The 11 Best Free CRM Software for Businesses in 2026
Benjamin Grant
Lark Content Manager
Sep 8, 2026
Benjamin Grant
Sep 8, 2026
18 min read
I remember juggling endless spreadsheets and sticky notes just to keep track of customers. If you’re in the same boat, you probably have one “master” sheet that’s anything but organized and a pile of emails that never seem to stop. You know some deals are slipping by, but setting up new software feels like one more thing to manage.
What's missing is a Customer Relationship Management (CRM) system. The good news? Setting up a CRM is easier than ever, and there are now plenty of free options available. To help you choose, we tested over 30 platforms and spent dozens of hours reviewing them, narrowing the list down to the 11 best free CRM software solutions for teams.
Best free CRM software
Here are the top 5 free CRMs from our list of 11:
- Lark: Best overall free CRM with powerful all-in-one tools
- HubSpot CRM: Best for centralized sales and marketing
- Zoho CRM: Best for Zoho users
- Bitrix24: Best for teams needing unlimited users and contacts
- EngageBay: Best for an affordable all-in-one marketing and sales suite
Free CRM software at a glance
Here's a quick comparison of the key features included in the free plan for each of the 11 best CRMs I reviewed.
11 best free CRM software
1. Lark: Best overall free CRM with powerful all-in-one tools
In my years of reviewing software, one challenge keeps coming up for small teams: juggling too many disconnected tools. Your CRM, chat, and files all live in different places, which prevents your sales reps from delivering the best experiences. Lark solves this by combining all essential CRM tools into one connected workspace that includes chat, meetings, approvals, calendars, emails, and documents. With fewer apps to manage, your team can stay focused and keep software costs down.
Another great aspect that stands out to me is Lark's mobile-first design, with features that work just as well on mobile as they do on desktop. Your team can capture leads, update deals, and collaborate effectively whether they're in the office or on the road. I believe this is critical in today's flexible work environment. It’s a fundamental shift from a CRM being a system of record to a system of action, and in my opinion, that’s where the real value lies for a growing business.
Watch Lark CRM in action:
Core features
- Customizable CRM: Build a fully tailored CRM that matches your exact sales process quickly and easily, all without writing a single line of code. Manage contacts, track every activity, and visualize your pipeline with Kanban boards and other flexible views.
- Integrated communication: Unlike other CRMs that rely on third-party tools, Lark's chat, email, and video calling are built-in. When an opportunity comes in, automation can instantly create a group chat for the sales team, pushing real-time updates directly to them. Reps can start conversations from a customer record, and after a video meeting, AI generates an automated summary with action items.
- Workflow automation: Lark’s intuitive automation engine eliminates manual work. For example, when a rep updates a deal stage on their phone, it can automatically trigger an approval request sent to their manager via Lark Messenger, keeping deals moving without delay.
- AI-powered efficiency: Lark is infused with AI to help your team work smarter. Before a client call, reps can generate a rich customer profile; during the sales cycle, AI can score opportunities to highlight high-value leads. This gives your team an intelligent, real-time understanding of performance and pipeline health.
- Intelligent dashboards: Lark provides real-time dashboards that can be fully tailored to your team’s needs. Share them in group chats, meetings, or documents as live reports to keep everyone aligned. Built-in AI lets you analyze data instantly — from spotting trends to generating insight summaries — giving your team a continuously clear view of performance.
- Mobile-first experience: Lark’s award-winning, highly rated mobile app ensures CRM tasks stay fast, intuitive, and fully accessible on the go. Sales reps can update deals, review contact details, check dashboards, or respond to customers directly from their phones with the same ease as on desktop, ensuring they stay productive anywhere.
Free plan limits
- User limit: 20 users can use the platform, which is generous for small and growing teams.
- Storage: You get 100GB of cloud storage for all your files, documents, and attachments.
- Automation limits: The plan includes 1,000 automated workflow executions per month.
- Meeting duration: 1-on-1 video meetings with 60 minutes per session.
Pricing
- Basic plan: $6/user/month (billed annually) for up to 500 users. It includes everything in the free plan, and unlimited message history, 5TB of storage space, 1,000 automation runs, and more. Some users may need to contact sales to purchase this plan.
- Pro plan: $12/user/month (billed annually) for up to 500 users. It includes everything in Basic plus group calling for up to 500 attendees, 15TB of storage space, 50,000 automation runs, and more.
- Enterprise plan: Contact sales for custom pricing. Supports unlimited users and includes even more automation runs and advanced security, compliance, and management features.
