8 Best CRM for Freelancers Who Want More Repeat Clients

My expert opinion on HubSpot CRM

HubSpot CRM is the best free CRM for freelancers because it delivers real, usable value without forcing you to upgrade immediately. Unlike many “free” CRMs that feel more like extended trials, HubSpot’s free plan gives freelancers the essentials: contact management, deal pipelines, email tracking, and lead capture tools that help you close deals.

Its biggest strength is how well it aligns sales and marketing in one place. Freelancers can see where leads come from, track conversations, and follow up at the right time without juggling spreadsheets, inbox searches, and separate tools.

Advanced automation lives behind a paywall, but HubSpot CRM balances that limitation by making the core workflow polished and scalable.

HubSpot CRM key features

• Deal pipelines and contact management: Track leads from first touch to closed client with a visual pipeline, organized contact records, and deal details like value, close date, and next steps.
• Email tracking and templates: See when prospects open or engage with your emails, then use reusable templates to respond faster and stay consistent, especially when you’re juggling multiple conversations at once.
• Lead capture tools: Collect inquiries automatically through forms and landing pages to turn website visitors into CRM contacts, route them into your pipeline, and reduce manual data entry.

HubSpot CRM’s visual deal pipeline lets freelancers track leads, deal value, and customize pipeline stages to match their sales process. (Source: HubSpot)

HubSpot CRM pricing

My expert opinion on Pipedrive

For a consultant like a brand strategist or business coach, the sales process often includes discovery calls, proposal follow-ups, and multiple touchpoints before a deal closes. Pipedrive works well here because the pipeline can mirror that exact flow.

Its Scheduler makes it easy for prospects to book discovery calls without back-and-forth, while built-in automation handles reminders and follow-up tasks when a deal moves through stages.

Pipedrive’s biggest strength is turning follow-ups into visible, automated actions tied directly to revenue. The tradeoff is that Pipedrive stays firmly sales-focused, so you will likely pair it with invoicing and project management tools.

Still, it’s a highly effective tool for service professionals who rely on consistent outreach and disciplined follow-ups to keep their pipeline full.

Pipedrive key features

• Customizable deal pipelines: Build stages around your process (discovery, proposal sent, negotiation, closed) and track progress visually.
• Activity and follow-up tracking: Tie tasks, calls, and meetings to each deal so you always know the next action.
• Reporting and performance visibility: Track deal status, conversion rates, and results over time (advanced depth depends on plan).

Pipedrive’s contact timeline gives freelancers a clear view of calls, emails, and follow-ups across every client. (Source: Pipedrive)

Pipedrive pricing

My expert opinion on Freshsales

Freshsales is a strong choice for freelancers whose growth depends on consistent outbound or follow-up-driven sales. For example, a freelance growth consultant pitching monthly retainers can track every prospect in a pipeline, send emails directly from the CRM, log calls, and automatically prompt the next follow-up after a proposal is sent — all without switching tools.

By combining outreach, pipeline management, and follow-up automation, Freshsales helps freelancers stay organized and responsive as deal volume grows. While you’ll need add-ons or integrations for proposals, invoicing, and delivery, this platform is exceptionally good at keeping your leads warm and your deals moving.

Freshsales key features

• Built-in outreach tools: Send and track emails and calls directly from the CRM to streamline prospecting and follow-ups.
• Automation and workflows: Create reminders and task triggers based on deal stages or activity to reduce manual work.
• Customizable sales pipeline: Track prospects from first contact to closed client and quickly identify stalled opportunities.

Freshsales lets freelancers manage leads, track outreach, and schedule follow-ups from a single contact view. (Source: Freshsales)

Freshsales pricing

My expert opinion on Bigin

Bigin is a great fit for freelancers who want to move beyond spreadsheets without adopting a complex, enterprise-style CRM. A freelance web designer, for instance, can set up a simple pipeline like New lead → Discovery booked → Proposal sent → Won, then add follow-up tasks and keep notes organized under each deal so nothing gets missed.

With Bigin’s low-friction structure, you get the essentials like contacts, pipelines, and reminders with minimal setup and a short learning curve. The downside is that this platform is intentionally lightweight, so advanced automation and built-in client delivery tools are limited.

Bigin key features

• Simple deal pipelines: Build stages around your freelance sales process and track leads visually.
• Contact records with activity tracking: Keep notes, emails, and next steps tied to each lead or client.
• Task and follow-up reminders: Create a reliable system for follow-ups so leads don’t slip through the cracks.

