Top 7 HubSpot Alternatives for 2025 (Including AI-Powered Options)

Published: (December 30, 2025 at 10:06 AM EST)
3 min read
Source: Dev.to

Source: Dev.to

Hello Dev.to community! 👋 Are you navigating the CRM landscape and finding that HubSpot doesn’t quite fit your needs or budget? Whether you’re looking for more AI capabilities, better pricing, or simpler interfaces, I’ve got you covered. Let’s explore some top‑notch alternatives that could be a better fit for your tech team in 2025.

HubSpot Drawbacks

  • High Costs – HubSpot’s AI features require the Professional tier at $800 / month, which can be steep for startups and small businesses.
  • Complexity – The extensive feature set can be overwhelming and require significant setup time.
  • Per‑User Pricing – Costs can escalate quickly as your team grows.
  • Setup Time – It can take days to get everything up and running.

If any of these pain points resonate with you, read on for some potential solutions!

Alternatives

Salesforce

  • Enterprise‑Ready – Robust customization and enterprise features.
  • AI‑Powered – Einstein AI provides advanced AI capabilities.
  • Flexible – Large app marketplace and extensive customization options.
  • Pricing – Starts at $25 / user / month; AI features are in higher tiers ($150‑300 / user / month).
// Example of Salesforce API usage
const jsforce = require('jsforce');
const conn = new jsforce.Connection();
conn.login('username', 'password', (err, userInfo) => {
  if (err) { return console.error(err); }
  // Now you can access Salesforce data
  console.log('User ID: ' + userInfo.id);
});

Zoho CRM

  • Budget‑Friendly – More affordable pricing ($14‑52 / user / month).
  • AI Assistant – Zia offers basic AI features at lower tiers.
  • Integration – Fits well with other Zoho products.
  • Pricing – Standard at $14 / user / month; Professional with AI at $23 / user / month.

Pipedrive

  • Sales Focused – Visual sales pipeline management.
  • Intuitive – Simpler interface, great for sales teams.
  • Pricing – Essential at $14 / user / month; Advanced with AI at $49 / user / month.
{
  "pipedrive": {
    "method": "GET",
    "url": "/deals/{id}",
    "description": "Fetch deal details"
  }
}

Freshsales

  • Built‑In Communication – Phone and email capabilities.
  • AI Insights – AI‑powered lead scoring.
  • Pricing – Starts at $15 / user / month; Growth plan with AI at $39 / user / month.

Monday.com

  • Visual & Customizable – Combines work management and CRM.
  • Automation – Strong capabilities for task automation.
  • Pricing – Starts at $8 / user / month; Pro plan at $16 / user / month.

ActiveCampaign

  • Marketing Automation – Combines CRM with powerful email marketing tools.
  • Pricing – Starts at $29 / month; Plus plan at $49 / month.

Shabe AI

  • AI‑First Approach – AI automation included in a $150 / month flat rate.
  • Conversational Interface – Interact using plain English.
  • Pricing$150 / month with unlimited users.
# Example of using Shabe AI API
import requests

response = requests.post(
    'https://api.shabe.ai/query',
    json={'query': 'Show me open deals'}
)
print(response.json())

Quick Comparison

FeatureHubSpotSalesforceZohoPipedriveShabe AI
Pricing (SMB)$50‑800/mo$25‑300 / user / mo$14‑52 / user / mo$14‑99 / user / mo$150/mo flat
AI FeaturesProfessional tierHigher tiersBasic (Zia)Limited✅ Built‑in
Ease of UseModerateComplexModerateEasy⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ Very Easy
Setup TimeDaysWeeksDaysHours⚡ Minutes
Unlimited Users❌ No❌ No❌ No❌ No✅ Yes

When to Choose Which

  • Salesforce – If you need enterprise‑level features and deep customization.
  • Zoho – For an affordable CRM with basic AI.
  • Pipedrive – Perfect for sales‑focused teams that value a visual pipeline.
  • Shabe AI – Ideal for AI automation and simplicity, especially when you want a flat‑rate, unlimited‑user model.

The right CRM can make or break your team’s productivity. If you’re looking for AI‑driven solutions without breaking the bank, Shabe AI is worth a try. With a $150 / month flat rate including unlimited users, it offers a scalable and efficient alternative to HubSpot. Try Shabe AI’s 7‑day free trial here.

Looking forward to your thoughts and experiences with these tools! What alternatives have you tried? Let’s discuss in the comments. 😊

Back to Blog

Related posts

Read more »