Question 1: What is your budget per seat?
$0/seat → HubSpot Free (unlimited contacts, basic CRM, 2,000 emails/mo)
Under $20/seat → Go to Question 2
$20–$50/seat → Go to Question 3
$50+/seat → Go to Question 4
Question 2: Do you close deals or nurture relationships?
Close deals (pipeline-focused) → Pipedrive Lite at $14/seat/mo. Visual pipeline, drag-and-drop deals, activity tracking.
Nurture relationships (network-focused) → HubSpot Starter at $20/seat/mo. Contact management, email tracking, forms, live chat.
Question 3: Do you need built-in calling and email sequences?
Yes, calling is critical → Close Essentials at $49/seat/mo. Built-in Power Dialer, email sequences, SMS messaging.
No, just pipeline management → Pipedrive Growth at $39/seat/mo. Email sync, automations, scheduler, group emailing.
Question 4: Do you need marketing automation in the CRM?
Yes, marketing + sales together → HubSpot Professional at $890/mo flat. Full marketing automation, custom reporting, ABM. Note: this is a significant price jump from Starter ($20/seat).
No, sales-focused only → Close Growth at $109/seat/mo. Multiple pipelines, call recording, workflow automation.
Question 5: Team size sanity check
Solo / 1–2 people → Start with HubSpot Free or Pipedrive Lite ($14/seat). Do not overspend.
3–10 people → Pipedrive Growth ($39/seat) or Close Essentials ($49/seat) depending on whether you need calling.
10+ people with marketing → HubSpot Professional ($890/mo + seats) if you need marketing automation. Otherwise, Pipedrive Premium ($49/seat).
Quick Price Reference
| CRM | Entry Price | Mid-Tier Price |
|---|---|---|
| HubSpot | Free ($0) | Starter: $20/seat/mo |
| Pipedrive | Lite: $14/seat/mo | Growth: $39/seat/mo |
| Close | Solo: $19/seat/mo | Essentials: $49/seat/mo |
Frequently Asked Questions
What about Salesforce?
Can I switch CRMs later?
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