Juggling clients, contracts, and cash flow? You’re not alone. Freelancers wear many hats—and sometimes they all fall off at once. That’s why a good CRM (Customer Relationship Management) tool can be a lifesaver. But with hundreds of options out there, which ones do real freelancers actually use?
TL;DR
Redditors love CRMs that are easy to use, affordable, and all-in-one. The top picks? HoneyBook, Bonsai, Notion (with templates), Zoho CRM, and Close. These tools help you track leads, manage contracts, and get paid—without needing a degree in software engineering.
1. HoneyBook: The Sweetheart of Freelancers
HoneyBook pops up all the time on Reddit threads like r/freelance and r/entrepreneur. It’s an all-in-one tool that handles everything from booking to billing. Graphic designers, coaches, event planners—you name it—everyone seems to rave about this one.
- Lead tracking: Get inquiries from your website or contact form directly into your inbox.
- Automation: Set up workflow emails and follow-ups, so things don’t fall through the cracks.
- Contracts & Signatures: Built-in e-signatures with professional-looking templates.
- Invoicing & Payments: Accept credit cards and even automate payment reminders.
Price: Starts at around $19/month for individuals.
What Reddit says: Easy to navigate and has a great user interface. One user called it “my virtual assistant.”
2. Bonsai: Sleek, Simple, and Designed for Freelancers
If HoneyBook is sweet, Bonsai is sleek. It’s designed with freelancers in mind. From day one, it’s been a hit on r/freelance. People praise it for combining so many features into one clean, intuitive platform.
- Proposals: Create beautiful proposals and send them in minutes.
- Time Tracking: Built-in tools to track client hours with ease.
- Contracts: Lawyer-vetted templates that you can customize.
- Invoices & Payments: Accept payments via Stripe, PayPal, ACH, and more.
Price: Starts at $25/month, but includes a lot.
What Reddit says: Many love how Bonsai feels made just for freelancers. “It’s like my entire business in one tab.”
3. Notion + Templates: DIY CRM for the Organized
Notion is a digital notebook, but it’s also so much more. Redditors in r/Notion and r/freelance have built incredible CRM templates out of this flexible tool. Great if you love customization and already use Notion for other stuff.
- Lead Tracker: Create custom databases for each stage in your sales funnel.
- Client Database: Keep notes, meeting recaps, and tasks in one place.
- Templates: Tons of pre-built freelance CRMs available for free or cheap.
- Collaborate: Share pages with clients or team members.
Price: Free for personal use. Paid plans start at $8/month.
What Reddit says: “Notion is life.” Enough said.
4. Zoho CRM: Corporate Power Without the Price Tag
Need something with muscle? Zoho CRM might be your pick. It’s more than your basic freelancer CRM. It’s a proper business tool, and it’s flexible as heck. That’s why folks on r/zoho and r/freelance recommend it for advanced users.
- Custom Pipelines: Track sales, contracts, follow-ups—you name it.
- Workflow Rules: Automate just about anything.
- Analytics & Reports: Visual dashboards to see what’s growing and what’s slowing.
- Integration: Plays nice with Google Workspace, Slack, Zapier, etc.
Price: Free for 3 users. Paid version starts at $14/month.
What Reddit says: “Takes time to set up, but once it’s running, it saves hours.”
5. Close: Built for Sales-First Freelancers
If your freelance biz is high-volume and sales-driven, you’ll want a CRM that hustles as hard as you do. That’s where Close shines. Reddit sales pros mention it often when talking about outreach and follow-ups.
- Built-in Calling and SMS: Talk to leads directly from the dashboard.
- Sales Pipeline: Visual sales flows with reminder nudges.
- Email Sequences: Drip campaigns to keep your brand top-of-mind.
- Reporting: See how many deals are nearing the finish line.
Price: Starts at $49/month—not cheap but powerful.
What Reddit says: “For freelancers selling big-ticket services, Close gives you that edge.”
Bonus Mention: ClickUp
Ok, this is more of a project management tool, but Redditors LOVE to turn it into a full CRM. If you already use ClickUp for tasks, it’s easy to build a workspace to track clients, invoices, and contracts.
Pro tip: Search r/ClickUp for “CRM template.” People have shared setups you can copy and paste.
So… Which One’s Best?
That depends on your vibe:
- Want everything ready out of the box? Go HoneyBook or Bonsai.
- Love tinkering and templates? Notion is for you.
- Running a sales-heavy business? Close is your buddy.
- Want serious automation? Zoho CRM is beast mode.
Final Thoughts
Managing your freelance biz doesn’t have to feel like herding cats. With the right CRM, your leads, contracts, and payments can all flow like warm butter. The options above are Reddit-tested and freelancer-approved. Try a couple, take your time, and find your perfect match. Your future self will thank you.