally, you can connect your CRM with accounting software products, like Xero or Quickbooks. 

Freshsalessimple free CRM tools also let you link your account with your Gmail, Zoho Mail, and Microsoft Office 365 accounts.

Analytics and Reports  

Unfortunately, the free version of the software doesn’t offer any free analytical tools and reports. Custom reports are available with the paid version of the software.

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Bitrix24 Review Logo

Bitrix24 Review

Ease of Use:

EXCELLENT

Contact Management:

GOOD

Third-party Integrations:

EXCELLENT

Analytics and Reports:

FAIR

Support:

GOOD

  • ⦿ Important client alerts
  • ⦿ Free team communication tools
  • ⦿ Integration with different payment methods

Trusted by over 10,000 business entities, Bitrix24 is an all-in-one software solution for managing various business operations. It includes a powerful CRM app and has tools to support other aspects of your business. From task management and team collaboration tools to built-in HR software and tools that can help you create and manage your website, Bitrix24 covers everything. As for the free CRM system, Bitrix24 is on top of our list for offering excellent CRM capabilities

Ease of Use

When you first enter Bitrix24, you will be pleasantly surprised with its social-media-like interface. The UI simplifies communication with prospects, leads, and customers. It’s modern, with vivid colors and icons, enabling you to search for the tools you need faster. 

Once you create your Bitrix24 account, the introductory video will appear on your screen. This way, you can see how the software works and learn to use the different tools available. Moreover, there are lots of video tutorials and guides to help you learn the basics about lead generation, best sales practices, and so on. 

Features

The free CRM app allows you to add as many contacts and deals as you want. This is especially good for companies with many clients, enabling simplified contact management, project creation, and team communication. Unfortunately, Bitrix24’s free version is limited when it comes to lead management. If you want to have an option to add unlimited leads, you’ll need to get a paid version of the software.

As for the rest of the free tools, Bitrix24 enables direct communication with your clients through its dashboard. You can use live chat, link your phone, email address, or Facebook/Instagram account. You can also receive and manage all clientscalls directly from the Bitrix24 platform

Another great feature is free reminders. Bitrix24 sends regular alerts to remind you of important client meetings and calls

Third-party Integrations

Bitrix24 is one of the best free CRM software products when it comes to app integrations. From different payment methods, like Stripe and PayPal, to MailChimp, Asterix, and QuickBooks, the Bitrix24 ecosystem is compatible with many valuable business tools.  

Analytics and Reports  

If you are looking for an analytical CRM product, Bitrix24 is not the best option. The free version of the software is not equipped with any analytics or reporting tools.

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Zoho CRM Review Logo

Zoho CRM Review

Ease of Use:

GOOD

Contact Management:

EXCELLENT

Third-party Integrations:

FAIR

Analytics and Reports:

GOOD

Support:

GOOD

  • ⦿ Zoho SalesIQ app
  • ⦿ The ability to create charts and graphs
  • ⦿ Email marketing

Overview 

When talking about the best free CRM for a small business, it’s impossible to skip Zoho CRM. A key part of the powerful Zoho software ecosystem, Zoho CRM is now available for free, and it comes with a variety of tools for lead, account, and deal management. Sadly, unlike many of its counterparts, Zoho’s free CRM version is limited to three users. This makes it suitable for small teams, but growing businesses wouldn’t be able to benefit from its extensive set of customer relationship management tools

Ease of Use

If you already use an app from Zoho’s ecosystem, you can access free CRM tools instantly. You just need to provide basic information, like your company’s name and phone number. After that, you can start using the CRM software free of charge.

The upper ribbon of the dashboard displays the most important features (lead, contacts, deals, activities, reports, and so on). You can easily add customers, manage leads, and create deals.

You can access Zoho CRM accounts from your desktop computer or mobile phone. The software is web-based, but there is also a native mobile app for iOS or Android

Features 

Zoho CRM's free version can support only three users, which is its main downside. This makes it perfect for small teams and startups but, unfortunately, useless for larger businesses. On the bright side, companies that are satisfied with this number of users will be delighted with a rich set of CRM tools that they can use

The first thing worth mentioning is that Zoho’s free CRM software supports up to 5,000 records - contacts, deals, campaigns, and accounts. Unlike many other CRM applications, Zoho CRM provides excellent lead management. You can trace leads, get their contacts, and move them further in your sales process. Good lead generation is a necessary part of any successful sales pipeline

Another great thing you get with Zoho CRM is workflow automation. This will help you increase your productivity and automate routine tasks

Third-party Integrations

When it comes to integration options, Zoho’s contact management software free version supports the Zoho SalesIQ app. This app helps you improve conversion. It provides information about how your audience interacts with your content and allows you to chat with customers in real-time. 

Analytics and Reports  

Zoho CRM’s free version offers free analytical tools. This way, you can get insights into your sales performances, marketing campaigns, and revenue.

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Agile CRM Review Logo

Agile CRM Review

Ease of Use:

GOOD

Contact Management:

EXCELLENT

Third-party Integrations:

FAIR

Analytics and Reports:

EXCELLENT

Support:

GOOD

  • ⦿ Email tracking
  • ⦿ Appointment scheduling
  • ⦿ One free campaign workflow

Overview 

Agile CRM has been in operation since 2013. This customer manager software is already used by 20,000 clients, who praise its capabilities. Although Agile CRM is a free CRM software for small business owners, it comes with a wide range of sales, marketing, and communication tools. The free version is great for small teams that want to streamline communication and increase sales.

