HubSpot CRM Review 2026: Is the Free CRM Really Free?
Our honest review of HubSpot CRM. We test the free tier, evaluate pricing for paid hubs, and compare it to Salesforce, Pipedrive, and other CRM alternatives.
HubSpot has built its empire on a simple promise: a powerful CRM that's free forever. But as your business grows, is HubSpot still the right choice — or does the pricing become a trap?
We used HubSpot CRM across a 15-person sales team for 3 months. Here's what we found.
TL;DR — Our Verdict
Rating: 4.5/5 — HubSpot's free CRM is genuinely the best free CRM available. The onboarding experience is excellent, and the all-in-one platform (marketing, sales, service) is compelling. However, the paid tier pricing is aggressive — the jump from Starter ($20/mo) to Professional ($890/mo) can catch growing businesses off guard.
| Category | Score | |----------|-------| | Free CRM Quality | 5/5 | | Ease of Use | 4.8/5 | | Features | 4.5/5 | | Pricing Value | 3.5/5 | | Customer Support | 4.5/5 |
Pricing Breakdown (2026)
HubSpot uses a "hub" model — each functional area is priced separately:
| Hub | Starter | Professional | Enterprise | |-----|---------|-------------|------------| | CRM (core) | Free | Free | Free | | Marketing | $20/mo | $890/mo | $3,600/mo | | Sales | $20/mo | $500/mo | $1,200/mo | | Service | $20/mo | $500/mo | $1,200/mo | | CMS | $25/mo | $400/mo | $1,200/mo |
Bundled pricing: The CRM Suite bundles all hubs starting at $20/mo (Starter) and $1,600/mo (Professional).
The Free CRM: Genuinely Impressive
HubSpot's free CRM includes:
- Contact management for up to 1,000,000 contacts
- Deal pipeline with drag-and-drop stages
- Email tracking and notifications
- Meeting scheduling link
- Live chat widget
- Basic reporting dashboard
This isn't a stripped-down trial — it's a genuinely functional CRM that many small businesses can use indefinitely. We managed our entire pipeline with 5 sales reps on the free plan.
What We Loved
All-in-One Platform
Having marketing, sales, and service in one platform eliminates data silos. Lead attribution from blog visit → email open → demo request → closed deal is automatic. This insight alone makes HubSpot compelling.
Onboarding & Education
HubSpot Academy is the best learning resource in the CRM space. Free certifications in inbound marketing, sales, and CRM administration help teams get productive faster.
Email Marketing
HubSpot's email builder (included in Marketing Hub Starter at $20/mo) is polished, with good templates and basic automation. For teams that need both CRM and email marketing, it eliminates the need for a separate tool like Mailchimp.
What Could Be Better
The Price Jump Problem
This is HubSpot's biggest weakness. The Starter plan at $20/month is affordable. But the moment you need features like A/B testing, lead scoring, or custom reporting, you're looking at Professional at $890/month. That's a 44x price increase with no middle ground.
Hub Fragmentation
To get full CRM, marketing, and sales functionality, you often need multiple hub subscriptions. A Marketing Pro + Sales Pro setup costs $1,390/month — comparable to Salesforce Enterprise.
Contract Inflexibility
Professional and Enterprise plans require annual commits with limited cancellation options. This is a significant financial risk for growing businesses uncertain about their long-term needs.
Who Should Use HubSpot?
Best for:
- Small businesses starting with CRM (free tier)
- Inbound marketing-focused teams
- Companies that want one platform for marketing + sales + service
- Teams that value onboarding and education resources
Not ideal for:
- Companies that need mid-tier pricing options
- Businesses with highly custom CRM requirements (Salesforce is more flexible)
- Budget-sensitive teams needing Professional-level features
The Bottom Line
HubSpot CRM delivers the best free CRM experience on the market, period. It's the obvious starting point for any small business that doesn't yet have a CRM. The challenge comes when you grow — HubSpot's pricing model rewards commitment to their ecosystem but penalizes businesses that need just one or two advanced features. Plan your growth carefully, and you'll find HubSpot to be a powerful, unified platform.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is HubSpot CRM really free?
Yes, HubSpot's core CRM is free with no time limit. You get contact management, deal tracking, email tracking, and meeting scheduling for unlimited users. However, advanced features like automation and custom reporting require paid Marketing, Sales, or Service Hubs ($20-$3,600/month).
Is HubSpot worth it for small businesses?
The free CRM is excellent for small businesses just starting with CRM. However, be cautious with paid hub upgrades — the jump from Starter ($20/mo) to Professional ($890/mo) is steep. Make sure you actually need Professional features before upgrading.
How does HubSpot compare to Salesforce?
HubSpot is easier to use and has a better free tier. Salesforce is more customizable and powerful for enterprise needs. HubSpot wins on usability and onboarding; Salesforce wins on flexibility and scale.
Can HubSpot replace my email marketing platform?
Yes, HubSpot's Marketing Hub includes email marketing with templates, automation, and analytics. The Starter plan ($20/mo) includes 1,000 contacts, while the Professional plan ($890/mo) adds advanced features like A/B testing and attribution.
What are HubSpot's main drawbacks?
Three key issues: (1) Dramatic price jumps between tiers ($20 to $890), (2) requiring multiple hub subscriptions for full functionality, and (3) inflexible annual contracts on Professional+ plans.