How we make this list: we compare vendor pricing pages, product documentation and plan limits, and print the month we checked each price. We don’t accept payment for rankings.
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HubSpot is the best Salesforce alternative for most people leaving Salesforce. Its free CRM covers contacts, deals and email tracking, and Sales Hub Starter starts from $20 a month per seat. Freshsales suits startups that want a paid CRM for $9 a user a month. Pipedrive suits teams that want a visual pipeline for $14 a seat a month.
Key takeaways
5 of 8 tools here have a free plan (Nov 2026). The lowest paid start is $9 a month: Freshsales Growth, Monday Basic and Close Solo.
Salesforce Starter Suite costs $25 a user a month, and Pro Suite costs $100 a user a month on an annual contract (Nov 2026).
HubSpot, Freshsales, Monday, Attio and Bitrix24 all have free plans. Salesforce has none, only a 30-day trial.
Bitrix24 Basic at $49 a month covers 5 users, against $125 for five Salesforce Starter seats.
Close is the only pick here with a built-in dialer on its entry plan.
Salesforce alternatives make sense once the admin work and the add-on bill, not the CRM, become the problem. Salesforce Starter Suite costs $25 a user a month, and Pro Suite costs $100 a user a month on an annual contract (Nov 2026). Setup and customization often need an admin or consultant, and many advanced features require annual contracts. Costs rise quickly as you add editions, users and add-ons.
This list groups the 8 best salesforce alternatives by the reason people leave: a price that climbs with every user and add-on, setup that needs an admin, and features locked behind annual contracts. If you are still weighing the wider market, start with our best CRM software guide, then come back here to pick a replacement.
Starting priceFree; Marketing Hub Starter from $20/month…
Free planYes
Free trialNot confirmed
PlatformsWeb, iOS, Android, API
Switch if: Switch if Salesforce setup and admin work are slowing your team down.
HubSpot is the best Salesforce alternative for teams that want a CRM without the admin overhead. The free CRM covers contacts, deals and email tracking at no cost, and Sales Hub Starter starts from $20 a month per seat (Nov 2026). It suits small and midsize B2B teams that want marketing, sales and service in one account, with a setup that takes days rather than months.
The catch is the upgrade path. The free tier is basic, and the full Sales Hub with automation and reporting costs far more than the Starter price. HubSpot is also less flexible than Salesforce for deep custom objects, so very large teams with complex processes may outgrow it.
What we like
Free CRM with contacts, deals and email tracking
Sales Hub Starter from $20 a month per seat
Marketing, sales and service in one platform
Watch out for
Free tier is basic; full features cost far more
Less flexible than Salesforce for deep customization
Switch if: Switch if you want a real CRM for $9 a user a month.
Freshsales is the cheapest paid Salesforce alternative for a startup. Growth costs $9 a user a month billed annually, against Salesforce Starter Suite at $25 a user a month (Nov 2026). It covers leads, deals, email and phone in one account, with a free plan for teams that want to start at no cost. Pro at $39 a month adds sequences and scoring for teams that run outbound.
The catch is the AI add-on. Freddy AI costs $49 per 100 sessions extra, and sequences and scoring need the Pro plan. Freshsales is also a smaller ecosystem than Salesforce, so teams that need a large app marketplace will find fewer options.
What we like
Growth at $9 a user a month undercuts Salesforce Starter
Switch if: Switch if you want a visual pipeline without Salesforce admin work.
Pipedrive is the Salesforce alternative for teams that want a pipeline they can read at a glance. Lite costs $14 a seat a month billed annually, against Salesforce Starter Suite at $25 a user a month (Nov 2026). The visual pipeline, deal stages and activity reminders suit small B2B teams that sell in a straight line, with no admin needed to set it up.
The catch is the Lite tier. Email sync and automation are not in Lite, so a team that wants those needs Growth at $39 a seat a month. There is also no free plan, only a 14-day trial, and Pipedrive is weaker than Salesforce on reporting and custom objects.
What we like
Lite at $14 a seat a month undercuts Salesforce Starter
Visual pipeline that is easy to read
No admin needed to set it up
Watch out for
Email sync and automation need Growth at $39 a month
Switch if: Switch if your team thinks in boards and wants a CRM they will open daily.
