Which HubSpot Marketing Hub is right for me? Free vs Starter vs Pro vs Enterprise

Are you searching for marketing software? It's 2022, and without the right kit to implement your digital marketing strategy, you may be at a serious disadvantage. Of course, there are plenty of things to consider––not least important being budget––but the big question to ask is: "How will this software solve my problems and challenges?".

The strong partnership we've established with HubSpot over the years allows the BEE team a certain level of expertise in this particular software. We know that it can be the ideal solution for so many companies, but we're also honest and upfront if we feel that it might not be quite what you're looking for. Given the range of capabilities each HubSpot package offers, however, it's very rare that you won't benefit from some (or all) of HubSpot's fantastic features.

Of course, as with all investments, HubSpot will only create value for your business if you've adopted a growth mindset and have established (or are willing to define) clear and specific goals. So, before we dive into the ins and outs of each HubSpot package, sit down with your team and answer these key questions:

1. What problems do I need HubSpot to solve?
2. What are our short and long term business goals?
3. Is my organisation ready for and committed to inbound marketing?
4. Which HubSpot features are of most interest to me, and can I start using them to address my challenges?

Answering these questions will help you critically assess each package and ensure you make the right decision. We'll explore each option available to you so that you can be informed and confident about your decision. Ultimately, we want you to love HubSpot as much as we do, and the best way to do that is to ensure that you're signed up for a package that has the most positive impact on your business.

We've defined each HubSpot according to who we think it may be most suitable for. Are you a HubSpot Toe Dipper, a HubSpot Fresher, a HubSpot Powerhouse or an Inbound Giant? Let's find out!

The HubSpot Toe Dipper: HubSpot Marketing Hub Free

The best way to know if something's right for you is to give it a good try, and that's precisely what the HubSpot Marketing Hub Free plan allows you to do. If you've heard about HubSpot, you're curious, and you want to find out what all the rage is about, you can get a comprehensive experience and implement the inbound methodology across your business without committing to a paid subscription. 

What's in the box?

The free version of HubSpot is all about giving users a taste and allowing them to explore the benefits of the software. That being said, you will get immediate value and access to features that will make a massive difference to your marketing strategy.

HubSpot Free Features:

Dashboards – track and report on your prospect interactions and gain visibility over your deals. 

Contacts – Organise your leads and customers to ensure effective segmentation and targeting. 

Deals – Gain insight and clear visibility of your sales pipeline. 

Sales Tools – Empower your sales team with templates, documents, personal meeting widgets and key insights.

You'll be able to try out all the cool things like marketing emails, drag and drop landing pages and the contact management tool, but don't forget, this is a free version, and certain limitations are inevitable. All in all, you're getting a fair chance to explore the software and its capabilities and score some valuable wins. 

Who's it for?

If you're a small business and you don't mind your marketing assets sporting the famous HubSpot orange branding, then you should certainly leverage this freebie for as long as it delivers value. If you've never tried marketing automation software before and you're new to inbound marketing, this version of HubSpot is the gateway to bigger, better, more powerful marketing. The free HubSpot package will allow you to introduce one of the best marketing software tools into your company without overwhelming your team or expecting too much too soon. 

The HubSpot Fresher: HubSpot Marketing Hub Starter

You've tried out the free version, you're fully invested in inbound marketing, and you're ready to try out more features and get even more value out of HubSpot – then you need to learn more about HubSpot Marketing Hub Starter.

What's in the box?

Way more tools and features await your attention in the Starter package. If you're ready to really start making HubSpot an intrinsic part of your marketing strategy, you'll see a huge benefit in all the additional tools that this tier gives you access to. You'll discover improved ways of communicating, managing and nurturing your leads. For only $50/per month, you're getting everything you need to scale your business. 

HubSpot Starter Features:

1. Branding customisation – plug your brand into all marketing assets created in the Marketing Hub. 
2. Automation – start automating follow-up emails and get your workflows on a roll.
3. Custom reporting – see all the data and analytics that you need to see in a way that makes sense to you and your stakeholders. 

