HubSpot CRM vs Salesforce Sales Cloud (2026): features, security and which one to buy
HubSpot CRM and Salesforce Sales Cloud compared on what they do, who they suit, their key features, pros and cons, and what each vendor publishes on security, admin and contract terms, with every fact checked on October 24, 2026.
HubSpot CRM or Salesforce Sales Cloud: the short answer
Choose HubSpot CRM if
- Teams starting free with up to 2 users.
- SMBs wanting a large app marketplace.
Choose Salesforce Sales Cloud if
- Mid-size and large sales orgs that need deep customization, forecasting and a huge app ecosystem.
- Teams that want one platform for sales, service and analytics (Slack, Tableau bundled from Core)
What are HubSpot CRM and Salesforce Sales Cloud?
HubSpot CRM
Free-to-start CRM that grows into paid Sales Hub tiers with per-seat prices and mandatory onboarding fees at the top. Teams can start free with up to two users and grow into paid Sales Hub seats, backed by a marketplace of 2,000+ integrations. Plan for the step to Professional, roughly 90 to 100 USD per seat plus a 1,500 USD onboarding fee, before depending on automation.
Salesforce Sales Cloud
The market-leading enterprise CRM, sold in six per-user tiers from a $25 Starter Suite to a $550 Max edition. Mid-size and large sales organizations that need heavy customization and forecasting should shortlist it, with six per-user tiers and only Starter Suite billable monthly. Price the extras early, as AI, premium support and Web Services API access (an added $25 per user monthly) all cost more.
HubSpot CRM vs Salesforce Sales Cloud: features compared
| HubSpot CRM | Salesforce Sales Cloud | |
|---|---|---|
| What it is | Free-to-start CRM that grows into paid Sales Hub tiers with per-seat prices and mandatory onboarding fees at the top. | The market-leading enterprise CRM, sold in six per-user tiers from a $25 Starter Suite to a $550 Max edition. |
| Best for | Teams starting free with up to 2 users. | Mid-size and large sales orgs that need deep customization, forecasting and a huge app ecosystem. |
| Company size | SMB to enterprise. | Small teams (Starter) through global enterprises. |
| Pipeline management | Deal pipelines, deal scoring. | Opportunity and pipeline management is G2's highest-scored area (about 8.7 to 9.0) |
| Email and calendar integration | HubSpot Sales Extensions in Gmail and Outlook. | Not published |
| Sales automation | Multi-channel sequences. | Not published |
| Reporting and forecasting | Sales analytics and AI pipeline projections. | Not published |
| Mobile app | IOS and Android. | Not published |
| Integrations and marketplace | 2,000+ marketplace integrations. | AgentExchange marketplace access from Pro Suite; Web Services API costs an extra $25/user/month. |
| Free plan or trial | Free plan | Free trial |
| Starting price | Free for up to 2 users; Sales Hub Starter from 7 USD per seat per month | $25/user/month (Starter Suite) |
| G2 rating | 4.4 (13,399 reviews) | 4.4 (25,324 reviews) |
Pros and cons
HubSpot CRM
Cons
- Large price jump from Starter to Professional.
Salesforce Sales Cloud
Pros
- Very strong pipeline and opportunity management.
- Broad integration and customization options.
Cons
- Support and ease of use score lower than rivals on G2.
- Costs climb quickly once AI, API and support add-ons are included.
HubSpot CRM vs Salesforce Sales Cloud pricing
For 20 users on the cheapest plan that fits, HubSpot CRM costs $4,800 a year and Salesforce Sales Cloud $6,000 at list price, a difference of $1,200.
| HubSpot CRM | Salesforce Sales Cloud | |
|---|---|---|
| Pricing model | per user | per user |
| Per seat per month | $90 per seat per month (Sales Hub Professional, annual commitment) | $100 (Pro Suite, annual only; Starter Suite is $25 if basic CRM is enough) |
| Billing | Monthly and annual. | Annual only above Starter; Starter monthly and annual. |
| 20 users per year | $4,800 (Starter) | $6,000 (Starter Suite) |
| Add-ons | Onboarding $1,500 (Pro) or $3,500 (Enterprise); HubSpot Credits. | Agentforce for Sales from $125/user/month; Revenue Intelligence from $220/user/month; Sales Programs from $100/user/month. |
Security, admin and contract: HubSpot CRM vs Salesforce Sales Cloud
What each vendor states publicly about single sign-on, provisioning, audit logs, data location and the contract. A blank is a question for the sales call, not a no.
| HubSpot CRM | Salesforce Sales Cloud | |
|---|---|---|
| SAML SSO | Not published | SAML federated authentication available in all editions per Salesforce docs. |
| Data residency | US East (AWS) default; EU Frankfurt for new customers since 2021. | Not published |
| DPA | Yes, legal.hubspot.com/dpa. | Not published |
| Contract | Monthly or annual commitment. | Starter monthly or annual; Pro Suite and above annual. |
Differences most comparisons miss
Worth knowing about HubSpot CRM
- Professional requires 1,500 USD onboarding, Enterprise 3,500 USD.
- EU data center (Frankfurt) available to new customers since 2021.
- SOC 2 Type 2 report only via Trust Center.
- Free CRM limited to 2 users.
Worth knowing about Salesforce Sales Cloud
- Only Starter Suite can be billed monthly; Pro Suite ($100) and above are annual only per the pricing page.
- Web Services API access is a separate $25/user/month add-on, which matters for integrations on lower tiers.
- Premier Support is included from Core but is an add-on on Pro Suite.
- Salesforce docs state SAML federated authentication is available in all editions (based on older documentation versions; confirm against current Salesforce help)
HubSpot CRM vs Salesforce Sales Cloud: frequently asked questions
Which is better, HubSpot CRM or Salesforce Sales Cloud?
It depends on the team. HubSpot CRM is the stronger pick for teams starting free with up to 2 users, while Salesforce Sales Cloud suits mid-size and large sales orgs that need deep customization, forecasting and a huge app ecosystem. Compare the feature rows above against your must-haves before you look at price.
Do HubSpot CRM and Salesforce Sales Cloud support SAML single sign-on?
HubSpot CRM: not stated on its public pages. Salesforce Sales Cloud: SAML federated authentication available in all editions per Salesforce docs. Confirm the plan in writing before you compare prices.
Is HubSpot CRM cheaper than Salesforce Sales Cloud?
At list price for 20 users on the cheapest plan that fits, HubSpot CRM costs $4,800 a year and Salesforce Sales Cloud $6,000. Add-ons, higher tiers and annual versus monthly billing can change that order.
Can I try HubSpot CRM and Salesforce Sales Cloud for free?
HubSpot CRM: free plan. Salesforce Sales Cloud: free trial.
Sources
Both columns use the same sources: vendor pricing and product pages, documentation, G2 and company records, checked on October 24, 2026. Full source lists are on the HubSpot CRM and Salesforce Sales Cloud reviews.