The Four Free CRMs (Verified from tools.ts)
| CRM | Free Tier Limits | Users | First Paid Plan |
|---|---|---|---|
| HubSpot CRM | Unlimited contacts, basic CRM, 2,000 email sends/mo, HubSpot branding | Unlimited | Starter $20/seat/mo |
| Zoho CRM | Up to 3 users, basic modules, 5,000 records | 3 | Standard $20/seat/mo |
| Freshsales | Up to 3 users, contact management, built-in chat/email/phone | 3 | Growth $11/seat/mo |
| Attio | Up to 3 seats, 50,000 records, core CRM features | 3 | Plus $34/seat/mo |
HubSpot Free — The Contact Giant with No Automation
HubSpot's free CRM allows unlimited contacts with basic CRM features, email marketing (2,000 sends/month), forms, live chat, and a meeting scheduler. The contact limit is generous by any measure. What's missing: zero automation, five email templates total, one deal pipeline, and HubSpot branding on all customer-facing features.
What it walls off: Automation requires Sales Hub Professional at $890/month. Sequences (email follow-ups) require Starter at $20/seat/month. Custom reporting, multiple pipelines, and lead scoring are all paid. The free-to-Professional jump is one of the steepest in SaaS.
Zoho CRM Free — 3 Users, 5,000 Records, Basic Modules
Zoho's free tier gives you 3 users and 5,000 records with basic lead, contact, and deal management. The interface is functional if dated. Unlike HubSpot, Zoho's upgrade path is gradual: Standard at $20/seat/month, Professional at $35/seat/month. No $890 cliff.
What it walls off: Scoring rules, workflows beyond basics, custom dashboards (Standard), SalesSignals, blueprints (Professional), and Zia AI (Enterprise at $50/seat/month).
Freshsales Free — Built-in Phone, No Automation
Freshsales Free stands out with built-in phone, email, and chat on the free plan. Up to 3 users get contact and account management with a visual pipeline. The upgrade to Growth at $11/seat/month is one of the cheapest paid CRM tiers available.
What it walls off: AI contact scoring, sequences, 2,000 bot sessions/month (Growth). Multiple pipelines, deal insights, territory management (Pro at $47/seat/month).
Attio Free — Modern CRM, Automatic Enrichment
Attio is the newest CRM with a free tier. It gives 3 seats, 50,000 records, and automatic contact enrichment from your email. The data model is Notion-like — flexible and modern. The 50,000 record limit is the most generous non-HubSpot cap.
What it walls off: Advanced reporting, automations, unlimited records (Plus at $34/seat/month). Custom objects, AI features, API access (Pro at $69/seat/month).
Common Mistakes
- Picking HubSpot for the unlimited contacts without checking the upgrade path. The Starter plan at $20/seat/month is reasonable. Professional at $890/month is where most teams get sticker shock. Know the full pricing ladder before you start.
- Ignoring the user cap. Zoho, Freshsales, and Attio all cap at 3 users on free. If you have a 5-person sales team, only HubSpot Free works without paying.
- Not testing data export on day one. Before you put 1,000 contacts into any free CRM, export 10 test contacts as CSV and verify all fields, notes, and deal stages come through cleanly.
- Assuming free means enough. If you spend 2 hours/week doing manual tasks that automation would handle, that's $5,200/year at $50/hour. Freshsales Growth at $11/seat/month ($132/year) pays for itself in one week.
Frequently Asked Questions
Which free CRM has the best upgrade path?
Freshsales. The Growth plan at $11/seat/month is the cheapest meaningful paid CRM tier. You get AI contact scoring, sequences, and visual pipeline without a dramatic price jump.
Can I use HubSpot Free with more than 5 users?
Yes. HubSpot Free Tools allows unlimited users with basic CRM features. However, advanced features like sequences and automation require paid seats at $20/seat/month or more.
Is Attio Free worth trying?
If you want a modern CRM with automatic email enrichment and a flexible data model, yes. The 50,000 record limit and 3-seat cap are generous. It lacks the ecosystem depth of HubSpot or Zoho but offers a cleaner, more modern experience.