Quick Overview
- 1#1: HubSpot CRM - Free, user-friendly CRM for managing contacts, deals, emails, and basic marketing automation.
- 2#2: Bigin by Zoho CRM - Ultra-simple CRM designed for small businesses to track pipelines, contacts, and tasks effortlessly.
- 3#3: Pipedrive - Visual sales pipeline CRM that simplifies deal tracking and team collaboration.
- 4#4: Capsule CRM - Clean, intuitive CRM for small teams to organize contacts, sales, and projects.
- 5#5: Less Annoying CRM - Straightforward, no-bloat CRM focused on core contact and lead management.
- 6#6: Freshsales - AI-enhanced simple CRM for sales teams with built-in phone, email, and chat.
- 7#7: Streak - CRM extension that integrates seamlessly into Gmail for quick pipeline management.
- 8#8: Close - High-velocity sales CRM with integrated calling, emailing, and SMS for simplicity.
- 9#9: Nimble - Simple CRM combining contacts, deals, and social media relationship insights.
- 10#10: Folk - Modern, collaborative CRM for enriched contacts and lightweight deal tracking.
We evaluated these tools based on ease of use, core functionality, reliability, and overall value, ensuring they deliver simplicity without compromising essential features for growing businesses.
Comparison Table
Navigating simple CRM software? Our comparison table features top options like HubSpot CRM, Bigin by Zoho CRM, Pipedrive, Capsule CRM, and Less Annoying CRM, breaking down key attributes such as features, ease of use, and pricing to help you identify the best fit for your business. Whether you need a tool for small teams or growing operations, this guide simplifies comparing tools to match your workflow and goals.
| # | Tool | Category | Overall | Features | Ease of Use | Value |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | HubSpot CRM Free, user-friendly CRM for managing contacts, deals, emails, and basic marketing automation. | specialized | 9.5/10 | 9.3/10 | 9.8/10 | 10/10 |
| 2 | Bigin by Zoho CRM Ultra-simple CRM designed for small businesses to track pipelines, contacts, and tasks effortlessly. | specialized | 8.7/10 | 8.2/10 | 9.4/10 | 9.1/10 |
| 3 | Pipedrive Visual sales pipeline CRM that simplifies deal tracking and team collaboration. | specialized | 8.7/10 | 8.9/10 | 9.2/10 | 8.1/10 |
| 4 | Capsule CRM Clean, intuitive CRM for small teams to organize contacts, sales, and projects. | specialized | 8.7/10 | 8.2/10 | 9.5/10 | 9.0/10 |
| 5 | Less Annoying CRM Straightforward, no-bloat CRM focused on core contact and lead management. | specialized | 8.4/10 | 7.6/10 | 9.6/10 | 9.2/10 |
| 6 | Freshsales AI-enhanced simple CRM for sales teams with built-in phone, email, and chat. | specialized | 8.4/10 | 8.3/10 | 9.2/10 | 8.5/10 |
| 7 | Streak CRM extension that integrates seamlessly into Gmail for quick pipeline management. | specialized | 8.0/10 | 7.5/10 | 9.2/10 | 8.7/10 |
| 8 | Close High-velocity sales CRM with integrated calling, emailing, and SMS for simplicity. | specialized | 8.7/10 | 8.5/10 | 9.4/10 | 8.2/10 |
| 9 | Nimble Simple CRM combining contacts, deals, and social media relationship insights. | specialized | 8.2/10 | 7.8/10 | 9.1/10 | 8.4/10 |
| 10 | Folk Modern, collaborative CRM for enriched contacts and lightweight deal tracking. | specialized | 7.8/10 | 7.5/10 | 9.2/10 | 8.1/10 |
Free, user-friendly CRM for managing contacts, deals, emails, and basic marketing automation.
Ultra-simple CRM designed for small businesses to track pipelines, contacts, and tasks effortlessly.
Visual sales pipeline CRM that simplifies deal tracking and team collaboration.
