Bao CRMCRM for freelancers: the best options, free and paid
A freelancer’s CRM should do three things well: show who to follow up today, keep track of each prospect and turn a request into a quote fast. Bao CRM does that for free up to 10 active prospects and keeps your data in Notion. Moxie and Bonsai add invoicing and contracts, HubSpot’s free plan suits freelancers who do email marketing, and a Notion template or a spreadsheet is enough at the very start.
CRM for freelancers: the comparison at a glance
| Tool | Free plan | Cheapest paid plan | Best for |
|---|---|---|---|
| Bao CRM | Yes: 10 active prospects, unlimited quotes, no account needed | Pro: €14.90/month or €149/year | Freelancers who want follow-ups and quotes, connected to Notion |
| HubSpot | Yes: up to 2 users, 1,000 contacts, HubSpot branding | Starter: $20 per seat/month (promotional prices for new customers) | Freelancers who also do email marketing |
| Moxie | No, 14-day trial | Starter: $10/month billed annually, $12 monthly | Proposals, contracts and invoicing in one tool |
| Bonsai | No, 7-day trial | Basic: $9/month billed annually, $15 monthly (invoicing and proposals from Essentials: $19/$25) | Projects, time tracking and, on Essentials, invoicing |
| Folk | No, 2-week trial | Standard: $24 per member/month billed annually, $30 monthly | Network-based prospecting with LinkedIn and email sync |
| A Notion template | Yes, free | Free | Freelancers with a few prospects who already use Notion |
| A spreadsheet | Yes, free | Free | The very first weeks |
Prices as shown on each vendor’s pricing page on 4 November 2026, excluding tax. They change often: check before you subscribe.
The best free CRM for freelancers
Only two tools in this list have a permanent free plan. HubSpot is generous on volume (1,000 contacts, 2 users) but built for sales teams, with HubSpot branding and few email templates. Bao CRM is limited to 10 active prospects, but covers what a freelancer uses daily: follow-ups, a pipeline and unlimited quotes, with no account needed. Won and lost prospects do not count toward the limit. Moxie, Bonsai and Folk offer trials only.
For a no-software option, our free Notion CRM template gives you a ready-made Prospects database.
The options in detail
Bao CRM
Bao CRM connects to Notion and keeps your data in your own workspace. The Today page lists overdue and due follow-ups, the pipeline runs from New to Won, and quotes are built from the prospect’s record in six currencies and checked before sending. Bao CRM is built for one person and stops at the accepted quote: it has no team features, no invoicing, no e-signature and no booking page.
HubSpot
HubSpot’s free CRM handles contacts, deals and emails for up to 2 users. It is powerful, but it takes set-up, and most of what makes it strong, marketing automation and team features, is more than a freelancer needs.
Moxie
Moxie is designed for freelancers. From its Starter plan, it includes proposals, quotes and contracts, invoicing and payments, a pipeline and meeting schedulers. The best fit if you want one tool for selling and billing.
Bonsai
Bonsai’s Basic plan covers the CRM, projects, tasks and time tracking. Invoicing, proposals, contracts and the client portal start on Essentials.
Folk
Folk is a contact-first CRM with email, calendar and WhatsApp sync, a LinkedIn extension and email finding. It has no proposals or invoicing.
A Notion template or a spreadsheet
Enough while you have a handful of prospects. Neither reminds you who to follow up, so add a follow-up date column and check it every morning. Our Notion CRM guide shows how.
How to choose a CRM as a freelancer
- You lose deals because you forget to follow up: Bao CRM.
- You want proposals, contracts and invoices in one tool: Moxie, or Bonsai from Essentials.
- You do email marketing, or work with a partner: HubSpot.
- You have fewer than ten prospects: a Notion template or a spreadsheet, for now.
Consultant or coach? See our dedicated comparisons: CRM for consultants and CRM for coaches.
Also useful: our free quote generator, our guide on how to write a quote and our follow-up email templates.
Frequently asked questions
What is the best CRM for freelancers?
For most freelancers, the best CRM is the simplest one you will open every day. Bao CRM covers follow-ups and quotes for free up to 10 active prospects and connects to Notion. If you want invoicing and contracts too, Moxie or Bonsai. HubSpot’s free plan suits freelancers who also do email marketing.
Is there a free CRM for freelancers?
Yes: HubSpot’s free plan (up to 2 users, 1,000 contacts), Bao CRM’s free plan (10 active prospects, unlimited quotes) and a Notion template or a spreadsheet. Moxie, Bonsai and Folk only offer trials.
Is HubSpot CRM good for freelancers?
Its free plan is generous on contacts, but it is designed for sales and marketing teams: it takes set-up, and the free plan carries HubSpot branding and few email templates. Freelancers often find it heavier than they need.
Can a spreadsheet replace a CRM?
For a few prospects, yes. A spreadsheet does not remind you who to follow up or connect your quotes to your clients, and that is usually when a CRM becomes worth it.
Do I need a CRM with invoicing as a freelancer?
Not necessarily. Many freelancers keep their invoicing tool and use a CRM only for prospects, follow-ups and quotes. If you want one tool for everything, Moxie and Bonsai (from Essentials) include invoicing.