So if you're a startup or a team of 20 or less (that will actually be using the CRM day-to-day), we highly recommend looking at a different CRM ( we've done a deep-dive on that here ). It wasn't until HubSpot realized that acquiring customers for their $20–60k+/yr marketing automation suite was a difficult sell out of the gate, that they decided to built a 'free CRM' as a lead magnet (and gateway) to their expensive core product. It's just, most companies often need to start with just a CRM to streamline their business operations. A powerful (and expensive) one at that-but credit where credit is due.
HubSpot was not initially built as a CRM, it was a marketing email automation platform.
If you are considering HubSpot because of price (after hearing things like 50–90% off the first year)-let me stop you right now, you're playing directly into their marketing shtick (you'll see the #1 concern with HubSpot is actually price).
