Is HubSpot Your Best CRM Pick for 2024?

Let’s be honest: Choosing a CRM platform isn’t just about ticking boxes on a feature list; it’s about finding a platform that fits your business like a glove. HubSpot has been making waves in the world of marketing tools, but is it the right fit for you?

With our business environment speeding up, genuine customer relationships are everything. But speed in lead management could either make it feel like you’re a frog jumping into a blender or taking a rocket to the moon.

A CRM system isn’t just a fancy contact list; it’s the backbone of how you manage interactions, lead generation and your knowledge base. It’s like the central nervous system of your business operations, influencing everything from marketing campaigns to sales strategies.

If you leverage your CRM effectively, your business could be the one sending that hyper-specific email to John, the CFO from San Francisco who talked to Brent from support last week. The question is, does the HubSpotCRM provide the right mixture of features for your business? Let’s find out.

Feature Overview: How HubSpotWorks

If you’ve ever juggled multiple tools for your marketing, project management and customer service efforts, you know how chaotic it can be. The HubSpot Marketing Hub aims to simplify your life by bringing everything under one roof. 

One of the standout benefits we at Brafton discovered with HubSpot’s CRM is the ability to consolidate multiple tools into a single, unified platform. Previously, we managed separate systems for our email automation, sales enablement and contract signing. This fragmentation often led to inefficiencies and higher costs. Transitioning to HubSpot streamlined our processes, reduced overhead and improved team collaboration.

Here are the main modules you’ll be working with.

1. HubSpot Marketing Hub

Think of the Marketing Hub as your all-in-one toolkit for attracting and engaging customers. Here’s what it offers:

• Email marketing: Crafting personalized emails is key to engaging your audience. On the free plan, you can send up to 2,000 emails per month, though they’ll include HubSpot branding. Tools like HubSpot’s email editor make it easy, and for a professional touch, you might consider using the signature generator to enhance your brand’s image.
• Landing pages and forms: Build custom landing pages and forms without needing a developer. Capture leads directly into your CRM.
• Marketing automation: Available from the Starter plan upwards, automate your marketing campaigns to nurture leads based on their interactions.

2. HubSpot Sales Hub

The Sales Hub is designed to streamline your sales process and close deals faster.

• Sales pipeline management: Visualize your sales process with an intuitive, drag-and-drop pipeline.
• Email tracking and meeting scheduling: Know when a prospect opens your email and easily schedule meetings with integrated calendar tools.
• Call feature: Make calls directly from the platform. Calls can be recorded and logged for future reference.

3. HubSpot Service Hub

Your customer support staff are the chefs whipping up the otherwise mysterious dish called retention, and the Service Hub has them covered.

• Live chat and chatbots: Engage with customers in real time on your website. Chatbots can handle common inquiries, freeing up your team.
• Ticketing system: Organize and track customer issues to ensure nothing falls through the cracks.

4. HubSpot CMS Hub

Customers no longer circle your website like moths around a flame. They expect a uniform brand experience, whether they’re on social media or your website, and the CMS Hub helps you achieve that.

• Content management system: Build and manage your website with ease — no coding skills required.
• SEO tools: Optimize your content, even across languages, to improve search engine rankings.
• Customizable templates: Use pre-designed templates or create your own to match your brand.

5. HubSpot Operations Hub

For those who love automation and clean data, the Operations Hub is a game-changer.

• Data synchronization: Keep your data consistent across all your apps.
• Workflow automation: Automate complex business processes to save time and reduce errors.

How HubSpot CRM Features Streamline Your Business

Imagine this: A visitor lands on your website and fills out a form you created with the Marketing Hub. Their information automatically populates in your CRM. Your sales team gets notified via the Sales Hub and reaches out promptly. If the lead becomes a customer and needs support down the line, the Service Hub ensures all previous interactions are accessible to your support team.

This seamless flow reduces friction, improves customer experience and keeps all your teams on the same page.

Real-World Use Cases

Suppose you’re running a promotional campaign, offering an eBook download to prospects. You can:

• Create a landing page: Use the Marketing Hub to design a compelling landing page.
• Capture leads: Embed a form to collect visitor information.
• Automate follow-ups: Set up automated emails to nurture these leads based on their actions.
• Trigger emails: Automatically send a thank-you email.
• Lead nurturing: Schedule a series of emails offering additional resources or inviting them to a webinar.