Who's it for?

Marketing Hub Starter is perfect for small businesses that aren't in a position to pour too much into their marketing budget. You want your marketing to function in a smooth, automated, connected way that sets you apart from the competition without committing to a major investment – we get it. 

If your business needs insightful reporting to manage a small number of website leads and you have a team that can efficiently and effectively follow up on these prospects, then this package is just right for you. The idea is that this simple improvement to your marketing operations will enable you to scale and take advantage of the more feature-rich HubSpot packages further down the line. 

The HubSpot Powerhouse: HubSpot Marketing Hub Pro

There's quite a leap between what you get in the starter package and what possibilities become available in Pro. If your business is out of the starting blocks and ready to upgrade to the next level, HubSpot Pro has everything you need to hit your new growth targets. Most BEE clients are on this package and thriving, so let's take a closer look at what to expect. 

What's in the box?

The HubSpot Marketing Pro plan has everything you'd find in the Starter plan, but it's ramped up and accelerated, allowing your growing marketing team to demonstrate ROI, fully automate campaigns at scale and easily collaborate with other stakeholders across the business. 

HubSpot Marketing Hub Pro features:

Omnichannel Automation - Go a step further and create highly personalised campaigns that can be rolled out at scale automatically. 

Marketing orchestration - Align your team with Campaign managing and Marketing Collaboration tools to ensure faster, more impactful execution. 

Next level reporting - Visualise and share essential business metrics across the company with best in class reporting. 

Who's it for?

You've implemented inbound, and your company culture is firmly set in this methodology. Regardless of your marketing department's size, the level of automation that Pro brings to the table will maximise your team's potential and allow them to focus on strategic development and implementation. 

In terms of cost ($800/month), HubSpot Pro offers true value for money without breaking the bank because it boosts your team's capabilities and allows them to get more done in less time. 

Inbound Giant: HubSpot Marketing Hub Enterprise

If you've got $3200/month to spend on marketing software, then you're most likely an Inbound Giant. The HubSpot Marketing Hub Enterprise package is the best tool for organisations that have to manage larger teams and work with complex processes that need reputable and reliable solution providers.

What's in the box?

With HubSpot Marketing Hub Enterprise, you'll be able to solve some pretty big challenges. This powerful software is designed with user experience in mind and supports growing and scaling teams that need the best tools for the job.

HubSpot Marketing Hub Enterprise features:

Multi-touch revenue attribution - Connect every customer interaction to revenue.
Team-based partitioning - Create a clean database that makes sense for each team and department.
Adaptive testing - Eliminate the need for manual testing and use advanced machine learning to optimise conversion rates.
Advanced Salesforce Integration - Powerful Salesforce and HubSpot integrations allow for next-level data syncing.

These are just some of the features you can expect in the Enterprise package, but to sum up, this plan offers everything EXTRA – greater scalability, much more customisation and even more suped-up AI.

Who's it for?

Naturally, given the price tag, this package is for the big players who need all the extra features and, in particular, the ability to manage large (often geographically distributed) teams. Each plan upgrade offers a greater contact limit, so if your business generates leads in excess of 10 000, then this tier is for you. Big companies need partitioning, custom objects and revenue partitioning to ensure process optimisation and a high level of service delivery, and that's where this HubSpot package really has no rivals.

Maximise your HubSpot Investment with BEE

Making an informed decision about your HubSpot investment will significantly impact the success of your business –– and, even more importantly, how you implement or maintain inbound best practices. We know that there's plenty to consider, and, with so much to keep you busy in the day to day running of your business and marketing strategy, getting into the nitty-gritty of the marketing software world can be more of a headache than a pleasurable shopping experience. That's why the BEE team is here to offer advice and support, ensuring that your decision delivers the best value for money and provides a scalable solution that will improve, not hinder, operations. Speak with a HubSpot expert on our team and get the reassurance and support you need.