In a small business, your greatest advantage is the personal touch you can offer. But as your business grows, scaling that connection without losing it becomes a big challenge. A powerful CRM (Customer Relationship Management) is the solution, helping you manage more customer relationships while keeping that intimate connection alive.
A quick search on Capterra reveals over 2,000 CRM products. With so many options claiming to be the best CRM software for small businesses, choosing the right one can be overwhelming. In this article, I'll introduce the 10 best choices to help you decide which option is best for your business.
CRM software for small business
Lark for all-in-one customer relationship management
HubSpot CRM for a scalable CRM platform
Zoho CRM for customization
Less Annoying CRM for an easy-to-use experience
Salesforce for higher CRM requirements
Agile CRM for web engagement
Pipedrive for pipeline management
Keap for automation and email campaigns
Vtiger for an open source CRM solution
Freshsales for lead scoring
What is CRM software for small business?
CRM software for small businesses brings everything you need to manage customer relationships into one place—contacts, leads, sales opportunities, marketing, and support. It gives you a clear view of every interaction and helps you understand how people move from being prospects to long-term customers.
The difference from large enterprise CRMs is in the approach. Small business CRMs are usually simple, affordable, and quick to get started with, while enterprise systems are built for larger teams that need advanced customization, complex workflows, and more scale. For smaller teams, a CRM is about making the customer journey easier to follow without the heavy setup or cost.
Best CRM tools for small business at a glance
10 best CRM software for small business in 2025
1. Lark - Best for all-in-one customer relationship management
Don’t let outdated spreadsheets or scattered tools slow your team down. With Lark's next-gen CRM solution, you can manage the entire sales journey in one place—without coding or complicated setup. From capturing leads to closing deals, Lark gives sales managers and teams everything they need to stay organized, respond faster, and win more business.
Built into the Lark superapp, CRM is seamlessly connected to chat, meetings, docs, and approvals—so every opportunity moves forward without friction. Whether you’re in SaaS, e-commerce, or retail, Lark CRM helps you build smarter workflows, strengthen customer relationships, and close deals faster from any device with full mobile access.
Key features:
Organize and capture leads: Build a customizable lead and contact database with the exact fields your team needs, then embed capture forms on your website or marketing emails. Every submission syncs instantly into your CRM, so no lead slips through the cracks.
Automate busywork: Let AI handle repetitive tasks like extracting details from emails, drafting replies, and updating records. It even assigns the right sales reps to leads, so your team spends less time on admin and more time selling.
Control access: Protect sensitive data in your CRM database with advanced permissions. Each salesperson only sees the leads and accounts they’re responsible for, keeping information secure and workflows focused.
Understand your prospects: AI enriches each lead with relevant details—like company info, recent interactions, and key customer insights—so your team can engage intelligently and tailor follow-ups for better results.
Collaborate in real time: When a big opportunity comes in, Lark automatically creates a group chat for the sales team. Updates, notifications, and context are shared instantly. Need to hop on a call? Use Lark's built-in tools to schedule or start a video conference.
Prioritize what matters: AI scores opportunities based on potential value, guiding reps toward the deals most likely to close. Real-time dashboards then track revenue, rankings, and overdue tasks, giving managers full visibility at a glance.
Manage approvals: Use Lark Approval to submit discounts, budget adjustments, or other special requests. Managers receive instant notifications and can approve immediately, ensuring deals keep moving without delays.
Limitations:
Some AI capabilities and advanced features may require time to get familiar with.
Reviews:
Pricing:
Starter plan: Free forever plan that includes 11 powerful tools for up to 20 users. It also comes with 100GB of storage, 1000 automation runs, AI translations, and more.
Pro plan: $12/user/month (billed annually) for up to 500 users. It includes everything in Starter plus group calling for up to 500 attendees, 15TB of storage, 50,000 automation runs, and more.
Enterprise plan: Contact sales for custom pricing. Supports unlimited users and includes even more automation runs and advanced security, compliance, and management features.
2. HubSpot CRM - Best for teams that need a scalable CRM platform
HubSpot CRM offers a comprehensive set of features designed to help small businesses manage customer interactions efficiently. It's renowned for its easy integration with other HubSpot tools, providing a seamless experience for customer service, sales, and marketing teams. The intuitive interface and a free plan make it a popular choice for businesses just starting with CRM.
