Best Free CRM Software of 2021

Customer relationship management software is a streamlined system that helps businesses improve their customer support and interactions. Whether your company uses spreadsheets to manage operations, wants to modernize its sales processes, or is a startup that’s just getting going, a CRM system can help consolidate all your customer information into one platform.

It often takes time, effort, and multiple trials to figure out which CRM software is best suited for you and understand how to use it. Companies unsure about transitioning to a CRM may benefit from first sampling a free version. This way, they won’t be losing any money if a specific CRM doesn’t work well for them.

Free CRMs generally don’t have the advanced bells and whistles that come with paid versions, but they can be valuable for small businesses new to CRM software or for larger businesses with many CRM users who don’t want to pay a per-user fee. Unlike with a free trial that has a time limit, a free version lets you take your time learning the new platform. You’ll also have more time to decide which features are most important to your business before deciding on a specific vendor. Check out our Best Free CRMs of 2021 rating below, which we compiled from our rating of the Best CRMs of 2021.

The Best Free CRMs of 2021

Even when money isn’t involved, it can be difficult to choose CRM software. The following are some of the best free CRMs on the market.

#1 HubSpot
#2 Apptivo
#2 Agile CRM
#4 Zoho
#4 Freshsales
#4 Insightly

HubSpot

HubSpot CRM is a well-known player in the CRM market, and its free version is popular among businesses that have many CRM users. HubSpot’s free version allows for unlimited users and features contact management, Gmail and Outlook integration, and email tracking and notifications. Depending on your business type, this free platform offers useful tools in specific categories, such as marketing, sales, and service. Some of the software’s marketing tools include ad management, email marketing, mobile optimization, and list segmentation while the sales tools include live chats and messenger integration. Those in the service realm can benefit from tools like ticketing, customer representative productivity reports, and time-to-close reports.

Learn more in our HubSpot review here.

Apptivo

The Starter plan for Apptivo gives 500 MB of data to a maximum of three users. They can obtain standard reports and receive standard email and live chat support when issues arise. Users can manage lead lists, contacts, sales quotas, and opportunities easily on the platform, and also share up to five contacts. However, more advanced marketing, sales automation, security, and analytics tools are reserved for paying customers. In addition, integration with apps such as PayPal, G Suite, Microsoft 365, Slack, and API calls are only available with a paid plan.

Employees trying to learn and implement the software will benefit from the webinars and how-to videos available online.

Learn more in our Apptivo review here.

Agile CRM

Agile CRM’s basic plan is free for up to 10 users. It features custom data fields, lead scoring tools, appointment scheduling, and email tracking capabilities, among other perks. In the marketing realm, users will get 5,000 branded emails, contact level analytics, email templates, and web-to-lead tools. The free plan tracks 1,000 sales contacts (as opposed to the 10,000 available in the least expensive paid plan) and comes with all the same service tools as the paid plans except for access to a knowledge base. To help new users with the onboarding process, you get access to videos and setup guides. Users also have access to email support from Agile CRM representatives.

Learn more in our Agile CRM review here.

Zoho

The Zoho CRM free version is easy to navigate and is great for teams looking to improve their existing marketing, sales, and service methods. However, the free plan is missing some functions like email tracking and mass emailing. The plan allows access for up to three users and offers 24/7 customer support to ease new users into the CRM atmosphere.

Learn more in our Zoho review here.

Freshsales

The free plan from Freshsales allows access for an unlimited amount of users and unlimited leads. This plan provides an easy-to-understand overview of all your leads, an efficient task management system, and access to a Freshsales mobile app for on-the-go work. If issues arise, free subscribers can get help from the Freshsales support team at any time during the workweek via chat, phone, or email. Freshsales also offers users online resources, demos, and certification programs so free users can learn the ins and outs of the system.

Learn more in our Freshsales review here.

Insightly

Choosing Insightly free CRM will provide users with a budget-friendly way to track their business leads and ensure timely follow-ups; it’ll also help business operators manage tasks for their team. Insightly gives free users the option to link customer social media accounts to their CRM for all-in-one conversation management. Insightly has active community forums where users can find help or answers, but doesn’t offer live customer support. There are also videos, webinars, and a beginner’s guide to help free CRM users get started.

Learn more in our Insightly review here.

Compare Quotes for CRM Software

Fill out this questionnaire to get customized pricing from providers that meet your needs.

Do I Need a CRM?

There are many reasons why businesses, both big and small, use CRM software. If company executives feel they have a disorganized or inefficient business flow, they may turn to a CRM to consolidate operations. Another driving force behind the transition to a CRM might be issues with maintaining positive customer relationships or offering efficient and effective customer service. Companies that frequently utilize spreadsheets to track customer information, spend too much time manually entering and syncing data across the different spreadsheets, or searching for information within multiple files are good candidates for CRM software.

CRMs can build and improve client relationships using built-in help to track leads and forecast sales, as well as project management tools to help automate tasks and sort tasks among employees. Marketing teams can attract customers using email marketing and marketing automation tools as well as integrated social media apps. In addition, sales teams can benefit from CRM sales automation tools: Once a user enters an appointment into the virtual calendar, some systems can immediately schedule phone calls, send follow-up emails, and take care of other mundane details.

These various tools help businesses improve customer support. CRMs can also help improve sales and build a base of loyal customers who consistently choose your business. Most CRMs are user-friendly and provide sleek interfaces with easy-to-learn techniques. If you need assistance implementing the CRM, most have helpful onboarding resources on their sites, and have communities of current users that can help new users. Companies typically see a large growth in productivity after switching to a CRM because after employees adapt to the new system, the CRM helps them target their time and energy more efficiently and helps them communicate better with each other.

CRMs can help improve communication between businesses and their customers, and also help improve communication between employees of the company itself. CRMs can help companies personalize their outreach strategies, so customers feel special and get seemingly individual attention. Service tools such as live chat, conversational bots, and conversations inboxes (where customer emails and chats can be kept in one location) can help bring quicker and more effective support to customers. This streamlined business process also makes life easier for managers because they can easily assign tasks and share documents within the CRM platform.

How Does a CRM Work?

A CRM platform enhances your marketing, sales, and service departments by consolidating business flow and helping workers build stronger relationships with customers. CRMs allow businesses to access all their data, reports, and customer information from one place. The software also allows marketers and salespeople to analyze their relationships with the company's current and potential customers. CRMs enable interaction tracking and store information about each customer, so your business analysts can better see trends in sales and audiences. Many are web-based and integrate with apps such as social media sites, which users can access from the CRM platform as well.

Most CRMs have specific tools for marketing, sales, and service. Marketing tools may include features such as lead form integration which allows a company to obtain a potential customer’s information if they sign up to receive newsletters, offers, or subscriptions from the website. Companies can use this information to target specific people and grow loyal customers. Sales tools help companies easily stay in communication with their new customers and close deals. Some basic sales tools that CRMs offer include contact management, opportunity management, and activity tracking so you can manage your team’s overall workflow and see where everyone is in their sales process. Service tools help improve a company’s relationship with its already existing customers. Features such as call lines and conversational bots make it easier for your customers to reach out and ask questions.

While most CRM vendors offer similar tools, their plans can differ in price and number of user licenses, so certain CRM vendors might be a better fit for your company than others. For example, a small business may choose a CRM that has less expensive per-user prices and is easy to use so the company can quickly learn how to best take advantage of it. On the other hand, a large business or enterprise brand might need upgraded features access for unlimited users and ample storage space for all its data.

CRM companies usually offer multiple plans that differ in price and features. Most of the time, you can also purchase specific add-ons. These upgrades may include adding a standalone app into your CRM, such as an automatic invoicing feature. Another beneficial add-on may be a sales pipeline management tool that you can customize to match your particular process.

How to Choose the Best Free CRM

For more information on selecting a CRM see our page on How to Choose a CRM.

How to Save Money When Choosing a CRM

While a free CRM seems like a good way to grow your business without spending a dime, many companies may find they require the advanced features and in-depth customer support that come only with paid plans. Still, a paid CRM solution doesn’t have to push your budget over the edge. Here are some tips to help you save money when choosing a CRM:

The Best CRM Software of 2021

Directory to Other U.S. News CRM Software Guides

For more information on CRM software, please see our pages: