Last updated
December 1, 2025
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5 Best Free AI CRMs in 2026

Discover folk - the CRM for people-powered businesses

Best Free AI CRMs in 2026

Prospects expect speed and relevance.

An AI CRM meets both: it drafts emails that sound human, summarizes calls into next steps, and routes tasks so reps stay on the work that creates meetings and revenue.

The payoff is visible: faster lead generation, cleaner data, and shorter cycles without juggling five tools. Expect contact enrichment, email and LinkedIn tasks in one place, guardrails that protect deliverability, and AI suggestions teams can review and approve.

Below are free options that cover the essentials today (with trials where needed) so teams of 20-50 people, growing sales orgs, and mid-size companies can automate confidently before scaling.

The 3 best free AI CRMs in 2026 are:

1. folk CRM (Free for 14 days)

2. Hubspot (very limited AI features)

3. Freshsales (very limited AI features)

Main points
  • 🤖 AI CRM drafts emails, summarizes calls, and routes tasks for faster cycles and cleaner data.
  • 🆓 Free plans cover core CRM; most AI features unlock on paid tiers or trials.
  • 📊 Top free options 2026: HubSpot, Freshsales, Bitrix24, EngageBay.
  • 🚀 For teams 20–50, folk CRM unifies outreach, enrichment, and WhatsApp timelines with AI.
  • 🧭 Choose by limits, AI depth, deliverability guardrails, integrations, and upgrade path.

1. folk CRM

Rating

⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ (G2)

Best for

Teams of 20-50 people, mid-size sales teams, agencies, growing companies needing unified outreach and enrichment.

Overview

folk CRM is an AI workspace that brings outreach, enrichment, and pipeline execution into the same place. The folkX Chrome extension captures LinkedIn and Sales Navigator profiles in one click and auto-enriches records. AI drafts icebreakers and follow-ups from real context, suggests next-best actions, and keeps Gmail/Outlook and WhatsApp touchpoints on one timeline for clean handoffs. Teams of 20-50 people scale with sequences, deals, dashboards, and advanced roles without losing the personal touch that drives conversions.

Pros

  • One-click LinkedIn/Sales Navigator capture with automatic enrichment
  • AI icebreakers and follow-ups you can review; next-best-action guidance
  • Unified email/WhatsApp timeline for clear context and team handoffs
  • Sequences, deals, dashboards, and permissions for growing orgs

Cons

  • No perpetual free plan (free trial only)
  • Some advanced features sit on Premium

Pricing

  • Free for 14 days
  • Standard: $20 per user/month (annual) or $25 monthly
  • Premium: $40 per user/month (annual) or $50 monthly

👉🏼 Try folk now to validate AI icebreakers and unified timelines during the 14-day trial

2. HubSpot CRM

Rating

⭐⭐⭐⭐ (G2)

Best for

Small teams and SMBs that want a usable free CRM with light AI help and a clear upgrade path.

Overview

HubSpot CRM (Free) centralizes contacts, companies, deals, tasks, and email tracking in one workspace. Basic AI assists with drafting sales emails and improving subject lines, while meeting links, live chat, and simple sequences keep outreach organized. Call logging and notes stay tied to records, and upgrades add call transcription, conversation intelligence, and advanced automation when teams grow.

Pros

  • $0 entry with mature CRM, email tracking, and meeting links
  • Light AI assistance for drafting plus strong upgrade options
  • Clean UI, solid reporting basics, and marketing/sales handoffs

Cons

  • Advanced AI (call transcription/CI) and automation sit on paid tiers
  • Seat minimums at higher tiers can raise costs for mid-size teams
  • Customization depth requires admin time as teams scale

Pricing

  • Free: $0 (core CRM, basic email tools, meeting links)
  • Starter: from $20 per user/month (annual)
  • Professional: from $100 per user/month (annual), 5-seat minimum
  • Enterprise: from $150 per user/month (annual), 10-seat minimum

3. Bitrix24

Rating

⭐⭐⭐⭐ (G2)

Best for

Small teams that want an all-in-one workspace (CRM, tasks, chat, site forms) with a $0 entry and simple scaling later.

Overview

Bitrix24 is a free CRM bundled with collaboration tools. Teams track contacts, deals, quotes, and pipelines, build simple automations, and use chat and task boards without leaving the app. Telephony and chat widgets connect prospects from website to CRM. The built-in AI assistant helps draft messages and summarize activity on paid tiers, giving an upgrade path when automation needs grow.

Pros

  • $0 plan with core CRM, pipelines, tasks, and chat
  • Website forms and chat widget feed leads directly into deals
  • No-code automations and basic rules to move records forward
  • Clear upgrade path for AI assistance, telephony, and higher limits

Cons

  • AI features are limited or unavailable on the free plan
  • UI breadth can feel complex vs. lighter CRMs
  • Regional pricing and plan names vary, making comparisons tricky

Pricing

  • Free: $0 (core CRM, tasks, chat, forms; usage limits apply)
  • Paid tiers: typically start around $49/month (entry tier for small teams), with higher plans adding AI assistant, advanced automation, and capacity. Prices and names vary by region and billing cycle.

