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HubSpot vs Salesforce vs Mailchimp vs Klaviyo: which should you pick?

A side-by-side look at price, features, quality and value across the leading marketing options — so you can choose the right one in minutes.

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The verdict
Editor's pick
HubSpot

Strong free CRM

Best value
HubSpot

Free / $20 / $890 / $3,600 — lowest sticker price in this comparison.

Best for power users
Salesforce

Pricey at scale

Feature & price comparison
Feature
HubSpotfeatured
Marketing
Salesforce
Alternative
Mailchimp
Alternative
Klaviyo
Alternative
CRM
Strong free CRM
Industry-leading
No
No
Email
Built-in unified
Marketing Cloud
Free / $13+
Free / $45+
Pricing
Free / $20 / $890 / $3,600
$25-$300+/seat
Free / $13 / $20
Free / $45 → scales
Audience
SMB to mid-market
Enterprise
Newsletters + SMB
Ecom scaling
Best for
All-in-one
Enterprise CRM
Small lists
DTC ecom
Why shoppers pick HubSpot
  • Strong free CRM
  • Unified marketing+sales
  • Education + docs
When to consider an alternative
  • Pricey at scale
  • Add-on stacking
The short answer

HubSpot is a marketing option built for marketing + sales starting at Free / $20 / $890 / $3,600. Shoppers pick it for strong free crm, but it's worth comparing against Salesforce, Mailchimp, Klaviyo if pricey at scale.

Which one should you pick?
Pick if…
HubSpot

Strong free CRM. Pricing: Free / $20 / $890 / $3,600.

Pick if…
Salesforce

Best when you need enterprise. Pricing: $25-$300+/seat.

Pick if…
Mailchimp

Best when you need newsletters + smb. Pricing: Free / $13 / $20.

Pick if…
Klaviyo

Best when you need ecom scaling. Pricing: Free / $45 → scales.

How to choose
Match the tool to your scale

HubSpot is positioned for smb-mid market. If your team or volume is materially larger or smaller, one of Salesforce / Mailchimp / Klaviyo may be cheaper or more capable.

Use the free tier to validate

At least one option in this comparison has a free tier — run a 1–2 week pilot before paying. Confirm the must-have feature actually works on free, not just trial.

Compare total cost, not sticker price

Look past the headline price: add seats, add-ons, integration fees and transaction fees. The cheapest option rarely stays cheapest at scale.

Stress-test the weakness

Known trade-off with HubSpot: Pricey at scale. Confirm it isn't a deal-breaker for your specific use case before signing.

What to watch out for
  • Pricey at scale
    Confirm this isn't a deal-breaker for your team before signing — it's the most common reason shoppers switch from HubSpot to Salesforce.
  • Add-on stacking
    Confirm this isn't a deal-breaker for your team before signing — it's the most common reason shoppers switch from HubSpot to Salesforce.
Frequently asked
Is HubSpot worth it in 2026?

For smb-mid market, yes — Strong free CRM. For very different use cases, compare against Salesforce, Mailchimp, Klaviyo.

How much does HubSpot cost?

HubSpot pricing is Free / $20 / $890 / $3,600. Competitors in this comparison range from $25-$300+/seat / Free / $13 / $20 / Free / $45 → scales.

What's the biggest downside of HubSpot?

Pricey at scale. Most teams work around it, but verify it isn't a deal-breaker for you first.

HubSpot vs Salesforce — which should I pick?

Pick HubSpot if you want strong free crm. Pick Salesforce if you need a broader / cheaper / more established alternative — see the comparison table above for the side-by-side.

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See current pricing and plans on their site.

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