Looking for a HubSpot alternative for your UK business? You’re not alone. While HubSpot is a solid CRM platform, it’s not perfect for everyone – especially when costs start adding up and you need more flexibility.
Whether you’re a startup on a tight budget or an established business needing better customization, this guide covers the best HubSpot alternatives available to UK businesses in 2025.
Why Consider HubSpot Alternatives?
Before diving into alternatives, let’s be clear: HubSpot isn’t bad. But there are valid reasons UK businesses look elsewhere:
Cost concerns:
- HubSpot gets expensive fast (Professional plans start at £72/user/month)
- Essential features locked behind higher-tier plans
- Mandatory annual commitments for advanced features
- Costly onboarding fees (up to £2,800 for Enterprise)
Flexibility limitations:
- Limited customization compared to competitors
- Bundled pricing means paying for unused features
- Restrictive reporting on lower plans
- Complex for simple business needs
Better alternatives exist for specific needs:
- More affordable options with similar features
- Industry-specific solutions
- Better integration with existing UK business tools
- Superior customer support experiences
Top 10 HubSpot Alternatives for UK Businesses
1. Zoho CRM – Best Overall Alternative
Why it’s great for UK businesses: Zoho CRM consistently ranks as the top HubSpot alternative, and for good reason. It offers enterprise-level features at SMB prices, with no forced annual commitments.
Key features:
- Advanced workflow automation from the free plan
- Highly customizable pipelines and fields
- Multi-currency support (perfect for UK businesses)
- AI assistant (Zia) with predictive insights
- 40+ integrated Zoho apps
UK pricing:
- Free: Up to 3 users
- Standard: £17/user/month
- Professional: £28/user/month
- Enterprise: £40/user/month
Best for: UK businesses needing powerful customization without HubSpot’s price tag.
Pros: Excellent value, deep customization, great automation Cons: Steeper learning curve, interface can feel cluttered
2. Pipedrive – Best for Sales-Focused Teams
Why UK sales teams love it: Built by salespeople for salespeople, Pipedrive excels at visual pipeline management and deal tracking. It’s simpler than HubSpot but more powerful where it matters.
Key features:
- Intuitive visual sales pipelines
- Activity-based selling approach
- Smart contact data from Prospector
- Mobile CRM that actually works
- Revenue forecasting and reporting
UK pricing:
- Essential: £12/user/month
- Advanced: £20/user/month
- Professional: £41/user/month
- Power: £55/user/month
Best for: UK sales teams who want simplicity with power.
Pros: Easy to use, great mobile app, affordable Cons: Limited marketing features, basic reporting on lower plans
3. ActiveCampaign – Best for Email Marketing
Why UK marketers choose it: ActiveCampaign combines powerful email marketing with CRM functionality. It offers more sophisticated automation than HubSpot at a fraction of the cost.
Key features:
- Advanced email marketing automation
- Behavioral tracking and segmentation
- Predictive sending optimization
- Landing page builder
- Marketing attribution reporting
UK pricing:
- Starter: £14/month (1,000 contacts)
- Plus: £60/month
- Professional: £119/month
- Enterprise: £279/month
Best for: UK businesses prioritizing email marketing and automation.
Pros: Powerful automation, great email tools, reasonable pricing Cons: Can be complex for beginners, limited CRM features
4. Freshsales – Best User Experience
Why UK users love it: Freshsales offers a clean, intuitive interface that rivals HubSpot’s ease of use, but at more reasonable pricing with better customization options.
Key features:
- Built-in phone and email
- AI-powered lead scoring
- Visual sales pipelines
- Workflow automations
- Integrated chat and telephony
UK pricing:
- Free: Up to 3 users
- Growth: £13/user/month
- Pro: £39/user/month
- Enterprise: £59/user/month
Best for: UK teams wanting HubSpot’s ease of use at better prices.
Pros: Intuitive interface, good value, solid features Cons: Fewer integrations than HubSpot, limited customization
5. Salesforce Starter Suite – Best for Growing Businesses
Why UK scale-ups choose it: Salesforce recently launched Starter Suite specifically for small businesses. It offers enterprise-grade features with simplified setup and pricing.
Key features:
- Complete sales, service, and marketing tools
- AI-powered insights (Einstein)
- Unlimited customization potential
- Extensive third-party integrations
- Built-in e-commerce capabilities
UK pricing:
- Starter Suite: £20/user/month (up to 10 users)
Best for: UK businesses planning significant growth and needing enterprise features.
Pros: Powerful platform, great scalability, competitive pricing Cons: Can be complex, requires more setup time
6. EngageBay – Best Budget Option
Why UK startups love it: EngageBay offers an all-in-one CRM, marketing, and helpdesk solution at incredibly competitive prices – perfect for cash-conscious UK startups.
