Choosing between HubSpot and Monday.com CRM? You’re comparing two fundamentally different approaches to customer relationship management – one built for comprehensive sales and marketing, the other for visual project-based workflows.
This detailed comparison will help UK businesses understand which platform fits their specific needs, team structure, and budget requirements.
HubSpot vs Monday CRM at a Glance
HubSpot is the comprehensive all-in-one customer platform combining CRM, marketing automation, sales tools, and customer service in one integrated system. It’s built for businesses wanting everything connected.
Monday CRM is the visual, project-focused work operating system that treats customer relationships like collaborative projects. It excels at customizable workflows and team collaboration.
Quick verdict: HubSpot for traditional sales and marketing needs, Monday CRM for project-based businesses and visual workflow management.
Understanding the Core Difference
HubSpot: The Customer Platform
Founded in 2006 as a marketing automation company, HubSpot built its reputation on “inbound marketing” before expanding into a full customer platform. It’s designed around the traditional sales funnel with sophisticated marketing and sales automation.
HubSpot’s philosophy: Unite marketing, sales, and customer service in one platform to create seamless customer experiences.
Monday.com CRM: The Visual Work OS
Monday.com launched its CRM as an extension of its popular project management platform. It treats customer relationships as collaborative projects, emphasizing visual workflows and team coordination.
Monday’s philosophy: Transform how teams work together by making everything visual, customizable, and collaborative.
Pricing Comparison: UK Market
HubSpot UK Pricing
Free CRM: £0 – Essential features for unlimited users Sales Hub Starter: £15/user/month – Basic automation and workflows Sales Hub Professional: £72/user/month – Advanced sales features Sales Hub Enterprise: £120/user/month – Premium customization
Marketing Hub requires separate purchase starting at £36/month
Monday CRM UK Pricing
No free plan – 14-day free trial only Basic CRM: £27/month (minimum 3 users) Standard CRM: £36/month (minimum 3 users) Pro CRM: £59/month (minimum 3 users) Enterprise CRM: Custom pricing
Monday CRM includes project management features at all levels
Real Cost Analysis for UK Businesses
For a 5-person team:
- HubSpot Professional: £360/month (CRM + sales tools)
- Monday CRM Standard: £60/month (CRM + project management)
For a 10-person team:
- HubSpot Professional: £720/month
- Monday CRM Pro: £118/month
Winner: Monday CRM is significantly more affordable, especially for larger teams.
Feature Comparison
Core CRM Functionality
HubSpot:
- Traditional contact, company, and deal management
- Automatic contact enrichment from web data
- Advanced lead scoring and segmentation
- Email tracking and scheduling
- Sales pipeline management with forecasting
Monday CRM:
- Visual contact boards with customizable columns
- Deal tracking through Kanban-style boards
- Activity and task management integrated
- Custom fields and properties
- Visual pipeline with drag-and-drop functionality
Winner: HubSpot for traditional CRM depth, Monday for visual project-style management.
Sales Pipeline Management
HubSpot:
- Multi-stage pipeline with probability tracking
- Advanced forecasting and reporting
- Deal rotation and automated assignments
- Revenue analytics and performance tracking
- Integration with marketing campaigns
Monday CRM:
- Highly visual Kanban-style deal boards
- Unlimited custom pipelines and stages
- Color-coded deal status and priorities
- Automated status updates based on activities
- Timeline and Gantt views for deal progression
Winner: Monday CRM for visual appeal and customization, HubSpot for sales sophistication.
Project Management Integration
HubSpot:
- Basic project management through tasks
- Project templates and collaboration
- Integration with project management tools
- Limited Gantt chart functionality
- Focused on customer-facing projects
Monday CRM:
- Full project management platform included
- 27+ project views (Timeline, Gantt, Calendar, etc.)
- Resource planning and time tracking
- Team collaboration and file sharing
- Complete project lifecycle management
Winner: Monday CRM dominates – project management is core to their platform.
Marketing Capabilities
HubSpot:
- Comprehensive email marketing with automation
- Landing page builder and forms
- Social media management and monitoring
- Blog platform with SEO optimization
- Advanced marketing analytics and attribution
Monday CRM:
- Basic email campaigns through add-ons
- Simple form building capabilities
- Limited social media integration
- No content management system
- Basic marketing automation
Winner: HubSpot wins decisively – marketing is central to their offering.
Automation and AI
HubSpot AI (Breeze):
- Advanced workflow automation
- AI-powered content generation
- Conversation intelligence for calls
- Predictive lead scoring
- Automated email sequences and nurturing
Monday AI (Sidekick):
- Task automation and generation
- AI-powered email composition
- Content creation assistance
- Formula building and data analysis
- Natural language task creation
Winner: HubSpot for sales/marketing AI, Monday for project and task automation.