The Pros and Cons of Using HubSpot as an Inbound Marketing Tool and Content Hub

No platform is without its strengths and weaknesses. Here’s a balanced look at what HubSpot brings to the table.

Pros

• Intuitive interface: From firsthand experience, HubSpot’s user-friendly interface is a breath of fresh air compared to other platforms we’ve used. While some systems offer an array of advanced features, they can be overwhelmingly complex and geared toward large enterprises with extensive IT resources. HubSpot strikes a balance by providing powerful capabilities that are still accessible to teams without specialized training.
• All-in-one platform: Having marketing, sales and service tools in one place eliminates the need for multiple subscriptions and integrations. 
• Customizable dashboards: Tailor your dashboards to display the metrics that matter most to your business.
• Scalable options: Start with the free plan and upgrade as your needs grow. HubSpot grows with you.
• Generous free plan: Cost is a critical factor for any business decision. We found that some platforms tend to lock you into long-term contracts with rigid terms, making it challenging to adapt or scale without incurring hefty fees. HubSpot, conversely, offers flexible pricing models and more favorable terms, allowing us to scale our usage in line with our growth without unexpected cost hikes. Unlike some CRMs that limit features on their free tiers, HubSpot offers substantial functionality, including up to one million contacts.

Cons

• Cost: Advanced features come at a price. The Professional plan starts at around $890 per month, which can be steep for small businesses.
• Complexity of advanced features: While basic functions are easy to use, advanced tools like marketing automation and custom reporting may require a learning curve.
• Limitations of the free version: The free plan includes HubSpot branding on emails and lacks some omnichannel automation capabilities.

Who Is HubSpot Best Suited For?

HubSpot is ideal for:

• Small to medium businesses: Companies looking for a comprehensive solution beyond B2B email marketing but without the complexity of enterprise-level software.
• Startups: Organizations that need to scale their operations quickly and efficiently.
• Growing enterprises: Businesses that plan to expand and require a platform that can grow with them.

If you’re a large corporation with highly specialized needs, you might find HubSpot’s customization options somewhat limited compared to other enterprise-level CRMs.

What Makes HubSpot Different From Other CRM Platform Choices?

Navigating the crowded landscape of CRM platforms can feel like wading through a sea of similar promises and overlapping features. So, what sets HubSpot apart from heavyweights like Salesforce, Zoho and ActiveCampaign?

Comparison With Major Competitors

Salesforce

Salesforce is often the go-to CRM for large enterprises due to its extensive customization and robust feature set. However, this depth comes with a steep learning curve and a higher price tag. Implementation can take months, and without a dedicated team, you might find yourself tangled in complexity.

Zoho CRM

Zoho offers a more budget-friendly alternative with a rich set of features. It’s highly customizable and integrates well with various apps. However, users often mention that while Zoho is powerful, it can lack the intuitive user experience that makes day-to-day operations seamless.

ActiveCampaign

ActiveCampaign shines in email marketing and automation but falls short when it comes to comprehensive CRM functionalities. If your primary focus is email campaigns, it’s a solid choice. However, for a unified platform that covers sales, marketing and service, it might not tick all the boxes.

HubSpot’s Unique Strengths

1. All-in-One Platform With a Robust CMS

HubSpot isn’t just a CRM; it’s a complete ecosystem that includes a powerful CMS. This means you can build and manage your website, blog and landing pages without leaving the platform. The integrated SEO tools help optimize your content, improving your search engine rankings without the need for additional software.

2. HubSpot Academy

With artificial intelligence and search algorithms changing the marketing game every nanosecond, it’s good to know that HubSpot invests heavily in educating its users. The HubSpot Academy offers free courses ranging from inbound marketing to sales enablement. Not only does this empower your team to make the most of the platform, but it also keeps you updated on industry best practices.

3. Ease of Integration

HubSpot plays well with others. Whether you’re using Gmail, Outlook or other popular tools, integration is typically a smooth process. This ease extends to other CRMs as well; you can run HubSpot alongside platforms like Salesforce or Microsoft Dynamics if needed.

Community and Support Network

One of HubSpot’s standout features is its vibrant community and exceptional customer support. The platform boasts an active user forum where you can share insights and troubleshoot issues with peers. Additionally, HubSpot’s support team is known for quick response times and helpful solutions, making the user experience that much smoother.

