RANKINGS/SAAS/CRMS FOR STARTUPS

Top 10 CRMs for Startups

10 ranked on capability, adoption, value, momentum and trust, with a plain verdict on every entry.

UPDATED JUL 21, 2026LISTER SCORE · UPDATED REGULARLY

HubSpot CRM tops the list for free-tier startups needing unlimited users and scalability. Pipedrive suits sales-focused teams prioritising visual pipeline management, whilst Zoho CRM serves budget-conscious founders seeking an integrated all-in-one platform with marketing automation built in.

RANKENTRYSCORETRENDFROM

HubSpot CRMOffers truly unlimited users at no cost with no credit card required68.2NEWFree

Zoho CRMDelivers all-in-one CRM functionality with integrated marketing automation at the same price point as specialists62.9NEW$14/user/month

monday Sales CRMNo-code customisation allows non-technical teams to adapt the platform to unique sales workflows55.6NEW$12/user/month (Basic, billed annually)

PipedrivePurpose-built around visual deal pipeline management rather than contact databases55.1NEW$14/month

FreshsalesNative built-in phone and email features eliminate the need for separate communication tools48.2NEW$9/user/month (billed annually)

AttioAllows fully customisable data objects beyond traditional CRM categories of Leads and Opportunities40.5NEW$29/user/month (Plus tier, billed annually)

CloseNative calling and email engagement features eliminate the need for separate VoIP and email platforms40.4NEWMonthly and annual payment options available

folkAutomatically enriches contact data and deduplicates records natively without third-party tools39.9NEW$20/user/month

Copper CRMOperates natively within Gmail, Google Calendar, and Google Drive without requiring separate interface switching39.5NEW$23/user/month (Basic, annual billing)

Less Annoying CRMSingle flat pricing tier with all features included eliminates confusing per-feature pricing tiers36.4NEW$15/user/month (flat, all features)

LAST UPDATED 2026-07-20CURATED · UPDATED REGULARLY

The ranking, in detail

HubSpot CRM

100% free core CRM with unlimited users and deal tracking

HubSpot CRM is a completely free, scalable CRM foundation ideal for startups wanting unlimited users and integrated marketing capabilities without upfront costs.

From FreeBest for Startups wanting a free, scalable foundation with built-in marketing

68.2

Zoho CRM

Comprehensive suite with pipeline tracking, analytics, and integrated marketing automation

Zoho CRM is a comprehensive, cost-effective platform combining pipeline tracking, analytics, and marketing automation in a single integrated suite.

From $14/user/monthBest for Budget-conscious startups and cost-sensitive teams

62.9

monday Sales CRM

No-code, fully customisable platform that molds to sales process

monday Sales CRM is a fully customisable, no-code platform giving teams complete visibility over customer touchpoints and allowing the interface to adapt to specific sales processes.

From $12/user/month (Basic, billed annually)Best for Startups wanting customisable platform; teams already using Monday.com

55.6

Pipedrive

Sales CRM and lead management software built for sales teams

Pipedrive is a sales-focused CRM that prioritises visual pipeline management and deal tracking, making it ideal for outbound-heavy teams.

From $14/monthBest for Sales-focused teams wanting a visual, simple CRM with strong deal pipeline management

55.1

Freshsales

Built-in phone, email, and chat capabilities with integrated CRM features

Freshsales combines native calling, email, and chat functionality directly within the CRM platform, eliminating the need for separate tools.

From $9/user/month (billed annually)Best for SaaS and product-led startups; mid-sized sales teams

48.2

Attio

Customizable data structure with flexible object-based data models

Attio offers fully customisable data structures with flexible object-based models that go beyond standard Lead and Opportunity categories, suited to teams with evolving workflows.

From $29/user/month (Plus tier, billed annually)Best for Startups with evolving workflows and complex relationship networks

40.5

Close

Built-in calling, email, and sales engagement tools without managing complex CRM ecosystem

Close provides integrated calling, email, and sales engagement capabilities, designed specifically for B2B startups and outbound-heavy organisations.

From Monthly and annual payment options availableBest for B2B startups and outbound-heavy organisations

40.4

folk

Clean contact management with enrichment and deduplication built-in

Folk provides relationship-led contact management with built-in data enrichment and automatic deduplication, ideal for early-stage teams managing complex relationships.

From $20/user/monthBest for Relationship-led sales teams and early-stage startups

39.9

Copper CRM

Deep native integration with Gmail, Google Calendar, and Google Drive

Copper provides a lightweight CRM experience deeply integrated into Google Workspace, ideal for founder-led teams already using Google's ecosystem.

From $23/user/month (Basic, annual billing)Best for Founder-led teams already using Google Workspace

39.5

Less Annoying CRM

Deliberately stripped-back contact and pipeline CRM with one flat price

Less Annoying CRM (LACRM) delivers intentionally simple contact and pipeline management with a single flat price covering all features, ideal for solo founders and small teams.

From $15/user/month (flat, all features)Best for Solo founders and small teams wanting simplicity

36.4

Frequently asked questions

What is the best free CRM for startups?

HubSpot CRM is the top free option for startups, offering unlimited users, deal tracking, contact management, and integration with HubSpot's marketing tools at no cost. No credit card is required to get started.

Which CRM is best for sales-focused teams?

Pipedrive and Close are the top choices for sales-focused teams. Pipedrive excels at visual pipeline management and deal tracking, whilst Close provides integrated calling and email engagement for outbound prospecting.

What is the cheapest CRM for small teams?

Freshsales offers the lowest paid entry point at £9 per user per month (billed annually) with built-in calling and email. For absolute simplicity, HubSpot CRM remains the most affordable at zero cost.