SFDIFY
For most small businesses, HubSpot CRM is the strongest genuinely free option, with no expiration date and support for unlimited customer data [4]. If you want full control over your data with a self-hosted, open-source install, EspoCRM is the free crm software download worth evaluating [8]. Zoho CRM and Bitrix24 round out the field with different free-tier tradeoffs, while folk and Pipedrive are better understood as low-friction trials than permanent free plans.
How we chose
We reviewed each vendor's official pricing and product pages rather than running our own trials. We prioritized tools with a free tier that does not expire, that support more than a token number of users or contacts, that include real contact and pipeline management for free, and that come from vendors with a clear, actively maintained upgrade path. We also noted whether a product is a cloud sign-up or a true downloadable, self-hosted install, since searches for "crm software free download" and "open source crm software free download" often mean two different things.
Comparison table
| Product | Best for | Starting price (paid tier) | Key differentiators |
|---|---|---|---|
| HubSpot CRM | Small businesses wanting a permanent free plan | Starts at $15/month per seat [4] | Free with up to two users and 1,000 contacts, no expiration date [4] |
| Zoho CRM (Free Edition) | Small teams up to 3 users | Check current pricing (Standard tier priced per user/month, figure not published in source) [5] | "Forever free, for 3 users" with leads, documents, and mobile apps [5] |
| EspoCRM | Self-hosted, full data control | Check current pricing (commercial licensing not detailed in source) [8] | Open-source, self-hosted CRM you download and run on your own server [8] |
| Bitrix24 | Small teams wanting CRM plus collaboration tools | Flat organization pricing; free plan includes basic CRM [7] | Free plan with "Basic CRM (deals, contacts)"; the user limit differs between its homepage and pricing page [6, 7] |
| folk | Lightweight, contact-centric setup | $24/member/month (Standard, billed annually) [9] | Free trial activated automatically on signup, no credit card required [9] |
| Pipedrive | Sales teams evaluating pipeline tools | Check current pricing | 14-day free trial, no credit card required [1] |
HubSpot CRM
HubSpot CRM download and sign-up gives you a cloud-based CRM that the company positions explicitly against time-limited trials: "unlike a free trial, it's 100% free with no expiration date" [4].
Verified features and pricing. The free tier supports up to two users and 1,000 contacts, with "no limits on customer data" according to HubSpot [4]. It works directly in a browser — Chrome, Firefox, Safari, or Edge — with no separate download or installation required [4]. Paid tiers start at $15/month per seat [4].
Strengths. The free plan does not expire, which sets it apart from products that only offer a trial. It also includes integration with more than 2,000 apps through the HubSpot Marketplace [4].
Limitations. The free tier caps out at two users and 1,000 contacts [4], which may be tight for a team that is already scaling.
Best fit. Solo operators and very small teams that want a permanent free CRM without a credit card and without managing their own server. For teams weighing a pre-built CRM against a custom build, see SFDIFY's piece on CRM selection: custom, Salesforce, or off-the-shelf.
Zoho CRM (Free Edition)
Zoho CRM's free crm software download/sign-up is described on its pricing page as "Forever free, for 3 users" [5].
Verified features and pricing. The free edition "supports upto 3 users and comes with the essentials like leads, documents, and mobile apps," which Zoho calls "a perfect fit for your home business" [5]. Paid tiers (Standard, Professional, Enterprise) are available on a pay-as-you-go monthly or yearly basis, though Zoho's page does not publish a specific starting dollar figure in the text reviewed [5].
Strengths. The free edition is permanent rather than a trial, and it comes from an established vendor with multiple paid tiers to grow into [5].
Limitations. The free edition is capped at 3 users [5].
Best fit. Very small teams or home-based businesses that fit within the 3-user cap and want core lead and contact management without a trial deadline.
EspoCRM
EspoCRM is an open-source CRM and the clearest answer among these candidates to "open source crm software free download." Its own description: "EspoCRM is a free, open-source CRM you host on your own server" [8].
Verified features and pricing. EspoCRM lets users "track contacts, manage deals, handle support cases with a built-in customer portal, and run email campaigns" [8]. It is licensed under the GNU Affero General Public License v3 (AGPLv3) [8], and the vendor states "No per-user fees" and "Full control over your data" [8]. Pricing for any commercial licensing option is not detailed in the sources reviewed — check current pricing directly with EspoCRM.
Strengths. Because it is self-hosted, there is no per-user fee structure to outgrow in the way cloud free tiers cap users or contacts [8].
Limitations. Self-hosting means your organization is responsible for running and maintaining the server environment; EspoCRM's own materials are the source for setup and deployment options.
Best fit. Businesses that want a downloadable, self-hosted CRM with full ownership of their data rather than a cloud account.
Bitrix24
Bitrix24 offers a free tier, but its own pages differ on the limit: the homepage says "Free forever for unlimited users" [6], while the pricing page describes the Free plan as "100% free for 1–2 users" [7]. Check the current limit before rolling it out to a team.
