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.
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.
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HubSpot
- Pricing
- 0.3/10
- Functionality
- 0.5/10
- Ease of use
- 0.5/10
- Support
- 0.4/10
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.
Zoho CRM
- Pricing
- 0.5/10
- Functionality
- 0.5/10
- Ease of use
- 0.4/10
- Support
- 0.3/10
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.
Close
- Pricing
- 0.3/10
- Functionality
- 0.5/10
- Ease of use
- 0.4/10
- Support
- 0.4/10
What I like
Built-in calling and email for inside sales.
Best for
Startups doing high-velocity inside sales
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
- 0.3/10
- Functionality
- 0.4/10
- Ease of use
- 0.4/10
- Support
- 0.4/10
What I like
CRM that lives inside Google Workspace.
Best for
Startups living inside Google Workspace
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
- 0.4/10
- Functionality
- 0.4/10
- Ease of use
- 0.4/10
- Support
- 0.4/10
What I like
Affordable CRM with built-in phone and AI.
Best for
Startups wanting an affordable CRM with built-in phone
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.
HubSpot is the scalable free starting point, Close suits sales-heavy startups, Copper fits Google-native teams, and Zoho CRM or Freshsales win on value.
Frequently asked questions
What's the best Pipedrive alternative for a startup?
HubSpot's free CRM is a common choice because it scales into marketing and sales tools as you grow. Close suits inside-sales-heavy startups, Copper fits Google Workspace teams, and Zoho CRM and Freshsales offer strong value.
Which CRM is free for startups?
HubSpot and Zoho CRM both offer capable free tiers, and Freshsales has a low-cost entry. Free plans often cover an early-stage startup's needs, so trial a couple before paying.
Which scales best as we grow?
HubSpot scales furthest into marketing and service, and Zoho CRM grows via its app suite. Match the CRM to where you expect to be in a year, not just today.
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