Understanding CRM Systems: HubSpot vs. ActiveCampaign

Managing customer relationships and driving business growth, having the right CRM system is important

At WebStudio, we work with two of the best in the business - HubSpot and ActiveCampaign.

Both offer powerful features, but the right choice for you depends on your specific needs and future goals.

Let’s dive into what each of these systems offers and why we recommend them.

HubSpot is a versatile CRM system that fits a wide range of business needs.

The version we provide (HubSpot Marketing Starter) is a fantastic option for most of our clients.

It’s user-friendly, making it easy to build engagement, create lists, and send emails.

This is ideal for businesses that want a simple, effective CRM without getting bogged down in complexity.

• Engagement and List Building: HubSpot’s intuitive interface allows you to easily create and manage contact lists. You can segment your audience based on their engagement levels, so that your sales team targets the right prospects at the right time.
• Sales and Marketing Integration: At WebStudio, we see ourselves as an extension of your marketing department, supercharging your efforts. HubSpot’s seamless integration between its marketing tools and your sales team ensures smooth and effective collaboration.
• Live Chat: HubSpot also offers live chat capabilities, which we've found to be particularly effective in the engineering sector. Prospective clients appreciate getting instant answers, and live chat can be a powerful tool in converting website visitors into leads.
• Google Ads Integration: One of HubSpot's standout features is its ability to push audiences through to Google Ads. This is invaluable for businesses running paid campaigns, allowing for more targeted advertising based on the data collected in HubSpot.

We’ve also got extensive experience with HubSpot’s API, which lets us be quite clever with the content on your website, adapting it to suit the visitor’s needs.

While HubSpot is our go-to CRM for straightforward needs, ActiveCampaign is a fantastic option, especially if you're looking for advanced automation without breaking the bank.

Unlike HubSpot Pro, which offers automation at a steep price, ActiveCampaign provides similar capabilities at a fraction of the cost.

• Advanced Automation: If your business relies on sophisticated automated workflows and needs to create complex, multi-step campaigns, ActiveCampaign is hard to beat. It’s perfect for streamlining your marketing efforts, giving you powerful automation tools at a much more affordable price than HubSpot Pro.
• Cost-Effective: While both HubSpot Marketing Starter and ActiveCampaign Starter are similarly priced, ActiveCampaign shines when it comes to automation. For businesses that need advanced features without the hefty price tag of HubSpot Pro, ActiveCampaign is an excellent choice.
• Ease of Transition: If you’re currently using HubSpot and thinking about switching to ActiveCampaign - or vice versa - don’t worry. Migrating between the two systems is straightforward. You can easily import all your contacts and continue your marketing efforts with minimal disruption.

The choice between HubSpot and ActiveCampaign depends on what you want to achieve.

If you’re looking for an easy-to-use CRM that excels in engagement, list building, and basic email marketing, HubSpot Marketing Starter is a fantastic choice.

It’s simple, effective, and integrates seamlessly with your sales efforts.

However, if you’re planning to leverage advanced automation to scale your marketing, ActiveCampaign is the way to go.

It offers robust features at a much lower cost than HubSpot Pro, making it an ideal choice for businesses that want powerful automation without the premium price tag.

We recommend HubSpot for its user-friendly interface, excellent engagement tools, and seamless integration with your sales team.

It’s a solid choice for most businesses.

But if your focus is on advanced automation, ActiveCampaign offers a cost-effective alternative. (note unlike other CRMS which is on a user basis, their Pro version allows 3 users).

It’s less expensive than HubSpot Pro and provides the tools you need to take your marketing to the next level.

Whether you choose HubSpot or ActiveCampaign, our goal is to help you build stronger customer relationships and drive more sales.

We manage your leads using HubSpot CRM, giving you full visibility into our work.

With HubSpot’s integration with your website and Google Ads, your marketing efforts will be more cohesive and effective.

And if you decide to switch to ActiveCampaign for its advanced features, we’ll help you make a smooth transition, ensuring your business continues to grow.