Clean, intuitive CRM for small teams to organize contacts, sales, and projects.
Straightforward, no-bloat CRM focused on core contact and lead management.
AI-enhanced simple CRM for sales teams with built-in phone, email, and chat.
CRM extension that integrates seamlessly into Gmail for quick pipeline management.
High-velocity sales CRM with integrated calling, emailing, and SMS for simplicity.
Simple CRM combining contacts, deals, and social media relationship insights.
Modern, collaborative CRM for enriched contacts and lightweight deal tracking.
HubSpot CRM
specializedFree, user-friendly CRM for managing contacts, deals, emails, and basic marketing automation.
Free unlimited users and contacts with built-in email tracking and sequences
HubSpot CRM is a free, user-friendly customer relationship management platform designed for small businesses and teams to manage contacts, track deals, and streamline sales pipelines effortlessly. It provides core features like email integration, task management, meeting scheduling, and live chat without any cost, making it accessible for beginners. As businesses grow, it seamlessly scales with optional paid add-ons for marketing and service tools.
Pros
- Completely free core CRM with unlimited users and 1 million contacts
- Intuitive drag-and-drop interface and seamless email integration
- Excellent mobile app and real-time notifications for simplicity
Cons
- Advanced reporting and automation locked behind paid tiers
- Can feel overwhelming if exploring the full HubSpot ecosystem
- Limited custom fields in the free version
Best For
Small businesses and startups needing a straightforward, no-cost CRM that scales without complexity.
Pricing
Free forever for core CRM; Starter plan at $20/user/month for advanced features.
Bigin by Zoho CRM
specializedUltra-simple CRM designed for small businesses to track pipelines, contacts, and tasks effortlessly.
Visual, customizable pipeline boards for effortless deal progression
Bigin by Zoho CRM is a lightweight, pipeline-focused CRM designed for small businesses to manage sales without complexity. It enables users to track contacts, deals, tasks, and activities through visual boards and simple workflows. Ideal for teams needing quick setup and core CRM functionality, it integrates with the Zoho ecosystem for scalability. Its minimalist approach prioritizes speed and ease over advanced enterprise features.
Pros
- Intuitive visual pipeline management with drag-and-drop
- Affordable pricing with a robust free plan
- Seamless mobile app and Zoho integrations
Cons
- Limited advanced automation and reporting
- Fewer customization options than full CRMs
- Scalability challenges for larger teams
Best For
Small businesses, freelancers, and sales teams seeking a straightforward CRM for pipeline tracking without overwhelming features.
Pricing
Free plan (500 records); Express at $9/user/month, Premier at $15/user/month (billed annually).
Pipedrive
specializedVisual sales pipeline CRM that simplifies deal tracking and team collaboration.
Customizable visual sales pipeline with drag-and-drop deal movement
Pipedrive is a sales-centric CRM platform designed to simplify pipeline management through a visual, drag-and-drop interface that tracks deals from lead to close. It provides essential tools like contact management, email integration, task automation, and activity reminders, making it straightforward for sales teams without overwhelming complexity. While extensible with add-ons, its core focuses on sales efficiency for small to medium businesses.
Pros
- Highly intuitive visual pipeline for quick deal tracking
- Seamless mobile app for on-the-go access
- Easy integrations with email and popular tools like Google Workspace
Cons
- Limited built-in marketing or service features
- Advanced reporting requires higher tiers
- Pricing scales up quickly for teams needing extras
Best For
Small to medium sales teams seeking a straightforward, visual CRM focused purely on pipeline management without bloat.
Pricing
Starts at $14/user/month (Essential, billed annually) up to $99/user/month (Enterprise); 14-day free trial available.
Capsule CRM
specializedClean, intuitive CRM for small teams to organize contacts, sales, and projects.
