HubSpot has long been the go-to platform for businesses seeking an all-in-one solution for marketing, sales, and customer relationship management. It’s powerful, polished, and packed with features, but that power comes at a price. As your business grows, HubSpot’s paid plans can quickly climb to nearly $900 per month, and scaling often means paying extra for automation, reporting, or advanced integrations.
That’s why more companies are exploring alternatives, tools that deliver similar capabilities without the hefty subscription cost. Whether you’re focused on CRM, email marketing, or full-funnel automation, options like Zoho CRM, Freshsales, ActiveCampaign, and EngageBay offer impressive flexibility at a fraction of HubSpot’s price.
For teams seeking to unify chat, automation, and customer service under one roof, the Text® App stands out as a modern, AI-first alternative. It helps you manage customer conversations, automate responses, and streamline workflows, all in one easy-to-use workspace.
In this article, you’ll learn:
- Why businesses switch from HubSpot in 2026
- Affordable alternatives for CRM, sales, and marketing automation
- Which tools provide better ROI and usability for small teams
- How AI-driven platforms transform customer engagement
Let’s explore the top HubSpot alternatives and discover the one that best suits your business needs.
Understanding HubSpot CRM and business needs
HubSpot has earned its reputation as one of the most user-friendly CRMs on the market. It brings marketing, sales, and customer service together under one roof, offering tools for lead management, email campaigns, analytics, and automation. For many teams, it’s the first step toward centralizing customer data and improving collaboration.
But once your business starts growing, HubSpot’s pricing can become a sticking point. While the free plan is generous for getting started, it limits key features such as advanced reporting, automation, and custom workflows, the very tools that help businesses scale. To access these, teams often need to upgrade to the Professional or Enterprise plans, which can exceed $890/month once you factor in users and add-ons.
HubSpot’s strength lies in its polished interface and wide integration ecosystem, yet that same ecosystem can feel fragmented. Many of its advanced tools, including CMS and Operations Hub, as well as Service Hub, are sold separately, which means managing multiple modules and invoices instead of a single unified platform.
For growing teams, that’s where alternatives like Zoho CRM, Pipedrive, Salesforce, and Freshsales come in. They provide more flexibility in pricing, greater customization, and often deeper sales automation, without the overhead of managing separate “Hubs.”
Takeaway: HubSpot CRM is powerful but can quickly become expensive as your business scales. If you’re looking for more affordable, scalable, or specialized tools, the next sections will guide you through the top alternatives built for 2026.
What to look for in a HubSpot alternative?
Choosing the right HubSpot alternative isn’t just about finding a cheaper plan; it’s about finding a platform that fits how your team actually works. The ideal solution should make it easy to organize customer data, manage your sales pipelines, and connect sales and marketing efforts in one place.
A great CRM tool goes beyond basic contact storage. It should offer contact management, sales pipeline management, and reporting and analytics dashboards that give you real-time visibility into performance. You want something that helps your team track every lead, automate follow-ups, and measure success with clear reporting tools, not a system that complicates daily operations.
When comparing HubSpot CRM alternatives, look for platforms that streamline the entire process, from customer support and lead nurturing to campaign automation and management. The best options don’t just store data; they help you act on it.
Here’s what to consider before making the switch:
1. Pricing transparency
HubSpot’s layered pricing model can be complex. The base plan may appear affordable, but adding users, contacts, or automation workflows can quickly increase costs. Look for tools with flat or predictable pricing, ideally without expensive per-feature upgrades. Platforms like Freshsales and Pipedrive offer straightforward tiers that are designed to scale with your marketing and sales teams.
2. Automation capabilities
Automation is the heart of modern marketing and sales. A good alternative should let you build custom workflows, lead scoring systems, and follow-up marketing campaigns with minimal setup. Tools such as ActiveCampaign and EngageBay excel in this area, offering intuitive builders that make complex automation accessible to even non-technical users.
3. Unified customer view
Your CRM should provide a 360-degree view of every customer interaction, encompassing email marketing, chat, and social channels. Zoho CRM and Text App both unify communications, helping teams respond faster and with more context. The TextApp takes it a step further by combining AI-powered chat, helpdesk ticketing, and automation in one seamless workspace.
4. Integration and flexibility
You shouldn’t need an IT team to connect your favorite tools. Check whether the platform integrates seamlessly with ecommerce platforms, marketing apps, and productivity software. Many HubSpot alternatives now offer native integrations with Gmail, Shopify, and Slack, ensuring a seamless experience.
5. Customer support and ease of use
A sleek interface means nothing without great support behind it. Evaluate how responsive each company’s support team is and whether onboarding materials are clear. Solutions like Text App simplify the learning curve with built-in AI assistance and self-service resources, so you can get productive right away.
