Introduction: Why the CRM Market Looks Different in 2026
HubSpot has long been the gold standard for marketing automation – and with approximately 37.5% market share in the CRM segment, it still is. But market leadership doesn't automatically mean the best solution for your business.
The demand for agile alternatives to bloated CRM suites is at an all-time high. Based on our migration data from 2025, Shopify brands moving from rigid all-in-one platforms to a specialized "Best-of-Breed" stack typically save more than $7,000 per year in licensing fees—while actually increasing their performance.
Where do these savings come from? Legacy CRM providers often charge for "infrastructure bloat"—features and inactive contacts that don't contribute to your bottom line. A specialized stack, however, is modular and scales with your actual success. Instead of paying a massive flat fee for unused tools, your budget is reinvested where it has the highest leverage: direct, high-ROI customer communication.
This article shows you:
- Why HubSpot is no longer the right choice for many businesses in 2026
- Which alternatives work best for marketing, sales, AND service
- How to achieve better results at lower costs with a "Best-of-Breed" approach
Why Companies Are Leaving HubSpot in 2026
1. The Cost Trap: Contact Tiers That Explode
HubSpot starts cheap – then gets expensive. Very expensive.
Current Marketing Hub Pricing Structure (as of January 2026):
| Plan | Base Price | Contacts Included | Additional Contacts | Onboarding |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Starter | $20/month | 1,000 | $50/1,000 contacts | – |
| Professional | $890/month | 2,000 | $250/5,000 contacts | $3,000 one-time |
| Enterprise | $3,600/month | 10,000 | $100/10,000 contacts | $7,000 one-time |
The Problem: As your business grows, your bill grows disproportionately.
A real example: You start with HubSpot Marketing Hub Professional and 2,000 contacts at $890/month. After one year, you've built up 10,000 contacts. Your new monthly bill: approximately $2,280 – more than double, even though you're using the same features.
On top of that: Professional and Enterprise plans require annual contracts. Once signed, you pay for 12 months – even if you cancel or realize the tool isn't right for you.
💡 Pro Tip: Marketing Contacts vs. Non-Marketing Contacts
HubSpot distinguishes between "Marketing Contacts" (those you actively reach via email or ads) and "Non-Marketing Contacts" (pure CRM entries). Only Marketing Contacts count toward your pricing tier – but switching between categories is restricted: You can upgrade contacts to Marketing Contacts anytime, but downgrading only takes effect at the next billing period. Alternatives like Brevo or Encharge often don't differentiate at all or do so much more fairly.
2. Complexity That Costs Time
HubSpot is powerful. But with that power comes complexity:
- Mandatory Onboarding: For Professional, you pay a $3,000 onboarding fee – for Enterprise, it's $7,000. And it's not optional; it's required.
- Seat-Based Pricing: Since March 2024, HubSpot charges by "Core Seats." Every user who can do more than just read costs extra – and the price is based on the most expensive Hub in your account.
- Consultant Dependency: Many companies need external HubSpot partners just to set up the tool properly. That's additional cost that doesn't appear in any price list.
⚠️ Warning: Vendor Lock-in at HubSpot
What many don't know: Workflows and automations cannot be exported from HubSpot. You can download contacts and deals as CSV, but your carefully built email sequences, lead scoring rules, and automation workflows stay with HubSpot. When switching, you have to rebuild everything from scratch. This makes switching costly – and it's a deliberate lock-in effect that keeps you tied to the platform.
3. GDPR: The US Risk
For companies in Europe (and increasingly worldwide), data privacy isn't optional – it's mandatory. HubSpot is a US company with servers in the USA. While EU hosting options exist:
- The default configuration stores data in the USA
- EU hosting must be explicitly requested
- Legal experts continue to see risks due to the US CLOUD Act
European alternatives like Chatarmin, Brevo, or CentralStationCRM host in the EU by default – no extra costs, no configuration headaches, no legal gray areas.
4. "Email First" Was 2016 – Not 2026
HubSpot was built for email marketing. That was revolutionary in 2010. But in 2026, customers expect communication where they are: on WhatsApp, in live chat, on social media.
