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HubSpot vs Zoho CRM

By Cathy Riddell · Facts checked 4 Nov 2026

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Quick answer Both have genuinely free plans: HubSpot for up to 2 users and 1,000 contacts, Zoho CRM for up to 3 users. Zoho tends to suit teams that want lots of configurability and other Zoho apps; HubSpot suits teams that want an easy start and a larger marketing ecosystem.

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What I could verify

HubSpot's free CRM covers up to 2 users and 1,000 contacts with no expiry; Starter is from US$15/seat/month (a new-customer discount HubSpot says can end anytime), Professional from US$50 and Enterprise from US$75 per seat/month (hubspot.com/products/crm, checked 4 Nov 2026).
Zoho CRM has a free edition for up to 3 users (zoho.com/crm pricing, checked 4 Nov 2026). Paid per-user prices load dynamically on Zoho's page by region and I couldn't capture them, so check Zoho's pricing page directly.

Feature highlights from Zoho's page

Zoho lists contact management, workflow automation, up to 10 custom email templates and 5,000 API calls/day on its free edition; Standard adds email integration, built-in calling and multiple pipelines; Professional adds AI agents, CPQ, inventory and customer portals; Enterprise adds multi-team management, sandbox and field-level encryption. Zoho One bundles 50+ apps from US$30/user/month (zoho.com/crm pricing).

Who each suits

HubSpot: easy onboarding and a free start for small teams.
Zoho CRM: cost-conscious teams that want deep configuration or already use Zoho apps.
HighLevel: agencies needing client sub-accounts, SMS and funnels in one place.

HighLevel starts at US$97/month (Starter, 3 sub-accounts) with a free trial — 30-day bootcamp offer on this site; pricing page lists 14 days (gohighlevel.com/pricing, checked 4 Nov 2026).

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Frequently asked questions

Is Zoho CRM free?

Zoho CRM has a free edition for up to 3 users (checked 4 Nov 2026).

Is HubSpot CRM free?

Yes, for up to 2 users and 1,000 contacts, with no expiry (checked 4 Nov 2026).

How I reviewed this: Prices and plan limits come only from official pages for HubSpot (hubspot.com/products/crm), Zoho CRM (zoho.com/crm pricing) and HighLevel (gohighlevel.com/pricing), checked 4 Nov 2026, in USD. Opinions come from my own use of HighLevel for agency client work. Nothing here is a paid placement. See how we rate and how we review.

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About the author: Cathy Riddell
Agency owner who uses HighLevel daily for client work. How we review →