If you're in sales or marketing, chances are HubSpot has crossed your path. You might have used it as well. With nearly a third of the market share in marketing automation, it's pretty clear why HubSpot is a popular choice.
Most small businesses use HubSpot’s free CRM and love it, but when the business starts to scale, the free version just feels a little limited.
Often, they take the plunge on a paid plan, only to realize it's more than they can afford at the moment. Plus, HubSpot offers pretty much everything a full-scale sales or marketing team needs. But for some businesses, some features may be useless, and they feel paying extra.
So, what do you do when HubSpot's charm wears thin? Switch to an alternative HubSpot (its competitor, in other words)!
Today, I’ll review 6 HubSpot alternatives that might better suit your needs. But first, let’s quickly take a look at some of the HubSpot pros and cons.
The good and bad of HubSpot (There’s no ugly 😁)
HubSpot is a popular platform that promises to be an all-in-one solution for your business's marketing, sales, and customer service needs. And like most things, it has its pros and cons.
The benefits of HubSpot
HubSpot is easy to use, even for beginners. It has drag-and-drop features for building landing pages and creating emails, which saves you a ton of time.
Hubspot’s free CRM (Customer Relationship Management) is a steal. It lets you manage your contacts, track deals, and stay organized without spending a dime.
With over 150 HubSpot User Groups (HUGs), you can connect with other HubSpot users face-to-face and swap tips and tricks.
HubSpot also gets big points for their customer support on paid plans. The team is readily available to answer your questions, which is a major plus when you're new to the platform.
The drawbacks of HubSpot
One of the biggest drawbacks of HubSpot is the cost. The free CRM features are great, but as your business grows, you'll need more advanced tools. And that's where things get expensive.
HubSpot's paid plans jump up in price quickly, especially for solopreneurs and small businesses on a tight budget. So, it's only natural that teams think of switching to HubSpot alternatives that are just as good but at a better price point.
Another thing to consider is that HubSpot can feel like a lot to handle. It's a comprehensive platform with a ton of features.
While that might sound appealing in theory, it can also be overwhelming, especially for smaller teams. If you're not careful, you can end up paying for a bunch of features you don't even need.
The mobile app also has its drawbacks. Multiple users have reported crashes and limited features, which isn't great in today's mobile-first environment.
If your team needs to be able to work on the go, this could be a major sticking point. So what are the HubSpot alternatives? Read on.
6 best HubSpot alternatives that are just as good
Now, we will be reviewing the best HubSpot alternatives that have consistently proven their value for money.
1. PipeDrive: Sales CRM and pipeline management
If you're looking for HubSpot CRM alternatives that make managing your sales a breeze, Pipedrive is a strong option that is worth checking out. It comes with a Sales Assistant to automate repetitive sales tasks.
Key Features
- Pipedrive uses a Kanban-style board that lets you move leads through the sales cycle with drag-and-drop features.
- Customizable chatbots capture new leads and automatically add them to the sales funnel.
- One of the best B2C CRM that can connect with over 400 third-party applications, such as Zapier, Zoom, and Calendly.
- Pipedrive's LeadBooster add-on includes a chatbot, web forms, and a live chat option for your website.
- It provides personalized tips that improve the sales team's performance.
Pros
- Pipedrive is known for being easy to learn and use.
- You can customize your sales pipeline to fit your sales process.
- No credit card is needed to sign up for the free trial.
Cons
- Creating workflows and automation isn't easy.
- You can't set up automation during the free trial period.
Pricing
Pipedrive’s most affordable Essential plan starts at $14.90 per user/month (billed annually) and gives you core CRM features and a mobile app.
As you upgrade to higher tiers, you get increased limits on custom fields, reports, deals, and workflow automation.
Top-tier Enterprise plan offers all features and phone support, but requires at least 10 users and costs $99 per user/month.
2. Salesforce for targeted email marketing
Salesforce isn't just a CRM – it's a full suite. It offers targeted marketing tools for automated campaigns and customer journeys, plus a customizable help desk solution.
If you need an all-in-one software powerhouse, Salesforce has you covered.
Key Features
- Salesforce provides extensive automation options beyond simply assigning leads automatically.
- It also offers a developer sandbox for your tech team to continually improve the features.
- Salesforce currently offers over 3,000 integrations to connect with various platforms such as Slack, Calendly, DocuSign, QuickBooks, and LinkedIn.
- The platform provides round-the-clock customer service in multiple languages via phone or live chat. For Spanish or Portuguese support, service hours are from 8 a.m. to 8 p.m. Eastern time.
Pros
- You can customize nearly every aspect of your sales pipeline.
- It has a free 30-day trial.
Cons
- Customization is quite challenging, and the platform isn't always the most user-friendly.
- Small businesses or those lacking a dedicated team for customization may end up paying more than necessary.
Pricing
Salesforce has tiered plans with Starter at $25/user/month, offering basic features. Prices go up with each tier as you unlock advanced features like lead management, scoring, automation, and analytics.
3. Formaloo: Form builder and custom CRM
Formaloo is one of the best alternatives to HubSpot, where you can create your own custom CRM and no-code apps.
You can also create professional-looking forms, surveys, and quizzes using drag-and-drop tools. Conditional logic allows you to customize the questions users see based on their answers.
It also comes with AI features for data collection, organization, and analysis.
Key Features
- Users can create and customize custom interfaces without needing developers. The drag-and-drop interface makes it easy to build forms, quizzes, customer portals, CRMs, and other applications.
- One of the best cloud CRM platforms also offers an on-premise CRM option.
- Formaloo gets a thumbs up for constantly adding new features and listening to user feedback.
