12 free alternatives to apps you're paying too much for in 2026
Free CRM, free email marketing, free funnel builder, free scheduling — yes, all of it actually works. Here's the lineup.
It used to be that 'free' SaaS meant 'crippled until you upgrade'. The free CRM had a 100-contact cap. The free email tool added a footer ad. The free scheduler showed competitor branding on your booking page.
That model is dying. Modern all-in-one platforms can give away the software for free because they make money on usage credits — pay-as-you-go email and SMS — instead of subscription tiers.
Here's the lineup of paid SaaS most Aussie SMBs are still paying for and the free versions baked into Dave: HubSpot CRM ($50/mo) → free; Mailchimp ($20/mo) → free; ClickFunnels ($97/mo) → free; Calendly ($12/mo) → free; Hootsuite ($99/mo) → free; Typeform ($25/mo) → free; Intercom ($74/mo) → free; Yext ($199/mo) → free.
Add it up: that's $576/mo of subscriptions, all replaced on the Free plan. The catch? You'll buy email credits when you send. About 0.001c each. Fair trade.
