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Best CRM for Small Businesses: HubSpot vs Zoho vs Pipedrive and More

Six CRMs a small business can start with, compared on free plans, trials and who each fits. Facts come from each vendor's official site, checked Oct 24, 2026.

Some links on AgentStack may become affiliate links in the future; we'll label them if so. Rankings are editorial.

At a glance

CRMFree plan or trial (checked Oct 24, 2026)PricingBest for
HubSpot CRMHas a free CRM tier; HubSpot's CRM page says no credit card is required.See official pricingSmall businesses that want a free starting point and may add HubSpot's marketing, sales or service tools later.
Zoho CRMFree edition for up to 3 users, per Zoho's pricing FAQ. Zoho's CRM page lists integrations including QuickBooks, Mailchimp, Shopify and Zapier.See official pricingVery small teams (3 users or fewer) and businesses already using other Zoho apps.
Pipedrive14-day free trial, no credit card required, per Pipedrive's homepage. Built around a visual deal pipeline.See official pricingSales-led teams that manage deals stage by stage.
Freshsales21-day free trial. The entry Growth plan lists a Kanban view, contact lifecycle stages, chat, email and phone, and email templates.Growth from $9/user/month billed annually (shown Oct 24, 2026)Teams that want calling and email built into the CRM.
Salesforce Starter SuiteFree trial available. Starter Suite lists email nurture campaigns, lead scoring, sales flows and a free Slack workspace connected to the CRM.From $25 USD/user/month (starting price shown Oct 24, 2026)Businesses that expect to grow into Salesforce's larger editions.
Capsule CRMFree plan for up to 2 users with 250 contacts and 1 sales pipeline, per Capsule's plans page.See official pricingSolo operators and two-person teams that want a simple contact manager.

Pricing changes often; check the official pricing page before you buy.

The picks

HubSpot CRM

Best for: Small businesses that want a free starting point and may add HubSpot's marketing, sales or service tools later.

Has a free CRM tier; HubSpot's CRM page says no credit card is required.

Visit HubSpot CRM

Zoho CRM

Best for: Very small teams (3 users or fewer) and businesses already using other Zoho apps.

Free edition for up to 3 users, per Zoho's pricing FAQ. Zoho's CRM page lists integrations including QuickBooks, Mailchimp, Shopify and Zapier.

Visit Zoho CRM

Pipedrive

Best for: Sales-led teams that manage deals stage by stage.

14-day free trial, no credit card required, per Pipedrive's homepage. Built around a visual deal pipeline.

Visit Pipedrive

Freshsales

Best for: Teams that want calling and email built into the CRM.

21-day free trial. The entry Growth plan lists a Kanban view, contact lifecycle stages, chat, email and phone, and email templates.

Visit Freshsales

Salesforce Starter Suite

Best for: Businesses that expect to grow into Salesforce's larger editions.

Free trial available. Starter Suite lists email nurture campaigns, lead scoring, sales flows and a free Slack workspace connected to the CRM.

Visit Salesforce Starter Suite

Capsule CRM

Best for: Solo operators and two-person teams that want a simple contact manager.

Free plan for up to 2 users with 250 contacts and 1 sales pipeline, per Capsule's plans page.

Visit Capsule CRM

Frequently asked questions

Which CRMs here have a free plan?

As of Oct 24, 2026: HubSpot CRM (free tier), Zoho CRM (free edition for up to 3 users) and Capsule CRM (free plan for up to 2 users and 250 contacts). Pipedrive, Freshsales and Salesforce Starter Suite offer free trials.

Are these affiliate links?

No. Every link on this page goes to the vendor's official site with no tracking. Rankings are editorial.

How current is the pricing?

We checked each official pricing page on Oct 24, 2026. Prices change, so confirm on the vendor's pricing page before you buy.

More guides: Best AI tools for small businesses · Best AI tools for sales teams · CRM for small business · Free CRM tools · CRM for freelancers · All comparisons

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