The Top 10 Best Free CRM Software for 2024
In a Nutshell
As a CRM manager, I’ve tested, reviewed, and evaluated dozens of free operational CRM systems, as I understand the value of good communication with your customers despite being on a budget.
Here are the 10 best free CRM software I shortlisted for 2024:
- HubSpot – Best overall free CRM software
- Zoho – Best free CRM for scaling your business
- Bitrix24 – Best free CRM for businesses with many users and contacts
- Capsule – Best free CRM for project management
- Freshsales – Best free CRM for lead engagement tools
- Monday Sales – Best free CRM for nonprofit or student
- EngageBay – Best for all-in-one business capability
- Insightly – Best free CRM for relationship management
- Vtiger – Best for inexpensive upgrade options
- Snov.io– Best for cold reach and prospecting
Introduction
Customer relationships drive everything in business, from lead generation all the way to buyer retention. While it may seem you’ve all under control on a spreadsheet, customer relationship management software makes it easier in more complex relationships. This means managing and nurturing relationships seamlessly, as well as automating and standardizing workflows.
All these may sound expensive, but you don’t have to allocate a budget to get started. I’ve reviewed several customer relationship management (CRM) systems and found top providers offering free software. However, free versions often come with restrictions, such as the number of users and contacts.
After several hours of testing these systems, I’ve highlighted the ten best free CRMs based on various aspects. These include ease of use, integration with other apps, unique features, and reporting and analytics tools.
Why is Free CRM Available?
Having a system that collects, organizes, and manages customer information in one place can enhance customer journey and experience. CRM software helps augment communications and focuses scalability around your customers. It allows businesses to track customer interactions while providing tools for managing opportunities.
While it might be expensive to purchase such systems, there are a number of affordable and even free options available. These free CRM systems allow businesses to build and manage relationships with new and existing customers without a subscription. It performs similar tasks to paid CRMs, although some have limited functions and capabilities.
I’ve used several free CRM platforms to streamline customer support operations, find leads, and follow up possibilities. Essentially, these unpaid software help understand, connect, and grow audiences at scale.
Fundamental Benefits of Free CRM
Is free CRM worth it? Should small businesses, startups, and solopreneurs consider free CRM options? Here’s why free CRM can come in handy;
Cost saving
One of the most compelling benefits of free CRM is the cost-effectiveness the system offers. It accommodates small businesses and startups on tight budgets and limited resources. With no upfront fees or ongoing subscription costs, you’ll harness the power of CRM without significant financial challenges.
Easy access
Most free CRM systems are cloud-based to ensure scalability while offering tools and features when needed. If you work remotely, you can access all your customer information from any internet-enabled device. Solopreneurs can benefit greatly from free software – mainly when operating away from their workstations.
No long-term commitment
Paid CRM software requires monthly or annual subscriptions to access various features and functions. With a free CRM, you don’t have to commit or worry about purchasing a package. This gives you the freedom to try out all available options without worrying about subscriptions.
Essential basic features
Even without a subscription, you’ll access a set of key features crucial for managing customer interactions. Some core functionalities available include lead tracking, basic reporting tools, and contact management. These features provide a solid foundation to organize customer information, track communications, and generate valuable insights into your sales and marketing efforts.
Ease of use
Lastly, free CRM software options are user-friendly, making them suitable for startups and support teams who aren’t tech-savvy. I found this vital because it also cuts down additional costs of hiring an IT expert to manage your CRM.
Top 10 Free CRM Solutions
Most customer relationship management providers have free versions of their software. However, these systems offer limited access to crucial features and capabilities. Despite not being a paid tier, a free CRM can still organize your contacts, help track your sales pipeline, and deliver basic reports and dashboards.
I tested several free CRM apps and realized all platforms have capped the number of users. I find it ideal for small businesses or freelancers because you don’t need to include many users on the systems.
Also, numerous free CRM software delivers superior customer interaction management solutions. This can make it tricky to choose the most appropriate option for your business. As such, I came up with a list of the best ten free CRM solutions based on unique features, capabilities, and ease of use.
Why I Like It
HubSpot’s free CRM is reliable and the best overall software, with over 800 native integrations. I liked how I could connect several third-party apps – especially via HubSpot’s Operations Hub – and make the data bi-directional. This made it easier to keep the data up-to-date and more accurate.
