The 12 best CRM tools for WhatsApp in 2026, compared honestly
By Spun team · Updated
The best CRM for WhatsApp depends on one choice: the official Business API or your own number. For a full sales CRM on the API, Kommo, Zoho CRM and HubSpot lead. For a small team that wants to keep its number, pay a flat price and skip per-message fees, Spun fits, though it is an unofficial connection.
We make Spun, and it is one of the twelve. Every tool, Spun included, was placed by the same six checks, and every price was read on the vendor's own page on 9 November 2026.
The 12 tools at a glance
| Tool | Connection method | Entry price | Free plan | Team inbox | Best for |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1. Spun | Your own number, linked by QR code as a device (unofficial, no Business API) | $49 a month flat, unlimited team members, no per-message fees (checked 9 November 2026) | Free MCP after the 7-day trial: one number, no team sharing | Yes, a login per teammate | Small teams that want to keep the number customers already have |
| 2. Kommo | Official WhatsApp Business API (Meta partner) | $25 per user a month, billed 6 months at a time (Base; checked 9 November 2026) | No, 14-day trial without a card | Yes, a unified inbox | Sales teams that run on a pipeline and want the official API |
| 3. Zoho CRM | Official WhatsApp Business API, through your Meta Business account | $14 per user a month billed annually, $20 monthly (Standard; checked 9 November 2026) | Free edition for 3 users, without WhatsApp | Not stated on the pricing page | Businesses that want a full CRM at a low price per user |
| 4. HubSpot | Official WhatsApp Business Platform, connected through Meta | WhatsApp needs Service Hub or Marketing Hub Professional: about $90 to $100 per seat a month plus a $1,500 onboarding fee (checked 9 November 2026) | Free CRM for up to 2 users, WhatsApp inbox not included | Yes, the conversations inbox | Companies already on HubSpot that want WhatsApp beside email and deals |
| 5. WaliChat | Official Meta connection with WhatsApp app coexistence | $39.90 per number a month, or $33.25 a month billed annually, 3 team members (Professional; checked 9 November 2026) | No, 7-day trial without a card | Yes | Small teams that want an official connection and still use the phone app |
| 6. Zoko | Official WhatsApp Business API; the number cannot be in the phone app at the same time | $49.99 a month with unlimited agents, plus $0.015 per conversation (Starter; checked 9 November 2026) | No, 7-day trial | Yes, a shared inbox | Shopify stores selling on WhatsApp |
| 7. WATI | Official WhatsApp Business API; an existing number must be removed from the WhatsApp app first | $59 a month billed annually, 3 users (Growth; checked 9 November 2026) | No, 7-day trial | Yes | Template broadcasts and chatbots at volume |
| 8. Callbell | Official WhatsApp Business API | EUR 14 per agent a month plus EUR 20 per WhatsApp number a month (checked 9 November 2026) | No, 7-day trial without a card | Yes | European teams that want simple per-agent pricing |
| 9. respond.io | Official WhatsApp Business API | $79 a month billed yearly, $99 monthly, 5 users (Starter; checked 9 November 2026) | No, 7-day trial | Yes, team inboxes | Omnichannel support and lifecycle tracking across many channels |
| 10. Freshsales | Official WhatsApp Business Platform (Freshworks is a provider) | $9 per user a month billed annually (Growth); the plan that includes WhatsApp is not stated (checked 9 November 2026) | Not confirmed on the pricing page; 21-day trial | Not stated on the pricing page | Sales teams that want a low-cost CRM and will confirm WhatsApp before buying |
| 11. NetHunt CRM | WhatsApp linked as a personal messenger, not the Cloud API | $34 per user a month billed annually, $42 monthly (Basic Plus, the first plan with WhatsApp; checked 9 November 2026) | No, 14-day trial | Not stated on the pricing page | Teams that work in Gmail and want WhatsApp chats on their deals |
| 12. Trengo | Official WhatsApp Business API (Meta partner) | EUR 119 a month for 3 users on the plan card; the same page's FAQ says EUR 149 billed annually or EUR 199 monthly (checked 9 November 2026) | No | Yes, on all plans | Customer service teams in Europe with several channels |
Prices in US dollars or euros as each vendor shows them, before tax and before Meta's per-message fees where those apply.
How we ordered the list
Each tool scores one point per check it meets at the plan you would buy first. If a vendor's page does not say, the tool scores no point. Ties go to the tool with a sales pipeline, then to the lower entry price.