Key features:
- CRM, marketing, and helpdesk in one
- Landing page and email builders
- Marketing automation workflows
- Live chat and helpdesk tickets
- Social media management
UK pricing:
- Free: Up to 15 users, 1,000 contacts
- Basic: £9.59/user/month
- Growth: £33.59/user/month
- Pro: £50.39/user/month
Best for: UK startups and small businesses on tight budgets.
Pros: Incredible value, all-in-one solution, generous free plan Cons: Less sophisticated than HubSpot, fewer integrations
7. Monday CRM – Best for Project-Based Businesses
Why UK agencies choose it: If your UK business manages projects alongside sales, Monday CRM offers unique project management integration that HubSpot can’t match.
Key features:
- Visual project and deal management
- Customizable workflows and automations
- Time tracking and resource management
- Client collaboration tools
- Advanced reporting dashboards
UK pricing:
- Basic: £27/month (up to 3 users)
- Standard: £36/month (up to 3 users)
- Pro: £59/month (up to 3 users)
Best for: UK agencies, consultancies, and project-based businesses.
Pros: Excellent project integration, visual interface, flexible Cons: Can be overwhelming, pricing increases with users
8. Copper CRM – Best for Google Workspace Users
Why UK Google users prefer it: Built specifically for Google Workspace, Copper CRM integrates seamlessly with Gmail, Calendar, and Drive – perfect for UK businesses already on Google’s platform.
Key features:
- Native Google Workspace integration
- Automatic contact and company creation
- Pipeline management within Gmail
- Google Calendar meeting integration
- Chrome extension for web prospecting
UK pricing:
- Basic: £20/user/month
- Professional: £50/user/month
- Enterprise: £95/user/month
Best for: UK businesses heavily using Google Workspace.
Pros: Seamless Google integration, automatic data capture, easy setup Cons: Limited outside Google ecosystem, fewer features than HubSpot
9. Insightly – Best for Small Business Simplicity
Why UK small businesses choose it: Insightly offers the right balance of features and simplicity for UK small businesses that find HubSpot overwhelming but need more than basic tools.
Key features:
- Project management integration
- Contact relationship mapping
- Pipeline and opportunity management
- Email integration and tracking
- Custom fields and reporting
UK pricing:
- Plus: £23/user/month
- Professional: £39/user/month
- Enterprise: £78/user/month
Best for: UK small businesses wanting straightforward CRM with project features.
Pros: Easy to use, good project integration, reasonable pricing Cons: Limited marketing features, fewer automations
10. Nutshell – Best for Traditional Sales Teams
Why UK B2B teams choose it: Nutshell focuses on core CRM functionality without the complexity. It’s perfect for UK businesses that need solid sales management without marketing bells and whistles.
Key features:
- Visual sales pipeline management
- Email and phone integration
- Contact and company management
- Sales reporting and forecasting
- Lead source tracking
UK pricing:
- Foundation: £15/user/month
- Pro: £40/user/month
- Power AI: £50/user/month
Best for: UK B2B businesses focused on sales fundamentals.
Pros: Simple and effective, good core features, transparent pricing Cons: Limited marketing features, fewer integrations
Comparison: Key Features
| CRM | Free Plan | Starting Price | Best For | Standout Feature |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Zoho CRM | Yes 3 users | £17/month | Customization | Advanced automation |
| Pipedrive | No | £12/month | Sales teams | Visual pipelines |
| ActiveCampaign | No | £14/month | Email marketing | Marketing automation |
| Freshsales | Yes 3 users | £13/month | Ease of use | Clean interface |
| Salesforce | No | £20/month | Scalability | Enterprise features |
| EngageBay | Yes 15 users | £9.59/month | Budget-conscious | All-in-one value |
| Monday CRM | No | £27/month | Projects | Visual workflows |
| Copper | No | £20/month | Google users | Gmail integration |
| Insightly | No | £23/month | Simplicity | Project management |
| Nutshell | No | £15/month | Core CRM | Sales fundamentals |
UK-Specific Considerations
GDPR Compliance
All alternatives listed are GDPR compliant with UK data processing agreements. Key considerations:
- EU data residency options
- Right to deletion functionality
- Consent management features
- Audit trail capabilities
UK Business Integration
Consider how each CRM integrates with popular UK business tools:
- Accounting: Xero, QuickBooks UK, Sage
- Communication: Microsoft Teams, Slack
- E-commerce: Shopify, WooCommerce, Magento
- Marketing: Mailchimp, Constant Contact
Support and Training
UK businesses should consider:
- Local support hours and coverage
- UK-specific training resources
- Implementation assistance
- Community support in UK timezone
How to Choose the Right Alternative
1. Define Your Primary Need
- Sales-focused: Pipedrive, Nutshell, Freshsales
- Marketing-heavy: ActiveCampaign, EngageBay
- All-in-one: Zoho CRM, Salesforce, EngageBay
- Project management: Monday CRM, Insightly
2. Consider Your Budget
Budget-friendly: EngageBay, Zoho CRM, Pipedrive Mid-range: ActiveCampaign, Freshsales, Insightly Investment-worthy: Salesforce, Monday CRM
3. Evaluate Integration Needs
- What tools do you currently use?