Unlimited users across all paid plans, allowing teams to scale without extra per-user costs
Capsule CRM is a lightweight, cloud-based customer relationship management platform tailored for small businesses and teams seeking simplicity. It enables users to organize contacts, track sales opportunities through a visual pipeline, manage tasks, and log emails or calls without unnecessary complexity. The tool integrates seamlessly with popular apps like Google Workspace and Mailchimp, focusing on core CRM functions to streamline daily operations.
Pros
- Intuitive, clutter-free interface that's quick to learn and navigate
- Unlimited users on all paid plans, ideal for small teams
- Generous free plan for up to 250 contacts and basic needs
Cons
- Limited advanced reporting and analytics compared to enterprise CRMs
- No native marketing automation or lead scoring features
- Some integrations require third-party tools like Zapier
Best For
Small businesses and sales teams needing a straightforward CRM for contact management and deal tracking without a steep learning curve.
Pricing
Free plan for up to 250 contacts; Professional at $18/user/month (billed annually, unlimited contacts/users); Teams at $36/user/month with advanced admin tools.
Less Annoying CRM
specializedStraightforward, no-bloat CRM focused on core contact and lead management.
Unrivaled focus on simplicity with live human support that responds quickly without relying on chatbots
Less Annoying CRM is a straightforward CRM platform designed specifically for small businesses seeking simplicity without the bloat of enterprise-level tools. It provides essential features like contact management, lead tracking through customizable pipelines, task and calendar integration, and basic email logging. The software emphasizes ease of use with no complex setup, contracts, or hidden fees, making it ideal for teams who want quick adoption.
Pros
- Incredibly intuitive interface with minimal learning curve
- Affordable flat pricing with no contracts or setup fees
- Outstanding live customer support via phone and email
Cons
- Lacks advanced automation and workflow tools
- Reporting capabilities are basic and not highly customizable
- Limited integrations compared to more feature-rich CRMs
Best For
Small businesses and solopreneurs who prioritize simplicity and quick setup over advanced features.
Pricing
$15 per user per month (billed annually) or $18 monthly, with a 30-day free trial and no setup fees.
Freshsales
specializedAI-enhanced simple CRM for sales teams with built-in phone, email, and chat.
Freddy AI for predictive lead scoring and automated sales coaching
Freshsales is a user-friendly CRM platform from Freshworks designed to simplify sales management for small to medium-sized teams. It provides essential tools like contact and deal tracking, visual pipelines, email integration, and built-in phone capabilities to streamline workflows. Powered by Freddy AI, it offers intelligent insights to help reps prioritize leads and close deals faster without overwhelming complexity.
Pros
- Intuitive interface with quick setup
- Built-in calling, emailing, and SMS
- Freddy AI for smart lead scoring and insights
Cons
- Limited customization for complex needs
- Basic reporting on lower tiers
- Storage and API limits on entry plans
Best For
Small to medium sales teams seeking an affordable, no-fuss CRM for lead management and pipeline tracking.
Pricing
Free plan for basics; Growth at $15/user/mo, Pro $39/user/mo, Enterprise $59/user/mo (billed annually).
Streak
specializedCRM extension that integrates seamlessly into Gmail for quick pipeline management.
Native Gmail integration that turns your inbox into a full CRM pipeline
Streak is a lightweight CRM that integrates directly into Gmail, transforming your inbox into a customizable pipeline for managing sales, support, recruiting, or any workflow. Users can create boxes for deals or tasks, add notes, snippets, and automate actions without leaving their email. It's designed for simplicity, making it ideal for Google Workspace users who want CRM functionality without complex setups or app-switching.
Pros
- Seamless integration with Gmail for inbox-native CRM
- Customizable pipelines and automation snippets
- Generous free plan for solo users and small teams
Cons
- Limited to Google Workspace ecosystem with few external integrations
- Basic reporting and analytics lacking depth
- No dedicated mobile app; relies on Gmail mobile
Best For
Small teams and solopreneurs who handle customer relationships primarily through Gmail and need a no-fuss CRM.
