HubSpot is powerful, but it’s not the right fit for every business.
If you’re frustrated by pricing, complexity, or features you don’t need, this guide compares the best HubSpot alternatives — side by side.
Looking for the fastest way to choose?
Jump to the best CRM based on your needs:
- Best for small teams
- Best for sales-focused teams
- Best budget-friendly CRM
- Best enterprise alternative
| CRM | Best For | Starting Price (approx.) | Why Choose It |
| Zoho CRM | Small businesses & Value | Free / ~$14/user/mo | Affordable, highly customizable, and part of a massive ecosystem (Zoho One). |
| Salesmate | Customization & Automation | ~$29/user/mo | Built-in calling/texting and “journey” automation make it great for personalized sales. |
| Freshsales | AI-powered workflows | Free / ~$15/user/mo | User-friendly interface with powerful built-in AI (Freddy) for lead scoring. |
| Pipedrive | Visual Pipeline Management | ~$14/user/mo | Laser-focused on sales activities; distinct Kanban view that is easy to adopt. |
| Nimble | Solopreneurs & Networking | ~$29.90/user/mo | Excellent social media integration; works seamlessly within your inbox (O365/G-Suite). |
| Agile CRM | Tight budgets (All-in-One) | Free / ~$15/user/mo | Combines sales, marketing, and service features at a fraction of HubSpot’s cost. |
Monday CRM | Project Management focus | ~$12/user/mo | Highly visual and flexible; perfect if you need to manage projects after closing the deal. |
| Apptivo | End-to-end Business Mgmt | ~$10/user/mo | Modular system that handles invoicing, supply chain, and orders alongside CRM. |
| Insightly | Relationship Linking | ~$29/user/mo | Strong project management features; maps complex relationships between people/orgs well. |
Salesforce | Scaling & Enterprise | ~$25/user/mo | The industry standard; infinite scalability and customization for when you outgrow everything else. |
🔹Zoho CRM — Best Value Alternative to HubSpot
Zoho CRM is often the go-to choice for small and mid-sized businesses that want flexibility without HubSpot’s pricing pressure.
It offers strong customization, automation, and integrations — especially for companies already using the Zoho ecosystem.
👉 Check Zoho CRM pricing
🔹 Pipedrive — Best for Sales-Focused Teams
Pipedrive is designed for teams that live and breathe sales pipelines, not marketing automation.
Its visual deal tracking and simplicity make it ideal for sales-first organizations that find HubSpot overwhelming.
See Pipedrive Plans
🔹 Freshsales — Best AI-Powered Alternative
Freshsales focuses on automation and AI-driven workflows without the complexity of enterprise CRMs.
Built-in AI tools like Freddy help teams prioritize leads and close deals faster.
View Freshsales Features
🔹 Monday CRM — Best for Custom Workflows
Monday CRM is ideal for teams that need flexibility and visual workflows tailored to their process.
It works especially well for businesses managing projects alongside sales.
Explore Monday CRM
Who HubSpot Is NOT For
HubSpot is a fantastic “all-in-one” solution, but being a generalist means it isn’t the perfect master of everything. If you fall into one of these categories, you might find yourself overpaying or frustrated.
1. Teams with High Contact Volumes on a Budget HubSpot’s pricing model is notorious for its “contact tiers.” If you have 50,000 email subscribers but only a small percentage convert to high-value deals, HubSpot Marketing Hub becomes incredibly expensive.
- The Problem: You pay for contacts even if you don’t actively market to them.
- Better Fit: Zoho or ActiveCampaign (where pricing is often more forgiving).
2. Sales-First Teams Who Don’t Need Marketing If your team is purely focused on cold calling, door-knocking, or quick transactional sales, HubSpot can feel bloated. You don’t need a CMS, blog tools, or complex social scheduling. You just need a fast, visual pipeline.
- The Problem: Too many clicks to perform simple actions; steep learning curve for non-tech salespeople.
- Better Fit: Pipedrive (built specifically for sales focus).
3. Businesses Requiring Deep Customization While HubSpot offers custom objects (in Enterprise plans), it is rigid compared to open-source or highly modular CRMs. If your business model is unique—like complex manufacturing supply chains or highly specific real estate workflows—HubSpot might struggle to map your reality.
- The Problem: You hit a “glass ceiling” where the software dictates how you work, rather than the other way around.
- Better Fit: Salesforce (infinite customization) or Monday CRM (flexible workflows).
4. Companies Avoiding Annual Lock-ins HubSpot typically requires annual contracts for their Pro and Enterprise tiers, often with significant upfront onboarding fees (sometimes $3,000+).
- The Problem: High upfront barrier to entry and difficulty canceling if the tool doesn’t work out.
- Better Fit: Freshsales or Agile CRM (more flexible monthly options).
Still unsure? Compare CRM tools side by side before choosing.