Takeaway: Focus on scalability, automation, and usability, not just cost. The right HubSpot alternative should empower your team to do more with less, creating smoother customer experiences without technical headaches.
CRM software for small businesses
For small businesses, the right CRM should be simple, affordable, and flexible enough to grow with your needs. HubSpot’s free plan appears appealing at first glance, but its limitations regarding automation, analytics, and customization often become roadblocks as teams scale.
That’s why many small and mid-sized companies turn to more agile solutions that deliver practical value without the enterprise price tag.
- Text App is a strong starting point for small businesses that prioritize customer communication over complex CRM mechanics. Rather than focusing on traditional pipeline management, Text App unifies customer conversations across live chat, email, tickets, and AI-driven automation in a single workspace. Small teams can manage customer conversations, respond more quickly, and utilize AI to assist with routine questions, all without juggling multiple tools.
- Zogo CRM is one of the most popular alternatives to HubSpot for small businesses. Its free plan supports up to three users and includes essential tools such as lead tracking, workflow automation, and multichannel communication. Zoho’s intuitive interface and strong integration network make it easy for teams to get started quickly while keeping costs predictable.
- Freshsales is another standout option, particularly for sales-focused teams. It combines visual sales pipelines, built-in calling, and AI-driven lead scoring to help you close deals faster. Its pricing model is straightforward and includes a free plan, making it ideal for startups that want to scale efficiently without worrying about add-on fees.
- EngageBay takes a more all-in-one approach, blending CRM, email marketing, helpdesk, and live chat into a single platform. For small businesses, that means fewer tools to manage and more consistency across marketing and customer support. It’s an especially good fit for teams that need both automation and communication tools under one roof.
- Pipedrive remains a favorite among small teams that want a clean, sales-driven CRM. It focuses on simplicity and visual clarity; every deal and lead is visible at a glance. That makes it a great choice for teams looking to replace the complexity of HubSpot CRM with a faster and more intuitive workflow.
Small businesses often don’t need enterprise-scale CRMs. What they need is clarity, with a single point of reference where every customer interaction is logged, every lead is tracked, and every opportunity is easily followed up on. Platforms like Zoho CRM, Freshsales, EngageBay, and Pipedrive deliver that focus while keeping costs low and maintaining a high user experience.
And for businesses looking to unify communication even further, the TextApp offers an AI-first workspace that connects chat, email, and ticketing in one place. It’s designed for small teams that want to provide fast, personalized customer service without juggling multiple systems. By combining automation and live support, TextApp helps small businesses deliver big-brand experiences, without the big-brand budget.
Top 16 HubSpot alternatives for 2026
If you’re comparing platforms side by side, this table highlights the top HubSpot alternatives based on functionality, best use case, and starting price. These platforms combine powerful contact management, sales and marketing automation, and the ability to organize customer data in one place, helping teams simplify workflows and strengthen customer engagement across every channel.
From unified AI-powered tools like Text App to budget-friendly CRM software such as Zoho CRM and Pipedrive, these options offer flexible ways to manage customer interactions, track sales pipelines, and improve customer satisfaction without breaking your budget.
Most of these alternatives include essential marketing features, such as email marketing automation, customizable email templates, and landing pages for lead generation. They also serve as customer support platforms, providing you with the tools to manage customer inquiries, automate follow-ups, and measure success through integrated reporting and analytics dashboards.
Whether you’re looking for a CRM tool with strong sales pipeline management, a free plan to get started, or advanced customer support capabilities, these solutions deliver all the features you need to align your marketing and sales teams, efficiently and affordably.
| Tool | Best for | Starting price |
|---|---|---|
| Text App | Unified customer communication, AI chat, helpdesk, and automation | Free trial |
| Zoho CRM | Small businesses and startups | Free (up to 3 users) |
| Freshsales | Sales automation and lead management | $15/user/month |
| EngageBay | All-in-one marketing, CRM, and customer support | Free plan available |
| ActiveCampaign | Marketing automation and CRM integration | $49/month |
| Pipedrive | Visual sales pipeline and simplicity | $14/user/month |
| Brevo (Sendinblue) | Affordable email marketing and automation | $39/month |
| GetResponse | Funnels, email automation, and webinars | $19/month |
| Mailchimp | Easy-to-use email marketing for small teams | Free plan |
| Salesforce | Enterprise-grade CRM and customization | $25/user/month |
| Microsoft Dynamics 365 | Integrated CRM and ERP for enterprises | Custom pricing |
| Drip | Ecommerce automation and personalized workflows | $39/month |
| Ontraport | Advanced marketing automation for scaling teams | $29/month |
| Constant Contact | Simple email marketing for SMBs | $12/month |
| Adobe Marketo Engage | Enterprise-level marketing automation | Custom pricing |
| Insightly | CRM with project management capabilities | $29/user/month |
Each of these platforms brings something unique to the table, whether it’s affordability, AI-powered assistance, or scalability.
