Best CRMs for consultants
An independent consultant's needs sit between a freelancer's simplicity and an agency's client-management overhead. Compared on price and what actually fits.
Copper wins for a consultant who lives in Gmail and Google Workspace and wants the CRM to track activity from there with minimal separate data entry. SuiteDash wins instead for a consultant who needs clients to log into a branded portal for documents, status, or invoices.
The short answer
- Copper's Basic plan is $23/user/month (annual) and positions itself specifically around Google Workspace integration, capped at 2,500 contacts, per copper.com/pricing.
- SuiteDash's entry START tier is $19/month, priced per organization rather than per seat, with a client portal and white-labeling included, per suitedash.com/pricing.
- Attio's free plan covers up to 3 seats and 50,000 records with AI features and an MCP server, a strong starting point for a solo or small consulting practice, per attio.com/pricing.
Consultant CRM options compared
| CRM | Starting price | Client portal | Google integration | Best for | Not for |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Attio | Free ($0, up to 3 seats) | Not a core feature | Not a named specialty | A consultant who wants a capable free CRM with AI included | A consultant who specifically needs a client-facing portal |
| Copper | $23/user/mo (Basic, annual) | Not a core feature | Positioned specifically around Google Workspace | A consultant living in Gmail and Calendar day to day | A consultant on the entry tier who needs API access; it's Professional+ only |
| SuiteDash | $19/mo (START, per organization) | Named foundational feature | Not a named specialty | A consultant whose clients need to log in for documents or status | A consultant who wants deep Google Workspace integration specifically |
Figures checked on attio.com/pricing, copper.com/pricing and suitedash.com/pricing, September 2026.
What each one is actually built for
Attio
A general-purpose CRM with real AI features and an MCP server included even on its free plan, which is more capability than most solo consultants will use immediately but costs nothing to have available. Not for: a consultant who wants Google Workspace-specific tracking or a client portal built in.
Copper
Built around the assumption that a consultant's real activity, emails, meetings, calls, already happens in Gmail and Calendar, and pulls that into the CRM automatically rather than asking for manual logging. Its API and integration SDK are withheld from the entry Basic tier, reserved for Professional and above. Not for: a consultant who wants API access without upgrading past the entry plan.
SuiteDash
The only one of the three built around a client-facing portal as a core feature, with unlimited client portals, white-labeling and file storage included from its $19/month entry tier, priced per organization rather than per seat. Not for: a consultant who doesn't need clients logging into anything and just wants a simple pipeline tracker.
When none of these is the answer
A consultant with one or two active engagements at a time and a short client list doesn't need a CRM yet. A calendar and a notes app cover that scale, and adopting any of these tools before you're juggling enough relationships to lose track of one is adding overhead without a real return.
Disclosure: SalesCrew is our product. It's built for a team running a full sales pipeline and outbound program, priced from $299/month, which is more infrastructure than most solo consultants need. It's not included in the ranking above because this comparison is specifically about the lightest-weight options for an independent consultant's day-to-day use.
Questions
- Do consultants need a client portal, or just a CRM?
- It depends on how you deliver work. If clients need to log in and see documents, project status or invoices, a tool like SuiteDash that bundles a portal is worth the extra cost. If your relationship is mostly email and calls, a lighter CRM like Attio or Copper covers the pipeline without portal overhead.
- Is Copper's Gmail integration actually useful for a consultant?
- Copper markets itself around Google Workspace integration specifically, which suits a consultant who lives in Gmail and Calendar day to day and wants the CRM to track activity from there rather than requiring separate data entry.
- What's the cheapest way to start?
- Attio's free plan covers up to 3 seats, which is plenty for a solo consultant or a small practice, per attio.com/pricing.
- Should I use my CRM to track deliverables and invoices, or a separate tool?
- Most CRMs compared here are built around pipeline and contact tracking, not invoicing. If billing needs to live somewhere, check whether the CRM has that built in (SuiteDash does) or plan to pair it with a separate invoicing tool.