Monday.com is the Salesforce alternative for teams that think in boards. Work management Basic costs $9 a seat a month billed annually, and monday CRM starts at $12 a seat a month billed annually (Nov 2026). Color-coded statuses and drag-and-drop boards make the pipeline visible to the whole team, and the free plan covers 2 seats for a small team starting out.
The catch is the seat minimum. Paid plans start from 3 users, so a solo rep pays for three seats. Timeline and Gantt views also need Standard at $12 a seat a month, and monday CRM is a separate product with its own price, so the full setup costs more than the headline figure.
What we like
Visual boards that the whole team can read
Basic at $9 a seat a month billed annually
Free plan covers 2 seats
Watch out for
Paid plans have a 3-seat minimum
Timeline and Gantt need Standard at $12 a seat
monday CRM is priced separately from work management
Switch if: Switch if your reps live on the phone and Salesforce slows them down.
Close is the Salesforce alternative for inside sales teams that live on the phone. Solo costs $9 a user a month billed annually, against Salesforce Starter Suite at $25 a user a month (Nov 2026). The built-in dialer, SMS and email sit next to the pipeline, so reps call, text and email without switching tools. It suits teams that make a high volume of calls every day.
The catch is the tier jump. Workflows and dialers need Growth at $99 a user a month, so a team that wants automation pays far more than the entry price. Calling and SMS are also charged by usage, and there is no free plan, only a 14-day trial.
What we like
Solo at $9 a user a month undercuts Salesforce Starter
Built-in dialer, SMS and email next to the pipeline
Switch if: Switch if your agency lives in Google Workspace and wants a CRM inside it.
Copper is the Salesforce alternative for agencies that live in Google Workspace. Basic costs $23 a seat a month billed annually, against Salesforce Starter Suite at $25 a user a month (Nov 2026). It pulls Gmail, Calendar and Drive into the CRM automatically, so an agency team never leaves Google to log a deal. Basic covers 2,500 contacts, which suits a small agency book.
The catch is the contact cap and the tier jump. Professional at $59 a seat a month raises the cap to 15,000 contacts and adds workflow automation, so a growing agency pays more fast. Copper is also weaker than Salesforce on reporting and custom objects.
What we like
Pulls Gmail, Calendar and Drive into the CRM
Basic at $23 a seat a month undercuts Salesforce Starter
No data entry: emails and meetings log themselves
Watch out for
Basic caps you at 2,500 contacts
Automation needs Professional at $59 a seat a month
Switch if: Switch if you want a CRM shaped around your data, not Salesforce's.
Attio is the Salesforce alternative for startups that want a CRM shaped around their own data. Plus costs $35 a seat a month billed annually, against Salesforce Starter Suite at $25 a user a month (Nov 2026). The free plan covers up to 3 seats, and the flexible object model lets a team track any kind of record, not just contacts and deals. It suits early-stage teams building their first sales process from scratch.
The catch is the price and the setup. Plus costs $10 a seat more than Salesforce Starter, and the flexibility means more setup decisions up front. Sequences and call intelligence sit on Pro at $79 a seat a month, and AI use is tied to monthly credits that can run out.
What we like
Flexible data model for any kind of record
Free plan covers up to 3 seats
Modern interface that startups adopt fast
Watch out for
Plus at $35 a seat costs more than Salesforce Starter
Switch if: Switch if you want CRM, projects and HR in one account for one price.
Bitrix24 is the Salesforce alternative for teams that want a CRM plus project management, HR and chat in one account. Basic costs $49 a month billed annually for 5 users, against Salesforce Starter Suite at $25 a user a month, which would cost $125 for the same five users (Nov 2026). It suits small and midsize businesses that want one platform instead of five tools.
The catch is the interface and the setup. The dashboard can feel crowded because of the number of tools, and setup takes time to tailor to your workflow. Advanced automation, HR and analytics features are limited to higher tiers, so a team that wants those pays more than the entry price.
What we like
Basic at $49 a month covers 5 users, cheaper than Salesforce for five
Sources used: vendor pricing pages, docs, changelogs. Prices and limits were checked against each vendor's own pricing page in Nov 2026.
Criterion
Weight
What we looked at
Price per user as the team grows
35%
Salesforce bills per user with annual contracts, so we priced each tool at one, five and ten users where the vendor publishes those rates.