I also liked that HubSpot offers free software with a lifetime no-subscription package for unlimited contacts and users. Each account accommodates up to one million contacts but has some technical limitations. With these figures, you’ll likely interact with thousands of customers smoothly.
Another thing I liked about HubSpot is the ability to create a customized dashboard and personalized reports. On the other hand, its analytics tools allow you to assess your marketing campaign stats, form performance, analyze website traffic, and more.
You’ll also find the free plan remarkable because HubSpot’s free CRM comes with a comprehensive marketing suite. The suite includes landing pages, basic forms, and email marketing. I liked this feature as it’s not limited to the free version.
Finally, I could create and manage websites using HubSpot’s content management system. The functionalities extended into handling support tickets and setting up chatbots and live chat with the service suite. The availability of several AI tools also makes it easier to generate blog posts, chat messages, and emails.
Most Important Free Plan Features
Besides the marketing suite, HubSpot’s free CRM software packs a range of exciting features. The AI email writer stands out in helping businesses generate sales outreach emails, enhancing email marketing campaigns.
The software also includes a meeting scheduler to schedule client meetings faster and hassle-free. The free CRM syncs with Google Calendar and Office 365 Calendar so users can schedule meetings easily.
You can connect website visitors to your sales representatives using the live chat feature. It is an important feature for providing real-time conversations and provides swift resolutions. In return, you get to convert new prospects, bolster customer relations, and close more deals.
Pros
- Robust sales and marketing tools
- Intuitive user interface
- Relatively seamless onboarding and implementation
- Generous free version
Cons
- Lacks a reporting tool
- Has expensive plans and add-ons
- Some features have a learning curve
Why I Like It
Zoho stands out with its extensive suite of SaaS business software and CRM tools. It includes a free-for-life CRM comprising sturdy core features for a maximum of three users. The number of records also extends to 5,000 and includes contacts, accounts, campaigns, and deals.
What I liked most about Zoho’s free plan is its secure contact management capabilities. You can implement a role-based hierarchy and generate CRM audit logs readily. This option makes it more robust and reliable in protecting client profiles.
I could also easily create basic sales modules for task management and automation using Zoho’s free CRM. A dedicated mobile app can perform similar tasks anywhere, anytime. I found this software a perfect fit for remote processes – mainly due to its enhanced safety features.
Zoho’s free CRM offers smooth integration by connecting with more features and third-party applications. Most of its apps come with generous free plans, meaning you don’t have to invest in bulky subscription packages for enterprise features.
The user interface is outstanding, with an enterprise vibe featuring an enormous top-level menu for easy access and navigation. I liked how I could click on any contact and have a 360-degree view of all their data. You can also add more data to the fields provided.
Most Important Free Plan Features
One of Zoho’s free CRM features is lead tracking which lets you view profiles and activity history from a single dashboard. You can easily determine where your leads are in the purchase process, including the most suitable time to start engaging them.
Zoho’s AI tool, Zia, is also available in the free plan. This tool helps monitor lead activity and provides valuable forecasting insights. You can ask the AI assistant directly and receive instant responses.
Regarding document management, this free software can organize and manage shared documents between your support agents. You can also control all content shared with third parties within your business.
Zoho CRM has impressive reporting and analytics tools, allowing users to run several reports and generate insights to improve business processes. You can access a ton of tabs tracking numbers on activity reports and employee performance.
Pros
- Robust safes forecasting
- Flexible AI features on higher price tiers
- Integrated gamification features
- Canvas Builder delivers near-total customizability
- Has omnichannel solutions
Cons
- Includes a steep learning curve
- Offers most advanced features only on paid plans
Why I Like It
Bitrix24 isn’t technically a CRM app but an all-in-one business software for collaborating teams. However, the platform’s feature package makes it a powerful tool for managing customer relations. The free version allows for unlimited users and contacts and includes several features.
First, I liked that Bitrix24 CRM includes a contacts page to rearrange fields to prioritize contacts easily – I found this super handy. For instance, I simply tapped the Profile button to open a particular contact card and accessed the full report about the customer, including an overview of current interactions.
