Helix Module

Client Management Without the CRM Price Tag

Enterprise CRMs charge $20–$500/month for features solopreneurs don't need. Helix CRM gives you client management connected to invoicing, scheduling, and accounting — $279 once for the whole suite.

Bottom line: HubSpot Starter costs $240/yr. Pipedrive starts at $180/yr per user. Salesforce is $300+/yr per user. And none of them include invoicing, scheduling, or accounting — you'll pay for those separately. Helix is $279 once for CRM + invoicing + scheduling + accounting + time tracking. Over 3 years, HubSpot Starter alone costs $720. Helix costs $279 and does more.

Key Numbers

Interactive Cost Comparison

Compare CRM costs over time. Most CRMs charge per user, per month — forever.

Pricing verified March 2026. Add tools above to build your own comparison.

The CRM Alternatives (Reviewed)

1. HubSpot CRM

$20-$500/mo · $240-$6,000/yr

HubSpot's free tier gets you in the door. Then you need features. Starter is $20/mo, but Professional ($500/mo) is where the real power lives. Marketing automation, deal pipelines, email sequences — all valuable if you're a sales team. Overkill if you're one person running a service business.

Pros

  • Free tier to get started
  • Excellent marketing automation (paid tiers)
  • Large ecosystem and integrations
  • Good contact management

Cons

  • Real features require $240-$6,000/yr
  • No invoicing, scheduling, or accounting
  • Built for sales teams, not service providers
  • Per-user pricing on higher tiers

2. Pipedrive

$15-$99/user/mo · $180-$1,188/user/yr

Pipedrive is built around the sales pipeline visual. Great for tracking deals through stages. But it's a pure CRM — no invoicing, no scheduling, no accounting. And it's per-user pricing, which hurts even solopreneurs at $180/yr minimum.

Pros

  • Clean, visual sales pipeline
  • Good deal tracking
  • Activity-based selling methodology
  • Strong mobile app

Cons

  • $180-$1,188/yr per user
  • No invoicing, scheduling, or accounting
  • Sales-focused, not service-focused
  • Add-ons (LeadBooster, etc.) cost extra

3. Salesforce

$25-$300/user/mo · $300-$3,600/user/yr

Salesforce is the 800-pound gorilla. Incredibly powerful, infinitely customizable, and absurdly expensive for a solopreneur. You'll spend weeks setting it up and $300+/yr per user for features designed for enterprise sales teams.

Pros

  • Most powerful CRM on the market
  • Infinite customization
  • Massive app ecosystem
  • Enterprise-grade reporting

Cons

  • $300-$3,600/yr per user
  • Complex setup requires consultant time
  • No invoicing, scheduling, or accounting
  • Built for enterprises, not solopreneurs

4. Zoho CRM

$14-$52/user/mo · $168-$624/user/yr

Zoho CRM is the value play. Decent features at lower prices. Part of the massive Zoho ecosystem. But the interface feels dated, setup is clunky, and you'll still need separate tools for scheduling and real accounting.

Pros

  • Lower price than HubSpot/Salesforce
  • Part of Zoho ecosystem
  • AI assistant on higher tiers
  • Workflow automation

Cons

  • Dated interface compared to competitors
  • $168-$624/yr per user
  • Best features require Zoho buy-in
  • No scheduling or real accounting built in

5. Monday CRM

$12/seat/mo · $144/seat/yr (minimum 3 seats)

Monday started as project management and bolted on CRM. The visual boards are appealing. But the 3-seat minimum means you're paying $432/yr even as a solopreneur. And it's still just CRM — no invoicing, no accounting.

Pros

  • Visual, board-based interface
  • Good automation rules
  • Integrates with Monday Work Management
  • Modern, clean design

Cons

  • 3-seat minimum = $432/yr for solopreneurs
  • CRM bolted onto project management
  • No invoicing, scheduling, or accounting
  • Can feel like a spreadsheet with extra steps

The Built-In Alternative: Helix CRM

$279 once — CRM connected to invoicing, scheduling, accounting

Helix CRM is built for people who run service businesses, not sales teams. Every client record connects to their jobs, invoices, appointments, notes, and payment history. No separate tools. No data silos. No monthly fees. One purchase, one system, everything connected.

Pros

  • $279 once — no per-user, no monthly fees
  • CRM + invoicing + scheduling + accounting
  • Client records connected to everything
  • Built for service providers, not sales teams

Cons

  • No marketing automation or email sequences
  • Not built for multi-stage sales pipelines
  • Desktop-first (cloud sync optional)
  • Newer product, smaller community

Standalone Cost vs Helix (Built-In)

The Math

HubSpot Starter: $20/mo = $240/yr
+ You still need invoicing: FreshBooks = $17/mo = $204/yr
+ You still need scheduling: Calendly = $12/mo = $144/yr
+ You still need accounting: QuickBooks = $38/mo = $456/yr
Total standalone stack: $1,044/yr

Helix (CRM + invoicing + scheduling + accounting): $279 once

Break-even: ~3 months. Then it's free forever.
Tool (CRM only)Year 1Year 3Year 5
Salesforce Essentials$300$900$1,500
HubSpot Starter$240$720$1,200
Pipedrive Essential$180$540$900
Monday CRM (3-seat min)$432$1,296$2,160
Zoho CRM Standard$168$504$840
Helix (CRM + everything)$279$279$279

CRM costs above are CRM-only. You'd still need invoicing ($204-$516/yr), scheduling ($144-$408/yr), and accounting ($192-$1,380/yr) on top. Helix includes all of them.

Frequently Asked Questions

How much does CRM software cost per year?

CRM costs vary wildly. HubSpot Starter is $240/yr. Salesforce starts at $300/yr per user. Pipedrive is $180-$1,188/yr. Helix is $279 once — CRM plus invoicing, scheduling, accounting, and time tracking included.

Do solopreneurs need a CRM?

Yes, but not a traditional enterprise CRM. Solopreneurs need client management — contact info, notes, job history, invoices, communication log. Helix CRM is built for one person running a business, not a sales team managing a pipeline.

What's the cheapest CRM for small business?

HubSpot has a free tier (limited). Zoho CRM starts at $14/user/mo. But over 3 years, even HubSpot Starter costs $720. Helix costs $279 once and includes CRM plus invoicing, scheduling, and accounting.

Can Helix CRM replace HubSpot?

For solopreneurs and small service businesses, yes. Helix handles client management, notes, job tracking — connected to invoicing and scheduling. HubSpot is more powerful for marketing automation, but most solopreneurs don't need that.

Does Helix CRM include email marketing?

Helix includes email templates for invoices, follow-ups, and reminders. It's not an email marketing platform like HubSpot or Mailchimp. For most solopreneurs, transactional emails matter more than marketing blasts.

Stop paying monthly for client management

CRM connected to invoicing, scheduling, and accounting. $279 once.

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· Data sourced from official pricing pages