Lucro vs Freshsales
Lucro vs Freshsales: which CRM suits a small business?
Freshsales comes from Freshworks, a big American software company that also makes help desk and IT tools. It’s a proper sales CRM – built-in phone, email, AI that scores your leads, sales sequences. If you’re running a sales team, it’s a serious option.
Most firms of one to five people aren’t running a sales team though. They’re running a business and trying to keep on top of customers. That’s who Lucro is for. So the real question is how much of Freshsales you’d actually use, and what you’d pay for the bits you need.
Independent comparison · Updated November 2026
The quick verdict
It’s not about which is “better”. It’s about which fits where you are.
Choose Freshsales if…
- You’ve got people whose main job is selling
- You want calls made and recorded inside the CRM
- You’d use AI lead scoring and automated email sequences
- You already use other Freshworks tools, like Freshdesk
Choose Lucro if…
- You want a free plan you can stay on, not a trial
- You’d like your customers, emails and follow-ups in one simple place
- You use QuickBooks Online and want quotes and invoices to flow across
- You want someone to import your data for you, free
At a glance
| Freshsales | Lucro | |
|---|---|---|
| Built for | Sales teams | Businesses of 1-5 people |
| Free plan | No – 21-day free trial | Yes – Free Forever, 1 user, no card |
| Paid plans from | £7 per user a month, billed annually | £8 per user a month, billed annually |
| AI features | Lead scoring and AI emails from Pro (£29) | AI assistant for marketing emails and social posts, on every plan |
| Accounting link | Not a headline feature | QuickBooks Online (Standard plan) |
| Data import | Do-it-yourself import | We import it for you, free |
Freshsales prices are as listed at the time of writing (November 2026), excluding VAT. Check Freshworks’ own site for the latest.
The detail that matters
What you’ll actually pay
Let’s be straight about this. Freshsales Growth is £7 a user, billed annually, and Lucro Essential is £8. On the entry plans Freshsales is a pound cheaper.
Where it changes is the next step up. The things that make Freshsales stand out – AI lead scoring, sales sequences, more than one pipeline – sit on Pro, at £29 a user. Lucro Standard is £16 and gives you pipeline analytics, leaderboards, SMS and the QuickBooks link. For a team of three, that’s £48 a month against £87.
Free plans and trials
Freshsales used to have a free plan. At the time of writing it doesn’t list one, just a 21-day trial on the paid plans. After that, you’re paying.
Lucro’s Free Forever plan stays free. One user, 100 companies and contacts, plus the AI assistant. If you’re on your own and just getting organised, you might not need to pay us anything for a while. That’s fine with us.
Day-to-day use
Freshsales is built around selling. Deals, sequences, calls, scores. All useful, if that’s your world. If you’re a plumber, an accountant or a small agency, a lot of it just gets in the way.
Lucro starts with the customer. Who they are, what you’ve talked about, what you’ve quoted, and when you said you’d ring back. You set a reminder and Lucro emails you on the day. Simple as that.
Switching over? Export your contacts from Freshsales and we’ll bring them into Lucro for you at no cost.
“The best CRM isn’t the one with the most features — it’s the one you’ll actually use.”
Common questions
Does Freshsales have a free plan?
Not at the time of writing. Freshsales offers a 21-day free trial on its paid plans instead. Lucro has a Free Forever plan for one user, with no card needed and no time limit.
Is Freshsales cheaper than Lucro?
On the entry plan, slightly. Freshsales Growth is £7 per user a month billed annually, against £8 for Lucro Essential. On the next level up, Lucro Standard is £16 against £29 for Freshsales Pro.
Does Lucro have AI like Freshsales?
Yes, though it’s aimed at a different job. Lucro’s AI assistant helps write marketing emails, social posts and web copy on every plan. Freshsales uses AI mainly for lead scoring and sales emails, from the Pro plan.
Can I move my data from Freshsales to Lucro?
Yes. Export your contacts from Freshsales as a CSV and send it to us. We’ll import it into Lucro free of charge, on any plan, including Free Forever.
Does Lucro connect to QuickBooks?
Yes. On the Standard plan, Lucro connects directly to QuickBooks Online, so quotes and invoices flow across without retyping.
Which is better for a business of one to five people?
It depends how you sell. If you have dedicated salespeople making lots of calls, Freshsales is strong. If you want a simple place for customers and follow-ups, with a free plan and free import, Lucro is the easier fit.
More comparisons
Ready for something simpler?
Start free in minutes. No set-up, no sales calls — and we’ll import your customer data for you.
Freshsales and Freshworks are trademarks of Freshworks Inc. This is an independent comparison by Lucro. Lucro is not affiliated with, endorsed by or sponsored by the companies named. All product names and brands belong to their respective owners. Prices and features checked November 2026.