· Tools · 2 min read
Best Free CRM Tools for Small Business & Freelancers
Stop using spreadsheets to manage clients. These free CRMs help you track leads, close deals, and look professional.
If you claim to “track leads,” but you’re actually just staring at an Excel sheet named Clients_Final_v2.xlsx, you need a CRM (Customer Relationship Management) tool.
Good news: You don’t need to pay Salesforce prices. Here are the best free CRMs for small businesses in 2025.
1. HubSpot CRM (The King of Free)
Verdict: The most powerful free CRM, period.
Free Features:
- Unlimited users (yes, really).
- Contact management (up to 1,000,000 contacts).
- Email tracking (know when they open your pitch).
- Meeting scheduler.
Pros: Incredible value. It scales with you forever. Cons: The paid tiers get expensive fast ($50/mo+), but the free tier is enough for years.
2. Zoho CRM (The All-Rounder)
Verdict: Great if you want automation.
Free Features:
- 3 users.
- Workflow rules (basic automation).
- Standard reporting.
Pros: Highly customizable. Part of the massive Zoho ecosystem. Cons: The interface is a bit dated compared to HubSpot.
3. Streak (The Gmail CRM)
Verdict: Best for solo freelancers who live in Gmail.
Free Features:
- 500 rows of data.
- Email tracking.
- Mail merge.
Pros: It lives inside your Gmail inbox. You never have to log into a separate website. Cons: If you don’t use Gmail, you can’t use it.
4. Monday.com (The Visual CRM)
Verdict: Best if you want your CRM to look like a colorful project board.
Free Features:
- 2 seats.
- Visual sales pipeline.
Pros: Extremely consistent and easy to use. Cons: Very limited free tier (only 2 seats).
5. Bitrix24 (The Collaboration Hub)
Verdict: Good for teams that need more than just CRM.
Free Features:
- Unlimited users.
- 5GB online storage.
- Chat and video calls built-in.
Pros: It’s a whole workspace (CRM + Project Management + Website Builder). Cons: Can be overwhelming. It tries to do everything.
Which Should You Choose?
- Default Pick: HubSpot CRM. It’s robust, beautiful, and the free tier is unbeatable.
- Gmail Power User: Streak. It’s the fastest workflow.
- Visual Thinker: Monday.com.
Stop losing leads in your inbox. Set up a free CRM today and start closing more deals.