The open rates speak for themselves:
| Channel | Average Open Rate |
|---|---|
| 15–25% | |
| 90–98% |
HubSpot offers WhatsApp as an add-on, but it's not natively integrated. For e-commerce companies betting on messaging-first, there are better solutions.
5. Service Hub: Well-Intentioned, But Limited
Many companies use HubSpot not just for marketing but also for customer service. Here, additional weaknesses emerge:
- Knowledge Base: Duplicating articles is cumbersome or impossible – a problem for companies with similar content for different products
- Agent Workspace: The interface is functional but less flexible than specialized help desk solutions
- Ticket Routing: Automation options are limited compared to Zendesk or Freshdesk
Why 2026 Is the Year of the "Best-of-Breed" Tech Stack
The trend is clear: Instead of expensive all-in-one suites, successful e-commerce companies are using specialized tools that work perfectly together.
The "Best-of-Breed" approach means:
- Chatarmin for WhatsApp marketing, AI chatbots, and messaging automation
- Pipedrive or Close for sales pipeline management
- Zendesk or Freshdesk for professional customer service
- Klaviyo for e-commerce email marketing
- Brevo for transactional emails
The Benefits:
- Lower Costs: You only pay for the features you actually need
- Better Specialization: Each tool is an expert in its field
- More Flexibility: You can swap individual tools without rebuilding your entire stack
- Faster Innovation: Specialized providers develop their core features faster
Real Example: A mid-sized e-commerce shop with 50,000 contacts
| Approach | Monthly Cost (approx.) |
|---|---|
| HubSpot Marketing + Service Hub Professional | $3,500–4,500 |
| Best-of-Breed (Chatarmin + Klaviyo + Freshdesk) | $900–1,400 |
The Savings: Over $25,000 per year – often with better functionality in core areas.
The 13 Best HubSpot Alternatives 2026 Compared
Comparison Table with Social Proof: All Alternatives at a Glance
| Provider | Category | Pricing Model | GDPR/EU | G2 Rating | Best For |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Chatarmin | Marketing/WhatsApp | Flexible, no contact tier | ✅ EU | ⭐ 4.9/5 (37 Reviews) | E-Com, D2C, Europe |
| Pipedrive | Sales | From $14/user/month | On request | ⭐ 4.3/5 (2,700+ Reviews) | Sales teams |
| ActiveCampaign | Email Automation | Contact-based | On request | ⭐ 4.5/5 (14,400+ Reviews) | Marketing teams |
| Bitrix24 | All-in-One | Free + from $61/month | Partial | ⭐ 4.2/5 (960+ Reviews) | SMBs, broad needs |
| EngageBay | All-in-One (Budget) | From $12.74/user/month | On request | ⭐ 4.7/5 (780+ Reviews) | Startups, small teams |
| Brevo | Email/SMS | Per email | ✅ EU | ⭐ 4.5/5 (2,500+ Reviews) | Startups, transactional |
| Zendesk | Service/CX | From $55/agent/month | On request | ⭐ 4.3/5 (6,100+ Reviews) | Support teams, Enterprise |
| Freshdesk | Service | Free up to 10 agents | No | ⭐ 4.4/5 (3,200+ Reviews) | SMBs, budget-conscious |
| CentralStationCRM | CRM (Basic) | Flat from €18/month | ✅ Germany | ⭐ 4.2/5 (12 Reviews) | Small teams, privacy |
| Zeeg | Scheduling + CRM | Free plan available | ✅ Germany | New on G2 | Service providers |
| Salesforce | Enterprise CRM | Module-based | Partial | ⭐ 4.4/5 (91,900+ Reviews) | Enterprise, scale |
| Mautic | Marketing (Open Source) | Free (Self-Hosted) | ✅ Self-Hosted | Community | Developers, full control |
| Friendly Automate | Marketing (Open Source) | Free (Self-Hosted) | ✅ Self-Hosted | – | GDPR-sensitive companies |
📊 What the Review Numbers Show:
Salesforce with 91,900+ reviews is the undisputed market giant – but also correspondingly complex and expensive. ActiveCampaign (14,400+ reviews) dominates the email marketing segment. Chatarmin shows the highest customer satisfaction at 4.9/5 stars across all providers – a sign of a highly specialized high-performer in the European market. Ratings from G2 (as of late 2025).
