FreeAgent vs HubSpot CRM
A detailed, side-by-side comparison of FreeAgent 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, FreeAgent (4.2/5) may be the better fit if you prioritise UK freelancers, contractors, and NatWest business banking customers. Read on for the full breakdown.
FreeAgent vs HubSpot CRM at a Glance
FreeAgent
★ 4.2FreeAgent is a UK accounting platform beloved by freelancers, contractors, and small business owners. Owned by NatWest Group, it is offered free to NatWest, Royal Bank of Scotland, and Ulster Bank business account holders. It handles invoicing, time tracking, expenses, tax, and project management with a focus on making accounting approachable.
Starting from: £24/month
Best for: UK freelancers, contractors, and NatWest business banking customers
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 →FreeAgent vs HubSpot CRM Feature Comparison
Here is how FreeAgent and HubSpot CRM compare across the features that matter most. We have tested both platforms extensively across client implementations.
| Feature | FreeAgent | HubSpot CRM |
|---|---|---|
| Free Plan Available | No | Yes |
| Starting Price | £24/month | £0/month |
| Best For | UK freelancers, contractors, and NatWest business banking customers | Small to mid-sized businesses wanting a free starting point with room to grow |
| Our Rating | 4.2/5 | 4.5/5 |
| Mobile App | Limited | Yes |
| Email Marketing | No | Yes |
| Automation | Limited | Yes |
| Reporting | Basic | Yes |
| Integrations | Limited | Extensive |
| API Access | Limited | Limited |
| Ikaroa Exclusive Discount | N/A | N/A |
FreeAgent vs HubSpot CRM Pricing
Pricing is often the deciding factor. Here is a full breakdown of what each platform charges at every tier:
FreeAgent Pricing
FreeAgent
£24/month
- ✓Unlimited invoices
- ✓Unlimited users
- ✓Expense management
- ✓VAT returns
- ✓Self-assessment
Free with NatWest
£0/month
- ✓All features included
- ✓Free for NatWest/RBS/Ulster Bank business customers
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 FreeAgent and HubSpot CRM for clients. We can help you decide based on your specific needs.
FreeAgent Pros and Cons
✓Pros
- •Free for NatWest/RBS business banking customers
- •Excellent for freelancers and contractors
- •Built-in self-assessment tax filing
- •Time tracking and project management included
- •Clean, friendly interface
✗Cons
- •Only one pricing tier (can be expensive if not a NatWest customer)
- •Limited inventory management
- •Fewer integrations than Xero
- •Not ideal for larger or more complex businesses
- •Reporting is basic compared to QuickBooks
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: FreeAgent vs HubSpot CRM
Both FreeAgent and HubSpot CRM are solid options, but they serve different needs. Having implemented both for multiple clients, here is our recommendation:
Choose FreeAgent if you need UK freelancers, contractors, and NatWest business banking customers. With a starting price of £24/month and a rating of 4.2/5, it offers free for natwest/rbs business banking customers.
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 FreeAgent 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 FreeAgent or HubSpot CRM for your business, migrate your data, and train your team. We have done it dozens of times.
Free consultation. No obligation.