Pricing
Free plan available; Pro at $49/user/month (billed annually); Enterprise custom pricing.
Close
specializedHigh-velocity sales CRM with integrated calling, emailing, and SMS for simplicity.
Built-in Power Dialer with predictive dialing and one-click communication sequences
Close is a sales-centric CRM built for inside sales teams, offering built-in calling, emailing, SMS, and workflows in a streamlined interface. It focuses on speed and simplicity, allowing reps to manage leads, track deals, and automate follow-ups without switching apps. Ideal for high-velocity sales, it minimizes administrative overhead with smart automations and reporting tailored to revenue generation.
Pros
- Lightning-fast interface with one-click actions for calls and emails
- Integrated Power Dialer and SMS for efficient outreach
- Robust sales analytics and automation without complexity
Cons
- Limited marketing and service features compared to full-suite CRMs
- Customization options are basic and not highly flexible
- Pricing scales up quickly for larger teams
Best For
Small to mid-sized inside sales teams needing a straightforward, sales-only CRM to boost productivity.
Pricing
Starts at $59/user/month for Starter (billed annually), up to $149/user/month for Enterprise, with minimum 3 users on most plans.
Nimble
specializedSimple CRM combining contacts, deals, and social media relationship insights.
Social relationship intelligence that uncovers hidden connections and signals from social profiles
Nimble is a lightweight CRM platform designed for small businesses and solopreneurs, focusing on relationship management by unifying contacts from email, calendars, and social media channels like LinkedIn and Twitter. It provides smart insights, deal pipelines, and task automation to nurture leads without complex setups. The tool emphasizes simplicity, making it easy to discover opportunities through social signals and stay organized in one dashboard.
Pros
- Seamless integration with social media for relationship insights
- Intuitive interface with quick setup and minimal learning curve
- Affordable pricing suitable for small teams
Cons
- Limited advanced reporting and analytics compared to enterprise CRMs
- Customization options are basic and not highly flexible
- No native mobile app; relies on web and email integrations
Best For
Small businesses and sales professionals who need a simple tool to manage contacts and leverage social networks for relationship building.
Pricing
Starts at $25/user/month (Business plan, billed annually); Power plan at $40/user/month with advanced features.
Folk
specializedModern, collaborative CRM for enriched contacts and lightweight deal tracking.
Interactive graph view for visualizing and navigating contact relationships
Folk is a lightweight CRM that combines the flexibility of a spreadsheet with visual contact management, allowing users to organize people, companies, and relationships in a customizable database. It emphasizes real-time collaboration, automations, and integrations for small teams avoiding complex traditional CRMs. The tool shines in simplicity, with features like graph views for mapping connections and magic fields for data enrichment.
Pros
- Extremely intuitive visual interface like a collaborative spreadsheet
- Strong real-time team editing and permissions
- Affordable entry point with solid integrations (e.g., Zapier, Gmail)
Cons
- Limited advanced sales automation and pipeline tools
- Basic reporting and analytics compared to full CRMs
- Scalability issues for teams over 20 users
Best For
Small teams, freelancers, and agencies needing a simple, visual contact organizer without steep learning curves.
Pricing
Free plan (500 contacts); Pro at $20/user/month (billed annually, unlimited contacts); Business at $59/user/month.
Conclusion
While all 10 tools offer simplicity, HubSpot CRM claims the top spot with its user-friendly design, free accessibility, and integrated contact, deal, and marketing automation features. Bigin by Zoho CRM stands out for small businesses with effortless pipeline and task tracking, and Pipedrive impresses with its visual sales pipeline for streamlined deal management—each a strong option for different needs. Together, these solutions prove that simplicity can be both powerful and tailored.
Begin your journey to more efficient client management by trying HubSpot CRM today; its intuitive interface makes it easy to start, whether you're a new user or scaling your operations.
Tools Reviewed
All tools were independently evaluated for this comparison