Starter
Pro
Enterprise
Starter
For small teams with simple communication needs
$0
/ user / month
20 users max
18 months message history
1-on-1 video meetings
100 GB storage
Lark Docs & Mail
1000 Base automation runs/month
2000 rows per table in Base
Pro
For companies with comprehensive collaboration and management needs
$12
/ user / month
500 users max
Unlimited message history
500-participant video meetings
15 TB storage
Lark Docs & Mail
50k Base automation runs/month
20k rows per table in Base
Enterprise
For large companies with advanced security and organizational management needs
Get a personalized demo and pricing
Unlimited users
Unlimited message history
500-participant video meetings
15 TB storage + 30 GB storage/user
Lark Docs & Mail
500k Base automation runs/month
50k Base automation runs/month
Single sign-on (SSO)
Pro
For companies with comprehensive collaboration and management needs
$12
/ user / month
500 users max
Unlimited message history
500-participant video meetings
15 TB storage
Lark Docs & Mail
50k Base automation runs/month
20k rows per table in Base
Pros
- A truly all-in-one platform that combines CRM, chat, and project management, and more, all available in the free plan.
- Highly customizable no-code database lets you build the exact CRM you need.
- Seamless collaboration keeps the entire team aligned on deals.
- Free plan supports up to 20 users, enough for even midsized teams.
Cons
- Advanced features can have a learning curve.
- External collaboration with partners not on Lark can be less seamless than internal communication.
Platforms and devices
- Android, iOS, iPadOS, web app, Windows, Mac, and Linux.
User ratings
- G2: 4.5/5
- Capterra: 4.4/5
"Partnering with Lark is helping us connect teams faster, cut down delays, and create conditions for better decisions every day. It's a critical step toward building a more responsive, data-driven organization that delivers on what we promise—both to our people and to our customers."
- Francis Medina, 7-Eleven Philippines
2. HubSpot CRM: Best for centralized sales and marketing
HubSpot is a dominant force in the CRM world, and it's often the first name that comes up when searching for CRM software. This is largely because of its well-known free plan. In my opinion, it’s a good starting point for any small business or startup that needs to get its customer data organized immediately without any financial commitment. The platform bundles core CRM functionality with a suite of free marketing, sales, and service tools, making it a feature-packed solution right out of the box.
Image source: hubspot.com
A key benefit of HubSpot, from my perspective, is how easy it is to get started. The interface is clean, the tools are intuitive, and you can have a functional sales pipeline up and running in an afternoon. It’s designed to remove friction, which is exactly what a lot of businesses need. However, it's also important to understand that this frictionless entry also means the costs can escalate quickly once you need more advanced features.
Core features
- Contact and pipeline management: HubSpot's free plan offers support for up to 2 users and 1,000 contacts. It provides all the essential tools for tracking deals, assigning tasks, and logging sales activities in one place.
- Free marketing and sales tools: Beyond a simple contact database, the free plan includes an array of tools to help you grow. You get access to email marketing, a live chat and chatbot builder, landing pages, and a meeting scheduler, all integrated with your CRM data.
- Reporting dashboard: The free dashboard gives you a central place to monitor key sales metrics, track team performance, and visualize your entire sales pipeline, helping you make data-informed decisions.
Free plan limits
- HubSpot branding: Any emails, landing pages, or forms you create with the free plan will display HubSpot's logo, which can look unprofessional.
- Limited automation: While you can set up basic email sequences, practical workflow automation that can save your team hours of manual work is reserved for the expensive paid plans.
- Basic reporting: The free reporting tools are great for a high-level overview, but they lack the depth and customization needed for serious sales analysis. More advanced reporting is a premium feature.
- No customer support: If you run into trouble on the free plan, you're on your own. Support is limited to HubSpot's extensive knowledge base and community forums, with no access to email or phone support.
Pricing
- Starter plan: Starts at around $15 per month and primarily serves to remove HubSpot branding and add some simple automation features.
- Professional and Enterprise plans: The price increases dramatically, often into the hundreds or thousands of dollars per month. These tiers are where you unlock HubSpot's powerful automation, advanced reporting, and AI capabilities.
Pros
- A functional free plan to get started.
- A clean, intuitive interface that's very easy to learn and use.
- A massive ecosystem of third-party integrations.
Cons
- Paid plans become very expensive very quickly.
- The modular "Hub" pricing system can be confusing to navigate.
- The free plan lacks critical automation features and forces HubSpot branding on all your assets.
Platforms and devices
- Android, iOS, iPadOS, and web app.
User ratings
- G2: 4.4/5
- Capterra: 4.5/5
3. Zoho CRM: Best for Zoho users
When I look at the landscape of business software, Zoho is known for its wide range of applications. The company offers a suite of over 45 business applications, and Zoho CRM is one of their core products. For this reason, I often recommend it to small businesses that want to grow with a single software provider, making use of a deeply integrated ecosystem of tools for everything from finance to HR. The CRM itself is functional, enabling omnichannel communication and offering a clear path to scale into more advanced features.
