Fast answer
Start with Notion or a spreadsheet if the process is still messy. Choose Pipedrive when pipeline discipline matters. Choose HubSpot when forms, email, CRM, and marketing automation need to live together.
Best by situation
| Situation | Best fit | Tradeoff |
|---|---|---|
| Solo consultant or creator with light lead tracking | Notion | Flexible but needs setup discipline. |
| Sales calls and follow-up are core to the business | Pipedrive | Great pipeline focus, less all-in-one marketing. |
| Business needs forms, CRM, email, and automation | HubSpot | Powerful, but complexity grows. |
Minimum viable CRM fields
- Name
- Source
- Need
- Stage
- Last contact
- Next follow-up
- Notes