Attio is a modern, flexible CRM where startup teams model their own objects, lists, and workflows, priced per seat. Orbit is a simple all-in-one CRM for one person that skips the modeling: it ships ready to use, free for up to 250 contacts, with one AI assistant (Hiro) that drafts follow-ups and paperwork. Choose by what you want to spend evenings on: designing a system, or just running your business.
Attio took the spreadsheet-flexible idea and made it feel premium. Objects, records, and lists bend to your business instead of the other way around. A fund can model portfolio companies, an agency can model retainers, and the UI stays fast and clean while you do it. For data-minded teams, that freedom is the whole point.
It is also built for working together. Shared lists, notes, and automations keep a startup team in one source of truth, and it has become a favorite in venture and early-stage circles for exactly that reason. Pricing is per seat, with a free tier for very small teams. Check their site for current limits and plans.
One is a flexible system you design. The other is a simple system that works out of the box.
| Orbit | Attio | |
|---|---|---|
| AI assistant that drafts and does the busywork | Hiro drafts follow-ups, proposals, invoices, and pages | AI research and automation features, check their site |
| All-in-one: invoices, proposals, and booking pages | Included, even on the free plan | No, pair with other tools |
| Human approval gates on AI output | Approve, edit, or dismiss every draft, nothing auto-sends | Not applicable |
| Built for one person | Yes, simple and solo-first | Built for startup and GTM teams |
| Built-in email inbox with tracking | 100 sends/mo free, tracking on Pro | Email sync, check their site |
| On-device meeting transcription | Pro, audio stays on your machine | |
| Built-in MCP server to connect Claude | Pro, revocable per-workspace keys | Check their site |
| Free plan | Free plan, no credit card | Free tier for small teams, check their site |
| Pricing model | Free, then Pro at $14/mo or Team at $20/seat | Per seat, check their site |
Most solo founders do not have a data-modeling problem. They have a follow-up problem. Orbit ships with the shape already decided (contacts, deals, tasks, notes, custom fields, tags, and smart views) and spends its energy on the everyday work instead. There is nothing to architect before you start, and duplicate detection and merge come standard so the list stays clean.
One assistant does the legwork. Hiro can create and update contacts, deals, and pipelines, manage your tasks and calendar, write and send proposals and invoices, draft follow-ups and replies, and build pages and forms. It remembers facts across chats and lives one keystroke away with Cmd or Ctrl J. If you want the plain version, Orbit is also a straightforward free CRM with real task management built in.
Everything Hiro produces waits for your approval. Nothing sends itself. And the price fits a one-person budget: the CRM is free with no credit card, and AI credits are included free every month with no API key to paste. Pro is $14 a month and adds two-way Google Calendar sync, the Chrome extension, the meeting recorder, the MCP server, unlimited contacts, and more.
Attio lets you design the perfect CRM. Orbit ships simple and ready, with one assistant already inside.
Orbit is usually the better fit for one person. It is a simple all-in-one CRM, free for up to 250 contacts, with one AI assistant (Hiro) that drafts follow-ups, proposals, and invoices for your approval. Attio is stronger for startup teams that want a flexible shared data model and per-seat collaboration.
Attio offers AI and automation features inside its flexible CRM, check their site for what is current. Orbit takes a different approach: one assistant, Hiro, that drafts follow-ups, writes proposals and invoices, manages tasks, and builds pages, with every output waiting for you to approve, edit, or dismiss.
No. Orbit comes with contacts, deal pipelines, tasks, a calendar, notes, and a full timeline per contact already built. You can add custom fields, tags, smart views, and custom pipeline stages, but there is nothing to architect before you start working.
The CRM is free with no credit card. Pro is $14 a month or $112 a year, and AI credits are included free every month, plus credit packs and a bring-your-own-key option on Pro. There is no API key to paste to get started, and nothing to configure.
Yes, on Pro. Orbit has a built-in MCP server, so Claude on web, desktop, mobile, or Claude Code can read and update your CRM through per-workspace keys that you can revoke at any time. The free plan includes the full CRM and Hiro inside the app.
Orbit has a free plan, no credit card. The structure is built, one assistant does the legwork, and nothing sends until you approve it.
Free forever plan. No credit card. No spam.