- Do you need native integrations or are third-party connectors okay?
- How important is data synchronization?
4. Think About Growth
- How quickly are you scaling?
- Will you need more advanced features soon?
- Can the CRM grow with your business?
Migration from HubSpot
What to Expect
Most alternatives offer:
- Free data migration assistance
- CSV export/import tools
- Dedicated migration support
- Trial periods to test with real data
Migration Timeline
- Simple migration: 1-2 weeks
- Complex setup: 4-6 weeks
- Enterprise migration: 2-3 months
Tips for Smooth Migration
- Clean your HubSpot data first
- Map fields between systems
- Test with sample data
- Train your team gradually
- Run systems in parallel initially
Pricing Reality Check
HubSpot True Cost (UK)
For a 10-person team needing professional features:
- Sales Hub Professional: £720/month
- Marketing Hub Professional: £720/month
- Service Hub Professional: £360/month
- Total: £1,800/month
Alternative Costs for Same Team
- Zoho CRM Professional: £280/month (84% savings)
- Pipedrive Professional: £410/month (77% savings)
- ActiveCampaign Pro: £119/month (93% savings)
- Freshsales Pro: £390/month (78% savings)
Final Recommendations
For UK Startups (1-10 people)
Top choice: EngageBay – Incredible value with all essential features Runner-up: Zoho CRM – More features as you grow
For UK Small Businesses (10-50 people)
Top choice: Zoho CRM – Perfect balance of features and price Runner-up: Pipedrive – If sales is your primary focus
For UK Scale-ups (50+ people)
Top choice: Salesforce Starter Suite – Enterprise features, reasonable price Runner-up: Zoho CRM Enterprise – Advanced features without enterprise complexity
For Specific Needs
- Best marketing: ActiveCampaign
- Best for Google users: Copper CRM
- Best for agencies: Monday CRM
- Best simplicity: Nutshell
The Bottom Line
While HubSpot is a solid platform, these alternatives offer better value, flexibility, or specialization for many UK businesses. The key is matching your specific needs with the right tool.
Start with these steps:
- Try 2-3 alternatives that match your primary need
- Test with your actual data during free trials
- Involve your team in the evaluation process
- Consider long-term costs and scalability
- Don’t rush – the right CRM will serve you for years
Most businesses find they can get 80% of HubSpot’s functionality at 50% of the cost with the right alternative. The question isn’t whether you should switch – it’s which alternative fits your business best.
Frequently Asked Questions
What’s the best free alternative to HubSpot for UK businesses? EngageBay offers the most generous free plan with up to 15 users and 1,000 contacts, including CRM, marketing automation, and helpdesk features. Zoho CRM and Freshsales also offer solid free plans for up to 3 users each.
Which HubSpot alternative is easiest to migrate to? Pipedrive and Freshsales are generally the easiest to migrate to due to their intuitive interfaces and comprehensive migration support. Most alternatives offer free migration assistance and CSV import tools.
Are these HubSpot alternatives GDPR compliant for UK businesses? Yes, all recommended alternatives are GDPR compliant with EU data residency options, consent management, and right to deletion features. Always verify specific compliance requirements with your chosen provider.
What’s the most cost-effective HubSpot alternative? EngageBay offers the best value at £9.59/user/month for their Basic plan. For more advanced needs, Zoho CRM Professional at £28/user/month provides enterprise-level features at a fraction of HubSpot’s cost.
Which alternative is best for UK businesses using Google Workspace? Copper CRM is specifically built for Google Workspace integration, automatically syncing with Gmail, Calendar, and Drive. It’s the most seamless option for Google-centric UK businesses.
Can I integrate these alternatives with UK accounting software like Xero? Yes, most alternatives integrate with popular UK accounting software. Zoho CRM, Pipedrive, and Freshsales all offer native or third-party integrations with Xero, QuickBooks UK, and Sage.
Which HubSpot alternative is best for email marketing? ActiveCampaign excels at email marketing with advanced automation, behavioral triggers, and predictive sending. It offers more sophisticated email features than HubSpot at lower prices.
How long does it take to migrate from HubSpot to an alternative? Migration typically takes 1-6 weeks depending on complexity. Simple migrations with basic data can be completed in a few days, while complex setups with custom fields and automations may take several weeks.
Do these alternatives offer the same level of customer support as HubSpot? Support quality varies, but many alternatives offer comparable or better support. Freshsales and Pipedrive consistently receive high marks for support quality, while EngageBay offers excellent value considering their low prices.
Which alternative is best for UK businesses planning rapid growth? Salesforce Starter Suite and Zoho CRM Enterprise are best for rapidly growing businesses. Both offer extensive customization and can scale from small teams to large enterprises without platform changes.
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