Detailed Analysis: Top Alternatives by Category
CATEGORY 1: Marketing & WhatsApp
Chatarmin – The AI-First Alternative for E-Commerce
Best for: E-commerce companies, D2C brands, Shopify stores in Europe
Chatarmin positions itself as an "AI-first CRM" with a clear focus on messaging. Instead of HubSpot's outdated "Email First" approach, Chatarmin uses WhatsApp as the primary communication channel – where customers are actually reachable today.
⭐ Trust Signal: G2 Rating 4.9/5 Stars
Chatarmin achieves a rating of 4.9 out of 5 stars on the review platform G2 – the highest rating of all tools in this comparison. Users particularly praise the easy setup, European support, and native WhatsApp integration.
What Chatarmin Does Better Than HubSpot:
- Native WhatsApp Integration: No add-ons, no extra costs. WhatsApp marketing, chatbots, and support from one source.
- Shopify & Klaviyo Sync: Deep integration into the e-commerce stack. Order data, abandoned carts, and customer segments are automatically synchronized.
- 100% GDPR Compliant: EU hosting, no US data transfers. Perfect for the European market.
- AI Agents: Automated customer responses 24/7 – with context understanding and handoff to human agents when needed. The AI can often completely resolve tickets, e.g., returns management, without human intervention.
- Transparent Pricing: No exploding contact tiers. You know what you're paying.
Limitations: Chatarmin specializes in messaging and e-commerce. If you need a classic sales CRM with pipeline management, Pipedrive is a better complement.
Bottom Line: For e-commerce companies betting on WhatsApp marketing and needing GDPR compliance, Chatarmin is the strongest HubSpot alternative.
ActiveCampaign – The Champion for Email Automation
Best for: Marketing teams focused on email campaigns and complex automation workflows
ActiveCampaign has been the benchmark for email marketing automation for years – and the 14,400+ reviews on G2 reflect that. If you need complex customer journeys with branching logic, lead scoring, and behavior-based triggers, ActiveCampaign is hard to beat.
What ActiveCampaign Does Better Than HubSpot:
- Workflow Builder: One of the most powerful visual automation builders on the market. Complex if/then logic without coding skills.
- Lead Scoring: Automatic lead evaluation based on behavior, engagement, and demographic data.
- Better Value: Comparable features to HubSpot Marketing Hub Pro – at a fraction of the cost.
- Strong Integrations: Shopify, WooCommerce, Salesforce, 900+ apps.
Limitations:
- No Free Plan: Unlike HubSpot or Brevo, there's no free version.
- Check Privacy: US company. EU hosting must be explicitly requested.
Bottom Line: For pure email marketing automation, ActiveCampaign is often the better choice than HubSpot – especially for mid-sized companies.
Brevo (formerly Sendinblue) – The European Alternative for Email & SMS
Best for: Startups, small businesses, teams needing transactional emails and SMS
Brevo is a French company with servers in Germany and France. For European companies looking for a European alternative to US tools, that's a real argument.
💡 Pro Tip: Understanding the Brevo Pricing Model
HubSpot charges per contact, Brevo charges per email sent. This is a fundamental difference: If you have 50,000 contacts but only email 10,000 of them monthly, you pay HubSpot for all 50,000. With Brevo, you only pay for emails actually sent. For companies with many inactive contacts or seasonal business, Brevo is often massively cheaper.
What Brevo Does Better Than HubSpot:
- EU-First: Servers in Germany and France. Full GDPR compliance without configuration.
- Fair Pricing: The free plan includes 300 emails/day. Paid plans start at €19/month.
