HubSpot vs SharpSpring

HubSpot vs SharpSpring: The Most Affordable CRM – But Is It the Best for 2025?

Last Updated: March 20, 2025By

Businesses that need to optimize their sales marketing and customer relationship operations must make a critical decision regarding their CRM selection. Visitors to the CRM market face a critical choice between HubSpot vs SharpSpring among their many options. The platforms deliver strong marketing automation, email marketing, lead tracking, and analytics that businesses need to scale their operations. Organizations need to choose between these platforms because they want maximal cost efficiency alongside sustainable business expansion.

The widely known premium CRM HubSpot includes a full range of features but SharpSpring offers an inexpensive alternative toolset that delivers robust automation capabilities. The following discussion provides an analysis of fundamental features alongside corresponding prices to determine which system best matches specific requirements between startup agencies and expanding businesses. A comprehensive assessment of these CRMs through their email marketing features and lead scoring potential together with their automated capabilities and retargeting capabilities will be performed with a cost evaluation to identify the optimal choice for 2025.

Key Takeaways

  • HubSpot vs SharpSpring both offer powerful marketing automation, CRM, and email marketing tools.
  • HubSpot is more expensive but provides premium integrations and AI-driven features.
  • SharpSpring offers more affordable pricing with solid automation tools, making it ideal for SMBs.
  • Lead scoring, email marketing, and retargeting tools are advanced in HubSpot, while SharpSpring provides a cost-effective alternative.
  • Agencies and startups may find SharpSpring more practical, while larger businesses may prefer HubSpot’s scalability.

Marketing Automation and CRM Integration Breakdown

One of the biggest advantages of using a CRM is the ability to integrate marketing automation features seamlessly. Both HubSpot vs SharpSpring provide a suite of tools to help businesses nurture leads, track customer interactions, and personalize marketing campaigns. However, their approach to automation varies significantly.

HubSpot offers a user-friendly interface with drag-and-drop automation workflows, making it an excellent choice for beginners. SharpSpring, on the other hand, provides more customizable automation sequences, allowing advanced users to fine-tune their campaigns. The right choice depends on your team’s experience level and automation needs.

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Comparison Table: Marketing Automation Features of HubSpot vs SharpSpring

Feature HubSpot SharpSpring
Automation Workflow Drag-and-drop builder Advanced customization with branching
Lead Management AI-powered lead tracking Behavior-based lead scoring
Personalization Dynamic content & smart rules Adaptive content based on user behavior
Third-Party Integrations Extensive app marketplace Limited but includes key tools

Key Takeaways:

  • HubSpot is ideal for businesses that need a beginner-friendly CRM with AI-powered automation.
  • SharpSpring is better suited for teams that require advanced lead scoring and customization in automation.

Email Marketing, Lead Scoring, and Retargeting Comparison

Email marketing remains a crucial tool for customer engagement, and both HubSpot vs SharpSpring offer powerful solutions for automated email campaigns. While both platforms provide email tracking, A/B testing, and segmentation, their strengths lie in different areas.

HubSpot’s email marketing is deeply integrated with its CRM, allowing businesses to send highly personalized emails based on user behavior. SharpSpring, however, excels in behavioral retargeting and lead scoring, enabling businesses to rank and target prospects more effectively. This is a game-changer for companies looking to increase conversion rates.

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Comparison Table: Email Marketing & Lead Scoring of HubSpot vs SharpSpring

Feature HubSpot SharpSpring
Email Templates Pre-designed & customizable Fully customizable with dynamic content
A/B Testing Built-in Built-in
Lead Scoring AI-powered tracking Behavior-based lead ranking
Retargeting Facebook, Google Ads integration Web behavior-based retargeting

Key Takeaways:

  • HubSpot is best for personalized email automation and CRM integration.
  • SharpSpring offers more precise lead scoring and behavioral-based retargeting.

Cost Analysis: Which Tool Gives More Value for Money?

SharpSpring pricing

One of the biggest concerns for businesses when choosing between HubSpot vs SharpSpring is the overall cost. While both CRMs claim to be affordable, they follow different pricing models that can affect long-term value.

HubSpot has a freemium model, making it an attractive choice for startups that want to get started with basic features. However, its paid plans can become expensive as businesses scale. SharpSpring, on the other hand, offers flat-rate pricing that includes all features, making it more predictable for growing businesses.

Comparison Table: Pricing & Value of HubSpot vs SharpSpring

Plan Type HubSpot SharpSpring
Free Plan Yes (Limited Features) No
Starting Price $50/month $449/month (Full Suite)
Scalability Costs Increases with add-ons Flat-rate pricing
Best for Small businesses/startups Agencies & mid-sized businesses

Key Takeaways:

  • HubSpot is cheaper for small businesses but gets expensive with add-ons.
  • SharpSpring has predictable flat-rate pricing, making it better for long-term cost management.

Best Suited for Agencies, Startups, and Growing Businesses

Both HubSpot vs SharpSpring cater to different types of businesses, depending on their priorities. While HubSpot is known for its scalability and ease of use, SharpSpring is designed with marketing agencies and mid-sized businesses in mind.

Startups and small businesses will benefit from HubSpot’s free plan and user-friendly interface, making it a great entry-level CRM. However, agencies that manage multiple clients may find SharpSpring’s all-inclusive pricing and multi-client support more practical.

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Comparison Table: Best Fit for Business Types of HubSpot vs SharpSpring

Business Type HubSpot SharpSpring
Startups ✔️ Great for beginners ❌ Higher starting price
Marketing Agencies ❌ Add-ons increase costs ✔️ Includes multi-client support
Mid-Sized Companies ✔️ Scalable, but pricey ✔️ Flat-rate pricing is budget-friendly
Large Enterprises ✔️ Enterprise plan available ❌ Limited enterprise support

Key Takeaways:

  • HubSpot is better for startups and small businesses due to its free plan and scalability.
  • SharpSpring is ideal for agencies and mid-sized businesses looking for an all-in-one, cost-effective solution.