Ease of Use

Based on client reviews, Agile CRM is a very easy to use CRM solution. The software scores 4.8 on TrustPilot, and many users praise the app’s functionality, like the automation of email campaigns. Many users are delighted with the company’s customer support, claiming that they are very helpful and ready to solve any problems quickly.

As far as the user interface goes, Agile does pretty well here, too. The dashboard is well organized, with the most important tools placed on the left side of the screen. There you will find all of the sales and marketing tools you’ll need. You can also import or create contacts very quickly.

One downside is the lack of native apps for mobile phones, but the web version of the software is well-optimized for smaller screens, so that shouldn’t be a problem for most people.

Features

Agile CRM is a free, open-source CRM as long as the number of users doesn’t exceed ten. This is certainly more than the three found in the free version of Zoho CRM, but not enough for medium or large-sized companies. This version allows you to create up to 1,000 contacts and campaigns, as well as unlimited documents, tasks, and deals. You will also get a wide range of sales tools like the ability to create custom data fields, lead scoring, email tracking, and appointment scheduling.

Unlike many other online CRM software products, Agile CRM allows you to create email campaigns, but this option is only available in the $8.99/mo Starter plan and above. You can also use various tools to build email templates, forms, and landing pages. The free software version allows the implementation of one campaign workflow and one automation rule.

As with the best free CRMs around, Agile allows you to use various CRM service tools such as a helpdesk and organize your workflow better with the easy creation of groups and labels. 

Third-party Integrations

Agile CRM offers dozens of options for software integration, including various social media and service channels, payment methods, and more. However, with the free version, you get only one plugin. For example, you can connect your account with Zendesk or Freshbooks, but not both. If you want to use other plugins, you’ll need to subscribe to one of the paid plans.

Analytics and Reports  

The good thing about the Agile CRM’s free version is that you still get access to reports. You can request to see the latest sales performance and revenue and use this data to calculate your ROI faster.

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EngageBay Review Logo

EngageBay Review

Ease of Use:

GOOD

Contact Management:

EXCELLENT

Third-party Integrations:

EXCELLENT

Analytics and Reports:

GOOD

Support:

GOOD

  • ⦿ Email and chat support
  • ⦿ Branded emails
  • ⦿ Autoresponder tools

Overview 

Engagebay is a free CRM for small business owners that incorporates various sales, marketing, and communication features. This CRM application was launched in 2006 and has a solid 4.3 on Trustpilot, with many users claiming it is the best software product around for CRM purposes. Fast and seamless integration with various apps, marketing automation, and in-depth analytics are the main selling points of Engagebay. It offers scalable software solutions, meaning that once your company starts growing, you can quickly switch to one of the affordable paid versions.

Ease of Use

The sign-up process for Engagebay software is quick and intuitive. You need to provide your email address, name, and website URL. After creating a password, you’ll be able to use the software’s free client management software tools immediately. 

The main functionalities of the CRM program are divided into three main sectors or “bays” - Marketing, Sales, and Service. You can type the name of the section you want to access in the search bar menu. It’s a bit different from what we are used to with similar CRM apps, but it doesn’t take much time to master the software’s features

EngageBay also offers free support and various online learning materials. Not only does it help you adopt the software tools faster, but you can also learn about essential sales practices, like cross-selling and upselling.  

EngageBay’s mobile app is also very convenient, allowing you to access your contacts and prospects at any time you want. 

Features 

If you want to use this small business CRM for free, you should know that it is limited to 15 users, 500 contacts, and 1,000 brand emails. As for the software’s main functions (Sales, Marketing, and Service Bays), you can count on many free tools and features. With the free version, you can manage deals and tasks, track emails and customer activity, and create schedules. 

The free marketing features include embedding forms and web pop-ups (up to five), access to email templates, autoresponders, live chat support, and desktop notifications. You can reach potential clients through emails, SMS, and social media channels. 

The Service Bay features include contact management and a ticketing support system

Third-party Integrations

The Engagebay integration library is full of choices. Unlike other free CRM platforms, Engagebay doesn’t put any limits on the number of integrations available to non-paying users. You can connect your CRM account with banking apps like Stripe and make use of some of the best eCommerce platforms, including Bigcommerce and Shopify, without worrying about which one to choose.

Analytics and Reports  

With the free software version, you can access reporting dashboards with limited features. Customer and call reports are only available for paying clients.

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FAQ
Is there a truly free CRM?

Yes, there are many free software products that can help you manage your clientscontacts and deals. Many offer a wide range of free features, including client and communication management, workflow automation, and performance reports.

Which CRM is easiest to use?

If you're looking for a user-friendly online CRM software that is easy to learn and navigate, read our CRM reviews to find the best fit for you. All products we listed are known for their intuitive interface and user-friendly design.

Is HubSpot free forever?

Yes. HubSpot’s free version of its popular CRM software is free for an unlimited time. It's one of the best free options on the market and allows users to accommodate up to one million contacts while offering a wide range of unique sales and marketing features. The only downside is that the free version supports only three user accounts, so it’s not suitable for many companies.

What CRM software is best for a small startup?

There is no one-size-fits-all answer to this question, as the best CRM for your business will depend on your specific needs and budget. With that said, if you have only a couple of employees, Zoho CRM is probably the best free CRM software available. You get a ton of useful features, and the lack of support for more user accounts won’t matter to you as much as it would to larger teams.