- Transactional Emails as Core Feature: Order confirmations, password resets, shipping notifications – natively integrated at Brevo and included in the price. At HubSpot, transactional emails often cost extra or require add-ons.
- SMS Marketing: Native SMS features without add-ons.
Limitations:
- Less Automation: The workflow builder is good but not as powerful as ActiveCampaign or HubSpot.
- Not a Full CRM: CRM features are basic. For complex pipeline management, you need an additional tool.
Bottom Line: Brevo is the ideal choice for European companies looking for an affordable, GDPR-compliant tool for email and SMS marketing – without enterprise CRM overhead.
CATEGORY 2: Sales & Pipeline
Pipedrive – The Price-Performance Winner for Sales Teams
Best for: Sales teams, agencies, B2B companies focused on pipeline management
Pipedrive does one thing really well: visualize and manage sales pipelines. No feature overload, no unnecessary complexity – just a tool that makes sales teams more productive. The 2,700+ reviews on G2 confirm this.
What Pipedrive Does Better Than HubSpot:
- Visual Pipeline: Drag and drop deals through the pipeline. So simple that no onboarding is needed.
- Fair Pricing: From $14/user/month. No contact tiers, no hidden fees.
- Quick Setup: Ready to use in less than an hour – without a $3,000 onboarding fee.
- Strong Integrations: Google Workspace, Slack, telephony, email tracking.
Limitations: Pipedrive is not a marketing tool. For email automation, landing pages, or WhatsApp marketing, you need additional solutions.
Bottom Line: If your main problem is sales pipeline management and you find HubSpot Sales Hub too expensive, Pipedrive is the logical alternative.
CATEGORY 3: Customer Service (Service Hub Alternatives)
Many companies use HubSpot not just for marketing but also for Service Hub. Here, they often hit limits: rigid knowledge bases, restricted ticket routing, and an agent workspace that can't keep up with specialized help desk solutions.
Zendesk – The Professional Solution for Customer Experience
Best for: Support teams of 5+ agents, companies with high ticket volume, CX-focused organizations
Zendesk is the industry standard for professional customer service – with 6,100+ reviews on G2. If you're using HubSpot Service Hub and hitting limits, Zendesk is the logical upgrade.
What Zendesk Does Better Than HubSpot Service Hub:
- Agent Workspace: The Zendesk interface is optimized for support agents. All customer information, ticket history, and context at a glance – no tab switching.
- Flexible Knowledge Base: Unlike HubSpot, with Zendesk you can easily duplicate articles, create variants for different products, and map complex structures.
- Native Omnichannel: Email, chat, phone, social media, WhatsApp – all channels in one system, no add-ons.
- Strong Automation: Triggers, macros, and automations that surpass HubSpot in flexibility.
- Scalability: From 5 to 5,000 agents – Zendesk grows with you.
Pricing: From approximately $55/agent/month (Suite Team). For enterprise features from $115/agent/month.
Limitations:
- No Integrated Marketing: Zendesk focuses purely on service. For marketing, you need a separate tool.
- Complexity: Zendesk offers many features – setup takes longer than with simpler tools.
Bottom Line: For companies that take customer service seriously and have outgrown HubSpot Service Hub, Zendesk is the premium choice.
Freshdesk – The Affordable Alternative with Free Entry
Best for: Small to medium support teams, budget-conscious companies, startups
Freshdesk (part of the Freshworks family) offers solid customer service at a fraction of the cost of HubSpot or Zendesk – including a generous free plan. 3,200+ reviews on G2 speak to its popularity.
💰 Cost Tip: Freshdesk Free Plan
Freshdesk offers a permanently free plan for up to 10 agents. Included: email ticketing, knowledge base, team inbox, and basic automations. For small teams, this is often sufficient – HubSpot Service Hub only offers comparable features in paid plans.
What Freshdesk Does Better Than HubSpot Service Hub:
- Free Entry: 10 agents free – HubSpot doesn't offer that.
- Easy Setup: Productive in just a few hours, no onboarding fees.
- Solid Ticketing Features: Automatic assignment, SLA management, canned responses.