Image source: hubspot.com
Key features:
Contact and lead management: Store contacts in a customizable CRM, organize them with custom properties and lists, and track leads through a visual deal pipeline.
Sales and communication tools: Track email opens and clicks, use email templates, schedule meetings, and engage website visitors with live chat and chatbots.
Marketing and automation: Build landing pages and web forms to capture leads, and create automated email sequences and workflows with if/then logic.
AI-powered assistant: Use the "Breeze AI" assistant to help with tasks like creating content, prospecting for new leads, and summarizing customer data.
Limitations:
HubSpot's free CRM lacks some advanced features of modern CRMs, like reporting and automation, which are only accessible in paid tiers.
Reviews:
G2: 4.4
Capterra: 4.5
Gartner: 4.4
Pricing:
HubSpot has a free plan. Paid plans start at $9 per user/month.
3. Zoho CRM - Best for customization
Zoho CRM provides a versatile platform that integrates sales, marketing, and customer support functions. It's highly customizable, allowing businesses to tailor the system to their specific needs. Zoho's AI-driven insights help businesses make informed decisions, and its vast array of integrations makes it a flexible choice for growing companies.
Image source: zoho.com
Key features:
Sales force automation: Automate routine sales tasks, manage leads and deals, and create workflows to guide your sales process.
Omnichannel communication: Engage with customers across email, phone, social media, and live chat, with all interactions tracked in one place.
Deep customization: Use low-code tools like Canvas to redesign the user interface and Blueprint to enforce specific, rigid sales processes.
AI-powered analytics (Zia): Get predictive sales forecasts, identify anomalies in sales trends, and receive suggestions on the best times to contact leads.
Limitations:
The extensive customization options of Zoho CRM can be overwhelming for new users.
Reviews:
G2: 4.1
Capterra: 4.3
Gartner: 4.3
Pricing:
Zoho CRM has a free plan. Paid plans start at $14 per user/month.
4. Less Annoying CRM: Best for teams that want a simple and easy-to-use interface
As the name implies, Less Annoying CRM is crafted specifically for users seeking simplicity in managing customer relationships. Its straightforward interface and essential features make it easy for teams to adopt without extensive training. With its simple tools and focus on contact management and tasks, it also acts as a client management software for small business owners and teams.
Image source: lessannoyingcrm.com
Key features:
Simple contact management: Easily manage all your contacts and their communication history in one straightforward, uncluttered workspace.
Integrated calendar and tasks: Schedule appointments and manage your to-do list directly within the CRM, with daily agenda emails to keep you on track.
Basic lead and pipeline tracking: Create simple, customizable pipelines to track potential deals and see a clear report of your leads.
Straightforward and affordable: Features a single, transparent price of $15 per user per month with no hidden fees, contracts, or complicated tiers.
Limitations:
The simplicity of Less Annoying CRM means it lacks some advanced CRM features that larger businesses or those with complex needs might require, such as deep analytics or extensive automation.
Reviews:
G2: 4.9
Capterra: 4.8
Gartner: N/A
Pricing:
Less Annoying CRM does not have a free plan. Its paid plan is $15 per user/month.
5. Salesforce: Best for organizations with higher requirements
Salesforce is a powerhouse in the CRM industry, offering a comprehensive suite of tools that cover all aspects of customer relationship management. Its scalability and customization options make it suitable for businesses of all sizes. Salesforce's robust ecosystem and AppExchange marketplace provide endless possibilities for enhancing CRM functionality.
Image source: salesforce.com
Key features:
Lead and pipeline management: Capture leads from various sources, track them through a visual Kanban-style pipeline, and manage deals effectively.
AI-powered sales tools (Einstein): Use artificial intelligence to automatically capture activities, score leads, forecast sales, and get recommendations on next steps.
Workflow automation: Eliminate repetitive tasks by creating custom workflows and macros to automate processes like email follow-ups and task assignments.
Limitless customization and integration: Tailor the platform with custom fields and objects, and extend its functionality with over 5,000 apps from the AppExchange.
Limitations:
Not traditionally known as a budget-friendly CRM, the platform may be better suited for larger enterprises than small businesses.
Reviews:
G2: 4.4
Capterra: 4.4
Gartner: 4.5
Pricing:
Salesforce does not provide a free plan for CRM. Paid plans start at $25 per user/month.
