Using CRM and marketing automation tools can significantly enhance the performance of SaaS businesses by automating sales and marketing tasks, running campaigns, generating reports, and streamlining internal processes.
Manually handling these tasks often leads to reduced productivity, increased manpower requirements, and the risk of human errors—which are often time-consuming and difficult to identify and correct.
To avoid such challenges, here are 7 free CRM/Marketing Automation tools you can start using to boost your SaaS business performance:
Zoho CRM
Zoho CRM offers a free plan for a single user with up to 5,000 contacts, making it ideal for MSMEs and startups. Once you exceed the contact limit, you can upgrade to a paid plan.
Free features include:
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Sending emails
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Sales & marketing dashboards
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Deals and lead management
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Automated workflows
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Contact list creation
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Integration with third-party tools
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Insightful reporting
HubSpot
HubSpot CRM is a favorite for many due to its clean UI, powerful dashboards, and seamless integrations. While it places limits on users in the free plan, there are no contact limits, making it suitable for both small and large businesses.
Free features include:
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Email and landing page templates
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Chatbot setup
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Customizable dashboards
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CRM objects (Contacts, Deals, Companies, etc.)
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List and form creation
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Workflow automation (limited)
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Integration with 100+ SaaS platforms
Some advanced features are only available in paid plans.
SendInBlue (now Brevo)
Sendinblue is an all-in-one tool offering CRM, email marketing, and marketing automation in one place. One of its standout features is its ability to capture leads using embedded signup or subscription forms and store them directly in the CRM.
Free features include:
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Contact management
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Signup form creation
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List segmentation
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Email marketing campaigns
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Automation workflows
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Transactional email sending
MailChimp
Known primarily for its email marketing capabilities, Mailchimp has evolved into a robust platform that also includes CRM and automation features.
Free features include:
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Basic CRM functionality
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Audience segmentation
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Email campaign creation
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Landing page builder
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Marketing automation workflows
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Performance analytics
It’s especially popular among marketers for managing targeted campaigns and nurturing leads.
Monday.com
Monday.com is more than just a CRM—it’s a comprehensive work operating system that includes tools for project management, sales tracking, task management, and workflow automation.
Free features (for up to 2 users) include:
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CRM board templates
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Sales pipeline tracking
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Task automation (limited)
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Collaboration tools
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Customizable workflows
It’s best for teams looking for a CRM combined with team and task management features.
Freshworks (Freshsales Suite)
Freshworks CRM is similar to Zoho, with different modules for sales and marketing. The free plan of Freshsales offers a solid starting point for small teams.
Free features include:
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Contact and account management
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Email integration
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Sales pipeline management
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Tasks and appointment scheduling
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Basic reporting
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Mobile app access
Their Freshsales Suite and Freshmarketer tools can be explored further for enhanced sales and marketing automation.
Pipedrive (14-Day Free Trial)
Pipedrive is a sales-focused CRM built for pipeline and deal management. While it doesn’t offer a completely free version, it provides a 14-day free trial to explore its powerful features.
Key features:
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Visual sales pipelines
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Deal tracking
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Activity and goal management
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Workflow automation
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Sales reporting and insights
It’s a great option for teams that are heavily focused on closing deals and want to automate sales workflows.