Regarding the sales pipeline, Britrix24 offers useful features. I liked how the software makes it easier to assign tasks to teams. You’ll receive a notification if a deal is pending, allowing you to get someone to handle it. You can also define your sales objectives, determine pipeline trends, and run comparisons effortlessly.
Bitrix24’s free plan has expansive reporting and analytics tools even on the free plan. The analytics page comprises dozens of tabs tracking numbers on activity reports and employee performance on the analytics page. With this data, you can measure metrics and make informed decisions.
Despite being a free version, Bitrix24 comes with 290 native integration capabilities, cutting across different app categories. You can create connections and empower teams through a range of available apps. Integrating third-party apps to automate workflows, create new contacts, and trigger new interactions with leads is also easier.
Lastly, Bitrix24 is all about team collaboration. I liked that the free plan offers an unlimited number of collaboration features. I tested the activity stream, and the feature helped increase the visibility of tasks and achievements. I could also add, distribute, and organize team members by hierarchy with ease.
Most Important Free Plan Features
Bitrix24 CRM suits startups, freelancers, nonprofits, and educational institutions seeking feature-rich online workspaces. It includes several basic features to streamline operations and increase sales opportunities.
The software has customizable fields for businesses to add an unlimited number of users, deals, and contacts. With 5GB of free online storage, you can personalize the system and accommodate more customer data.
Bitrix24’s customer relationship manager also allows teams to track each contact easily. The software allows you to leave important notes on specific customers, helping you keep records of all contacts organized and accurate.
Bitrix24 database also allows users to upload an unlimited number of product catalogs into the system. Plus, you can store detailed customer data in the system without a subscription. In return, you can use this information to generate insightful reports and provide swift solutions to improve your sales strategy.
Pros
- Easily customizable fields
- Offers an unlimited number of users, contacts, and deals
- Has a business software suite
- Wide range of features
Cons
- Potentially high configuration time
- Limited functionality, such as time management
Why I Like It
Capsule is a simple online CRM tool with robust relationship management and sales tools. The free version allows a maximum of two users, 50MB of storage space, and 250 contacts. Unlike most free CRM systems on this list, I liked Capsule CRM in various ways.
Capsule’s interface looks impressive and works even better on any device. While it lacks many complex features like its competitors, the navigation is quite straightforward and to the point. I liked its intuitive interface so I had to consider it on this list.
The project management functionality imitates a true project management platform with sophisticated tools. Capsule-free CRM includes a Kanban view, a calendar view, and a list view, as well as a dashboard showing all upcoming tasks.
Despite having one sales pipeline, the free plan features a filterable list view, a Kanban view of improved visual tracking, and a dashboard view. On the dashboard view, you can analyze a range of data, including conversion rate, pipeline forecast, the status of milestones, etc. In general, Capsule’s metrics compensate for some limitations of this free plan.
The integration is also simple on Capsule’s free plan, allowing you to connect thousands of apps without any coding skills. Thus, all your important business processes will run in the background. Other functions I liked were the ability to send automatic alerts and import sales projects to the platform.
Most Important Free Plan Features
One of the most important features of Capsule’s free CRM is workflow automation. This feature allows users to automate sales processes, making sales tasks more consistent and swift. You’ll also boost productivity and efficiency because the platform reduces user input greatly.
Capsule’s free CRM also integrates reliable security tools to secure user and contact data. The software features two-factor authentication to confirm user security for all system users. This is evident in mobile apps to ensure only authorized users can retrieve sensitive corporate and contact data.
With opportunity highlights tools, Capsule CRM provides timely notifications regarding inactive leads and stale opportunities. The intent is to assign such roles to your reps and capitalize on emerging opportunities while guiding leads to the steps.
Pros
- Offers 1,000+ available integrations
- Exporting for data security
- Has a very intuitive interface
Cons
- Doesn’t integrate with the Outlook calendar
- Limited features compared to competitors
Why I Like It
Freshsales is a sturdy, entry-level CRM perfectly suited for small and midsize businesses. While it lacks advanced features than its competitors, the platform continues to build integrations with third party apps consistently. The software allows up to three users with a focus on helping sales teams track deals.
