HubSpot Reviews, Alternatives, Pricing, & Offerings in 2025

HubSpot is a software company known for its CRM and marketing platforms. It is not an online tutoring site, but it often appears in searches related to business learning tools.

It is easy to get confused by all the different ‘Hubs’ offered. The diagram below maps out exactly how the free CRM connects to the five major tools in their ecosystem.

As you can see, the CRM acts as the central database, while the Marketing, Sales, and Service hubs orbit around it to manage specific tasks.

This article gives insights on HubSpot’s features, pricing, and customer feedback so students and parents can compare it to tutoring platforms. The goal is to help you make an informed decision by understanding HubSpot’s strengths and weaknesses in 2025.

HubSpot Reviews and Testimonials

Trustpilot (Trustpilot): HubSpot has about 942 reviews with an average rating of only ~2.0/5. Many reviews are negative. Users complain about poor customer support, difficulty cancelling, and unexpected charges. Common issues include unhelpful service and high cost. Few positives are noted on Trustpilot.

G2: HubSpot Marketing Hub has 13,346 reviews and a 4.4/5 rating. Here customers are much more positive. They praise its marketing automation, email tools, and integrated analytics. Users say it streamlines lead generation and sales, making campaigns easier. Some note it is feature-rich but takes time to learn. Overall G2 reviews highlight HubSpot as powerful and versatile for marketing.

Capterra: HubSpot CRM shows a 4.5/5 from 4,422 reviews. Capterra users like the platform’s ease of use and comprehensive features. They highlight sales pipeline clarity and good email integration. Praise includes “user-friendly interface” and robust reporting. On the downside, reviewers say advanced features need higher-paid tiers. The free version is useful, but growing businesses often need to upgrade.

Their own website: HubSpot’s site shares customer stories and statistics. It claims hundreds of thousands of customers and shows case-study quotes. For example, one client said the platform was “flexible, easy to use” with a “very user-friendly interface”. Another praised seeing more leads and deal closures. These testimonials underline HubSpot’s strengths in usability and results, but they are all positive excerpts. (HubSpot’s site does not show any negative feedback.)

Is HubSpot legit? HubSpot is a well-established, publicly traded company with thousands of employees and a large customer base. It serves roughly 250,000 businesses worldwide. The mixed reviews reflect real user experiences. In short, HubSpot is a legitimate, widely-used platform; the positive reviews on sites like G2/Capterra and negative notes on Trustpilot indicate typical pros and cons for a big software firm.

In summary, HubSpot’s reviews are mixed. Users like its powerful marketing and CRM tools (as seen on G2/Capterra) but often complain about its high cost and support (Trustpilot). It clearly delivers a quality all-in-one platform, but the service can be expensive and strict. New users should weigh these factors: HubSpot is real and often effective, but comes with a steep learning curve and commitment.

Why are the reviews so different across the web? Let’s visualize the gap between the high praise for features on G2 versus the support complaints on Trustpilot.

This sharp contrast highlights a key takeaway: the software is powerful, but you may be on your own if technical issues arise.

HubSpot Pricing

Pricing Range

HubSpot’s pricing goes from free to very high, in USD. The core HubSpot CRM is free forever. Paid plans start at around $18–23 per month for each Hub’s Starter tier. For example, Marketing Hub Professional is about $890/month (with 3 user seats, plus a $3,000 onboarding fee), and Marketing Enterprise is about $3,600/month (5 seats). Sales Hub Professional costs $100 per user/month (with a $1,500 setup fee). Service Hub Professional is $500/month for 3 users. Overall, paid plans can range from ~$15–20/mo up to several thousand per month. More contacts or seats add to the cost. (Check HubSpot’s pricing page for full details.)

What students say about HubSpot pricing

Reviewers and forum users often call HubSpot expensive. One forum comment said HubSpot is “definitely on the expensive side” and hard to negotiate discounts. Many agree it offers advanced features but at a higher price than simpler tools. In comparison, many similar CRM systems charge roughly $20–100/user/month, so HubSpot’s top plans are above average. Overall, students (and business users) feel HubSpot is powerful but pricey.

Hidden costs

HubSpot has no sign-up fee, but watch out for mandatory setup costs. Professional tiers require onboarding fees (e.g. $1,500–$3,000 one-time). Add-ons also cost extra: buying more contact records or extra marketing emails incurs fees. There is no true cancellation fee, but annual contracts mean you can’t exit early. If you cancel, you must still pay the rest of the term. In practice, users often find no option for a partial refund, so the “hidden” cost is basically the full commitment if you change your mind.

