In this guide · 8 sections
Short answer
Zoho CRM is usually the best value for a Singapore small business: free for 3 users, then from S$17 per user per month on annual billing (October 2026). Choose HubSpot if marketing emails and forms matter most, and Pipedrive (from US$14 per seat) if you only need a clear sales pipeline.
HubSpot vs Zoho CRM vs Pipedrive at a glance
All three track leads, contacts and deals, log emails and run from a phone app. They differ in who they are built for.
Zoho CRM
Best valueFree for 3 users; from S$17/user/mo
- Priced in SGD for Singapore
- WhatsApp integration on all paid editions
- Part of the wider Zoho suite (Mail, Desk, Campaigns)
- Monthly billing costs much more than annual
Best for: Cost-conscious teams that want room to grow.
HubSpot
Free for 2 users; Starter from SGD 10/seat/mo
- Free CRM includes forms, live chat and email tools
- Strong marketing features in one place
- WhatsApp inbox needs Marketing or Service Hub Professional
- Professional tiers cost much more per seat
Best for: Marketing-led businesses with one or two users.
Pipedrive
From US$14/seat/mo (annual)
- Built around a visual sales pipeline
- Email sync and automations from Growth (US$39)
- WhatsApp integration from Growth (beta)
- No free plan; 14-day trial
Best for: Small sales teams chasing deals.
CRM prices for 3 and 10 users
Monthly cost, approximate, as of October 2026, before GST, on annual billing unless stated. Sources: Zoho CRM pricing (SGD shown to Singapore visitors), HubSpot Sales Hub pricing (SGD shown to Singapore visitors) and Pipedrive pricing (USD).
| Plan | Per user/month | 3 users | 10 users |
|---|---|---|---|
| Zoho CRM Free | S$0 | S$0 | Not available (3-user limit) |
| Zoho CRM Standard | S$17 (S$26 monthly) | S$51 | S$170 |
| Zoho CRM Professional | S$28 (S$46 monthly) | S$84 | S$280 |
| HubSpot Free | SGD 0 | Not available (2-user limit) | Not available |
| HubSpot Sales Hub Starter | From SGD 10 (SGD 28 shown for monthly) | From SGD 30 | From SGD 100 |
| HubSpot Sales Hub Professional | SGD 126 (SGD 140 monthly) | SGD 378 + SGD 2,100 onboarding | SGD 1,260 + SGD 2,100 onboarding |
| Pipedrive Lite | US$14 | US$42 | US$140 |
| Pipedrive Growth | US$39 | US$117 | US$390 |
Zoho also sells Bigin, a simpler and cheaper CRM for very small teams, and HubSpot bundles extra AI features through 'HubSpot Credits'. Compare the plan you actually need, not the headline price.
WhatsApp, email and other integrations
In Singapore, many enquiries arrive on WhatsApp. How each CRM handles it, as of October 2026:
- Zoho CRM: WhatsApp Business integration is supported on the trial and all paid editions; messages can be sent from records and triggered by workflow rules.
- Pipedrive: WhatsApp integration is available on Growth and above, still in beta, with conversations in the Sales Inbox. Full email sync and automations also start on Growth.
- HubSpot: connecting WhatsApp to the conversations inbox needs a Marketing Hub or Service Hub Professional or Enterprise subscription, so it is not available on Sales Hub Starter alone.
Sources: Zoho CRM WhatsApp help, HubSpot: connect WhatsApp to the inbox, Pipedrive WhatsApp integration. All three use Meta's WhatsApp Business Platform, so Meta's per-message charges apply on top; our WhatsApp Business API cost guide has the Singapore rates.
For Shopify, Xero and other tools, all three connect directly or through Zapier and Make. If you plan to link several apps, our Zapier vs Make guide compares the two.
PDPA: consent fields and the DNC Registry
A CRM holds personal data, so the PDPA applies to how you collect, use and protect it. None of the three tools makes you compliant by default; you have to set them up for it. This is general information, not legal advice.
