📝 Quick summary: The best free CRM software lets you store contacts, track deals and follow up on time, all without a monthly bill. Below are 10 tools with a free option, checked on their official pages, plus tips to pick the right one.
Many small teams still track customers in a notebook or a messy spreadsheet. That works until a lead goes cold because nobody remembered to call. A CRM (customer relationship management) tool fixes this by keeping every contact, note and deal in one place.
Free plans change often, so always check the official site for current limits before you commit. Some tools below do not publish exact limits, and we say so instead of guessing.
🔍 What to Look For in Free CRM Software
- 👥 User limit. Some free plans allow only 1 or 2 people, others allow 3 or more.
- 📇 Contact or record cap. A low cap fills up fast if you collect many leads.
- 📈 Sales pipeline. A visual deal board helps you see what to chase next.
- 📧 Email tools. Look for Gmail or Outlook sync and simple templates.
- 🔓 Exit options. Make sure you can export your data if you leave.
📊 Quick Comparison Table
| Tool | Free Access | Best For |
|---|---|---|
| HubSpot CRM | Free, no time limit, 2 users | All-in-one starters |
| Zoho CRM | Free for 3 users | Small teams |
| Attio | Free, 3 seats, 50,000 records | Modern custom CRM |
| Capsule | 2 users, 250 contacts | Simple pipelines |
| Bitrix24 | Free plan, 5 GB storage | CRM plus teamwork |
| EspoCRM | Free open source | Self-hosters |
| SuiteCRM | No licence fees | Technical teams |
| Twenty | Free open-source core | Developers |
| Agile CRM | Free for two users | Sales and marketing combo |
| Streak | Free plan inside Gmail | Gmail-first workflows |
🏆 The 10 Free CRM Software Tools
1️⃣ HubSpot CRM
HubSpot is the name most people think of first, and for good reason. Its free tools cover contacts, deals, email, meetings and basic reports in one screen. You can start in minutes without a card.
The free plan has no time limit and allows 2 users and up to 1,000 contacts. It also includes 2,000 marketing email sends per month with HubSpot branding, three email templates and one meetings link. Automation is held back for paid plans.
| 💰 Free plan | No time limit; 2 users; up to 1,000 contacts |
| 🎯 Best for | Beginners who want one tool for everything |
| 💻 Works on | Web; Gmail and Outlook add-ons |
| 👤 Account | Required |
- Very wide free toolset
- No time limit
- Easy to learn
- Only 2 users
- HubSpot branding on emails
💡 Pro tip: Connect your Gmail first, so every email logs to the right contact on its own.
2️⃣ Zoho CRM Free Edition
Zoho CRM is a strong pick when you have a small team. Its free edition is described as forever free for 3 users, which is one more seat than most rivals give you.
You get contact management, workflow automation, reports, APIs and mobile apps. The free edition allows up to 10 custom email templates, 10 data exports and 5,000 API calls per day. A record limit is not stated on the pricing page, so check it before you import a big list.
| 💰 Free plan | Forever free for 3 users |
| 🎯 Best for | Small teams that want automation |
| 💻 Works on | Web and mobile apps |
| 👤 Account | Required |
- 3 users included
- Workflow automation
- API access
- Only 10 data exports
- Mass email is a paid feature
💡 Pro tip: Use your 10 exports wisely and keep a backup of your contacts in a spreadsheet.
3️⃣ Attio
Attio feels like a modern spreadsheet that understands relationships. You build your own objects, such as people, companies and deals, and the tool fills in company details automatically.
The free plan allows up to 3 seats, 3 objects, 50,000 records and 3 reports. It also gives 50 GB of file storage and 200 emails per month. That record cap is the highest in this list for a hosted free plan.
| 💰 Free plan | 3 seats; 3 objects; 50,000 records; 3 reports |
| 🎯 Best for | Startups that want a flexible, clean CRM |
| 💻 Works on | Web (other platforms not stated) |
| 👤 Account | Required |
- High 50,000 record cap
- Auto data enrichment
- 50 GB storage
- Only 3 objects and 3 reports
- No access permissions
💡 Pro tip: Plan your 3 objects before you start, for example People, Companies and Deals.
4️⃣ Capsule CRM
Capsule keeps things simple. If big CRMs feel like too much, this one shows contacts, tasks and one sales pipeline without clutter.
The free plan has a maximum of 2 users, 250 contacts, 5 custom fields and 1 sales pipeline. The contact limit is small, so it suits freelancers and tiny shops with a short client list.
| 💰 Free plan | 2 users; 250 contacts; 1 pipeline; 5 custom fields |
| 🎯 Best for | Freelancers with a small client list |
| 💻 Works on | Check the official site |
| 👤 Account | Required |
- Clean and simple
- Pipeline included
- Quick to set up
- Only 250 contacts
- Just 1 pipeline
💡 Pro tip: Delete old, dead contacts every month to stay under the 250 limit.
5️⃣ Bitrix24
Bitrix24 mixes a CRM with tasks, chat and team tools. It is a good fit if you want one workspace for both customers and projects.
The free plan includes 5 GB of storage and basic CRM for deals and contacts. The official page is not fully clear on users: one place says free for 1-2 users, another says you can add unlimited users. Check the current rule on the site before you invite your team.
| 💰 Free plan | Free plan with 5 GB storage; check user limits |
| 🎯 Best for | Teams that want CRM plus tasks |
| 💻 Works on | Check the official site |
| 👤 Account | Required |
- CRM and teamwork together
- 5 GB storage
- Free to start
- User limit wording is unclear
- Can feel busy
💡 Pro tip: Turn off modules you do not use, so the screen stays clean.
6️⃣ EspoCRM
EspoCRM is a free open-source CRM you can install on your own server. Because you host it, you are not tied to a vendor and you can change the code if you need to.
