CRM software · Rated October 2026
See the top 3 →
How I review
Lee Thompson
Digital Marketing Specialist
30 Years +
in Digital Marketing
Building Websites
I recommend Framer
Run Campaigns
Google Ads, Meta, SEO
No Paid Promos
Only my real opinions
CRM, explained
A CRM (customer relationship management system) keeps every enquiry, conversation and deal in one place. When someone emails, calls or fills in a form, it's logged, assigned and followed up instead of buried in an inbox.
If you've ever forgotten to call a lead back, lost track of a quote or had someone leave with the client list in their head, you need one. The good news: the best free CRMs cover most small businesses.
Lee Thompson
Digital Marketing Specialist
What to look for
Pipeline view
Every deal as a card you drag from enquiry to won. You see at a glance what's stuck and what needs a nudge.
See the comparison ↗
Email and calendar sync
Conversations and meetings logged automatically, so nobody has to copy notes into the system by hand.
See the comparison ↗
Mobile app
Update a deal straight after a meeting or call. If it's awkward on a phone, your team won't keep it up to date.
See the comparison ↗
My CRM picks · October 2026
I score every tool on features, value, ease of use and support, and check every price on the provider's own pricing page.
Hu
HubSpot CRM
Best free CRM
Small teams tracking leads and deals for free
Free forever plan
Upgrade when you grow
8.6
Get it free →
Pi
Pipedrive
Best for sales pipelines · CRM
Sales-led businesses that live in their pipeline
From €14/user/mo yearly
14-day free trial
Soon
Try free →
Ac
ActiveCampaign
Best CRM + email · CRM
Businesses that want email marketing and sales follow-up together
From $15/mo yearly
14-day free trial
Soon
Try free →
🤝 My top CRM pick
For most small businesses, yes. The free plan covers contacts, deals, a pipeline, email tracking and forms, with no time limit. You pay when you need automation, deeper reporting or more seats, and that's where costs climb.
What I like
✓ Free with no time limit
✓ Clean pipeline view
✓ Forms and email tracking included
What I'd watch out for
– Paid tiers get expensive
– Workflows need a higher plan
– Can feel bigger than you need
Lee's score
8.6
/10 · Excellent
Price from
Free
Paid from
$20/seat/mo
Free plan
No time limit
Best for
Small teams
Before you pay for anything
01
Reply to enquiries within an hour
The fastest reply usually wins the job. Set up notifications so new leads reach your phone straight away.
02
Log every lead in one place
Website forms, emails, calls and WhatsApp messages all go into the CRM. If it isn't logged, it doesn't exist.
03
Give every deal a next step
A date and an action, such as 'send quote Tuesday'. Deals without a next step quietly die.
04
Use stages that match reality
Four to six stages named after what actually happens: enquiry, call booked, quote sent, won.
05
Review your pipeline weekly
Fifteen minutes every Monday to chase stuck deals and close out dead ones keeps your forecast honest.
My promise
Every verdict tells you who a tool is for, who should skip it, and what it really costs. If I earn a commission, I say so.
How to choose
01
Map how you sell today
Write down the steps from first enquiry to paid invoice. The CRM should fit that, not the other way round.
02
Start free
Try HubSpot's free CRM first. If you outgrow it, you'll know exactly which paid features you need.
03
Get your team using it
Import your contacts, connect everyone's inbox and run one week of deals through it before you decide.
CRM reviews
CRM
Do you actually need a CRM yet?
The signs a spreadsheet is holding you back, and when it's fine.
3 min read
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CRM
CRM pricing explained: seats, tiers and extras
How CRM plans are priced and where the costs creep up.
3 min read
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CRM
Switching CRMs without losing your data
A simple checklist for moving contacts, deals and history.
3 min read
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CRM
HubSpot CRM review: is free really good enough?
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CRM
How to set up a simple sales pipeline in your CRM
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CRM
Follow-up emails that win deals (with templates)
Read article →
CRM
How to keep your CRM data clean and useful
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CRM
The 5 CRM reports every small business should check
Read article →
CRM FAQ
Your CRM questions, answered.
Is a free CRM good enough for a small business?
For most small teams, yes. HubSpot's free CRM covers contacts, deals, a pipeline and email tracking with no time limit. Pay when you need automation, deeper reporting or more users.
When does a business need a CRM?
When leads start slipping through the cracks. If you're juggling enquiries across email, WhatsApp, phone and a spreadsheet, a CRM will pay for itself in the deals you stop losing.
HubSpot or Pipedrive: which should I choose?
HubSpot is the better free starting point and grows into marketing tools. Pipedrive suits sales-led teams who work their pipeline every day and want a fast, focused tool.
How long does it take to set up a CRM?
A basic setup takes an afternoon: import your contacts, set your pipeline stages and connect your inbox. Start simple and add automations once the team is using it daily.
Can a CRM work with WhatsApp?
Many can, through built-in integrations or add-ons. If most of your enquiries arrive on WhatsApp, check how each CRM handles it before you commit, and test it on the free plan or trial.
Affiliate disclosure
DigiStacker is free to use because some links are affiliate links. If you sign up through them I may earn a commission, at no extra cost to you. It never changes my scores, rankings or recommendations.
Independence
Every verdict is my own opinion, based on my research and experience. No company pays to be reviewed, ranked or featured, and I'll always tell you who should skip a tool as well as who should buy it.
Pricing
Prices are checked on each provider's own pricing page and shown in USD. Software pricing changes often, so always confirm the current price and terms before you buy.
General information only
The content on this site is here to help you compare marketing software. It isn't financial, legal or tax advice, so choose the tools that suit your own business.
DigiStacker is an independent review site run by Lee Thompson, Design and Digital Marketing Specialist with over 30 years experience.
Business tools, rated honestly by Lee Thompson, Digital Marketing Specialist with 30 years in design and marketing. Real prices, my own opinions, zero sponsored rankings.
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