HubSpot is a powerful marketing automation tool, but it comes with a price tag that can drain your budget fast — especially if you’re using their Marketing Hub for automation.
The good news: You don’t have to pay premium prices to get top-tier marketing automation.
In this guide, I’m going to show you the best actionable tips to save up on HubSpot’s cost. That’s money you can easily spend in other places, such as development.
Let’s get going.
Contents
TOP 3 Reasons Why HubSpot Bills Get Expensive
1. Contact Based Pricing: More Contacts = Higher Costs
HubSpot’s pricing scales with the number of contacts in your database.
- Once you exceed the free tier or base limit, costs rise significantly.
- Even inactive or unsubscribed contacts count toward your bill…
- Which altogether can make pricing feel unfair.
The best way to manage this is by regularly cleaning your contact list.
Remove outdated leads, archive inactive ones, and use lists to separate billable vs. non-billable contacts.
If possible, store low-priority contacts in a separate CRM or email marketing tool that doesn’t charge per contact.
Pro Tip: You can automate cleaning contacts in Encharge!
2. Feature Creep: Paying for Tools You Don’t Use
HubSpot’s appeal comes from its all-in-one functionality, but many businesses end up paying for features they barely use.
- Marketing automation
- Sales pipelines
- Customer support
All three tools can be bundled together, even if you only need one or two.
To cut costs, audit your usage. Check which tools your team actually relies on and downgrade plans or remove unnecessary add-ons.
In many cases, a combination of free or cheaper third-party tools can replace HubSpot’s more expensive features.
3. Annual Contracts: Locked-In Pricing Limits Flexibility
HubSpot often requires annual commitments, making it difficult to switch or downgrade mid-contract. While annual billing comes with slight discounts, it locks you into a fixed cost—even if your needs change.
- If flexibility is a priority, consider paying monthly, even at a higher rate.
- This gives you the freedom to adjust plans as your business scales.
If you’re already in an annual contract, start negotiating renewals early to explore possible discounts.
How to Save Money on HubSpot (2025)
The #1 way to save money on HubSpot is by using another marketing tool (like Encharge) instead of HubSpot Marketing Hub.
Encharge is 10x cheaper while offering the same core automation features you need. Plus, there are other ways to cut costs on HubSpot, like negotiating pricing and cleaning up your contact database.
But there’s more to it.
1. Avoid the Marketing Hub
HubSpot’s Marketing Hub is overpriced. If you’re using it for email automation, lead nurturing, and customer journeys, there’s zero reason to keep paying so much.
Encharge does all of that for a fraction of the price:
With powerful automation, CRM integrations, and a visual workflow builder, Encharge gives you everything you need — without the ridiculous costs. Most businesses don’t need HubSpot’s bloated extras.
Make the switch and save thousands with:
- The same automation, 10x cheaper
- No unnecessary features draining your wallet
- Perfect for startups, agencies, and growing businesses
2. Don’t Pay the Onboarding Fee
HubSpot charges $3,000-$6,000 just for onboarding — and they don’t do it for you. You’re basically paying for a few calls with an account manager.
Instead, work with a HubSpot Partner who can waive these fees. Some agencies offer free onboarding and will actually help set things up.
- Onboarding fees are optional (don’t fall for it!)
- Certified partners can waive them
- Get real setup help instead of just calls
Here’s a Reddit thread with people sharing their onboarding experiences:
TLDR: People are arguing why should you pay thousands for something you can get for free?
We’re not trying to be harsh here, but these are real-life examples. As someone trying to save money on HubSpot, you might want to know about this.
3. Clean Up Your Contact List
HubSpot charges based on “marketing contacts”, meaning every email in your database costs you money — even if they’re inactive.
Set up a workflow to auto-remove contacts who haven’t engaged in 6+ months, had a hard bounce, or are irrelevant (spam, competitors, etc). Just cleaning up 5,000 outdated contacts can save you $3,000+ per year.
- Delete unsubscribes and bounces
- Remove inactive emails or re-engage them first
- Mark non-buyers as “non-marketing” to avoid extra fees
4. Never Accept the First Price
The price you see on HubSpot’s website?
That’s not what you should pay. Their pricing is negotiable, and if you time it right, you can get a big discount.
The best time to negotiate? End of the month, quarter, or year. Sales reps need to hit targets, so they’re more likely to give you a better deal.
- Never pay full price
- Negotiate at the right time for bigger savings
- Bundle multiple hubs for bigger discounts
5. Use HubSpot’s Startup Discounts
If you’re a startup, HubSpot offers huge discounts — but only if you apply through an approved partner. Here’s what you can get:
- 90% off if you’ve raised under $2M
- 50% off if you’re at the Series A stage
- 30% off if you’re an entrepreneur
These savings help short-term, but keep in mind: after year one, prices go up.
If automation is all you need, Encharge is still cheaper.