User Experience and Interface
HubSpot Interface
Strengths:
- Clean, modern design across all modules
- Intuitive navigation between different hubs
- Comprehensive help documentation and training
- Consistent user experience
Weaknesses:
- Can feel overwhelming with numerous features
- Learning curve for advanced customization
- Some users find it cluttered
Monday CRM Interface
Strengths:
- Highly visual and colorful design
- Drag-and-drop functionality throughout
- Customizable boards and views
- Quick setup and easy adoption
Weaknesses:
- May feel too casual for traditional CRM users
- Limited customization for text-heavy workflows
- Less sophisticated reporting interface
Winner: Monday CRM for visual appeal and ease of use, HubSpot for comprehensive functionality.
Integration Capabilities
HubSpot Integrations
Strengths:
- 1,500+ integrations in marketplace
- Native connections work seamlessly
- Strong API for custom integrations
- All hubs integrate automatically with each other
Popular UK integrations: Xero, Sage, QuickBooks UK, Mailchimp, Zapier, Microsoft 365
Monday CRM Integrations
Strengths:
- 200+ integrations available
- Easy setup for most connections
- Strong project management tool integrations
- Good API documentation
Popular UK integrations: Slack, Google Workspace, Zapier, Zoom, time tracking tools
Winner: HubSpot for breadth, Monday for project-focused integrations.
Team Collaboration Features
HubSpot Collaboration
- Team email templates and sequences
- Deal and contact assignment
- Sales team performance tracking
- Shared reporting dashboards
- Comment system on records
Monday CRM Collaboration
- Real-time team collaboration on boards
- @mentions and notification system
- File sharing and document management
- Discussion threads on all items
- Team workload and capacity planning
Winner: Monday CRM excels at team collaboration – it’s built into their DNA.
UK-Specific Considerations
GDPR Compliance
Both platforms are GDPR compliant with:
- EU data residency options
- Right to deletion functionality
- Consent management tools
- Data processing agreements for UK businesses
UK Business Integration
Accounting Software:
- Both integrate with Xero, Sage, and QuickBooks UK
- HubSpot has more sophisticated financial reporting
- Monday CRM better for project-based billing
Industry Suitability:
- HubSpot: Better for traditional B2B, SaaS, professional services
- Monday CRM: Ideal for agencies, creative services, construction, consulting
Use Case Recommendations
Choose HubSpot If:
- You need comprehensive sales and marketing integration
- Lead generation and nurturing are primary concerns
- You want traditional CRM functionality with advanced features
- Marketing automation is crucial to your business
- You need sophisticated reporting and analytics
- Your team follows conventional sales processes
- Budget allows for higher-tier plans
Choose Monday CRM If:
- Your business operates on project-based workflows
- Visual management appeals to your team
- You need strong project management alongside CRM
- Budget is a primary concern
- Team collaboration is as important as customer management
- You prefer customizable, flexible workflows
- Traditional CRM feels too rigid for your processes
Industry-Specific Recommendations
Best for UK Agencies and Creative Services
Monday CRM – Perfect blend of client relationship management and project delivery tracking.
Best for UK SaaS and Tech Companies
HubSpot – Comprehensive marketing automation essential for lead generation and customer acquisition.
Best for UK Professional Services
Either platform – Monday CRM for project-heavy firms, HubSpot for lead generation focused practices.
Best for UK Manufacturing and Construction
Monday CRM – Project-based approach aligns well with contract and project management needs.
Best for UK E-commerce and Retail
HubSpot – Marketing automation and customer journey management crucial for online sales.
Team Size Considerations
Small Teams (3-10 people)
Monday CRM – More affordable and easier to implement with strong collaboration features.
Medium Teams (10-30 people)
Either platform – Choice depends on whether you need comprehensive marketing (HubSpot) or project management (Monday).
Large Teams (30+ people)
HubSpot – Better handles complex organizational needs and sophisticated sales processes.
Implementation and Learning Curve
HubSpot Implementation
- Setup time: 1-2 weeks for basic configuration
- Full deployment: 4-6 weeks including training
- Learning curve: Moderate to steep for advanced features
- Training: Extensive free resources through HubSpot Academy
Monday CRM Implementation
- Setup time: 1-3 days for basic boards
- Full deployment: 1-2 weeks including customization
- Learning curve: Quick for basic use, moderate for advanced workflows
- Training: Visual tutorials and template library
Winner: Monday CRM for speed of implementation and user adoption.