However, for teams that want to centralize communication, automate customer engagement, and support users in real-time, Text App offers the most balanced and forward-looking approach.
Email marketing automation
Email marketing remains one of the most effective ways to engage customers and drive conversions, and you don’t need HubSpot’s premium plan to do it well.
Several alternatives now combine advanced automation, analytics, and design tools at a fraction of the cost.
Here are some standout options:
- ActiveCampaign – A powerful all-in-one platform that blends CRM and marketing automation. You can create behavior-based email sequences, automate follow-ups, and segment customers with precision. It’s perfect for businesses that want deep automation without the enterprise price tag.
- Mailchimp – Known for its simplicity, Mailchimp is ideal for small teams or those new to email marketing. It offers drag-and-drop templates, detailed reporting, and basic automation workflows. The free plan serves as a straightforward starting point for businesses seeking to expand their audience.
- Brevo (formerly Sendinblue) – Designed for budget-conscious teams, Brevo starts at around $39/month and offers unlimited contact storage. Its standout feature is built-in AI email writing and design tools, making marketing campaign creation faster and smarter.
- Omnisend – Tailored for ecommerce, Omnisend includes pre-built automation workflows, such as cart recovery and product recommendations. Its integration with platforms like Shopify and WooCommerce makes it a great fit for online stores.
- GetResponse – This all-in-one platform goes beyond email with landing pages, conversion funnels, and webinar tools. It’s an excellent option for marketing teams that want to manage multiple channels without having to switch between tools.
These tools help automate customer journeys, nurture leads, and measure performance in real-time. They enable the creation of complex workflows, ranging from welcome sequences to re-engagement campaigns, without requiring a developer or an expensive marketing suite.
For teams that want to integrate automation and customer engagement, the Text App can complement these tools or even replace them entirely.
Our built-in AI chat automation enables you to respond to leads instantly, personalize communication, and track interactions across multiple channels. That means you can follow up on emails through live chat, capture feedback, and convert more leads, all from one unified platform.
Sales management automation
When your business depends on consistent lead flow and deal visibility, the right sales management software can make all the difference. HubSpot’s Sales Hub offers great features, but its cost often grows faster than your team can handle.
Fortunately, several modern alternatives combine sales pipeline tracking, automation, and analytics without the heavy price tag or complexity.
Pipedrive is one of the most straightforward tools for managing deals. Its drag-and-drop interface provides teams with a clear view of every opportunity, making it easy to track progress and focus on the next steps. It’s built specifically for sales teams that value clarity and simplicity over endless customization.
Freshsales adds a layer of intelligence to the process. With built-in AI insights, automated lead scoring, and integrated calling, it helps teams prioritize high-value prospects and shorten sales cycles. The platform’s visual sales pipelines and simple setup make it a strong alternative for growing sales teams that need quick wins.
For larger companies, Salesforce remains a leader due to its scalability and deep customization capabilities. It’s especially powerful for businesses with complex sales processes, offering extensive integrations, forecasting, and analytics tools. However, it’s often more than small or mid-sized teams need, and can feel like overkill if you’re simply managing a straightforward sales pipeline.
ActiveCampaign continues to blur the line between marketing and sales automation. It enables you to automate follow-ups, track customer behavior, and progress deals through stages automatically based on engagement data. The tight integration between CRM software and marketing enables teams to stay proactive instead of reactive.
Each of these platforms brings something different to the table, but the key advantage lies in how they streamline your daily workflow. Whether it’s automating repetitive tasks, tracking every deal in real-time, or syncing emails and calls automatically, modern sales software eliminates manual effort, allowing your team to focus on selling.
For teams that want to centralize customer communication, automate engagement, and support users in real time, Text App offers a balanced, communication-first approach. It provides your team with full visibility across live chats, tickets, and CRM data, enabling sales reps to pick up conversations where marketing or support left off. With automation that learns from every interaction, TextApp ensures your leads get timely, personalized responses while your team focuses on closing deals, not chasing updates.
Marketing automation tools
Marketing automation is where HubSpot built its reputation, but it’s also where the costs add up fastest. The good news is that there are plenty of alternatives in 2026 that offer the same (and sometimes smarter) automation features for a fraction of the price.
These platforms help businesses nurture leads, deliver personalized marketing campaigns, and analyze performance without locking you into complex tiers or add-ons.
Here are some of the best HubSpot alternatives for marketing automation:
- ActiveCampaign – One of the most balanced tools on the market, combining email marketing automation, CRM functionality, and AI-driven workflows. You can automate customer journeys based on behavior, engagement, and purchase history, all through an intuitive visual builder.