Setup time without an admin
25%
Salesforce setup often needs an admin, so we weighed how fast a small team can launch each rival.
Free plan usefulness
20%
Salesforce has no free plan, so we compared free user caps and features directly against that gap.
Fit for Salesforce leavers
20%
A good replacement must cover what the leaver loses: pipeline, reporting, email and integrations.
What is the cheapest Salesforce alternative?
Freshsales is the cheapest paid Salesforce alternative, at $9 a user a month billed annually for Growth (Nov 2026). Monday Basic and Close Solo also cost $9 a month. HubSpot free is the cheapest way to start, with a free CRM at no cost. Salesforce Starter Suite costs $25 a user a month.
Is there a free Salesforce alternative?
Yes. HubSpot, Freshsales, Monday, Attio and Bitrix24 all have free plans. HubSpot free is the most useful, with contacts, deals and email tracking. Salesforce has no free plan, only a 30-day trial. Our best free CRM software guide compares free plans across the market.
Which Salesforce alternative is best for small business?
HubSpot is the best Salesforce alternative for a small business, with a free CRM and Sales Hub Starter from $20 a month per seat. Freshsales is the best pick for a paid CRM on a budget, at $9 a user a month. Pipedrive is the best pick for a visual pipeline, at $14 a seat a month billed annually.
Is HubSpot better than Salesforce?
HubSpot is better than Salesforce for small and midsize teams that want a fast setup and a free CRM. Salesforce is better for large teams that need deep customization, custom objects and a huge app ecosystem. HubSpot free covers the basics, while Salesforce Starter Suite costs $25 a user a month (Nov 2026).
Frequently asked questions
What is the best Salesforce alternative?
HubSpot is the best Salesforce alternative for most people, with a free CRM and Sales Hub Starter from $20 a month per seat. Freshsales is the best budget pick at $9 a user a month. Pipedrive is the best pick for a visual pipeline at $14 a seat a month billed annually.
Why do people leave Salesforce?
People leave Salesforce for three reasons: price, setup and contracts. Starter Suite costs $25 a user a month and Pro Suite $100, setup often needs an admin or consultant, and many features require annual contracts (Nov 2026). Costs rise quickly with editions, users and add-ons.
Is HubSpot cheaper than Salesforce?
Yes, at the entry tier. HubSpot free CRM costs nothing, and Sales Hub Starter starts from $20 a month per seat, against Salesforce Starter Suite at $25 a user a month (Nov 2026). HubSpot's full platform costs more at higher tiers, so price the features you need before you pick.
What is the cheapest CRM software?
Freshsales Growth is the cheapest paid CRM in this list at $9 a user a month billed annually, tied with Monday Basic and Close Solo. HubSpot free is the cheapest way to start, with no cost for contacts, deals and email tracking. Bitrix24 free also covers small teams.
Which Salesforce alternative is best for startups?
Attio is the best Salesforce alternative for early-stage startups, with a free plan for 3 seats and a flexible data model. Freshsales is the best budget pick at $9 a user a month. HubSpot free is the best pick for a startup that wants marketing and sales in one account.
Can I move my Salesforce data to another CRM?
Yes, every tool here lets you import contacts, deals and activities from Salesforce by CSV or a direct import tool. HubSpot and Pipedrive both offer guided migration help. Custom objects and automations usually need rebuilding, since field structures differ between CRMs.
Is Pipedrive better than Salesforce?
Pipedrive is better than Salesforce for small B2B teams that want a visual pipeline and a fast setup, at $14 a seat a month billed annually. Salesforce is better for large teams that need deep reporting and custom objects. Pipedrive Lite has no email sync or automation, which need Growth at $39 a month.
Final verdict
Pick HubSpot if you want a free CRM inside a platform that grows with you.
Pick Freshsales if you want a paid CRM for $9 a user a month.
Pick Pipedrive if you want a visual pipeline for $14 a seat a month.
Pick Monday if your team thinks in boards and wants a visual CRM.
Pick Close if your reps live on the phone and need a built-in dialer.
Pick Copper if your agency lives in Google Workspace.
Pick Attio if you are a startup building a sales process from scratch.
Pick Bitrix24 if you want CRM, projects and HR in one account.
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