HubSpot vs Salesforce: Finding the best CRM for your business

According to Statista, as of 2023, Salesforce Sales Cloud holds a 22% share of the global Customer Relationship Management (CRM) applications market.

And if we talk of HubSpot CRM, formerly known as HubSpot Sales Hub, it holds approximately 5.27%.

When we talk of CRM in the current market, these two are some of the leading software for managing everything from sales and marketing to customer service and automation.

If we ask why they are on top, the answer is most probably their continuous focus on simplifying business processes and helping companies drive revenue.

Over time, as per market demands and technology innovation, they've evolved from simple contact databases to powerful platforms offering unbeatable AI-driven insights and automation.

Both Salesforce and HubSpot are powerful choices when a business considers investing in a CRM solution, but what if you are torn between the two?

So, in this blog, we'll look closer at HubSpot vs Salesforce, unveiling who should choose HubSpot and who should invest in Salesforce.

Salesforce vs. HubSpot - The overview and feature face-off

Let's begin by taking a closer look at what each platform really excels at and where they may fall short.  

HubSpot Sales Hub overview 

Ratings: 

• G2: 4.4/5 based on 11,900+ reviews 
  
• Capterra: 4.5/5 based on 4,000+ reviews 

HubSpot CRM is known for its user-friendly interface and seamless marketing, sales, and customer service tool integration. It provides a great all-in-one platform that makes it easy for businesses—especially small to mid-sized ones—to start. 

HubSpot's strength lies in its inbound marketing capabilities, including email marketing, social media management, and content creation, all powered by intuitive automation features. 

It also has a free CRM plan, which makes it accessible for smaller teams, though the paid tiers provide more advanced capabilities like lead scoring and enhanced reporting. 

While it may not offer the deep customizability of Salesforce, HubSpot is perfect for businesses looking for a cost-effective, easy-to-use platform. 

Key features of HubSpot CRM:

• Contact management: Centralized database for storing and managing contact information, facilitating easy tracking of customer interactions.
• Email tracking and templates: Tools to monitor email opens and clicks, along with customizable templates to streamline communication.
• Sales automation: Automating repetitive tasks such as follow-up emails and task creation enhances sales team efficiency.
• Pipeline management: Visual representation of the sales pipeline, allowing for easy tracking of deals and forecasting revenue.
• Reporting and analytics: Dashboards and reports providing insights into sales performance, team productivity, and customer behavior.
• Integration with HubSpot marketing hub: Align sales and marketing efforts with HubSpot's built-in tools, creating a smooth, unified customer journey.

In all, when considering HubSpot CRM vs Salesforce, HubSpot often appeals to small and mid-sized businesses for its simplicity.

Also read: Salesmate vs. Hubspot - A new era of smart CRM comparison.

Salesforce Sales overview 

Ratings: 

• G2: 4.4/5 based on 23,000+ reviews 
• Capterra: 4.4/5 based on 18,000+ reviews 

Salesforce is widely recognized for its robust customization options and scalability, making it the CRM of choice for larger enterprises. With Sales Cloud, Service Cloud, and Marketing Cloud, Salesforce offers powerful tools that support everything from lead management to AI-driven analytics. 

While it has a steeper learning curve, Salesforce's ability to be tailored to specific business needs sets it apart from simpler CRM platforms. 

Features like advanced opportunity management, Einstein AI for predictive analytics, and customizable workflows make it ideal for businesses with more sophisticated needs.  

The enterprise CRM is ideal for businesses that have requirements with extremely complex automation, advanced reporting, and extensive third-party integrations via its AppExchange marketplace.

Key features of Salesforce CRM:

• Lead and opportunity management: Comprehensive tools for tracking leads and opportunities throughout the sales cycle.
• Sales forecasting: Advanced forecasting capabilities to predict sales revenue and set targets.
• Workflow and approvals: Customizable workflows and approval processes to automate business operations.
• Mobile App: Robust mobile application with offline functionality, enabling sales teams to work from anywhere.
• Integration with third-party apps: Access to a vast marketplace (AppExchange) for integrating third-party applications.
• AI-powered insights: Einstein AI provides predictive analytics and recommendations to enhance sales strategies.

So far, the discussion has been all about how these platforms are perceived in the market; let's dive deeper with Salesforce vs HubSpot features comparison.

Note: Features, platform pricing, and user rating counts are subject to change. For the latest information, please consult the official websites of Capterra, HubSpot, and Salesforce. 

HubSpot vs. Salesforce — Automation, AI-driven power, and ahead in the future 

When it comes to automating your sales and marketing processes, both HubSpot and Salesforce offer immense value, but their approaches differ significantly.

As automation and AI become the backbone of CRM platforms, it’s essential to understand how these tools align with your business needs.  

Let’s explore how HubSpot’s simplicity stacks up against Salesforce’s AI-driven power and where both platforms are heading as they embrace the future of generative AI. 

HubSpot CRM: Simple, flexible, and easy-to-use AI 

If you're a small or mid-sized business, you'll love how quickly you can set up automation without any technical hassle.

• Sales automation: With HubSpot, automating everyday tasks—like sending follow-up emails or setting reminders—is as simple as drag-and-drop. It allows teams to focus on high-value activities without getting bogged down by routine work.
• AI-powered assistance: Breeze Copilot enables users to easily generate email content, track leads, and enrich customer data for more targeted outreach. ChatSpot AI allows users to craft email content, create reports, and improve workflow efficiency with minimal effort.
• Generative AI for Personalization: From personalized email sequences to basic data insights, the generative AI tools equip smaller teams to get more done with minimal setup, making it an excellent choice for businesses looking for efficient, entry-level AI solutions.

HubSpot offers a user-friendly approach to AI and automation, giving growing businesses powerful tools that scale as they do—no steep learning curve required.

Salesforce: AI-powered automation with Einstein 

For businesses that need more advanced, AI-powered automation, Salesforce is the go-to.

Salesforce doesn't just automate workflows; it helps you make smarter decisions by predicting which leads are likely to convert and recommending the best next steps. 

• Predictive AI with Einstein: Salesforce's Einstein AI takes automation up a notch, using predictive analytics to identify high-potential leads, forecast sales, and suggest optimal actions. It’s designed to help teams not only manage tasks but also make data-backed decisions that boost efficiency.
• Automation for complex processes: Salesforce’s tools, like Flow Orchestration and MuleSoft integration, handle multi-step, multi-user workflows with ease. Whether it’s routing approvals or syncing data across systems, Salesforce scales to meet your enterprise needs at every level.
• Agentforce and AI-enhanced communication: Agentforce empowers teams to automate early-stage interactions, like answering FAQs or scheduling meetings so that sales reps can focus on closing deals. Also, Einstein Conversation Insights lets teams analyze call data to uncover trends and fine-tune their approach.

With AI that enhances every part of the sales cycle, Salesforce is built for businesses ready to take automation and data insights to the next level, making it a strong choice for those looking to optimize complex operations.

Looking for a Salesforce alternative? Check out how Salesmate CRM is the right Salesforce alternative for you!.

HubSpot vs Salesforce pricing comparison: Explore which CRM fits your budget

Let's compare HubSpot and Salesforce to discover which fits your budget and what value you get for your money.

HubSpot: Free and paid tiers

If you're just starting, HubSpot offers a free CRM that gives you all the basics, like contact management, deal tracking, and basic email marketing. It's a great way for startups and small businesses to get rolling without any upfront cost. 

You can start with HubSpot’s free plan and then easily upgrade to paid tiers as your business expands.

• Sales Hub Starter ($20/month per seat): The popular features of this plan include basic automation, goals tracking, and rep performance insights.
  
• Sales Hub Professional ($100/month per seat): This plan is ideal for mid-sized businesses that require advanced sales automation, sequences, custom reporting, and team management tools.
  
• Sales Hub Enterprise ($150/month per seat): This tier includes advanced customization, predictive lead scoring, and detailed data segmentation for more refined sales processes.

Salesforce: Higher costs but more power and flexibility 

Salesforce has a higher price tag, but it's packed with features that are best for larger businesses or teams that need customization and scalability. 

Here are the complete Salesforce pricing plans: 

• Starter Suite ($25/user/month): Basic tools for lead, account, and opportunity management, suitable for smaller teams requiring CRM essentials.
  
• Pro Suite ($100/user/month): This plan adds customization, sales forecasting, and real-time chat, making it suitable for mid-sized teams with their growing needs.
  
• Enterprise Plan ($165/user/month): This tier supports advanced pipeline management, conversation intelligence, and workflow automation, catering to large-scale operations.
  
• Unlimited and Einstein 1 Sales ($330–$500/user/month): These top-tier plans include full AI-driven capabilities, advanced analytics, and cross-departmental integrations dedicated to complex CRM needs.

