HubSpot for Startups vs Freshworks CRM
Choose HubSpot for Startups if you qualify for its discount and want marketing, sales, content, and customer service tools on one platform; choose Freshworks CRM’s Freshsales if your priority is a sales-focused CRM with published per-user pricing. HubSpot’s startup offer applies to eligible purchases of new Professional or Enterprise products, not its free or Starter plans. Freshsales offers a free plan for up to three users and paid plans for sales teams.
Last updated October 24, 2026.
At a glance
| Dimension | HubSpot for Startups | Freshworks CRM |
|---|---|---|
| Primary scope | Marketing, sales, service, content, and data | Sales CRM |
| Startup offer | 90% off year one for eligible startups | 20% cashback |
| Startup offer eligibility | Eligible net-new Professional or Enterprise products | New account signups only. |
| Paid starting price | Starter from $7 per seat/month; promotional | Growth $9 per user/month, billed annually |
| Higher paid plans | Professional and Enterprise; prices vary by product | Pro $39; Enterprise $59 per user/month, billed annually |
| Free-plan users | Up to 2 | Up to 3 |
| Free-plan contacts | Up to 1,000 | Not available |
| Sales engagement | Sales Hub sequences on Professional | Sales sequences on Pro |
| Integrations | Over 1,700 tools and platforms | Freshworks Marketplace apps and Zapier |
| Platforms and deployment | Cloud-based; web, iOS, and Android | Cloud-based; web, iOS, and Android |
| Vendor support | Chat and email on Starter; phone on Professional | Email support |
| Commitment | Annual commitment for startup offer | Monthly or annual billing options |
Scroll the table sideways to compare each row.
Which should you choose?
Choose HubSpot for Startups if
- Eligible startups purchasing new Professional or Enterprise products
- Teams bringing marketing, sales, content, and service together
- Teams that need website and blog tools alongside a CRM
- Founders willing to make an annual startup-program commitment
Choose Freshworks CRM if
- Sales teams prioritizing contacts, deals, and pipelines
- Three-person teams seeking a free CRM
- Buyers comparing published per-user paid prices
- Teams seeking built-in chat, email, and phone on Growth
The verdict
The deciding factor is whether you need a broader customer platform or a sales CRM. HubSpot for Startups fits eligible teams planning to use its marketing, content, sales, and service products together, provided they can make an annual commitment and budget for pricing after the discount declines. Freshsales fits teams focused on managing contacts, deals, and sales activity, particularly those comparing straightforward per-user paid plans.
HubSpot for Startups vs Freshworks CRM: common questions
- Which is the better fit for a sales-only team?
- Freshsales is the more focused choice for a team that primarily needs contact, deal, and pipeline management. HubSpot for Startups is worth considering when the same team also plans to use HubSpot’s marketing, content, or service products.
- Can any startup get 90% off HubSpot?
- No. HubSpot lists funding and partner-affiliation criteria for its 90% first-year discount. Its startup pricing applies only to eligible purchases of new Professional or Enterprise products.
- What happens to the HubSpot startup discount later?
- HubSpot lists 50% off in year two and 25% off in year three for startups eligible for its 90% first-year offer. Its 30% first-year offer falls to 15% in year two. Teams should budget for standard pricing when their discount ends.
- Do both products have free plans?
- Yes. HubSpot’s free tools allow up to two users and 1,000 contacts. Freshsales lists a free plan for up to three users.
- How do the published paid starting prices compare?
- HubSpot advertises promotional Starter pricing from $7 per seat per month, but its startup-program discount is for eligible new Professional or Enterprise products. Freshsales Growth starts at $9 per user per month when billed annually. These starting prices cover different product scopes.
- Can I use either CRM on my phone?
- Yes. HubSpot and Freshsales both publish iOS and Android CRM apps, as well as web access.
- Is the NachoNacho Freshsales cashback the same as Freshworks’ annual billing discount?
- No. Freshworks advertises savings for annual rather than monthly billing. The Freshsales cashback described by NachoNacho is a separate marketplace offer; Freshworks’ published pricing does not establish its terms.