Image source: zoho.com
The main appeal of Zoho, in my view, is its unified system. Instead of piecing together a dozen different subscriptions, you can run your entire business on Zoho's platform. This integration means data flows between your CRM, your helpdesk, and your accounting software, giving you a holistic view of your business. While the free plan is quite limited, it serves as an entry point into this affordable ecosystem.
Core features
- Sales force automation: The free plan covers the essentials, including modules for managing leads, contacts, accounts, and deals. You can track your sales process from start to finish.
- Omnichannel communication: Zoho is built to help you connect with customers on their preferred channels, whether that's email, social media, live chat, or phone.
- Workflow automation: Even on the free plan, you can create up to five workflow rules to automate routine tasks, such as sending follow-up emails or updating records when a deal moves to a new stage.
Free plan limits
The free plan is functional, but its limitations become apparent quickly as your team or customer base grows.
- User limit: The free plan is strictly limited to a maximum of 3 users. If your team grows to four, you have to upgrade.
- Record limit: You can only store up to 5,000 total records (which includes all your contacts, deals, and accounts combined).
- Feature restrictions: Many of Zoho's most powerful features are locked behind paid tiers. This includes the AI assistant "Zia," advanced reporting, and deeper customization options.
Pricing
- Standard plan: Starts at $14 per user per month (billed annually) and increases the record limit while adding features like sales forecasting and custom dashboards.
- Professional, Enterprise, and Ultimate plans: These tiers range from $23 to $52 per user per month, unlocking more advanced automation, powerful AI tools, and deeper analytics.
Pros
- A core part of a huge, deeply integrated suite of business applications.
- Affordable paid plans provide excellent value for money.
- The interface is generally user-friendly and easy to navigate.
Cons
- The free plan is very restrictive, with a 3-user and 5,000-record limit that many small businesses will outgrow quickly.
- The sheer number of different Zoho apps can be overwhelming and confusing.
- Some users report inconsistent customer support.
Platforms and devices
- Android, iOS, iPadOS, and web app.
-
User ratings
- G2: 4.1/5
- Capterra: 4.3/5
4. Bitrix24: Best for teams needing unlimited users and contacts
Out of all the products I've reviewed, Bitrix24's free plan is one of the most generous, which offers unlimited users and unlimited contacts. On paper, it’s a compelling offer. It goes far beyond a simple CRM, positioning itself as an all-in-one business software suite that includes project management, team collaboration tools, and even a website builder. For large teams or businesses with a massive contact database that need a free solution, Bitrix24 seems like a good answer.
Image source: Bitrix24.com
However, my experience has taught me that this functionality comes with significant complexity. Bitrix24 is a massive, sprawling platform, and it can feel overwhelming. While the promise of unlimited everything is tempting, I always advise businesses to consider the hidden costs of a steep learning curve and the potential for low user adoption. It's a tool that can do almost anything, but you have to be willing to invest the time to learn its intricacies.
Core features
- Unlimited CRM records: The free plan allows you to store an unlimited number of leads, contacts, companies, and deals. You won't hit a paywall just because your customer list is growing.
- Omnichannel contact center: Bitrix24 can capture leads from a wide range of sources, including web forms, live chat, email, and social media messengers, and feed them directly into the CRM.
- Collaboration suite: The platform includes a full suite of internal communication tools, such as team chat, video calls, calendars, and online document storage, all integrated with the CRM.
- Task and project management: You can manage projects, assign tasks, and track progress using Kanban boards and Gantt charts, connecting your sales activities directly to your project workflows.
Free plan limits
While the user and contact limits are non-existent, the free plan's limitations are functional rather than numerical.
- Steep learning curve: Bitrix24 is a massive and deep application. The sheer number of features and a cluttered user interface can be overwhelming for new users, requiring a significant investment in training and setup.
- Limited automation: Advanced sales and marketing automation features are reserved for the paid plans. The free plan offers only basic rules and triggers.
- No live support: Free users are limited to self-service resources like articles and webinars. There is no access to email or live chat support, which can be a problem given the platform's complexity.
Pricing
- Basic plan: Starts at $49 per month (billed annually) for 5 users and adds more advanced CRM features and 24GB of storage.
- Standard and Professional plans: Range from $99 to $199 per month for 50 and 100 users respectively, unlocking marketing automation, advanced analytics, and more storage.
Pros
- A generous free plan with unlimited users and contacts.
- A comprehensive, all-in-one platform that includes CRM, project management, and collaboration tools.
- Powerful customization options.
Cons
- A very steep learning curve and a cluttered, unintuitive user interface.
- Can feel bloated with too many features that a small business may not need.
- Customer support is often cited as unresponsive, even on paid plans.
Platforms and devices
- Android, iOS, iPadOS, web app, Windows, Mac, and Linux.
