Brevo CRM vs. HubSpot: Which Is Better for Startups?
For startups, every dollar and every hour matter.
When your team is juggling product development, sales calls, and investor meetings, the last thing you need is a CRM that slows you down — or drains your budget.
That’s why the Brevo vs. HubSpot debate is becoming one of the biggest decisions early-stage founders face.
Both tools promise to organize your contacts, automate marketing, and help you scale — but they’re designed for very different kinds of businesses.
In this guide, you’ll find a detailed, side-by-side comparison of Brevo CRM and HubSpot, including features, pricing, scalability, and use cases for startups.
We’ll also cover real ROI examples, migration tips, and which platform gives you the best start for long-term growth.
1. Platform Overview: Brevo and HubSpot in Context
Before diving into details, it’s helpful to understand what each platform stands for.
Brevo (formerly Sendinblue)
Brevo began as a powerful email marketing platform in 2012 and evolved into a complete marketing and CRM suite.
Its core strength is simplicity and affordability — combining CRM, email, SMS, automation, and transactional messaging in one tool.
It’s built for small and growing businesses that need reliable automation without enterprise-level costs.
Key Traits:
✅ Affordable pricing
✅ Simple setup and interface
✅ All-in-one (email, SMS, CRM, automation)
HubSpot
HubSpot, founded in 2006, pioneered inbound marketing. It’s now a global CRM ecosystem that covers marketing, sales, customer service, and operations.
It’s incredibly powerful — but that power comes with complexity and higher costs.
Key Traits:
✅ Enterprise-level scalability
✅ Deep analytics and integrations
✅ Extensive ecosystem of tools
💡 In short:
- Brevo = simplicity, cost-efficiency, and accessibility.
- HubSpot = depth, scalability, and enterprise growth.
2. Feature Comparison: What You Get Out of the Box
Let’s break down the features that matter most to startups.
| Feature | Brevo CRM | HubSpot CRM |
|---|---|---|
| Contact Management | Full CRM database with tags, notes, and segmentation | Full-featured contact database with advanced properties |
| Email Marketing | Built-in campaigns + drag-and-drop editor | Advanced email tools (personalization, A/B testing) |
| Marketing Automation | Visual workflows with triggers and delays | Multi-layered workflows + behavioral triggers |
| Pipeline Management | Simple drag-and-drop deals board | Detailed deal stages, custom pipelines |
| Reporting & Analytics | Basic dashboards, campaign reports | Advanced dashboards and custom reporting |
| Integrations | Native integrations (Shopify, WooCommerce, Zapier, etc.) | 1,000+ app marketplace integrations |
| Support | Email + chat support on all plans | Community + ticket + premium support (on paid tiers) |
| Ease of Use | Beginner-friendly interface | Steeper learning curve |
| Pricing Model | Usage-based (emails/contacts) | Tiered (features & users) |
💡 Verdict: Brevo focuses on ease and affordability.
HubSpot offers more depth and control, but its learning curve and costs can challenge lean startups.
3. Pricing & Value for Startups
Pricing is where these two platforms diverge dramatically — and where most startups make their decision.
Brevo Pricing (2025 Overview)
- Free Plan: Unlimited contacts + 300 emails/day
- Starter Plan: ~$25/month — removes daily limits, adds branding options
- Business Plan: ~$65/month — adds automation, A/B testing, advanced CRM features
- Enterprise: Custom pricing
Pros:
✅ Pay based on usage, not contacts
✅ Transparent and affordable
✅ No “hidden” contact caps
HubSpot Pricing (2025 Overview)
- Free CRM: Unlimited users, but limited features
- Starter (Marketing/Sales): ~$20–50/month per seat
- Professional: $800–$1,600/month (advanced automation)
- Enterprise: $3,000+/month
Cons for Startups:
❌ Pricing grows exponentially with features and contacts
❌ Paid tiers can become expensive as teams scale
💡 Verdict:
If you’re cost-conscious and just starting, Brevo delivers higher ROI per dollar.
If you expect to scale rapidly with complex needs, HubSpot’s ecosystem may justify the cost over time.
4. Ease of Use & Learning Curve
Startups don’t have time for months of onboarding — tools must work out of the box.
Brevo: Built for Simplicity
- Setup in under an hour
- Clear interface for contacts, pipelines, and campaigns
- Easy automation builder
- Minimal training required
HubSpot: Feature-Rich but Complex
- Extensive setup process and onboarding
- Requires more time to understand automation layers
- Offers strong documentation and certifications
💡 Verdict:
For small teams or founders wearing multiple hats, Brevo wins for simplicity and quick adoption.
HubSpot is ideal once you have dedicated marketing or sales staff.
