The $0/Month Stack (All Free Tiers)
This stack works for solo founders validating an idea, pre-revenue side projects, or anyone who needs functional software at zero cost. Every tool here has a permanent free tier — no trials. You will hit limits within 3–6 months as you grow, but you can run real work on this stack today.
| Function | Tool & Plan | Cost | Key Limits |
|---|---|---|---|
| CRM | HubSpot CRM Free | $0 | No automation, 5 templates, HubSpot branding |
| Email Marketing | Kit Newsletter (Free) | $0 | 10K subs, no advanced automations, no integrations |
| Automation | Zapier Free | $0 | 100 tasks/mo, 2-step only, 15-min intervals |
| Project Management | Notion Free | $0 | 7-day history, 10 guests, no custom automations |
| Scheduling | Cal.com Free | $0 | 1 user, unlimited events and bookings |
| Analytics | Google Analytics (Free) | $0 | Unlimited, privacy trade-off |
| Total Monthly Cost | $0/mo | ||
What you sacrifice at $0: No email automation sequences. No CRM automation. Manual follow-ups. Two-step Zapier workflows only. No custom branding on HubSpot forms or chat widgets. No team scheduling. You are trading your time for zero software costs.
When this breaks: The moment you need multi-step automation (Zapier Free is 2-step only), the moment you want automated email sequences (Kit Free locks them), or the moment you add a second team member who needs CRM access with roles and permissions.
The $50/Month Stack (Cheapest Paid Tiers)
At $50/month, you unlock the features that make free tiers frustrating: automation, multi-step workflows, more integrations, and removed branding. This stack targets the cheapest meaningful paid tier on each tool.
| Function | Tool & Plan | Cost | What This Unlocks |
|---|---|---|---|
| CRM | Freshsales Growth | $11/mo | AI scoring, visual pipeline, sequences, 2K bot sessions |
| Email Marketing | Brevo Starter | $9/mo | 5K emails/mo, no daily cap, basic reporting, no branding |
| Automation | Make Core | $10.59/mo | 10K ops/mo, unlimited scenarios, 1-min polling |
| Project Management | Notion Free | $0 | Stay free — sufficient for solo/small teams |
| Scheduling | Cal.com Free | $0 | Stay free — unlimited events is enough |
| Analytics | Google Analytics (Free) | $0 | Stay free — sufficient for most sites |
| Total Monthly Cost | $30.59/mo | ~$19 remaining budget for add-ons | |
Why this stack costs $30.59, not $50: You do not need to spend all $50. Three paid tools at their cheapest tier plus three free tools gives you a fully functional stack with $19/month in reserve. That reserve covers a future upgrade on any single tool when you hit its limits.
What you sacrifice at $50: CRM has limited customization (Freshsales Growth is solid but no custom objects). Email is capped at 5K sends/month. No paid newsletter monetization tools. No team scheduling. No advanced analytics. This is a solo-operator or 2-person team stack.
The $100/Month Stack (Best Value Paid Tiers)
At $100/month, you can run a real business with proper tools. This stack optimizes for value — the best tool at each function that stays under a combined $100. This supports a small team (2–3 people) with meaningful automation, good email marketing, and proper project management.
| Function | Tool & Plan | Cost | What This Unlocks |
|---|---|---|---|
| CRM | Pipedrive Lite (1 user) | $14/mo | 3K deals, 30 custom fields, visual pipeline, email sync |
| Email / Newsletter | beehiiv Scale | $49/mo | Unlimited subs, ad network, referral program, paid subs |
| Automation | Make Pro | $18.82/mo | 10K ops, custom functions, priority execution |
| Project Management | ClickUp Unlimited (1 user) | $10/mo | Unlimited storage, Gantt, integrations, dashboards |
| Scheduling | Cal.com Free | $0 | Still free — unlimited events |
| Analytics | Google Analytics + PostHog Free | $0 | Web analytics + product analytics + session recording |
| Total Monthly Cost | $91.82/mo | ~$8 remaining budget | |
What you sacrifice at $100: Single-user CRM (adding a second Pipedrive seat adds $14/mo). No CRM automation (Pipedrive Growth at $39/user unlocks that). No AI writing tool in the budget. If you need team CRM, swap Pipedrive for HubSpot CRM Free and reallocate the $14 elsewhere.