This strong community aspect shouldn’t be underestimated. It’s like having a global team of experts at your fingertips, ready to help you navigate challenges and maximize your CRM investment.

Is HubSpotWorth the Investment?

When it comes to investing in a CRM, the real question isn’t just about cost — it’s about value. So, let’s break down HubSpot’s pricing tiers to help you determine if it’s the right fit for your business size and goals.

HubSpot Pricing Tiers

Free CRM

HubSpot offers a generous free plan that’s hard to beat:

• Unlimited users: Add your entire team without extra charges.
• Up to one million contacts: Plenty of room to grow your customer base.
• Basic features: Includes email marketing (up to 2,000 emails per month with HubSpot branding), contact management, deal tracking and limited automation.
• Call feature: Make calls directly from the platform, with calls recorded and saved to contact logs.

Starter Plan (Starting at $20/month)

Ideal for small businesses ready to take the next step:

• Removal of HubSpot branding: Present a more professional image in your communications.
• Increased email sends: Higher limits to accommodate your growing marketing efforts.
• Basic automation features: Unlock simple marketing automation to streamline tasks.
• Additional customization: More custom properties for contacts and deals.

Professional Plan (Starting at $890/month)

Designed for growing businesses that need advanced tools:

• Advanced marketing automation: Create sophisticated, multi-step workflows with dozens of triggers, conditions and actions. HubSpot’s platform excels in audience segmentation, allowing you to tailor your campaigns for maximum impact.
• Omnichannel automation: Engage customers across multiple channels seamlessly.
• Custom reporting and analytics: Dive deep into your data with customizable dashboards and reports.
• Lead scoring: Prioritize leads based on custom criteria to focus your sales efforts.

Enterprise Plan (Starting at $3,600/month)

Geared towards large enterprises with complex needs:

• Advanced customization: Utilize custom objects and predictive lead scoring.
• Enhanced security features: Advanced permissions and hierarchical teams.
• Dedicated support: Access to priority customer support and onboarding assistance.
• Predictive lead scoring: Define custom scoring factors for individual leads or deals.

Value Breakdown for Different Business Sizes and Goals

Free and Starter Plans: For Small Businesses and Startups

These tiers offer ample features for businesses just getting off the ground. The free plan might suffice if you’re okay with HubSpot branding and limited automation. Upgrading to the Starter plan removes branding and provides more capabilities at a reasonable cost.

Professional Plan: Growing Businesses

If you’re scaling rapidly, the Professional plan offers advanced tools needed for sophisticated marketing and sales strategies. The investment is significant but can be justified by features like advanced automation and detailed analytics.

Enterprise Plan: Large Enterprises

For organizations requiring extensive customization, advanced analytics and top-tier support, the Enterprise plan delivers. However, the high cost means it’s only practical if these features are essential to your operations.

Final Verdict

So, is HubSpot a good choice in 2024? Having recently undergone a thorough evaluation of our internal systems, we chose to migrate to HubSpot for its comprehensive feature set and user-centric design. This move has empowered our teams to work more effectively and has underscored the platform’s value in a practical context.

Why It Might Be Worth It for You:

• Unified platform: HubSpot’s all-in-one approach can streamline your operations, saving time and reducing the complexity of managing multiple tools.
• Scalability: The platform grows with you. Start small and unlock advanced features as your needs evolve.
• Excellent support and community: With responsive customer service and a wealth of resources like HubSpot Academy, you’re never alone in navigating the platform.

Potential Drawbacks:

• Cost at higher tiers: The Professional and Enterprise plans are a significant investment. If you’re not fully utilizing the advanced features, you might not see a proportional return.
• Complexity of advanced features: There’s a learning curve with sophisticated tools. Time and training are necessary to leverage them effectively.
• Not ideal for large sales teams needing extreme customization: Some larger enterprises might find the platform less flexible compared to other CRMs like Salesforce.

Conclusion

If you’re a small to medium-sized business seeking a user-friendly CRM that can scale with you, HubSpot offers substantial value, especially with its free and Starter plans. For larger businesses with complex needs and the budget to match, the advanced features can be a game-changer — but it’s essential to assess whether those features align with your specific requirements.