- Integrated Telephony: Freshdesk Contact Center for voice support.
Limitations:
- No EU Hosting: Freshworks is a US/India-based company. A disadvantage for GDPR-sensitive companies.
- Less Flexible Than Zendesk: For complex workflows, Freshdesk hits limits.
Bottom Line: Freshdesk is the ideal choice for budget-conscious teams looking for a solid help desk solution without high entry costs.
CATEGORY 4: All-in-One & Value
Bitrix24 – The Value Champion for Broad Requirements
Best for: SMBs wanting CRM, project management, HR, and communication in one tool
Bitrix24 is the Swiss Army knife of business tools. CRM, project management, time tracking, HR, telephony, video calls – all in one platform. For companies with many needs who don't want to pay for ten different tools, Bitrix24 is interesting.
What Makes Bitrix24 Special in 2026 – CoPilot AI:
Bitrix24 has introduced "CoPilot," an AI assistant with impressive features:
- Call Transcription: Customer calls are automatically converted to text and summarized.
- Automatic CRM Field Filling: CoPilot extracts contact details, budgets, and deadlines from conversations – and enters them directly into the CRM.
- Sales Script Analysis: The AI compares sales conversations with defined scripts and provides improvement suggestions.
- Meeting Summaries: Video conferences are analyzed, key points extracted, and to-dos created.
Limitations:
- Complexity: Bitrix24 can be overwhelming. Many features = steep learning curve.
- Privacy: EU hosting is available but not default. Must be configured.
Bottom Line: For SMBs with limited budgets and many different requirements, Bitrix24 is a solid choice. The CoPilot AI makes it even more attractive in 2026.
EngageBay – The Budget-Friendly All-in-One Alternative for Startups
Best for: Startups, solopreneurs, small teams with minimal budget who want the "HubSpot feeling"
EngageBay is the most budget-friendly all-in-one alternative to HubSpot. If you need marketing, sales, and service in one tool but have almost no budget, EngageBay is the answer.
💰 Price Highlight: From $12.74/User/Month
EngageBay offers marketing automation, CRM, sales pipeline AND help desk in one package – from just $12.74 per user per month. For comparison: Similar features at HubSpot quickly cost $500+/month. There's even a free plan for up to 250 contacts.
What EngageBay Offers:
- True All-in-One: Marketing automation, email campaigns, landing pages, CRM, deals, ticketing – all in one platform.
- HubSpot-like UI: The interface feels familiar if you're coming from HubSpot.
- Collaborative Sales & Marketing: According to G2 reviews, particularly strong when marketing and sales need to work closely together.
- Extremely Affordable: The cheapest all-in-one suite on the market with comparable functionality.
Limitations:
- Less Mature Individual Features: Each feature is "good enough" but not best-in-class. For complex email automation, ActiveCampaign is better; for support, Zendesk is better.
- Smaller Ecosystem: Fewer integrations than HubSpot or Salesforce.
- US-Based: Clarify privacy questions before use.
Bottom Line: EngageBay is perfect for startups and small teams who want a suite like HubSpot but don't have an enterprise budget. The "HubSpot clone" at a fraction of the price.
CATEGORY 5: Privacy-First – GDPR Without Compromise
CentralStationCRM – The "Anti-HubSpot" Solution from Germany
Best for: Small teams (2–20 people), privacy-sensitive companies, freelancers and agencies
CentralStationCRM is the opposite of HubSpot: No feature overload, no hidden costs, no US servers. A lean CRM that does exactly what a CRM should do – manage contacts and customer relationships.
🇩🇪 Made in Germany: What That Concretely Means
CentralStationCRM hosts exclusively in Germany. That's more than just "EU hosting": German servers are subject to German privacy law, there are no backdoors through US laws like the CLOUD Act, and support speaks German. For companies in regulated industries (healthcare, finance, legal) or with particularly sensitive customer data, this is a decisive advantage over US providers.
What CentralStationCRM Offers:
- Radically Simple: No 500-feature list, no weeks of training. A CRM anyone understands immediately.
