What is the cheapest real estate CRM for new agents?
The cheapest real estate CRMs for new agents are: AgentSequence ($0-99/mo for email automation), Wise Agent ($29/mo for basic CRM), HubSpot ($0/mo for free CRM with limited features), and LionDesk ($25/mo for basic plan). Most new agents (0-5 deals/year) benefit from starting with free email automation like AgentSequence ($0/mo for 50 contacts) before investing in a full CRM.
Finding the cheapest real estate CRM that actually works is challenging for new agents. Most platforms charge $79-199/month for features you won't use until you're closing 10+ deals per year. Here's a detailed breakdown of the most affordable options, what you actually need as a new agent, and how to avoid paying for features you don't use.
Quick Comparison: Cheapest Real Estate CRM Options
| Platform | Monthly Cost | Contacts | Email Automation | Transaction Mgmt | Best For |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| AgentSequence | $0-99 | 50-10,000 | ✅ Pre-built | ❌ No | Email follow-up only |
| HubSpot Free | $0 | Unlimited | ⚠️ Basic | ❌ No | General CRM basics |
| Wise Agent | $29 | Unlimited | ⚠️ Basic | ✅ Yes | Budget full CRM |
| LionDesk | $25-79 | Varies | ⚠️ Basic | ✅ Yes | Video + SMS features |
| Follow Up Boss | $99-199 | Varies | ⚠️ Basic | ✅ Yes | Teams + full CRM |
| kvCORE | $499+ | Unlimited | ✅ Advanced | ✅ Yes | Enterprise teams |
Bottom line: If you're closing 0-5 deals/year, start with AgentSequence ($0-39/mo) for email automation. Add a basic CRM like Wise Agent ($29/mo) when you have 3+ active transactions simultaneously.
What New Agents Actually Need
Most new agents waste money on CRM features they won't use for 2-3 years:
What You Need (0-5 deals/year):
- ✅ Contact storage with basic tags
- ✅ Email automation (stay-in-touch, nurture sequences)
- ✅ Reply detection (so you don't miss hot leads)
- ✅ Mobile access (for open houses)
What You Don't Need Yet:
- ❌ Transaction management (until you have 3+ active deals)
- ❌ Team collaboration features
- ❌ Advanced pipeline stages
- ❌ MLS integration ($50-100/mo extra)
- ❌ Built-in dialer ($20-50/mo extra)
The math: A $99/mo CRM costs $1,188/year. If you close 3 deals at $6,000 average commission, that's 20% of one commission going to software you're barely using.
Detailed Platform Breakdown
AgentSequence ($0-99/month) — Best for Email Automation
Free Tier ($0/mo):
- 50 contacts
- 1 active campaign
- Reply detection included
- Pre-built email sequences
Starter ($39/mo):
- 500 contacts
- Unlimited campaigns
- All 12 pre-built sequences
- Basic reporting
Professional ($59/mo):
- 2,500 contacts
- Priority support
- Custom campaign editing
Growth ($99/mo):
- 10,000 contacts
- Team features
- Shared inbox
Best for: Agents who need email follow-up without learning a complex CRM. Launch campaigns in 2 minutes with zero content creation.
Limitation: Not a full CRM — no transaction management, pipeline stages, or MLS integration.
HubSpot Free CRM ($0/month) — Best Free General CRM
Features:
- Unlimited contacts
- Basic contact management
- Email tracking (opens/clicks)
- Limited email templates
Limitations:
- No real estate-specific features
- Basic email automation (5 templates max)
- No transaction management
- Steep learning curve for agents
Best for: Tech-savvy agents who want a free starting point and are willing to build their own workflows.
Wise Agent ($29/month) — Best Budget Full CRM
Features:
- Unlimited contacts
- Transaction management
- Calendar integration
- Basic drip campaigns
- Mobile app
Limitations:
- Email automation is basic (you write all content)
- Interface feels dated
- Limited integrations
Best for: Budget-conscious agents who need basic CRM features and transaction tracking.
LionDesk ($25-79/month) — Best for Video/SMS
Starter ($25/mo):
- 500 contacts
- Basic CRM features
- Limited video messages
Professional ($79/mo):
- 2,500 contacts
- Advanced automation
- Unlimited video
Best for: Agents who want to stand out with video email and SMS messaging.
Limitation: Video creation takes time; many agents don't use it consistently.
Hidden Costs to Watch For
When comparing CRM pricing, account for these common add-ons:
| Feature | Typical Cost | Who Needs It |
|---|---|---|
| MLS Integration | $50-100/mo | Agents with 10+ active listings |
| Built-in Dialer | $20-50/mo | Phone-heavy prospecting |
| SMS Credits | $0.02-0.05/msg | Text-based follow-up |
| Additional Users | $20-50/mo each | Teams |
| Training/Onboarding | $200-500 one-time | Complex platforms |
| Data Migration | $100-300 one-time | Switching CRMs |
True cost example: LionDesk "Professional" advertised at $79/mo often becomes $150+/mo with dialer, extra SMS credits, and training.
Recommended Path for New Agents
Stage 1: Starting Out (0-3 deals/year)
Stack: AgentSequence Free ($0/mo) + Google Sheets
- AgentSequence handles all email follow-up automatically
- Google Sheets tracks basic contact info and deal notes
- Total cost: $0/month
Stage 2: Building Momentum (3-10 deals/year)
Stack: AgentSequence Starter ($39/mo) + Wise Agent ($29/mo)
- AgentSequence for email automation (pre-built campaigns)
- Wise Agent for transaction management and calendar
- Total cost: $68/month
Stage 3: Scaling Up (10+ deals/year)
Stack: Follow Up Boss ($99/mo) or AgentSequence Professional ($59/mo)
- Full CRM features for pipeline management
- Team features if adding buyers agents or assistants
- Total cost: $99-159/month
Common Mistakes When Choosing Cheap CRMs
❌ Choosing based on price alone A $25/mo CRM that takes 20 hours to set up costs more than a $39/mo solution that works in 2 minutes.
❌ Buying features you won't use Transaction management, team collaboration, and advanced pipelines add cost but provide zero value until you need them.
❌ Ignoring email automation The #1 reason agents lose deals is inconsistent follow-up. A CRM without good email automation is a glorified spreadsheet.
❌ Forgetting about migration costs Switching CRMs later means data migration ($100-300), lost history, and retraining. Start with something you can grow into.
Ready to Start with the Cheapest Option?
AgentSequence Free Tier provides effective email automation at $0/month forever. 50 contacts, 1 pre-built campaign, reply detection — zero risk to try.
Most new agents outgrow free tier in 3-6 months, then upgrade to Starter ($39/mo) when they have 50+ contacts. By then, the platform has already generated referrals and repeat business.
Start Free Trial → Free tier: 50 contacts, 1 campaign, $0/month forever. No credit card required.
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