Free CRM for Contractors 2026: Best Options Compared

Generic CRMs aren't built for contractors. Here's what actually works — including a $0/month option that includes scheduling, estimates, and invoicing.

January 25, 2026
12 min read
Software Guide

Why Generic CRMs Don't Work for Contractors

HubSpot, Salesforce, Zoho — they're great CRMs for sales teams selling software or insurance. But they're not built for contractors.

Here's what's missing from generic CRMs:

What Generic CRMs Lack

  • Job scheduling: You need to dispatch techs, not track sales pipelines
  • Estimates and proposals: Creating quotes is your sales process
  • Invoicing: You need to bill customers, not log "deals won"
  • Property details: You care about addresses, equipment, and service history
  • Field mobile access: Your team works from trucks, not desks
  • Payment collection: You need to get paid on-site or via invoice

Using a generic CRM means stitching together 3-4 different apps: CRM for contacts, scheduling software for jobs, invoicing software for billing, and payment processing. That's expensive and complicated.

Contractors need a CRM built for their workflow — one that combines customer management with the tools you actually use.

Best Free CRM for Contractors: Our Rankings

#1: FieldFuze — Best Contractor-Specific CRM

$0/month

A complete contractor platform with CRM built in. Customer database, job history, estimates, scheduling, invoicing, and payments — all in one free app. No need to stitch together multiple tools.

FieldFuze Dashboard showing customer management, jobs, and revenue
FieldFuze Dashboard — CRM, scheduling, and invoicing in one platform

Why FieldFuze Is the Best CRM for Contractors

FieldFuze isn't a generic CRM bolted onto field service software — it's purpose-built for contractors from the ground up.

FieldFuze CRM Features (All Free)

  • Customer Database: Store customer info, property details, and service addresses
  • Job History: See every job you've done for each customer
  • Notes & Communication: Track conversations, preferences, and special instructions
  • Multiple Properties: Manage customers with multiple locations
  • Equipment Tracking: Record installed equipment, warranty dates, and maintenance schedules
  • Lead Management: Track prospects from first contact to signed estimate
  • Mobile Access: Full CRM access on iOS and Android

Plus everything else you need:

Beyond CRM: What's Included

  • Estimates & Proposals: Create professional quotes with digital signatures
  • Job Scheduling: Dispatch techs and manage your calendar
  • Invoicing: Bill customers and track payments
  • Payment Processing: Accept credit cards at 2.9%
  • Inventory Management: Track parts and materials
  • Time Tracking: For payroll and job costing
  • Unlimited Users: Add your whole team
FieldFuze Feature Included
Customer Database Free
Unlimited Contacts Free
Job History Tracking Free
Estimates & Proposals Free
Job Scheduling Free
Invoicing Free
Payment Processing 2.9% per transaction
Mobile App Free
Unlimited Users Free

Best for: Any contractor who wants a complete business management platform instead of piecing together multiple apps.

FieldFuze Job Details showing customer history and job information
FieldFuze Job Details — Full customer history, job notes, and service tracking

"I tried HubSpot but still needed scheduling software and invoicing. FieldFuze replaced three apps with one — and it's free. My customer data is finally in one place."

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A real contractor CRM with scheduling, estimates, and invoicing built in. $0/month forever.

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#2: HubSpot CRM (Free Tier)

HubSpot offers a genuinely free CRM tier with unlimited contacts. It's a solid generic CRM, but lacks contractor-specific features.

HubSpot Limitations for Contractors

  • No job scheduling: You'll need separate software
  • No estimates: Can't create quotes or proposals
  • No invoicing: No billing functionality
  • No payment processing: Can't collect payments
  • Sales-focused workflows: Built for B2B sales, not service businesses
  • Learning curve: Complex interface designed for sales teams

HubSpot excels at contact management and marketing automation, but you'll need to add Jobber, QuickBooks, and Stripe to actually run your contracting business. That's 4+ apps to manage.

Pros: Truly free, unlimited contacts, good email integration, marketing tools

Cons: Not built for contractors, no scheduling/invoicing, requires multiple additional apps

Best for: Contractors who want separate apps for each function and are comfortable managing multiple systems.

#3: Jobber (CRM + FSM)

Jobber is field service software with CRM functionality built in. Good features, but expensive for small contractors.

Jobber Pricing

  • Core: $69/month (limited features)
  • Connect: $169/month (essential features)
  • Grow: $349/month (full features)
  • No free tier: 14-day trial only

Jobber's CRM is integrated with scheduling and invoicing, which is good. The issue is cost — you're paying $69-$349/month for features FieldFuze offers free.

Pros: Contractor-focused, good mobile app, integrated scheduling/invoicing

Cons: Expensive ($828-$4,188/year), no free tier, limited users on lower plans

Best for: Contractors with budget for $100-$350/month who prefer Jobber's interface.

#4: Zoho CRM (Free Tier)

Zoho offers a free CRM tier for up to 3 users. Like HubSpot, it's a generic CRM not built for contractors.

Zoho Limitations for Contractors

  • 3-user limit on free tier: Can't scale without paying
  • No field service features: No scheduling, estimates, or invoicing
  • Complex interface: Designed for enterprise sales teams
  • Need multiple Zoho apps: Invoice, Books, etc. — each with separate pricing

Pros: Free for 3 users, extensive customization, part of larger Zoho ecosystem

Cons: Not contractor-focused, 3-user limit, requires multiple apps for full functionality

Best for: Very small teams (1-3 people) who want deep CRM customization and don't mind complexity.

