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CRM
Best free CRM Software & Tools: The ultimate guide (2024 edition)
Liucija Adomaite
July 31, 2024
|
7 min. read
Liucija Adomaite
LAST UPDATED
August 14, 2024
READING TIME
7 min.
What does it take to go from a cold lead to a closed deal?
Ask any experienced sales rep, and they will tell—a whole lot.
Tracking customer data manually will not get you there, but using CRM is a great place to start.
In fact, your competitors are probably already using it since 91% of companies that employ 10 or more people use CRM.
Luckily, not all CRMs are expensive, and there are many free CRM software options for small teams, startups, and businesses that don't have a budget to invest yet.
In this article, we analyze the best free CRM systems currently on the market, so you don't need to look further.
CRM is a software that manages all customer relationships.
The goal of CRM is to build and nurture stronger relationships with your leads and clients. It automates customer data, analyzes interactions, and gives consolidated view of every customer.
Before CRMs, most businesses would keep their customer info in general-purpose tools like Excel and Outlook but today they are too limited.
The rising CRM popularity in recent years can be attributed to the fact that’s it’s very effective and powerful tool.
By capturing and analyzing customer data, CRM tools can provide insights into customer behavior, preferences, and needs. It’s something no general tool can possibly do.
The reason for a low revenue can be hiding in your spreadsheets.
The Overview: 9 best free CRM software
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1. HubSpot CRM is the best free CRM for sales teams and automation features
2. Insightly is the best free CRM for basic needs
3. Zoho CRM is the best free CRM for rich integrations
4. Agile CRM is the best free CRM for small teams in need of a sales platform
5. Mailchimp is the best marketing tool with CRM-like features for teams
6. EngageBay is the best free CRM for live chat
7. Bitrix24 is the best free CRM for unlimited users
8. FreshSales is the best free CRM for beginners
9. ClickUp is the best free CRM for personal use
How to choose the best free CRM?
When choosing the best free CRM tool, you want to look for these features:
Ease of use.
Some CRM systems can have steeper learning curves than others. If you're just starting out with CRM, it should be intuitive, easy to use, and quick to set up.
You should also look into whether tasks like tracking deals or managing contacts are easy to carry out since you will be doing these things repeatedly.
Reporting and analytics.
Your CRM is not worth much if you cannot track your CRM insights and the progress you made with it.
Choose the CRM with the best dashboards that are informative, can run many reports at once, and give you actionable insights.
Contact management.
Since all CRM is customer-centric, it should have a variety customer focused features.
Look for features that allow you to make filtered customer lists and segment them accordingly.
Plus, make sure you can create and customize sales pipelines since this CRM function is very important for sales teams.
Integrations.
The good free CRM is the one that can seamlessly send and receive data from multiple apps.
Our advice is to look for rich integration capabilities because they will make the information retrieval, and overall CRM procedures much smoother.
On the other hand, most free CRM versions offer basic integration capabilities, and you may need to upgrade your plan to get the most out of it.
What other functions do you need in your free CRM system?
When choosing a CRM system for your business, make sure you check what advanced features they offer free of charge.
Look for a CRM that can be customized to fit your business processes, including custom fields, sales stages, reports, and dashboards.
Customization allows you to tailor the software to your specific requirements.
Don't expect much, since most advanced features like automations and AI-powered lead targeting is only available with paid plans.
But you can surely get project management functions, traffic analytics, and team collaboration features in a free CRM package.
With the increasing need for mobility, ensure the CRM has a robust mobile app. It will allow your team to access data, update records, and communicate on the go.
The Best Free CRM in 2024: The Guide
1. HubSpot CRM is the best free CRM for sales teams, and automation features
HubSpot is a very robust system, popular among businesses of various industries. It has a free CRM version available which offers a well-balanced package of functionalities.
Rating:
G2 - 4.4/5 ⭐⭐⭐⭐
HubSpot CRM has a free plan with various features, including:
Up to 1,000 contacts on its free plan
A reporting dashboard for performance and activity metrics
Marketing tools like email marketing, forms, ad management, a shared inbox
List segmentation and landing pages
Ticketing service tools like email scheduling and ticket-closed reports
Integrations with Outlook, Gmail, Messenger, and the App Marketplace
Sales documents, in-app calling with VoIP, email tools, community support, and HubSpot Academy
HubSpot's free CRM stands out for offering a wide range of useful features, user-friendliness, and scalability.