5. Integration Ecosystem & Scalability
Brevo
- Integrates with tools startups love: Shopify, WordPress, WooCommerce, Zapier, Slack, and Google Workspace.
- Suitable for small to medium automation flows.
- API support for custom integrations.
HubSpot
- Massive integration marketplace (1,000+ apps).
- Seamlessly connects with Salesforce, Zoom, LinkedIn Ads, and more.
- Strong developer API ecosystem.
💡 Verdict:
- Brevo = Best for lean startup stacks (affordable, practical tools).
- HubSpot = Best for fast-scaling startups needing enterprise-grade integrations.
6. ROI & Startup Use Case Modeling
Let’s consider a realistic startup scenario.
Scenario: 3-person SaaS Startup
- 1 founder, 1 sales rep, 1 marketer
- Managing 500 contacts
- Goal: send nurture emails, track deals, and automate follow-ups
Brevo Setup:
- Cost: ~$25/month
- Automation setup time: 2–3 hours
- Results: +20% response rate improvement, 5 hours/week saved
HubSpot Setup:
- Cost: ~$800/month (Professional tier needed for similar automation)
- Setup time: 2–3 weeks
- Results: Advanced reporting, deeper lead scoring
💡 ROI Summary:
Brevo delivers faster ROI for early-stage teams because it eliminates overhead.
HubSpot shines later — when analytics and scaling become essential.
7. Migration & Transition Strategy
If you start with one and outgrow it, switching doesn’t have to be painful.
From Brevo → HubSpot
- Export contacts and engagement data from Brevo.
- Import into HubSpot CRM (CSV or API).
- Rebuild workflows using HubSpot templates.
- Keep email deliverability history via DNS/domain continuity.
From HubSpot → Brevo
- Export contacts, tags, and deal stages.
- Map HubSpot fields to Brevo CRM.
- Recreate automations visually (Brevo’s workflow builder simplifies this).
- Test all triggers before going live.
💡 Pro Tip: Always run both systems in parallel for one week to validate data sync.
8. When Neither Might Be Right
Sometimes, startups are too early for a full CRM.
Consider waiting if:
- You have fewer than 50 contacts and only one salesperson.
- You’re pre-product-market-fit and changing workflows weekly.
- You can manage leads efficiently with Google Sheets or Notion.
In that case, focus on building traction first — then adopt a CRM once manual management starts slowing growth.
9. Verdict: Which CRM Is Better for Startups?
Let’s summarize based on startup maturity:
| Stage | Recommended Tool | Why |
|---|---|---|
| Early-stage (bootstrapped) | Brevo | Affordable, simple, and fast to set up |
| Growth-stage (scaling) | HubSpot | Advanced automation, analytics, and integrations |
| Hybrid stage (testing both) | Start with Brevo → Transition to HubSpot later | Low-risk entry point with scalability option |
💡 Final Verdict:
If you’re an early-stage startup with limited time and budget, Brevo CRM is the best starting point.
It combines affordability, automation, and ease of use without overwhelming your team.
As your startup matures and needs enterprise-grade analytics, HubSpot becomes a natural next step.
10. Bonus: CRM Comparison Checklist (Free Download)
To make your decision even easier, download the CRM Feature Comparison Checklist (PDF) —
a simple side-by-side table covering Brevo, HubSpot, Zoho, and others.
Use it to evaluate:
- Features that matter to your team
- Monthly cost vs. return
- Scalability readiness
Conclusion
Choosing between Brevo and HubSpot isn’t about which one is better overall — it’s about which one is better for your current stage.
Brevo empowers startups to move fast without breaking the bank.
HubSpot empowers growing teams to scale efficiently and analyze deeply.
The smartest path?
Start simple, automate early, and scale strategically — your CRM should evolve with your startup, not outpace it.
Next Step:
Try both platforms with free plans. Build one small workflow in each.
You’ll quickly feel which one fits your team’s rhythm — and that clarity is worth more than any review.
FAQs
1. Is Brevo really a full CRM or just an email tool?
Brevo has evolved into a full CRM suite with contact management, deal pipelines, and automation — ideal for startups that want simplicity.
2. Can HubSpot replace Brevo entirely?
Yes, but HubSpot’s full feature set costs more. It’s better suited once you have dedicated marketing and sales teams.
3. What’s the biggest cost difference between Brevo and HubSpot?
Brevo’s Business plan costs around $65/month. HubSpot’s similar functionality may require a $800+ Professional plan.
4. Can I migrate easily between them?
Yes, both support CSV and API imports. Just clean your data first to avoid duplicates or errors.
5. Which one integrates better with e-commerce tools?
Brevo integrates seamlessly with Shopify and WooCommerce.
HubSpot connects better with enterprise ecosystems like Salesforce and LinkedIn Ads.