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As an all-in-one platform, HubSpot CRM centralizes all of your marketing, gross sales, customer support, and content material administration wants with a deal with inbound strategies. The platform is taken into account to be one of many best CRM platforms in the marketplace. Over 30,000 organizations throughout 90 international locations have adopted HubSpot CRM, making it an exceedingly common alternative for firms searching for the best CRM for small businesses.
After placing the CRM by way of its paces, I’ve discovered it to be a strong and intuitive resolution for organizing contacts, monitoring offers, and gaining visibility into the gross sales course of. The interface is clear and simple to navigate, with useful options like e mail monitoring, assembly scheduling, and live chat that streamline communication with leads and prospects.
If there was one thing to say against HubSpot CRM, it’s the fact that the software can get quite expensive as you scale your business. While the free offering and generous entry-level plans offer a great starting point for new businesses, it’s easy to end up paying for things you don’t need as your business grows.
HubSpot CRMs core capabilities
HubSpot CRM delivers the important options I count on from a buyer relationship administration system. I can retailer as much as 1 million contacts and firms within the CRM free of charge as a result of some beneficiant cloud storage, with every document capturing vital particulars like contact information, web site, social media profiles, trade, income, and extra. Whenever you add a contact, HubSpot routinely populates key particulars about their firm, saving information entry time.
Segmenting contacts into lists based mostly on any standards is easy with HubSpot CRM’s highly effective filtering instruments. I can simply create dynamic lists that routinely replace as contact properties change. For instance, I arrange a listing of contacts from firms with 500+ workers who’ve visited my pricing web page within the final month.
Offers and duties hold issues organized as you handle leads by way of the sales pipeline. I can create deal levels that mirror my gross sales course of, drag and drop offers from one stage to the subsequent, and simply see the worth and amount of offers in every stage. Duties guarantee vital to-dos by no means slip by way of the cracks. I can assign duties to crew members, affiliate them with particular offers or contacts, and set due dates.
For individuals who rely strongly on inbound, HubSpot CRM’s built-in prospecting device is helpful for lead generation, figuring out potential prospects who’re participating together with your web site for the primary time. It exhibits me which firms visited my website, even when they have not crammed out a kind but, and gives key particulars about these organizations pulled from HubSpot’s database. I can evaluate prospects and add promising results in the CRM with one click on.
Reporting options give me a transparent image of my gross sales pipeline and crew efficiency. The dashboard shows my deal forecast, variety of offers created and closed, productivity metrics, and extra. I can dig into stories to see offers gained and misplaced, gross sales leaderboards, and particular person rep efficiency. Experiences are simple to filter and customise.
Electronic mail monitoring and templates assist my crew talk effectively with leads and prospects. I can see who opened an e mail, clicked a hyperlink, or downloaded an attachment, then comply with up accordingly. Templated emails save time on widespread messages. The Gmail and Outlook integrations enable me to log emails to the CRM and entry templates, monitoring, and extra with out leaving my inbox.
Reside chat is one other channel for real-time conversations with web site guests. I can configure focused messages to particular net pages or viewers segments. AI chatbots assist qualify leads and schedule conferences 24/7. All chat conversations are routinely saved within the CRM.
Lastly, the cellular app provides me entry to key CRM information and options on the go. I can search for contacts, replace offers, observe emails, and extra from my smartphone. That is invaluable when touring or strolling into a gathering.
Past the necessities, HubSpot CRM consists of some helpful instruments that improve productiveness. The e-mail integration with Gmail and Outlook is improbable – I can observe e mail opens, log despatched emails to contact data, and create new contacts straight from my inbox. The assembly scheduler makes it painless for prospects to e book time on my calendar, eliminating the standard back-and-forth. I additionally get a variety of worth from the duty reminders and automatic workflows that hold me on high of follow-ups and outreach.
Whereas the free HubSpot CRM is beneficiant with its options, upgrading to one of many paid Gross sales Hub plans unlocks much more superior capabilities like gross sales automation, predictive lead scoring, sensible notifications, customized reporting, and extra. However for a lot of small companies and gross sales groups, the free model gives the core instruments wanted to prepare buyer information and handle offers effectively in a single centralized system.
How easy is HubSpot CRM to use?
From the moment I first logged into HubSpot CRM, I found the dashboard to be clean, well-organized, and easy to understand. Whether working on contacts, deals, tasks, or reports, the layout and controls remain familiar and intuitive. The main navigation menu is clearly labeled and logically structured, making it simple to find the tools and data I need. The design consistency reduces cognitive load and allows me to move between various areas of the CRM without having to relearn the interface each time.
HubSpot CRM provides a wide range of options for tailoring the platform to my specific needs, but it does so in a way that is approachable and straightforward. I can easily add custom fields to contact and deal records, create personalized views, and build custom reports and dashboards without needing extensive technical skills. The drag-and-drop interface for building workflows and deal pipelines is particularly user-friendly, enabling me to automate processes and visualize my sales funnel with minimal effort.
When it comes to onboarding and training, HubSpot CRM offers a wealth of resources to help new users get up to speed quickly. The HubSpot Academy provides a comprehensive library of courses, certifications, and tutorials that cover every aspect of the CRM. I found the courses to be well-structured, engaging, and practical, with a mix of videos, quizzes, and hands-on exercises. The in-app guidance and tooltips are also helpful for discovering new features and understanding best practices.
It’s worth noting that HubSpot CRM’s ease of use extends beyond the core functionality. The platform’s integration with tools like Gmail, Outlook, and Google Calendar is seamless, permitting me to handle my e mail and schedule with out leaving the CRM. The cellular app can be well-designed and gives entry to all of the important options, enabling me to remain productive on the go.
Total, HubSpot CRM actually units the usual for ease of use within the CRM house. Its intuitive interface, constant design, and customization choices make it accessible to customers of all talent ranges. The excellent onboarding sources and fast time-to-proficiency make sure that groups can begin realizing worth from the platform shortly. Whereas there could also be a studying curve for among the extra superior options, HubSpot’s dedication to usability makes the journey smoother and extra pleasant than with many different CRM programs I’ve used.
HubSpot CRM integrations
HubSpot CRM offers a wide range of pre-built integrations with popular business applications, making it easy to connect your customer data with the rest of your tech stack. The HubSpot App Marketplace is a treasure trove of integrations, with over 1,000 apps across various categories like marketing, sales, customer service, and more. I was able to quickly find and set up integrations with Mailchimp, Slack, and Zendesk. Establishing these integrations was a breeze — most required only a few clicks and minimal configuration.
Whereas the pre-built integrations cowl a variety of common apps, there could also be situations the place a selected integration isn’t obtainable out-of-the-box. In such circumstances, HubSpot’s integration with Zapier is a significant lifesaver. Zapier is an automation platform that enables for connecting HubSpot CRM with over 3,000 apps. I used to be in a position to arrange a customized workflow that routinely creates a job in my project management device every time a brand new lead is added in HubSpot, all with out writing a single line of code.
For extra complicated integration wants, HubSpot gives a strong API that enables for customized integrations. API documentation is complete and consists of code examples in numerous programming languages. I additionally have not encountered any important points with API efficiency. On the uncommon event after I did want help, HubSpot’s help crew was responsive and useful in resolving the problem promptly.
Past all this, I additionally respect HubSpot’s deal with information sync efficiency. The platform makes use of a two-way sync that ensures information consistency throughout built-in apps. Modifications made in HubSpot are routinely mirrored within the linked instruments. I don’t have to fret about manually updating info in a number of locations or coping with conflicting information. Knowledge sync capabilities prolong past simply syncing contact and deal info. For instance, the platform additionally permits for syncing of promoting belongings, reminiscent of e mail templates and touchdown pages.
How good is HubSpot customer support?
When implementing a new CRM system, having access to responsive and knowledgeable customer support is crucial. During my experience with HubSpot CRM, I appreciated the variety of support channels offered here.
However, it’s worth noting that the level of support can vary depending on your subscription tier. While all users have access to the Knowledge Base and Community Forums, live support channels are limited to Professional and Enterprise tiers.
With a Professional or Enterprise subscription, I have access to phone, email, and chat support. The support representatives are friendly, knowledgeable, and always willing to go the extra mile to resolve my issues or answer my questions. The average first response time for support inquiries is impressively short, often within an hour or two for email or chat and immediate for phone support.
Beyond live support, HubSpot offers an extensive library of self-service resources. The HubSpot Academy is a standout, providing a wealth of courses, lessons, and certifications on every aspect of the CRM. I’ve found the courses to be well-structured, informative, and engaging, with practical examples and hands-on exercises. The Knowledge Base is another powerful self-service resource, offering a searchable database of articles, tutorials, and FAQs.
When these resources prove insufficient, HubSpot also maintains an active community forum where users can ask questions, share best practices, and learn from each other. This is a great place to ask questions that haven’t been covered in the other self-help resources. Personally, I’ve found the community to be welcoming, knowledgeable, and eager to help.
When it comes to overall customer satisfaction, HubSpot consistently receives high marks. The company is transparent about its customer satisfaction scores (CSAT), which typically fall between 75% and 85%. This is a strong indicator that the majority of users are happy with the support they receive.
HubSpot’s AI capabilities
Artificial intelligence is everywhere – even if you haven’t realized it yet – and many CRMs are competing to outdo each other in terms of their AI functionality. HubSpot’s AI tools include its AI-driven sales assistant and predictive lead scoring, both of which work to streamline sales processes and provide actionable insights for employees.
Although using AI can sound somewhat complicated at first, HubSpot makes ease of use a priority for its AI features. HubSpot’s AI is designed to be user-friendly and integrated into the platform, making it accessible even for those without a technical background.