6. Agile CRM: Best for user-friendly CRM and web engagement
Agile CRM offers an integrated cloud-based solution that includes a suite of sales, marketing, and service automation tools, making it a versatile choice for small businesses. Its user-friendly interface and strong automation capabilities help streamline operations and enhance customer experiences.
Image source: agilecrm.com
Key features:
Comprehensive functionality: Combines sales, marketing, and customer service tools, including contact management, deal tracking, and a helpdesk, in one platform.
Marketing automation: Create automated marketing campaigns, build landing pages and web forms, and send email newsletters.
Sales enablement tools: Use features like appointment scheduling, deal tracking with milestones, and integrated telephony for one-click calling.
Limitations:
The free version of Agile CRM is limited in terms of user count and some advanced features. Businesses may need to upgrade to paid plans to access the full range of capabilities.
Reviews:
G2: 4.0
Capterra: 4.1
Gartner: 4.6
Pricing:
Agile CRM has a free plan. Its paid plan starts at $8.99 per user/month.
7. Pipedrive: Best for pipeline management
Pipedrive is designed to help sales teams manage their pipelines effectively. Its visually appealing interface allows users to easily track deals and progress, making it a favorite among sales-driven organizations. Pipedrive emphasizes simplicity and effectiveness in managing sales activities.
Image source: pipedrive.com
Key features:
Visual sales pipeline: Manage deals using a clear, Kanban-style drag-and-drop interface that visualizes your entire sales process.
Activity-based selling: Schedule and track sales activities like calls, emails, and meetings, with smart reminders to ensure no follow-ups are missed.
Email and communication tracking: Sync your email to track conversations, use customizable templates, and get notifications for email opens and clicks.
Limitations:
While excellent for sales, Pipedrive offers fewer features for marketing and customer service, which may require integration with other tools for a complete solution.
Reviews:
G2: 4.3
Capterra: 4.5
Gartner: 4.2
Pricing:
Pipedrive does not have a free plan. Paid plans start at $14 per user/month.
8. Keap: Best for marketing automation and email campaigns
Keap, formerly known as Infusionsoft, combines CRM with marketing automation to support small business growth. It offers a comprehensive set of tools to manage contacts, automate marketing campaigns, and streamline sales processes.
Image source: g2.com
Key features:
Automation builder: Create complex, multi-step marketing and sales campaigns using a visual, drag-and-drop workflow builder.
Integrated sales and marketing: Manage contacts, segment lists, and send automated email and text message sequences all from one platform.
Sales pipeline management: Track leads and opportunities through a visual pipeline, with tools for lead scoring to prioritize your focus.
Limitations:
The interface can be initially overwhelming due to its extensive features, and it might require some time for users to fully leverage its capabilities.
Reviews:
G2: 4.2
Capterra: 4.1
Gartner: 4.2
Pricing:
Keap does not provide a free plan. Paid plans start from $249 per month for two users.
9. Vtiger: Best for teams that prefer open-source software
Vtiger provides a unified platform for managing sales, marketing, and customer support, with robust data encryption, making it one of the best CRMs for small companies. Its comprehensive feature set allows businesses to manage their entire customer lifecycle from a single platform. Vtiger's flexibility and integration options make it a strong contender in the CRM space.
Image source: g2.com
Key features:
Full feature coverage: Combines sales, marketing, and customer support modules into a single, integrated platform for a 360-degree customer view.
Sales and pipeline management: Manage deals, generate complex quotes (CPQ), and get sales insights and forecasts.
Help desk and customer portal: Includes a support ticketing system, SLAs, and a customer self-service portal for accessing FAQs, invoices, and support tickets.
Limitations:
Vtiger can be complex for those without prior CRM experience, and users may need time to familiarize themselves with its extensive features.
Reviews:
G2: 4.3
Capterra: 4.3
Gartner: 4.4
Pricing:
Vtiger has a free plan. Paid plans start at $12 per user/month.
10. Freshsales: Best for lead-scoring and management
Freshsales by Freshworks is designed for sales teams that require a high-velocity CRM tool. It offers robust features like AI-driven lead scoring and built-in communication tools, helping businesses close deals more effectively.
Image source: freshworks.com
Key features:
Built-in communication channels: Make calls, send emails, and chat with website visitors directly from the CRM without needing separate tools.