While both HubSpot and Salesforce offer plans that work for small teams, mid-sized businesses, and large enterprises, it's important to consider any extra costs, your budget, and how well each platform can scale with your business needs.

Salesforce vs HubSpot pros and cons

Each CRM has its strengths and limitations, so understanding these can help you find the best fit for your business needs.

Comparing HubSpot vs Salesforce CRM in terms of pros and cons can provide you with more clarity on which platform aligns with your business needs.

HubSpot CRM - Pros and cons

• Easy to use: HubSpot's intuitive design lets you get started quickly, even without technical expertise.
• All-in-one marketing & sales: Built-in marketing tools like email and social media make it easy to align sales and marketing.
• Budget-friendly: A free plan is available, with affordable upgrades as your business grows.

Drawbacks: Limited customization and higher-tier plans are needed for advanced features.

Salesforce CRM - Pros and cons

• Highly customizable: If you have specific needs or complex workflows, Salesforce’s robust customization capabilities let you tailor the platform exactly as required.
• Advanced AI & automation: Einstein AI provides predictive insights to prioritize leads and drive smarter decisions.
• Best for large sales teams: Designed to support complex operations and scale with your growth.

Drawbacks: According to G2 and Capterra reviews, the platform has a steep learning curve and charges premium pricing for advanced capabilities.

Latest reads on AI for sales and marketing trends: AI for sales: Accelerating your sales process in 2025!

Salesforce CRM vs HubSpot CRM: The final comparison  

The image below will provide a quick, clear snapshot of the difference between Hubspot and Salesforce.

Now, if we need to decide between HubSpot and Salesforce, the discussion below is a straight answer.

Who should choose HubSpot?

• HubSpot is a good choice for small to medium-sized businesses that need user-friendly CRM software.
• It’s a great fit for companies looking for an all-in-one solution that combines sales and marketing features within a single platform.
• Suitable for teams that need customizable workflows and automation tools to enhance and streamline sales processes without complex setups.

Who should choose Salesforce?

• Best for large enterprises that require advanced capabilities across sales, marketing, and customer service.
• Suitable for companies needing highly customizable workflows and automation to meet complex operational needs.
• Ideal for teams that rely on advanced reporting and analytics to gain deep AI CRM insights into sales performance and drive data-driven decisions.

We hope this HubSpot comparison with Salesforce has provided you with greater clarity in choosing the right CRM for your business needs.

Interesting read: Salesforce for small businesses: Why it's an expensive choice?

Are you looking for a better alternative?

Salesmate could be the best choice for your sales and marketing teams if you're looking for a solution that can cope with your unique business needs at competitive pricing.

It's a user-friendly CRM with powerful automation, in-depth sales analytics, AI tools, and integrated communication.

With built-in marketing tools and Ticketing Software, Salesmate is a complete solution to streamline your business.

Salesmate combines the best of both worlds, offering advanced functionality with ease of use.

Here's why it stands out:

• Powerful Lead Management Software enables teams to track, nurture, and convert leads effectively.
• Smart Automation for follow-up and outreach, thus saving time and boosting efficiency.
• Sales Pipeline Management Software offers visual deal tracking, allowing teams to manage and forecast sales effortlessly.
• Built-in tools, such as email, SMS, and VoIP, for seamless, real-time customer engagement.
• Sandy AI summarizes call notes, drafts emails, and schedules meetings, keeping reps focused on high-value activities.
• Analytics to make informed strategic decisions, optimize sales efforts, and track performance metrics.
• Ticketing Software for fast and efficient customer service, delivering exceptional brand experience.

For businesses needing a robust, growth-oriented CRM, Salesmate delivers CRM capabilities with user-friendly design—making it the perfect alternative to Salesforce and HubSpot.

Salesmate CRM is perfect for growing businesses that want more than HubSpot's entry-level tools without the high costs of Salesforce.

Bottom line: Which CRM will drive your success in 2025? 

When looking at HubSpot vs Salesforce, the ideal way to pick the right CRM for your sales professionals could depend on your goals, budget, and need for customization and automation.

Here's a simple overview to help you decide which is the best CRM solution for you:

• For ease of use and affordability, HubSpot is a good pick if you're looking for a straightforward, budget-friendly CRM.
• For advanced customization and AI-driven tools, Salesforce is best for larger operations that need robust customization options and advanced automation.

Consider your long-term growth and the level of automation required to ensure your CRM can scale with you.