Best lightweight CRM for a 2-person agency: HubSpot vs Zoho vs Bitrix24
Three CRMs come up constantly for tiny agencies. This compares them on the things that decide fit at two-person scale — without inventing prices we can't verify.
The comparison, side by side
| Compared on | HubSpot CRM | Zoho CRM | Bitrix24 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Listed pricing | Free CRM tier advertised; paid tiers priced per user (verify current figures on the official page).as listed, accessed 2026-10-20 | Multiple tiers, generally low-cost per user (verify current figures on the official page).as listed, accessed 2026-10-20 | Tiered pricing including a free option; positioned around users (verify current figures on the official page).as listed, accessed 2026-10-20 |
| Best-fit instinct | Easy free start, clean pipeline | Low-cost breadth + automation | All-in-one workspace |
| Setup effort for two people | Low to start | Medium (many options) | Medium-high (suite) |
| Cost shape | Rises with paid hubs | Generally per-user, low tiers | Per-user bundles |
| Scope beyond CRM | Add-on hubs | Wide Zoho suite | Tasks/docs/telephony built-in |
| Official page | hubspot.com ↗ | zoho.com ↗ | bitrix24.com ↗ |
This page compares three widely-used CRMs for a specific job: a two-person agency that needs a shared client view with minimal admin. We deliberately do not claim hands-on benchmarks — we don't run trials on a zero budget — so every factual detail points to the vendor's own page (see Sources) with an access date. Use the framework in our buying guide first, then this shortlist to start a real comparison.
Where each one tends to fit
- HubSpot CRM — often chosen for an easy-to-start free tier and a very polished contact/deal model; costs typically rise as you adopt paid hubs.
- Zoho CRM — frequently picked for broad low-cost functionality and deep automation across the wider Zoho suite; more knobs to configure.
- Bitrix24 — an all-in-one workspace (CRM plus tasks/docs/telephony); attractive if you want everything in one place, heavier if you only want a CRM.
How to read the table below
A fair way to decide in one afternoon
- Import the same 10 real clients and 5 open deals into each free tier.
- Try the one workflow you care about most (e.g. log an email and set a follow-up).
- Note which felt maintainable by two people — that's usually the winner, independent of features.
- Only then look at upgrade pricing for the tier you'd hit in ~a year.
Sources
- hubspot.com — HubSpot's own CRM plans page — verify current tiers and limits.accessed 2026-10-20
- zoho.com — Zoho CRM's own pricing page — verify current plans and limits.accessed 2026-10-20
- bitrix24.com — Bitrix24's own pricing page — verify current users/tiers.accessed 2026-10-20
Stuck on a similar decision and want a second set of eyes? Send it over — comparisons stay independent either way.