FreshBooks vs HubSpot CRM (Free): which one fits your business?
Side-by-side comparison of FreshBooks and HubSpot CRM (Free) — fees, features, ease, support, and which one fits your business. Scored on the same rubric.
Short answer: FreshBooks wins on our scorecard (7.6/10 vs 7.1/10).
| Scored on | FreshBooks | HubSpot CRM (Free) |
|---|---|---|
| Right fit for small biz | 8 | 7 |
| Ease of use | 9 | 6 |
| Fees & pricing | 6 | 9 |
| Customer support | 7 | 4 |
| Features | 8 | 8 |
| Lite Tier (Monthly) | $19.00 | — |
| Plus Tier (Monthly) | $33.00 | — |
| Premium Tier (Monthly) | $60.00 | — |
| ACH Payment Fee | 1% | — |
| Credit Card Fee | 2.9% + $0.30 | — |
| Base CRM | — | $0 |
| Marketing Emails | — | 2,000 per month |
| Reporting Dashboards | — | 3 included |
FreshBooks in one paragraph
FreshBooks is the best-in-class choice for service-based solos and small teams who value a beautiful UI and automated billing over deep accounting complexity.
Skip it if: You run a high-volume retail shop or have more than 50 low-value clients that would trigger expensive tier jumps.
HubSpot CRM (Free) in one paragraph
HubSpot Free is the gold standard for small businesses that need a professional-grade database without an upfront software bill, provided you can stomach the 'HubSpot' branding on your outgoing links.
Skip it if: Skip it if you have a zero-tolerance policy for 'Powered by HubSpot' logos or if you need immediate phone support to figure out how to use a computer.
Frequently asked questions
Which is better, FreshBooks or HubSpot CRM (Free)?
On our five-axis scorecard, FreshBooks scores higher (7.6/10 vs 7.1/10). FreshBooks is the best-in-class choice for service-based solos and small teams who value a beautiful UI and automated billing over deep accounting complexity.
Who should skip FreshBooks?
You run a high-volume retail shop or have more than 50 low-value clients that would trigger expensive tier jumps.
Who should skip HubSpot CRM (Free)?
Skip it if you have a zero-tolerance policy for 'Powered by HubSpot' logos or if you need immediate phone support to figure out how to use a computer.