Free Freshsales Alternative – Bitrix24

For small and medium-sized businesses (SMBs), finding the right customer relationship management (CRM) system can mean the difference between growth and stagnation. Freshsales, developed by Freshworks, has become a well-known CRM choice for startups and growing companies thanks to its AI-driven contact management, deal tracking, and email engagement tools.

However, as many SMBs soon discover, Freshsales' more powerful features – such as AI forecasting, advanced automation, and comprehensive analytics – are hidden behind higher-tier plans. Pricing quickly scales with user count, creating financial pressure for teams that need advanced CRM capabilities but can't afford enterprise-level subscriptions.

That's where Bitrix24, a global online workspace used by over 15 million businesses, steps in. Bitrix24 offers a free, AI-powered CRM and productivity suite designed to unify sales, marketing, communication, and collaboration – all in one platform. With its full suite of integrated tools and no per-user fees, Bitrix24 is emerging as the best free Freshsales alternative for 2025.

Why Look for a Freshsales Alternative in 2025?

1. Freshsales Is Robust – But Expensive for Startups

While Freshsales delivers a well-designed interface and reliable automation, its pricing structure can be prohibitive for early-stage businesses. The Growth Plan starts at $15 per user per month, and advanced AI tools are reserved for higher plans, often costing significantly more.

2. Feature Limitations on Lower Plans

Freshsales' free and entry-level tiers limit access to key CRM modules like sales forecasting, multiple pipelines, and workflow automation. This means that to truly leverage the platform's power, users must upgrade – a challenge for lean startups or teams scaling rapidly.

3. Growing Businesses Need More Flexibility

Today's SMBs demand flexibility – the ability to manage leads, automate tasks, and communicate across channels from one centralized workspace. While Freshsales handles CRM tasks efficiently, it doesn't include project and task management, HR tools, file storage, or collaboration features, forcing teams to integrate multiple third-party apps.

4. AI Tools Locked Behind Paywalls

Freshsales does include AI-powered insights, but these features – like deal predictions and revenue forecasting – are largely limited to premium plans. For startups exploring AI to enhance productivity, that paywall can be a major roadblock.

5. Users Seek a More Unified Experience

Feedback from many SMB users indicates that Freshsales, while powerful, still requires juggling between tools for project tracking, communication, and team coordination. Businesses are now looking for an all-in-one Freshsales alternative that merges CRM with collaboration – which is precisely what Bitrix24 offers.

Bitrix24 as the Best Free Freshsales Alternative

1. Free forever for unlimited users. Unlike Freshsales and most other CRMs that charge per user, Bitrix24 offers a free forever plan with no user limit. This makes it an ideal Freshsales alternative for startups and growing businesses scaling their teams without worrying about license costs.
2. AI-driven insights and sales automation. Bitrix24 integrates AI at its core – not as an optional add-on. From automated lead scoring to intelligent deal prioritization and sales forecasting, its AI features help businesses work smarter without hidden costs.
3. All-in-one CRM, project, and communication hub. Bitrix24 isn't just a CRM. It's a complete business workspace – including CRM, task and project management, team chat, video conferencing, file sharing, HR tools, workflow automation, and more. Everything works together seamlessly in a single ecosystem.
4. Multi-channel communication. Communicate directly with clients through email, phone, SMS, or integrated social channels like WhatsApp, Facebook, and Instagram. Every conversation is logged automatically into the CRM, ensuring no lead slips through the cracks.
5. Customizable pipelines and sales automation. Businesses can easily automate their sales process, pipelines, follow-ups, and assign leads using custom triggers. Bitrix24's workflow automation engine lets users design processes without coding – ideal for SMBs wanting enterprise-level efficiency.
6. Real-time analytics and forecasting. Get instant insights into deal performance, sales trends, and conversion metrics through interactive dashboards and AI-powered reports. Bitrix24's analytics suite helps leaders make informed decisions with customer data that updates in real time.

Bitrix24 vs. Freshsales: Feature Comparison

Top Freshsales Alternatives in 2025

Here is the list of the most popular (and obvious) Freshsales alternatives, in no particular order, complete with a quick overview and what makes them different from Freshsales.

1. HubSpot CRM

HubSpot's biggest strength lies in its ease of use and marketing automation capabilities. The free plan offers a solid foundation for contact management and pipeline tracking, ideal for small businesses testing CRM software. However, scaling up can be costly. Advanced features such as AI forecasting, detailed reporting, and marketing workflows are gated behind premium “Hubs” and add-ons, often pushing the total cost above $800/month. Despite that, HubSpot remains a trusted Freshsales alternative for companies seeking deep inbound marketing integration.

2. Zoho CRM

Zoho CRM appeals to small and medium-sized businesses for its affordability and customization. Its AI assistant, Zia, can analyze sales patterns, recommend optimal contact times, and forecast deal outcomes. The platform integrates with Zoho's wider ecosystem – including email, finance, and HR tools – creating a flexible all-in-one solution. However, users may find setup and interface complexity challenging, and many advanced features, like AI analytics and advanced automation, require premium plans.