User ratings
- G2: 4.1/5
- Capterra: 4.2/5
5. EngageBay: Best for an affordable all-in-one marketing and sales suite
In my reviews, I often position EngageBay as a direct, more affordable alternative to HubSpot. It offers an all-in-one platform that combines marketing automation, sales CRM, and customer support tools, but at a fraction of the cost. It’s designed for startups and small businesses that want the power of an integrated suite without the hefty price tag. From my testing, the platform is easy to get started with and covers all the essential tools you need to attract visitors, nurture them into customers, and provide support.
Image source: engagebay.com
The philosophy behind EngageBay is clear: provide extensive functionality on a small business budget. It bundles many features into one package, and its paid plans are some of the most competitive I've seen. However, the free plan comes with a significant catch that I always make sure to point out. The contact limit is so low that for most businesses, the free plan functions more like an extended trial than a long-term solution.
Core features
- All-in-one suite: The free plan provides access to tools across all three "Bays": Marketing, CRM & Sales, and Service. This includes email marketing, lead generation forms, contact management, deal tracking, and a helpdesk.
- Marketing tools: Even on the free plan, you can send email broadcasts, create a landing page, and add a live chat widget to your website to engage with visitors.
- Sales and CRM tools: You get a 360-degree view of your contacts, a visual deal pipeline to track opportunities, and the ability to manage tasks and schedule appointments.
Free plan limits
EngageBay's free plan is functional but comes with a very tight restriction that most businesses will outgrow almost immediately.
- Contact limit: The free plan is limited to just 250 contacts and 1,000 branded emails per month. Once you hit this low ceiling, you must upgrade to a paid plan. This makes the free offering feel more like an extended trial than a permanent solution.
- No automation: Marketing and sales automation workflows are not included in the free plan. You can send email broadcasts, but you can't build automated nurture sequences.
- Limited features: Advanced features like A/B testing, a landing page builder, and detailed web analytics are only available on paid plans.
Pricing
- Basic plan: Starts at $12.99 per user per month (with annual billing) and increases the contact limit to 500, while adding features like an email template builder and SMS marketing.
- Growth and Pro plans: Range from around $35 to $70 per user per month, offering much higher contact limits (up to 30,000), marketing automation, A/B testing, and a dedicated account manager.
Pros
- An affordable all-in-one alternative to more expensive platforms like HubSpot.
- Easy-to-use form and email editors.
- The free plan offers a good taste of sales, marketing, and service tools working together.
Cons
- The free plan's 250-contact limit is extremely restrictive and will be outgrown very quickly.
- The range of native integrations is limited compared to competitors.
- The platform is only available in English.
Platforms and devices
- Android, iOS, iPadOS, and web app.
User ratings
- G2: 4.6/5
- Capterra: 4.7/5
6. Freshsales (by Freshworks): Best for sales teams wanting AI-powered insights
Freshsales is a sales-focused CRM from the Freshworks family of business software, and when I test it, its purpose is immediately clear. It’s designed to help sales teams stop juggling multiple tools by providing everything they need—from a built-in phone and email to AI-powered lead scoring—in a single, intuitive platform. Its standout feature, in my opinion, is "Freddy AI," an artificial intelligence assistant that helps reps prioritize hot leads, get insights on deals, and even draft emails.
Image source: freshworks.com
This focus on AI makes it a good choice for data-driven sales teams that lack the resources to make use of all their data. I've seen how tools like this can help a small team. Instead of guessing which lead to call next, the AI provides a data-backed recommendation. It’s a glimpse into the future of sales, and Freshsales makes it accessible to small and mid-sized businesses.
Core features
- AI-based lead scoring: Freddy AI analyzes customer behavior and historical data to score leads, helping your sales team focus their energy on the prospects most likely to convert.
- Visual sales pipeline: Freshsales offers a clean, visual, and customizable Kanban board where you can track deals through your sales stages with simple drag-and-drop functionality.
- Built-in communication tools: The platform includes a built-in phone dialer, email sync, and chat capabilities, allowing reps to engage with prospects without leaving the CRM. All interactions are automatically logged on the contact's timeline.
- 360-degree contact view: Get a complete history of every interaction with a contact, including emails, phone calls, website activity, and notes, all in one unified view.
Free plan limits
The free plan provides a solid foundation for small teams but gates the most powerful features.
- User limit: The free plan is available for up to 3 users.
- Limited AI: The advanced capabilities of Freddy AI, such as deal insights and predictive contact scoring, are not included in the free version.
- Basic functionality: The free plan covers the essentials like contact, account, and deal management, along with built-in chat, email, and phone. However, it lacks sales sequences, custom reports, and advanced workflow automation.
Pricing
- Growth plan: Starts at $9 per user per month (billed annually) and adds features like sales sequences, custom reporting, and product management.
- Pro and Enterprise plans: Range from $39 to $59 per user per month and unlock advanced features like multiple sales pipelines, workflow automation, and advanced AI capabilities.
