Freshworks vs HubSpot
A side-by-side look at 2 Communication tools for 2026 — the verdict, pricing, ratings, features, and what readers think.
freshworks.com
Best for small and mid-sized teams wanting support, IT service and CRM from one vendor
AI-powered customer service, IT service and CRM software in one suite: Freshdesk, Freshservice and Freshsales.
Visit Freshworks
hubspot.com
Best for small and mid-sized teams that want CRM, marketing and sales in one platform
All-in-one CRM platform with a genuinely useful free tier and paid Sales, Marketing and Service Hubs.
Visit HubSpotPricing compared
Freshworks
$9/user/mo
HubSpot
$9/seat/mo
Head to head
| Freshworks | HubSpot | |
|---|---|---|
| Starting price | $9/user/mo | $9/seat/mo |
| Free tier | Yes | Yes |
| Free trial | 14-day Freshdesk trial; 21-day Freshsales trial | Free tools forever; paid tiers have free trials |
| Platforms | Web · iOS · Android · API | Web · iOS · Android · API |
| Founded | 2010 | — |
| HQ | San Mateo, USA | — |
Pros & cons
Freshworks
Pros
- One vendor covers customer service, IT service and CRM.
- Freddy AI agents and copilot are built into the products.
- Entry CRM pricing starts low, from USD 9 per user per month billed annually.
- Free trials: 14 days for Freshdesk and 21 days for Freshsales.
- Interface and website are offered in 17 languages, including Korean.
Cons
- Each product is priced separately, so the full suite cost adds up.
- AI agent sessions are an add-on (Freshsales lists USD 49 per 100 sessions).
- Freshdesk and Freshsales pricing pages do not accept PayPal; payment is by card (or check in USD for US and Canada CRM customers).
- Advanced CRM features such as forecasting and audit logs need the top plan.
HubSpot
Pros
- Free CRM includes unlimited contacts and companies, email integration and a meeting scheduler.
- Marketing, Sales and Service Hubs share one customer database.
- Sales Hub Starter at $9 per seat per month (annual) is cheap to enter.
- Large integration marketplace and free training through HubSpot Academy.
- Scales from a two-person team to enterprise with custom objects on Enterprise.
Cons
- Free tools are capped at 2 users, 1 pipeline and 3 email templates.
- Professional costs $90 per seat per month annually and carries a $1,500 one-time onboarding fee.
- Enterprise tier starts at $150 per seat with a $3,500 onboarding fee.
- Costs climb quickly once you add multiple hubs and extra seats.