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HubSpot vs Salesforce pricing
HubSpot and Salesforce are the two best-known CRMs, and their entry tiers are priced very close together. This page puts their cheapest paid tiers, free plans and AI terms side by side, using the figures from StackScope's CRM report, last verified October 2026.
HubSpot's Sales Hub Starter is cheaper than Salesforce's Starter Suite at every seat count measured: $20 vs. $25 for 1 user, $100 vs. $125 for 5 users, and $400 vs. $500 for 20 users. Both have a genuinely ongoing free plan for 2 users, but they differ on AI: Salesforce bundles assistive AI (Employee Agent) at no extra charge, while HubSpot's Starter includes 500 AI credits and charges $0.010 per additional credit. HubSpot is also running a limited-time new-customer promotion, but the standard rate is the one to budget around.
| Tool | Free plan | 1 user | 5 users | 20 users | Aggregated sentiment |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| HubSpot | 2 users, 1,000 contacts+ up to 1,000,000 records on other standard objects — genuinely ongoing, not a trial. Missing: advanced automation/workflows | $20/moSales Hub Starter · standard rate, same whether billed annually or monthly. A $7/mo promotional rate for new customers is currently active (limited-time) — not the standing price | $100/moSales Hub Starter · standard rate ($35/mo under the currently active new-customer promotion) | $400/moSales Hub Starter · standard rate ($140/mo under the currently active new-customer promotion) | Catch: costs climb once you need advanced automation, reporting, or customization — those sit above Starter, gated to Professional/Enterprise. Praised for ease of use and an intuitive interface. Starter includes 500 AI credits; more run $0.010 each, or $9 per 1,000 billed annually — heavier AI use (Prospecting Agent, Data Agent) burns through the included allotment fast. |
| Salesforce | 2 usersOngoing Free Suite, not a trial — access requires logging in at least once every 60 days. Contact/record cap: sources disagree — vendor material cites a 2,000 lead/contact allocation for the Free Suite Marketing app elsewhere, but the current public docs don't expose one consistent number for the core CRM. Treat as unconfirmed. Missing: Standard Support (Free users get Agentforce Help instead) | $25/moStarter Suite · same price whether billed annually or monthly, per Salesforce's own pricing page | $125/moStarter Suite · same for annual/monthly | $500/moStarter Suite · same for annual/monthly | Catch: real complexity and a learning curve, with cost escalating as you add customization and premium capabilities. Praised for powerful automation, centralized data, and deep customization. Starter includes assistive AI (Employee Agent) at no extra charge; Agentforce consumption can be purchased separately — $500 per 100,000 Flex Credits, $2 per conversation, or a $5/user/month Agentforce User License — separate from Starter itself. |
Figures are aggregated from vendor pricing pages and independent third-party pricing research as of October 2026 and reflect published list prices. This page shows two of the four tools in the full CRM Software report, which carries the complete footnotes and every source conflict we flagged. Confirm current pricing directly with each vendor before purchasing. This is not a recommendation to buy any specific product.
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FAQ
Common questions
Is HubSpot cheaper than Salesforce?
On the cheapest paid tier of each, yes. HubSpot Sales Hub Starter costs $20/month for 1 user, $100/month for 5 users and $400/month for 20 users. Salesforce Starter Suite costs $25, $125 and $500 at the same seat counts.
Do HubSpot and Salesforce both have free plans?
Yes, both are ongoing free plans rather than trials. HubSpot's free plan supports 2 users and 1,000 contacts. Salesforce's Free Suite supports 2 users, but requires logging in at least once every 60 days, and its exact contact or record cap isn't consistently documented in current public materials.
How do HubSpot and Salesforce price AI features?
HubSpot's Starter plan includes 500 AI credits, with additional credits at $0.010 each. Salesforce's Starter Suite includes assistive AI (Employee Agent) at no extra charge, with Agentforce usage purchased separately.
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Vendor pricing: HubSpot pricing · Salesforce pricing