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Software · head to head

HubSpot vs Slack

HubSpot logo

HubSpot

Software

Grow better with HubSpot

From
Free
Rated
-
Full reviewWebsite
Slack logo

Slack

Software

Where work happens

From
Free
Rated
-
Full reviewWebsite

The short version

  • Each has a real cost: HubSpot free tier limited to 2 users and 1,000 contacts; severely restricts growing teams; Slack 90-day message history limit on free plan results in important conversations disappearing
  • They diverge on capability: HubSpot covers CRM, Slack covers Channels.

Where they differ

Only the attributes on which HubSpot and Slack actually diverge.

Attributes where HubSpot and Slack differ
AttributeHubSpotSlack
Pricing modelfreemiumUnknown
PlatformsWeb, Mobile, CloudWeb, iOS, Android, macOS, Windows, Linux
Founded20062009

Identical on both: starting price (Free), free tier (Yes), user rating (Not yet rated), category (Unknown).

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
  • Sales pipeline
  • Customer service
  • Content management
  • Analytics
  • Social media

Only in Slack

  • Channels
  • Direct messaging
  • Voice & video calls
  • Screen sharing
  • File sharing
  • Search
  • Workflow builder
  • Slack Connect

Both cover

  • Salesforce
  • Zoom
  • SOC2
  • ISO27001

What people use each for

The jobs each tool is most often brought in to do.

HubSpot

  • Small businesses and startups using CRM, email marketing, sales pipeline, and customer service in single platformnot Slack
  • Organisations requiring integration with 2,000+ third-party applicationsnot Slack
  • Teams leveraging AI agents for prospecting, service automation, and data analysisnot Slack

Slack

  • Team communicationnot HubSpot
  • Project coordinationnot HubSpot
  • Customer supportnot HubSpot
  • Remote worknot HubSpot
  • Cross-functional collaborationnot 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

Slack

  • 90-day message history limit on free plan results in important conversations disappearing
  • Per-user pricing becomes expensive quickly for larger teams
  • Notification overload with 78% of employees feeling overwhelmed by notifications
  • Mobile app performance issues including lag and slow syncing
  • Huddles limited to 50 people and cannot be recorded
  • Requires dedicated video conferencing service for formal meetings and webinars

Pricing, plan by plan

HubSpot

Free

No published plan breakdown. See the HubSpot review.

Slack

Free

No published plan breakdown. See the Slack review.

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.
HubSpot review

Choose Slack if

  • You need channels.
  • You want to start without paying.
  • You work on Web, iOS, Android, macOS, Windows, Linux.
  • You also want direct messaging.
Slack review

Questions people ask

Is HubSpot or Slack better?
Neither clearly leads. HubSpot starts at Free and Slack at Free, and user ratings are close enough to be indistinguishable. Choose on capability and platform support.
Which is cheaper, HubSpot or Slack?
HubSpot starts at Free and Slack at Free.
Does HubSpot or Slack run on more platforms?
HubSpot runs on Web, Mobile, Cloud. Slack runs on Web, iOS, Android, macOS, Windows, Linux.
Can I use HubSpot for free?
Both have a free tier, so you can try either at no cost before committing.
What is HubSpot best used for?
HubSpot is most often used for small businesses and startups using crm, email marketing, sales pipeline, and customer service in single platform, organisations requiring integration with 2,000+ third-party applications, teams leveraging ai agents for prospecting, service automation, and data analysis. Of those, small businesses and startups using crm, email marketing, sales pipeline, and customer service in single platform and organisations requiring integration with 2,000+ third-party applications are not what Slack is typically brought in for.
What can HubSpot do that Slack cannot?
HubSpot covers CRM, Email marketing, Marketing automation, Sales pipeline. Slack covers Channels, Direct messaging, Voice & video calls, Screen sharing. Both handle Salesforce, Zoom, SOC2, ISO27001.

Answered from the vendors’ own pages

Slack: Does Slack have a free plan?

Yes, Slack offers a free plan indefinitely with no credit card required. Free users get 90-day message history, up to 10 app integrations, and 1:1 huddles.

Source
Slack: What are Slack's pricing plans?

Slack offers Free, Pro ($7.25/user/month with annual billing), Business+ ($12.50/user/month), and Enterprise Grid (custom pricing). Monthly billing costs approximately 20% more than annual.

Source
Slack: Does Slack support offline use?

Slack is a cloud-based platform and does not support robust offline work. Internet connectivity is required to access messages and collaborate.

Source
Slack: What integrations does Slack support?

Slack integrates with 43+ apps on average per team, including Google Drive, ChatGPT, Vercel, Asana, GitHub, and many others through their app marketplace.

Source
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Related pages

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