Best CRM software 2026
Top picks for CRM software 2026: HubSpot CRM (growing sales and marketing teams wanting an all-in-one platform built around the CRM rather than a sales-only tool, free plan for up to 2 users, 1 pipeline and HubSpot branding on outbound tools; paid Starter from about $15 to $20 per seat per month depending on annual or monthly billing, Professional from about $100 per month), Pipedrive (sales teams wanting a visual, pipeline-first CRM built specifically for salespeople rather than an all-in-one suite, no free plan, only a 14-day free trial; paid Essential from about $14 per user per month (annual billing) up to Enterprise around $99 to $129 per user per month), Zoho CRM (small businesses and startups wanting an affordable CRM with room to scale into Zoho's wider software suite, free plan for up to 3 users; paid Standard from about $14 per user per month, scaling to Ultimate at about $52 per user per month, all billed annually). All 4 tools here are compared on pricing, free plans, features and platforms, verified against vendor sources.
Pricing and features verified against each vendor's published information on 2026-09-13. Sources linked below.
At a glance
| Tool | Free plan | Pricing from | Best for | Platforms |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| HubSpot CRM | Yes | Free plan for up to 2 users, 1 pipeline and HubSpot branding on outbound tools; paid Starter from about $15 to $20 per seat per month depending on annual or monthly billing, Professional from about $100 per month | growing sales and marketing teams wanting an all-in-one platform built around the CRM rather than a sales-only tool | Web, iOS, Android |
| Pipedrive | No | No free plan, only a 14-day free trial; paid Essential from about $14 per user per month (annual billing) up to Enterprise around $99 to $129 per user per month | sales teams wanting a visual, pipeline-first CRM built specifically for salespeople rather than an all-in-one suite | Web, iOS, Android |
| Zoho CRM | Yes | Free plan for up to 3 users; paid Standard from about $14 per user per month, scaling to Ultimate at about $52 per user per month, all billed annually | small businesses and startups wanting an affordable CRM with room to scale into Zoho's wider software suite | Web, iOS, Android |
| Freshsales | No | Forever-free plan discontinued in a July 2026 pricing-page redesign, leaving only a 21-day free trial; paid Growth from about $9 per user per month, Pro about $39, Enterprise about $59, all billed annually | teams already using other Freshworks products (helpdesk, IT service management) wanting a CRM in the same ecosystem | Web, iOS, Android |
The shortlist
1. HubSpot CRM
Free planFounded 2015
Free plan for up to 2 users, 1 pipeline and HubSpot branding on outbound tools; paid Starter from about $15 to $20 per seat per month depending on annual or monthly billing, Professional from about $100 per month. Best for growing sales and marketing teams wanting an all-in-one platform built around the CRM rather than a sales-only tool.
- Free CRM tier available indefinitely, not a time-limited trial
- Deep integration with HubSpot's own marketing, sales and service hubs
- Per-seat Starter pricing rather than a fixed seat block
- AI-assisted deal and contact insights on paid tiers
2. Pipedrive
Paid onlyFounded 2010
No free plan, only a 14-day free trial; paid Essential from about $14 per user per month (annual billing) up to Enterprise around $99 to $129 per user per month. Best for sales teams wanting a visual, pipeline-first CRM built specifically for salespeople rather than an all-in-one suite.
- Visual drag-and-drop sales pipeline as the core interface
- No free-forever plan, only a time-limited free trial
- AI Sales Assistant and workflow automation on higher tiers
- Add-ons such as LeadBooster and Smart Docs priced separately from the core plans
3. Zoho CRM
Free planFounded 2005
Free plan for up to 3 users; paid Standard from about $14 per user per month, scaling to Ultimate at about $52 per user per month, all billed annually. Best for small businesses and startups wanting an affordable CRM with room to scale into Zoho's wider software suite.
- Free plan supports up to 3 users, more generous than most competitors' free tiers
- Five pricing tiers from Free to Ultimate for finer-grained scaling
- Zia AI assistant for lead scoring and workflow suggestions on higher tiers
- Deep integration with Zoho's own wider suite, including Zoho Invoice and Zoho Survey
4. Freshsales
Paid onlyFounded 2016
Forever-free plan discontinued in a July 2026 pricing-page redesign, leaving only a 21-day free trial; paid Growth from about $9 per user per month, Pro about $39, Enterprise about $59, all billed annually. Best for teams already using other Freshworks products (helpdesk, IT service management) wanting a CRM in the same ecosystem.
- Forever-free plan discontinued July 2026, a genuine recent change from its earlier free-tier positioning
- Built-in phone and email calling within the CRM without third-party add-ons
- Freddy AI for lead scoring and deal insights on Pro and above
- Part of the wider Freshworks suite alongside helpdesk and IT service management products
Head-to-head comparisons
- HubSpot CRM vs Pipedrive
- HubSpot CRM vs Zoho CRM
- HubSpot CRM vs Freshsales
- Pipedrive vs Zoho CRM
- Pipedrive vs Freshsales
- Zoho CRM vs Freshsales
FAQ
- What is the best free CRM software?
- Tools with a free plan here include HubSpot CRM, Zoho CRM. Compare limits before committing.
- How many CRM software did this list compare?
- This page compares 4 tools, each linked to its own site.