Discover the Anyleads suite | Find emails, verify emails, install a chatbot, grow your business and more!.
blog

Is HubSpot CRM really free?



Is HubSpot CRM really free?


HubSpot has been around since 2002 and it's one of the most popular SaaS (software as a service) providers in its category. It offers both on-premise software and cloud services to help businesses manage their customer relationship management processes more efficiently. The company also provides marketing automation tools that allow users to develop campaigns and nurture leads through emails, text messages, newsletters etc., all from within the same interface. In addition to this, they offer an integrated suite of apps including SalesForce integration, Google Apps Integration, Zapier integration, mobile app development platform, website builder, API developer, content creation toolkit, email autoresponder, web form creator, sales pipeline dashboard, data analytics and reporting system, among others.

But how does Hubspot compare to other major players like Microsoft Dynamics 365 or Oracle Marketing Cloud, which don't provide any sort of free plan at all? Is there anything special that makes HubSpot CRM stand apart? Let's take a look.

What do you get with a free HubSpot account?

When we talk about free plans offered by various companies today, the first thing that comes into our minds is usually "free forever". However, when you sign up for HubSpot, you will be surprised to know that you won't get free access forever but rather until your business reaches $25K annual revenue.

As soon as your account becomes active, you'll see the following screen - a welcome message from HubSpot. From here, you just need to select either Basic ($10/month), Plus ($15/month) or Professional ($20/month). You should choose whichever suits your needs the most. Once done so, click Continue Sign Up. A new window will appear where you will enter information such as your name, phone number, job title, organization type, address, city, state, zip code, country, preferred language, email address, password, security question, billing preferences, payment method, date of birth, gender, employment status, whether you want to receive promotional materials, and lastly check if you're okay with receiving the monthly newsletter. Then click Create Account.

After creating your account, you will then be presented with options such as My Dashboard, Start Using Free Version, Upgrade Now, Get Started For Free, Learn More – each corresponding to different sections inside the main menu bar. If you haven't yet selected a pricing tier, go ahead and start using HubSpot without paying anything. This will set you aside from those who wish to use HubSpot Pro.

Is HubSpot price per user?

The next step after signing up would be selecting your desired package. As mentioned earlier, the basic plan costs only 10 dollars per month while professional version goes for 20 dollars per month. These prices aren't inclusive of taxes or hidden charges. So, make sure you read everything before clicking Next!

You'll then find yourself on the page where you can customize your own profile. On this page, you can add additional details about your role and responsibilities, contact list, work schedule, availability, and goals. Click Save Profile once complete.

Then you'll see the following pop-up box asking you to decide if you want to enable push notifications. Select Yes, I'm Ready and continue moving forward.

Next, you will land on the home screen where you can view your daily tasks, upcoming events, recent activity, and pending actions. To create a new task, simply hover over New Task button located right below Home tab and click + Add Task. Fill in relevant fields according to your needs. Under Actions section, you can assign tasks to specific people, filter them based upon priority levels, due dates, labels, statuses, and more.

To navigate between screens, scroll down with arrow keys. There are two tabs present at top named Main Menu and Recent Activity. Each gives you quick overview of key features available under each respective tab.

Also, keep in mind that HubSpot allows you to switch between devices easily. Simply go to Settings & Preferences and click Sync. Here, you can sync contacts, calendars, notes and documents across multiple devices.

Once synced, open any device and log in with credentials provided during setup process. Then visit hubspot.com/login and click Login With Another Device. Enter login info again and voila—you've successfully logged in.

Lastly, you can always try the free trial first. Just head over to hubspot.com/tryhubspot and register for 30 days. After activating trial mode, you will gain full access to the entire application. Make sure to download installation file onto your computer beforehand though because it might not auto detect your operating system.



Does HubSpot charge per user?

Now that you understand what exactly you get with HubSpot, let's focus on the part where you pay money every month. Although HubSpot doesn't charge you per user directly, your subscription fee depends entirely on the size of your team. According to official documentation, the average cost ranges anywhere between 14 cents and 17 cents per user per month depending on your current size. However, if you think you'd benefit more from HubSpot than your competitors, why wouldn't you consider upgrading to pro?

In terms of support, HubSpot offers 24x7 live chat assistance via telephone, instant messaging platforms, and social media channels. They also have dedicated technical support staff ready to assist customers whenever needed. Lastly, HubSpot claims that it takes less than 2 minutes for a tech expert to walk you through the whole setup procedure.

Which is the best free CRM?

Although HubSpot looks promising enough to compete against other big names in the industry, some experts believe otherwise.