Many students and startups miss the fine print. Here is the ‘Real Cost’ formula you need to use to calculate your actual first-year expense.

Notice how the mandatory onboarding fee significantly spikes the year-one price, even before you add extra user seats.

How HubSpot’s pricing works

Payments are subscription-based. You can pay monthly (with a 1-year commitment) or annually upfront. Accepted methods include credit card and invoicing. There are no per-hour or per-tutor rates—everything is per seat or contract. HubSpot occasionally runs promotions: for example, nonprofits get 40% off, and startups may get up to 50% off first year. There are no student or army discounts advertised. Subscription tiers bundle different tools (Marketing, Sales, Service, CMS, etc.) under one contract. In general, you choose a plan and pay it like a software fee; there are no “hidden” add-ons beyond what is listed.

Free Trial

HubSpot does not use a limited trial. Instead it offers free tools indefinitely. Anyone can sign up and use the Free CRM and basic marketing emails for free. There is no countdown. To try paid features, you simply upgrade your account. All users always have access to the free tier, so essentially the free tier itself is the trial version.

Refund policy

HubSpot’s official terms are very strict: you cannot cancel a paid plan mid-term for a refund. You must wait until the end of your contract and turn off auto-renew. Users report that HubSpot rarely grants refunds. One user said HubSpot “is NOT open to refunds at all”. Only in rare cases (such as a billing error) might support issue a credit. In practice, many customers warn that HubSpot will bill you for the full term even if you stop using the service. They also caution about possible overcharges or unresolved billing issues – these are common complaints on Trustpilot and Reddit.

HubSpot Alternatives

Some users look for HubSpot alternatives to save money or get different features. Below are a few popular platforms, plus My Engineering Buddy, which is tutoring-focused. These alternatives offer varied pricing, tools, and ease of use. In general, HubSpot is top-tier all-in-one software, so alternatives tend to be cheaper or simpler. Here are the key differences:

Scanning through feature lists can be exhausting. This comparison table breaks down how HubSpot stacks up against Zoho and Pipedrive in terms of price and difficulty.

If you are on a strict budget, Zoho or Pipedrive often provide 80% of the functionality for a fraction of the cost.

Salesforce

• Pros: Industry-leading CRM with very deep features for sales, marketing, and service. Highly customizable and integrates with almost any system. Scales to large enterprises easily.
• Cons: Much more expensive and complex than HubSpot. Long setup time and steep learning curve. It can feel overwhelming for small teams or basic use.

Zoho CRM

• Pros: Budget-friendly and even has a free tier for up to 3 users. Includes sales, email, and basic marketing tools. Easy to get started with simple pricing. Good for small businesses that need basic CRM functions.
• Cons: Interface and features are not as polished. Marketing automation is weaker than HubSpot’s. Fewer high-end analytics and less app marketplace variety.

Pipedrive

• Pros: Very user-friendly sales pipeline CRM. Lower cost (plans from about $12/user/month). Designed for managing deals visually. Fast to set up.
• Cons: Lacks built-in marketing automation and support tools. Not as many advanced features or customizations as HubSpot. Mainly just sales pipeline management.

ActiveCampaign

• Pros: Strong on email marketing and automation for growing businesses. Cheaper for light use (starts around $15/month). Has basic CRM and workflow features for smaller teams.
• Cons: Weaker sales pipeline features compared to HubSpot. May get expensive if you have many contacts. Focused more on small-business marketing than large enterprise sales.

My Engineering Buddy

• Pros: Specialized 1:1 tutoring for STEM subjects. Offers flexible pay-as-you-go tutoring (students say it is “fair and stress-free”). Tutors are highly qualified (the company says it hires “only the top tutors” with 97% satisfaction). Personalized teaching, which HubSpot cannot provide. Lower per-session cost than HubSpot’s software fees.

To be absolutely clear: we are not a software CRM. The graphic below illustrates the fundamental difference between buying a tool and hiring a tutor.

If you are looking for someone to help you solve thermodynamics or calculus problems, you need the ‘Tutor’ on the right, not the ‘Software’ on the left.

• Cons: Not a business tool at all; only for academic tutoring. Subjects are mostly math, science, engineering (no marketing or sales support). If you need CRM or marketing software, it’s irrelevant.

Freshsales (Freshworks CRM)

• Pros: Another CRM option with both free and paid plans. Includes AI help (Freddy AI) and good integration with other Freshworks tools. Pricing is generally lower than HubSpot. Focus on sales automation and contact scoring.
• Cons: Marketing automation features are limited unless you buy separate modules. Smaller ecosystem and fewer third-party apps. The interface can be less intuitive for new users.

