EngageBay CRM vs HubSpot: Which CRM is Better for Small Business?
In today’s highly competitive business landscape, Customer Relationship Management (CRM) tools have become indispensable for companies of all sizes.
Small businesses, in particular, need affordable yet powerful solutions that help them manage customer relationships, automate marketing tasks, and drive sales growth without overloading their budgets. Two names that consistently appear on the shortlist are EngageBay CRM and HubSpot.
While HubSpot is a widely recognized CRM platform with a global presence, EngageBay has emerged as a fast-growing alternative, designed with small and medium-sized businesses (SMBs) in mind.
In this comprehensive guide, we’ll explore EngageBay CRM review, pricing, features, automation tools, free plan, alternatives, and a detailed comparison of EngageBay CRM vs HubSpot—all with a focus on which CRM is the better choice for small businesses.
EngageBay CRM Review
Launched in 2018, EngageBay quickly gained traction as an all-in-one CRM and marketing automation platform. Unlike many competitors that focus on just one aspect—sales, marketing, or service—EngageBay integrates all three into a single, affordable ecosystem.
Strengths of EngageBay CRM:
-
Unified platform for marketing, sales, and customer service.
-
Highly affordable compared to premium CRMs like HubSpot or Salesforce.
-
Intuitive and beginner-friendly interface.
-
Strong automation features, even in lower-tier plans.
-
Excellent value for startups and SMBs.
Weaknesses of EngageBay CRM:
-
Advanced analytics and reporting are somewhat limited compared to enterprise CRMs.
-
Fewer third-party integrations compared to HubSpot.
-
May not scale well for very large enterprises with complex needs.
Overall, EngageBay CRM stands out as a cost-effective, easy-to-use CRM solution that delivers more than enough power for growing businesses.
EngageBay CRM Pricing
Pricing often determines whether small businesses can realistically adopt a CRM. This is where EngageBay has a clear edge over HubSpot.
EngageBay CRM Pricing Tiers:
-
Free Plan – $0/month
-
Up to 15 users
-
Basic CRM tools, email marketing, helpdesk, and live chat
-
Perfect for startups testing CRM waters
-
-
Basic Plan – $12.74/user/month
-
1,000 contacts and 1,000 branded emails
-
Email sequences, landing pages, lead grabbers
-
Great entry-level paid option for growing businesses
-
-
Growth Plan – $49.99/user/month
-
50,000 contacts and advanced automation
-
Custom workflows, SMS marketing, A/B testing
-
Ideal for SMBs looking to scale operations
-
-
Pro Plan – $99.99/user/month
-
Unlimited contacts, advanced reporting, custom analytics
-
Role management, call records, service automation
-
Designed for scaling teams with more complex needs
-
Discounts: EngageBay frequently offers discounts for annual subscriptions, often saving businesses up to 20% compared to monthly payments.
Comparison with HubSpot Pricing:
-
HubSpot’s free CRM is generous but limited in automation and scalability.
-
HubSpot’s Starter Plan begins at $20/month but adds up quickly with add-ons.
-
Professional Plans for marketing or sales often exceed $800/month, pricing many SMBs out.
For small businesses, EngageBay CRM pricing is far more accessible and transparent.
EngageBay CRM Features
EngageBay CRM packs an impressive array of features, especially considering its affordable pricing tiers.
Core Features:
-
Contact Management – Store unlimited customer data with detailed profiles.
-
360-Degree Customer View – See emails, calls, notes, and deals in one place.
-
Sales Pipelines – Visual drag-and-drop pipelines to track deals.
-
Marketing Automation – Email campaigns, SMS marketing, landing pages, and lead scoring.
-
Helpdesk & Ticketing – Manage support requests seamlessly.
-
Live Chat & Chatbots – Real-time communication with prospects and customers.
Standout Features:
-
Integrated Marketing + Sales + Service – Unlike HubSpot, where advanced modules require separate subscriptions, EngageBay integrates everything in one dashboard.
-
Custom Workflows – Automate repetitive tasks like lead nurturing, email sequences, and task assignment.
-
Built-in Telephony – Call, record, and log calls directly from the CRM.
-
Appointment Scheduling – Sync with calendars to eliminate back-and-forth scheduling.
While HubSpot boasts more advanced analytics, EngageBay shines with its simplicity and all-in-one approach—tailored perfectly for SMBs.
