BambooHR vs HubSpot CRM
A detailed, side-by-side comparison of BambooHR and HubSpot CRM. We compare features, pricing, ease of use, and value for money to help you make the right choice in 2026.
Reviewed by the Ikaroa team · Last updated: March 2026
Quick Verdict
HubSpot CRM edges ahead overall with a rating of 4.5/5. However, BambooHR (4.4/5) may be the better fit if you prioritise Small to medium businesses wanting intuitive HR software with great onboarding and performance tools. Read on for the full breakdown.
BambooHR vs HubSpot CRM at a Glance
BambooHR
★ 4.4BambooHR is a leading HR software platform designed for small to medium businesses. It centralises employee data, time-off management, onboarding, performance reviews, and reporting into one intuitive system. Known for its clean interface and focus on making HR processes less painful for growing companies.
Starting from: From £4.50/employee/month
Best for: Small to medium businesses wanting intuitive HR software with great onboarding and performance tools
Read full review →HubSpot CRM
★ 4.5HubSpot offers a free CRM with powerful marketing, sales, and service tools. Popular with small to mid-sized businesses for its generous free tier and intuitive interface.
Starting from: £0/month
Best for: Small to mid-sized businesses wanting a free starting point with room to grow
Read full review →BambooHR vs HubSpot CRM Feature Comparison
Here is how BambooHR and HubSpot CRM compare across the features that matter most. We have tested both platforms extensively across client implementations.
| Feature | BambooHR | HubSpot CRM |
|---|---|---|
| Free Plan Available | No | Yes |
| Starting Price | From £4.50/employee/month | £0/month |
| Best For | Small to medium businesses wanting intuitive HR software with great onboarding and performance tools | Small to mid-sized businesses wanting a free starting point with room to grow |
| Our Rating | 4.4/5 | 4.5/5 |
| Mobile App | Yes | Yes |
| Email Marketing | No | Yes |
| Automation | Limited | Yes |
| Reporting | Yes | Yes |
| Integrations | Extensive | Extensive |
| API Access | Limited | Limited |
| Ikaroa Exclusive Discount | N/A | N/A |
BambooHR vs HubSpot CRM Pricing
Pricing is often the deciding factor. Here is a full breakdown of what each platform charges at every tier:
BambooHR Pricing
Core
From £4.50/employee/month
- ✓Employee records
- ✓Time-off management
- ✓Reporting
- ✓Mobile app
Pro
From £8/employee/month
- ✓Everything in Core
- ✓Performance management
- ✓Employee satisfaction
- ✓Onboarding
HubSpot CRM Pricing
Free
£0/month
- ✓Contact management
- ✓Email tracking
- ✓Deal pipeline
- ✓Live chat
Starter
£18/month
- ✓Everything in Free
- ✓Email marketing
- ✓Ad management
- ✓Landing pages
Professional
£720/month
- ✓Everything in Starter
- ✓Automation
- ✓Custom reporting
- ✓Teams
Enterprise
£3,000/month
- ✓Everything in Professional
- ✓Advanced permissions
- ✓Predictive lead scoring
- ✓Custom objects
Not sure which to pick?
Our team has implemented both BambooHR and HubSpot CRM for clients. We can help you decide based on your specific needs.
BambooHR Pros and Cons
✓Pros
- •Very intuitive and easy to use
- •Excellent onboarding workflows
- •Good performance management tools
- •Strong reporting capabilities
- •Clean, modern interface
✗Cons
- •Pricing is not transparent (quote-based)
- •Payroll is a separate add-on (US only)
- •Limited customisation on lower tier
- •No built-in UK payroll
- •Some features require Pro plan
HubSpot CRM Pros and Cons
✓Pros
- •Generous free tier with no time limit
- •Excellent user interface and onboarding
- •All-in-one platform (marketing, sales, service)
- •Huge integration marketplace (1,000+)
- •Strong community and learning resources
✗Cons
- •Gets expensive quickly at Professional tier
- •Free plan has HubSpot branding
- •Limited customisation on lower tiers
- •Annual contracts on paid plans
- •Per-seat pricing adds up for larger teams
Our Verdict: BambooHR vs HubSpot CRM
Both BambooHR and HubSpot CRM are solid options, but they serve different needs. Having implemented both for multiple clients, here is our recommendation:
Choose BambooHR if you need Small to medium businesses wanting intuitive HR software with great onboarding and performance tools. With a starting price of From £4.50/employee/month and a rating of 4.4/5, it offers very intuitive and easy to use.
Choose HubSpot CRM if you need Small to mid-sized businesses wanting a free starting point with room to grow. Starting at £0/month with a 4.5/5 rating, it excels at generous free tier with no time limit.
Still not sure? Talk to the Ikaroa team. We have helped hundreds of businesses make this exact decision, and we are happy to point you in the right direction.
🎁 Get either product at a discount through Ikaroa Partners
Consider Open Doors Instead
Why choose between BambooHR and HubSpot CRM? Open Doors gives you the best features of both in one platform, for less. It is an all-in-one CRM with email marketing, SMS, funnels, booking, invoicing, automation, and more, starting at just £97/month with unlimited contacts.
Need implementation help?
Ikaroa can set up BambooHR or HubSpot CRM for your business, migrate your data, and train your team. We have done it dozens of times.
Free consultation. No obligation.