- Flat Pricing: From €18/month for the entire team. No surprises, no contact tiers.
- German Support: Real people who speak your language and understand your business.
- No Feature Bloat: You get contact management, tasks, email integration, notes. Nothing more, nothing less.
Limitations:
- No Marketing Automation: For email campaigns or WhatsApp marketing, you need an additional tool.
- Limited Integrations: Fewer third-party apps than the big players.
- Not for Enterprise: Beyond 20+ users or complex workflows, it gets tight.
Bottom Line: CentralStationCRM is the ideal choice for small teams looking for a simple, German CRM without bells and whistles. The "Anti-HubSpot" solution for everyone tired of feature overload.
Zeeg – The German Niche Alternative for Scheduling + CRM
Best for: Service providers, consultants, small teams who want to combine scheduling and customer management
Zeeg is a German company from Berlin that combines scheduling and CRM in one platform. For businesses whose work is based on appointments (consulting, coaching, agencies), Zeeg is an interesting niche solution.
What Zeeg Offers:
- 100% GDPR: Servers exclusively in Germany. Built on "Privacy by Design" principles.
- Automatic CRM Contacts: Every booking automatically creates a CRM entry with complete history.
- Round-Robin & Lead Routing: Appointments are fairly distributed among team members.
- Free Entry: There's a permanently free plan for individual users.
Limitations:
- Not a Full HubSpot Replacement: Zeeg is primarily scheduling with CRM features – not a marketing automation tool.
- Limited Integrations: Fewer third-party integrations than established CRMs.
Bottom Line: Zeeg isn't a direct HubSpot alternative but a strong addition to the best-of-breed stack – especially for service providers needing GDPR compliance.
CATEGORY 6: Open Source – Full Control
Mautic & Friendly Automate – For Companies with Technical Know-How
Best for: Developer teams, companies with their own IT infrastructure, maximum data control
If you want full control over your code and data, open-source solutions like Mautic or Friendly Automate are interesting.
Mautic:
- World's largest open-source marketing automation
- Self-hosted: You run it on your own servers
- Full customizability through open-source code
- Free (but: hosting, maintenance, and setup cost time/money)
Friendly Automate:
- German Mautic distribution with additional GDPR features
- Pre-configured for the German market
- German support available
Limitations:
- Technical Know-How Required: Installation, updates, server maintenance – it doesn't happen by itself.
- No Support "Out of the Box": You rely on community or paid partners.
- Hidden Costs: Servers, SSL certificates, backup, developer time – "free" is relative.
Bottom Line: Open-source alternatives are ideal for companies with their own IT department who want maximum control and independence. For most SMBs, the effort is too high.
CATEGORY 7: Enterprise
Salesforce – The Enterprise Alternative for Maximum Scale
Best for: Large companies, enterprise teams, complex sales organizations
Salesforce is the world market leader in the CRM space – and the 91,900+ reviews on G2 show it. If you need maximum flexibility, unlimited scaling, and an ecosystem of thousands of apps, there's hardly a way around Salesforce.
What Salesforce Does Better Than HubSpot:
- Einstein AI: Salesforce's AI analyzes deals, predicts close probabilities, and recommends next steps.
- Unlimited Customization: Almost everything is configurable. Custom objects, workflows, approval processes.
- App Ecosystem: Over 3,000 apps in the AppExchange for every conceivable use case.
Limitations:
- Cost: Salesforce is expensive. Enterprise plans start at several hundred dollars per user per month.
- Complexity: Setup takes months, not days. Salesforce consultants are often needed.
- Privacy: US company. EU hosting is possible but costs extra.
⚠️ Important Note: Switching to Salesforce
A switch from HubSpot to Salesforce only makes sense for corporations with complex requirements and corresponding budgets. For most SMBs, Salesforce is even more complex and expensive than HubSpot. If you want to leave HubSpot because of costs or complexity, Salesforce is rarely the right answer.