Why do I like it? Freshsales delivers solid features and standout capabilities for chatbots and email marketing campaigns. You can use the contact and lead management functionality to track performance and improve the overall customer experience.
The built-in chat, phone, and email tools ensure effective communication with customers and partners. Using this feature, I could begin interacting with leads and nurturing them in real time, providing swift responses and streamlining communications.
As an all-in-one free CRM, Freshsales thrives in scalability, where growing businesses can scale with ease. The software helps businesses leverage automations, messaging, invoicing, and telephony without paid subscriptions. You’ll also access free email templates and a sales dashboard on this platform.
Most Important Free Plan Features
Freshsales has AI tools to help automate workflows to deliver more precise lead data analysis. You can activate Freshsales AI assistant Freddy to extract important data from incoming emails automatically. This AI copilot can also analyze these emails and interpret content at scale.
Thanks to its customizable capabilities, you can grasp the sales lifecycle of each contact on the dashboard. The software has tools to track and assess contact lifestyle stages by determining which stage the lead is at. It’s an effective way to nurture leads and provide more personalized steps to convert.
Another important feature Freshsales offers is the ability to create present email templates. This option allows you to interact with new leads faster and hassle-free.
Pros
- User-friendly and intuitive interface
- Quick and seamless setup
- Excellent sales visualization tools with real-time metrics
- Proactive AI assistant
- Extensive customization options
Cons
- Doesn’t offer support during weekends
- Cumbersome integration
Why I Like It
Monday Sales CRM enables teams to augment their lead-capturing processes, manage contacts, and track sales pipelines. Using this tool helps improve customer experience and ensure smoother processes. Monday Sales free CRM version supports two users, making it ideal for solo workers and startups.
I tested Monday Sales and liked the dynamic columns that simplify the optimization of the platform and its unique automations for email flows. I could track deal progress and sales goals easily using custom dashboards.
The CRM is also fully customizable and allows users to track and manage all leads effortlessly. I used the software to track meetings and phone calls and could view all contacts easily, making it track prospects at each step of the sales cycle.
Another thing that stood out is that the Monday Sales free version offers total control over contact and account management and streamlines post-sales workflows and the sales pipeline. I liked how it integrates with popular sales applications and tools to ensure efficiency.
Most Important Free Plan Features
Monday Sales free CRM includes a customizable pipeline that reflects sales processes directly. You can adjust this feature as processes change once you create your preferred pipeline. This allows you to track the progress of sales opportunities and take action to enhance conversion rates.
You’ll also find an activity management tool that logs all customer activities in one place. The feature allows Monday Sales CRM to record information from different sources like emails and meetings to use during customer lifecycle management.
The content generation and summarizing tool is another exceptional feature the software offers. I could create branded and polished content, to sum up meeting notes or a call transcript using this function.
Pros
- Customizable
- Features several templates
- Has a modern user interface
- Includes in-app automations
- A 14-day free trial across all plans
Cons
- The free version only applies to nonprofits, solopreneurs, and students
- Advanced insights forecasting tools are only available on paid plans
- Confusing plans and pricing
Why I Like It
EngageBay is a prominent CRM with marketing, sales, customer support, and chat tools all in one place. A freemium version allows you to add 250 contacts and includes some of the best features a free CRM can offer.
I liked the simplicity of adding contacts into different fields on the platform – particularly automated contact segmentation functionalities. The automation extends to updating the list whenever a new contact has been added.
The visual sales pipeline is another feature I liked about EngageBay’s free CRM tool which is easy to use. You’ll only need to drag and drop deals forward as you augment your sales. I could also include more pipelines to track everything – a vital feature that most platforms lack.
Besides basic free CRM features, EngageBay also comes with a set of extras. Thanks to the full marketing suite, the software allows users to perform various functions. The suite comprises landing pages, newsletters, email templates, pop-ups, and tools to record new contacts. Customers can also create tickets, and the software automatically redirects these requests to relevant teams.
Also, I liked that I could easily navigate various dashboards – marketing, live chat, sales, and service dashboards. I could also connect the software to Shopify, DocuSign, reCAPTCHA, and Jotform.
Most Important Free Plan Features
The ability to support multi-channel campaigns is one of the best features EngageBay offers. It allows you to create branded marketing campaigns and deploy them across different channels. EngageBay will deliver your message to your audience via email, social media, or website.
