HubSpot vs Keap 2026: Free CRM vs Small Business Automation?

HubSpot CRM vs Keap

CRM pricing comparison · 2026 · Updated March 2026

HubSpot CRM pricing ranges from $0–$150/user/month, while Keap ranges from $299–$299/month. HubSpot CRM is typically 80% more affordable, though your actual cost depends on tier and team size.

CRM

HubSpot CRM

$0–$150
/user/month
4 plans · Free tier
Full pricing breakdown →
VS
CRM

Keap

$299–$299
/month
1 plan
Full pricing breakdown →

HubSpot and Keap both serve small business CRM needs, but with very different pricing models and automation philosophies. HubSpot's free CRM is genuinely powerful for basic contact and deal management, and paid tiers add email marketing, automation, and sequences. Keap (formerly Infusionsoft) is a flat $299/month subscription that bundles CRM, email marketing, automation, appointments, invoicing, and payments into one platform.

Keap's all-in-one approach is either a strength or a weakness depending on your needs. For small businesses running complex client onboarding workflows, Keap's automation builder is among the most capable available. For teams that just need contact management and a pipeline, HubSpot's free tier covers the basics without a $299/month commitment.

Plan-by-Plan Pricing

Plan HubSpot CRM Keap
Free Free /user/month $299 /month
Starter $20 /seat/month
Professional $100 /seat/month
Enterprise $150 /seat/month

Cost at Scale

Total cost of ownership — licenses, implementation, and hidden costs included.

HubSpot CRM

6 scenarios
$10,500 Year 1 ($6,000 licenses + $1,500 onboarding + $3,000 integrations)
Small Team (5 users, Professional)
$54,300 Year 1 ($30,000 Sales Hub + $10,800 Marketing Hub + $1,500 onboarding + $12,000 implementation)
Mid-Market (25 users, Professional)
$121,500 Year 1 ($90,000 Sales Hub + $18,000 Marketing Hub + $3,500 onboarding + $10,000 implementation)
Enterprise (50 users, Enterprise)
See all 6 scenarios →

Keap

9 scenarios
$299/month ($3,588 Year 1)
Solo Operator on Monthly Billing
$299/month ($3,588 Year 1)
Small Team Using Keap for CRM
$299/month ($3,588 Year 1)
Marketing Agency
See all 9 scenarios →

Market Intelligence

HubSpot CRM

Median annual cost
$26,275
Average negotiated discount
18%
Based on
804 deals

Keap

Median annual cost
$1,182
Based on
66 deals

What Users Say

HubSpot CRM

G2
4.4/5 (12,400)
Trustpilot
1.8/5 (1,040)
TrustRadius
8.4/10 (5,358)
Top complaints
  • Feature paywalls and expensive tier pricing
  • Restrictive annual contracts with no flexibility
  • Email deliverability issues and spam problems

Keap

G2
3.8/5 (13)
Trustpilot
1.2/5 (491)
TrustRadius
6.7/10 (384)
Capterra
4.1/5 (1,297)
Top complaints
  • Extremely difficult cancellation process requiring live conversation with sales rep
  • Significant price increases (70% in 12-15 months) without corresponding feature improvements
  • Poor customer service and unresponsive account managers

Hidden Costs

Beyond the sticker price — what catches buyers off guard.

HubSpot CRM 6 hidden costs

high
Tiered Feature Paywalls and Rapid Price Escalation $3,000-$10,000+ annually in forced upgrades
medium
Mandatory Onboarding and Implementation Fees $5,000-$15,000 in implementation costs
high
Email Deliverability and Technical Issues 5-10% of license costs
critical
Restrictive Annual Contract Terms $3,000-$50,000 depending on plan
critical
Free Tier Data Lockout $240-$1,800 annual forced upgrade cost
See all HubSpot CRM hidden costs →

Keap 8 hidden costs

high
Forced Extra Month on Cancellation $299
medium
Additional User Costs $30/user/month
high
Contact List Overage Charges 200-300% increase
critical
Unauthorized Auto-Upgrades Variable
medium
Setup and Onboarding Fees $1,000-$5,000
See all Keap hidden costs →

Contract Terms

Term HubSpot CRM Keap
Auto-renewal Yes Yes
Cancellation Must provide notice before annual renewal; difficult to cancel mid-contract 10 days before renewal
Minimum commitment 1 year 1 month
Price escalation Documented price increases of 70% over 12-15 months without prior notification. Multiple users report doubled pricing over 2 years.
Can downgrade No No

Our Verdict

Choose HubSpot if: you want to start free and scale into paid features, prefer a modular approach (add CRM + Marketing + Sales tools as needed), or are a larger team where per-seat pricing at HubSpot's rates is competitive. HubSpot's ecosystem and integrations are unmatched in breadth.

Choose Keap if: you're a small service business running complex follow-up sequences and client onboarding workflows, want a single flat-rate subscription that includes email marketing and payments, and will actually use the advanced automation. At $299/month for unlimited users and contacts, Keap can be cheaper than HubSpot for large teams.

Bottom line: HubSpot is the default choice for most businesses — start free, upgrade what you need. Keap is worth the $299/month for service businesses running sophisticated automation who want everything in one place. Don't pay Keap's flat rate if you're only using 20% of the platform.

Frequently Asked Questions

01 Is HubSpot really free?

HubSpot's CRM is free with unlimited users, up to 1M contacts, and pipeline management. Paid upgrades (Marketing Hub, Sales Hub, Service Hub) start at $20/user/month and add automation, sequences, and advanced reporting. You can use HubSpot CRM free indefinitely — many small teams do.

02 What is Keap's pricing?

Keap's current pricing is approximately $299/month for their standard plan, which includes CRM, email marketing, automation, appointments, invoicing, and text messaging. This is a flat rate regardless of contact count (up to plan limits) — not per user. Prices may vary; check Keap's website for current rates.

03 Which has better email automation?

Keap's visual automation builder is more powerful for complex if/then workflows — triggered by form fills, purchases, tags, or dates. HubSpot's automation is excellent but can require higher-tier paid plans to match Keap's depth. For multi-step client onboarding sequences, Keap has an edge.

04 Can Keap handle e-commerce payments?

Yes. Keap includes a checkout and payment processing capability (via Stripe integration) for selling products and services. This makes it a common choice for service businesses and course creators who want CRM + payments in one tool. HubSpot Commerce is an add-on requiring separate setup.

05 Which is better for a growing team?

HubSpot scales better for teams because its per-user pricing and module system let you add tools as needed. Keap's flat-rate model becomes cost-efficient for larger teams but the platform itself is optimized for small operations. Once a company hits 50+ people with complex sales processes, HubSpot's breadth is typically more appropriate.