Best CRM for Small Business (2026)
Quick Take
Small businesses need CRM software that's affordable, easy to set up, and doesn't require a dedicated admin. These picks balance simplicity with the features that actually move the needle: contact management, pipeline tracking, and basic automation.
Our Top Picks at a Glance
| # | Tool | Best For | Starting Price | Score |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Less Annoying CRM | Simplest CRM | $15/mo | 7.6/10 |
| 2 | Capsule | Best free option | $0/mo | 8.7/10 |
| 3 | Nutshell | Best for growing teams | $16/mo | 8.5/10 |
| 4 | Pipedrive | Best for sales-focused SMBs | $14/mo | 8.9/10 |
| 5 | Zoho CRM | Best full-suite value | $0/mo | 9.2/10 |
1. Less Annoying CRM | Simplest CRM
Less Annoying CRM does exactly what the name promises. One plan, $15/user/month, no upsells, no feature gating, no annual contracts. Every feature is available to every user. It's intentionally simple — contacts, pipelines, tasks, calendar, and that's it. If you've been burned by CRM complexity, this is the antidote.
Our take: One plan, $15/user/mo, every feature included. No upsells, no complexity.
Less Annoying CRM Pricing
| Plan | Monthly | Annual |
|---|---|---|
| Standard | $15 | — |
2. Capsule | Best free option
Capsule is a clean, simple CRM that focuses on contact management and sales pipeline without overwhelming you with features. The free plan supports 250 contacts. It integrates well with Google Workspace, Microsoft 365, and accounting tools like Xero and QuickBooks. A solid choice for small teams that want simplicity without sacrificing core CRM functionality.
Our take: Free for 250 contacts with clean pipeline management. Scales affordably.
Capsule Pricing
| Plan | Monthly | Annual |
|---|---|---|
| Free | $0 | — |
| Starter | $21 | $18/mo |
| Growth | $38 | $36/mo |
| Advanced | $60 | $54/mo |
| Ultimate | $75 | $72/mo |
3. Nutshell | Best for growing teams
Nutshell is a no-nonsense CRM for small sales teams. Pipeline management, email sequences, and reporting without the bloat. The Power AI tier adds AI-powered timeline summaries and writing assistance. It's not trying to be your marketing platform — just a really good sales CRM that doesn't require a consultant to set up.
Our take: Simple but capable. Email sequences and reporting without the bloat.
Nutshell Pricing
| Plan | Monthly | Annual |
|---|---|---|
| Foundation | $16 | $13/mo |
| Pro | $42 | $35/mo |
| Power AI | $52 | $42/mo |
| Enterprise | $67 | $59/mo |
4. Pipedrive | Best for sales-focused SMBs
Pipedrive is built by salespeople, for salespeople. The visual pipeline interface is the best in the business — drag-and-drop deals across stages, get activity reminders, and see exactly where every deal stands. It's not trying to be a marketing platform or helpdesk. If your team lives in the pipeline view, this is it.
Our take: Visual pipeline management starting at $14/user. Easy to learn, hard to outgrow.
Pipedrive Pricing
| Plan | Monthly | Annual |
|---|---|---|
| Essential | $14 | $12/mo |
| Advanced | $39 | $30/mo |
| Professional | $49 | $42/mo |
| Power | $64 | $56/mo |
| Enterprise | $99 | $79/mo |
5. Zoho CRM | Best full-suite value
Zoho CRM is the value play. You get 80% of Salesforce's features at 20% of the price. The free tier supports 3 users. The broader Zoho ecosystem (Books, Desk, Projects, etc.) means you can run your entire business on Zoho without paying Salesforce prices. The UI isn't as polished, but the feature depth is real.
Our take: Free for 3 users. Full CRM with automation at $14/user Standard.
Zoho CRM Pricing
| Plan | Monthly | Annual |
|---|---|---|
| Free | $0 | — |
| Standard | $14 | $12/mo |
| Professional | $23 | $20/mo |
| Enterprise | $40 | $35/mo |
| Ultimate | $52 | $45/mo |
How We Ranked These Tools
We weighted ease of use and pricing more heavily for this roundup, since small businesses can't afford steep learning curves or enterprise pricing.
Read our full scoring methodology for details.