For example, Justin Smith, founder of Kajabi, says he switched his entire workforce to HubSpot. He stated that although HubSpot is easy to learn, it lacks flexibility and customization capabilities. Furthermore, he believes that HubSpot isn't able to handle high volume transactions well. Finally, he thinks HubSpot has limited functionalities compared to existing alternatives. Overall, Justin concluded that HubSpot is good option but probably not suitable for growing startups looking for something robust.

On the contrary, Scott Brinkerhoff, CEO of Jitbitz, said that HubSpot was an excellent choice for him. Besides being affordable, the CRM solution seemed reliable and secure. Additionally, he found it simple to operate even for someone having no prior experience with technology. Also, he feels that HubSpot offers ample resources that can help you grow your small business quickly. Moreover, he recommends HubSpot as an ideal alternative to expensive enterprise products.

So, now you know pretty much everything about HubSpot. And hopefully, these tips helped you better evaluate HubSpot's offerings. Before jumping into another product, however, it's important to understand your requirements and expectations thoroughly. Only then will you be able to determine whether HubSpot meets your unique demands.

Let us know what you think of HubSpot and share your thoughts with us too.

HubSpot is one of the most popular and best-known names when it comes to marketing software solutions. The company was founded in 2008 by Dharmesh Shah (CEO) and Jay Baer (CTO), both prominent entrepreneurs with several successful exits under their belts. Today, HubSpot has more than 2 million customers worldwide including companies like Facebook, eBay, Twitter, Zendesk and even NASA. It's been featured on Inc 5000 as one of America’s fastest growing privately held businesses every year since 2011.

So how does this small business startup achieve such spectacular growth without breaking the bank? Well, its secret lies within its very own cloud-based Customer Relationship Management (CRM). This application named "Agile" allows users to make use of the latest technology trends while keeping costs low. Agile also gives them access to a host of other features which allow them to manage all aspects of customer relationships from beginning till end of each interaction. All these perks come together in creating an ideal platform for any B2B or consumer brand that needs a reliable yet cost-effective partner who understands exactly what they require and want from an online marketing solution.

But there’s a catch though… HubSpot actually offers two types of CRM tools -- free and paid. While the former seems pretty good at first glance, you might be wondering if you can truly call HubSpot CRM “free.” Let us find out!

How many contacts can you have on free HubSpot?

To put things into perspective, HubSpot offers unlimited storage space for your Contacts, Leads & Opportunities data, making HubSpot CRM a true no-limit option when it comes to finding new prospects and clients. You don't have to pay extra fees just because you're running multiple campaigns across different channels. In addition, HubSpot lets you upload documents like contracts, proposals, presentations, etc., directly onto your Contact record. On top of that, you will also get instant analytics reports so you always know where you stand among various competitors.

Now, let’s move on to another major question - Is HubSpot CRM really free? Yes, yes, and again...yes! There are some slight limitations but nothing too serious. For example, only US residents are allowed to register on HubSpot whereas non-US citizens can sign up for HubSpot through proxies. And, lastly, the maximum number of Users you can add per month is 50. Now, considering these facts, we would say that HubSpot is indeed completely free. However, keep in mind that you cannot create separate User profiles for yourself alone. Only your whole team gets to enjoy this perk. Also, HubSpot doesn’t offer phone support unless you upgrade to Pro version. So, basically, you should consider upgrading before using HubSpot CRM.

The following image shows you the complete range of plans offered by HubSpot.

Is agile CRM really free?

What makes HubSpot’s CRM platform unique and appealing is the fact that it is not limited to either Android nor iOS devices. Thanks to its Cloud based architecture, anybody anywhere can log in and start interacting instantly. Moreover, Agile automatically creates a secure connection between your browser and server preventing unauthorized individuals from accessing sensitive information. As a result, your privacy remains intact at all times.

In addition to being available offline, Agile also works well in areas with poor internet connectivity. Hence, you can still stay connected and productive despite having spotty cell coverage. Speaking of which, a recent study revealed that nearly 80% of people around the world rely heavily upon mobile phones for staying in touch with others. With HubSpot CRM, you won’t miss out on those important conversations anymore!

Also, thanks to HubSpot’s powerful Analytics dashboard, you'll never run short of reasons why you should stick to Agile. After uploading your historical contact records, you can easily track the performance of your leads via customized Reports. If you wish to explore further, simply type in keywords related to your campaign objectives and view the results accordingly.

Are HubSpot users free?

Yes, absolutely! One thing worth mentioning here is that unlike other similar platforms, HubSpot doesn't charge you monthly subscription fee. Instead, you're billed according to the amount of time you spend on using HubSpot CRM. To find out the exact price for each plan, head over to the Pricing page [No Longer Available] on Hubspot website.

