HubSpot vs Competitors: Which CRM to Choose in 2025?

Source: Dev.to

Overview

Are you struggling to pick the perfect CRM for your tech‑savvy team? With 2025 on the horizon, it’s crucial to find a solution that fits your needs—especially if you value automation and AI. Below is a quick snapshot of popular CRMs and how they compare to HubSpot.

HubSpot

Price range: Free to $3,200 / month
Ideal for: Marketing‑focused teams needing an all‑in‑one solution

HubSpot combines CRM, marketing automation, and sales tools in a single platform. It offers a free tier with basic CRM features, while the Professional tier starts at $800 / month. Key AI capabilities include predictive lead scoring, a content assistant, and conversation intelligence.

Example: Fetch contacts with the HubSpot API (Node.js)

const axios = require('axios');
const hubspotApiKey = 'YOUR_HUBSPOT_API_KEY';

axios.get(`https://api.hubapi.com/contacts/v1/lists/all/contacts/all?hapikey=${hubspotApiKey}`)
  .then(response => console.log(response.data))
  .catch(error => console.error('Error fetching HubSpot data:', error));

Salesforce

Price range: Starts at $25 / user / month (prices increase with advanced features)
Ideal for: Enterprises that need deep customization

Salesforce excels at tailoring complex processes and offers robust AI through Salesforce Einstein, which provides advanced machine learning models for lead scoring and forecasting.

Zoho CRM

Price range: Standard tier at $14 / user / month; higher tiers add more features
Ideal for: Small to medium‑sized businesses looking for a budget‑friendly option with built‑in AI

Zoho delivers a comprehensive feature set at a lower cost than many competitors, making it attractive for teams with tighter budgets.

Pipedrive

Price range: Varies; focused on sales‑pipeline pricing
Ideal for: Teams that are laser‑focused on sales pipelines

Pipedrive offers an intuitive, sales‑centric interface designed to help sales teams manage deals efficiently.

Example: Retrieve deals with the Pipedrive API (Node.js)

const axios = require('axios');
const pipedriveApiKey = 'YOUR_PIPEDRIVE_API_KEY';

axios.get(`https://api.pipedrive.com/v1/deals?api_token=${pipedriveApiKey}`)
  .then(response => console.log(response.data))
  .catch(error => console.error('Error fetching Pipedrive deals:', error));

Shabe AI

What it is: A conversational AI layer that enhances HubSpot, not a standalone CRM.

Shabe AI provides natural‑language access to HubSpot data, allowing users to retrieve information quickly without navigating the HubSpot UI. It can be a cost‑effective way to add conversational AI capabilities for teams that already use HubSpot.

Comparison Summary

Choosing the Right CRM

• Marketing automation & AI: HubSpot shines with its polished interface and comprehensive tools.
• Enterprise customization: Salesforce offers unmatched flexibility for complex workflows.
• Budget constraints: Zoho provides solid features at a lower price point.
• Sales‑centric workflow: Pipedrive delivers a streamlined sales pipeline experience.
• Conversational AI add‑on: Shabe AI can augment HubSpot for natural‑language data access.

Try free trials and experiment with the APIs to see which platform integrates best with your existing tools.

Which CRM are you leaning towards in 2025? Share your thoughts and experiences in the comments!