Pros
- Powerful AI features help prioritize leads and deals.
- Clean, user-friendly interface with a great visual pipeline.
- Built-in phone and email sync streamline sales workflows.
Cons
- The free plan is limited to 3 users and lacks the key AI differentiators.
- Some users report that the mobile app is less functional than the desktop version.
- Moving features from lower-priced tiers to higher ones has frustrated some customers.
Platforms and devices
- Android, iOS, iPadOS, and web app.
User ratings
- G2: 4.5/5
- Capterra: 4.5/5
7. Capsule CRM: Best for merging sales and project management
Capsule CRM is designed with simplicity and ease of use at its core. It's a good reminder that powerful software doesn't have to be complicated. It strikes a balance between being feature-rich without becoming overwhelming, making it a good choice for small businesses and teams that want a capable tool with a low learning curve.
Image source: capsulecrm.com
Its standout capability, and the reason I often recommend it, is the integrated project management module. This allows teams to seamlessly convert a won sales opportunity directly into a project with a single click. This can be very helpful for service-based businesses, consultancies, and agencies. Such capability allows them to manage the entire client lifecycle, from the first contact as a lead to the final project delivery, all within one clean, connected platform.
Core features
- Contact management: Capsule provides a central place to store all client information, including communication history, emails, and documents, giving your team a complete 360-degree view of every relationship.
- Sales pipeline: The platform features a visual, drag-and-drop Kanban board that makes it easy to track sales opportunities through customizable stages. You can monitor deal values and get a clear overview of your sales progress.
- Project management: Once a deal is won, you can convert it into a project with a single click. This allows you to track post-sale delivery, assign tasks, and collaborate on client work all within the same platform where the customer relationship is managed.
- Task and calendar management: The dashboard focuses on what needs to be done next, presenting a clear list of tasks and upcoming calendar events to keep your team organized and on track.
Free plan limits
Capsule's free plan is a good way to test the platform, but it's designed for very small-scale use.
- User and contact limits: The free plan is limited to just 2 users and 250 contacts.
- Storage: Storage space is limited on the free tier.
- Feature restrictions: Key features like project management and integrations with premium apps like Xero and Zendesk are not included in the free plan.
Pricing
- Starter plan: Starts at $18 per user per month and increases the contact limit to 30,000, adds premium integrations, and includes a shared mailbox.
- Growth and Advanced plans: Range from $36 to $54 per user per month, unlocking project management, workflow automation, and advanced sales reporting.
Pros
- Simple, clean, and intuitive user interface.
- Excellent integration of sales pipeline and project management features.
- Strong integration capabilities with key business tools.
Cons
- The free plan is very limited in users and contacts.
- Built-in analytics and reporting can feel basic compared to more advanced systems.
- Some users find it too basic for complex sales processes.
Platforms and devices
- Android, iOS, iPadOS, and web app.
User ratings
- G2: 4.7/5
- Capterra: 4.5/5
8. Streak: Best for individuals and teams living in Gmail
Streak offers a unique approach to CRM that I find interesting: instead of being a separate application you have to open, it's built directly into your Gmail inbox. This transforms your email into a flexible, fully-featured workspace for managing sales pipelines, tracking candidates, handling support tickets, and more. Its biggest strength is its simplicity and convenience. If you and your team spend all day in Gmail, as so many of us do, Streak eliminates the need to switch between tools.
Image source: streak.com
From my experience, this single factor can increase the likelihood that the CRM will actually get used. There's no new interface to learn and no extra tab to keep open. It just becomes part of your natural email workflow. For this reason, I find it's an ideal choice for freelancers, solopreneurs, and small teams whose work revolves almost entirely around email communication.
Core features
- Fully integrated with Gmail: Streak lives entirely inside your Gmail interface. Your pipelines, contacts, and tasks appear right alongside your emails, blending seamlessly into your existing workflow.
- Visual pipelines: You can create fully customizable, spreadsheet-style pipelines to track any process. Each pipeline provides a clear view of stages, contacts, and key data, which you can filter and sort without leaving your inbox.
- Email power tools: Streak supercharges your Gmail with features like email tracking (so you know when someone opens your message), mail merge for sending personalized bulk emails, and snippets for saving and reusing common email templates.
- Collaboration in context: All emails and files related to a specific deal or contact are automatically grouped together. You can share this information with your team, add comments, and create tasks, ensuring everyone is in the loop.
Free plan limits
The free plan is for personal use and includes basic CRM features but has clear limits.
- Pipeline items: The free plan allows for 500 "items" or rows in your pipelines.
- Mail merge: You are limited to sending 50 mail merge emails per day.
- Shared pipelines: Core collaboration features, like shared pipelines, are not included in the free plan, making it best for individual use.
Pricing
- Pro plan: Starts at $49 per user per month (billed annually) and includes shared pipelines and advanced CRM features.
