Freshsales ★ 4.3/5 
Insightly ★ 4.1/5 Freshsales vs Insightly: Which CRM is right for you?
A 2026 head-to-head on pricing, features, and which team each is built for.
The short answer
Freshsales is smb crm built for sMB sales teams wanting built-in phone/email and AI at low cost, starting from $0 (free), paid from ~$9/user/mo — free plan available. Insightly is crm with project management for sMBs that deliver projects or services after closing a deal, starting from ~$29/user/mo. Choose Freshsales for smb crm needs; choose Insightly if crm with project management is a better match for your team.
Freshsales vs Insightly: at a glance
| Detail | Freshsales | Insightly |
|---|---|---|
| Category | SMB CRM | CRM with project management |
| Starting price | from $0 (free), paid from ~$9/user/mo | from ~$29/user/mo |
| Free plan | Yes | No |
| Best for | SMB sales teams wanting built-in phone/email and AI at low cost. | SMBs that deliver projects or services after closing a deal. |
| Our rating | ★ 4.3 / 5 | ★ 4.1 / 5 |
| Standout feature | Built-in phone and email plus Freddy AI on affordable tiers. | Converting won opportunities into connected delivery projects. |
| Founded | 2017 | 2009 |
| Headquarters | San Mateo, USA | San Francisco, USA |
Prices are indicative 2026 list prices; always confirm with the vendor directly.
What is Freshsales?
Freshsales is the sales CRM in the Freshworks suite. It bundles contact and deal management with a built-in phone, email, and the Freddy AI assistant for lead scoring and next-step suggestions, aimed at fast-moving SMB sales teams.
Best for: SMB sales teams wanting built-in phone/email and AI at low cost.
What is Insightly?
Insightly combines contact, organization, opportunity, pipeline, project, and workflow management. Separate marketing and service products plus the AppConnect integration platform extend it across the customer lifecycle.
Best for: SMBs that deliver projects or services after closing a deal.
Key features compared
| Freshsales | Insightly |
|---|---|
| Built-in phone and email | Pipeline and opportunity management |
| Freddy AI lead scoring and insights | Relationship linking |
| Visual sales pipeline | Project delivery |
| Workflow automation | AppConnect integrations |
| Free tier for small teams | — |
Pros and cons: Freshsales
| Pros | Cons |
|---|---|
| ✔ Strong value with a usable free plan | ✘ Advanced features locked to higher tiers |
| ✔ Built-in communication tools | ✘ Smaller integration ecosystem |
| ✔ AI features at an accessible price | ✘ Can be outgrown by complex enterprises |
Pros and cons: Insightly
| Pros | Cons |
|---|---|
| ✔ Sales-to-project continuity | ✘ Best features require higher tiers |
| ✔ Flexible relationship records | ✘ Reporting takes setup |
| ✔ Useful integration tooling | ✘ Smaller ecosystem than leaders |
Which should you choose?
Choose Freshsales if you are sMB sales teams wanting built-in phone/email and AI at low cost.
Choose Insightly if you are sMBs that deliver projects or services after closing a deal.
Frequently asked questions
What is the difference between Freshsales and Insightly?
Freshsales is smb crm best for sMB sales teams wanting built-in phone/email and AI at low cost. Its standout is built-in phone and email plus Freddy AI on affordable tiers.. Insightly is crm with project management best for sMBs that deliver projects or services after closing a deal. Its standout is converting won opportunities into connected delivery projects..
Is Freshsales better than Insightly?
Neither is universally better — it depends on your use case. Freshsales is the stronger choice for sMB sales teams wanting built-in phone/email and AI at low cost. Insightly is a better fit for sMBs that deliver projects or services after closing a deal.
Which is cheaper, Freshsales or Insightly?
Freshsales starts from $0 (free), paid from ~$9/user/mo and offers a free plan. Insightly starts from ~$29/user/mo.
Does Freshsales or Insightly have a free plan?
Freshsales offers a free plan. Insightly does not offer a permanent free plan.