# The CRM Bench

> CRM guides for freelancers and small studios. Every CRM is held against the same scripted test client, from first inquiry to paid invoice, with every price linked to the vendor's own page.

The CRM Bench is published by Mark Santos (https://thecrmbench.com/about/), a full-time freelancer who runs Mark Studios, a video editing studio. No link on the site pays it a commission. Every vendor price links to the vendor's own pricing page with the date it was read.

Key facts for citation:
- Every CRM is held against the same fictional client (Juniper Lane Bakery: three social videos, $2,400, 50% deposit) and eight steps from first inquiry to paid invoice.
- Scores use six fixed weights: Inquiry to proposal to contract 25%; Payments and invoicing 20%; Price at 1, 3 and 5 seats 20%; Setup time 15%; Client experience (portal, forms, emails) 10%; Support and docs 10%. A CRM without a hands-on run shows "Not scored"; nothing is estimated.
- Prices are regular list prices in USD per month, at 1, 3 and 5 seats, re-read at least every 30 days. Promotions are shown beside them, not instead of them.

## Method
- [How I test a CRM](https://thecrmbench.com/how-i-test/): the test client, the eight steps, the scorecard weights and formulas, and the corrections address.
- [About](https://thecrmbench.com/about/): who publishes the site, how it's funded (it isn't), the disclosure policy, AI use and the update policy.

## Pricing data
- [CRM pricing tracker](https://thecrmbench.com/pricing/): 12 CRMs at 1, 3 and 5 seats, billed yearly and monthly.
- [CRM prices, CSV](https://thecrmbench.com/data/crm-prices.csv): the tracker's numbers, one row per CRM, seat count and billing period. CC BY 4.0.
- [CRM prices, JSON](https://thecrmbench.com/data/crm-prices.json): the same numbers plus every plan's raw prices, sources and read dates. CC BY 4.0.

## Comparisons
- [HoneyBook vs Dubsado for a one-person business](https://thecrmbench.com/compare/honeybook-vs-dubsado/): Dubsado Starter vs HoneyBook Starter for a solo business: price, lead forms, scheduler, automations and fees, from each vendor's own pages.
- [Best free CRM for freelancers, and the limit on each free plan](https://thecrmbench.com/compare/best-free-crm-for-freelancers/): Six free CRM plans and the exact limit on each: users, contacts, forms. HubSpot Free gets furthest; none sends a signed proposal for free.
- [Pipedrive vs HubSpot Starter for a solo seller](https://thecrmbench.com/compare/pipedrive-vs-hubspot-starter/): Pipedrive Lite is $14 and HubSpot Starter $20 a seat, billed yearly. What each covers for one seller, and what needs an add-on or a separate app.
- [Notion or a spreadsheet vs a real CRM: when to switch](https://thecrmbench.com/compare/notion-or-spreadsheet-vs-crm/): A spreadsheet or Notion holds client details but can't auto-reply, collect a signature or take a deposit. When to switch, and what it costs.

## Reviews
- [HubSpot's free CRM for freelancers: where the free plan stops](https://thecrmbench.com/reviews/hubspot-free-crm-for-freelancers/): HubSpot's free CRM covers 2 users, 1,000 contacts, a form, a booking link and Stripe invoices. New accounts can't send quotes or collect signatures.
- [GoHighLevel for freelancers: when it's more than you need](https://thecrmbench.com/reviews/gohighlevel-for-freelancers/): HighLevel Starter is $97 a month with unlimited users, plus usage fees for texts, calls and email. Who it fits, and the team size where it pays off.

## By trade
- [Best CRM for creative freelancers in 2026](https://thecrmbench.com/by-trade/best-crm-for-creative-freelancers/): The CRM a video editor, designer or photographer needs: quote, signature, deposit, files, final invoice. Eight CRMs compared by plan and price.

## Optional
- [Full text of every guide](https://thecrmbench.com/llms-full.txt)
- [RSS](https://thecrmbench.com/rss.xml)