Best CRM for solopreneurs
By the FirstHire Team · Last updated Nov 2026
Heads up: some links are affiliate links. If you buy through them we may earn a commission at no extra cost to you. How we make money.
A solopreneur doesn't need the same CRM as a sales team. You need one place to see every lead, a reminder to follow up, and a way to log emails without copying and pasting. You don't need 50 seats, territory management, or a five-figure contract. This guide compares four CRMs that fit a one-person business, using each vendor's published plans and prices, and explains when a spreadsheet is still the right answer.
How we wrote this: we read each vendor's public pricing and product pages (linked at the bottom) and compared them for a business with 1 to 10 people. We have not run a long-term hands-on test of these products, and we will say so on this page when we have.
The short list
| CRM | Free plan? | Paid entry price (published) | Best for |
|---|---|---|---|
| HubSpot CRM | Yes, up to 2 users and 1,000 contacts | Starter from $20 per seat per month | Solopreneurs who want email, forms and a pipeline for free |
| Bigin by Zoho CRM | Yes, 1 user, 500 records | Express from US$9 per user per month | The lowest-cost paid upgrade path |
| Less Annoying CRM | No; 30-day free trial, no card | $15 per user per month, everything included | People who want one simple price and nothing locked behind upgrades |
| Pipedrive | No; 14-day free trial | Lite from $14 per user per month (billed annually) | Sales-heavy solopreneurs who live in a deal pipeline |
Prices from each vendor's pricing page as of Nov 2026. Some prices depend on monthly vs annual billing, so check before you buy.
1. HubSpot CRM: the best free starting point
HubSpot's free CRM is "100% free with no expiration date," according to its product page, and needs no credit card. For a solopreneur, the free tier covers the core jobs: a contact timeline with emails, calls and notes; a deal pipeline; spreadsheet import; a basic reporting dashboard; and email connection with Gmail and Outlook. The limits that matter for one person are the 1,000-contact cap and 10 custom properties. HubSpot branding also appears on free emails, forms and meeting links.
Why it fits: you can run a real follow-up system for $0 and only pay when you hit a limit. HubSpot also has marketing tools (forms, email, landing pages) you can grow into.
Watch out for: paid tiers can climb as you add marketing contacts and features. Read our full breakdown: Is HubSpot's free CRM enough?
2. Bigin by Zoho CRM: cheapest upgrade path
Bigin is Zoho's CRM for small businesses. Its free plan is for 1 user and includes one pipeline, 500 records, 3 automations, contact and activity management, a booking page, web forms, and mobile apps. Note that Bigin counts records across pipelines, contacts, activities and notes, so 500 can fill up faster than it sounds.
Bigin's pricing page lists Express at US$9 and Premier at US$15 per user per month, and Bigin 360 at US$18 per user per month billed annually. Express raises the limit to 50,000 records and adds email and WhatsApp integration, mass email, 30 automations, and a QuickBooks integration. Bigin says you can cancel whenever you want, and it offers a full refund if you're unhappy within the first 30 days on monthly billing or 45 days on annual billing.
Why it fits: the lowest published paid price on this list, with room to move to the full Zoho CRM later.
3. Less Annoying CRM: one simple price
Less Annoying CRM charges $15 per user per month with everything included, according to its pricing page, and offers a 30-day risk-free trial with no credit card required. There are no feature tiers to compare.
Why it fits: if you hate comparing plan grids and want a contact list, tasks, calendar and pipeline that just work, one flat price is easy to budget.
Watch out for: there's no free plan, so you'll pay $15 a month from the end of the trial.
4. Pipedrive: built around the deal pipeline
Pipedrive is designed around a visual sales pipeline and activity reminders. It has no free plan, but offers a 14-day free trial with no credit card required. As of Nov 2026, its Lite plan is $14 per user per month billed annually. Full Gmail and Outlook email sync is listed on the higher Growth plan.
Why it fits: consultants, agencies and freelancers who close deals in stages and want the pipeline front and center. Compare it in depth in HubSpot vs Zoho vs Pipedrive.
When a spreadsheet is still fine
If you handle fewer than about 10 leads a month and rarely forget a follow-up, a shared spreadsheet with columns for name, contact info, last contact date, next step and status is enough. Move to a CRM when:
- You've lost a deal because you forgot to follow up.
- You're searching your inbox to remember what you told a client.
- You want a web form that drops new leads straight into a list.
- You're about to hire your first helper and need to share customer history.
How to choose in 10 minutes
- Start free. Sign up for HubSpot's free CRM or Bigin's free plan and import your spreadsheet.
- Set up 4 to 6 pipeline stages that match how you actually sell, such as Lead, Contacted, Quote sent, Won, Lost.
- Connect your email so messages log automatically.
- Use it for two weeks. If you keep using it, stay. If you hit a limit, compare the paid upgrade prices above.
Our free CRM setup checklist walks through these steps, and the CRM picker quiz gives a quick recommendation.
Our take
For most solopreneurs, HubSpot's free CRM is the best place to start because it costs nothing, has no time limit, and covers contacts, a pipeline and email logging. If you outgrow the free limits and want the lowest monthly bill, Bigin's paid plans have the lowest published prices on this list. Choose Less Annoying CRM if you want a single, simple price, or Pipedrive if your work revolves around a sales pipeline.
FAQ
What is the best free CRM for a solopreneur?
HubSpot's free CRM and Bigin's free plan are both free with no expiration. HubSpot allows up to 2 users and 1,000 contacts; Bigin's free plan is 1 user and 500 records.
Is a CRM worth paying for as a one-person business?
Only when the free tier or a spreadsheet stops working. Most solopreneurs can start free and upgrade when they hit a contact or automation limit.
Can I move my contacts later?
Yes. All four CRMs here support importing from a spreadsheet, so you can export from one and import into another.
Which CRM works with Gmail?
HubSpot's free tools connect to Gmail and Outlook. Bigin's paid plans list Gmail and Outlook integration. Pipedrive lists full Gmail and Outlook sync on Growth.
Sources: HubSpot free CRM, HubSpot CRM pricing, Bigin pricing, Less Annoying CRM pricing, Pipedrive pricing. Prices and features as of Nov 2026. Check the vendor site before you buy, because prices and promotions change. Not tax or legal advice.