3. Salesforce

Salesforce dominates the CRM landscape, providing unmatched flexibility, scalability, and integration depth. Enterprises benefit from its vast app marketplace and analytics engine, Einstein AI. Yet for startups or SMBs, Salesforce can feel overwhelming – both in configuration and cost. Training, customization, and add-ons can quickly inflate budgets, making it less ideal for smaller teams seeking simplicity and speed. Still, it remains the industry standard for large, complex sales organizations.

4. Pipedrive

Pipedrive stands out for its visual sales pipeline and intuitive drag-and-drop interface. It's excellent for teams focused on straightforward deal tracking and communication logging. However, its simplicity can become a limitation – with no built-in tasks or marketing automation, users must rely on third-party tools. For sales-only teams, it's one of the best CRMs for usability, but growing companies often migrate to more comprehensive platforms like Bitrix24.

5. Salesmate

Salesmate merges sales, marketing, and support into a cohesive system starting at $12 per user. The unified inbox helps teams manage all conversations, while journey automation guides leads from first contact to conversion. Salesmate's mobile app and telephony tools add flexibility for on-the-go sales teams. However, its customization depth is limited compared to full workspaces like Bitrix24 that combine CRM, projects, and communication in one.

6. EngageBay

EngageBay is a popular budget-friendly CRM for small businesses that want integrated marketing, sales, and customer service. It offers email campaigns, web forms, and social media integrations under a free plan. Its automation features are surprisingly robust for the price, though scalability can be challenging for larger organizations. For startups looking for an affordable Freshsales alternative, EngageBay delivers a compelling entry point.

7. Insightly

Insightly bridges CRM and project management better than most competitors. Teams can manage contacts, pipelines, and projects within a unified dashboard, making it ideal for service-based businesses. However, automation and AI functionality lag behind more modern options like Bitrix24. Insightly's pricing is fair, but users seeking advanced automation or native communication tools may find it restrictive.

8. LeadSquared

LeadSquared excels in lead management, nurturing, and scoring, particularly for sectors like education, real estate, and healthcare. Its automation engine can handle complex workflows with precision, improving conversion rates. However, the interface may feel dated, and pricing scales quickly with user count. While powerful for specific industries, LeadSquared lacks the all-in-one collaboration tools that Bitrix24 offers by default.

9. Nutshell CRM

Nutshell focuses on simplicity and automation. It's well-suited for small teams that want to streamline repetitive sales tasks without steep learning curves. Reporting and email automation are strong, though integrations and AI insights are limited. For startups looking for a basic, efficient CRM, Nutshell delivers – but businesses seeking AI-powered growth tools may prefer Bitrix24's more advanced ecosystem.

10. Close CRM

Close CRM prioritizes communication and outbound sales efficiency. It integrates calling, SMS, and email tracking in one interface, making it a favorite among sales-driven organizations. However, it's priced for established teams, and its lack of broader project or marketing tools means businesses often supplement it with additional platforms. For outreach-focused sales teams, Close is excellent – but Bitrix24 offers broader functionality at no cost.

11. Creatio

Creatio's no-code CRM platform enables companies to design workflows and applications tailored to their operations. Its modular system suits both SMBs and large enterprises, but it demands time and technical understanding to set up effectively. Costs can also rise quickly with custom modules. While extremely powerful, it's best for businesses with internal IT resources – others may find Bitrix24's ready-to-use automation a faster alternative.

12. Monday.com

Originally built for project management, Monday.com now includes CRM modules that connect sales pipeline management with task tracking. Its flexibility and visual interface are appealing, but businesses often need to purchase extra add-ons for marketing automation or analytics. While it's a decent choice for teams already using Monday for projects, it doesn't yet match Bitrix24's integrated CRM-plus-workspace approach.

Why Bitrix24 Is the Best Freshsales Alternative

1. Free forever with AI and automation
   Most CRMs claim to offer a free version, but very few include meaningful automation and AI capabilities without an upgrade. Bitrix24 changes that. Its free forever plan delivers AI-powered tools that automatically score leads, predict deal outcomes, and suggest next actions – all without requiring a paid subscription.
   Whether you're running a sales team of two or two hundred, every user gets access to the same intelligent tools that drive efficiency and faster decision-making.
2. Complete sales, marketing, and collaboration suite
   Unlike Freshsales, which focuses primarily on sales pipelines, Bitrix24 provides a complete business ecosystem. It includes CRM, marketing automation, task management, team chat, video calls, calendar, and HR tools – all connected in a unified workspace.
   Instead of switching between five or six different tools, your team can manage everything – from lead capture to project delivery – without leaving Bitrix24.
3. Seamless communication and engagement
   Bitrix24 integrates multiple communication channels into one interface. Users can send emails, make phone calls, exchange SMS messages, or chat via WhatsApp, Facebook, or Instagram – directly from within the platform. Each interaction is logged automatically under the contact's profile, giving teams full visibility of client engagement history. This multi-channel approach ensures that no lead or opportunity ever goes unnoticed.
4. Cloud + self-hosted options
   Where most CRMs only offer cloud deployment, Bitrix24 provides both cloud and on-premise hosting options. This gives businesses full control over data security and compliance, particularly important for regulated industries like finance, healthcare, or government.
   You can choose to run Bitrix24 on your own servers or let Bitrix24 handle the hosting in secure data centers.
5. Trusted by 15 million businesses worldwide
   Bitrix24's reach extends across more than 180 countries, serving companies of all sizes – from startups to multinational enterprises. The platform's reliability, performance, and continuous innovation have made it one of the most trusted names in online workspaces.