User Interface and Ease of Use

A CRM’s usability determines how quickly teams can adopt and maximize its potential. HubSpot is known for its intuitive, beginner-friendly dashboard with drag-and-drop automation. SharpSpring, however, offers more customization but comes with a steeper learning curve.

Comparison Table: User Interface & Usability

Feature HubSpot SharpSpring
Ease of Use Very intuitive, great for beginners More complex, better for experienced users
Onboarding Support Extensive tutorials & guides Personalized training available
Customization Limited without enterprise upgrade Highly flexible with full suite

Key Takeaways:

  • HubSpot is best for ease of use, making it ideal for beginners.
  • SharpSpring offers deeper customization but requires more training.

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Customer Support and Community

sharpspring Customer Support

Good customer support ensures businesses can resolve CRM-related issues quickly. HubSpot provides 24/7 customer support via chat, email, and phone—but only for paid users. SharpSpring offers personalized support but has fewer resources compared to HubSpot’s vast community.

Comparison Table: Customer Support & Community

Feature HubSpot SharpSpring
Customer Support 24/7 chat, email, and phone (paid users) Dedicated account manager for agencies
Knowledge Base Extensive documentation & videos More limited knowledge base
Community & Forums Large user community & HubSpot Academy Smaller community, but agency-focused

Key Takeaways:

  • HubSpot has extensive self-service resources & community support.
  • SharpSpring provides more personalized agency support.

Reporting and Analytics

CRM analytics help businesses track performance and optimize campaigns. HubSpot offers custom dashboards with AI-driven insights, while SharpSpring provides detailed behavior-based reporting tailored for marketers.

Comparison Table: Reporting & Analytics

Feature HubSpot SharpSpring
Custom Reports Available on paid plans Available on all plans
Lead Behavior Tracking Limited unless upgraded Advanced behavioral tracking
AI-Powered Insights Yes, but premium feature No AI insights, but deep manual tracking

Key Takeaways:

  • HubSpot offers AI-driven reports, but requires upgrades.
  • SharpSpring excels in behavioral tracking for lead nurturing.

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Sales Pipeline and CRM Features

Sales teams need robust pipeline management tools. HubSpot’s Sales Hub includes automated deal tracking and forecasting, while SharpSpring provides sales automation with built-in CRM features.

Comparison Table: Sales Pipeline & CRM

Feature HubSpot SharpSpring
Pipeline Management Visual sales pipeline Advanced multi-step sales workflows
Deal Tracking Automated notifications & forecasting Manual tracking, requires customization
CRM Features Best for marketing-sales alignment Best for lead nurturing & conversion

Key Takeaways:

  • HubSpot is better for sales automation & forecasting.
  • SharpSpring focuses more on lead nurturing & multi-step sales processes.

Conclusion

When it comes to HubSpot vs SharpSpring, both platforms offer powerful CRM and marketing automation solutions, but their strengths cater to different business needs. HubSpot excels in user experience, scalability, and an extensive ecosystem of integrations, making it ideal for startups, growing businesses, and enterprises looking for a long-term CRM solution. On the other hand, SharpSpring provides a cost-effective, agency-focused approach with advanced lead nurturing tools, behavioral tracking, and customizable workflows, making it a strong contender for businesses that prioritize flexibility and affordability.

Choosing between HubSpot vs SharpSpring depends on your budget, business goals, and required features. If you want an easy-to-use, all-in-one CRM with premium features, HubSpot is the best choice. If you’re an agency or a business focused on lead conversion and cost efficiency, SharpSpring might be the better option. Carefully consider your marketing automation, sales pipeline, and reporting needs before making the final decision.

FAQs

1. Which is more affordable, HubSpot vs SharpSpring?

SharpSpring is generally more cost-effective than HubSpot, especially for agencies and mid-sized businesses. However, HubSpot’s free CRM and scalable pricing can be beneficial for startups and enterprises.

2. Does HubSpot vs SharpSpring have better email marketing tools?

Both offer email automation, but HubSpot has a more intuitive drag-and-drop editor with built-in AI, while SharpSpring provides greater customization and behavioral-based email automation.

3. Which CRM is best for agencies?

SharpSpring is designed specifically for agencies, offering flexible pricing, white-labeling, and detailed lead tracking features that help manage multiple clients.

4. Can I integrate HubSpot vs SharpSpring with other marketing tools?

Yes, both platforms support integrations. HubSpot has a larger app marketplace, while SharpSpring integrates well with third-party tools like Salesforce, Google Ads, and social media platforms.

5. Is HubSpot vs SharpSpring better for sales pipeline management?

HubSpot is more streamlined for sales automation, providing deal forecasting and AI-driven insights. SharpSpring, however, has a customizable multi-step workflow that suits complex sales processes.

6. Which CRM offers better analytics and reporting?

Both platforms offer detailed reporting, but HubSpot provides AI-driven insights and custom dashboards, while SharpSpring focuses on lead behavior tracking and marketing analytics.

7. What is the best CRM for scalability?

If you’re looking for a long-term, scalable CRM, HubSpot is the better choice with enterprise-grade features and AI-powered automation. SharpSpring is great for small to mid-sized businesses but may not scale as effectively.

Still unsure about which CRM is right for your business? Whether you need HubSpot’s scalability or SharpSpring’s affordability, the right choice depends on your unique business goals. Get expert guidance and make the most of your CRM investment by visiting Show Me Digital Marketing. Our team can help you optimize your CRM strategy and choose the best platform for 2025 success!

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