The short answer
Our recommended free CRM and sales AI tools for 2026 are Apollo.io, Attio, Bitrix24, Clay, Fireflies.ai, Freshsales, HubSpot CRM, Hunter, Lusha, Streak, tl;dv and Zoho CRM (listed alphabetically, not ranked). Each has a free plan; paid plans add automation, seats and more AI credits.
At a glance
| # | Name | Made by | Best for |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Apollo.io | Apollo.io | Prospecting and outreach |
| 2 | Attio | Attio | Modern, flexible CRM |
| 3 | Bitrix24 | Bitrix24 | All-in-one workspace |
| 4 | Clay | Clay | Data enrichment |
| 5 | Fireflies.ai | Fireflies | Sales call notes |
| 6 | Freshsales | Freshworks | Sales teams wanting AI scoring |
| 7 | HubSpot CRM | HubSpot | Small teams starting out |
| 8 | Hunter | Hunter | Finding email addresses |
| 9 | Lusha | Lusha | Contact data |
| 10 | Streak | Streak | CRM inside Gmail |
| 11 | tl;dv | tl;dv | Meeting recordings for sales |
| 12 | Zoho CRM | Zoho | Budget-friendly CRM |
Listed alphabetically, not ranked.
The 12 picks in detail
1Apollo.io
Apollo.ioContact database, sequences and AI writing, with a free plan.
- Made by
- Apollo.io
- Best for
- Prospecting and outreach
- Category
- Free CRM and sales AI tools
2Attio
AttioData-driven CRM with a free plan for small teams.
- Made by
- Attio
- Best for
- Modern, flexible CRM
- Category
- Free CRM and sales AI tools
3Bitrix24
Bitrix24Free plan with CRM, tasks and communication.
- Made by
- Bitrix24
- Best for
- All-in-one workspace
- Category
- Free CRM and sales AI tools
4Clay
ClayEnriches lead lists with AI research; free plan credits.
- Made by
- Clay
- Best for
- Data enrichment
- Category
- Free CRM and sales AI tools
5Fireflies.ai
FirefliesRecords and summarises calls with a free plan.
- Made by
- Fireflies
- Best for
- Sales call notes
- Category
- Free CRM and sales AI tools
6Freshsales
FreshworksCRM with the Freddy AI assistant and a free plan for small teams.
- Made by
- Freshworks
- Best for
- Sales teams wanting AI scoring
- Category
- Free CRM and sales AI tools
7HubSpot CRM
HubSpotFree CRM for contacts, deals and email tracking, with AI assistant features.
- Made by
- HubSpot
- Best for
- Small teams starting out
- Category
- Free CRM and sales AI tools
8Hunter
HunterFree monthly searches and verifications.
- Made by
- Hunter
- Best for
- Finding email addresses
- Category
- Free CRM and sales AI tools
9Lusha
LushaFree monthly credits for contact details.
- Made by
- Lusha
- Best for
- Contact data
- Category
- Free CRM and sales AI tools
10Streak
StreakFree CRM that lives in your Gmail inbox.
- Made by
- Streak
- Best for
- CRM inside Gmail
- Category
- Free CRM and sales AI tools
11tl;dv
tl;dvFree recording and AI notes for Zoom, Meet and Teams.
- Made by
- tl;dv
- Best for
- Meeting recordings for sales
- Category
- Free CRM and sales AI tools
12Zoho CRM
ZohoFree edition for up to three users.
- Made by
- Zoho
- Best for
- Budget-friendly CRM
- Category
- Free CRM and sales AI tools
Free plans, prices and features change often. Check each provider’s website for current terms before you sign up.
What to know before you choose
Follow GDPR and anti-spam laws when prospecting.
Verify contact data before outreach.
Choose tools that sync with your email and calendar.
Check paid plan prices before your team grows.
How to choose
- Test two or three tools on a real task before you commit.
- Read the free plan limits: usage caps, features, file sizes and commercial use.
- Check privacy: whether your data is used for training and where it is stored.
- Make sure you can export your work if you switch tools.
- For business use, check admin controls, security and compliance on paid plans.
Red flags
- Free plans that require a card and auto-renew.
- Vague privacy policies on how your data is used.
- No way to export your data.
- Claims of perfect accuracy.
- Unknown developers with no company details.
How we chose
These are iCreativez Technologies’ own recommendations, based on research and experience of the market. We looked at a usable free plan or free tier, quality of results, privacy and reputation of the developer. The list is listed alphabetically, not ranked. Details such as services, prices, plans and locations change, so confirm them directly before you decide. No one paid to appear.
Frequently asked questions
What are the best free CRM and sales AI tools?
Our recommended free CRM and sales AI tools for 2026 are Apollo.io, Attio, Bitrix24, Clay, Fireflies.ai, Freshsales, HubSpot CRM, Hunter, Lusha, Streak, tl;dv and Zoho CRM (listed alphabetically, not ranked). Each has a free plan; paid plans add automation, seats and more AI credits.
Are these AI tools really free?
Each has a free plan or free tier at the time of writing, but limits apply, such as monthly usage caps, fewer features or watermarks. Free plans change often, so check the current terms on each tool’s website.
Is it safe to put business data into free AI tools?
Be careful. Some free plans may use your inputs to improve their models. Avoid entering confidential, personal or client data unless the provider’s terms and settings allow you to opt out, or use a business plan with data protection commitments.
How did you choose this list?
These are iCreativez Technologies’ own recommendations, based on research and experience of the market. The list is listed alphabetically, not ranked, and nobody paid to appear. iCreativez publishes this page and is not part of the list.