HubSpot vs Insightly: Which is Better in 2026?
Choosing between HubSpot and Insightly comes down to understanding what each tool does best. This comparison breaks down the key differences so you can make an informed decision based on your specific needs, not marketing claims.
Bottom line: HubSpot is our overall CRM pick. Pick Insightly if you need a free tier to start with.
Short on time? Here's the quick answer
We've tested both tools. Here's who should pick what:
HubSpot
CRM platform for scaling businesses
Best for you if:
- • You want generous free tier with CRM, forms, email, live chat, and basic reporting at no cost
- • You want unified platform eliminates data silos between marketing, sales, and service teams
Insightly
Modern, scalable CRM platform with AI, marketing automation, and customer service for growing businesses.
Best for you if:
- • You want good for small business CRM
- • You want project management
| At a Glance | HubSpot | Insightly |
|---|---|---|
Starts at | FreeFree tier available | FreeFree tier available |
Best For | CRM | CRM |
Rating | 3.9/5 | 4.1/5 |
Free plan | Yes | Yes |
Choose HubSpot or Insightly?
Choose HubSpot if
CRM platform for scaling businesses
- You want generous free tier with CRM, forms, email, live chat, and basic reporting at no cost
- You want unified platform eliminates data silos between marketing, sales, and service teams
- Budget matters (Free vs Free)
Choose Insightly if
Modern, scalable CRM platform with AI, marketing automation, and customer service for growing businesses.
- You want good for small business CRM
- You want project management
| Feature | HubSpot | Insightly |
|---|---|---|
| Pricing Model | Freemium | Freemium |
| User Rating | ★3.9/5 19,150 reviews | ★4.1/5 1,602 reviews |
| Categories | CRMMarketing Automation | CRMMarketing Automation |
In-Depth Analysis
HubSpot
CRM platform for scaling businesses
HubSpot's pricing is the most complex in SaaS, 7 Hubs, 4 tiers each, per-seat AND per-contact charges, plus mandatory onboarding fees.
Watch out
Contact pricing is the biggest trap: Marketing Hub Pro includes only 2,000 marketing contacts.
Strengths
- +Generous free tier with CRM, forms, email, live chat, and basic reporting at no cost
- +Unified platform eliminates data silos between marketing, sales, and service teams
- +Intuitive interface with short learning curve compared to Salesforce
- +Extensive integration marketplace and open API for custom connections
- +HubSpot Academy provides free certifications and high-quality training content
Weaknesses
- -Pricing escalates quickly, Professional and Enterprise tiers are expensive for SMBs
- -Marketing contacts model means you pay more as your database grows
- -CMS is less flexible than WordPress for heavily customized websites
- -Reporting and analytics lag behind dedicated BI tools like Looker or Tableau
- -Contract terms require annual commitment; no monthly billing on higher tiers
Key features
Insightly
Modern, scalable CRM platform with AI, marketing automation, and customer service for growing businesses.
Insightly's pricing starts fairly with a generous Free tier, but quickly escalates.
Strengths
- +Good for small business CRM
- +Project management
- +Fair pricing
- +Google integration
- +Easy to use
Weaknesses
- -Limited features
- -Reporting basic
- -Customization limited
- -Support varies
- -Better for small teams
Key features
Pricing: HubSpot vs Insightly
| Plan | HubSpot | Insightly |
|---|---|---|
| Tier 1 | Free Free Tools | Free Free |
| Tier 2 | $15 /seat/month Starter | $29 Plus |
| Tier 3 | $890 /month Professional | $49 Professional |
| Tier 4 | $3600 /month Enterprise | $99 Enterprise |
Pricing verified from each vendor's public pricing page. Compare in detail on HubSpot pricing and Insightly pricing.
Who Should Use What?
On a budget?
Both are freemium. Compare plans on their websites.
Go with: HubSpot
Want the highest-rated option?
HubSpot: 3.9/5 (19,150 reviews). Insightly: 4.1/5 (1,602 reviews).
Go with: Insightly
Value user reviews?
HubSpot: 19,150 reviews (3.9/5). Insightly: 1,602 reviews (4.1/5).
Go with: HubSpot
3 Questions to Help You Decide
What's your budget?
Both are freemium. Pricing won't help you decide here.
What's your use case?
Both are crm tools. Compare their specific features to decide.
How important are ratings?
Insightly is rated higher: 4.1/5 vs 3.9/5.
Key Takeaways
HubSpot
- Larger review base (19,150 reviews)
- Free tier available
- Our pick for this comparison
Insightly
- Higher user rating: 4.1/5 vs 3.9/5
The Bottom Line
HubSpot is our overall CRM pick.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is HubSpot or Insightly better?
HubSpot is rated in our evaluation. Both are freemium.
What are HubSpot and Insightly used for?
HubSpot: CRM platform for scaling businesses. Insightly: Modern, scalable CRM platform with AI, marketing automation, and customer service for growing businesses..
What does HubSpot cost vs Insightly?
HubSpot is freemium (free tier + paid plans). Insightly is freemium (free tier + paid plans). Visit their websites for detailed pricing.