HubSpot CRM vs Salesforce Starter
Side-by-side from the Top 11 ranking of The 11 Best CRM Software for Small Business. Last verified June 4, 2026.
The short answer
HubSpot CRM ranks higher on Top 11 (#1 vs #4) for Small business owners choosing a CRM (HubSpot vs Salesforce vs Zoho). The best balance of power and simplicity, with an unbeatable free plan for starting out.
At a glance
| HubSpot CRM | Salesforce Starter | |
|---|---|---|
| Top 11 rank | #1 / The 11 Best CRM Software for Small Business | #4 / The 11 Best CRM Software for Small Business |
| Score (out of 9.4) | 9.3 | 8.6 |
| Best for | Best overall free CRM and scalability | Most powerful and scalable platform |
| Pricing | $ ($0 to $1,200/mo) | $$ ($30 to $125/user/mo) |
| HQ | Cambridge, USA | San Francisco, USA |
| Founded | 2006 | 1999 |
HubSpot CRM
The best balance of power and simplicity, with an unbeatable free plan for starting out.
www.hubspot.com/products/crmSee full entry in The 11 Best CRM Software for Small Business
Salesforce Starter
The industry standard for power and scalability, but with a steeper learning curve.
www.salesforce.com/solutions/small-business/See full entry in The 11 Best CRM Software for Small Business
Methodology and scoring weights live at /methodology. No vendor pays for placement — see about.