- Pro+ plan: At $69 per user per month, it adds advanced reports and automations.
- Enterprise plan: At $129 per user per month, it offers custom roles, data validation, and dedicated support.
Pros
- Seamless integration with Gmail makes it incredibly convenient and easy to adopt.
- Combines CRM with powerful email tools like tracking and mail merge.
- Highly flexible and customizable for various workflows beyond just sales.
Cons
- Only works with Gmail and Google Workspace accounts—no support for Outlook or other email clients.
- The mobile app can be frustrating and less functional than the desktop version.
- Automation and reporting features are basic compared to standalone CRMs.
Platforms and devices
- Available within Gmail (via a Chrome Extension), Android, and iOS.
User ratings
- G2: 4.5/5
- Capterra: 4.5/5
9. Agile CRM: Best for a simple, combined sales and marketing platform
Agile CRM positions itself as an all-in-one, affordable solution that combines sales, marketing, and customer service functionalities into a single platform. It's designed with small and medium-sized businesses in mind, offering a wide range of features like contact management, deal tracking, marketing automation, and a helpdesk. It also has a great free plan compared to others I've reviewed, offering support for up to 10 users.
Image source: agilecrm.com
However, as I've followed the product over time, recent user reviews have raised some concerns about the platform's active development and support, which is a critical factor I always consider. While the feature set and pricing are attractive on the surface, updates to the app have been slow and the Chrome extension is deactivated.
Core features
- All-in-one functionality: Agile CRM provides tools for sales (deal tracking, appointment scheduling), marketing (email marketing, landing page builder), and service (helpdesk, ticketing) in one package.
- Contact management: The platform offers a 360-degree view of contacts, pulling in communication history, social media profiles, and web activity to give you a complete picture of each lead.
- Web engagement: You can create landing pages, build web forms, and use pop-ups to engage website visitors and convert them into leads directly within the CRM.
- Gamification: A unique feature that allows you to create leaderboards and encourage friendly competition among your sales team to boost performance and motivation.
Free plan limits
- User and contact limits: The free plan supports up to 10 users and 50,000 contacts and companies, which is quite generous.
- Feature restrictions: The free plan is missing key features. Marketing automation, one of its core selling points, is not included. You also miss out on telephony, helpdesk features, and the full social suite.
Pricing
- Starter plan: Begins at just $8.99 per user per month and adds marketing automation, social monitoring, and two-way email integration.
- Regular and Enterprise plans: Range from $29.99 to $47.99 per user per month, unlocking more advanced features, higher limits, and more integrations.
Pros
- A generous free plan for up to 10 users.
- Affordable paid plans with a wide range of features.
- Combines sales, marketing, and service in a single platform.
Cons
- Major concerns from users that the product is no longer in active development.
- Customer support is reported to be inconsistent.
- The user interface, while clean, can feel dated to some users.
Platforms and devices
- Android, iOS, iPadOS, and web app.
User ratings
- G2: 4.0/5
- Capterra: 4.1/5
10. Insightly: Best for project-heavy businesses
Insightly is a modern and affordable CRM that, in my experience, is good at bridging the gap between sales and post-sales delivery. It tightly integrates robust CRM capabilities with a built-in project management system, making it an ideal solution for businesses that manage complex client projects after winning a deal. I've found this to be particularly valuable for consulting firms, marketing agencies, professional services, and any business where the customer journey continues long after the initial sale is closed.
Image source: insightly.com
What I appreciate about Insightly's approach is its recognition that for many businesses, the sale is just the beginning of the relationship. By allowing a seamless transition from a "won opportunity" to a "project," it ensures that all the context, notes, and files from the sales process are carried over to the delivery team. This eliminates the data silos and communication breakdowns that I see so often between sales and operations teams.
Core features
- Integrated project management: This is Insightly's standout feature. You can convert a won opportunity into a project with a single click, carrying over all relevant contact information, notes, and files. You can then manage project pipelines, assign tasks, and track milestones within the same system.
- Relationship linking: Insightly allows you to map out complex relationships between contacts and organizations, helping you understand the web of connections within a client's company or industry.
- Customizable workflow automation: You can automate multi-step business processes, such as creating follow-up tasks when a deal moves to a new stage or sending email alerts when a project milestone is reached.
- Dashboards and reporting: The platform offers extensive reporting capabilities with customizable dashboards, allowing you to visualize sales performance, project progress, and other key business metrics.
Free plan limits
Insightly's free plan is quite basic and is intended for very small teams or individuals just getting started.
- User limit: The free plan is limited to only 2 users.
- Record limits: There are also limits on the number of records (contacts, leads, etc.) you can store.
- Feature restrictions: The free plan includes basic contact, sales, and project management. However, it lacks workflow automation, customizable reporting, and many key integrations.