- Contacts and a sales pipeline at the entry price
- A team inbox where several people answer the same WhatsApp number
- A free plan or free tier that includes WhatsApp
- An entry plan with WhatsApp under $100 a month for a team of three, before Meta fees
- No per-message fees on top of the plan
- An official WhatsApp Business API connection
| Tool | Check 1 | Check 2 | Check 3 | Check 4 | Check 5 | Check 6 | Met |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Spun | 5 of 6 | ||||||
| Kommo | 4 of 6 | ||||||
| Zoho CRM | 3 of 6 | ||||||
| HubSpot | 3 of 6 | ||||||
| WaliChat | 3 of 6 | ||||||
| Zoko | 3 of 6 | ||||||
| WATI | 3 of 6 | ||||||
| Callbell | 3 of 6 | ||||||
| respond.io | 3 of 6 | ||||||
| Freshsales | 2 of 6 | ||||||
| NetHunt CRM | 2 of 6 | ||||||
| Trengo | 2 of 6 |
Spun meets five checks and misses the sixth: it is not an official Business API connection. If that check matters most to you, read the list from Kommo down.
The 12 CRM tools for WhatsApp, one by one
1.Spun
Made by usA shared inbox with a pipeline, on the WhatsApp number you already use
Spun is our product. It links to your existing WhatsApp number the way WhatsApp Web does, so chats and groups stay where they are and the phone keeps working. Each teammate signs in as themselves, and every chat can sit on a kanban pipeline with labels, tasks, reminders, contact fields and a Google Sheets sync.
Plans are flat: Starter $49, Pro $100 and Max $200 a month, every feature on every plan, unlimited team members. After the 7-day trial, an account that connected an AI app and saved a card can stay on Free MCP: 100 AI reads a month, up to 200 contacts a month, 7 days of message history, 1 GB of storage and one number, with no team sharing. The card is not charged unless you choose a paid plan.
The limits are real. Spun is an unofficial WhatsApp integration, which may carry some risk, and it is not the Business API: no approved templates and no official bulk-sending allowance. A plan covers one WhatsApp number, there are no deal values or sales forecasts, and it does not sync two ways with another CRM.
Pros
- Keeps your number, chats and groups
- Flat price, no per-seat or per-message fees
- Pipeline, tasks and labels on every plan
- A free tier after the trial
Cons
- Unofficial connection, with ban risk
- No Business API, no approved templates
- One number per plan; another is $49 on Starter or $29 on Pro or Max
- No deal values or forecasting
2.Kommo
A messenger-first sales CRM built around the pipeline
Kommo puts WhatsApp, Instagram and other messengers into one inbox and ties each chat to a lead on a sales pipeline. It connects to WhatsApp through the official Business API as a Meta partner.
Base is $25 per user a month, sold in 6-month terms, with no monthly option. The plan includes one WhatsApp number plus one more per added user. How Meta's message fees are billed is not stated on the pricing page.
Pros
- Pipeline and lead records at the core
- Official API connection
- Numbers grow with users
Cons
- Per-user price, 6-month minimum term
- No free plan
- Meta fee handling not stated on the pricing page
3.Zoho CRM
A full CRM with a native WhatsApp Business integration
Zoho CRM is a general sales CRM with deals, pipelines, reports and automation. Its native WhatsApp Business integration needs a Meta Business account and, per Zoho's help pages, works in the trial and in every paid edition.
Standard is $14 per user a month billed annually or $20 monthly; Professional is $23 billed annually. The free edition covers 3 users but does not list WhatsApp.
Pros
- Deep CRM: deals, reports, automation
- Low per-user price
- Official API connection
Cons
- WhatsApp not in the free edition
- Meta message fees on top
- Shared WhatsApp inbox not described on the pricing page
4.HubSpot
The big CRM, with WhatsApp on its Professional hubs
HubSpot's free CRM covers contacts and deals for up to 2 users, and Sales Hub Starter is $20 per seat a month. WhatsApp in the shared conversations inbox, however, needs Marketing Hub or Service Hub Professional or Enterprise.
Service Hub Professional lists at about $90 to $100 per seat a month depending on billing, plus a $1,500 onboarding fee. The connection is the official WhatsApp Business Platform; HubSpot's help article describes coexistence with the WhatsApp Business app and a limit of 1,000 template messages a month.
