Best CRM Software
Short answer
The best crm software are HubSpot, Close, Pipedrive. HubSpot is our top pick at 8.8/10. If budget is tight, HubSpot has the best free plan.
Our top picks
HubSpot
8.8/10
Tops our crm software rankings at 8.8/10 — best for Agencies managing multiple client relationships.
- ✓Free CRM is genuinely excellent
- ✓All-in-one if you buy hubs
Zoho CRM
8/10
The strongest capability-per-dollar in the category — value score 9/10.
- ✓Free plan supports 3 users — rare among full-featured CRMs
- ✓Zia AI for sales predictions and anomaly detection
Streak
7.8/10
The best crm software option you can start on for $0 and upgrade when you grow.
- ✓Zero context switching — CRM lives in your existing Gmail inbox
- ✓No data entry overhead — emails automatically populate deal records
All 5 crm software, ranked
HubSpot
Top pickCRM, marketing, sales, and service platform
HubSpot is the leading inbound marketing and CRM platform. The free CRM is genuinely excellent and used by thousands of agencies. Paid hubs (Marketing, Sales, Service) are expensive but deeply integrated. The affiliate program pays 30% recurring for up to a year — one of the best in SaaS.
Strengths
- ✓Free CRM is genuinely excellent
- ✓All-in-one if you buy hubs
- ✓Best integrations ecosystem in business software
Watch-outs
- ✗Paid hubs become expensive fast
- ✗Marketing Hub pricing jumps sharply at 1k contacts
- ✗Can be overkill for solopreneurs
Close
CRM built for inside sales — calling, email, and SMS in one place
Close is a sales CRM purpose-built for inside sales teams that live on the phone and in their inbox. It includes built-in calling (VoIP), SMS, email sequences, and power dialer — replacing the need to switch between a CRM and a separate calling tool. The pipeline view is clean and fast, and the activity feed makes it easy to stay on top of follow-ups. Close is particularly popular with SaaS startups and B2B agencies with active sales motions.
Strengths
- ✓Built-in VoIP calling and SMS — no extra tools needed
- ✓Power dialer for high-volume outreach
- ✓Email sequences with open and click tracking
Watch-outs
- ✗No free plan or free trial (demo available)
- ✗Overkill for businesses not doing active outbound sales
- ✗Less marketing automation than HubSpot or ActiveCampaign
Pipedrive
The CRM built for salespeople
Pipedrive is a sales-focused CRM with a clean pipeline view. Much easier to use than HubSpot or Salesforce, and priced fairly. Popular with small agencies and consultancies managing a sales pipeline.
Strengths
- ✓Most intuitive pipeline CRM available
- ✓Fast to set up
- ✓Good value vs HubSpot
Watch-outs
- ✗No built-in email marketing
- ✗Reporting is weak on lower plans
- ✗Less powerful than HubSpot overall
Zoho CRM
Full-featured CRM at a price that doesn't punish growth
Zoho CRM is part of the broader Zoho ecosystem — a suite of 55+ business applications covering accounting, HR, project management, and more. The CRM itself covers leads, contacts, deals, workflows, email integration, telephony, and AI-powered sales predictions. The free plan supports up to 3 users with core CRM features, making it one of the few enterprise-grade CRMs with a meaningful free tier. Deep value for businesses already in or willing to adopt the Zoho ecosystem.
Strengths
- ✓Free plan supports 3 users — rare among full-featured CRMs
- ✓Zia AI for sales predictions and anomaly detection
- ✓Deep integration with the broader Zoho suite (Books, Desk, Projects)
Watch-outs
- ✗UI less polished and intuitive than HubSpot or Pipedrive
- ✗Steeper learning curve — can feel overwhelming initially
- ✗Best value when using multiple Zoho products together
Streak
CRM that lives inside Gmail — no new tool to learn
Streak is a CRM built entirely within Gmail, turning your inbox into a pipeline. Email threads become deal records; pipelines live in Gmail's sidebar. Streak is ideal for teams who already live in Gmail and resist adopting an external CRM — the onboarding is zero friction because there's nothing new to log into. The free plan covers personal CRM use. Paid plans add team pipelines, shared contacts, reporting, and data enrichment. Popular with recruiters, sales teams, and business development professionals.
Strengths
- ✓Zero context switching — CRM lives in your existing Gmail inbox
- ✓No data entry overhead — emails automatically populate deal records
- ✓Free plan covers individual sales tracking
Watch-outs
- ✗Only works with Google Workspace / Gmail — not usable with Outlook
- ✗Less powerful than HubSpot or Pipedrive for complex sales workflows
- ✗Team collaboration features require paid plan
CRM Software compared
Frequently asked questions
What is the best crm software?
HubSpot is our top-rated pick, scoring 8.8/10. Tops our crm software rankings at 8.8/10 — best for Agencies managing multiple client relationships.
What is the best free crm software option?
HubSpot offers the best free plan among the crm software we reviewed — a genuine way to start at $0 before upgrading.
How much does crm software cost?
Paid plans in this category start around $14/month (Pipedrive). Pricing scales with usage, team size, and feature tier — see each review for the full breakdown.