On average, depending on the nature of work done by your employees, you could save roughly $700-$1400 per user per year. Not bad right?!

Here are few tips to help you decide whether to opt for HubSpot's Free Plan or Upgrade to Pro Version:

For teams that deal with less than 500 contacts daily, HubSpot Free Plan is suitable enough.

When looking to expand your reach, HubSpot Pro Plans are highly recommended.

Any organization that wants to scale quicker can go for HubSpot Enterprise Edition.

Lastly, HubSpot's pricing structure is flexible allowing you to choose the package that fits your budget perfectly.

How many users are free on HubSpot?

As mentioned earlier, HubSpot limits the total number of Users you can add per month to 50. Therefore, if you have fewer than 50 Employees working remotely, you probably wouldn't benefit much from adding additional Users. However, if you have hundreds of colleagues scattered across the globe, then signing up for HubSpot Unlimited edition is definitely worth exploring.

With HubSpot Unlimited, you can effortlessly integrate Email Marketing, Sales Automation, Social Media Marketing, Content Creation and Analytical Reporting features. Apart from helping you communicate better with your target audience, this feature would also enable your sales reps to monitor the progress of deals made after prospecting.

HubSpot provides plenty of templates for Email Templates, Landing Pages, Thank You Cards, Newsletters, Forms and Quizzes to aid your workflow. Plus, you can also utilize prebuilt Integrations with third party applications like Google Apps Script API, Zapier, Typeform, Mailchimp, MailPoet, Campaign Monitor, ConstantContact, AWeber, FeedBlitz, Wufoo, Drip, etc.

You can check out the full list of integrations provided by HubSpot below:

Integration List Provided By HubSpot

And finally, I'd love to hear back from you guys regarding my query. Do you think HubSpot CRM is really free? Have you used it lately? What do you feel about its capabilities? Share your thoughts with me below.

HubSpot has become an online sensation with its new acquisition of Buddy Media - which makes it easier to manage your social media presence. The company's CEO, Dharmesh Shah, had this to say at the time: "We're very excited about our future as we continue to grow rapidly," he said. "BuddyMedia will bring us closer to our customers by providing them with more ways to connect through their favorite channels."

The buzz around HubSpot has increased manifold since then, but many users wonder if they should be paying money for something that seems so good. Is there any truth to the idea that HubSpot isn't worth buying because it costs too much? And most importantly: does HubSpot offer anything unique enough from other companies like Google, Microsoft and others? Let's find out.

Is HubSpot better than Salesforce?

Although both platforms have grown substantially over the past few years, HubSpot is still relatively small compared to Salesforce (SF). In fact, SF was founded way before HubSpot was ever born! However, when comparing these two giant players, the answer would probably depend on how each user intends to use his or her account. If someone needs a simple system to store customer information, send emails, create spreadsheets and do some basic analytics, SF might just fit the bill. On the other hand, if you need advanced features such as integrations with third-party apps, custom reports, automated follow ups and so forth, HubSpot may serve you better. It all depends on whether you'd prefer a simpler solution or want to go beyond the basics.

What's interesting about HubSpot is not only the price tag but also its ability to integrate directly into popular web applications including MailChimp, Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, LinkedIn, Pinterest, YouTube, Tumblr, WordPress and Shopify. You'll never feel left out if you own multiple accounts in several different services unless you keep switching between tools. This feature alone could make HubSpot useful even without the latest technology behind it.

Another key difference is the pricing structure. While SF offers three plans ranging from $25 per month to $70 per month depending on the number of people using your platform, HubSpot gives away a fully functional version for free. There aren't any limitations either. So while SF limits your data storage space to 2GB and restricts the number of contacts to 500, HubSpot doesn't impose any restrictions whatsoever.

This means that anyone who wants to try it out can start using HubSpot's free version right now. No credit card required. After 30 days though, you'll have to pay for hosting fees. Luckily, HubSpot lets you cancel anytime if you decide it isn't working for you anymore.

Which one is better HubSpot or Salesforce?