How it Works?

A. For Students

To use HubSpot, anyone can sign up on the HubSpot website. There is a “Get Started free” or “Get a demo” button to create an account. You fill in your email and info, and log in. Once in, you have access to free CRM tools immediately. To get more features, you click on settings and choose a paid plan.

There are no “tutors” in HubSpot. Instead, students (business users) learn through HubSpot Academy or help docs. You can chat with HubSpot support or use the online knowledge base if you need help. There is no scheduling with a live tutor. Everything is on-demand: you learn by clicking through the software or watching free training videos on HubSpot Academy. HubSpot does not schedule tutoring sessions or 1:1 help like a tutoring platform does.

Still unsure which path to take? Follow this simple decision tree to determine if you need business software or academic assistance.

Once you’ve identified your need, you can sign up for the right service without wasting time exploring the wrong category.

B. For Tutors

HubSpot offers a Partners program for consultants and agencies. To become a HubSpot “tutor” (in effect, a consultant or partner), you join the HubSpot Solutions Partner Program. You apply online and usually complete HubSpot’s training and certification. Once you are a partner, you can provide HubSpot services to clients and earn money. HubSpot itself does not fix your hourly rate; as a partner you set your own consulting fees.

There is no public data on exact earnings. Partners earn commissions or revenue shares from the HubSpot contracts they sell. Actual income varies widely: experienced consultants might charge anywhere from $50 to $150+ per hour, depending on region and expertise. The number of students (clients) a partner gets depends on marketing and HubSpot’s lead referrals. They must compete with other partners. Tips to get more clients include getting HubSpot certifications (they give you badges), listing on the HubSpot marketplace, and advertising your expertise in their Academy case studies.

To learn more, interested tutors can visit the HubSpot Solutions Partner page for details and sign-up instructions.

FAQs About HubSpot

How does HubSpot compare to My Engineering Buddy? HubSpot is a CRM and marketing software platform for businesses; it is not a tutoring service. My Engineering Buddy provides one-on-one tutoring in subjects like math and engineering. HubSpot helps with sales and marketing tasks, whereas My Engineering Buddy helps students with homework and complex subjects. They serve very different needs.

Is HubSpot free to use? Yes, HubSpot offers a free CRM with basic features. This free plan includes contact management, email marketing, forms, and a limited dashboard. For more advanced tools (like marketing automation or service ticketing), you must pay. Paid plans start around $18–$23 per month (for Starter tier).

What features does HubSpot offer? HubSpot has multiple “hubs” for marketing, sales, service, and more. It offers a Marketing Hub (email, ads, social media tools), a Sales CRM (deal tracking, email templates), a Service Hub (ticketing, help desk), a Content/Blogging Hub, an Operations Hub (data sync), and a Commerce Hub. It also has an AI assistant (Copilot) and a large app marketplace. Basically, it covers inbound marketing, CRM, and customer support all in one system.

Who should use HubSpot? HubSpot is aimed at businesses and organizations that want an all-in-one growth platform. It is popular with small-to-medium companies and startups, as well as many enterprises, across various industries. It works best for teams that handle marketing, sales, and service together. Individual students or those only looking for tutoring would not use HubSpot; it is designed for business use.

How does HubSpot pricing work? HubSpot’s pricing is subscription-based. The CRM and basic tools are free. Paid plans are per product (Marketing, Sales, etc.) and are billed monthly or yearly. Starter plans cost roughly $20/month. Professional plans (with more features) cost hundreds per month, and Enterprise plans run into thousands. Prices are per account or per user. HubSpot also offers discounts for nonprofits (40% off) and startup promotions (e.g., 50% off first year).

Is there a free trial or guarantee? There is no short-term free trial beyond the free plan. You get the free CRM tools with no expiration. Paid plans do not have a money-back guarantee – you sign up for a year and must pay for that term. HubSpot recommends turning off auto-renew to cancel at year-end, but fees already paid are not refunded.

Conclusion

HubSpot’s strength lies in its integrated marketing, sales, and service platform with powerful automation and AI features. It has a user-friendly interface and offers a free CRM, which many customers like. However, its weaknesses include complex and costly pricing, strict contracts, and mixed customer support reviews. For students and parents needing help with complex subjects, HubSpot is not a tutoring tool. In contrast, My Engineering Buddy excels at personalized STEM tutoring, flexible pricing, and one-on-one attention. For advanced coursework and homework help, My Engineering Buddy is a strong alternative to a business software like HubSpot.