HubSpot CRM

Pros

The best thing about Hubspot is that it's a very popular CRM software so if you run into any problems - you can easily find someone to help you. Also, there are a lot of tutorials available online from where one can easily learn Hubspot CRM. Another thing that I like very much about Hubspot CRM is that it has a free plan which can be highly beneficial for small businesses and startups. Even the free plan is competitive with paid plans of other CRMs. Another pro about Hubspot CRM is its intuitive workflow and user interface that makes it very easy to learn and use. Hubspot CRM is the easiest CRM I have ever used - even someone with below-average knowledge can use Hubspot easily with proper training. Also, there are a lot of integrations available like WordPress integration which is very useful for small businesses.

Cons

There aren't many advanced features available with Hubspot CRM so it may not be very useful for large businesses. Also, there is a free plan and there is quite an expensive plan - I wish there was something in the middle as not everyone can afford it. However, one can start with a free plan and move to a paid plan when needed so that's a plus.

Alternatives Considered

Reasons for Switching to HubSpot CRM

Pros

It is very user-friendly and easy to use. It is helpful to have all of my customer information in one place, making it easy to access and manage. The software offers a wide range of helpful marketing and sales tools, which has helped me automate many of my tasks and work more efficiently.

Cons

It can occasionally be overwhelming and difficult to use, in my experience as a user of the program. Although the abundance of features is undoubtedly a strength, it can also be a disadvantage for teams that lack technical expertise or for users who are less familiar with the software. Technical issues and slow performance have also happened to me, which can be annoying and hinder my workflow. Smaller businesses may also find the cost of the software to be a bit high, and there may be some restrictions on customization and tool integration. Overall, I think there is room for improvement in the software's stability and usability, despite my appreciation for its strength.

Pros

This review relates solely to Hubspot's Sales module, and not the Marketing package. Our small business utilises Hubspot for lead management and conversion tracking - I can't speak to Hubspot's other functionalities in the marketing field. Hubspot's Sales free and growth bundles are great value; offering start-up businesses with the basic tools required for recording correspondence with leads and tracking conversions. However...

Cons

As your business grows you naturally seek out greater efficiencies achieved through CRM automation services (e.g. automated follow-up emails to stay front of mind with prospects) - it's at this point you upgrade to the costly Professional package because the business case stacks up, right?

This is where Hubspot falls over. Everything (I cannot iterate this enough, literally everything) you would logically expect the software to support or enable isn't available. Credit to them, their support function does try to help but they are severally handcuffed by the limitations imposed by backend engineers and software architects. The tech supports can only try to provide convoluted/half baked work around solutions but often these result in additional implications and barriers downstream.

The nail in the coffin for our business was when we tried to setup automated email sequences (a 101), but learnt that you cannot enrol contacts into these processes when sending emails 'from' the shared/team/company email (e.g. [email protected] or [email protected]) - rather, Hubspot requires users to send from their individual email (e.g. [email protected])

Have you ever corresponded with any business via a personalised email address? Whether I'm communicating with the local mechanic or Apple, I never email [SENSITIVE CONTENT] You engage with a shared mailbox e.g. sales or support or [email protected]

It's no brainers like this that force you to question Hubspot's services.

Pros

I really like the way they have provided the ease to admins to manage the contacts and contact creation right after Hubspot form is submitted. Even the method to embed Hubspot Forms on any website is also very user friendly. Comunity support is also there to back up developers in all development needs. Their APIs and Private Apps are really amazing when it comes to authentication and works seamlessly.

Cons

Recently, they have removed their support for API key authentication which probably has broken many hearts as most of the people were too dependent on API key validation. But thankfully creation of Private app and validation through access token is not that tough. However, their customer support is not very helpful when it comes to technical enquiries. You need to be dependent on community only which sometimes may take time to answer your question. Although Hubspot documentation is at time very helpful for technical queries.

Pros

HubSpot CRM has a simple and intuitive interface that makes it easy for users to navigate the system and complete their tasks. HubSpot CRM offers contact management, deal tracking, lead scoring, email marketing, and more. HubSpot CRM seamlessly integrates with other HubSpot tools like the HubSpot Marketing Hub and HubSpot Sales Hub to provide a comprehensive solution for your business.

Cons

HubSpot CRM's reporting features are basic and may not meet the needs of some businesses. This tool allows the user to create a custom his pipeline, but the customization options are limited compared to other his CRM tools. HubSpot CRM integrates well with other HubSpot tools, but has limited integration with third-party tools.