Customer Support
HubSpot Support
- 24/7 chat and email support for paid plans
- Extensive documentation and video tutorials
- Large community forum
- HubSpot Academy with free certifications
- Implementation specialists available
Monday CRM Support
- 24/7 support for Pro and Enterprise plans
- Good documentation and help center
- Community forum and templates
- Onboarding assistance included
- Regular webinars and training sessions
Winner: HubSpot for comprehensive support resources, both provide good service.
Pros and Cons Summary
HubSpot Pros
- Comprehensive all-in-one platform
- Sophisticated marketing automation
- Advanced analytics and reporting
- Strong integration ecosystem
- Free plan available
- Excellent training resources
HubSpot Cons
- Expensive for full feature access
- Can be overwhelming for simple needs
- Learning curve for advanced features
- May include unnecessary features
Monday CRM Pros
- Highly visual and intuitive interface
- Excellent project management integration
- More affordable pricing
- Quick implementation and adoption
- Strong team collaboration features
- Highly customizable workflows
Monday CRM Cons
- Limited marketing capabilities
- No free plan available
- Less sophisticated for traditional sales
- Fewer integrations than HubSpot
- May feel too casual for some businesses
The Bottom Line for UK Businesses
For Traditional Sales and Marketing: HubSpot
If your UK business follows conventional B2B sales processes and needs comprehensive marketing automation, HubSpot provides unmatched functionality despite the higher cost.
For Project-Based Businesses: Monday CRM
If your UK business operates on projects, values visual collaboration, and needs affordable CRM with project management, Monday CRM offers excellent value and functionality.
The Decision Framework
- Need marketing automation: HubSpot
- Project-based business: Monday CRM
- Budget under £200/month: Monday CRM
- Traditional sales process: HubSpot
- Visual workflow preference: Monday CRM
- Need comprehensive analytics: HubSpot
Migration Considerations
Switching to Monday CRM
Timeline: 1-2 weeks with built-in import tools Best for: Teams wanting simpler, more visual CRM management
Switching to HubSpot
Timeline: 2-4 weeks for full implementation Best for: Businesses needing more sophisticated sales and marketing tools
Final Recommendation
For most UK project-based businesses: Start with Monday CRM. It’s more affordable, easier to implement, and the visual approach often leads to better team adoption.
For UK businesses with complex sales cycles: Choose HubSpot if you can justify the investment. The marketing automation and advanced CRM features provide significant value for lead-driven businesses.
The pragmatic choice: Try Monday CRM first due to its affordability and quick implementation. You can always migrate to HubSpot later if you outgrow Monday’s capabilities.
The best CRM is the one your team will actually use consistently – and Monday CRM’s visual, collaborative approach often wins on user adoption.
Frequently Asked Questions
Which is more affordable for UK small businesses? Monday CRM is significantly more affordable, starting at £27/month for 3 users compared to HubSpot’s £45/month for comparable functionality. For larger teams, the savings with Monday CRM become even more substantial.
Do I need separate project management software with HubSpot? Yes, HubSpot’s project management features are basic. You’d likely need additional project management software, which increases overall costs. Monday CRM includes comprehensive project management at no extra cost.
Which platform is better for UK agencies and consultancies? Monday CRM is generally better for UK agencies as it combines client relationship management with project delivery tracking. The visual workflows align well with creative and consulting processes.
Can Monday CRM handle traditional sales processes? Yes, but it requires more customization than HubSpot. Monday CRM can manage sales pipelines effectively, but it’s more suited to businesses that view sales as collaborative projects rather than traditional funnels.
Which has better UK customer support? Both offer good support, but HubSpot provides more extensive training resources through HubSpot Academy. Monday CRM offers solid support with quicker response times for implementation questions.
Is HubSpot’s free plan better than Monday CRM’s paid plans? HubSpot’s free plan is generous for basic CRM needs, but Monday CRM’s paid plans include project management and team collaboration features that HubSpot doesn’t offer even in paid tiers.
Which platform scales better for growing UK businesses? HubSpot scales better for traditional sales and marketing growth, while Monday CRM scales better for operational complexity and team collaboration. Choose based on your growth direction.
Do both platforms work well with UK accounting software? Yes, both integrate with popular UK accounting software like Xero, Sage, and QuickBooks UK. Monday CRM may be better for project-based billing and time tracking integration.
Which is easier for teams to adopt? Monday CRM typically has faster user adoption due to its visual interface and intuitive design. HubSpot has more features but requires more training for teams to use effectively.
Can I use both platforms together? Yes, there are integration options to use HubSpot for marketing and Monday CRM for project management, though this increases complexity and costs. Most businesses benefit from choosing one primary platform.
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