Launching a new business is exhilarating, but it can quickly get overwhelming when you have to manage customer relationships.
That’s where Customer Relationship Management (CRM) tools come in – streamlining your interactions with leads and clients, boosting efficiency and growth.
For a new business, though, you probably don’t want to start off paying hefty subscriptions when you are not even earning revenue yet.
The good news? Several fantastic CRM solutions offer free plans with exciting features and no hidden costs. So, yes, you can nurture customer relationships without breaking the bank.
This article explores 10 of the best free CRM tools designed specifically for the needs of new businesses in 2024.
Want to find the perfect fit to help your venture thrive? Keep reading.
1. Agile CRM
Agile CRM is one of the most popular CRMs with free versions. Of course, there are certain limitations, mainly with the number of users (10), contacts (1,000), and emails (5,000).
Don’t let these mistakes deter you as a new business owner, though. Agile CRM boasts a user-friendly interface and strong contact management that includes not only email and call history integration but also social data.
Also, besides marketing, Agile CRM offers sales automation features like lead scoring and custom data pipelines to streamline your sales process. It can also help you with customer service a versatile helpdesk solution.
2. Bitrix24
Unlike Agile CRM, Bitrix24 offers unlimited users and contacts, which is good news for any new business owner. Storage space is capped at 5GB but this should not be much of a big deal for a new business.
Adding to that, Bitrix24’s focus on teamwork and collaboration makes it a strong contender in the market for free CRM tools. Standout features include unlimited audio/video calling and a robust project management solution that allows for up to 5 scrum teams to collaborate seamlessly.
For a fully-featured solution like this, you have to sacrifice some things. In this case, you would be giving up integration with popular productivity suites like Google Docs and Microsoft Office. Communication channels are also limited.
3. Capsule
Among the world of free CRM tools, Capsule is probably among the most restrictive, since it only allows for 2 users and no more than 250 contacts. Solopreneurs and freelancers would perhaps be the ones to see a reason to use this.
Despite this, Capsule boasts a lot of features. For instance, it organizes customer data in a way that makes it easy to find the information you need. It also includes features like a custom sales pipeline and the opportunity to track forecasts.
Basic project management tools are available with Capsule, and you can integrate them with Gmail and Mailchimp to streamline your email marketing efforts.
4. EngageBay
EngageBay is another CRM with a 250-contact limit. So, it is only suitable for very small businesses and freelancers looking for free CRM tools.
Beyond contact management, EngageBay shines with its built-in marketing suite. One standout feature is the Smart Lists capability, which allows users to segment their contacts based on specific filters.
Additionally, the service suite enables users to create and manage support tickets, ensuring that customer inquiries and issues are promptly addressed and resolved. The live chat module, which can be integrated into a business’s website, further enhances customer engagement and support capabilities.
EngageBay’s free plan also offers a range of other features, such as dashboards, contacts and company management, deal tracking, task management, appointment scheduling, email tracking and scheduling, and integrations with popular productivity tools like Gmail, Outlook, and Office 365.
5. eWay-CRM
Small businesses that use Microsoft Outlook and other Microsoft Office tools would feel at home with eWay-CRM, a tool built specifically for Outlook users. It boasts unlimited users and contacts, allowing your entire team to collaborate and manage customer interactions effectively.
While eWay-CRM doesn’t offer marketing automation features like some competitors, it excels in core CRM functionalities. You can seamlessly convert emails to contacts, tasks, or deals and synchronize your CRM with a single Outlook calendar. Additionally, eWay-CRM integrates with popular apps like Zapier and PowerBI, giving you the flexibility to connect it to your existing workflow.
Take note, though, that customization options are restricted to only 10 custom fields and 1 user view per module. Additionally, cloud storage is capped at 200 MB with 1,000 email sends available.
6. Freshsales
Freshsales offers a feature-rich free plan designed specifically for small teams of up to 3 users. It provides a strong foundation for managing customer data efficiently by leaders looking for free CRM tools for their teams.
Freshsales excels in contact and account management, offering tools to organize and track customer information, lifecycle stages, and activity timelines. For on-the-go teams, the mobile app allows you to manage contacts, accounts, and deals from your smartphone or tablet.
Users on the free plan have no access to curated reports, custom reports, or AI insights. Communication channels are limited as well, with no SMS integration or connections to popular platforms like Facebook Messenger, WhatsApp, or LINE.
Additionally, there’s no offline support for scenarios where internet connectivity might be unavailable.
7. HubSpot CRM
HubSpot CRM stands out as a fantastic free CRM solution for new businesses. Unlike other free CRM tools that limit features or contacts, HubSpot offers a robust feature set with unlimited users and contacts. This makes it ideal for scaling your growing business.
The free plan also includes lead generation tools like forms and landing page builders, helping you attract new customers. Additionally, features like live chat, email marketing, and a ticketing system empower you to nurture leads and provide excellent customer service – all within the same platform.
Overall, HubSpot CRM offers a powerful combination of features, ease of use, and scalability. It is an excellent choice for new businesses looking to establish a strong foundation for their customer relationships.
8. Insightly
Insightly offers a free CRM plan that caters well to very small businesses and startups with limited user needs. While the free tier has limitations on the number of users (2), records (2,500), and email capabilities (10 emails per day), it provides a solid foundation for contact management and project organization.
One of Insightly’s strengths is its customizability. You can create unique page layouts to match your specific workflow, and two custom fields per record type allow you to capture data relevant to your business.
Overall, Insightly’s free CRM is a good option for startups or freelancers who need basic solutions among free CRM tools. Its user-friendly interface, customization options, and limited free integrations make it a good starting point.
9. Mailchimp
While Mailchimp isn’t among the traditional free CRM tools, it offers a free plan with a surprising amount of CRM functionality for very small businesses. With up to 500 contacts and basic contact management features, Mailchimp can help you build and manage your contact list.
The true star of the free plan, however, is its robust email marketing suite. Mailchimp provides everything you need to get started with email marketing campaigns, including pre-built templates, a subject line helper, and basic reporting tools to track your results. This allows you to nurture leads, build customer relationships, and ultimately drive sales – all for free.
You are limited to 1,000 emails per month, though. Additional features like email scheduling, dynamic content, and advanced analytics are locked behind paid plans.
10. Zoho CRM
Zoho CRM offers a free plan that caters well to businesses with a small team (3 users) and a growing contact base (up to 5,000 records). It provides a solid foundation for managing leads, accounts, contacts, and deals.
Integrations with other Zoho products (Projects, Analytics, Campaigns, Forms) can streamline your workflow if you’re already invested in the Zoho ecosystem. However, you’ll have to deal with the lack of features like calendar booking, custom reports, and advanced integrations with popular services like Google Workspace and Slack might be dealbreakers for some.
Additionally, data backup requires a separate fee, which can be inconvenient for budget-conscious businesses.
Conclusion
Many free CRM tools can help you kickstart your business, and you don’t need to be confused. Consider the needs of your company and identify the features that will streamline your workflow. Then, focus on those CRMs that offer those features for cheap.