Its free account is great for sales teams thanks to its sales automation, email tracking, contact management, and prospect tracking features.
As businesses grow, they can easily add more advanced features and upgrade the plan at any time. HubSpot's suite of sales, marketing, service, and operations software is hard to beat in the market.
The Verdict:
HubSpot free CRM is an excellent way to start with a CRM system without initial investment. If your company focus is on sales teams and your goal is automating sales procedures, then HubSpot free CRM edition is for you.
2. Insightly is the best free CRM for basic needs
While Insightly is nowhere near as popular as the leading CRMs like HubSpot or Salesforce, we recommend giving its free plan a go.
Insightly is a great CRM for businesses who want to build and enhance existing client relationships.
Insightly focuses on combining sales and project management. This combo helps users to identify sales opportunities and link them with project deliverables, which can in turn boost sales.
Rating:
G2 - 4.2/5 ⭐⭐⭐⭐
Insightly free plan offers these features:
Up to two people
Contact management, sales, and projects
Custom fields to track your data
Project management features like milestones and task tracking
Calendar syncing
Mobile app
Google Workspace integration
Insightly free CRM: Pros
Up to two users
Some features for managing projects
Integrations with 250 apps
Mobile app
Insightly free CRM: Cons
Sign-up requires your contact and business info
Free plan is not transparent
The Verdict:
Insightly is a free CRM solution with lower profile compared to other CRM market leaders, with a strong emphasis on integrating sales and project management. It will benefit the businesses who aim to streamline operations and boost sales through better project deliverables alignment.
3. Zoho CRM is the best free CRM for rich integrations
Zoho CRM is a popular cloud-based customer relationship management platform that caters to businesses of all sizes.
Zoho CRM's free edition offers a practical entry point for small businesses to start using CRM functionalities.
Rating:
G2 - 4.1/5 ⭐⭐⭐⭐
Here's what you get from using Zoho CRM's free plan:
Lead and Contact Management (capture, track, and manage your leads and contacts)
Deal Management (tracking and managing sales opportunities through various stages of your sales pipeline) helps you forecast revenue and identify key deals at a glance.
Tasks, Events, and Call Log Management
1 Workflow rule (automate basic sales processes with one workflow rule, helping you to streamline operations like sending a follow-up email when a lead is created)
Up to 10 standard reports to gain insights into your sales trends, and lead conversion rates
Mobile App Access (both iOS and Android)
One web form for lead generation to embed on your website or landing pages, helping you to capture leads directly into your CRM
Built-in communication tools for your team
Zoho CRM free plan: Pros
Excellent integrations with Zoho suite
Integrates well with the full Zoho suite of products (Zoho Analytics, Zoho Campaigns, Zoho Forms, Zoho Desk, Zoho Projects, Zoho Survey, SalesIQ and Zoho CRM Mobile Edition)
Omni-channel features
Its free plan is for up to three users
Zoho CRM free plan: Cons
Limited to 3 users
With access to only one workflow rule and basic customization options, it will not be enough for complex sales processes
Many of Zoho CRM's powerful features, such as advanced analytics, marketing automation, AI assistant (Zia), and extensive integration capabilities, are reserved for the paid plans
Free plan lacks integrations
The Verdict:
The free plan of Zoho CRM is limited to 3 users but it offers a wide array of features including reporting for sales insights, library, lead and deal management.
4. Agile CRM is the best free CRM for small teams in need of a sales platform
Agile CRM's free plan is well-suited for small businesses and startups looking to get started with CRM and marketing automation without a significant initial investment.
Rating:
G2 - 4.0/5 ⭐⭐⭐⭐
Agile CRM's free plan offers:
Free account for up to 10 users
Centralization of all customer data (contact details, history, social media profiles)
Manage and track sales deals through all stages of the sales pipeline
Tasks, Appointments, and Documents
Mass emails for marketing campaigns
Tools to capture, track, and engage website visitors through pop-ups and web forms
Prioritize leads based on their engagement level and likelihood to convert by assigning scores
Basic call features for one user
Agile CRM free version: Pros
Allows up to 10 users in its free plan
Offers unique features such as two-way telephony and post-call automation
Singular database storage prioritizing data privacy
Option to easily upgrade, downgrade or cancel your plan
Agile CRM free version: Cons
Limited email and API calls
More advanced features are behind a paywall
Email support only for free users
Up to 10 users
No advanced automation and workflow capabilities in free plan
More powerful features such as advanced reporting, API access, and increased storage are not included in the free plan.