EngageBay free CRM also helps businesses collect and store website visitor data through its lead capture functions. This feature includes pop-ups and landing pages that record crucial lead information.
Lead scoring is another important factor in this software, enabling users to segment and prioritize all incoming leads. The feature relies on preset criteria from your business’s ideal customer profile. In turn, you’ll have increased conversion rates and higher sales productivity and efficiency.
Pros
- It’s an all-in-one freemium CRM with tons of extras
- Easy to set up automation tools
- Multiple billing options
- Predictive lead scoring
- Reliable 360-degree customer views
Cons
- Many limitations to the free plan
- Lacks email scheduling
- Limited third-party integration
Why I Like It
Insightly is one of the easiest-to-use free CRM platforms I tested despite not being a feature-rich software. The free version allows access for two users and five email templates, ten emails per day, and up to 2,500 records.
What I liked most about Insightly is that the platform offers a lifetime free plan to businesses. Despite the free plan, you also get a chance to customize the platform or page layouts independently.
The native integration feature also makes Insightly free CRM even better. While using the software, I could link to applications several applications. These include PandaDoc, Xero, and QuickBooks Online, integrated easily and freely.
Insightly CRM also provides a current view of all your sales funnels – what’s closing today or in the future. You can also sort data and measure which deals won, upcoming meetings, and even existing deals.
Moreover, you can connect relationships with this software and get valuable insights beyond tasks and team performance. I also found recording integrations with leads and sending batch emails seamlessly by linking the software to a dedicated email app.
Most Important Free Plan Features
Other than native integration capabilities, Insightly’s free CRM comes with an email management tool. This feature offers complete visibility across different teams on a customer’s email interaction. It helps structure, store, handle, soft, and organize email conversions within the system.
Insightly also allows users to record all incoming lead information through its sales pipeline tool. You can track the metrics to determine where each lead is in your sales cycle. It is an important feature that facilitates accurate sales forecasts, measures aggregate sales velocity, and monitors the team’s progress.
Insightly includes sales lead tracking and opportunity management functionalities. Through sales lead tracking, I could determine the source and status of all leads and predict what action to take next. On the other hand, opportunity management helped track, analyze, and manage customer interaction throughout the sales cycle.
Pros
- Supports 1,000+ third-party apps and native integrations
- Offers a 14-day free trial
- Seamless data input and sharing
- Highly customizable
- Easy to use and consistent slick interface
Cons
- Higher-end tiers are expensive
- Lacks advanced features
- The Free tier only supports two custom fields
Why I Like It
Vtiger is a free CRM ideal for small businesses, comprising robust features combined with an easy-to-use and speedy user interface. The software allows ten users, 3,000 contacts, and 1,000 emails per month – quite generous for a freemium tier.
But what’s different? Vtiger’s free CRM software comes with one of the most detailed onboarding checklists. I tested the app, and it assigned 32 simple tasks, yielding results that define workflows. Also, I found a pop-up help video, which was valuable whenever I visited a new screen for the first time.
Vtiger’s top-level menu lacked proper details about the platform, which was a bit annoying. However, clicking the hamburger icon in the top-left corner lets you access everything you need. Here, I could select a comprehensive section with contacts, conversations, and leads. Or, I can navigate to the marketing suite, inventory tracking, service help desk, and sales features.
I also liked Vtiger’s 18 pre-made reports, which you can generate with a few clicks. If you don’t get the insights you wanted, you have the option to build your reports using a stepwise wizard. It doesn’t end there, you can again launch a lead-scoring feature to award points to individual contacts.
Most Important Free Plan Features
The marketing suite feature stands out in Vtiger’s free CRM, offering a range of functions. These include a full email marketing platform and a landing page builder where you can create, edit, and publish responsive web pages with CTAs.
The software also includes service help desk automations features, which include a customer portal, live chat, and FAQs section. You can access a list of cases and a dedicated section to handle all your appointments.
Vtiger also comprises crucial tools for importing and exporting contacts, customizing label names and customer views and printing email templates. The dashboard features functions to measure the performance of all your sales members and view current and past deals.
Pros
- Sturdy features across the board
- Well-organized menu
- A 15-day free trial
- Competitive pricing for higher tiers
- Advanced customer reporting tools
Cons
- Difficulty customizing user reports
- Hard to use mobile apps
Why I Like It
It would be best to have a reliable prospecting tool when trying out or starting to establish a new market. Snov.io has all the important elements of a CRM with prospecting power to reach out to leads and secure a new business. The free plan offers 50 credits and 100 recipients, with more options available in higher packages.
I liked that Snov.io allows users to send direct emails to contacts using one of the many templates or create a personalized one. There’s also an option to create a drip campaign on a visual editor. This tool helps customize the number of emails to send, conditional triggers, and the wait time before sending another email.
Snov.io’s free plan also comes with a basic warm-up feature to optimize emails to land in the recipient’s inbox. I liked that all emails sent don’t land in spam or promotions folders. It also includes several tips to help users enhance deliverability.
Most Important Free Plan Features
Snov.io free CRM provides a versatile capability that helps locate, verify, manage, and reach out to leads. The seamless onboarding process also offers easy access to leads and their email addresses. As such, it helps convert leads faster within a single platform.
The free software also allows sharing templates and notes, including assigning members various roles. Teams can also collaborate within the platform, helping you streamline sales while boosting productivity.
Snov.io also allows users to create multiple sales pipelines of up to 100 stages and capture crucial data. With an organized and visual way of tracking leads, you’ll have actionable insights to determine which prospects are more likely to convert.
Pros
- Deliver more company data in one place
- Has a Chrome extension for prospecting
- Friendly user interface
- Highly customizable features
- Reliable email verification tools
Cons
- Limited features compared to competitors
- Inability to add images to emails
- Mainly focuses on prospecting and outreach
When Should I Use a Paid CRM Solution?
Solopreneurs, startups, and small businesses will find free CRM options a perfect fit to create a better customer experience. However, free plans often lack important features and tools to streamline customer relations and workflows. In most cases, these freemium systems are scaled-down versions of paid tiers with numerous limitations.
If you’re using a free CRM platform, you’ll notice the software allows a limited number of users to access the system. Also, you’ll have no access to all features and customization capabilities available in paid plans. Integration, reporting, and analytics will again be cumbersome in most free plans.
Considering paid CRM solutions is important in such cases, especially if your business is expanding. The intent is to acquire software that accommodates various automation processes and offers full access to vital tools and functionalities. Here are some considerations when upgrading from free CRM software to paid options;
- The Size of Your Business: If your business is expanding, you’ll need to upgrade to a paid CRM system to help access advanced features and keep track of your growing customer base.
- Your Specific Needs: Are your needs exceeding the free tier? If so, you need to consider subscribing to a robust CRM system.
- Your Budget: CRM systems have varying prices, from free plans to hundreds of dollars per month. Consider your budget to determine the right software that meets your needs and budget.
Factors to Consider When Choosing a Paid CRM Solution
Once you decide to choose a CRM system, you need to pick a solution that best suits your business. Here are important factors to consider;
Define your objectives
Before choosing a paid CRM solution, brainstorm with your customer-facing teams to understand CRM use cases. It would help if you also determined the challenges your team faces when interacting with prospects and clients. Also, identify operations that require automation before considering any CRM solution.
Pricing plans
CRM systems offer varying pricing structures based on factors like number of users, deployment method, and extra features. Some providers may include additional costs associated with implementations and user training. Thus, research different CRM providers to understand their pricing models before committing.
Scalability and customization
With increasing customers and operations, you’ll need software that corresponds with performance and storage. The system you choose must evolve and grow at the same speed as your business. Only consider a scalable CRM solution to accommodate your growing business.
Vendor reputation
CRM systems deliver diverse functionalities based on specific industries. Consider the vendor’s experience in your field if your business operations require distinctive features. Also, research the vendor’s industry-targeted learning materials, training, and customer support.
Conclusion
Now that I’ve provided you with a list of the top free CRM solutions, you need to narrow it down to choose the best fit that aligns with your goals. The next step is requesting demos or signing up for free trials from platforms that meet your interest. In turn, you can start interacting with the provider’s sales reos and begin your onboarding.
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