Pricing
- Plus plan: Starts at $29 per user per month (billed annually) and offers a significant increase in record limits, along with features like lead assignment rules and scheduled emails.
- Professional and Enterprise plans: Cost $49 and $99 per user per month, respectively. These plans add advanced workflow automation, custom objects, and deeper business intelligence features.
Pros
- Excellent combination of CRM and project management in one tool.
- Clean, user-friendly interface that is easy to navigate.
- Strong integration capabilities with key business apps.
Cons
- The free plan is limited to 2 users.
- Can have a steep learning curve for its more advanced features.
- Some users find it less scalable for rapidly growing companies.
Platforms and devices
- Android, iOS, iPadOS, and web app.
User ratings
- G2: 4.2/5
- Capterra: 4.0/5
11. Apptivo: Best for businesses needing deep customization
When I analyze Apptivo, I see it as more than just a CRM. It's an integrated suite of over 65 business applications that can be customized to fit all kinds of workflows. This makes it feel more like a flexible and affordable Enterprise Resource Planning (ERP) system designed for small and mid-sized businesses. If your business has unique processes that don't fit into a standard CRM mold, I believe Apptivo's high degree of customization is its greatest strength.
Image source: apptivo.com
A benefit of Apptivo's model is that you can start with just the CRM apps and then add more functionality—like project management, invoicing, or a help desk—as your business grows. This modular approach allows you to build a system that is tailored to your needs, without paying for a lot of features you don't use. For businesses that feel constrained by the rigid structures of other CRMs, I've found Apptivo can be a useful solution.
Core features
- Extreme customization: Apptivo's standout feature is its flexibility. You can use a drag-and-drop editor to modify almost any aspect of the software, including creating custom fields, dashboards, views, and layouts, all without needing coding expertise.
- Integrated app suite: The platform offers a huge range of applications that all work together, including Leads, Contacts, Opportunities, Project Management, Invoicing, and a Help Desk system. This allows you to manage the entire customer lifecycle in one place.
- Sales automation: Apptivo includes powerful automation tools. You can create triggers to perform actions based on specific criteria, set up automated lead assignment rules, and build email sequences to nurture prospects through the sales funnel.
- Strong support: Many users praise Apptivo for its exceptional 24/7 customer support, noting that the team is responsive and helpful even for users on lower-tier plans.
Free plan limits
Apptivo offers a "Standard Plan" that is free for up to 3 users, although it's not as prominently advertised as its paid plans.
- User and storage limits: The free plan supports up to 3 users and provides 500 MB of document storage.
- App access: The free plan includes access to nearly all of Apptivo's apps, which is very generous, but lacks some of the more advanced features within those apps.
- No integrations: Key third-party integrations (like with payment gateways or Google Workspace) and other premium features are reserved for paid plans.
Pricing
- Lite plan: Starts at $15 per user per month (billed annually) and includes 18 apps, 1GB of storage per user, and third-party integrations.
- Premium and Ultimate plans: Range from $25 to $40 per user per month, expanding the number of available apps, storage, and automation capabilities.
Pros
- Great customization options allow you to tailor the software to your exact business needs.
- A comprehensive suite of integrated business apps that goes beyond a standard CRM.
- Excellent and responsive customer support.
Cons
- The user interface can feel dated and less intuitive compared to more modern CRMs.
- The sheer number of features and apps can create a steep learning curve for new users.
- System performance can sometimes feel slow.
Platforms and devices
- Android, iOS, iPadOS, and web app.
User ratings
- G2: 4.4/5
- Capterra: 4.4/5
Other free CRM software
While the 11 best CRM software are based on overall value, there are other free CRM options that may be worth considering. The following options excel in a specific niche or offer a unique approach:
- Airtable: Airtable can be used as a customizable relational database for CRM, perfect for teams that need to track complex, multifaceted customer data. The platform allows you to link contacts to projects, orders, and timelines in a visually intuitive spreadsheet interface.
- SuiteCRM: SuiteCRM is a fully-dedicated open-source CRM platform ideal for businesses that need advanced automation, detailed reporting, and complete data ownership. As a self-hosted solution, it offers powerful sales, marketing, and customer service modules similar to enterprise systems.
- Notion: Notion can be adapted into a unified workspace and lightweight CRM, where you build custom databases to manage contacts and deals. It excels for teams that want their client information seamlessly integrated with project wikis, internal notes, and task lists in one flexible system.
- Odoo: Odoo is an open-source business suite that includes a fully integrated CRM. It's ideal for companies seeking a single platform to manage sales and service, with built-in connections to inventory, accounting, and e-commerce.
How we evaluate the best free CRM software
We evaluate every CRM thoroughly and objectively to help you find the best free CRM software. Using hands-on testing and real-world scenarios, we ensure our recommendations are practical and reliable. To explore our full methodology, visit How Lark Evaluates Software: Our Review Methodology.
