Editor's Choice: HubSpot
The only CRM that offers a truly "Free Forever" plan with unlimited contacts. It combines Sales, Marketing, and Service in one dashboard, replacing 5 other tools.
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| Platform | Best For | Free Plan | Starting Price | Rating |
|---|---|---|---|---|
|
HubSpot
WINNER
|
Scaling Startups | Yes (Forever) | $0 / mo |
|
|
Pipedrive
|
Pure Sales Teams | No (14 Day Trial) | $14 / user |
|
|
Salesforce
|
Enterprise | No | $25 / user |
|
1. HubSpot CRM
Best Overall & Best Free Tier
HubSpot is the "Apple" of CRMs. It just works. Unlike Salesforce, which requires a dedicated administrator to manage, HubSpot is built for founders and small teams who need to move fast.
The biggest selling point is the Free Tier. It is not a "trial." It is a fully functional CRM that includes email marketing, landing pages, meeting scheduling, and live chat—for free, forever.
Why it beats Salesforce:
- Marketing Hub: It includes tools to get leads (forms, ads), not just manage them.
- Ease of Use: You can set up your pipeline in 15 minutes without writing code.
- Scalability: You can start for $0 and upgrade only when you need advanced automation.
2. Pipedrive
Best for Pure Sales Teams
If you don't care about marketing (email blasts, landing pages) and purely want a visual pipeline to track cold calls and deals, Pipedrive is excellent.
It focuses entirely on the "Activity Based Sales" methodology. It forces your sales team to schedule the next activity (call/email) so no deal ever falls through the cracks.
The Downside: It is a one-trick pony. As soon as you want to send a newsletter or add a chatbot to your site, you have to buy other tools and integrate them (Zapier), which gets expensive and messy.
Buyer's Guide: What Startups Need in a CRM
1. All-in-One vs. Point Solutions
Startups shouldn't pay for Mailchimp ($20), Calendly ($15), and Salesforce ($25). Look for a "Platform" CRM like HubSpot that includes all these features in one database. It saves money and prevents data silos.
2. Implementation Time
Enterprise CRMs take 3-6 months to implement. Startup CRMs should take 1 day. If you need a consultant to set it up, it's the wrong tool for your stage.
3. The "Seat Tax"
Beware of pricing that charges per user. HubSpot allows unlimited "Free Users" who can view data, charging only for "Power Users" who need advanced sales automation.
Our Recommendation
For 95% of startups, HubSpot is the superior choice due to its free marketing tools and ability to scale.
Common Questions
Is HubSpot really free?
Yes. The CRM suite is free forever for unlimited contacts. You only pay if you need advanced automation (workflows).
Can I import from Excel?
Yes, all three tools offer a CSV import wizard to migrate your data in minutes.
Ready to scale your sales?
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