HubSpot free CRM limits at a glance
| Feature | Free limit |
|---|---|
| Users | Up to 2 |
| Contacts | 1,000 (pricing FAQ) |
| Other standard records | 1,000 across object types (pricing FAQ) |
| Pipelines | 1 HubSpot-provided pipeline per object type |
| Custom properties | 10 in total |
| Email templates | 3 per account |
| Email open notifications | 200 per month |
| Meeting links | 1 personal link, HubSpot-branded |
| Dashboards | 10, up to 50 reports each; 30 days of reporting history |
| Record timeline | Activities from the past 30 days |
| Automation | 1 automated action; 1 automated email per form |
| Imports | 50 per day, 500,000 rows per day, 20 MB per file |
| Exports | 300 per day |
| Branding | HubSpot branding on email, meeting links, chat, forms and pages |
What HubSpot's free CRM includes
- Contacts, companies and deals with a shared timeline, so two people see the same history.
- Email tools: connect Gmail, Outlook or Microsoft Exchange, send and log one-to-one email, and get open notifications.
- A deal pipeline on a drag-and-drop board.
- Lead capture: forms, live chat and simple bots for lead qualification and meeting booking.
- One shared inbox for a team address such as hello@ or sales@.
- Reporting: up to ten dashboards with up to 50 reports each.
For a solo consultant or a two-founder startup, that covers the basics of not losing track of people: who said what, which deals are open, and who needs a reply.
What is missing from the free plan
- Automated follow-up. No sequences and only one automated action, so follow-ups stay manual.
- More than one pipeline. If you sell two different things (say, projects and retainers), you cannot give each its own stages.
- Long history in the free views. The free catalog limits the record timeline and dashboard history to the past 30 days.
- Professional presentation. HubSpot branding appears on your meeting link, forms, chat and one-to-one email.
- Customisation. Ten custom properties in total is tight once you track lead source, industry, contract value and renewal dates.
When small teams usually upgrade
| Trigger | Minimum tier |
|---|---|
| A third person needs to work in the CRM | Starter |
| You pass the contact limit | Starter |
| You want unbranded meeting links and email | Starter |
| You need a second pipeline | Starter (15 pipelines) |
| You want automated email sequences | Professional |
| Managers need custom reports and forecasts | Professional |
What it costs when you outgrow the free plan
HubSpot Sales Hub Starter lists at $20 per seat per month, so a three-person team pays $720 a year at list price. HubSpot was advertising a limited new-customer Starter promotion during our check, so your first-year price may be lower; model renewals at list price.
The bigger jump is Professional: $90 per seat per month plus a required $1,500 onboarding fee, or $4,740 in year one for three users. All tiers are explained in our HubSpot pricing guide.
Other free CRMs worth comparing
If HubSpot's two-user limit is the problem, Zoho CRM and Freshsales both offer free plans for up to three users. If you are a solo seller, Zoho Bigin has a free plan for one user. We compare them side by side in the best free CRM software.
If you know you will need sales automation within a few months, compare paid options instead: Pipedrive Growth includes sequences and automations at $39 per seat. See HubSpot vs Pipedrive and HubSpot alternatives for small business.
Frequently asked questions
How many users can use HubSpot's free CRM?
Up to two. HubSpot describes its free tools as a single free edition with up to two free users, and no credit card is needed. A third person who needs to work in the CRM means moving to a paid tier such as Starter.
How many contacts can I store in HubSpot for free?
HubSpot's pricing FAQ states you can add 1,000 contacts on the free tools, with a further 1,000 records across other standard object types such as companies and deals. Check the current figure in your account's usage page, because HubSpot adjusts free limits from time to time.
Is HubSpot's free CRM free forever?
Yes. HubSpot says free access has no time limit. What changes is your needs: more users, more contacts, unbranded email and meeting links, more pipelines or automation all require a paid tier.
Does HubSpot's free CRM include email tracking?
Yes, with a cap. You can connect Gmail or Outlook, send and log one-to-one emails, and get open notifications, limited to 200 notifications a month. Free accounts get three email templates per account.
Can I have more than one pipeline on HubSpot's free plan?
No. The free tools include one HubSpot-provided pipeline per object type and no custom pipelines. Sales Hub Starter raises the account limit to 15 pipelines in total across object types.
What is the cheapest upgrade from HubSpot free?
Sales Hub Starter, at a list price of $20 per seat per month, with a limited new-customer promotion advertised during our check. It removes HubSpot branding, adds up to 15 pipelines, 1,000 meeting links and simple automation. Sequences and custom reports need Professional at $90 per seat plus a $1,500 onboarding fee.
Sources
Prices and plan limits come from each vendor's own pricing pages and documentation, checked on the dates shown. Vendors change packaging often, so confirm the final figure in your own quote.
- HubSpot free tools pricing and FAQ — checked Oct 29, 2026
- HubSpot Product & Services Catalog: free tools — checked Oct 29, 2026
- HubSpot KB: Set up and customize pipelines — checked Oct 29, 2026
- HubSpot Sales Hub pricing — checked Oct 29, 2026
- HubSpot KB: Set up your import file — checked Oct 29, 2026