Benefits and drawbacks of free CRM software
Opting for a free CRM system is a great first step, but free usually comes with significant limitations. Here is a quick summary of the benefits of CRM as well as common limitations of free plans.
What to look for in free CRM software
So what makes a great free CRM? In my review, I evaluated each platform based on a few core principles that I believe are crucial for any business.
- Ease of use: A free tool is worthless if your team finds it too complicated to use. The best CRMs have intuitive interfaces that require minimal training. From what I’ve seen, a steep learning curve is a hidden cost in lost productivity that businesses can't afford.
- Generosity of the free plan: "Free" always comes with limits. The key is understanding what those limits are and if you can work with them. I looked closely at user and contact limits—some tools offer unlimited users, which is a massive advantage for growing teams. I also checked whether essential features like pipeline and contact management were included or locked behind a paywall.
- Scalability: The goal is to grow. Your CRM should be able to grow with you. A great free CRM offers a seamless upgrade path. You should be able to unlock more advanced features as your revenue grows, without having to perform a painful data migration to a whole new system.
- Integration capabilities: Your CRM doesn't work in a vacuum. It needs to connect with the tools you already rely on every day, like your email, calendar, and marketing platforms. I assessed each CRM's ability to integrate with other apps, both natively and through services like Zapier.
Final thoughts
After reviewing all these tools, it's clear to me that "free" often comes with a catch. I've seen so many businesses get stuck choosing between a plan that's too limited to be useful, one that's too complex for their team to adopt, or a "free" start that quickly leads to a painful and expensive upgrade. This leads to a frustrating cycle of trade-offs that can hold businesses back.
I've found Lark to be different. It strikes a powerful balance by offering a truly useful free plan for up to 20 users—something that feels less like a trial and more like a sustainable, long-term solution. Unlike other tools, Lark isn't just a CRM with some features tacked on, but a complete collaborative workspace where my CRM, chats, and projects all live together.
FAQs about free CRM software
What is the best free CRM?
The best free CRM really depends on your business's specific needs, like team size and sales process. While options like HubSpot are popular starting points, Lark is our top pick for its powerful all-in-one platform that combines a customizable CRM with chat, docs, and project management in a single workspace.
What is a free CRM?
A free CRM is a customer relationship management software that offers a basic tier of its product at no cost, forever. These are not limited-time trials but come with restrictions on features, users, or data storage. They provide essential tools for small businesses to manage customer data without an initial investment.
Is there a 100% free CRM?
Yes, many companies offer "freemium" plans that are free forever, but they often come with very restrictive limits designed to push you into a paid upgrade quickly. While tools like HubSpot and Zoho offer these, Lark stands out by providing a truly functional all-in-one platform with a generous free plan for up to 20 users, making it a more sustainable long-term solution.
Is a free CRM worth it?
Absolutely, a free CRM is worth it, especially for small businesses and startups looking to move away from spreadsheets. It provides essential tools to organize contacts, track deals, and improve customer relationships without any initial financial investment. The key is to choose a plan with generous limits and a clear upgrade path so it can scale with your business.
What is the best free CRM software for small businesses?
The best free CRM for a small business depends on its unique needs. HubSpot is a popular option since it's an established brand. For small businesses looking for a generous free plan and paid plans that aren't costly to scale, Lark is the best in the market.
What features should I look for in a CRM?
Key features to look for include contact and lead management to organize your customer data and sales pipeline. Also, consider task management for tracking follow-ups and reporting dashboards to monitor your sales progress. Depending on your needs, email integration and some level of automation can also be very valuable.
What is the best free CRM software for Android?
According to the Google Play Store, there are a number of highly-rated CRM apps and picking just one is difficult. However, Lark and Freshsales offer the best app experience for teams needing to handle CRM tasks from their phones.
What is the best free CRM software for Mac?
While you can use most free CRM software on a Mac through a web browser, Lark and Bitrix24 are the only free CRM solutions that provide dedicated Mac apps designed with Mac users in mind.
What is the best free CRM for Windows?
Almost all CRMs offer web versions that you can use on any Windows device. However, out of the free CRMs we tested, we found Lark provides the best dedicated Windows app that you can download onto your desktop or laptop.
What is the best free CRM software for iPhone?
According to the Apple App Store, Lark has a rating of 4.8 out of 5, making it the most highly-rated free CRM solution for iPhone users.
Related reading
Table of contents
Start using Lark today
Manage all your work in one place
Boost team efficiency by 10x
Save up to 70% on software costs
Table of contents
Start using Lark today
Manage all your work in one place
Boost team efficiency by 10x
Save up to 70% on software costs
Keep reading
2026 Lark Technologies Pte. Ltd.
Headquartered in Singapore with offices worldwide.
Explore: