HubSpot is currently one of the most preferred customer relationship management (CRM) platforms. It helps businesses generate, nurture, and convert leads by providing several AI-powered automation tools. A business can implement specific HubSpot tools to automate important processes like marketing, sales, customer service, customer data management, and marketing content management. Here is my detailed post on why should we choose Hubspot.
Also, every company can avail of these cloud-based tools based on free or premium plans. The free edition of the software lacks some of the advanced features provided by premium editions like Starter, Professional, and Enterprise. Many small businesses and startups find the per-user subscription model more expensive.
Likewise, marketing and sales professionals need training and assistance to leverage the advanced features provided by HubSpot. Many organizations overcome these shortcomings by opting for HubSpot alternatives. While considering why choose HubSpot, decision-makers compare HubSpot to several widely-used CRM platforms.
Some of these alternatives to HubSpot provide advanced features, while others leverage Industry 4.0 technologies like artificial intelligence (AI) and data analytics. We are making it easier for decision-makers to compare and evaluate these widely used all-in-one solutions by discussing popular HubSpot alternatives.
The cloud-based CRM system facilitates the automation of marketing, sales, customer support, data management, and data analysis. An organization can customize, configure, and scale Salesforce according to its precise needs. The marketing automation tools provided by Salesforce help organizations run cross-channel marketing channels.
At the same time, the customer support team can use specialized tools to retain customers by managing complaints, issues, and inquiries efficiently. Salesforce helps businesses curtail costs by automating manual and repetitive tasks using AI technologies. Users also have the option to extend the unified platform by downloading required apps from the marketplace.
Salesforce allows users to evaluate desired tools and solutions by requesting a free trial. However, Salesforce is one of the most complex CRM platforms. An organization can leverage the features and tools provided by the platform only by training employees. Also, it must incur expenses while downloading premium apps from the Salesforce marketplace.
Zoho is popular with small businesses and startups as a cost-efficient CRM platform. Tools and solutions provided by Zoho CRM help organizations automate marketing, sales, customer support, human resources, and security functions. In addition to unifying contact information from various sources, Zoho boosts customer interactions by keeping the data organized.
Like other HubSpot alternatives, Zoho drives business process automation using AI technologies. Also, an organization can meet its precise automation needs by customizing and integrating the cloud-based CRM on demand. However, an organization can leverage AI-powered tools and features only by subscribing to a premium plan. In addition, free plans do not allow users to integrate the CRM with third-party enterprise software.
Agile CRM is developed by focusing on the automation needs of small and mid-sized businesses. It automated marketing, sales, and customer service activities by providing a slew of automation tools. The cloud-based CRM system provides insights about leads and prospects using contact data analytics. At the same time, it keeps leads engaged by sending personalized messages based on their interests.
An organization also has the option to download specific apps from a marketplace. It can implement Agile CRM based on free and premium plans. However, the free edition supports up to 10 users and 1000 contacts. An organization must upgrade to a premium plan to make the software accommodate more users and manage more customer data. Also, employees need training to leverage the advanced features provided by the Agile CRM.
Adobe Marketo Engage helps businesses automate cross-platform marketing activities by providing useful features. Enterprises opt for this alternative to HubSpot to automate various marketing and sales activities like engagement mapping, cross-channel engagement, lead generation, account profiling, lead segmentation, and account targeting.
At the same time, Marketo boosts marketing and sales automation using content intelligence and marketing analytics. In addition to being an easy-to-implement platform, Marketo can be integrated with widely used marketing and sales tools. However, many users complain about the reporting and data analytics tools provided by Marketo. Also, Marketo makes it challenging for businesses to control costs by charging for extra features.
Constant Contact is popular with enterprises as a mature email marketing platform. The software helps businesses run email, SMS, and social media marketing campaigns by providing user-friendly tools. In addition to featuring a built-in CRM solution, the software boosts campaign performance by sharing data-driven insights.
Marketers can compose emails and text messages using a wide range of templates. In addition, Constant Contact helps them send perfect messages to customers and prospects at the right time using AI technologies. However, marketers often find the message customization options provided by the software limited. Also, Constant Contact makes it challenging for them to send messages to a large number of contacts.
