Best CRM for a One-Person Business
We compared four CRMs against one bar: can a solo operator actually run their business on this without an IT department? Here's our pick, and why.
Pricing checked on each vendor's own pricing page, Sept 24, 2026. Software pricing changes — verify current pricing on the vendor's site before you buy.
| Tool | Price | What you get | Verdict |
|---|---|---|---|
| HubSpot FreePick | $0/mo | Up to 2 users and 1,000 contacts, no card required | Winner |
| Pipedrive Lite | $14/seat/mo, billed annually | A sales-first CRM if you outgrow free | Runner-up |
| Notion Plus | $10/member/mo billed yearly ($12 monthly) | Flexible workspace, but not built as a CRM | Not a fit |
| Airtable | Free (DIY) | It's a database: you build the CRM structure yourself | Cut |
Verdict
Our pick: HubSpot Free
Up to 2 users and 1,000 contacts, no card required: a free plan you can run a one-person business on. Pipedrive Lite ($14 per seat/month, billed annually) is our runner-up if you outgrow free and want a sales-first CRM. Airtable is a database, not a CRM: its free plan means you build the CRM structure yourself.
Caveat
The honest caveat
HubSpot Free covers 2 users and 1,000 contacts. Past that you need a paid plan, so check HubSpot's current paid pricing before you build your whole pipeline on it. If you already know you'll go past 1,000 contacts in year one, compare that against Pipedrive Lite before you commit.
No links on this page are affiliate links. SoloVetted has applied to Wave's and HubSpot's affiliate programs (pending). If a link here ever becomes an affiliate link, we'll label it, and the verdict above stays the same.