7 Best Free CRM Options For WordPress (And How To Choose The Right One)

We once had a client who tracked 2,000+ leads in a color-coded Excel sheet taped together with sticky notes and Gmail stars. When we connected their WordPress forms to a free CRM for WordPress, follow-up emails doubled and they could finally see who was actually ready to buy.

Quick answer: if you want a free CRM WordPress stack that does not become a science project, start with one of the tools below, map a simple workflow (form → contact → follow-up), and run it in “shadow mode” for a month before you bet the business on it.

In this guide we will walk through seven of the best free CRM options that work with WordPress, when each one makes sense, and how to choose the safest path without painting yourself into a corner later.

1. HubSpot CRM: All-In-One Free Marketing And Sales Hub For WordPress

HubSpot is usually the first free CRM WordPress users hear about, and for good reason: its official plugin connects forms, live chat, email marketing, and analytics to a powerful cloud CRM.

Key Features In The Free Plan

HubSpot’s free plan gives you a full contact database hosted in the cloud and a WordPress plugin that pipes data into it automatically.

Core features you get for free:

• Contact management with timelines of page views, form submissions, and chats
• Drag-and-drop email builder with basic automation and templates
• Pop-up forms, embedded forms, and live chat widgets for your WordPress site
• Basic marketing and sales dashboards so you can see where leads come from
• WooCommerce integration via add-ons for syncing customers and orders

For a small business that wants “install one plugin, start capturing leads today,“ HubSpot is often the fastest path.

Best Fit For Small Businesses

We usually recommend HubSpot’s free CRM for WordPress sites that:

• Need email marketing plus CRM in one place
• Want built-in live chat without juggling three tools
• Have a small team that prefers a clean, cloud dashboard over WordPress admin screens

If you are a founder or marketer using a site built by an agency like Zuleika LLC, HubSpot lets you start tracking leads without touching code. Your web team hooks up the forms: your sales or marketing team works entirely inside HubSpot.

Pros, Cons, And Data Considerations

Pros:

• Very quick to set up via the official WordPress plugin
• Polished UI, strong documentation, and big ecosystem
• Free plan is generous for early-stage companies

Cons and cautions:

• Your CRM data lives on HubSpot’s servers, not on your WordPress host
• Advanced automation and higher email volumes require paid tiers
• You can export data, but there is still some vendor lock-in

If you are in a regulated space (legal, medical, financial), review HubSpot’s privacy options, GDPR tools, and data processing addendum carefully before pushing sensitive data from forms.

2. FluentCRM (Free Core): Native WordPress Email CRM You Own

FluentCRM is a free CRM WordPress plugin that runs entirely inside your own site. If you like the idea of “we own our data,“ this one deserves a close look.

How FluentCRM Works Inside WordPress

FluentCRM stores contacts, lists, tags, email sequences, and basic automations in your WordPress database. It plays nicely with WooCommerce, LearnDash, LifterLMS, and most popular form plugins.

In practice that means:

• New form submission → contact created → tagged based on form
• New WooCommerce order → customer segmented by product or spend
• New course enrollment → subscriber added to an onboarding sequence

You handle email sending through SMTP services like SendGrid, Amazon SES, or your host (we recommend a proper email service for deliverability).

What You Get In The Free Version

The free version of FluentCRM includes:

• Unlimited contacts and basic segmentation (tags, lists)
• Manual and automated email campaigns
• Simple automation funnels based on user actions
• Integrations with major form plugins and WooCommerce

For a small site built on custom WordPress development, FluentCRM can feel like a natural extension of what you already have, instead of a separate SaaS product.

When To Upgrade To Pro (And When You Do Not Need To)

You upgrade to Pro when you need:

• Deeper automations (if/then branches, advanced conditions)
• More native integrations with third-party tools
• Priority support for complex funnels

If your needs are simple, “capture leads, send a welcome sequence, send a monthly newsletter“, the free CRM plugin is often enough for a few years, especially for bootstrapped founders and solo consultants.

3. Groundhogg (Free Core): Automation-Focused WordPress CRM

Groundhogg is another free CRM WordPress option that runs on your server, but its angle is more “marketing automation engine“ than “basic list manager.“

Core CRM And Automation Features

With Groundhogg you get:

• Contact database with tags and custom fields
• Visual funnel builder to create sequences and campaigns
• Email and SMS (via integrations) for follow-ups
• Triggers tied to WordPress actions, form submissions, and purchases

If you sell courses, memberships, or services through WooCommerce or a learning plugin, you can design journeys: opt-in → nurture emails → pitch → onboarding → review request.

Strengths For Funnels, Courses, And Membership Sites

Groundhogg shines where you need:

• Multi-step funnels with conditions and delays
• Tight integration with membership plugins and LMS tools
• On-site behavior (logins, purchases, course progress) as automation triggers

We often see it used on education, coaching, and membership portals where WordPress is the core product, not just a brochure site.

