CRM · head to head
HubSpot vs Really Simple Systems
The short version
- Only HubSpot has a free tier, so it costs nothing to try first.
- Each has a real cost: HubSpot free tier limited to 2 users and 1,000 contacts; severely restricts growing teams; Really Simple Systems the vendor's own pricing page as captured by the Internet Archive on 22 October 2019 listed four CRM tiers billed annually: Free at $0 for up to 2 users, Starter at $14 per user per month, Professional at $30 per user per month, and Enterprise at $46 per user per month (each roughly 7 to 10 percent higher if billed monthly); the Marketing add-on was $22 per month for up to 5,000 emails and Advanced Marketing scaled to 50,000 emails per month, though this capture is over five years old
- They diverge on capability: HubSpot covers CRM, Really Simple Systems covers Contact management.
- Prices and features above were last checked on 30 August 2026.
Where they differ
Only the attributes on which HubSpot and Really Simple Systems actually diverge.
| Attribute | HubSpot | Really Simple Systems |
|---|---|---|
| Starting price | Free | $15/month |
| Free tier | Yes | No |
| Platforms | Web, Mobile, Cloud | Web |
| Founded | 2006 | 2009 |
Identical on both: pricing model (subscription), user rating (Not yet rated), category (CRM).
What each one covers
Drawn from each product's published feature list. An absence here means we hold no record of it - not that the product lacks it.
Only in HubSpot
- CRM
- Email marketing
- Marketing automation
- Customer service
- Content management
- Analytics
- Social media
- Gmail
Only in Really Simple Systems
- Contact management
- Task management
- Email integration
- Reporting
- Zapier
- Google Workspace
- Cloud deployment
- Web support
Both cover
- Sales pipeline
- GDPR
What people use each for
The jobs each tool is most often brought in to do.
HubSpot
- Marketing automation with email sending and lead generationnot Really Simple Systems
- CRM with deal pipeline managementnot Really Simple Systems
- Multi-user team collaborationnot Really Simple Systems
Really Simple Systems
- Sales managementnot HubSpot
- Contact trackingnot HubSpot
Where each one falls short
Documented limitations, not opinions. Every one is a constraint you would hit in normal use.
HubSpot
- Free tier limited to 2 users and 1,000 contacts; severely restricts growing teams
- Many advanced features (automation workflows, custom objects, advanced reporting) gated to paid tiers
- Starter plan at $7/month per seat scales quickly for larger teams (300+ users would cost significantly more)
- Free tier removes credit card requirement but lacks most enterprise capabilities
Really Simple Systems
- The vendor's own pricing page as captured by the Internet Archive on 22 October 2019 listed four CRM tiers billed annually: Free at $0 for up to 2 users, Starter at $14 per user per month, Professional at $30 per user per month, and Enterprise at $46 per user per month (each roughly 7 to 10 percent higher if billed monthly); the Marketing add-on was $22 per month for up to 5,000 emails and Advanced Marketing scaled to 50,000 emails per month, though this capture is over five years old
Pricing, plan by plan
HubSpot
Free- FreeFree
- Up to 2 users
- Lead generation
- Email sending
- Starter$7/month
- 500 HubSpot Credits
- 1,000 marketing contacts
- 5x contact tier limit email sends
- Professional$800/month
- 3 core seats included
- 3,000 HubSpot Credits
- 2,000 marketing contacts
- Enterprise$3600/month
- 5 core seats included
- 5,000 HubSpot Credits
- 10,000 marketing contacts
Really Simple Systems
$15/month- Essential$15/month
- Contact management
- Task tracking
- Professional$25/month
- Everything in Essential
- Sales pipeline
- Reporting
- Professional Plus$35/month
- Everything in Professional
- Advanced customization
Which should you pick?
Choose HubSpot if
- You need crm.
- You want to start without paying.
- You work on Web, Mobile, Cloud.
- You also want email marketing.
Choose Really Simple Systems if
- You need contact management.
- You also want task management.
Questions people ask
- Is HubSpot or Really Simple Systems better?
- Neither clearly leads. HubSpot starts at Free and Really Simple Systems at $15/month, and user ratings are close enough to be indistinguishable. Choose on capability and platform support.
- Which is cheaper, HubSpot or Really Simple Systems?
- HubSpot has a free tier; the other does not. Paid plans start at Free for HubSpot and $15/month for Really Simple Systems.
- Does HubSpot or Really Simple Systems run on more platforms?
- HubSpot runs on Web, Mobile, Cloud. Really Simple Systems runs on Web.
- Can I use HubSpot for free?
- Yes. HubSpot has a free tier, so you can try it without paying. Really Simple Systems starts at $15/month.
- What is HubSpot best used for?
- HubSpot is most often used for marketing automation with email sending and lead generation, crm with deal pipeline management, multi-user team collaboration. Of those, marketing automation with email sending and lead generation and crm with deal pipeline management are not what Really Simple Systems is typically brought in for.
- What can HubSpot do that Really Simple Systems cannot?
- HubSpot covers CRM, Email marketing, Marketing automation, Customer service. Really Simple Systems covers Contact management, Task management, Email integration, Reporting. Both handle Sales pipeline, GDPR.
Answered from the vendors’ own pages
HubSpot: How much does HubSpot Marketing Hub cost per user?
Free plan at $0/month for up to 2 users. Starter at $7/month per seat (annual), Professional at $800/month for 3 core seats with $45/month per additional seat, Enterprise at $3,600/month for 5 core seats with $75/month per additional seat.
SourceHubSpot: What are the onboarding costs for HubSpot Professional and Enterprise plans?
Professional plan requires a one-time onboarding fee of $3,000. Enterprise plan requires a one-time onboarding fee of $7,000.
SourceHubSpot: Is there a free plan for HubSpot Marketing Hub?
Yes, the free plan includes up to 2 users with lead generation, email sending, and success measurement capabilities at no cost with no credit card required.
SourceHubSpot: What is the cost of additional HubSpot Credits and marketing contacts?
HubSpot Credits cost $9 per 1,000 credits when purchased annually. Additional marketing contacts beyond plan limits can be purchased separately.
SourceRelated pages
More on Really Simple Systems
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