Insightly is a solid CRM, but it isn’t the right fit for every team. Some businesses want a free plan, some want simpler sales pipelines, and some need built-in phone or project management.
The right choice almost always depends on how your team actually sells. Here are six Insightly alternatives worth comparing, and how to pick between them.
Quick comparison
| CRM | Free plan | Best for |
|---|---|---|
| HubSpot CRM | Yes, unlimited users | Small businesses starting out |
| Zoho CRM | Yes, up to 3 users (limited) | Growing teams on a budget |
| Pipedrive | No (free trial) | Visual sales pipelines |
| Freshsales | Yes, up to 3 users | Sales teams that need built-in calling |
| Bitrix24 | Yes, unlimited users | Teams that also need project management |
| Really Simple Systems | Yes, up to 2 users | Very small teams that want simplicity |
Free plans and limits change, so check each vendor’s pricing page before deciding.
1. HubSpot CRM
HubSpot’s free CRM is the most generous starting point for many small businesses: contacts, deals, email tracking and forms, with unlimited users. Paid “Hubs” add marketing, sales and service automation as you grow.
Watch out for: costs rise quickly when you move to the higher paid tiers.
2. Zoho CRM
Zoho CRM offers a lot of features for the price and connects with the wider Zoho suite (Books, Desk, Campaigns). It’s highly customisable.
Watch out for: the interface takes longer to learn than simpler tools.
3. Pipedrive
Pipedrive is built around a visual sales pipeline: you drag deals from stage to stage. Sales teams like how quickly they can see what needs attention.
Watch out for: there’s no free plan, and marketing features are lighter than HubSpot’s.
4. Freshsales
Freshsales (by Freshworks) includes built-in phone and email, AI-based lead scoring on paid plans, and a clean interface.
Watch out for: the free plan is limited, so most growing teams move to paid.
5. Bitrix24
Bitrix24 combines CRM with tasks, projects, chat and video calls. It’s useful for teams that want one tool for sales and internal work.
Watch out for: so many features can feel overwhelming at first.
6. Really Simple Systems
As the name suggests, this is a straightforward CRM for small teams that want contact and deal tracking without complexity.
Watch out for: fewer advanced automation features than bigger platforms.
How to choose the right CRM
These five questions narrow things down quickly:
- How many people will use it? Free plans often cap users.
- What’s your sales process? Pipeline-heavy teams love Pipedrive. Marketing-led businesses often prefer HubSpot.
- What else do you use? Pick a CRM that connects with your email, accounting and website forms.
- Who will set it up? A powerful CRM nobody configures is worse than a simple one the team actually uses.
- Try before you buy. Use free plans or trials with real data for two weeks.
Frequently asked questions
What is the best free alternative to Insightly? HubSpot CRM is the most popular free option, with unlimited users. Zoho CRM and Freshsales also have free plans with user limits.
Is Insightly still a good CRM? Yes, especially for businesses that want CRM and project management together. Alternatives are worth comparing if you need a free plan or a simpler pipeline.
Can I move my data from Insightly to another CRM? Yes. Most CRMs let you import contacts and deals from a CSV export, and some offer migration help.
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Sources
- Fit Small Business: Best Insightly alternatives
- Jotform: The top 5 Insightly alternatives in 2026