The Verdict:
Agile CRM's free plan is an excellent starting point for small businesses and startups aiming to integrate CRM and marketing automation without heavy investment, offering key functionalities such as sales deal tracking, task management, and basic call features for up to 10 users.
Despite its comprehensive free offerings, advanced features and greater automation capabilities are reserved for paid plans, with limitations on email, API calls, and customer support under the free version.
5. Mailchimp is the best marketing tool for teams
While Mailchimp is not primarily a CRM system, but an email marketing tool, it offers some CRM-like features free of charge.
Rating:
G2 - 4.4/5 ⭐⭐⭐⭐
Mailchimp's free CRM edition offers:
Basic email templates and campaigns based on 500 contacts
Get a holistic view of your audience
Organize and segment your contacts
Gain insights on how to communicate with your audience
Easy to use mobile app
On the other hand, Mailchimp lacks more advanced sales features and is more focused on marketing teams.
Mailchimp free CRM edition: Pros
Free forever plan
Very beginner-friendly
Set triggers from website and landing pages
Multivariate and A/B testing
Features for segmented contacts
Behavioral targeting
Built-in conversion tools to convert leads to sales
Import contacts from other platforms, such as Salesforce, Squarespace, and Shopify
Mailchimp free CRM edition: Cons
Up to 500 emails per month
Contact list of up to 500 contacts consisting of one audience for one user
Free plan doesn't let you schedule emails
Expensive for businesses with large contact lists
Limited templates
Mailchimp branding in the free plan
Support is only for the first 30 days via email
The Verdict:
Mailchimp is not a stand-alone CRM, and its CRM features are rather limited. One of the biggest limitations is the number of emails users can send per month (500 emails max), and there is no automations in the free plan. Plus, Mailchimp is known for making frequent updates that eliminate free features.
6. EngageBay is the best free CRM for live chat
EngageBay offers a completely free CRM option, which includes appointment scheduling, tasks, contact management and a deal pipeline.
It allows you to manage up to 250 contacts and send up to 1,000 branded emails per month. You can also create landing pages.
Rating:
G2 - 4.6/5 ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
This is what you get when using EngageBay CRM's free plan:
Up to 15 users
Up to two lists
Five pop-ups, five forms
One landing page
Live chat
EngageBay free CRM: Pros
Free plan gives you live chat
EngageBay free CRM: Cons
Free plan is only for 15 users
No free trial
7. Bitrix24 is the best free CRM for unlimited users
Bitrix24 represents is a lesser-known all-in-one CRM tool with extensive functionalities like lead generation, website creation, and project management capabilities.
What sets Bitrix24 apart from other free CRM editions and plans is that it gives you unlimited users, contacts, catalog items and deals.
Its forever free plan is good value, and it has many paid options if you decide to upgrade.
It's excellent free CRM option for big teams with multiple members, large projects, and even businesses in the stage of scaling.
Rating:
G2 - 4.1/5 ⭐⭐⭐⭐
This is what Bitrix24 free CRM gets you:
Store and manage an unlimited number of contacts, leads, customers, and company records, making it suitable for businesses of all sizes.
Organize and track all customer-related information in one place, with detailed profiles for contacts and companies that include communication history, deals, and scheduled activities.
Automate the process of capturing leads from web forms, social media, etc. and manage them through qualification, nurturing, and conversion stages
Customizable pipelines and stages
Create, send, and manage quotes and invoices directly from the CRM
Task and project management features
Connect email accounts for seamless communication with customers and leads, including the ability to send and receive emails within Bitrix24.
Mobile app (for iOS and Android)
Bitrix24 free plan: Pros
up to five scrum teams
unlimited users
Bitrix24 free plan: Cons
Only 5 GB of cloud storage available per account.
No time management, sales automation, telephony, market, and other important features
The Verdict
Bitrix24's free plan is value-packed with with unlimited users, contacts, and deals, making it a great free CRM tool even for larger teams.
However, the free version is limited to 5 GB of cloud storage. It also lacks many advanced CRM features like time management and sales automation.