Verified features and pricing. The Free plan includes "Basic CRM (deals, contacts)" [7]. Some tools, such as Telephony and Bitrix24 Market apps, are reserved for paid plans [7]. Paid plans use flat, organization-wide pricing rather than per-user billing [6, 7].
Strengths. The free tier bundles basic CRM with collaboration tools in one workspace, so a very small team can start without paying [7].
Limitations. Some functionality, including telephony and marketplace apps, sits behind paid plans [7].
Best fit. Very small teams that want collaboration tools bundled with core CRM functions.
folk
folk describes itself as "One platform for your entire sales motion" and "The only AI CRM your team needs to close deals and find your next clients" [2].
Verified features and pricing. folk's Standard plan is listed at $24/member/month when billed annually, or $30/member/month billed monthly [9]. According to folk, "When you sign up on folk, we automatically activate a 2 weeks free trial on your workspace, so that you can fully test folk for free with all the premium features" [9], and no credit card is required during that trial [9].
Strengths. The trial activates automatically without requiring payment details up front [9].
Limitations. folk's sources describe a free trial rather than a permanent free tier, so it does not meet the "free forever" bar the other candidates do.
Best fit. Small, fast-moving teams that want to test a contact-centric CRM quickly before committing to a paid seat.
Pipedrive
Pipedrive is a sales pipeline CRM built for tracking leads and deals, and it is frequently compared against free CRMs by small sales teams [1].
Verified features and pricing. Pipedrive offers a "14-day free trial, no credit card required" [1]. It integrates with "hundreds of tools and apps through the Pipedrive Marketplace, including Facebook, Zapier, Xero, Trello and Zoom" [1]. Check Pipedrive's site for current paid-tier pricing.
Strengths. The trial requires no credit card, and the Marketplace integration list is broad [1].
Limitations. Pipedrive's free offering is a time-limited trial rather than a permanent free plan, so it does not meet the "free forever" criterion used elsewhere in this comparison.
Best fit. Sales-focused teams that want to evaluate a dedicated pipeline tool before paying, understanding that the free period is temporary.
When a free CRM isn't enough
Free tiers work well until user counts, contact limits, or automation needs outgrow them. At that point, teams either upgrade to a paid tier from the same vendor or move to a CRM built around their specific workflow. If your sales process involves heavy outbound calling, SFDIFY's comparison of telemarketing CRM software covers tools built for that use case. For teams that have outgrown off-the-shelf options entirely, SFDIFY also builds custom CRM systems, and our piece on custom vs. Salesforce vs. off-the-shelf CRM selection walks through that decision in more depth.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is HubSpot CRM download really free forever, or just a trial? HubSpot states its free CRM is "100% free with no expiration date," distinguishing it from a free trial [4]. The free tier covers up to two users and 1,000 contacts [4].
What does "crm software free download" actually get you? It depends on the vendor. HubSpot and folk are cloud sign-ups accessed through a browser rather than a literal download [4, 2]. EspoCRM is the one candidate here that is a true downloadable, self-hosted install [8].
Is there a genuinely open source crm software free download option? Yes. EspoCRM is open-source, licensed under AGPLv3, and described by its own site as a CRM "you host on your own server" with "No per-user fees" [8].
How is Close CRM different from these options? Close CRM is not among the candidates evaluated in this comparison, so no claims about it are included here.
Can I just use the Zoho CRM free edition long-term? Zoho describes its free edition as "Forever free, for 3 users," including leads, documents, and mobile apps [5]. It fits a very small team but will need an upgrade once you pass three users.
Our recommendation
If you want a CRM with no expiration date and room to grow, start with HubSpot CRM, given its permanent free tier and unlimited customer data policy [4]. If data ownership and self-hosting matter more than ease of cloud setup, EspoCRM's open-source download is the right starting point [8]. Teams of three or fewer that want a lightweight, no-cost option should look at Zoho CRM's free edition [5], while teams expecting to add many users quickly without hitting a seat cap should consider Bitrix24 [6]. folk and Pipedrive are worth trialing if your priority is sales-pipeline tooling, but budget for payment once their trial periods end [9, 1].
Sources
- Sales CRM & Pipeline Management Software | Pipedrive — checked 2026-11-08
- The AI CRM for your entire sales motion — checked 2026-11-08
- EspoCRM — #1 Open Source CRM — checked 2026-11-08
- Free CRM Software for Small Businesses | HubSpot — checked 2026-11-08
- Zoho CRM Pricing and Editions - Free for 3 users — checked 2026-11-08
- Bitrix24 - Free online workspace for your business: CRM, tasks, online meetings, and more. — checked 2026-11-08
- Bitrix24 plans and pricing — checked 2026-11-08
- Free Open Source CRM Software | Download EspoCRM — checked 2026-11-08
- folk CRM Pricing — Free, Standard & Premium Plans — checked 2026-11-08
