Best of
Best CRM for small business: 4 options compared
Disclosure: we may earn a commission if you sign up through links on this page, at no extra cost to you. It never changes our rankings or verdicts. Full disclosure.
| Tool | Best for | Free option | Starting price |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1. HubSpot Our pick | teams that want a free CRM now and marketing, sales and service tools later | Free CRM | Free CRM; paid hubs vary |
| Zoho CRM | small teams that want a free edition and per-user pricing | Free edition | Free for up to 3 users |
| Pipedrive | sales teams that want a simple visual pipeline | 14-day free trial | See official pricing |
| Keap | small businesses that want guided onboarding and phone support | Trial with limits | From $299/mo |
How we chose
We looked at free options, integrations, ease of growth and support. Facts come from each vendor’s own public pages; where a price or limit was not shown we say so instead of guessing.
The options in detail
HubSpot
Best for: teams that want a free CRM now and marketing, sales and service tools later.
- 2,000+ integrations, per the official site
- Marketing, Sales, Service, Content and Data hubs on one record
- Small Business Bundle with starter editions
Watch out: Costs can rise as you add hubs and contacts.
Read the HubSpot reviewZoho CRM
Best for: small teams that want a free edition and per-user pricing.
- Free edition for up to 3 users
- Paid editions: Standard, Professional, Enterprise and Ultimate
- Workflow automation and mobile apps on the free edition
Watch out: Free edition limits: 10 email templates, 10 data exports, 5,000 API calls a day.
Official sitePipedrive
Best for: sales teams that want a simple visual pipeline.
- Kanban-style pipelines with follow-up reminders
- 500+ marketplace apps
- AI Sales Assistant and meeting intelligence
Watch out: Sales-focused, so check whether you also need marketing and service tools.
Official siteKeap
Best for: small businesses that want guided onboarding and phone support.
- U.S.-based phone support and a dedicated Customer Success Manager
- CRM, landing pages, texting, quotes, invoices and recurring payments
- 2 users included; extra users $39/mo
Watch out: Implementation services are required, and annual contracts carry an early termination fee.
Official siteVerdict
If the points above match your needs, start with HubSpot and use its free option or trial to confirm. Choose another option only when a specific limit blocks you.
Go deeper: hubspot vs zoho pipedrive · HubSpot review · HubSpot alternatives
Prices and limits can change; always confirm on the official sites. Last verified: 2026-10-13