Bitrix24 CRM Features Snapshot

• CRM & Sales Tools: Leads, Deals, Contacts, Invoices, Estimates, Product Catalog, Inventory, E-Signature, Online Payments.
• AI Capabilities: Deal predictions, lead scoring, smart suggestions, sales analytics.
• Marketing Automation: Email marketing, SMS marketing, social integrations.
• Communication Suite: Built-in telephony, live chat, and video calls.
• Project Management: Tasks, deadlines, milestones, Kanban boards, and Gantt charts.
• HR Management: Time tracking, leave requests, employee directory, and workflows.
• Collaboration Tools: Team messenger, video conferencing, document sharing, and real-time editing.
• Customization: Custom fields, permissions, roles, pipelines, and process automation.

Each of these tools is designed to work seamlessly together – a key differentiator from Freshsales and most competitors, which rely heavily on third-party integrations to achieve similar results.

User Experience and Interface

Bitrix24's interface is designed for clarity and usability. First-time users can set up pipelines, invite teammates, and create automated workflows without technical expertise. The layout is visual and intuitive, helping teams adopt the system quickly and reduce onboarding time.

While Freshsales' interface is clean and modern, many users report that its modular structure can feel fragmented, especially when integrating with other Freshworks tools. Bitrix24 eliminates this friction by keeping everything under one roof.

Customer Support and Community

Bitrix24 offers 24/7 global support via live chat, email, and community forums. It also provides an extensive knowledge base, onboarding guides, webinars, and API documentation for developers.

The Bitrix24 Community Hub connects thousands of active users who share templates, automation ideas, and use cases – making it easier for newcomers to learn from real-world examples.

Security and Compliance

Security is a top concern for any business software. Bitrix24 ensures enterprise-grade protection with:

• Two-factor authentication (2FA)
• Data encryption at rest and in transit
• Role-based access control
• Custom permissions and audit trails
• GDPR and HIPAA compliance

With options for private cloud or self-hosted deployment, Bitrix24 provides maximum flexibility for organizations prioritizing data sovereignty.

Pricing Comparison: Bitrix24 vs. Freshsales

With Bitrix24, even small teams can access the same level of automation and intelligence as large corporations – without worrying about incremental user fees or expensive upgrades.

Use Cases: How Businesses Benefit from Bitrix24

• Startups and entrepreneurs. Startups use Bitrix24 to organize leads, automate follow-ups, and track deals – all while collaborating in a single workspace. The no-cost plan and unlimited users make it ideal for early-stage growth.
• Marketing and sales teams. Marketers benefit from built-in email, SMS, and social tools. Sales teams enjoy integrated communication and AI suggestions for next-best actions. Together, these features shorten sales cycles and boost conversions.
• Remote and hybrid teams. Bitrix24's integrated messenger, video conferencing, and document collaboration tools make it a perfect solution for hybrid work environments. Teams can manage projects, discuss leads, and share files seamlessly.
• Enterprises and large organizations. Larger businesses can deploy Bitrix24 on private servers to ensure compliance and data security. With role-based permissions and custom workflows, enterprises can manage complex sales operations with precision.

Imagine a 10-person digital agency currently using Freshsales' Growth plan at $15 per user. That's $150 per month or $1,800 per year – just for CRM access.

Switching to Bitrix24 gives the same team free CRM access, plus project management, chat, and automation tools. The agency saves thousands annually while gaining a unified workspace for all business operations.

These savings can then be reinvested into advertising, hiring, or product development – making Bitrix24 not only a better CRM alternative but also a smarter business decision.

FAQ – Freshsales Alternatives

Why Businesses Are Switching to Bitrix24

• Unlimited users on the free plan – perfect for scaling teams.
• Unified workspace – no need to buy separate tools for CRM, projects, or communication.
• AI features included for everyone – accessible, not premium-locked.
• Customizable and flexible – adapts to any business size or workflow.
• Proven reliability – trusted by over 15 million companies worldwide.

For many SMBs, Bitrix24 has become the one-stop solution for managing customer relationships, automating operations, and improving internal collaboration – without breaking the bank.

Get Started with Bitrix24 – Free Freshsales Alternative

You don't need multiple subscriptions or complex setups to run your business efficiently. With Bitrix24, you can:

• Capture leads from your website or social media
• Automate follow-ups and deal assignments
• Communicate via chat, phone, or video calls
• Track projects, deadlines, and deliverables
• Collaborate with your entire team – for free

Start today with Bitrix24's Free Forever Plan and experience the difference of an all-in-one workspace built for the modern business. Create your free Bitrix24 account now and explore a smarter, AI-powered way to sell, collaborate, and grow.