FreshBooks vs HubSpot CRM
A detailed, side-by-side comparison of FreshBooks 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, FreshBooks (4.2/5) may be the better fit if you prioritise Freelancers and service businesses wanting beautiful invoicing with time tracking. Read on for the full breakdown.
FreshBooks vs HubSpot CRM at a Glance
FreshBooks
★ 4.2FreshBooks is an invoicing-first accounting platform designed for freelancers and service-based businesses. It excels at creating professional invoices, tracking time, managing expenses, and accepting payments. While it has added double-entry accounting features, its core strength remains making invoicing painless.
Starting from: £12/month
Best for: Freelancers and service businesses wanting beautiful invoicing with time tracking
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 →FreshBooks vs HubSpot CRM Feature Comparison
Here is how FreshBooks and HubSpot CRM compare across the features that matter most. We have tested both platforms extensively across client implementations.
| Feature | FreshBooks | HubSpot CRM |
|---|---|---|
| Free Plan Available | No | Yes |
| Starting Price | £12/month | £0/month |
| Best For | Freelancers and service businesses wanting beautiful invoicing with time tracking | Small to mid-sized businesses wanting a free starting point with room to grow |
| Our Rating | 4.2/5 | 4.5/5 |
| Mobile App | Yes | Yes |
| Email Marketing | No | Yes |
| Automation | Limited | Yes |
| Reporting | Yes | Yes |
| Integrations | Limited | Extensive |
| API Access | Limited | Limited |
| Ikaroa Exclusive Discount | N/A | N/A |
FreshBooks vs HubSpot CRM Pricing
Pricing is often the deciding factor. Here is a full breakdown of what each platform charges at every tier:
FreshBooks Pricing
Lite
£12/month
- ✓5 billable clients
- ✓Unlimited invoices
- ✓Expense tracking
- ✓Time tracking
Plus
£22/month
- ✓50 billable clients
- ✓Automated recurring invoices
- ✓Business health reports
- ✓Double-entry accounting
Premium
£35/month
- ✓Unlimited clients
- ✓Project profitability
- ✓Customised email templates
- ✓Auto bank reconciliation
Select
Custom
- ✓Dedicated account manager
- ✓Custom onboarding
- ✓Accounts payable
- ✓Lower credit card rates
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 FreshBooks and HubSpot CRM for clients. We can help you decide based on your specific needs.
FreshBooks Pros and Cons
✓Pros
- •Best-in-class invoicing experience
- •Excellent time tracking built in
- •Beautiful, professional invoice templates
- •Easy to learn for non-accountants
- •Great mobile app for invoicing on the go
✗Cons
- •Client limits on lower tiers
- •Full accounting features are newer and less mature
- •More expensive per feature than Xero or QuickBooks
- •Limited inventory management
- •Not suitable for complex accounting needs
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: FreshBooks vs HubSpot CRM
Both FreshBooks and HubSpot CRM are solid options, but they serve different needs. Having implemented both for multiple clients, here is our recommendation:
Choose FreshBooks if you need Freelancers and service businesses wanting beautiful invoicing with time tracking. With a starting price of £12/month and a rating of 4.2/5, it offers best-in-class invoicing experience.
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 FreshBooks 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 FreshBooks or HubSpot CRM for your business, migrate your data, and train your team. We have done it dozens of times.
Free consultation. No obligation.