Best Free CRM Software 2026: Top 10 for Small Business
Customer Relationship Management (CRM) software helps you track leads, manage contacts, and close more deals. But enterprise CRM prices ($50-150/user/month) aren’t realistic for small businesses.
Fortunately, several CRM platforms offer powerful free plans. Here are the best options for 2026.
Quick Comparison
| CRM | Free Users | Contact Limit | Best For |
|---|---|---|---|
| HubSpot | Unlimited | 1,000,000 | All-in-one |
| Zoho CRM | 3 | 5,000 | Small teams |
| Freshsales | 3 | Unlimited | Simplicity |
| Bitrix24 | Unlimited | Unlimited | Teams |
| Agile CRM | 10 | 1,000 | Marketing |
1. HubSpot CRM — Best Overall Free CRM
Free Plan: Unlimited users, 1,000,000 contacts
HubSpot’s free CRM is genuinely unlimited and incredibly powerful. It’s the gold standard for free CRM software.
What You Get Free
- ✅ Unlimited users
- ✅ 1 million contacts
- ✅ Contact management
- ✅ Deal pipeline
- ✅ Email tracking
- ✅ Meeting scheduler
- ✅ Live chat
- ✅ Reporting dashboard
Why It’s #1
HubSpot’s free plan includes features that competitors charge for:
- Email tracking with notifications
- Meeting scheduling links
- Basic automation
- Mobile app
- 200+ integrations
Limitations
- HubSpot branding on forms/chat
- Limited email templates (5)
- Basic reporting only
- No phone support
Best For: Any business wanting a complete, free CRM solution.
2. Zoho CRM — Best for Small Teams
Free Plan: 3 users, 5,000 contacts
Zoho CRM offers a solid free tier as part of the larger Zoho ecosystem. Great if you use other Zoho apps.
What You Get Free
- ✅ 3 users
- ✅ 5,000 contacts
- ✅ Lead & contact management
- ✅ Deal tracking
- ✅ Tasks & events
- ✅ Standard reports
- ✅ Mobile apps
Pros & Cons
| Pros | Cons |
|---|---|
| Part of Zoho suite | Only 3 users |
| Good mobile apps | Limited automation |
| Solid features | Can feel complex |
Best For: Small teams already using Zoho products.
3. Freshsales — Best for Simplicity
Free Plan: 3 users, unlimited contacts
Freshsales (by Freshworks) focuses on simplicity. If you want CRM without complexity, this is it.
What You Get Free
- ✅ 3 users
- ✅ Unlimited contacts
- ✅ Contact & account management
- ✅ Built-in phone
- ✅ Built-in chat
- ✅ Mobile app
- ✅ 24/5 support
Pros & Cons
| Pros | Cons |
|---|---|
| Very easy to use | Limited customization |
| Built-in phone/chat | Only 3 users free |
| Good support | Basic reporting |
Best For: Teams wanting the simplest possible CRM.
4. Bitrix24 — Best for Teams
Free Plan: Unlimited users, unlimited contacts
Bitrix24 is more than CRM—it’s a complete business suite with project management, communication, and more.
What You Get Free
- ✅ Unlimited users
- ✅ Unlimited contacts
- ✅ Lead management
- ✅ Sales pipeline
- ✅ Project management
- ✅ Team chat
- ✅ Video calls
- ✅ 5GB storage
Pros & Cons
| Pros | Cons |
|---|---|
| Truly unlimited | Steep learning curve |
| All-in-one platform | Can be overwhelming |
| Self-hosted option | Interface dated |
Best For: Teams wanting CRM + project management in one.
5. Agile CRM — Best for Marketing
Free Plan: 10 users, 1,000 contacts
Agile CRM combines sales and marketing automation in one platform.
What You Get Free
- ✅ 10 users
- ✅ 1,000 contacts
- ✅ Lead scoring
- ✅ Email campaigns
- ✅ Landing pages
- ✅ Web analytics
- ✅ Helpdesk
Best For: Businesses wanting CRM + marketing automation combined.
Feature Comparison
Email Integration
| CRM | Gmail | Outlook | Email Tracking |
|---|---|---|---|
| HubSpot | ✅ | ✅ | ✅ Free |
| Zoho | ✅ | ✅ | Paid |
| Freshsales | ✅ | ✅ | ✅ Free |
| Bitrix24 | ✅ | ✅ | ✅ Free |
Mobile Apps
| CRM | iOS | Android | Offline |
|---|---|---|---|
| HubSpot | ✅ | ✅ | ✅ |
| Zoho | ✅ | ✅ | ✅ |
| Freshsales | ✅ | ✅ | Limited |
| Bitrix24 | ✅ | ✅ | Limited |
How to Choose the Right CRM
Choose HubSpot if:
- You want the most complete free CRM
- Unlimited users matter
- You might upgrade later
Choose Zoho if:
- You use other Zoho apps
- You have a small team (3 or less)
- You want ecosystem integration
Choose Freshsales if:
- Simplicity is your priority
- You need built-in phone/chat
- You hate complex software
Choose Bitrix24 if:
- You need project management too
- You have a larger team
- You want everything in one place
CRM Implementation Tips
- Start simple — Don’t try to use every feature day one
- Import contacts — Get your existing data in immediately
- Set up pipeline — Define your sales stages
- Train your team — CRM only works if everyone uses it
- Review weekly — Check your data regularly
Frequently Asked Questions
Is free CRM really free?
Yes, the platforms listed here offer genuinely free tiers without trials or credit cards required.
Can I upgrade later?
All platforms offer paid upgrades when you need more features or users.
Which CRM is easiest to learn?
Freshsales and HubSpot are the easiest. Bitrix24 has the steepest learning curve.
Do I need CRM for a small business?
If you have more than a handful of customers and want to grow, yes.
Conclusion
HubSpot CRM is our top recommendation—unlimited users, 1 million contacts, and powerful features all for free.
For small teams, Zoho CRM or Freshsales are excellent alternatives.
Start with any CRM on this list and you’ll be ahead of competitors still using spreadsheets.
Last updated: January 2026