EngageBay CRM vs HubSpot
This is where the decision gets interesting. Both platforms are powerful, but they serve different audiences.
Feature | EngageBay CRM | HubSpot |
---|---|---|
Pricing | Affordable ($12.74–$99.99/user/month) | Expensive (Pro plans $800+/month) |
Free Plan | Generous, includes automation basics | Free CRM, but limited automation |
Ease of Use | Beginner-friendly, intuitive | Steeper learning curve |
Features | Integrated sales, marketing, service | Best-in-class but spread across paid hubs |
Automation | Available in Growth Plan ($49.99) | Available only in Professional tiers |
Integrations | Limited compared to HubSpot | Extensive app marketplace |
Best For | Startups and SMBs | Mid-size to enterprise companies |
Verdict:
For small businesses on a budget, EngageBay CRM is the more practical choice. HubSpot is undeniably powerful but becomes expensive quickly. EngageBay provides 80–90% of HubSpot’s capabilities at a fraction of the cost, making it the winner for SMBs seeking efficiency and affordability.
EngageBay CRM for Small Business
EngageBay was built with SMBs in mind. Here’s why it’s particularly suited for smaller organizations:
-
Affordability – Costs scale reasonably as your business grows.
-
Simplicity – Minimal training required; intuitive drag-and-drop tools.
-
Scalability – Start with free/basic plans, upgrade as needed.
-
All-in-One Solution – Eliminates the need for multiple tools (like separate email marketing or helpdesk software).
For a small business, EngageBay acts as a sales assistant, marketing manager, and customer support desk rolled into one—without needing a large budget.
EngageBay CRM Automation Tools
Automation is a major selling point for EngageBay. For SMBs with limited staff, it saves hours of manual work.
Key automation tools include:
-
Email Sequences & Drip Campaigns – Personalized follow-ups without manual effort.
-
Lead Scoring – Automatically prioritize hot leads.
-
Workflow Automation – Assign tasks, move deals, or send reminders based on triggers.
-
Customer Journeys – Design full-funnel workflows to guide leads from awareness to purchase.
-
Abandoned Cart Reminders – Recover lost sales automatically for e-commerce businesses.
Compared to HubSpot, EngageBay offers automation at a fraction of the cost—making it accessible for smaller teams.
EngageBay CRM Free Plan
EngageBay’s free plan deserves special mention because it’s one of the most generous on the market.
Free Plan Highlights:
-
Up to 15 users (HubSpot only allows unlimited free users but restricts features heavily).
-
CRM + Marketing + Helpdesk tools included.
-
Email marketing, lead grabbers, live chat, and ticketing.
For startups or solo entrepreneurs, the EngageBay CRM free plan is a fantastic entry point to explore CRM functionality before committing financially.
EngageBay CRM Alternatives
While EngageBay is a strong choice, businesses may also consider alternatives depending on needs:
-
HubSpot CRM – Best for scaling companies with large budgets.
-
Zoho CRM – Affordable, with strong customization and integration options.
-
Freshsales – Excellent for AI-driven sales insights and ease of use.
-
Pipedrive – Focused on visual sales pipelines; great for sales-driven teams.
-
Salesforce Essentials – Scalable, though often too complex and pricey for very small businesses.
Ultimately, EngageBay excels in its balance of affordability and feature depth, while alternatives may offer niche benefits like deeper customization (Zoho) or advanced analytics (Salesforce).
Final Thoughts: EngageBay CRM vs HubSpot
So, which CRM is better for small business—EngageBay or HubSpot?
-
If you’re a startup or SMB prioritizing affordability, ease of use, and automation, EngageBay CRM is the clear winner.
-
If you’re a mid-sized or enterprise company with a bigger budget, complex needs, and desire for a vast app marketplace, HubSpot may be the stronger fit.
In essence, EngageBay CRM delivers enterprise-level tools without enterprise-level pricing, making it one of the best CRMs for small businesses today.
Choosing the right CRM is one of the most important technology decisions a small business can make. The system you select will shape how you capture leads, manage sales, deliver customer support, and ultimately grow revenue.
Both EngageBay CRM and HubSpot are excellent platforms, but they serve different audiences and business models.