Campaign Monitor helps businesses connect with customers and prospects by sending emails and SMS. It makes it easier for marketers to craft messages by featuring a drag-and-drop editor and providing customizable templates. At the same time, marketers can further use the software to segment recipients and send personalized messages based on real-time data.
Constant Campaign further accelerates marketing message generation and refining by providing a Generative AI tool. This marketing automation platform is popular with enterprises due to its user-friendly user interface (UI) and elaborate reporting dashboard. However, organizations can avail of the software by subscribing to a premium plan. Likewise, lack of support makes it challenging for users to integrate the software with other marketing tools and solutions.
The cloud-based platform facilitates customer growth, acquisition, and retention by providing a slew of tools. In addition to leveraging data analytics and AI, Zeta Marketing Platform offers marketing, data management, and customer messaging tools. At the same time, enterprises can leverage activation tools to engage the target audience by sending personalized messages at the right time.
Marketers and salespeople can use the user-friendly tools without requiring tech proficiency. AI technologies make Zeta Marketing Platform score over popular marketing automation platforms. However, many users complain that Zeta is slower than other AI-powered automation platforms. Also, its customer support team does not resolve issues and complaints proactively.
The cloud-based platform drives revenue growth by simplifying deal prioritization, performance tracking, and revenue prediction. Pipedrive comes with features and tools to automate important activities like lead management, deal management, and communication tracking. The sales team can use the software to customize sales pipelines and automate workflows without any restrictions.
Pipeline helps decision-makers measure marketing and sales activities by featuring intuitive reporting tools and advanced data analytics. An organization also has the option to implement machine learning-powered sales assistants. However, businesses can leverage Pipeline only by subscribing to a premium plan. Also, they have to subscribe to a high-tier pricing plan to avail of advanced features to contact customer support executives over the telephone.
Zendesk provides businesses with distinct sales and service solutions. Zendesk for Service fosters customer retention and revenue growth by answering queries and resolving issues across channels. At the same time, Zendesk Sales helps salespeople close more deals by providing a CRM solution. Organizations opt for this premium software to provide customer support across channels.
Zendesk helps them measure customer support performance by providing reporting tools and using data analytics. However, many users complain that Zendesk is not a beginner-friendly automation platform. Also, small businesses and startups have to incur extra costs to avail of the advanced features provided by this alternative to HubSpot.
Apptivo comes with tools to streamline the management of marketing campaigns, customer service, and field service. The campaign management platform helps marketers engage and nurture leads by sharing targeted content and sending automated emails. The helpdesk software helps support executives deliver personalized support and speed up issue resolution.
An organization can avail of Apptivo by subscribing to four distinct pricing plans. However, beginners need training and assistance to make the most out of the solutions provided by this integrated platform. Despite providing various customization options, Apptivo is slower than several CRM platforms. Also, end-users can extend the CRM platform only by using third-party APIs.
Freshworks is popular with businesses as a user-friendly and budget-friendly alternative to HubSpot. In addition to leveraging AI technologies, the CRM platform helps businesses accelerate customer support and foster conversational engagement. It helps users track customer lifecycles and deal status in real-time. Also, it facilitates customer engagement across widely used channels like phones, emails, and chats.
Users can assess sales and marketing activities using a custom dashboard and generate custom reports. Small businesses can leverage Freshworks by choosing from free and affordable pricing plans. However, they lack the option to generate custom reports while choosing the free pricing plan. Many users complain about the additional time required by the Freshworks team to resolve issues.
HubSpot is hugely popular with enterprises as an all-in-one enterprise system. In addition to being an easy-to-use CRM system, HubSpot provides features to automate marketing, sales, customer support, operations, and content creation. It is also one of the CRM platforms that foster data-driven automation using AI technologies. However, HubSpot, like other automation platforms, has its pros and cons.
Enterprises can overcome the shortcomings of HubSpot by implementing several all-in-one automation solutions. Decision-makers can consider several HubSpot alternatives while selecting a CRM system. Also, they can choose the best CRM software by comparing HubSpot and HubSpot alternatives based on their marketing automation needs.