Best CRM for Small Business in 2025
We compared the top 5 CRM platforms to help you choose the right one for your business. See pricing, features, and honest pros & cons.
🎯 Quick Decision Guide
Choose Lead16 - only option with built-in invoicing
Choose Salesforce - built for large organizations
Lead16
CRM + Invoicing, all-in-one
Pros
- Built-in invoicing
- Free forever plan
- MRR tracking
- Simple interface
Cons
- Fewer integrations
- Newer platform
Pipedrive
Sales-first CRM platform
Pros
- Visual pipeline
- Many integrations
- Mature platform
- Mobile app
Cons
- No invoicing
- No free plan
- Can be complex
HubSpot
All-in-one marketing + sales
Pros
- Free CRM
- Marketing tools
- Content management
- Large ecosystem
Cons
- Expensive for full features
- Steep learning curve
- Pushy upsells
Salesforce
Enterprise CRM powerhouse
Pros
- Highly customizable
- Enterprise features
- Massive ecosystem
Cons
- Very expensive
- Complex setup
- Requires admin
- Overkill for small biz
Monday CRM
Visual work platform + CRM
Pros
- Flexible boards
- Good UI/UX
- Project management
- Affordable
Cons
- Not purpose-built for sales
- Limited CRM features
- No invoicing
Feature Comparison Matrix
| Feature | Lead16 | Pipedrive | HubSpot | Salesforce | Monday |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Free Plan | ✓ | - | ✓ | - | - |
| Built-in Invoicing | ✓ | - | - | - | - |
| Pipeline Management | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ |
| Email Automation | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | Limited |
| MRR/ARR Tracking | ✓ | Manual | ✓ | ✓ | - |
| Mobile App | Coming Soon | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ |
| Starting Price | $0 | $14 | $0 | $25 | $10 |
How to Choose the Right CRM for Your Small Business
1. Define Your Budget
CRM costs range from $0 to $300+ per user/month. For small businesses, $0-50/user/month is typical. Remember to factor in implementation time and training costs.
2. List Must-Have Features
Do you need invoicing? Email automation? Marketing tools? Make a list of non-negotiables versus nice-to-haves to narrow your options.
3. Consider Integrations
Check if the CRM connects with tools you already use (Gmail, Slack, accounting software). More integrations = more flexibility but also more complexity.
4. Test the Interface
Use free trials to test the actual interface. If it's confusing or clunky during the trial, it won't get better. Your team needs to actually enjoy using it.
Our Recommendation for Small Businesses
If you need CRM + invoicing in one simple tool with a free forever plan, Lead16 is your best bet. It's built specifically for small businesses who want to manage leads and send invoices without juggling multiple tools.