Best CRM for small business in 2026
Two tools in our dataset sell a small-business CRM at a self-serve price. Here is what each one costs, read from the vendor's own pricing page, and which one is cheaper.
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Short answer: there is no free CRM in this comparison. GoHighLevel starts at $97 a month and Systeme.io at $17 a month, so the cheapest way to get a real CRM plus pipelines here is Systeme.io at $17 — $80 a month less than GoHighLevel's entry plan. Systeme.io also has a free tier, but the free tier is a funnel and email plan, not a CRM with pipelines.
The two real options, priced
Only two tools in our dataset sell a CRM to a small business at a self-serve price. Both prices below are printed on the vendor's own pricing page.
| Plan | Monthly | Billed annually | What you get |
|---|---|---|---|
| Starter | $97 | $970/yr | 3 sub-accounts, unlimited contacts, unlimited users, all core features |
| Unlimited | $297 | $2,970/yr | Unlimited sub-accounts, rebill phone & email at no markup, basic API |
| Agency Pro | $497 | $4,970/yr | SaaS mode, automated sub-account creation, rebill with markup, advanced API |
| Enterprise | custom quote | — | Custom quote |
GoHighLevel bills yearly at $970 for Starter. Every plan includes unlimited contacts and unlimited users.
| Plan | Monthly | Billed annually | What you get |
|---|---|---|---|
| Free | $0 | $0 | 2,000 contacts, 3 sales funnels, 1 course, unlimited emails |
| Startup | $17 | $14 | 5,000 contacts, 10 funnels, 5 courses |
| Webinar | $47 | $39 | 10,000 contacts, evergreen webinars |
| Unlimited | $97 | $80 | Unlimited contacts and funnels, free migration |
Systeme.io's annual rates are $14 / $39 / $80 per month on its own affiliate page for its own plans; the monthly rates above are from its pricing page.
What you get for the difference
GoHighLevel's Starter plan is $97 a month and includes 3 sub-accounts, unlimited contacts and unlimited users. Systeme.io's Startup plan is $17 a month and includes 5,000 contacts, 10 funnels and 5 courses. The $80 a month difference buys you sub-accounts (client workspaces you can resell) and unlimited seats; it does not buy you a cheaper CRM.
If you are a one-person business that wants pipelines and email in one bill, Systeme.io is the cheaper answer by $80 a month. If you are an agency that needs a workspace per client, GoHighLevel is the only one of the two that sells that at the entry price.
What each one is bad at
- GoHighLevel: A solo creator who just wants to send a newsletter.
- Systeme.io: Teams that need deep CRM, advanced reporting or phone/SMS at scale.
Where these numbers came from
Frequently asked questions
Is there a free CRM for a small business?
Not in this comparison. GoHighLevel publishes no free plan at all. Systeme.io has a free tier, but it is capped at 2,000 contacts and is a funnel and email plan rather than a CRM with pipelines.
How much is GoHighLevel for one person?
GoHighLevel's cheapest published plan is Starter at $97 a month, or $970 billed yearly. It includes 3 sub-accounts, unlimited contacts and unlimited users.
How much is Systeme.io for one person?
Systeme.io is free up to 2,000 contacts, then $17 a month on Startup, $47 on Webinar and $97 on Unlimited. Billed annually those are $14, $39 and $80 per month.
Which is cheaper, GoHighLevel or Systeme.io?
Systeme.io, by $80 a month at the entry paid plan: $17 against GoHighLevel's $97. GoHighLevel's price buys sub-accounts and unlimited users, which Systeme.io does not sell at that tier.
Where to go next
- GoHighLevel pricing, every plan · add it to the 12-month calculator
- Systeme.io pricing, every plan · add it to the 12-month calculator
- All shortlists
Every price on this page was read from the vendor's own pricing page on 2026-09-27. Vendors change prices without notice — confirm on the vendor's page before you buy.