- Formaloo offers integration with more than 5,000 popular apps and services, including Google, Facebook, Salesforce, Slack, Microsoft, and Shopify.
Pros
- Formaloo is a more cost-effective option among other CRM and form builders.
- Provides in-depth data analysis tools.
- Has great survey and form customization capabilities.
Cons
- The admin mode in most plans has just one access.
- They lack support for Right-to-left (RTL) languages.
Pricing
Formaloo has a free plan suitable for individuals with 2,000 records per base and 100 monthly form submissions. The Pro plan costs $12/month and adds collaborative workspace, 50,000 records per base, and API access. The Team plan is at $38/month while the Enterprise plan offers custom solutions.
4. EngageBay: All-in-one CRM
The next Hubspot alternative on our list, EngageBay is an all-in-one powerhouse made of three cloud-based CRM examples: service bay, sales bay, and marketing bay.
The combination lets you manage your entire customer journey, from attracting leads to closing deals and providing top-notch service.
Key Features
- You can create intricate workflows using triggers, conditions, and actions.
- EngageBay integrates with 30 applications, including Shopify, BigCommerce, and Thinkific.
- The free plan includes 26 features, while paid packages offer advanced capabilities such as 360-degree customer view, timezone-based email delivery, and A/B testing for landing pages.
Pros
- The platform is incredibly beginner-friendly.
- Support is accessible round-the-clock during workdays, and emails receive responses within 30 to 60 minutes on average.
Cons
- The free plan allows uploading only 250 contacts.
- Calendar customization is very limited. You can’t switch views between days, weeks, or months.
Pricing
EngageBay starts with free tools and a free-forever Service Bay for startups and SMBs. Paid plans begin at:
- CRM Suite: $14.99/mo (Basic), $64.99/mo (Growth), $119.99/mo (Pro)
- Marketing Bay: $12.99/mo (Basic), $49.99/mo (Growth), $79.99/mo (Pro)
- Sales & CRM Bay: $12.99/mo (Basic), $49.99/mo (Growth), $79.99/mo (Pro)
5. ActiveCampaign for Marketing Automation
ActiveCampaign is also among the best Hubspot alternatives that let you build crazy-powerful marketing sequences.
They have over 135 different triggers and actions to choose from, so you can mix and match emails, texts, website pop-ups, and push notifications to create personalized campaigns that convert.
There’s also a built-in CRM, so you can see your entire sales pipeline in one place.
Key Features
- ActiveCampaign goes beyond basic Zapier connections. They offer over 900 built-in integrations with popular CRMs and eCommerce platforms.
- ActiveCampaign lets you test full email sequences against each other, not just single emails.
- It uses machine learning (ML) to predict the best time to send emails, suggest winning content, and score leads.
Pros
- The user interface is so intuitive and well-designed that it practically trains you as you go.
- Plans start at just $9/month, with no hidden fees to get started.
Cons
- The in-built CRM is not sufficient for the extensive CRM requirements of large companies.
- The reporting data often gets cluttered.
Pricing
ActiveCampaign's pricing reflects its feature-rich offerings, though it lacks a free plan.
Plans include Lite starting at $29/mo with basic features, Plus at $49/mo, adding landing pages and lead scoring, Professional at $149/mo with advanced integrations, and Enterprise, which is custom-priced.
6. Constant Contact for digital and email marketing
Constant Contact is a company based in Waltham, Massachusetts, that started with email marketing software and expanded into digital marketing tools.
Key Features
- There’s a giant library of pre-made email templates you can choose from for different types of emails, like newsletters, sales announcements, event invites, and holiday greetings.
- Offers a user-friendly landing page builder where anyone can create a landing page without needing coding or design skills.
- Extensive analytics and reporting features for data-driven teams.
- The platform has over 6,000 available integrations.
Pros
- Limitless customization options thanks to its large integration library.
- 60-day free trial with no credit card needed.
- Provides clear, step-by-step instructions on how to use the platform.
Cons
- Plans become costly as contact lists grow larger.
- Does not provide automation features for large email sequences.
Pricing
Constant Contact's pricing depends on how many contacts you have. The Lite plan starts at $12/month for 500 contacts, with a maximum send limit of 10 times your contacts. The Standard plan begins at $35/month for three users, while the Premium plan starts at $80/month
Which is the best HubSpot alternative?
There isn't one single "best" alternative to HubSpot—it really depends on what your business needs most.
Here are some things to consider when choosing HubSpot alternatives:
- Budget: HubSpot can get pricey, so think about how much you're comfortable spending. Some alternatives offer similar features for a fraction of the cost.
- Team Size: If you're a small team, a complex platform with tons of features might be overkill. Compare the features of HubSpot vs the alternatives and look for a solution that's user-friendly and easy to manage.
- Needs: Do you need the best value CRM, robust marketing automation, or just a great email marketing tool? Pick an alternative that focuses on the features that are most important to you.
- Mobile App: If your team works on the go, a reliable and functional mobile app is crucial. Make sure the alternative you choose has a good reputation for mobile use.
- Customer Support: Look at the level of customer support offered. Good support can make a big difference when you're facing issues or have questions.
Test the best HubSpot alternatives before buying into one!
HubSpot is a great platform, but it isn't a perfect fit for every business. In this article, we explored 6 HubSpot alternatives on the market that cater to different needs and budgets.
The best way to find what’s best for you is to try out a few free trials and see which platform feels most intuitive and effective for your team.
As you weigh your options, consider trying out budget-friendly Formaloo. Formaloo combines custom CRM functionalities with form building, perfect for scaling businesses looking to optimize their customer management processes.
Sign up for Formaloo today and see the difference yourself.