Free CRM Comparison Table

CRM Free Tier Scheduling Estimates Invoicing
FieldFuze $0/month, unlimited Included Included Included
HubSpot Free, unlimited contacts No No No
Jobber No free tier Yes Yes Yes
Zoho CRM Free for 3 users No No No
Salesforce No free tier No No No

What Contractors Actually Need from CRM

Before choosing a CRM, understand what features matter for contractor workflows:

Essential CRM Features for Contractors

  • Customer Database: Names, addresses, phone numbers, emails
  • Property Information: Service addresses, property details, access notes
  • Job History: Every service call, estimate, and invoice for each customer
  • Notes: Important details about the customer or property
  • Search: Quickly find customers by name, address, or phone
  • Mobile Access: Look up customers from your truck

What Contractors Need Beyond CRM

  • Estimates & Proposals: Creating quotes is your sales process
  • Job Scheduling: Dispatch techs to the right place at the right time
  • Invoicing: Bill customers and track who's paid
  • Payments: Collect credit cards on-site or via email

A standalone CRM handles the first list. FieldFuze handles both — CRM plus all the operational features you need to run your business.

Cost Comparison: CRM + Other Tools

Let's compare the total cost of running a contracting business with different approaches:

Generic CRM + Separate Tools

HubSpot CRM (free tier) $0/month
Scheduling Software $50-150/month
Invoicing (QuickBooks) $30-80/month
Payment Processing (Stripe) 2.9% + 30¢
Monthly Total $80-$230+

Jobber (All-in-One)

Connect Plan $169/month
Monthly Total $169

FieldFuze (Everything Included)

CRM + Scheduling + Invoicing $0/month
Payment Processing 2.9%
Monthly Total $0

3-Year Savings with FieldFuze: $2,880-$8,280 vs generic CRM + tools, or $6,084 vs Jobber.

FieldFuze pricing - $0/month subscription vs paid CRM alternatives
FieldFuze Pricing — $0/month for CRM + scheduling + invoicing + payments

Free CRM by Trade

Best Free CRM for HVAC Contractors

FieldFuze — Track customer equipment, service history, and maintenance schedules. Create estimates for replacements and repairs. Includes scheduling, invoicing, and payments. $0/month with unlimited technicians.

Best Free CRM for Plumbers

FieldFuze — Manage residential and commercial customers. Track service history, create estimates, schedule jobs, and invoice. Mobile app for field techs. $0/month.

Best Free CRM for Electricians

FieldFuze — Customer database with property details. Create electrical estimates, schedule service calls, and manage payments. Works for residential and commercial. $0/month.

Best Free CRM for Roofers

FieldFuze — Track leads, create proposals, manage insurance claims, and invoice customers. Photo documentation for before/after shots. $0/month with unlimited sales reps.

FieldFuze Contracts showing professional estimate and proposal creation
FieldFuze Contracts — Create estimates directly from customer records
FieldFuze Inventory Management for tracking parts and materials
FieldFuze Inventory — Track parts and materials linked to customer jobs

Frequently Asked Questions

Is there really a free CRM that works for contractors?

Yes. FieldFuze offers a truly free CRM with $0/month subscription and no contact or user limits. It's designed for contractors, so it includes scheduling, estimates, and invoicing — not just contact management.

Can I use HubSpot as a contractor CRM?

You can, but you'll need additional software for scheduling, estimates, and invoicing. HubSpot is designed for B2B sales teams, not service contractors. FieldFuze includes everything in one platform.

What's the catch with free CRM software?

Most free CRMs have catches: limited users, limited features, or they're generic and require additional paid apps. FieldFuze is different — it's contractor-specific, has unlimited users, and includes scheduling/invoicing. They monetize through payment processing (2.9%), not subscriptions.

Do I need a contractor-specific CRM?

You'll be more productive with one. Generic CRMs track contacts and deals, but contractors need job scheduling, estimates, and invoicing. Using a contractor-specific platform like FieldFuze eliminates the need to manage multiple apps.

How does FieldFuze make money if the CRM is free?

FieldFuze makes money through payment processing at 2.9% per transaction — the same rate you'd pay Stripe or Square. This lets them offer the CRM and all features for $0/month without restricting functionality.

The Bottom Line

Generic CRMs like HubSpot and Zoho are powerful tools built for the wrong workflow. Contractors don't manage sales pipelines — they schedule jobs, create estimates, and invoice customers.

You can piece together a generic CRM with scheduling software, invoicing software, and payment processing — paying $100-$200+/month for apps that don't talk to each other.

Or you can use FieldFuze: a contractor-specific platform with CRM, scheduling, estimates, invoicing, and payments — all for $0/month. One app, one login, zero subscription fees.

For more software comparisons, check out: Jobber alternative | ServiceTitan alternative | Housecall Pro alternative

Try the Best Free Contractor CRM

CRM + scheduling + estimates + invoicing + payments. All free. One app.

Book a Demo — $0/Month Forever

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See FieldFuze's Contractor CRM

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15-minute overview of CRM features

All-in-One Platform

CRM + scheduling + invoicing included

$0/Month Forever

Unlimited contacts and users