8. FreshSales is the best free beginner CRM
FreshSales' free CRM plan is a great tool to start using CRM for your business. It gives you features like unlimited support, calls, marketing emails, and even chatbots, all free of charge.
On the other hand, most of FreshSales CRM features come with paid plans. If you're a free FreshSales CRM user you don't get automation features (sales sequences, task management internal notifications.)
Its advanced customization, like custom modules and custom sales activities, is also only available on premium plans.
Rating:
G2 - 4.5/5 ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
Pros:
Forever-free plan
Up to 3 users
Simple setup and user-friendly
Cons:
AI features like lead scoring is only available on paid plans
Free plan only gets you up to 3 users
Customer support on weekdays only
The Verdict
FreshSales free CRM gives you a package that is enough for a very small team to start with. It's user friendly interface and quick setup are among the main advantages, so it's definitely worth to give this free CRM a try.
9. ClickUp is the best free CRM for personal use
ClickUp is an all-in-one productivity platform but not a robust CRM and will not be sufficient for larger teams that want to scale.
Its biggest advantage comes down to the fact that ClickUp gives you unlimited members for your Free Plan. With its CRM-like features, ClickUp free version can be a really good solution for personal use.
Rating:
G2 - 4.7/5 ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
ClickUp free CRM: Pros
Unlimited Tasks
Unlimited Free Plan Members
Two-factor authentication
Collaborative Docs, whiteboards, kanban boards, calendar and everything view
Sprint Management
24/7 Support
In-app video recording in free plan
ClickUp free CRM: Cons
Up to 100MB storage
Custom field manager is very basic
Steeper learning curve
The Verdict
ClickUp may look like an awesome free CRM with its unlimited members and unlimited tasks, but you only get a 100MB store. That's so little it's almost nothing. Most advanced features, like visual layouts for tracking prospects and deals, or automated sales processes, are only available on paid plans.
How to make the most out of your free CRM?
Choosing the free CRM system for your business is only a part of your job. It’s important to understand that the CRM tools itself will not make the job for you.
In order to maximize the efficiency of your chosen CRM, you have to:
A CRM strategy is a roadmap that outlines the specific actions, and tools you’ll use to manage the relationship with your leads and customers throughout their journey with your product/service. It prioritizes the customer and their experience by seeking out ways to build a lasting relationship with them.
CRM methods are designed to compile data from a range of different communication channels, including a company’s website, telephone, email, live chat, marketing materials, and social media platforms.
Where to start with your free CRM?
You can start by setting up and automating lead processes in your CRM. It will help you to track sales performance accurately.
Secondly, you want to ensure that the CRM, whether free or paid plan, is user-friendly and intuitive. Make sure you spend enough time training your team so they are comfortable with using the CRM system on a daily basis.
Another important thing is to ensure you use the standard format in your CRM. It involves entering all company information so you don't get duplicates.
Last but not least, is to ensuring that all interactions with leads are logged in your CRM so you get a complete history.
If you follow these steps, you will make your CRM the most effective, and it will likely generate revenue and boost customer satisfaction.
Frequently Asked Questions
What are main benefits of using free CRM software for small businesses?
Free CRM software offers small businesses essential CRM features like contact management, lead management, and deal management without the cost barrier. These free CRM tools help manage customer interactions, streamline sales processes, and improve sales performance, making them ideal for businesses with limited budgets.
Can free CRM get you more advanced marketing features?
Some free CRM platforms, like HubSpot CRM and Zoho CRM, offer marketing automation and email marketing tools.
These features allow marketing teams to create and manage marketing campaigns, automate repetitive tasks, and track the effectiveness of their marketing efforts.
How effective are free CRM tools?
Free CRM tools can be very effective in managing sales automation for small businesses and very small teams. They can help automate key sales processes, and ensure that sales and marketing teams can be on the same page when managing customer relationships. However, for businesses that want to scale and large teams, free CRMs won’t be enough and they will have to upgrade to advanced paid plans.
Does Google have a free CRM?
No, Google doesn’t have CRM software. Many small businesses use Google Workspace that can work as a very basic CRM alternative.
Can I use HubSpot for free?
Yes, HubSpot’s free CRM version gives you up to 1,000,000 contacts and no limits on customer data. It’s a great free CRM to start with, especially if you don’t want to invest just yet.
Liucija Adomaite
Liucija Adomaite is a viral content writer and organic traffic expert on a mission to help turn ambitious businesses into big names.
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