The official site lists Docker installs for Windows, OS X and Linux, and a cloud option as well. The software is free, but you pay for your own server. The cloud plan is not free, and its prices are not stated on the home page.
| 💰 Free plan | Free open-source software; self-host costs are yours |
| 🎯 Best for | Teams with some technical skill |
| 💻 Works on | Self-host with Docker; cloud option |
| 👤 Account | Not needed for self-hosting |
- No stated limits on self-host
- You own your data
- Customizable
- You must maintain it
- Hosted plan is paid
💡 Pro tip: Set up automatic backups on day one, because you are the admin.
7️⃣ SuiteCRM
SuiteCRM is another open-source choice, built for people who like full control. The official site states there are no licence fees and no vendor lock-in.
You can run it on your own server, or try SuiteCRM Hosted with a free trial. Paid support and warranty options exist, but they are extra. Expect a longer setup than with a cloud tool.
| 💰 Free plan | No licence fees; self-hosted |
| 🎯 Best for | Technical teams that want control |
| 💻 Works on | Self-host or hosted version |
| 👤 Account | Not needed for self-hosting |
- No licence fees
- No vendor lock-in
- Full control of data
- Needs technical setup
- Support costs extra
💡 Pro tip: Test it on a cheap server first before you move real customer data.
8️⃣ Twenty
Twenty is a newer open-source CRM with a clean, Notion-like feel. It is aimed at developers and startups who want a tool they can shape themselves.
Its pricing page says you can self-host the open-source core for free. The hosted plan has a free trial with no credit card, but a permanent free hosted plan was not found. Self-host limits are not stated.
| 💰 Free plan | Free open-source core to self-host |
| 🎯 Best for | Developers and startups |
| 💻 Works on | Self-host; hosted web |
| 👤 Account | Not needed for self-hosting |
- Modern open-source design
- Free to self-host
- Hosted trial, no card
- No free hosted plan confirmed
- Needs technical skill
💡 Pro tip: Try the hosted trial first to learn the layout before you self-host.
9️⃣ Agile CRM
Agile CRM combines sales, marketing and service tools in one dashboard. That is handy if you want to send campaigns and track deals without joining two apps.
The official pricing page says it is free for two users. Contact limits for the free tier are not clearly stated, so check the page before you plan a large import. Features and limits can change, so read the current plan notes first.
| 💰 Free plan | Free for two users; check the official site for current limits |
| 🎯 Best for | Small teams that want sales and marketing together |
| 💻 Works on | Check the official site |
| 👤 Account | Required |
- Sales and marketing in one place
- Two users free
- Easy to try
- Contact cap not clear
- Only two users
💡 Pro tip: Start with contacts and deals only, then add marketing tools later.
🔟 Streak
Streak lives inside Gmail, so you never leave your inbox. It is not a full CRM on the free plan, but it is a light way to start tracking email-based work.
The free plan includes email and link tracking, snippets and mail merge of 50 sends per day. Pipelines are not part of the free plan, so treat it as a helper for Gmail users rather than a complete system.
| 💰 Free plan | Free plan; mail merge of 50 sends per day; no pipelines |
| 🎯 Best for | Gmail users who live in their inbox |
| 💻 Works on | Gmail (check the official site for more) |
| 👤 Account | Google account |
- Works inside Gmail
- Email and link tracking
- Snippets save time
- No pipelines on free
- Not a full CRM
💡 Pro tip: Use snippets for your most common replies and save minutes every day.
🚀 Tips to Get the Most From Free CRM Software
| Tip | Why It Helps |
|---|---|
| Import clean data only | Bad data makes any CRM hard to use. |
| Use 3-5 deal stages | A short pipeline is easier to follow. |
| Log every call and email | You remember context in the next chat. |
| Set a follow-up date | Leads do not go cold by accident. |
| Export a backup monthly | You keep your data if you change tools. |
| Review limits every quarter | Free plans can change without warning. |
Need to bill clients after you win them? See our guide to free invoice generators. To book client calls without emails, try these free appointment scheduling tools, and keep your logins safe with a free password manager. For a deeper view of how CRM works, read the official HubSpot CRM overview.
❓ Frequently Asked Questions
What is free CRM software?
It is a customer tool that lets you store contacts, notes and deals without paying a monthly fee. Free plans usually limit users, records or features.
Which free CRM is best for beginners?
HubSpot CRM is a common starting point because it is simple and has no time limit on the free plan. Capsule is a good lighter option.
Is free CRM software really free?
Yes, within limits. You pay only if you need more users, records or advanced features such as automation.
Can a freelancer use a CRM?
Absolutely. A CRM helps freelancers track leads, quotes and follow-ups so no client is forgotten.
What is the difference between open-source and cloud CRM?
Open-source tools like EspoCRM and SuiteCRM are free to install but you host them. Cloud tools are ready to use but have plan limits.
How many contacts can I store for free?
It depends on the tool. HubSpot allows up to 1,000 contacts, Capsule allows 250, and Attio allows up to 50,000 records.
Do free CRMs work with Gmail?
Several do. HubSpot offers Gmail and Outlook integrations, and Streak works directly inside Gmail.
Can I move my data later?
Usually yes, through exports. Some plans limit exports, such as Zoho’s 10 data exports, so keep your own backups too.
Do I need technical skills?
Not for cloud tools. Self-hosted options such as SuiteCRM and Twenty need server setup skills.
When should I upgrade to a paid plan?
Upgrade when you hit user or record limits, or when you need automation, reports and team permissions to save real time.
Is my customer data safe in a free CRM?
Check the provider’s privacy and security pages. Use strong passwords, and follow local data rules for customer information.