Small teams and startups often need CRM software to manage contacts, track deals, automate follow-ups, and organize customer interactions — but paying for a full CRM suite right away sometimes isn’t feasible.
Good news? There are several high-quality CRM tools with free plans that are powerful enough to start managing relationships without upfront costs. Here’s a breakdown of the top free CRM tools in 2026 and where each one shines.
🆓 Top Free CRM Tools for Small Teams in 2026
🔹 HubSpot CRM — Best Overall Free CRM
Key Free Plan Features
- Unlimited users and up to ~1,000,000 contacts
- Contact & deal management
- Email tracking & scheduling
- Live chat and chatbot features
- Integration ecosystem with 300+ apps
Why It’s Great:
HubSpot’s free CRM is one of the most generous — it doesn’t limit users and includes essential sales and basic marketing tools that help small teams grow without cost.
Best For: Small businesses and startups that want a scalable solution that grows with them.
🔹 Zoho CRM (Free Edition) — Solid All-Around Free CRM
Key Free Plan Features
- Supports up to 3 users
- Leads, accounts, contacts, deals
- Basics of workflow automation
- Task management
Zoho CRM’s free tier is perfect for small teams who want straightforward CRM + basic automation with the flexibility to upgrade later. It also integrates well with other Zoho apps if you decide to expand.
Best For: Small teams looking for structured sales pipelines and basic task automation.
🔹 Freshsales (Freshworks CRM Free Plan) — Great for Small Sales Teams
Key Free Plan Features
- Up to 3 users free
- Contact and account management
- Visual deal pipeline
- Built-in phone dialer and email sync
- Task tracking
Freshsales is a mobile-friendly CRM well-suited for small sales teams. Its free plan gives you straightforward tools to track leads and move deals forward.
Best For: Small sales teams and businesses just starting out with CRM.
🔹 Agile CRM — Free + Good for Automation Workflows
Key Free Plan Features
- Contact & deal management
- Basic marketing automation
- Email tracking
- Some integration capabilities
Agile CRM’s free tier gives you CRM + entry-level automation, making it great for teams that want a bit of both sales and marketing without paying.
Best For: Marketing-driven startups and small teams who want automation as well as CRM.
🔹 EngageBay (Free Tier) — CRM with Marketing Tools
Key Free Plan Features
- Contact management
- Live chat
- Basic marketing tools
- Sales and service functions
EngageBay combines CRM with sales and marketing tools, so you get more than just basic contact tracking. It’s ideal if you want a unified platform right from the start.
Best For: Small teams that want one tool for CRM + marketing + support.
🔹 Bitrix24 (Free Plan) — All-in-One Collaboration + CRM
Key Free Plan Features
- Unlimited users & contacts on many free plans
- Contact, lead, and deal management
- Team communications
- Integrated project and task tools
Bitrix24 goes beyond CRM — it includes team collaboration and communication tools, which is great for small teams that want everything under one roof.
Best For: Businesses that want a combined CRM + team collaboration suite.
🔹 Capsule CRM (Free Plan) — Simple & Focused CRM
Key Free Plan Features
- Support for 2 users
- Up to 250 contacts on free plan
- Contact management
- Sales pipeline tracking
Capsule is a lightweight CRM that’s easy to learn and use — perfect for teams intimidated by complex CRMs.
Best For: Very small teams and solopreneurs who want simplicity.
🧠 Bonus Free CRM Tools Worth Exploring
Here are a few additional tools with free options that small teams sometimes use:
- Streak CRM — Works inside Gmail for inbox-based CRM workflows.
- Vtiger CRM — Generous free allowances with sales and support tools.
- ClickUp CRM (Free) — A blended CRM + project management experience.
📌 How to Choose the Right Free CRM
Ask yourself:
✅ Do you need unlimited users or just a few?
HubSpot is unbeatable for unlimited users, while others like Zoho and Freshsales cap free seats.
✅ Are you focused more on sales or marketing automation?
HubSpot & EngageBay offer basic marketing tools too, while Agile CRM leans into automation.
✅ Do you want all-in-one tools?
Bitrix24 and EngageBay include collaboration and support features.
💡 Final Recommendation
For most small teams starting in 2026, this lineup works well:
🥇 Best overall free CRM: HubSpot CRM — unlimited users + robust features.
📈 Best for structured sales workflows: Zoho CRM Free — easy upgrade path.
💼 Best for small sales teams: Freshsales (Freshworks) — pipeline and basic automation.
🤝 Best all-in-one suite: Bitrix24 — CRM + communication.