Performance And Maintenance Considerations

Because Groundhogg runs on your WordPress stack, you must:

• Keep hosting, caching, and database performance in good shape
• Test funnels on a staging site before going live
• Monitor email sending limits with your SMTP provider

If your site already strains on cheap shared hosting, loading a heavy free CRM WordPress plugin plus automations may push it over the edge. In that case, either upgrade hosting or consider a cloud CRM like HubSpot or Zoho.

4. Jetpack CRM: Simple Self-Hosted CRM For Service Businesses

Jetpack CRM (formerly Zero BS CRM) is a straightforward, self-hosted CRM aimed at agencies, freelancers, and local service providers.

Key CRM Tools In The Free Version

The free Jetpack CRM plugin provides:

• Contact and company records with notes and activity logs
• Simple deal/pipeline tracking
• Basic quote and invoice tools
• Import/export for contacts

It feels more like a classic sales CRM than a marketing automation powerhouse. If you want to track who asked for a quote and whether that quote turned into a client, Jetpack CRM does that well.

Ideal Use Cases (Agencies, Freelancers, Local Services)

Jetpack CRM fits best when you:

• Sell B2B or high-touch services (web design, consulting, local trades)
• Need a place to log calls, emails, and deal stages
• Are not ready to commit to a separate SaaS subscription

Pair it with a separate email marketing tool (like MailerLite or Brevo) or with automation tools such as Zapier/Make that send data between systems.

Limitations To Watch As You Grow

Jetpack CRM is a solid free CRM for WordPress in the early stages, but:

• You may outgrow its email and automation options
• Reporting is more limited than HubSpot or Zoho
• Add-ons for advanced features are paid

If you envision a future where you run complex campaigns and ad-driven funnels, you may want to start with a system that scales further, or plan a migration path from day one.

5. Zoho CRM Free + WordPress Integrations: Cloud CRM With Plugin Connectors

Zoho CRM offers a free CRM plan on their cloud platform, and you connect it to WordPress using plugins or no-code tools.

What You Get In Zoho CRM Free

The free tier typically includes:

• Up to 3 users (check Zoho for current limits)
• Leads, contacts, accounts, and deals
• Basic workflows and tasks
• Mobile apps for on-the-go sales teams

Unlike a native free CRM WordPress plugin, Zoho CRM runs outside your site, similar to HubSpot.

Ways To Connect Zoho CRM To WordPress

You can:

• Use official or third-party WordPress form plugins that push leads into Zoho
• Connect WooCommerce orders via Zapier, Make, or Zoho Flow automations
• Embed Zoho forms directly on WordPress pages

A common pattern: WordPress handles content and ecommerce, while Zoho CRM acts as the system of record for sales and account management.

When A Cloud CRM Makes More Sense Than A Plugin

Cloud CRMs like Zoho make sense when:

• You have a sales team living in a CRM all day
• You want clearer separation between website and CRM data
• You expect to integrate many tools (phone systems, support desks, etc.)

The tradeoff: you gain less database load on your WordPress site, but you depend on a vendor for access and features. As with any cloud free CRM for WordPress setups, plan exports and documentation so you can move later if pricing or needs change.

6. Notion, Airtable, And Google Sheets As “Free-ish” CRMs Connected To WordPress

Sometimes a full CRM is overkill. For side projects and ultra-lean businesses, a simple free CRM WordPress stack can be: WordPress + a form plugin + Notion, Airtable, or Google Sheets.

Using No-Code Databases As A Lightweight CRM

Notion and Airtable give you relational databases with views, filters, and comments. Google Sheets gives you a glorified spreadsheet. All three can function as lightweight CRMs when you:

• Create tables for contacts, companies, and deals
• Add views for pipelines (Kanban boards) and status
• Use comments or fields for notes and follow-up dates

Is it perfect? No. But it is fast, nearly free, and very transparent for non-technical teams.

Connecting Forms And WooCommerce To Your External CRM

To build this kind of DIY free CRM for WordPress, you can:

• Use form plugins with direct integrations to Airtable or Google Sheets
• Use Zapier/Make to send submissions and orders into Notion
• Trigger follow-up emails from your email platform while data lives in your no-code tool

For ecommerce, pair this with solid WooCommerce development so customer and order data are structured well before they flow into your mini-CRM.

Privacy, Ownership, And Backup Practices

Even when the stack feels “simple,“ treat it seriously:

• Avoid sending highly sensitive data into Notion/Airtable/Sheets
• Turn on two-factor authentication and access controls
• Set up regular backups or exports of your key tables

This route is a great starter free CRM WordPress approach, as long as you accept that you will probably migrate to a more formal CRM once your volume increases.

7. How To Choose The Best Free CRM For Your WordPress Site

Choosing a free CRM WordPress stack is less about the logo and more about your workflow, risk tolerance, and growth plans.