- Up to 90% off for startups
- Must apply through a partner
- Great short-term savings, but costs rise later
6. Use Free HubSpot Tools First
Many businesses pay for HubSpot too soon when they could be using the free tools first. HubSpot offers free versions of CRM, email tracking, live chat, and sales tools that work just fine.
Before upgrading, make sure you actually need the paid version. Many companies waste money by buying everything upfront, instead of growing into the platform.
- Start with free tools before upgrading
- Only pay for what you actually need
- Avoid unnecessary expenses upfront
7. Pay Annually to Save
HubSpot offers a 10-28% discount when you pay annually instead of monthly. If you’re committed to using HubSpot, this saves thousands compared to monthly billing.
If you have the cash flow, it’s an easy way to cut costs—just make sure you’re actually sticking with HubSpot before locking yourself in.
- Annual billing = instant savings
- Only worth it if you’re committed to HubSpot
- Don’t lock in unless you’re 100% sure
8. Only Pay for Users Who Need FULL Access
HubSpot charges per “seat” for Sales and Service Hub, but not everyone needs a paid seat. Many team members can use free seats and still access the CRM.
Before paying for extra users, check who actually needs edit access. Cutting unnecessary seats can save you thousands per year.
- Not everyone needs a paid seat
- Use free seats for view-only access
- Only pay for people who need full features
And that sums up everythinng!
When to Keep HubSpot vs. When to Switch
| Keep HubSpot | Switch to Alternatives | |
|---|---|---|
| Feature Usage | Using multiple HubSpot tools daily | Only need a few features |
| Integration | Need seamless built-in connections | Can use third-party integrations |
| Cost | Price is justified by value gained | HubSpot is too expensive |
| Feature Utilization | Actively using most paid features | Paying for unused tools |
| Flexibility | Okay with annual contracts | Need downgrade/cancel options |
| Long-Term Fit | Deeply invested in workflows | Cheaper tools offer similar benefits |
This may look a bit confusing.
Hence, let me break down both sections so you can easily understand why there are some scenarios in which you might actually want to stick with HS.
1. When to Keep HubSpot
HubSpot makes sense if you rely on its all-in-one ecosystem.
If your team actively uses multiple features — CRM, email marketing, automation, and customer support — it can be more convenient and efficient than managing separate tools.
- The seamless integration between its modules helps businesses that need a centralized system.
- It’s also worth keeping HubSpot if you’re deeply invested in its workflows and automation.
Migrating to a different platform can be time-consuming and disruptive, especially if your team has already adapted to its interface.
If the cost is manageable and the platform drives real revenue growth, the convenience may outweigh the expense.
2. When to Switch
If you’re only using a few of HubSpot’s features, there’s a good chance you’re overpaying.
Many businesses find that standalone CRMs (like Pipedrive or Zoho), email marketing tools (like Sendinblue or ActiveCampaign), and automation platforms (like Make.com) offer similar functions at a fraction of the price.
Switching makes sense if pricing has become unsustainable or if you’re locked into an expensive contract with unused features. Before making the move, test alternatives through free trials to ensure they meet your needs.
A phased transition (starting with one function at a time) can also help avoid disruptions.
FAQ: Saving Money on HubSpot
1. How to use HubSpot efficiently?
To use HubSpot efficiently, focus on automation, segmentation, and streamlined workflows to maximize results without wasting time.
- Set up automated email sequences, use smart lists to segment contacts, and integrate with other tools to centralize your marketing efforts.
- Avoid overpaying by regularly reviewing your plan and removing unnecessary features.
For a more cost-effective alternative with full automation, try Encharge!
2. What’s a cheaper HubSpot replacement?
A cheaper replacement for HubSpot is Encharge, offering powerful automation, advanced segmentation, and no hidden fees at a fraction of the cost.
Unlike HubSpot, which increases pricing as your contact list grows, Encharge provides affordable, scalable plans without forcing costly upgrades.
3. Is there a way to save up on HubSpot?
The best way to save on HubSpot is to switch to Encharge, which offers full marketing automation at a much lower cost. HubSpot’s pricing increases as your contact list grows, but Encharge provides affordable, scalable plans without forced upgrades.
If you stay with HubSpot, reduce costs by removing unused features, optimizing workflows, and negotiating your plan.
Conclusion: Want to Save the Most? Switch to Encharge
If you want to cut HubSpot costs, the best move is to replace Marketing Hub with Encharge. You get the same automation for 10x less, without paying for bloated features.
For other HubSpot savings, negotiate your price, remove inactive contacts, and take advantage of free tools before committing to expensive plans. Every dollar saved is a dollar that can fuel your business growth.
- The best way to save: Ditch HubSpot Marketing Hub for Encharge
- Negotiate your HubSpot pricing (never accept full price)
- Cut costs by cleaning your contact list and using free tools
This sums up our guide.
Thank you so much for reading this,
David Ch
Head of Marketing at Encharge
