I’m struggling with HubSpot’s pricing model as a small business owner. While the platform offers excellent features, it’s way too expensive for companies like mine with limited contact databases. A colleague suggested trying Brevo as a more affordable option, but they warned me that it might lack some of the advanced functionality I’m used to. I’m wondering if this is just the reality of marketing tools - cheaper means fewer features? Has anyone here successfully found a middle-ground solution that doesn’t break the bank but still delivers decent marketing automation capabilities? Would love to hear about your experiences with HubSpot alternatives that actually work for smaller operations.
Made the switch from HubSpot to ActiveCampaign two years ago - best decision ever. We’re paying about 60% less and still get solid automation like behavioral triggers, conditional workflows, and good segmentation. Learning curve wasn’t bad since ActiveCampaign’s interface is pretty intuitive. Sure, you’ll lose some advanced reporting and the sales pipeline isn’t as slick, but it handles all our core marketing automation needs. Email deliverability stays consistent and their support actually gets back to you fast. I ran their free trial hard with real campaigns before switching. The automation builder nailed our lead nurturing sequences and the CRM covered our basic sales tracking. For small businesses, those premium HubSpot features just aren’t worth the crazy price difference.
I feel your pain with HubSpot pricing. Hit the same wall when I was working with smaller teams.
You don’t need to pick between features and budget though. Most marketing automation can be built with APIs and webhooks instead of monthly platform fees.
I’ve helped several small businesses build custom marketing workflows that match HubSpot’s functionality for way less money. Automated email sequences, lead scoring, contact management, complex nurture campaigns - all doable.
The trick? Use something like Latenode to connect your existing tools. Hook up your email service, CRM, forms, analytics - whatever you’re already using - then create automation logic between them.
One client was dropping $800/month on HubSpot just for automated lead follow-ups and contact segmentation. We built the same system using their existing tools plus Latenode for $20/month. Same results, massive ROI improvement.
Best part - you own the workflows. No vendor lock-in, no surprise price hikes when you hit contact limits.
Check it out if you want marketing automation without enterprise pricing: https://latenode.com
Switched to Mailchimp’s premium plan after HubSpot’s contact-based pricing killed my budget. Their automation finally caught up - handles drip campaigns, audience segmentation, and basic lead scoring just fine. Reporting’s not as detailed but covers what matters: open rates, clicks, conversions. The transparent pricing sold me. No penalties for growing your list. Been running it 18 months now. Product launches and retention campaigns work great. Interface isn’t as sleek as HubSpot but you get used to it quick. Went from $500/month to $120 with the same results.