- EngageBay – A true all-in-one platform that merges CRM, marketing, and support. EngageBay’s automation tools cover everything from drip campaigns to lead scoring and social posting, making it perfect for small and mid-sized teams that want everything in one place.
- GetResponse – Ideal for marketing teams that want to manage the entire funnel, not just emails. It offers automation for landing pages, conversion funnels, and webinars, enabling you to turn leads into loyal customers without needing to juggle multiple tools.
- Brevo (Sendinblue) – Designed for affordability and scale, Brevo lets you pay based on email volume rather than contact size. Its automation features include dynamic content, transactional emails, and multi-channel messaging, all wrapped in a clean, accessible interface.
- Zoho CRM – While best known for its CRM, Zoho includes strong automation and analytics features. Businesses can create workflows that automatically update records, send follow-ups, and assign tasks across sales and marketing teams, without requiring any code changes.
- Adobe Marketo Engage – Best suited for enterprises, Marketo brings deep personalization and lead management across multiple channels. It’s a powerful option for businesses managing large customer databases and complex buyer journeys.
These platforms give marketers control, visibility, and flexibility, three things HubSpot often locks behind premium plans. Each one automates repetitive tasks, such as nurturing leads or segmenting audiences, allowing your team to focus on creativity and strategy instead of constant manual setup.
Beyond CRM: The rise of unified platforms
The Text App leads a new wave of all-in-one platforms that bridge the gap between marketing, sales, and customer support. Instead of juggling multiple tools, it provides teams with a single AI-powered workspace where every customer interaction, from live chat to email follow-ups, is seamlessly connected.
Our AI agents handle common inquiries automatically, while your human team focuses on complex or high-value conversations. The result is faster responses, fewer manual tasks, and a consistent customer experience across every channel.
Businesses can track the entire journey, from the initial interaction on a website chat to post-sale support, all within a single interface. This unified design not only saves time and training costs but also keeps your team aligned around shared customer data and goals.
What makes Text especially appealing is its scalability. Whether you’re a small team managing hundreds of conversations a week or an enterprise serving thousands daily, AI agents help handle increased volume during peak demand while routing complex or sensitive cases to human agents.
In today’s fast-moving digital environment, customers expect instant answers and personalized service, not delayed responses or disconnected experiences. Unified platforms like Text App, along with others such as EngageBay and Freshsales, are redefining what modern business communication looks like: fast, intelligent, and deeply integrated.
For growing companies, this shift means fewer apps, smarter automation, and a more cohesive experience for both customers and teams. And while traditional CRMs focus on customer data management, unified platforms like Text turn every interaction into an opportunity to build relationships, convert leads, and strengthen loyalty, all from one place.
Finding the right HubSpot CRM alternative
The best HubSpot alternative isn’t about replacing every feature; it’s about finding a tool that better suits your business needs. Some teams need deeper automation, others want simpler pricing, and many just want a CRM that doesn’t require constant add-ons.
If you’re a small business or startup, Zoho CRM, EngageBay, or Pipedrive deliver excellent value without the complexity. For companies with advanced marketing needs, ActiveCampaign, Brevo, and GetResponse offer sophisticated automation at an accessible price. And for enterprises that rely on customization and integrations, Salesforce and Adobe Marketo Engage remain strong contenders.
However, if your goal is to connect everything, including chat, email, tickets, and automation, into one seamless experience, the Text App stands out. Text App covers core CRM-style communication needs while focusing on real-time conversations and AI-assisted support.
It’s not just an alternative to HubSpot; it’s a next-generation platform built for how businesses communicate in 2026.
Start your free trial today and see how the Text App helps you turn customer conversations into lasting relationships.
FAQ
Is HubSpot still worth it in 2026?
Yes, for teams that can afford its higher-tier plans. However, many small and mid-sized businesses can find similar functionality for far less with tools like Zoho CRM, Freshsales, or EngageBay.
Which HubSpot alternative is best for startups?
Text App and EngageBay stand out for their affordability and all-in-one simplicity, allowing startups to combine chat, CRM, and automation in one place.
What are some affordable CRM alternatives to HubSpot?
Brevo and Zoho CRM both have free tiers, while Freshsales and Pipedrive start under $15/user/month.
Which alternative fits enterprise teams best?
Salesforce, Adobe Marketo Engage, and Microsoft Dynamics 365 lead for customization, analytics, and integrations.
What’s the best HubSpot alternative overall?
The Text App earns that spot for many teams. It replaces multiple communication tools, bringing chat, tickets, and automation into one unified platform.
How does the Text App compare to HubSpot?
Text focuses on AI-first automation, live chat, and unified communication, combining CRM-style communication needs with 24/7 virtual agents and ticketing, a simpler, more predictable approach than HubSpot’s modular pricing.
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