Choosing the right Customer Relationship Management (CRM) software is crucial for managing customer interactions, automating workflows, and scaling your business. But with so many CRM pricing models, it can be challenging to decide which solution offers the best value for your money.

This guide breaks down popular CRM pricing structures, highlights top CRM providers, and compares free vs paid CRM options to help you make an informed decision.

 

CRM Pricing Models Explained

Before diving into specific CRM solutions, it's essential to understand how CRM pricing works. Different providers use various pricing structures, which can impact your costs depending on your business size and needs.

Per-User Pricing

✔ How it Works: You pay a fixed price per user per month. Ideal for startups and small teams.

✔ Pros: Predictable costs, scalable as you grow.

✔ Cons: Costs can add up quickly for larger teams.

Flat-Rate Pricing

✔ How it Works: A single fee for unlimited users.

✔ Pros: Best for medium-to-large teams that need multiple accounts.

✔ Cons: Higher upfront costs, may include limitations on features.

Tiered Pricing (Feature-Based)

✔ How it Works: Different pricing tiers offer different sets of features.

✔ Pros: Flexibility to choose a plan that fits your needs.

✔ Cons: Essential features may be locked behind higher-cost plans.

Freemium & Open-Source Models

✔ How it Works: Free version with optional paid upgrades.

✔ Pros: Great for startups looking to minimise costs.

✔ Cons: Limited functionality; you may need to pay for integrations or extra users.

 

Best CRM Software Pricing Comparison

Here’s a breakdown of some of the most popular CRM solutions and their pricing:

Notion

Free plan available

Paid plans start at £8/user/month

Best for: Startups, freelancers, and businesses needing an all-in-one workspace

Overview:

Notion is a powerful all-in-one workspace that blends note-taking, project management, and knowledge management into a highly flexible platform. It’s particularly popular among startups and remote teams for its customizable pages, databases, and collaboration tools. Whether you're managing projects, storing company knowledge, or creating a shared workspace, Notion adapts to your needs. They also offer a free crm trial.

Key Features:

✔ Customisable Workspaces – Create pages, databases, and wikis tailored to your business processes.

✔ Collaboration Tools – Work together in real-time, assign tasks, comment on projects, and track progress.

✔ Project & Task Management – Organise tasks using Kanban boards, calendars, or simple to-do lists.

✔ Rich Integrations – Connect with tools like Slack, Google Drive, and Zapier for a seamless workflow.

✔ Templates & Automation – Use pre-built templates or create custom workflows to save time and standardise processes.

✔ Notion AI (Plus Plan) – Leverage AI-powered writing assistance, summarisation, and task automation.

Best For: Startups and businesses looking for a flexible, all-in-one workspace that replaces traditional document management, note-taking apps, and project management tools.

 

HubSpot CRM

Free plan available

Paid plans start at £15/user/month

Best for: Startups & small businesses

Overview: HubSpot CRM is one of the most well-known names in the CRM industry, offering an intuitive, easy-to-use interface ideal for growing startups and small businesses. It includes an extensive free plan that provides core CRM functionality, making it a great starting point for those with limited budgets.

Key Features:

• Marketing automation to help streamline customer engagement

• Email tracking for monitoring interactions with leads and customers

• Integrations with a vast ecosystem of apps including Gmail, Slack, and Shopify

• Built-in reporting tools to track pipeline performance and sales activity

• A user-friendly dashboard that makes customer data management simple

Best For: Small businesses looking for a cost-effective CRM solution with marketing automation features to help scale their operations.

Salesforce

No free plan

Paid plans start at £20/user/month

Best for: Enterprises & growing teams

Overview: Salesforce is an industry leader in CRM, offering a powerful suite of tools designed for mid-to-large-sized businesses. While it lacks a free plan, its extensive feature set makes it worth the investment for companies looking for scalable and customisable CRM solutions.

Key Features:

• AI-powered analytics and reporting for data-driven decision-making

• Custom workflows that allow businesses to automate repetitive tasks

• Highly scalable, with advanced tools for large sales teams

• Integrations with thousands of third-party applications

• Lead and pipeline management to track sales progress efficiently

Best For: Businesses that require robust CRM functionality and have a budget to invest in automation, reporting, and AI-driven insights.

Zoho CRM

Free plan available

Paid plans start at £12/user/month

Best for: SMBs & sales teams

Overview: Zoho CRM is an affordable and feature-rich option for small to medium-sized businesses. It provides automation tools to optimise workflows, alongside AI-driven insights to enhance sales strategies.