CRM set-up for the PDPA
The PDPC's Do Not Call rules apply to marketing messages sent to Singapore numbers, including WhatsApp. Our DNC Registry check guide explains when you must check and how.
Moving from a spreadsheet to a CRM
Most small businesses start with an Excel or Google Sheets list. The move takes a day if you prepare the data first.
Clean the spreadsheet
One row per person, separate columns for first name, last name, company, email, phone (with +65) and source. Remove duplicates.
Add consent columns
Note where each contact came from and whether they agreed to marketing. If you do not know, treat them as service-only contacts.
Set up your pipeline stages
Keep it short, for example: New enquiry, Quoted, Follow-up, Won, Lost.
Import a test batch of 20 rows
Check names, phones and stages land in the right fields, then import the rest.
Connect email and your website form
Sync each user's mailbox and send new form enquiries straight into the CRM.
Agree on three rules with the team
Every enquiry goes in the CRM, every deal has a next step with a date, and lost deals get a reason.
Once enquiries flow in automatically, add an instant reply and a reminder for slow follow-ups. Our guide to automating lead follow-up from your enquiry form shows the full flow.
Which CRM suits which business
| Your situation | Usually the better fit | Why |
|---|---|---|
| 1 to 3 people, tight budget | Zoho CRM Free | Free for 3 users with workflows and mobile app |
| Founder plus one, mostly inbound marketing | HubSpot Free | Forms, live chat and email tools at no cost |
| 3 to 10 salespeople chasing quotes | Pipedrive Growth or Zoho Standard | Clear pipeline, email sync and automations |
| WhatsApp is the main sales channel | Zoho CRM or Pipedrive Growth | WhatsApp included without an upper-tier hub |
| Newsletters and campaigns matter as much as sales | HubSpot, or a CRM plus an email tool | Compare with our Mailchimp vs Brevo vs Klaviyo guide |
We have not run our own tests across these tools. Use the free plan or trial with five real deals and your actual team for a week before you commit to annual billing.
Do it yourself or get help?
Setting up a CRM yourself is very doable: the vendors' onboarding guides cover the basics, and a small team can be running in a day. The fiddly parts are connecting your website form, WhatsApp and email so nothing is typed twice.
Workflow Automation (S$390 per workflow) connects your website form, inbox or Shopify store to the CRM, with instant replies and owner alerts. WhatsApp Notifications (S$590) sets up the WhatsApp Business API with approved templates. You pay the CRM vendor directly; IT Sorted earns no commission.
Frequently asked questions
Zoho CRM's Free edition supports up to three users with leads, deals, workflows, reports and a mobile app. HubSpot's free CRM supports up to two users and includes forms, live chat and email tools. For a team of three, Zoho Free is usually the better fit; for a marketing-led duo, HubSpot Free is strong.
As of October 2026, Zoho's pricing page shows Singapore visitors S$17 (Standard), S$28 (Professional), S$50 (Enterprise) and S$70 (Ultimate) per user per month on annual billing, or S$26, S$46, S$65 and S$85 on monthly billing. Prices exclude GST, and the Free edition covers up to three users.
All three can. Zoho CRM supports WhatsApp Business on its trial and all paid editions. Pipedrive's WhatsApp integration is available from the Growth plan, currently in beta. HubSpot requires Marketing Hub or Service Hub Professional or Enterprise to connect WhatsApp to its inbox. Meta's per-message fees apply in every case.
HubSpot's free CRM is excellent for one or two people. The paid Starter tier is affordable, but Professional costs SGD 126 per seat per month on annual billing plus a one-time SGD 2,100 onboarding fee, as shown on HubSpot's Singapore page in October 2026. For many small teams, Zoho or Pipedrive deliver the sales features for less.
Under the PDPA you generally need consent, or another legal basis, to collect and use personal data, and you must use it only for the purposes you told people about. Record where each contact came from and what they agreed to, keep marketing consent separate, and check the DNC Registry before marketing calls or messages.