4. Freshsales

Rating

⭐⭐⭐⭐ (G2)

Best for

Small teams that want a usable free CRM today, with AI (Freddy) and deeper automation available on paid tiers.

Overview

Freshsales (Free) covers core CRM needs—contacts, accounts, deals, tasks, email tracking, and built-in telephony basics—so reps can centralize outreach without cost. Website forms and chat feed new leads directly into pipelines, and no-code automations handle simple handoffs. Freddy AI (drafts, insights, forecasting) unlocks on paid plans, giving a clear upgrade path when teams need more guidance and workflow depth.

Pros

  • $0 plan with contacts, deals, email tracking, forms, and basic telephony
  • Intuitive UI and fast setup for small teams
  • Clear upgrade path to Freddy AI, advanced workflows, and reporting

Cons

  • AI features are limited on the free tier
  • Workflow depth and customizations expand mostly on paid plans
  • Reporting and governance lighter than enterprise CRMs

Pricing

  • Free: $0 (core CRM; usage limits apply)
  • Growth: from ~$9–$15 per user/month (annual)
  • Pro: from ~$39 per user/month (annual)
  • Enterprise: from ~$69 per user/month (annual)

5. EngageBay

Rating

⭐⭐⭐⭐ (G2)

Best for

Small teams that want an all-in-one free CRM (contacts, deals, email, chat) with affordable AI upgrades.

Overview

EngageBay combines CRM, marketing, and support in one workspace. The free plan covers contacts, deals, tasks, simple automations, live chat, and basic email tools so small teams can centralize outreach at $0. As needs grow, AI features—such as predictive lead scoring and writing assistance—unlock on paid tiers, alongside deeper automations and higher usage limits.

Pros

  • Free plan for multiple users with core CRM + live chat/forms
  • Unified suite (sales, marketing, service) reduces tool sprawl
  • Clear upgrade path to AI scoring, assistants, and advanced workflows
  • Simple setup and no seat minimums on entry tiers

Cons

  • Most AI capabilities sit on paid plans
  • Free tier limits (emails, contacts, automations) require monitoring
  • Broad suite can feel heavier than lightweight CRMs

Pricing

  • Free: $0 (core CRM and basic automations; usage limits apply)
  • Basic: from ~$14.99 per user/month
  • Growth: from ~$64.99 per user/month
  • Pro: from ~$119.99 per user/month

5 Best Free AI CRMs in 2026: The Final Overview

Tool Rating Best for Standout AI feature Starting Price
folk CRM ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ Teams of 20-50 people, mid-size sales teams, agencies, growing companies AI icebreakers, follow-ups, and next-best-action with unified email/WhatsApp timeline $20/user/mo
HubSpot CRM (Free) ⭐⭐⭐⭐ Small teams and SMBs wanting a usable free CRM with light AI and clear upgrades AI assists for drafting and subject lines; upgrades add call transcription and CI $0
Bitrix24 (Free) ⭐⭐⭐⭐ Small teams needing an all-in-one suite (CRM, tasks, chat, forms) AI assistant for drafting/summaries on paid tiers $0
Freshsales (Free) ⭐⭐⭐⭐ Small teams that want a $0 CRM now, with AI (Freddy) available later Freddy AI for drafts, insights, and forecasting on paid tiers $0
EngageBay (Free) ⭐⭐⭐⭐ Small teams wanting CRM + marketing/support in one AI scoring and writing assistance on paid tiers $0

👉🏼 Try folk now to centralize outreach, enrichment, and WhatsApp timelines

Conclusion

Free AI CRMs help small teams centralize contacts, automate follow-ups, and improve lead generation without upfront cost. HubSpot, Freshsales, Bitrix24, and EngageBay each provide a usable $0 starting point, with AI upgrades available when volume grows.

When the goal is to scale beyond "free forever" and keep outreach, enrichment, and next-best-action inside one workspace, folk CRM is the strongest path forward for teams of 20-50 people. The 14-day free trial lets teams validate AI icebreakers, unified timelines, and sequences before committing—perfect for mid-size sales teams, agencies, and growing companies that need sophisticated automation without losing the personal touch.

FAQ

What is a free AI CRM?

A no-cost CRM that stores contacts and deals while using AI to draft emails, enrich records, summarize calls, score leads, or suggest next steps. It reduces manual work and speeds pipeline progress without upfront spend.

How should teams choose a free AI CRM?

Evaluate limits (users, contacts, emails), AI depth on the free tier, deliverability safeguards, integrations, and migration. Prefer reviewable AI and a clear upgrade path or a 14‑day trial such as folk.

What is the best free AI CRM in 2026?

For $0 forever, HubSpot, Freshsales, Bitrix24, and EngageBay are solid starts with limited AI. For teams planning to scale AI outreach in one workspace, folk offers a 14‑day trial to validate advanced features.

What is the best CRM for personal use?

Solo users need simple setup, email tracking, and basic automation. HubSpot and EngageBay free tiers are common picks. If LinkedIn capture and AI drafting matter, test folk during the 14‑day trial, then upgrade as needs grow.

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