HubSpot vs Intercom
A side-by-side look at HubSpot and Intercom: what each costs to start, whether there is a free plan, how easy they are to pick up, and which features and integrations they cover.
Which should you choose?
Choose HubSpot if
- Small businesses that want a free CRM they can grow into
- Teams that plan to run marketing, sales and support from one platform
- Companies that value a polished interface over deep customization
Choose Intercom if
- SaaS and online businesses that want chat and AI-first support
- Teams with enough help center content for an AI agent to deflect volume
- Product-led companies combining support with in-app messaging
Cheapest to start
HubSpot · From $20/mo
Free plan
HubSpot
Highest editor rating
HubSpot · 4.5
| Compare | HubSpot |
|---|---|
| Free plan | Yes |
| Free trial | Yes |
| Starting price | From $20/mo |
| Editor rating | 4.5 |
| Ease of use | Easy (4/5) |
| Category | Sales & CRM |
| Pricing model | Free CRM tools for up to 2 users with usage limits. Sales Hub Starter is $20 per seat per month ($7 billed annually), Professional $100 per seat per month ($90 annually) with a mandatory $1,500 one-time onboarding fee, and Enterprise from $150 per seat per month with a mandatory $3,500 onboarding fee. |
| Plans |
|
| Platforms | Web, iOS, Android, Browser extension, API |
| Integrations | Gmail, Google Workspace, Make, Microsoft 365, Outlook, Shopify, Slack, Stripe, Zapier, Zoom |
| Best for |
|
| Pros |
|
| Cons |
|
| AI agents | No |
| API access | Yes |
| Chatbot | No |
| Custom fields | Yes |
| Email sync (Gmail / Outlook) | Yes |
| Forms & surveys | Yes |
| Knowledge base / help centre | No |
| Lead scoring | Yes |
| Live chat | Yes |
| Meeting scheduling | Yes |
| Mobile app | Yes |
| Multichannel inbox (email, chat, social) | No |
| Quotes & invoices | Yes |
| Reporting & dashboards | Yes |
| Shared inbox | No |
| Ticketing | No |
| Visual pipeline | Yes |
| Webhooks | No |
| WhatsApp channel | No |
| Workflow automation | Yes |
Common questions
- Is HubSpot cheaper than Intercom?
- HubSpot starts lower, at $20 a month against $29 for Intercom. Both figures are the entry paid plan billed monthly, checked against each vendor's own pricing page. Higher tiers and add-ons can change the comparison, so price the plan you actually need.
- Does HubSpot or Intercom have a free plan?
- HubSpot has a free plan. Intercom does not, though it offers a free trial.
- How long is the HubSpot and Intercom free trial?
- HubSpot offers a 14-day free trial, and Intercom offers a 14-day free trial.
- Which is easier to use, HubSpot or Intercom?
- In VERILO's editorial assessment HubSpot is the easier of the two, scoring 4 out of 5 against 3 for Intercom. That is a judgement about how quickly a new team gets productive, not a measured benchmark.