AI-powered sales assistant (Freddy AI): Automatically score leads based on engagement, get predictive insights on deals, and automate repetitive tasks.
Visual sales pipeline: Track deals through customizable stages using a drag-and-drop Kanban view for a clear overview of your sales process.
Limitations:
Customization options are limited compared to some competitors, which might be restrictive for businesses with unique requirements.
Reviews:
G2: 4.5
Capterra: 4.5
Gartner: 4.4
Pricing:
Freshsales has a free plan. Paid plans start at $9 per user/month.
Other small business CRM software
Monday CRM: A visually intuitive CRM that helps teams manage sales pipelines, track customer interactions, and automate workflows, all within a collaborative platform.
Zendesk: A comprehensive platform that unifies channels like email, chat, and social media to help businesses build customer relationships.
Odoo: An all-in-one business management software with a modular design, offering a range of integrated applications including CRM and project management.
SuiteCRM: An open-source CRM system that provides a powerful set of tools for sales, marketing, and more, allowing businesses to customize and scale their operations.
Flowlu: A business management platform that integrates CRM with project management, helping small businesses organize their work.
Benefits of small business CRM software
Using a CRM can transform how a small business operates, offering a variety of key benefits:
Improved customer relationships: A CRM helps you deliver personalized experiences by tracking every interaction and preference. This fosters long-lasting relationships and boosts customer loyalty.
Increased productivity: CRMs automate routine tasks like data entry and follow-ups. This frees up your sales team to focus on high-value activities, leading to greater efficiency and revenue. In fact, a CRM can boost sales productivity by as much as 34%.
Data-driven insights: By collecting and analyzing data from various customer touchpoints, CRMs give you valuable insights. This helps you make smarter decisions about your sales and marketing strategies.
Enhanced collaboration: With a centralized database, your whole team can easily access and share information. This improves communication and teamwork, helping everyone close deals more effectively.
Streamlined communication: A CRM keeps all your customer communications in one place, making it easy to ensure timely and consistent follow-ups. This builds customer trust and satisfaction.
Better customer retention: By monitoring interactions and feedback, a CRM helps you spot at-risk customers and put a plan in place to keep them. Studies show that 61% of SMBs report higher retention rates after adopting a CRM solution.
How to choose the best CRM for your small business
As a small business, your priorities will differ from those of larger organizations. With that in mind, focus on these key elements—ranked by importance—when selecting your CRM tool:
Cost: Evaluate your budget and look for CRM solutions that offer a good balance of features and affordability. Many CRM providers offer multiple pricing options, with many offering low-cost plans and some even offering free versions.
Ease of use: A simple CRM is crucial so that your team can quickly adapt and utilize the software without extensive training. Data input should also be easy to minimize maintenance friction and costs.
Scalability: Choose a CRM that can grow with your business. Look for features that can be added as your customer base expands.
Integration capabilities: Ensure the CRM software can integrate with other tools you already use, such as email marketing platforms or accounting software, to streamline workflows.
Customer support: Reliable customer support is essential, especially for small businesses that may not have an IT team. Look for platforms that provide customer support options such as human agents and an extensive help center.
In addition, be sure to read reviews. Visit sites like G2 and Capterra to read customer stories involving CRM tools. This will give you a good idea of how popular a platform is with its existing customers.
Why Lark is the best CRM solution for small businesses
Small businesses can't afford to waste time or money on complicated software. They need a CRM that's not just a contact list, but a complete business solution. Lark is that solution—an all-in-one platform that simplifies your entire sales process, boosts team efficiency, and helps you close more deals without the high costs or complexity of traditional CRMs.
A single hub for your entire sales operation
Tired of juggling a dozen different apps? Lark brings your entire workflow into one unified platform. From the moment a lead comes in to the final post-sales project, your team can manage accounts, track deals, and generate quotes all without leaving the platform.
With built-in messaging and approval tools, collaboration is seamless, eliminating the need to switch between separate communication and management apps.
Full control, zero code: Customize your sales pipelines, forms, and views to perfectly match your team's unique process. Lark's no-code design means you can make changes instantly, without waiting for IT.
Smart automation: Set up automated workflows to handle repetitive tasks and reduce manual effort. Get instant alerts for new customer information or key deal milestones. Plus, trigger approval requests or create a group chat when a new action is needed.