Key Features:

• AI assistant "Zia" for intelligent recommendations and predictive analytics

• Workflow automation to streamline sales processes

• Sales pipeline tracking to monitor deal progress

• Customisable dashboards and reporting

• Multichannel communication with email, live chat, and social media integrations

Best For: Small and medium-sized businesses needing an affordable CRM solution with AI-driven insights and automation capabilities.

Pipedrive

No free plan

Paid plans start at £12.50/user/month

Best for: Sales-focused teams

Overview: Pipedrive is a CRM designed specifically for sales teams. It provides an easy-to-use visual sales pipeline, helping businesses improve their conversion rates and maintain structured deal flows.

Key Features:

• Drag-and-drop visual sales pipeline to track deal progress

• Email tracking and follow-up automation

• Smart contact data enrichment for better prospecting

• Sales forecasting tools to predict revenue trends

• Integration with over 250+ applications, including Slack and Asana

Best For: Businesses with a strong sales focus that need a simple, visually structured CRM to manage and close deals effectively.

Freshsales (by Freshworks)

Free plan available

Paid plans start at £12/user/month

Best for: Customer engagement

Overview: Freshsales is a CRM solution with built-in AI capabilities and multichannel communication features. It’s particularly strong in lead engagement and pipeline management, making it great for businesses focused on customer relationships.

Key Features:

• AI-powered chatbot "Freddy" for automated lead engagement

• Built-in calling and email tracking for streamlined communication

• Lead scoring system to prioritise potential customers

• Visual sales pipeline to track conversions

• Workflow automation for repetitive tasks

Best For: Companies looking to enhance customer engagement with AI-driven automation and multichannel communication tools.

Insightly

Free plan available

Paid plans start at £23/user/month

Best for: Project-driven teams

Overview: Insightly combines CRM with project management capabilities, making it an ideal choice for businesses that need both sales tracking and operational task management in one platform.

Key Features:

• Project management tools with task assignment and tracking

• Automated workflow management for sales and operations

• Custom reporting dashboards for performance insights

• G Suite and Microsoft 365 integration for seamless workflow

• Pipeline tracking and forecasting tools

Best For: Businesses that require a combination of CRM and project management features to maintain seamless sales and operational processes.

Nimble

No free plan

Paid plans start at £19/user/month

Best for: Relationship management

Overview: Nimble is a social CRM designed for businesses that want to enhance customer relationships by integrating social media insights into their sales and marketing strategies.

Key Features:

• Social media integration to track customer interactions

• AI-powered contact enrichment for deeper insights

• Smart pipeline management with task automation

• Relationship insights from emails, calendars, and social platforms

• Customisable dashboards to visualise engagement metrics

Best For: Businesses that rely on relationship-building and social media engagement as part of their sales and marketing strategy.

 

Free vs Paid CRM: Which One Do You Need?

Some businesses can thrive with free CRM software, while others need advanced features that come with paid solutions. Here’s how to decide:

When a Free CRM is Enough:

✔ You’re a startup or freelancer managing a small number of clients.
✔ You only need basic contact management and email tracking.
✔ You don’t require custom automation or integrations.

When You Should Upgrade to a Paid CRM:

✔ Your team grows beyond 3-5 users and requires multi-user support.
✔ You need sales automation, AI insights, and advanced reporting.
✔ You require third-party integrations (e.g., accounting, e-commerce, marketing tools).

 

Choosing the Right CRM: Key Considerations

When selecting a CRM, price isn’t the only factor. Here are some key aspects to consider:

✔ Scalability: Can the CRM grow with your business?

✔ Ease of Use: Does it have a user-friendly interface?

✔ Integration Options: Does it connect with your existing tools (e.g., email, accounting software, marketing automation)?

✔ Customer Support: Do you need 24/7 support, live chat, or phone assistance?

✔ Security & Compliance: Does it meet your industry’s data protection requirements?

Pro Tip: Most CRMs offer free trials—take advantage of them to find the best fit for your business!

 

Which CRM Offers the Best Value?

There’s no one-size-fits-all CRM—the best choice depends on your budget, business needs, and team size.

Best for Startups & Small Businesses: HubSpot CRM (Free), Zoho CRM (£12/month)

Best for Growing Sales Teams: Pipedrive (£12.50/month), Freshsales (£12/month)

Best for Enterprises & Customisation: Salesforce (£20/month), Insightly (£23/month)

Next Steps:

Compare CRM pricing and features using free trials.
Start with a free CRM and upgrade as your business grows.
Evaluate your team’s workflow to determine must-have features.

Which CRM has worked best for your business? Drop your thoughts in the comments!