Bottom Line: Salesforce is for enterprise companies with complex requirements and corresponding budgets. For SMBs, it's overkill in most cases.
Extended Evaluation: The 5 Core Criteria Compared
| Provider | Automation | AI | Privacy | Flexibility | Ease of Use |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Chatarmin | ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ | ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ | ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ | ⭐⭐⭐⭐ | ⭐⭐⭐⭐ |
| Pipedrive | ⭐⭐⭐ | ⭐⭐⭐ | ⭐⭐⭐⭐ | ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ | ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ |
| ActiveCampaign | ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ | ⭐⭐⭐⭐ | ⭐⭐⭐ | ⭐⭐⭐⭐ | ⭐⭐⭐⭐ |
| Bitrix24 | ⭐⭐⭐⭐ | ⭐⭐⭐⭐ | ⭐⭐⭐ | ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ | ⭐⭐⭐ |
| EngageBay | ⭐⭐⭐⭐ | ⭐⭐⭐ | ⭐⭐⭐ | ⭐⭐⭐⭐ | ⭐⭐⭐⭐ |
| Brevo | ⭐⭐⭐ | ⭐⭐ | ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ | ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ | ⭐⭐⭐⭐ |
| Zendesk | ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ | ⭐⭐⭐⭐ | ⭐⭐⭐ | ⭐⭐⭐⭐ | ⭐⭐⭐⭐ |
| Freshdesk | ⭐⭐⭐⭐ | ⭐⭐⭐ | ⭐⭐ | ⭐⭐⭐⭐ | ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ |
| CentralStationCRM | ⭐⭐ | ⭐ | ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ | ⭐⭐⭐ | ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ |
| Zeeg | ⭐⭐⭐ | ⭐⭐ | ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ | ⭐⭐⭐⭐ | ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ |
| Salesforce | ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ | ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ | ⭐⭐⭐ | ⭐⭐⭐⭐ | ⭐⭐⭐ |
How to Choose the Right HubSpot Alternative
Decision Matrix: Which Tool Fits You?
You need WhatsApp marketing & e-commerce integration?
→ Chatarmin – Native WhatsApp features, Shopify/Klaviyo sync, EU hosting (G2: 4.9/5 ⭐)
You need a simple sales CRM without overhead?
→ Pipedrive – Visual pipeline, fair prices, quick setup
You need complex email automation?
→ ActiveCampaign – Industry-leading workflow builder
You need professional customer service?
→ Zendesk (Pro) or Freshdesk (Budget)
You need all-in-one on a mini budget?
→ EngageBay – Marketing, Sales & Service from $12.74/user
You need everything in one tool (CRM, PM, HR)?
→ Bitrix24 – Broad functionality, CoPilot AI
You need an EU-based email solution?
→ Brevo – Servers in Germany, GDPR compliant, affordable
You need a German CRM without bells and whistles?
→ CentralStationCRM – Made in Germany, radically simple
You need full code control?
→ Mautic or Friendly Automate – Open source, self-hosted
You're an enterprise company with complex requirements?
→ Salesforce – Maximum scaling and customization
Migration Guide: How to Switch from HubSpot
Phase 1: Needs Analysis (Week 1–2)
- Document Features: Which HubSpot features do you actually use? Most companies use only 20–30% of functionality.
- Analyze Costs: What are you paying now? What would you pay with alternatives?
- Integration Check: Which tools need to connect to the new CRM?
- Privacy Requirements: Do you need EU hosting? What compliance requirements do you have?
Phase 2: Evaluation & Testing (Week 3–4)
- Create Shortlist: Choose 2–3 alternatives based on your requirements.
- Book Demos: Use free demos and trial periods.
- Pilot Project: Test the tools with a small portion of your data.
Phase 3: Migration (Week 5–8)
- Export Data from HubSpot: Export contacts, deals, email templates (CSV export available).
- Import Data to New Tool: Most alternatives offer import assistants.
- Rebuild Workflows: Automations typically must be manually recreated in the new tool – HubSpot doesn't export workflows (vendor lock-in!).
- Team Training: Brief training for all users.