Map Your Workflow Before Picking A Tool

Before you install anything, sketch:

• Triggers: what starts the flow? (form submit, purchase, call request)
• Inputs: what data do you collect? (name, email, company, budget)
• Job: what should the CRM actually do? (assign owner, send emails, move deal)
• Output: what decision or action should it support? (book call, send proposal)
• Guardrails: what data should never leave WordPress? who approves emails?

This takes an hour and will save you many more later.

Key Questions: Contacts, Pipelines, And Email Volume

Ask yourself:

• How many contacts do we expect this year?
• Do we need full sales pipelines, or just simple stages?
• How many emails per month will we send from the CRM?
• Who will live in this system daily, founder, VA, sales rep, marketer?

If your volume is low and complexity is minimal, FluentCRM, Groundhogg, or Jetpack CRM are strong free CRM for WordPress contenders. If you expect higher volume and a growing team, HubSpot or Zoho may fit better.

Self-Hosted vs Cloud: Cost, Risk, And Scaling

Self-hosted (FluentCRM, Groundhogg, Jetpack CRM):

• Your data stays on your WordPress server
• Low ongoing cost, but higher responsibility for performance and security
• Scaling means upgrading hosting and optimizing your site

Cloud (HubSpot, Zoho, Notion/Airtable/Sheets combos):

• Less load on your site: vendor handles infrastructure
• Freemium pricing that increases as you grow
• Risk of lock-in but often better reporting and collaboration tools

There is no universal “best free CRM WordPress“ choice, only the best tradeoff for your stage.

Migration Paths If You Outgrow “Free”

Plan for change from day one:

• Check export options (CSV, APIs) before you commit
• Document field names, tags, and pipelines so you can recreate them later
• Keep emails and page content in WordPress or a separate email tool when possible

When you are ready to upgrade, either to paid CRM tiers or a broader digital overhaul, it helps to have a partner who understands both CRM and your site. Agencies like Zuleika LLC can redesign your WordPress SEO and lead funnel so everything works as one system, not a pile of disconnected tools.

Conclusion

If you remember only one thing, make it this: the best free CRM WordPress setup is the one that your team actually uses every day.

• Choose HubSpot or Zoho if you want polished cloud dashboards and can live with your data off-site.
• Choose FluentCRM, Groundhogg, or Jetpack CRM if you prefer to keep everything inside WordPress and you are comfortable managing performance.
• Choose Notion, Airtable, or Sheets if you are just starting and want a scrappy, transparent solution you can outgrow later.

Start small: pick one workflow (“new lead from contact form“), wire it into your chosen free CRM, and run it for 30 days. Measure time saved, follow-up speed, and closed deals.

When you are ready to align your CRM, WordPress site, and ecommerce into a single engine for growth, you do not need to figure it all out alone. Book a free consult at zuleikallc.com and we will help you design a stack that supports your business today and scales with you tomorrow.

Frequently Asked Questions about Free CRM for WordPress

What is the best way to set up a free CRM for WordPress without overcomplicating it?

Start with a simple workflow: form → contact → follow-up. Connect your WordPress forms to a free CRM for WordPress like HubSpot, FluentCRM, or Groundhogg, then run it in “shadow mode” for 30 days. Measure response times, email performance, and lead quality before fully committing.

Which free CRM WordPress tools are best for small businesses just getting started?

For small businesses that want an easy start, HubSpot CRM is ideal: install one plugin, capture leads, send emails, and use live chat. If you prefer owning your data and working inside WordPress, FluentCRM or Groundhogg are strong alternatives, especially for WooCommerce, courses, and membership sites.

What is the difference between a self-hosted free CRM WordPress plugin and a cloud CRM like HubSpot or Zoho?

Self-hosted tools like FluentCRM, Groundhogg, and Jetpack CRM store data on your WordPress server, giving you more control but also more responsibility for performance and security. Cloud CRMs such as HubSpot or Zoho host data off-site, reduce server load, and usually offer richer reporting—at the cost of potential vendor lock-in.

When should I choose Jetpack CRM instead of other free CRM for WordPress options?

Jetpack CRM is a good fit for agencies, freelancers, and local service businesses that need classic sales CRM features: contacts, companies, pipelines, quotes, and invoices. It’s best when email automation is simple and your main priority is tracking leads, deals, and client history rather than complex marketing funnels.

Can I use Notion, Airtable, or Google Sheets as a free CRM connected to WordPress?

Yes. For very lean setups, you can capture leads via WordPress forms and push them to Notion, Airtable, or Google Sheets using direct integrations or tools like Zapier/Make. These act as lightweight CRMs with views, filters, and comments—great for side projects, but you’ll likely outgrow them as volume increases.

How do I choose the best free CRM WordPress solution for my business needs?

Map your workflow before choosing: what triggers new records, what data you collect, and what actions the CRM should automate. Estimate contacts and email volume, and decide who will use it daily. Low-volume, simple needs favor plugins like FluentCRM or Jetpack CRM, while growing teams often benefit from HubSpot or Zoho.