In this guide, we’ll unpack usability, integrations, AI tools, licensing, cost, features and scalability so you can decide which CRM is truly built for your kind of growth.
| Factor | HubSpot | Salesforce |
|---|---|---|
| Usability | Single UI across hubs; fast onboarding | Powerful but steeper learning curve |
| Integrations | 1,500+ plug-and-play apps; real-time sync | 4,000+ AppExchange apps; often needs devs |
| AI Tools (2025) | Breeze, AI content generation, Brand identity, Marketing Studio, AI-powered segmentation, AI-Powered emails, personalisation agent, ChatGPT integration. | Einstein 1 Platform deep but modular & add-on |
| Licensing & Cost | Transparent tiered pricing; can escalate with volume | Per-user per-cloud; complex discounts |
| Features | Full front-office suite, strong custom objects & workflows | Enterprise-grade breadth, custom logic |
| Scalability | Up to 10M contacts, multi-brand features | Tens of thousands of users, mature governance |
(All information verified September 2025)
1. Usability & adoption
HubSpot is designed for non-admins. A rep can log in today and be closing deals tomorrow. Dashboards, emails, automation and CMS share the same interface.
Salesforce’s Lightning UI is cleaner than it was, but each “Cloud” still feels semi-separate. Even simple changes like adding fields or workflows often require an admin or partner. Power users love the control; casual users can struggle.
Bottom line: HubSpot wins on speed and ease; Salesforce wins on power at the cost of a learning curve.
2. Integrations & ecosystem
HubSpot’s App Marketplace now lists over 1,500 certified apps, most installable in a few clicks. The “Data Sync” tool means two-way real-time updates with popular SaaS tools.
Salesforce’s AppExchange remains the world’s biggest CRM marketplace — over 4,000 apps plus thousands of SIs. Its APIs are legendary, but getting from “installed” to “fully working” often involves custom work.
Bottom line: Salesforce offers unmatched breadth; HubSpot offers smoother self-service connections.
3. AI & automation
HubSpot’s AI tools help marketers work smarter, not harder. From content generation and brand consistency to AI-powered segmentation, emails, and personalization, HubSpot automates routine tasks while delivering insights that drive growth. OpenAI connector means you can get ChatGPT to summarise anything from your HubSpot CRM.
Salesforce’s Einstein 1 Platform is deeper, covering predictive, generative and analytical AI across all Clouds. But many features are separate SKUs or require configuration by admins.
Bottom line: HubSpot’s AI is out-of-the-box; Salesforce’s AI is more powerful but more work.
4. Licensing & cost
HubSpot’s pricing is tiered by Hub (Marketing, Sales, Service) and by seats or contacts. It’s clearer and faster to buy, though enterprise contact volumes and add-ons can add up.
Salesforce still licenses per user per Cloud. Add CPQ, Marketing Cloud, Service Cloud, Einstein — and your spend multiplies. Negotiation is expected; published pricing rarely matches enterprise reality.
Bottom line: HubSpot accelerates early adoption with simpler pricing; Salesforce needs careful forecasting and procurement muscle.
5. Features & extensibility
HubSpot now covers the full front-office: marketing automation, sales enablement, service desk, CMS.
Salesforce is still the limitless platform. You can build almost any data model, process or custom app on it, if you have the admin resource and budget.
Bottom line: Salesforce retains the edge on extreme customisation; HubSpot closes the gap for mainstream needs.
6. Scalability & governance
HubSpot Enterprise supports millions of records, business units, multi-brand features and advanced permissions. It’s viable well into the enterprise tier, but multi-region data models can stretch it.
Salesforce is built for scale: tens of thousands of users, sandboxes, change-sets and release governance baked in.
Bottom line: Both work well with features baked in, but chose a Hubspot partner to help manage enterprise set up.
7. Support, community & talent
HubSpot includes 24/7 support on enterprise tiers, a huge free Academy and an extensive partner network (such as us!).
Salesforce’s Trailhead community and partner network are vast, but certified admins and developers command premium salaries — a hidden cost in your TCO.
Our Take: Which CRM is better for growth?
Both platforms can fuel growth — but the kind of growth matters.
Lean, marketing-led or fast-moving teams: HubSpot’s unified UI, lower admin overhead and baked-in AI make it the obvious “growth” CRM in 2025.
Complex, highly customised, enterprise-grade growth: Salesforce remains unmatched for extreme customisation and scale, albeit with longer deployment cycles and heavier admin costs.
Our User Requirements workshops provide a focused, strategic session to guide your team in selecting the tech stack that will serve your business for years to come. We help challenge assumptions, ensure the right questions are asked now, and make sure you choose a solution that works — and keeps on working — not just one that looks cheaper on paper today.