HubSpot CRM: Plans and pricing
|
Plan |
Free |
Starter |
Professional |
Enterprise |
|
Price |
$0/user/month |
$15/user/month |
$90/user/month |
$150/user/month |
|
Best for |
Small businesses or startups testing the waters |
Growing businesses seeking basic marketing and sales tools |
Experienced teams needing advanced features |
Large enterprises with complex requirements |
|
Features |
Basic CRM functionality; Contact management; Email tracking |
Email marketing; Sales automation; Content management tools |
Omnichannel marketing automation; Custom reporting; Sales analytics |
Custom solutions; Advanced security features; Multi-domain reporting |
|
Limitations |
Limited automation and no advanced features. |
No workflow automation or advanced reporting. |
Significant price jump from Starter. |
an be costly for smaller organizations. |
While it may not be the cheapest option on the market, HubSpot offers a compelling blend of features, flexibility, and scalability that justifies its pricing. That said, prices can add up quickly when you’re on one of the higher-tier plans, so you’d best stick to the features you need.
Unlike many other CRM providers, HubSpot actually offers a fully functional CRM at no cost, with unlimited users and up to a million contacts. This free tier includes essential features like contact and deal management, email tracking, and live chat. It’s a great way for businesses to get started with a CRM without any investment.
Once your business has outgrown the free CRM, you can choose between a range of plans across different modules like the Sales Hub, the Service Hub, or the Marketing Hub. Each plan adds on to the capabilities of the free CRM with enhanced features unique to that module.
For example, Sales Hub Starter includes support for multiple currencies, along with eSign software program and the power to carry out easy automations. Equally, Advertising and marketing Hub Starter affords entry to dwell chat integrations and e mail advertising help. Costs often begin from $15/consumer/month for the Starter plan for every Hub, going all the best way as much as a number of thousand {dollars} monthly for enterprise prospects.
For companies trying to bundle a number of HubSpot merchandise, the Buyer Platform affords a reduced worth that packs collectively important options from the Advertising and marketing Hub, Gross sales Hub, Service Hub, CMS Hub, and Operations Hub right into a single plan. This bundle is right for enterprise companies that wish to leverage the total energy of HubSpot’s ecosystem.
For brand spanking new prospects, HubSpot affords a beneficiant 14-day trial, plus reductions and bundles that may present important financial savings. For instance, they provide a 25% low cost for startups and a 40% low cost for nonprofits.
HubSpot CRM FAQ
Is HubSpot really free? What’s the catch?
Well, there’s no catch, per se, but, as always, you should read the fine print. While the core CRM is actually free for an unlimited number oif users and up to one million contacts, the “catch” is that more advanced features, such as advanced automation, custom reporting, and predictive lead scoring, are locked behind paid plans. If you want to access moire advanced features, you may have to fork out for Sales Hub or Marketing Hub – add-ons to the core CRM, which do come with a fee. Having said that, while the functionality of the core plan may be limited compared to the paid tiers, the free version remains generous.
What is the difference between HubSpot CRM and the other HubSpot “Hubs”?
Within the HubSpot ecosystem, the CRM is the free, foundational database. The opposite “Hubs” are paid subscriptions that add specialised instruments and superior performance on high of the CRM. For instance, Advertising and marketing Hub provides e mail advertising and lead nurturing workflows, whereas Gross sales Hub provides gross sales automation and e-signatures.
What integrations does HubSpot CRM provide?
HubSpot has an unlimited App Market with over 1,000 pre-built integrations with common instruments like Gmail, Outlook, Slack, and Zendesk. For extra complicated wants, it affords an API for customized integrations and connects with automation platforms like Zapier.
What are some widespread use circumstances for HubSpot CRM?
Widespread use circumstances for HubSpot embrace managing and segmenting contacts, monitoring offers by way of the gross sales funnel, automating follow-ups, analyzing gross sales crew efficiency, and offering a centralized platform for gross sales and advertising groups to collaborate.
HubSpot CRM review: Final verdict
After thoroughly evaluating HubSpot CRM across multiple criteria, I believe that this is a solid CRM for small and medium-sized businesses, offering a robust set of features for contact management, deal monitoring, and gross sales automation.
HubSpot’s user-friendly interface and design make it simple for groups to be taught, with responsive dwell channels and complete self-service sources to iron out any hiccups throughout preliminary adoption. I additionally appreciated the quantity of flexibility provided in integrating the platform with different office productiveness instruments, with choices starting from built-in connectors to iPaaS distributors to a customized API.
Nonetheless, whereas this can be a strong platform for companies of any measurement, it’s not with out its shortcomings. For instance, the existence of help tiers makes it inconceivable to obtain dwell help as an entry-level paid subscriber. However on higher-tier plans, costs can shortly add up relying on the variety of customers, making the partnership lower than sustainable.
Nonetheless, HubSpot CRM ought to match the wants of most small-to-medium enterprises, particularly with its beneficiant free plan that provides near-unparalleled worth on the earth of CRMs. For bigger organizations, thorough price calculation is important to forestall overspending on pointless licenses or options.