Best CRM For
Best CRM Without an Annual Contract Requirement
Quick answer: Close and HubSpot both offer full functionality on month-to-month billing with no forced annual term, and Less Annoying CRM is the best fit if you want maximum simplicity with zero contract pressure, even though Pipedrive's monthly rate costs noticeably more than its annual option.
Why avoiding an annual contract is worth paying for
Annual contracts often come with a real discount, but that discount is only a good deal if you're confident you'll still want the tool in month eleven. A team that's still evaluating its sales process, growing headcount unpredictably, or just wary of being locked in benefits from month-to-month flexibility — even at a slightly higher per-seat rate. Here's which CRMs let you do that without a fight.
Contract flexibility at a glance
| CRM | Monthly billing available? | Annual discount? | Best for |
|---|---|---|---|
| Close | Yes | Yes, optional | Flexible month-to-month calling-first CRM |
| Pipedrive | Yes, at a higher rate | Yes, meaningfully cheaper annually | Teams comfortable trading flexibility for discount |
| HubSpot | Yes, including the free tier | Yes on paid Hubs | No-commitment starting point |
| Less Annoying CRM | Yes | No hard-sell annual push | Solo users and small teams avoiding lock-in |
| Nutshell | Yes | Yes, optional | Small teams wanting flexibility plus support |
1. Close — best month-to-month option for sales-focused teams
Close offers monthly billing across its tiers, so you can pay $9-$139/user/month without being forced into a year-long commitment to get the calling and sequencing features you actually need. The annual option exists if you want the discount, but it's not required to access the product.
Pros
- Monthly billing available at every tier
- Full feature access without an annual commitment
- Easy to scale seats up or down month to month
Cons
- No free tier to fall back on if you cancel
- Annual billing does offer savings you give up by staying monthly
2. HubSpot — best no-commitment starting point
HubSpot's free CRM tier requires no contract at all, and its paid Hubs can be billed monthly if you'd rather avoid an annual term. That flexibility is genuinely valuable for a team that isn't ready to commit — just budget carefully, since HubSpot's per-contact and per-Hub pricing can grow the bill even without an annual contract locking you in.
Pros
- Free tier has zero commitment by definition
- Monthly billing available on paid tiers if you skip the annual discount
- Easy to downgrade back to free if a paid trial doesn't work out
Cons
- Contact-tier and multi-Hub pricing can still surprise you even without an annual lock-in
- Monthly billing costs more over a year than committing annually
3. Less Annoying CRM — best for solo users avoiding lock-in entirely
Less Annoying CRM is built around simplicity for small teams and solo users, and that philosophy extends to its billing — no aggressive push toward annual contracts, just straightforward monthly pricing. If your priority is minimal complexity and zero lock-in rather than the deepest feature set, it's a strong fit.
Pros
- Simple, no-pressure monthly pricing
- Built specifically for solo users and small teams, not scaled-down enterprise software
- Low learning curve alongside the flexible billing
Cons
- Feature set is intentionally lighter than larger platforms
- Less suited to teams that will outgrow a simple contact/pipeline tool quickly
Other options
Pipedrive does offer monthly billing, but it's priced meaningfully higher than the annual rate — a reasonable trade if flexibility matters more to you than the discount. Nutshell also supports monthly billing and pairs it with responsive support, making it a solid option for small teams that want both flexibility and hands-on help during onboarding.
Pricing (entry-level plans)
| CRM | Starting price | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Close | Solo $9 · Essentials $35 · Growth $99 · Scale $139 | Per user/month. Free 14-day trial, no credit card required. |
| Pipedrive | Lite $14 · Growth $39 · Premium $59 · Ultimate $79 | Per seat/month, billed annually (monthly billing costs more). 14-day free trial. |
| HubSpot | Free $0 · Starter from ~$15–20 · Professional/Enterprise Suite bundles from ~$1,000+/mo | HubSpot prices per "Hub" (Marketing/Sales/Service/etc.) and by contact tier, so the total varies a lot by what you bundle. |
Prices above are current as of writing and shown for the entry-level tiers — always confirm the latest numbers on each provider's pricing page before buying, since SaaS pricing changes often.
“We are currently paying $833.33 each month for 2,000 marketing contacts and 5 users.”
How to choose
Decide first whether you actually value flexibility enough to pay more for it — if you're confident in the tool and the team size a year out, the annual discount from Pipedrive or Nutshell may just be free money. If you're not confident yet, paying a bit more monthly with Close, HubSpot, or Less Annoying CRM buys you the ability to walk away without waiting out a contract.
Frequently asked questions
What is the best CRM overall for this use case?
Close is our top overall pick for this use case, based on ease of setup, pricing, and fit for typical workflows — though the right choice depends on team size and budget, covered in the sections above.
Do I need a paid CRM, or is a free plan enough?
A free plan is usually enough for a single user or a very small team just getting started. Growing teams typically outgrow free tiers once they need automation, reporting, or more than a couple of users.
How long does it take to set up a CRM?
Simple CRMs can be set up in under an hour. More full-featured platforms with custom pipelines, automations, and integrations typically take a few days to a few weeks to configure properly.