Pros
- A full CRM and marketing suite
- Official connection with coexistence
- Free CRM to start without WhatsApp
Cons
- WhatsApp only on Professional hubs
- Onboarding fee and per-seat price
- Template messages capped per month
5.WaliChat
A team inbox priced per number, with the phone app kept
WaliChat is a WhatsApp team inbox with automation, priced per number. Its pricing page describes an official Meta connection with app coexistence, so the WhatsApp app keeps working; it also says groups and calls are not available when using app coexistence.
Professional is $39.90 per number a month ($399 a year), with 3 team members. Meta's message fees are separate. WaliChat has contacts and sales funnel pages, which this comparison did not read in detail.
Pros
- Phone app keeps working
- Low price for one number
- Official connection
Cons
- No groups or calls with coexistence
- Meta fees separate
- Pipeline depth not checked here
6.Zoko
A WhatsApp shared inbox and catalog for Shopify stores
Zoko is built for online stores: a shared inbox, catalog and order messages with a Shopify integration. It runs on the official Business API, and the number cannot be used in the WhatsApp phone app at the same time.
Starter is $49.99 a month with unlimited agents plus a $0.015 markup per conversation; Plus is $79.99 with 5 agents and no markup up to 5,000. Meta's fees are paid to Meta directly.
Pros
- Unlimited agents on Starter
- Strong Shopify fit
- Official API
Cons
- Per-conversation markup on Starter
- Number leaves the phone app
- Not a sales pipeline
Comparing Zoko with similar tools? Zoko alternatives
7.WATI
An API-first inbox for broadcasts and chatbots
WATI is a WhatsApp Business API platform with a team inbox, template broadcasts and a chatbot builder. Moving an existing number to it means deleting that number from the WhatsApp app first.
Growth is $59 a month billed annually with 3 users. Template messages are charged on top from a rate card, and the sales pipeline is on the Business plan ($279 a month billed annually).
Pros
- Built for template broadcasts
- Chatbot builder
- Official API
Cons
- Pipeline only on the Business plan
- Template fees on top
- Number leaves the WhatsApp app
Comparing WATI with similar tools? WATI alternatives
8.Callbell
A shared inbox priced per agent plus per number
Callbell is a shared inbox for WhatsApp and other channels, and describes itself as an official WhatsApp Business API provider. CRM features come mainly through integrations.
Pricing is EUR 14 per agent a month (EUR 18 on Plus) plus EUR 20 per WhatsApp account a month, so 3 agents and one number come to EUR 62. WhatsApp conversations follow Meta's rates.
Pros
- Clear per-agent pricing
- Official API
- Several channels in one inbox
Cons
- Pipeline not described on the pricing page
- Meta fees on top
- Cost grows with each agent
9.respond.io
Omnichannel conversations with lifecycle stages
respond.io brings WhatsApp, Instagram, email and more into team inboxes, with workflows and lifecycle stages for each contact rather than a deal pipeline. It runs on the Business API.
Starter is $79 a month billed yearly ($99 monthly) with 5 users, then $12 per extra user. WhatsApp fees are not included: Meta charges them and you top up credit.
Pros
- Many channels in one place
- Lifecycle stages and workflows
- Official API
Cons
- No deal pipeline
- Meta fees on top
- Price climbs with users
Comparing respond.io with similar tools? respond.io alternatives
10.Freshsales
A sales CRM from Freshworks with WhatsApp as a channel
Freshsales is the sales CRM in the Freshworks family, with deals, pipelines and sequences. Its support pages describe WhatsApp through the WhatsApp Business Platform, with Freshworks as the provider.
Growth is $9 per user a month billed annually, Pro $39 and Enterprise $59. The pricing page does not say which plan includes WhatsApp, so confirm it with sales before you buy.
Pros
- Low entry price
- Full sales CRM
- 21-day trial
Cons
- WhatsApp plan not stated
- Meta fees on top
- Free plan not confirmed
11.NetHunt CRM
A CRM inside Gmail with WhatsApp as a messenger
NetHunt CRM runs inside Gmail, with contacts, deals and pipelines on every plan. Its help center treats WhatsApp as a personal messenger linked to the CRM, and says you cannot start the first message from the CRM.
WhatsApp starts on Basic Plus at $34 per user a month billed annually ($42 monthly); Basic, without it, is $24.
Pros
- Pipelines on every plan
- Works inside Gmail
- No Business API needed
Cons
- WhatsApp only from Basic Plus
- Cannot start a chat from the CRM
- Per-user price
12.Trengo
A customer service inbox for WhatsApp, email and more
Trengo is a shared inbox for customer service teams, connected to WhatsApp through the official Business API as a Meta partner, with automation and a broadcasting add-on (EUR 59 a month).
