Best Pipedrive Alternatives for Startups (2026)
Tolodora Editorial Team
The Tolodora Editorial Team researches software and services and writes practical, honest comparisons to help you choose faster.
Quick answer
The best Pipedrive alternatives in 2026 are HubSpot, Zoho CRM and Close. HubSpot is our top overall pick, best for startups wanting a free CRM that scales into marketing. See the full ranked comparison below.
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Pipedrive is simple and visual, but startups sometimes need more marketing, support or scale as they grow. The right CRM should fit your stage now and not force a painful switch later.
These are the best Pipedrive alternatives for startups.
| Tool | Value | Support | Ease of use | Features | Overall | Best for |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| HubSpot | 6.0 | 8.0 | 10.0 | 10.0 | 8.5 | Startups wanting a free CRM that scales into marketing |
| Zoho CRM | 10.0 | 6.0 | 8.0 | 10.0 | 8.5 | Startups wanting features and value |
| Close | 6.0 | 8.0 | 8.0 | 10.0 | 8.0 | Startups doing high-velocity inside sales |
| Freshsales | 8.0 | 8.0 | 8.0 | 8.0 | 8.0 | Startups wanting an affordable CRM with built-in phone |
| Copper | 6.0 | 8.0 | 8.0 | 8.0 | 7.5 | Startups living inside Google Workspace |
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| # | Tool | Best for | Rating |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | HubSpot | Startups wanting a free CRM that scales into marketing | 4.3/5 |
| 2 | Zoho CRM | Startups wanting features and value | 4.3/5 |
| 3 | Close | Startups doing high-velocity inside sales | 4.0/5 |
| 4 | Copper | Startups living inside Google Workspace | 3.8/5 |
| 5 | Freshsales | Startups wanting an affordable CRM with built-in phone | 4.0/5 |
HubSpot
- Pricing
- 6.0/10
- Functionality
- 10.0/10
- Ease of use
- 10.0/10
- Support
- 8.0/10
What I like
Free CRM core that scales into full marketing.
Best for
Startups wanting a free CRM that scales into marketing
HubSpot offers a generous free CRM plus paid marketing, sales and service hubs, with polished tools and strong reporting. It scales from first hire to full team, though costs climb as you add features. Among startups, it earns its spot for the reasons above.
Zoho CRM
- Pricing
- 10.0/10
- Functionality
- 10.0/10
- Ease of use
- 8.0/10
- Support
- 6.0/10
What I like
Feature-rich CRM at a very fair price.
Best for
Startups wanting features and value
Zoho CRM is a feature-rich, affordable CRM with automation, analytics and a huge suite of connected Zoho apps, offering strong value for small and mid-size businesses. For a startups setup, it's well worth a closer look.
Close
- Pricing
- 6.0/10
- Functionality
- 10.0/10
- Ease of use
- 8.0/10
- Support
- 8.0/10
What I like
Built-in calling and email for inside sales.
Best for
Startups doing high-velocity inside sales
That focus makes it a natural fit for many startups. Close is a sales CRM built for inside sales teams, with built-in calling, SMS and email, strong automation and a focus on high-velocity outreach and closing.
Copper
- Pricing
- 6.0/10
- Functionality
- 8.0/10
- Ease of use
- 8.0/10
- Support
- 8.0/10
What I like
CRM that lives inside Google Workspace.
Best for
Startups living inside Google Workspace
It tends to suit startups that want exactly this balance. Copper is a CRM designed to work seamlessly inside Google Workspace, automatically capturing contacts and emails from Gmail. It's a natural fit for teams that live in Google tools.
Freshsales
- Pricing
- 8.0/10
- Functionality
- 8.0/10
- Ease of use
- 8.0/10
- Support
- 8.0/10
What I like
Affordable CRM with built-in phone and AI.
Best for
Startups wanting an affordable CRM with built-in phone
Plenty of startups land on it after weighing the field. Freshsales (by Freshworks) is an affordable, easy sales CRM with built-in phone, email, automation and AI lead scoring. It's a solid all-rounder for small and growing teams.
How to pick a startup CRM
A startup CRM should be quick to adopt, affordable while you are small, and able to grow into marketing or high-velocity sales as you scale. Decide whether you want a free CRM that expands into a full platform, a value-packed all-rounder, or a tool tuned for a specific motion like inside sales or a Google-Workspace-centric team.
Our take
HubSpot is the easiest start with a free CRM that scales into marketing; Zoho CRM is the value-packed all-rounder; Close is purpose-built for high-velocity inside sales; Copper is ideal if you live in Google Workspace; and Freshsales is the affordable option with built-in phone and email.
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