HubSpot CRM vs Employment Hero
A head-to-head comparison to help you pick the right tool
Last updated: April 30, 2026
HubSpot CRM
HubSpot CRM is a powerful and easy-to-use customer relationship management platform trusted by over 150,000 companies worldwide. It offers a completely free core CRM with optional paid Marketing, Sales, and Service Hubs for growing teams. HubSpot is the go-to CRM for companies that want to align their marketing, sales, and customer service teams in one platform.
Employment Hero
Employment Hero is an all-in-one HR, payroll, and benefits platform with a strong presence in Australia and New Zealand. It offers a free HR plan alongside paid payroll and benefits modules, making it accessible for businesses at any stage. Employment Hero also operates a job marketplace called Swag for employees.
Pros
- ✓Generous free plan that is genuinely useful for small teams
- ✓All-in-one platform covering marketing, sales, and service
- ✓Excellent onboarding resources and HubSpot Academy
- ✓Strong integrations with 1000+ tools
Cons
- ✗Can get very expensive as you add paid Hubs and contacts
- ✗Some advanced features locked behind higher tiers
- ✗Reporting is limited on free and starter plans
Pros
- ✓Free HR plan available with core employee management features
- ✓Strong compliance tools for Australian and NZ employment law
- ✓All-in-one platform covering HR, payroll, and benefits
- ✓Employee benefits marketplace with discounts and perks
Cons
- ✗Payroll module costs extra and is best suited for AU/NZ companies
- ✗Limited support and compliance coverage outside Australia and New Zealand
- ✗Some users report the platform can feel complex to navigate
HubSpot CRM vs Employment Hero: Side by Side
| Factor | HubSpot CRM | Employment Hero |
|---|---|---|
| User Rating | N/A | N/A |
| Category | CRM Software | HR Software |
| Pricing Model | Freemium | Freemium |
| Starting Price | Free | Free |
| Best For | SMBs wanting a free CRM with room to grow into marketing automation | Australian and NZ businesses needing full HR suite |
| Our Pick | — | — |
HubSpot CRM Features
- ✓Contact management
- ✓email tracking
- ✓deal pipelines
- ✓live chat
- ✓meeting scheduling
- ✓reporting
- ✓marketing automation
- ✓landing pages
Employment Hero Features
- ✓HR management
- ✓payroll
- ✓benefits
- ✓recruitment
- ✓learning
- ✓employee engagement
Pricing Comparison
Our Take
Choose HubSpot CRM if smbs wanting a free crm with room to grow into marketing automation. Choose Employment Hero if australian and nz businesses needing full hr suite.
Best For
SMBs wanting a free CRM with room to grow into marketing automation
Best For
Australian and NZ businesses needing full HR suite
Also Consider
If neither HubSpot CRM nor Employment Hero is the right fit, Monday.com CRM is worth evaluating.
Monday.com CRM
Teams that want CRM and project management combined in one visual platform
From $12/user/mo
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the difference between HubSpot CRM and Employment Hero?
HubSpot CRM is best for smbs wanting a free crm with room to grow into marketing automation. Employment Hero is best for australian and nz businesses needing full hr suite.
Which is better, HubSpot CRM or Employment Hero?
Choose HubSpot CRM if smbs wanting a free crm with room to grow into marketing automation. Choose Employment Hero if australian and nz businesses needing full hr suite.
How much does HubSpot CRM cost?
HubSpot CRM starts at Free. Pricing model: Freemium.
How much does Employment Hero cost?
Employment Hero starts at Free. Pricing model: Freemium.
Who should use HubSpot CRM?
SMBs wanting a free CRM with room to grow into marketing automation
Who should use Employment Hero?
Australian and NZ businesses needing full HR suite