HubSpot CRM vs Smartsheet
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.
Smartsheet
Smartsheet is a work management platform that combines the familiarity of spreadsheets with powerful project management and collaboration features. It is widely used by enterprise teams for project tracking, resource management, and automated workflows. Smartsheet is particularly popular with teams comfortable with Excel who need more collaboration and automation capabilities.
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
- ✓Familiar spreadsheet interface reduces learning curve for Excel users
- ✓Powerful automation and workflow capabilities
- ✓Strong enterprise security and compliance features
- ✓Excellent for managing large portfolios of projects
Cons
- ✗Pricing is higher than many competitors
- ✗Interface feels dated compared to modern tools
- ✗No free plan — 30-day trial only
- ✗Less intuitive for teams unfamiliar with spreadsheet-style tools
HubSpot CRM vs Smartsheet: Side by Side
| Factor | HubSpot CRM | Smartsheet |
|---|---|---|
| User Rating | N/A | N/A |
| Category | CRM Software | Project Management |
| Pricing Model | Freemium | Paid |
| Starting Price | Free | $9/user/mo |
| Best For | SMBs wanting a free CRM with room to grow into marketing automation | Enterprise teams wanting spreadsheet-familiar project management with powerful automation |
| Our Pick | — | — |
HubSpot CRM Features
- ✓Contact management
- ✓email tracking
- ✓deal pipelines
- ✓live chat
- ✓meeting scheduling
- ✓reporting
- ✓marketing automation
- ✓landing pages
Smartsheet Features
- ✓Spreadsheet-style project management
- ✓Gantt charts
- ✓automation
- ✓dashboards
- ✓resource management
- ✓forms
- ✓integrations
- ✓reporting
- ✓enterprise security
Pricing Comparison
Our Take
Choose HubSpot CRM if smbs wanting a free crm with room to grow into marketing automation. Choose Smartsheet if enterprise teams wanting spreadsheet-familiar project management with powerful automation.
Best For
SMBs wanting a free CRM with room to grow into marketing automation
Best For
Enterprise teams wanting spreadsheet-familiar project management with powerful automation
Also Consider
If neither HubSpot CRM nor Smartsheet 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 Smartsheet?
HubSpot CRM is best for smbs wanting a free crm with room to grow into marketing automation. Smartsheet is best for enterprise teams wanting spreadsheet-familiar project management with powerful automation.
Which is better, HubSpot CRM or Smartsheet?
Choose HubSpot CRM if smbs wanting a free crm with room to grow into marketing automation. Choose Smartsheet if enterprise teams wanting spreadsheet-familiar project management with powerful automation.
How much does HubSpot CRM cost?
HubSpot CRM starts at Free. Pricing model: Freemium.
How much does Smartsheet cost?
Smartsheet starts at $9/user/mo. Pricing model: Paid.
Who should use HubSpot CRM?
SMBs wanting a free CRM with room to grow into marketing automation
Who should use Smartsheet?
Enterprise teams wanting spreadsheet-familiar project management with powerful automation