Free CRM: 7 Best Options for Businesses in 2026
Do Quality Free CRMs Really Exist?
Yes, they do. And we're not talking about 14-day trial versions, but permanent free plans that you can use without time limits. The freemium model dominates the CRM market in 2026: providers offer you a free tier so you can test the tool, import your contacts and validate whether it fits your sales process. When you need more, you upgrade to paid. It's the industry standard.
HubSpot CRM has led this category for years and remains the reference. But it's not the only option. There are Open Source alternatives, platforms oriented to SMBs and solutions without user limits that deserve attention. The key is understanding what "free" means in each case. The usual limits affect three areas: number of users with access, quantity of stored contacts and available functionalities (automation, reporting, artificial intelligence). A free CRM will help you get started, but you need to know where the ceiling is before committing your sales process. For a complete overview of what a CRM is and why you need it, check our guide on CRM software.
Comparison Table: 7 Free CRMs in 2026
Before diving into details, this table summarizes the essential characteristics of each option. Each column answers a critical question every business asks when looking for a free CRM for business.
| CRM | Free plan | Limits | Users | Contacts | AI | English |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| HubSpot CRM | Yes | Basic features | Unlimited | 1,000,000 | Limited | Yes |
| Zoho CRM Free | Yes | 3 users | 3 | 5,000 | No | Yes |
| Freshsales Free | Yes | 3 users | 3 | Unlimited | No | Yes |
| Bitrix24 | Yes | Basic features | Unlimited | Unlimited | No | Yes |
| Agile CRM | Yes | 10 users | 10 | 1,000 | No | Yes |
| Vtiger | Open Source | Self-hosted | Unlimited | Unlimited | No | Yes |
| SuiteCRM | Open Source | Self-hosted | Unlimited | Unlimited | No | Yes |
All listed options offer interfaces in English with full support. The Open Source options like Vtiger and SuiteCRM depend on community translation packages, which cover core functionality but may leave some sections untranslated.
An important note: "unlimited" contacts doesn't mean there are no restrictions. Bitrix24 doesn't limit contacts in its free plan, but restricts storage to 5 GB. HubSpot allows up to one million contacts, but advanced segmentation and automation tools are locked. Read the fine print before dumping your entire database.
If besides CRM you're looking for AI-powered customer support tools, check our guides on free chatbot and free AI agent.
Top 3: Detailed Recommendations
HubSpot CRM: Best All-in-One
HubSpot CRM is the best free CRM on the market for one simple reason: it doesn't limit users. You can add your entire sales team without paying a cent. The free plan includes contact management, visual sales pipeline, activity logging, email integration and a basic reporting dashboard. It also offers chatbot builder, forms and basic landing pages within the HubSpot ecosystem.
The catch is in growth. When you need sales automation, email sequences, lead scoring or custom reporting, prices scale quickly: the Starter plan starts at $20/month, but powerful features are in Professional ($90+ per user/month). Still, as a free starting point for companies that want a professional CRM without initial investment, it has no rival.
Zoho CRM Free: Best for Growing SMBs
Zoho CRM Free is limited to 3 users and 5,000 contacts, but compensates with surprisingly complete functionality for that tier: lead management, accounts, contacts, tasks and a basic reports module. What makes Zoho especially attractive is its ecosystem: when you grow, you can scale within the Zoho suite (invoicing, helpdesk, marketing, projects) with native integrations and competitive pricing.
Zoho CRM's Standard paid plan starts at $14/month per user, significantly cheaper than HubSpot Professional. For an SMB that knows it will grow and wants an economical scaling path, Zoho is the smartest medium-term bet.
Bitrix24: Best Without User Limits
Bitrix24 breaks the mold by offering unlimited users and contacts in its free plan. Besides the CRM, it includes project management, internal communication, telephony, video conferencing and a website builder. It's practically a complete intranet with integrated CRM.
The trade-off: the interface is more complex and less polished than HubSpot or Zoho. The learning curve is steep and the user experience can be overwhelming for small teams. If your team has more than 10 people and you need a free CRM without license restrictions, Bitrix24 is the only option that offers it without asterisks.
When to Move from Free to Paid
The free plan is a starting point, not a destination. These are clear signals that you've outgrown your CRM's free tier:
- Automation: you need automatic email sequences, lead scoring or workflows that trigger actions without manual intervention.
- Advanced reporting: basic reports no longer give you the visibility you need on your sales team's performance.
- Integrations: your process requires connecting the CRM with ERP, invoicing platforms, marketing tools or channels like WhatsApp.
- Priority support: when the CRM is critical to your business, you need SLA and guaranteed technical support.
- Integrated AI: you want close predictions, next action suggestions or assistants that analyze your customer conversations.
The natural jump is evolving toward a CRM with integrated artificial intelligence capabilities that automates your sales and support team's repetitive tasks. The difference between a basic CRM and one with AI isn't cosmetic: it's the difference between recording data and having the system work for you.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is HubSpot CRM really free?
Yes. HubSpot CRM offers a 100% free plan without time or user limits. You can manage up to 1,000,000 contacts, create sales pipelines and record commercial activities without paying. Limitations are in advanced functionalities: automation, email sequences, custom reporting and removing HubSpot branding from forms and chatbots require a paid plan.
What is the best open source CRM?
SuiteCRM is the most complete Open Source CRM with the most active community. It's a SugarCRM fork with continuous development, including sales, marketing and support modules. Vtiger is the most accessible alternative for less technical teams. Both require installation on your own server and system administration knowledge.
Can I migrate from a free CRM to a paid one?
Yes. All CRMs on this list allow you to export your data in CSV format or via API. The easiest migration happens within the same provider (from Zoho Free to Zoho Standard, for example). Migrations between providers require field mapping and data cleaning, but are perfectly viable with tools like Import2 or each platform's native assistants.
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