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Software · head to head

HubSpot vs SugarCRM

HubSpot logo

HubSpot

Software

Grow better with HubSpot

From
Free
Rated
-
Full reviewWebsite
SugarCRM logo

SugarCRM

Software

Customer relationship software for your business

From
$40/month
Rated
-
Full reviewWebsite

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; SugarCRM every plan carries a 15 user minimum, so the entry cost is 15 seats regardless of team size
  • They diverge on capability: HubSpot covers CRM, SugarCRM covers Contact management.

Where they differ

Only the attributes on which HubSpot and SugarCRM actually diverge.

Attributes where HubSpot and SugarCRM differ
AttributeHubSpotSugarCRM
Starting priceFree$40/month
Pricing modelfreemiumsubscription
Free tierYesNo
PlatformsWeb, Mobile, CloudWeb, Ios, Android
Founded20062004

Identical on both: 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
  • Content management
  • Analytics
  • Social media
  • Gmail
  • Outlook
  • WordPress

Only in SugarCRM

  • Contact management
  • Lead management
  • Reporting
  • Mobile app
  • HubSpot
  • Zapier
  • Microsoft 365
  • Cloud deployment

Both cover

  • Marketing automation
  • Sales pipeline
  • Customer service
  • Slack
  • Salesforce
  • SOC2
  • ISO27001
  • GDPR

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 SugarCRM
  • Organisations requiring integration with 2,000+ third-party applicationsnot SugarCRM
  • Teams leveraging AI agents for prospecting, service automation, and data analysisnot SugarCRM

SugarCRM

  • CRM for sales, marketing and service teamsnot HubSpot
  • Managing accounts, opportunities and customer history at mid market scalenot 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

SugarCRM

  • Every plan carries a 15 user minimum, so the entry cost is 15 seats regardless of team size
  • At $59 per user on Standard that minimum makes the real floor $885 a month
  • All three tiers are billed annually with no monthly option
  • The vendor still directs buyers to sales for a package rather than treating the published rate as final

Pricing, plan by plan

HubSpot

Free

No published plan breakdown. See the HubSpot review.

SugarCRM

$40/month
  • Professional$40/month
    • Sales automation
    • Contact management
  • Business$60/month
    • Everything in Professional
    • Marketing automation
    • Customer service
  • Enterprise$100/month
    • Everything in Business
    • Advanced customization
    • Dedicated support

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 SugarCRM if

  • You need contact management.
  • You work on Web, Ios, Android.
  • You also want lead management.
SugarCRM review

Questions people ask

Is HubSpot or SugarCRM better?
Neither clearly leads. HubSpot starts at Free and SugarCRM at $40/month, and user ratings are close enough to be indistinguishable. Choose on capability and platform support.
Which is cheaper, HubSpot or SugarCRM?
HubSpot has a free tier; the other does not. Paid plans start at Free for HubSpot and $40/month for SugarCRM.
Does HubSpot or SugarCRM run on more platforms?
HubSpot runs on Web, Mobile, Cloud. SugarCRM runs on Web, Ios, Android.
Can I use HubSpot for free?
Yes. HubSpot has a free tier, so you can try it without paying. SugarCRM starts at $40/month.
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 SugarCRM is typically brought in for.
What can HubSpot do that SugarCRM cannot?
HubSpot covers CRM, Email marketing, Content management, Analytics. SugarCRM covers Contact management, Lead management, Reporting, Mobile app. Both handle Marketing automation, Sales pipeline, Customer service, Slack.
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