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
1HubSpot CRMOffers truly unlimited users at no cost with no credit card required95.0NEWFree 2PipedrivePurpose-built around visual deal pipeline management rather than contact databases91.5NEW$14/user/month 3Zoho CRMDelivers all-in-one CRM functionality with integrated marketing automation at the same price point as specialists88.0NEW$14/user/month 4FreshsalesNative built-in phone and email features eliminate the need for separate communication tools85.2NEW$9/user/month (billed annually) 5folkAutomatically enriches contact data and deduplicates records natively without third-party tools81.8NEW$20/user/month 6AttioAllows fully customisable data objects beyond traditional CRM categories of Leads and Opportunities78.5NEW$29/user/month (Plus tier, billed annually) 7CloseNative calling and email engagement features eliminate the need for separate VoIP and email platforms75.9NEWMonthly and annual payment options available 8Less Annoying CRMSingle flat pricing tier with all features included eliminates confusing per-feature pricing tiers74.0NEW$15/user/month (flat, all features) 9Copper CRMOperates natively within Gmail, Google Calendar, and Google Drive without requiring separate interface switching73.1NEW$23/user/month (Basic, annual billing) 10monday Sales CRMNo-code customisation allows non-technical teams to adapt the platform to unique sales workflows71.4NEW$12/user/month (Basic, billed annually) The ranking, in detail
01
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
95.0
02
Pipeline-centric simplicity with visual deal tracking
Pipedrive is a sales-focused CRM that prioritises visual pipeline management and deal tracking, making it ideal for outbound-heavy teams.
From $14/user/monthBest for Sales-focused SMBs and outbound teams
91.5
03
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
88.0
04
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
85.2
05
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
81.8
06
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
78.5
07
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
75.9
08
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
74.0
09
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
73.1
10
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
71.4
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.