Bigin uses a simple, visual pipeline to help freelancers track deals and prioritize follow-ups. (Source: Bigin)

Bigin pricing

My expert opinion on Capsule CRM

Capsule CRM is the best fit when relationships power your pipeline. Think of a freelance marketing consultant or fractional operations specialist who gets work through introductions and repeat engagements.

It keeps important relationship details in one place, including what you last delivered, what you promised, and when you should check in again. In addition, tasks and reminders make it easy to run a lightweight follow-up cadence with past clients and referral partners.

While Capsule CRM isn’t built for heavy automation or outbound sequences, it’s a great match if your growth comes from trust and staying top of mind.

Capsule CRM key features

• Contact history and relationship tracking: Keep conversation notes, context, and interactions tied to each client and referral source.
• Follow-up reminders and tasks: Build a simple “stay-in-touch” workflow to drive repeat work and referrals.
• Lightweight opportunity tracking: Track warm leads and referral opportunities without needing a complex sales pipeline.

Capsule CRM keeps client history, tasks, and active projects organized in one relationship-focused workspace. (Source: Capsule CRM)

Capsule CRM pricing

My expert opinion on Streak CRM

Streak CRM is a strong choice for freelancers whose sales processes are almost entirely email-based. For example, a freelance writer pitching editors or a PR consultant managing media outreach can track pitches, responses, and follow-ups directly inside Gmail without switching tools. Each conversation becomes a record, making it easy to see who replied, who went quiet, and who needs a nudge.

This platform is essentially built around Gmail, so it’s not a good fit if you don’t use Gmail as your primary inbox. It’s also not designed for advanced automation, forecasting, or post-sale delivery workflows. Nevertheless, if your business runs on Gmail and relationship-based selling, that simplicity is a strength rather than a limitation.

Streak CRM key features

• Gmail-native pipelines: Track leads and opportunities directly alongside email threads.
• Email tracking and follow-ups: See opens and set reminders without leaving your inbox.
• Notes and context on conversations: Keep deal details, tags, and next steps tied to each email thread.

Streak CRM pipelines inside Gmail make it easy for freelancers to track deals, stages, and follow-ups at a glance. (Source: Streak CRM)

Streak CRM pricing

My expert opinion on HoneyBook

HoneyBook is the best choice when your biggest bottleneck is turning interest into a smooth, paid booking. For example, a wedding photographer can go from inquiry to paid deposit without switching tools.

You can send a branded proposal, collect an electronic signature, invoice, and accept payment from the same client record. That reduces admin time and creates a professional experience that makes it easier for clients to say yes. However, it’s not built for complex sales pipelines or heavy outbound prospecting.

HoneyBook key features

• Proposal to payment workflow: Proposals, contracts, invoices, and payments connected in one client flow.
• Automated client workflows: Triggers for tasks, reminders, and follow-ups so clients keep moving forward.
• Client portal and scheduling: Centralized space for clients to view documents, pay, and book meetings.

HoneyBook’s dashboard gives freelancers a clear overview of leads, tasks, bookings, and upcoming client work in one place. (Source: HoneyBook)

HoneyBook pricing

My expert opinion on Bonsai CRM

Bonsai is a strong match for freelancers who sell services in repeatable “packages” instead of custom deals every time. Think of a copywriter selling a blog bundle or a designer offering a monthly retainer.

Bonsai makes it easy to send a proposal, turn it into a contract, invoice the client, and collect payment without stitching together multiple tools. That kind of repeatable flow is exactly what productized services need.

Bonsai’s biggest strength is operational clarity. It connects what you sold, what you delivered, and what you billed, helping freelancers protect margins and get paid faster.

The limitation is that it’s not built to run sophisticated sales pipelines or automate outbound outreach at scale. If packaged offers and clean billing workflows drive your business, Bonsai is one of the most practical options on this list.

Bonsai CRM key features

• Proposal-to-payment workflow: Create proposals, collect signatures, invoice, and accept payment in one flow.
• Templates for packaged services: Reuse offers, contracts, and invoices to sell the same service repeatedly.
• Time tracking tied to billing: Track hours and connect time to projects and invoices for better profitability.

Bonsai CRM keeps client details, projects, and billing organized in one workspace for freelancers selling packaged services. (Source: Bonsai CRM)

Bonsai CRM pricing