HubSpot CRM
HubSpot Inc.
6.3
Overall Score / 10
Salesforce
Salesforce Inc.
4.5
Overall Score / 10
Our Verdict
Choose HubSpot CRM if:
- —Startups wanting a free CRM to start
- —Growing companies that want marketing + sales + CRM in one platform
- —Teams that value excellent UX and onboarding
Choose Salesforce if:
- —Large enterprises needing maximum CRM customization
- —Organizations requiring a massive app ecosystem (AppExchange)
- —Companies with complex sales processes and large teams
The biggest difference: Salesforce wins for enterprise customization and massive ecosystem. HubSpot wins for ease of use, free tier, and marketing-sales alignment.
Side-by-Side Comparison
| Criteria | HubSpot CRM | Salesforce |
|---|---|---|
| Cheapest Paid Plan | $20/mo (Starter)Source: HubSpot Inc. pricing page → | $25/mo (Starter Suite)Source: Salesforce Inc. pricing page → |
| Free Tier | Yes Unlimited contacts, basic CRM features, 2,000 email sends/mo, HubSpot branding | No |
| Value for Money | 6 | 4 |
| Ease of Use | 8 | 3 |
| Feature Power | 9 | 10 |
| Setup Ease | 7 | 2 |
| Migration Ease | 3 | 2 |
| Transparency | 4 | 3 |
| Deployment | cloud | cloud |
| API Available | Yes | Yes |
| Platforms | Web, iOS, Android | Web, iOS, Android |
| Compliance | SOC 2 Type II, GDPR, ISO 27001 | SOC 2 Type II, ISO 27001, GDPR, HIPAA, FedRAMP |
Feature Comparison
Feature Comparison Matrix
22 features compared · 21 differences
| Feature | HubSpot CRM | Salesforce |
|---|---|---|
| Core | ||
| AppExchange marketplace | None | Full |
| Contact management | Full | None |
| CPQ (Configure-Price-Quote) | None | Full |
| Deal pipeline | Full | None |
| Forms | Full | None |
| Lead and opportunity management | None | Full |
| Live chat | Full | None |
| Meeting scheduling | Full | None |
| Mobile app | None | Full |
| Sales forecasting | None | Full |
| Territory management | None | Full |
| Advanced | ||
| Custom objects (Enterprise) | Full | None |
| Custom objects and fields | None | Full |
| Custom properties | Full | None |
| Einstein AI | None | Full |
| Email marketing | Full | None |
| Email tracking | Full | None |
| Reporting dashboards | Full | None |
| Reports and dashboards | None | Full |
| Workflow automation | None | Full |
| Workflow automation (paid) | Full | None |
| Integrations | ||
| API Access | Full | Full |
Pricing Comparison
HubSpot CRM Pricing
Unlimited contacts, basic CRM, email marketing (2,000/mo), forms, live chat
1,000 marketing contacts, remove branding, email health reporting
2,000 marketing contacts, automation, custom reporting, ABM
10,000 marketing contacts, revenue attribution, custom objects, hierarchical teams
Salesforce Pricing
Basic CRM features, lead/contact/opportunity management, email integration
Complete CRM, forecasting, quotes, custom dashboards
Advanced customization, workflow automation, API access
Unlimited customization, 24/7 support, sandbox, Einstein AI
Who Should Choose Which?
Who should choose HubSpot CRM
Best for
- Startups wanting a free CRM to start
- Growing companies that want marketing + sales + CRM in one platform
- Teams that value excellent UX and onboarding
Avoid if
- You have a limited budget and plan to scale (Professional tier is $890/mo)
- You want simple, focused tools (HubSpot is a platform)
- You need deep customization without enterprise pricing
Who should choose Salesforce
Best for
- Large enterprises needing maximum CRM customization
- Organizations requiring a massive app ecosystem (AppExchange)
- Companies with complex sales processes and large teams
Avoid if
- You're a small business on a budget
- You want simple, quick setup without a consultant
- You need a lightweight CRM for a small sales team
Switching Guidance
Switching from HubSpot CRM
Common triggers to leave:
- •Pricing shock at Professional tier
- •Feature bloat
- •Need more customization
Potential blockers:
- •Deep workflow automations
- •Contact history and activity logs
- •Multi-hub integration
- •Team training investment
Switching from Salesforce
Common triggers to leave:
- •Cost for small/mid-size teams
- •Complexity and admin overhead
- •Need for Salesforce-certified consultants
Potential blockers:
- •Deep customizations (Apex, Flows, custom objects)
- •AppExchange integrations
- •Years of sales data and reporting
Try HubSpot CRM
Start free — no credit card required
Try Salesforce
Plans from $25/mo