How-to guide

HubSpot free CRM limits: what you get and when you will pay

HubSpot's free CRM is one of the most capable free plans available, and also one of the most carefully fenced. Here is exactly what it includes, the limits you will hit first, and what it costs when you outgrow it.

HubSpot free CRM limits at a glance

HubSpot free tools: documented limits
FeatureFree limit
UsersUp to 2
Contacts1,000 (pricing FAQ)
Other standard records1,000 across object types (pricing FAQ)
Pipelines1 HubSpot-provided pipeline per object type
Custom properties10 in total
Email templates3 per account
Email open notifications200 per month
Meeting links1 personal link, HubSpot-branded
Dashboards10, up to 50 reports each; 30 days of reporting history
Record timelineActivities from the past 30 days
Automation1 automated action; 1 automated email per form
Imports50 per day, 500,000 rows per day, 20 MB per file
Exports300 per day
BrandingHubSpot branding on email, meeting links, chat, forms and pages
From HubSpot's free tools catalog, pricing FAQ, pipeline and import documentation, checked Oct 29, 2026. HubSpot's catalog and pricing FAQ describe record limits differently; we use the pricing FAQ figure.

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

Upgrade triggers and the tier that solves them
TriggerMinimum tier
A third person needs to work in the CRMStarter
You pass the contact limitStarter
You want unbranded meeting links and emailStarter
You need a second pipelineStarter (15 pipelines)
You want automated email sequencesProfessional
Managers need custom reports and forecastsProfessional

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.

  1. HubSpot free tools pricing and FAQ — checked Oct 29, 2026
  2. HubSpot Product & Services Catalog: free tools — checked Oct 29, 2026
  3. HubSpot KB: Set up and customize pipelines — checked Oct 29, 2026
  4. HubSpot Sales Hub pricing — checked Oct 29, 2026
  5. HubSpot KB: Set up your import file — checked Oct 29, 2026