AI that works for you
Lark isn't just a CRM; it's an intelligent partner for your sales team. Its AI-native features act as a personal assistant, enriching your data and guiding your team to their next best move.
Instant lead insights: AI automatically enriches new leads with details like company size and industry, giving your team a complete picture from the start to help you identify high-value customers.
AI-powered assignments: Automatically assign leads to the right sales reps based on criteria you define, ensuring no opportunity is missed.
Real-time visibility, actionable insights
With Lark's live dashboards, you can monitor your pipeline and make smarter decisions in real time. Managers can see a clear picture of team performance, while reps can track their own progress against goals.
Customizable views: Display CRM data and metrics that matter most with customizable charts and widgets.
Anywhere access: Get a complete overview of your sales data from any device, whether you're in the office or on the road.
A CRM built for the modern, mobile team
The modern sales team is always on the move, and Lark is ready for it. The dedicated mobile app keeps your sales engine running from anywhere.
Stay connected: Receive instant push notifications for new leads, task reminders, and important updates, so you're always in the loop.
Update on the go: Log calls, add follow-up notes, track progress, assign tasks, and update deal stages in just a few taps.
Unbeatable value and easy migration
For small businesses, cost is a major factor. Lark offers an unbeatable value proposition by providing an affordable, centralized platform for all your CRM needs. The core CRM solution is included in the free plan, giving you a powerful, all-in-one solution without a single expense.
When you're ready to scale, the Pro plan offers unlimited message history and ample storage for just $12 per user per month. By replacing multiple third-party tools, Lark can save your business thousands of dollars annually. Unlike expensive and complex legacy CRMs, Lark is easy to adopt and even allows you to import data from platforms like Salesforce for a smooth transition.
To help you get started even faster, Lark provides hundreds of free, ready-made templates for everything from sales pipelines to lead tracking.
Just choose a template below, customize it to your needs, and you're ready to go.
Basic CRM template
This template is designed for businesses of all sizes that want a simple way to manage their customer relationships more effectively. Ideal for those new to CRM or for teams that just need a basic framework.
Sales CRM template
This template is optimized for sales teams, with comprehensive recording of client information, opportunity tracking, and sales team management. It also features a client visit log to ensure critical follow-ups are not missed. Perfect for teams that are customer-facing and sales-focused.
Comprehensive CRM template
This template allows you to manage your entire sales cycle and customer journey with dedicated tables for everything from leads and activities to products and quotations. All of this information feeds directly into a dynamic dashboard that gives you an at-a-glance view of your key metrics in real time.
Final thoughts on the best CRM for small business
So, what is the best CRM software for small businesses? While the answer isn't the same for all businesses, we're confident that the tools we've listed offer excellent value for startups, solopreneurs, and growing teams.
Still, no amount of research can replace real-world experience. That's why we recommend testing your options before making a commitment. A great place to start is Lark. Its generous free plan gives you access to 11 powerful tools designed to streamline CRM and collaboration. Plus, with a wide range of free templates, Lark makes it easy to hit the ground running.
FAQs
What is the best CRM software for small business?
Lark, HubSpot, and Zoho CRM are the leading CRM solutions for small businesses. While each has its strengths, Lark's generous free plan and affordable paid plans make it a great choice for small businesses that need a CRM solution.
What is the best free CRM for small business?
Most customer relationship management solutions offer free versions, but not all of them are created equal. For example, Zoho CRM has a solid free plan, but it only allows up to 3 team members. By contrast, Lark stands out with one of the most generous free plans—giving you access to 11 key features and support for up to 20 team members.
Are there any differences between CRM for small businesses vs bigger enterprises?
CRMs for small businesses prioritize simplicity, affordability, and essential features, while enterprise CRMs focus on advanced customization, scalability, and complex workflows for large teams.
What is the best open source CRM software for small businesses?
Vtiger, Odoo, and SuiteCRM are popular open-source CRM solutions for small businesses, offering flexibility and customization for small and mid-sized businesses.
Does Google have a basic CRM?
Google does not have a standalone CRM, but you can use Google Workspace apps (like Sheets and Contacts) with add-ons to manage customer relationships and track deal progress.
Which CRM is best for beginners?
HubSpot CRM, Agile CRM, and Lark are the most beginner-friendly, ensuring teams stay on the same page with an intuitive interface, guided setup, and free access to essential features.
Table of Contents
