Choosing the right CRM tool is critical for any startup in 2025. A good CRM helps you manage leads, track deals, automate follow-ups, and build strong customer relationships. This blog covers the top CRM tools for startups, with details on pricing (free and paid), how long they’ve been in the market, and their main advantages.
What Startups Should Look For in a CRM
- Simple, clean interface (easy for founders and sales reps).
- Free or low-cost plans for early-stage teams.
- Strong contact and pipeline management.
- Email, call, and integration support (Google Workspace, Slack, etc.).
- Ability to scale as the startup grows.
Below are the best CRM tools for startups in a simple, clear format.
HubSpot CRM
- Age: Launched in 2006 (around 19 years old in 2025).
- Pricing:
- Free plan: Yes (free forever).
- Paid plans: Starter, Professional, Enterprise (monthly per user).
Advantages:
- One of the most popular free CRM tools for startups worldwide.
- Clean, easy-to-use interface suitable for non-technical founders.
- Free plan includes contacts, deals, email tracking, forms, live chat, meeting scheduler.
- Strong integrations with Gmail, Outlook, Slack, Stripe and many other tools.
Best For:
- Startups wanting a powerful free CRM.
- Marketing- and content-driven startups.
Zoho CRM
- Age: Zoho company started in 1996, Zoho CRM has been in the market for over 20 years.
- Pricing:
- Free/very low-cost entry options.
- Multiple paid tiers with affordable India-friendly pricing.
Advantages:
- Very popular among Indian startups and SMEs.
- Features include leads, deals, workflows, reports, email integration and automation.
- Connects with other Zoho products like Zoho Books, Zoho Mail, Zoho Projects.
Best For:
- Indian startups and service businesses.
- SMEs that prefer one ecosystem for multiple business apps.
Zoho Bigin
- Age: Newer product from Zoho, focused on small businesses.
- Pricing:
- No full free plan, but very low-cost simple CRM.
Advantages:
- Pipeline-focused “mini CRM” designed for startups and small teams.
- Simple interface with easy deal stages and contact management.
- Good option when a full Zoho CRM feels heavy, but you still want basic tracking.
Best For:
- Early-stage startups needing only basic pipeline CRM.
- Indian small businesses.
Salesforce Starter (or Salesforce Essentials)
- Age: Salesforce launched in 1999 (over 25 years old in 2025).
- Pricing:
- No free forever plan (trial only).
- Starter-level paid plans for small teams and startups.
Advantages:
- One of the most powerful and established CRM platforms in the world.
- Highly scalable with deep customization and automation options.
- Great reporting and dashboards for founders and investors.
Best For:
- Funded or high-growth startups.
- Startups that want a system they will not outgrow.
Pipedrive
- Age: Launched in 2010 (around 15 years old in 2025).
- Pricing:
- No free forever plan.
- Paid plans with different feature levels.
Advantages:
- Pipeline-focused CRM with a very visual deal board.
- Easy drag-and-drop deal stages for simple sales tracking.
- Great for founders and sales teams who live inside their pipeline daily.
Best For:
- Sales-driven startups.
- Agencies and B2B service companies.
Freshsales
- Age: Part of Freshworks, which started around 2010 (10+ years in market).
- Pricing:
- Free trial / limited free use in some cases.
- Paid plans add AI features and advanced functions.
Advantages:
- Good mix of CRM + built-in phone, email and chat.
- AI-based lead scoring and deal insights.
- Strong fit for SaaS and tech startups, including many in India.
Best For:
- SaaS startups and IT services.
- Teams wanting AI features without a very complex system.
BIGContacts
- Age: Around since early 2010s (10+ years).
- Pricing:
- No free forever plan.
- Very low-cost paid plans for small teams.
Advantages:
- Simple CRM focused on contact management, tasks and follow-ups.
- Often mentioned as a “cheap CRM for startups” in 2025 lists.
- Good for very small teams that want basic CRM at minimum cost.
Best For:
- Freelancers, micro-startups and very small teams.
- Budget-conscious founders.
OnePageCRM
- Age: In market for about a decade, focused on small business.
- Pricing:
- Paid plans only.
- Simple pricing structure aimed at small teams.
Advantages:
- Action-based CRM – every contact has a “next action” so follow-ups never get missed.
- Clean, minimal interface that’s not overloaded with features.
- Good fit for founders who like to-do lists.
Best For:
- Solo founders and small B2B teams.
- Startups that want simplicity over complexity.
EMERGE (and other India-focused CRMs)
- Age: Newer generation of India-focused CRM tools.
- Pricing:
- Budget-friendly, made for Indian small businesses.
Advantages:
- Focus on Indian business requirements like GST, local invoicing, local support.
- Often simpler than global CRMs, easier for non-tech users.
Best For:
- Indian SMEs and local startups.
- Businesses that want India-specific features and support.
Conclusion
In 2025, the best CRM for your startup is the one that your team will actually use every day. Tools like HubSpot CRM, Zoho CRM, Zoho Bigin, Salesforce Starter, Pipedrive, Freshsales, BIGContacts, OnePageCRM and EMERGE all solve the core problem of orgaizing leads, tracking deals and keeping customer data in one place. Free and low-cost plans make it easy to start small, while scalable features and AI support help you grow without changing systems later.
Choose a CRM that matches your stage: a simple free CRM if you’re just starting out, an India-focused CRM if you’re serving Indian customers, or a scalable CRM like Salesforce or HubSpot if you expect rapid growth. When set up properly and used consistently, the right CRM becomes the backbone of your startup’s sales, marketing and customer success efforts.