Its prices page shows EUR 119 a month for 3 users on the plan card, while the FAQ on the same page says EUR 149 billed annually or EUR 199 monthly. The first 1,000 service messages a month are free, then Meta's rates apply, and templates are charged.
Pros
- Shared inbox on every plan
- Strong for support teams
- Official API
Cons
- Price stated two ways on one page
- No sales pipeline described
- Broadcasting is an add-on
Comparing Trengo with similar tools? Trengo alternatives
The best CRM for WhatsApp by team size
- Just you
- The free WhatsApp Business app with labels is often enough. If you want AI on your own number after a trial, Spun's Free MCP tier covers one number for one person.
- 2 to 5 people
- Flat or bundled plans beat per-user ones here: Spun (unlimited team members), Zoko (unlimited agents on Starter), WATI (3 users) and respond.io (5 users). Kommo or Zoho CRM if you need a deeper sales pipeline and the official API.
- 6 to 20 people
- Per-user prices start to add up. Compare the whole bill for your headcount: Kommo and Zoho CRM per user, Spun flat with extra numbers as paid lines, respond.io with $12 per extra user.
- More than 20 people
- HubSpot or Zoho CRM if WhatsApp is one channel among many in a bigger sales and service operation, usually on the official API.
The best CRM for WhatsApp by budget
- Under $50 a month for three people
- Spun Starter ($49 flat), WaliChat ($39.90 per number) and Zoho CRM Standard ($42 billed annually, plus Meta fees). Zoko Starter is $49.99 plus a per-conversation fee. Prices checked 9 November 2026.
- $50 to $150 a month
- WATI Growth ($59 billed annually), Callbell (EUR 62 for 3 agents and one number), Kommo ($75 for 3 users), respond.io Starter ($79 billed yearly) and Spun Pro ($100). Prices checked 9 November 2026.
- Above $150 a month
- Trengo, NetHunt CRM for larger teams, WATI Business and HubSpot Service Hub Professional, which needs about $90 to $100 per seat plus onboarding. Prices checked 9 November 2026.
Official API or your own number: which do you need?
There are two ways to put a CRM on WhatsApp. Ten of the twelve tools here use the official route: the WhatsApp Business API (also called the Business Platform). You connect through a provider, Meta verifies the business, the number usually leaves the WhatsApp phone app, and messages you start must be approved templates. Meta charges per template message, by category (marketing, utility, authentication) and by the recipient's country, on top of the software.
The other route links software to the number you already use, the way WhatsApp Web links a computer. Spun works this way, and NetHunt CRM links WhatsApp as a messenger. There are no templates and no Meta per-message fees, your chats and groups stay put, and the phone keeps working. The trade-off: it is not official. Spun is an unofficial WhatsApp integration, which may carry some risk, and there is no official bulk-sending allowance.
Choose the API if you send templated notifications at volume to people who did not write first, or your compliance team requires an official channel. Choose your own number if your team mostly answers people who write to you, follows up and runs modest campaigns at a human pace.
How Meta prices Business API messages · Spun and WhatsApp ban risk · A CRM for WhatsApp without the Business API
How to choose a CRM for WhatsApp
- Decide the connection first: official API or your own number. Everything else follows from it.
- Price the whole bill for your team size: platform fee, per-user fees and Meta's per-message fees added together.
- Check the CRM part: a pipeline with stages you name, contact fields and tasks, at the plan you will actually buy.
- Ask whether the number stays in the WhatsApp phone app and whether your WhatsApp groups come along.
- Run the trial on your real chats with the whole team before you commit.
New to the idea? Start with what a CRM for WhatsApp is, then compare every way to connect WhatsApp to a CRM.
About Spun
Spun (spun.com) is a shared WhatsApp inbox for teams. It connects to the WhatsApp number a business already uses through WhatsApp's linked-device (QR) mechanism, so it needs no Business API and charges no per-message fees. Plans are flat: Starter $49, Pro $100 and Max $200 per month, every feature on every plan, unlimited team members. Connecting a second WhatsApp number the business already owns is $49 per month on Starter; on a Pro or Max plan an additional Starter line is $29 per month. Spun does not provide phone numbers or verification codes. Each team member can be restricted to specific conversations or customers. Runs in any web browser; native mobile apps are in beta. Made by Spun Life LLC. Not affiliated with WhatsApp or Meta.
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