Stack Comparison: What Each Budget Gets You
| Capability | $0/mo | $50/mo | $100/mo |
|---|---|---|---|
| Email automation | None | Basic (Brevo) | Full (beehiiv) |
| CRM automation | None | AI scoring (Freshsales) | Pipeline only (Pipedrive Lite) |
| Workflow automation | 2-step, 100 tasks/mo | Multi-step, 10K ops/mo | Multi-step, 10K ops, priority |
| Newsletter monetization | None | None | Ads, referrals, paid subs |
| Project views | Databases only | Databases only | Gantt, dashboards, unlimited |
| Branding control | Vendor branding everywhere | No email branding | No branding on any tool |
Alternative Configurations
Creator-focused $50 stack: Kit Creator ($39/mo) + Notion Free + Cal.com Free + Zapier Free + Google Analytics. Total: $39/mo. Best for solo creators who prioritize email automation over CRM.
Sales-focused $100 stack: Pipedrive Growth ($39/mo) + Brevo Standard ($18/mo) + Make Core ($10.59/mo) + Notion Free + Cal.com Free + Google Analytics. Total: $67.59/mo. CRM automation included.
Technical founder $50 stack: HubSpot CRM Free + Kit Free + n8n self-hosted ($10/mo VPS) + Notion Free + Cal.com Free + PostHog Free. Total: $10/mo. Unlimited automation via self-hosted n8n, but you maintain the server.
Common Mistakes
- Paying for tools you don't use weekly. Audit your stack monthly. If you haven't logged into a tool in 3 weeks, cancel it. Software subscriptions are the only expense that bills you while providing zero value when unused.
- Buying the second-tier plan “just in case.” Start at the lowest paid tier. Upgrade when you actually hit the limit, not when you think you might. Most tools make it easy to upgrade mid-cycle.
- Duplicating functions across tools. HubSpot CRM includes a meeting scheduler. If you use HubSpot, you do not need Cal.com or Calendly. Brevo includes a basic CRM. If your CRM needs are minimal, Brevo might cover both email and CRM for $9/mo.
- Ignoring annual billing discounts. Most tools offer 15–25% off for annual billing. The $100/mo stack drops to approximately $80/mo with annual plans across the board. Only commit annually once you have confirmed the tool works for your workflow for at least 2 months.
- Choosing expensive tools early because “you'll grow into them.” Salesforce, HubSpot Professional, and ActiveCampaign Plus are excellent tools. They are also $100–$890/month. You do not need them at 200 contacts and 3 deals per month.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the absolute cheapest way to run a business on SaaS?
$0/month using all free tiers: HubSpot CRM Free, Kit Free, Zapier Free, Notion Free, Cal.com Free, Google Analytics. This covers CRM, email, automation, docs, scheduling, and analytics. You trade your time for workarounds, but the software cost is genuinely zero.
When should I upgrade from the $0 stack?
When you spend more than 2 hours per week on manual tasks that a paid tool would automate. For most solo founders, this happens at month 3–6 when deal volume, email list size, or automation needs cross free tier limits.
Can two people use the $50 stack?
Yes, with limits. Freshsales Growth at $11/user/mo becomes $22/mo for two users. Make and Brevo are not per-seat. Notion Free supports collaboration via guest sharing. The total rises to about $42/mo for two people, still under $50.
Why not just use HubSpot for everything?
HubSpot Free CRM is great, but HubSpot Professional (which unlocks real automation) is $890/month. That single tool costs 9x this entire guide's $100 budget. A multi-tool stack at $100/mo gives you better value than HubSpot alone until you have 10+ employees and revenue to justify the platform cost.