Now that you've seen the differences between HubSpot and SF, let's talk about which service is best suited for whom. Here are some general pros and cons of choosing HubSpot vs. SF:

Pros of HubSpot

1) Free plan allows unlimited usage

2) Ability to customize email templates

3) Quickly add existing clients/contacts via CSV file

4) Attach documents to messages easily

5) Send bulk emails

6) View activity history in calendar view

7) Easily import Gmail labels

8) Customize forms

9) Schedule meetings and reminders

10) Create tasks

11) Set up auto responders

12) Add team members easily

13) Share files securely

14) Use real-time chat to communicate instantly

15) Integrate third party apps

16) Track business growth

17) Automate repetitive tasks

18) Analyze stats

19) Follow up automatically

20) Work offline with mobile devices

21) Report bugs quickly

22) Search records within minutes

23) See client feedback

24) Get notified whenever changes happen

25) Monitor campaign performance easily

26) Sync calendars

Cons of HubSpot

1) Limited customization options

2) Harder to track leads outside of marketing campaigns

3) Can't handle large volumes of traffic

4) Fewer reporting capabilities

5) Lacks complex workflow automation

Pros of Salesforce

1) Easy access to APIs

2) Support almost every major programming language

3) Data visualization

4) Better support community

5) More robust database architecture

6) Powerful application development framework

7) Integration with hundreds of SaaS products

8) Customer relationship management

9) Financial Management Software

10) Reporting & Analytics Tools

11) Airtable

12) Third-Party App Development

Cons of SF

1) Only supports SQL databases

2) Restricted data transfer speed

3) Not compatible with Internet Explorer 6, 7 or 8

4) Lack of security updates after 1 year

5) High maintenance cost

6) Restrictions on creating custom objects and fields

7) Complexity of API calls

8) Poor documentation

9) Difficult to set up

10) Slow response time

These are obviously just some common issues faced by both platforms. For example, SF excels in integrating with external systems whereas HubSpot tends to work well with internal operations. Depending on your specific needs, choose whichever suits you better. All things considered, however, HubSpot wins hands down if you don't mind shelling out a bit extra cash for better functionality.



Is HubSpot bigger than Salesforce?

When deciding whether to buy HubSpot or SF, consider the size of the software firms' respective active user bases. According to Statista, SF boasts approximately 5 million paid monthly subscribers worldwide. By contrast, HubSpot claims to have served 10 billion pieces of content across 80% of Fortune 100 Companies globally. Although that sounds impressive, it shouldn't come as surprise considering the enormous popularity of HubSpot among businesses.

In addition, HubSpot is used heavily by big brands like eBay, Bank Of America, General Motors, American Airlines, Toyota Motor Corp., AT&T Inc., Comcast Corporation, Staples etc. These names mean money, and they certainly won't risk wasting resources on unsuccessful ventures. Also, HubSpot provides special deals targeted towards certain industries. They tend to promote customized solutions tailored specifically toward individual clients. Therefore, HubSpot often becomes the first choice for those seeking to expand their reach and increase profits.

On the other hand, SF is mainly known for its cloud-based enterprise resource planning product designed primarily for medium to high-volume organizations. Its main competitor, Oracle, is another top contender in ERP industry. Despite having fewer users, SF is currently ranked #34 overall in terms of revenue generated from subscription sales according to Business Insider.

As mentioned earlier, HubSpot is much smaller than SF. Even though it generates less revenue, its sheer size and influence cannot be denied. As long as it continues growing, expect to see more acquisitions coming from HubSpot soon.

Are HubSpot and Salesforce competitors?

It's no secret that HubSpot and SF compete against each other. Both companies provide similar yet distinct functions. At times, it gets hard to tell where HubSpot ends and SF begins. That being said, both platforms definitely complement each other.

For instance, HubSpot handles lead generation and nurturing while SF focuses on building deeper relationships with potential clients. Similarly, SF helps you stay organized while HubSpot manages your entire contact list. Lastly, if you already have an established network of friends and colleagues, SF is definitely the better option for collaboration purposes.

So, hopefully, this article answered all of your questions regarding HubSpot and made you think twice about investing in it. Now you know exactly why you should or shouldn't purchase it and can make informed decisions next time.

Also, check out our guide on How To Choose An Email Marketing Platform. We hope you learned something today!


Author

Anyleads

San Francisco

We are the leading marketing automation platform serving more than 100,000 businesses daily. We operate in 3 countries, based in San Francisco, New York, Paris & London.

Join Anyleads to generate leads

Error! Impossible to register please verify the fields or the account already exists.. Error, domain not allowed. Error, use a business email. Welcome to the Anyleads experience!
More than +200 features to generate leads
Register to start generating leads

Create your account and start your 7 day free trial!

Error! Impossible to register please verify the fields or the account already exists.. Error, domain not allowed. Error, use a business email. Welcome to the Anyleads experience! By registering you agree to the Terms and conditions agreement.
More than +200 features to generate leads

We offer multiple products for your lead generation, discover them below!

>> Unlimited access to all products with one single licensecheck our pricing.