The Case for EngageBay CRM
For startups and small-to-medium businesses (SMBs), EngageBay CRM has several compelling advantages. The most obvious is pricing. Small businesses typically operate with limited budgets, and many cannot justify the steep monthly costs of HubSpot’s Professional or Enterprise plans.
EngageBay’s entry-level pricing, combined with its generous free plan, makes it accessible to a wide range of companies that want powerful CRM features without draining resources.
But affordability is only one part of the equation. EngageBay also offers simplicity and usability. Many small business owners or teams don’t have the luxury of hiring dedicated CRM administrators or technical specialists.
EngageBay’s intuitive interface ensures that anyone—whether a salesperson, marketer, or customer support rep—can learn the system quickly. This reduces onboarding time and helps companies realize value much faster.
Another area where EngageBay excels is its all-in-one design. Small businesses don’t want to juggle separate tools for email marketing, live chat, helpdesk, and sales pipelines. EngageBay integrates these functions seamlessly.
Instead of paying for different platforms and struggling to sync data, small teams can manage everything from a single dashboard. For lean teams, this saves both money and time.
Finally, EngageBay’s automation tools are a game-changer for SMBs. Automating email follow-ups, lead scoring, and customer workflows allows small teams to operate with the efficiency of larger organizations.
This means you can nurture leads and close deals without requiring a big sales force. In short, EngageBay empowers smaller companies to punch above their weight.
The Case for HubSpot
HubSpot, on the other hand, shines when it comes to scalability and ecosystem depth. While its costs rise quickly as you unlock more advanced features, HubSpot delivers a level of integration, analytics, and customization that EngageBay currently cannot match.
HubSpot’s CRM hubs—Sales, Marketing, Service, CMS, and Operations—are built for businesses that expect to scale rapidly. If your company is growing fast, targeting enterprise clients, or needs advanced analytics for reporting to stakeholders, HubSpot’s sophistication may be worth the investment.
Another major advantage of HubSpot is its App Marketplace, which integrates with thousands of third-party tools. This makes it ideal for companies that already rely on specialized software for accounting, project management, or advanced analytics.
For organizations that require deep system interoperability, HubSpot’s ecosystem is unmatched.
HubSpot also provides a stronger brand reputation. For many mid-sized or larger companies, choosing HubSpot is a safe bet because it’s a proven solution with global recognition.
This matters when dealing with investors, enterprise clients, or stakeholders who expect to see industry-standard software in use.
Which CRM Is Right for You?
So, which should you choose? The answer depends heavily on your business size, goals, and budget.
-
If you’re a startup or small business looking for an affordable, easy-to-use, and feature-rich CRM that can handle sales, marketing, and support in one package, then EngageBay CRM is the best choice. It allows you to start small, experiment with automation, and grow your business without feeling locked into a massive financial commitment.
-
If you’re a fast-scaling or mid-sized company with complex needs, deeper integration requirements, and the budget to invest in advanced CRM tools, then HubSpot may be a stronger fit. While expensive, its advanced analytics, customization, and ecosystem provide long-term value for companies aiming to operate at an enterprise level.
Future-Proofing Your CRM Decision
It’s also worth considering the future trajectory of your business. If you anticipate steady growth but don’t plan to expand into enterprise-level operations, EngageBay may provide all the tools you’ll ever need.
On the other hand, if you’re preparing for aggressive growth or plan to scale into international markets, investing in HubSpot early may save you the cost and complexity of migrating later.
That said, small businesses should avoid over-buying technology. It’s better to adopt a system that meets your current needs affordably while leaving room to grow. EngageBay is often the smarter first step because it covers all bases at a fraction of HubSpot’s cost.
Later, if your needs outgrow the platform, you can consider migrating to HubSpot or another enterprise CRM.
The Bottom Line
Both EngageBay CRM and HubSpot are excellent platforms, but they excel in different contexts. EngageBay offers 80–90% of HubSpot’s functionality at a fraction of the price, making it the ideal choice for small businesses and startups that prioritize affordability, usability, and automation.
HubSpot, on the other hand, is better suited for companies with larger budgets, more complex requirements, and long-term scaling ambitions.
In essence, EngageBay delivers enterprise-level tools without enterprise-level pricing, empowering smaller companies to compete with larger players. HubSpot delivers a world-class ecosystem for businesses ready to invest in advanced CRM capabilities.
For most small businesses, the choice is clear: EngageBay CRM is the smarter, more cost-effective solution.