CRM software keeps every customer relationship in one place: contacts, conversations, deals, and follow-ups. This guide compares five widely used CRM platforms on the same headings — what each one does, who it fits, its published pricing, its free plan or trial, and its specifications.
What CRM software does
A CRM records who your customers are, what you have discussed with them, and where each deal stands. The core is a contact record plus a pipeline: leads come in, deals move through stages, and nothing depends on one person’s inbox. Around that core, most CRMs add email integration, automation, reporting, and AI features — usually on higher plans or as add-ons.
How to choose
- Free entry: three of the five products here offer a free edition — check the user and contact limits before relying on one.
- Per-seat pricing: most CRM pricing is per user per month, so the total depends on team size; watch for seat minimums and required onboarding fees.
- Email and calendar fit: confirm the CRM works with the email system your team actually uses — one product here works only with Google Workspace.
- Automation depth: lead routing, sequences, and workflow automation differ sharply between entry and higher plans.
- Trial: test the pipeline with your own deals during the trial, including the email integration.
The five products in this guide
| Product | Starting price | Free plan or trial | Best for |
| Salesforce Sales Cloud | $25 per user/month (billed monthly) | Free Suite ($0, user limit not stated); 30-day free trial, no credit card required | sales teams that need a structured pipeline, shared customer records, and forecasting |
| HubSpot CRM | $15 per seat, per month (discounted for new customers only; standard price not stated) | Free plan (up to 2 seats, 1,000 contacts); free trial, length not stated | small businesses and growing teams that want a shared record of customers |
| Zoho CRM | US$14 per user per month (annual billing) | Free edition (up to 3 users); free trial, no credit card required, length not stated | small and mid-sized businesses that need a shared sales record |
| monday CRM | US$12 per user per month (yearly billing) | No free plan; 14-day free trial | sales teams that want a visual, customizable way to manage a pipeline |
| Copper | $23 per seat per month (billed annually) | No free plan; 14-day free trial (described on vendor signup page), no credit card required | sales teams that already work in Google Workspace |
Salesforce Sales Cloud Software
A large, configurable CRM sold in editions from a free two-user suite up to enterprise editions with advanced security and AI. Pricing is per user per month, billed annually above the entry edition.
HubSpot CRM Software
A CRM with a free edition for small teams and paid Sales Hub editions with deeper automation and reporting. Paid editions carry required one-time onboarding fees.
Zoho CRM Software
A CRM with a free edition for up to three users and four paid editions. It includes an AI assistant on higher editions and a large marketplace of extensions.
monday CRM Software
A CRM built on visual boards, with AI agents for lead sourcing, calls, and pipeline monitoring. It has no permanent free plan and a three-seat minimum on paid plans — and its pricing is separate from monday.com’s work management product.
Copper CRM Software
A CRM that lives inside Gmail and is built only for Google Workspace. It has no free plan and hard contact caps per tier — the right fit only for teams that run on Google.
Frequently asked questions
What is CRM software?
Software that collects, organises, and manages customer information — contacts, conversations, and deals — in one shared system.
Is there a free CRM?
Yes, three products in this guide offer free editions with limits on users, contacts, or features. Each product page states the exact limits as published by the vendor.
How is CRM software priced?
Usually per user per month, with higher editions adding automation, reporting, and AI. Some vendors add one-time onboarding fees — each product page shows them where the vendor publishes them.
Does CRM software work with Gmail and Outlook?
Most do, but not all. Copper works only with Google Workspace. Check the integrations section on each product page.
Last checked: November 3, 2026. Prices and features change — confirm the current details on the vendor’s own website before buying.