Phase 4: Go-Live & Optimization (from Week 9)
- End Parallel Operation: Cancel HubSpot account (note: annual contract!).
- Monitor Performance: Track KPIs and compare to HubSpot times.
- Continuous Improvement: Optimize workflows, use new features.
FAQ: The 12 Most Important Questions About HubSpot Alternatives
1. Is HubSpot really free?
Only on paper – the free plan includes no automation, no support, and shows HubSpot branding everywhere. It's a loss leader; useful features start at $890/month.
2. What's the best European HubSpot alternative?
CentralStationCRM for a lean basic CRM with German servers, Chatarmin for WhatsApp marketing and e-commerce with AI features.
3. What alternatives exist for HubSpot Service Hub?
Zendesk for professional CX teams, Freshdesk for budget-conscious teams with a free plan for up to 10 agents.
4. Is switching from HubSpot to Salesforce worth it?
Only for corporations – Salesforce is typically even more complex, expensive, and requires months of implementation with external consultants.
5. Is there an open-source alternative to HubSpot?
Yes, Mautic (world's largest open-source marketing automation) and Friendly Automate (German distribution with GDPR focus) – both require technical know-how.
6. Which tool is best for pure sales teams?
Pipedrive – it focuses exclusively on pipeline management without marketing distraction, from $14/user/month.
7. How do I export my data from HubSpot?
Contacts and deals can be exported as CSV – workflows and automations cannot, however; you must completely rebuild these in the new tool.
8. What's the difference between marketing and non-marketing contacts at HubSpot?
Marketing contacts cost money (count toward your pricing tier), non-marketing contacts are free CRM entries – alternatives like Brevo don't differentiate or charge more fairly per email.
9. Which alternative offers the best email marketing?
ActiveCampaign for complex workflows and lead scoring, Brevo for the best value – especially for transactional emails.
10. Why are e-commerce brands leaving HubSpot in 2026?
Because "Email-First" is outdated – customers expect WhatsApp (90–98% open rate), which HubSpot only solves via third parties, while Chatarmin integrates it natively.
11. Can AI agents replace HubSpot Service Hub?
Yes – while Service Hub only manages tickets, tools like Chatarmin or Zendesk with AI agents can completely resolve tickets (e.g., returns management) without human intervention.
12. Is there a HubSpot alternative without monthly subscription costs?
Not for professional cloud software – but Brevo charges per email sent, which feels like "no fixed costs" during periods with low volume.
Conclusion: The Right HubSpot Alternative for 2026
HubSpot has long been the standard – with 37.5% market share, it still is. But in 2026, there are better options: more specialized, more affordable, and more privacy-compliant.
Our Recommendations by Category:
| Category | Recommendation | Why |
|---|---|---|
| E-Commerce & WhatsApp | Chatarmin | Native WhatsApp integration, Shopify/Klaviyo sync, EU hosting, G2: 4.9/5 |
| Sales Pipeline | Pipedrive | Visual, affordable, quick setup |
| Email Automation | ActiveCampaign | Industry-leading workflow builder (14,400+ reviews) |
| Customer Service (Pro) | Zendesk | Flexible agent workspace, better knowledge base |
| Customer Service (Budget) | Freshdesk | 10 agents free |
| All-in-One (Budget) | EngageBay | Marketing, Sales & Service from $12.74/user |
| All-in-One (Features) | Bitrix24 | CoPilot AI, broad functionality |
| Privacy-First | CentralStationCRM | German servers, radically simple |
| Open Source | Mautic | Full control, self-hosted |
| Enterprise | Salesforce | Maximum scaling (91,900+ reviews) |
The trend is clear: "Best-of-Breed" beats "All-in-One". Combine specialized tools that work perfectly together – instead of paying for an expensive suite whose features you don't use 70% of the time.
Ready to Switch?
Try Chatarmin as an AI-first WhatsApp CRM for e-commerce – 100% GDPR compliant, with native Shopify and Klaviyo integrations and AI agents that automatically resolve customer inquiries.
