HubSpot CRM vs Rippling
A detailed, side-by-side comparison of HubSpot CRM and Rippling. 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, Rippling (4.4/5) may be the better fit if you prioritise Growing companies wanting unified HR, IT, and Finance management with powerful automation. Read on for the full breakdown.
HubSpot CRM vs Rippling at a Glance
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 →Rippling
★ 4.4Rippling is a workforce management platform that unifies HR, IT, and Finance into a single system. Beyond payroll and benefits, it manages device provisioning, app access, expense management, and more. Known for its automation engine that connects employee data across all business systems.
Starting from: From £7/user/month
Best for: Growing companies wanting unified HR, IT, and Finance management with powerful automation
Read full review →HubSpot CRM vs Rippling Feature Comparison
Here is how HubSpot CRM and Rippling compare across the features that matter most. We have tested both platforms extensively across client implementations.
| Feature | HubSpot CRM | Rippling |
|---|---|---|
| Free Plan Available | Yes | No |
| Starting Price | £0/month | From £7/user/month |
| Best For | Small to mid-sized businesses wanting a free starting point with room to grow | Growing companies wanting unified HR, IT, and Finance management with powerful automation |
| Our Rating | 4.5/5 | 4.4/5 |
| Mobile App | Yes | Limited |
| Email Marketing | Yes | No |
| Automation | Yes | Yes |
| Reporting | Yes | Basic |
| Integrations | Extensive | Limited |
| API Access | Limited | Limited |
| Ikaroa Exclusive Discount | N/A | N/A |
HubSpot CRM vs Rippling Pricing
Pricing is often the deciding factor. Here is a full breakdown of what each platform charges at every tier:
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
Rippling Pricing
Core Platform
From £7/user/month
- ✓Employee records
- ✓Workflow automation
- ✓Analytics
- ✓Integrations (500+)
Payroll
Add-on
- ✓Full-service payroll
- ✓Tax filing
- ✓Direct deposit
- ✓Garnishments
Benefits
Add-on
- ✓Benefits administration
- ✓Health insurance
- ✓Retirement plans
- ✓Compliance
IT
Add-on
- ✓Device management
- ✓App provisioning
- ✓SSO
- ✓Security policies
Not sure which to pick?
Our team has implemented both HubSpot CRM and Rippling for clients. We can help you decide based on your specific 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
Rippling Pros and Cons
✓Pros
- •Unifies HR, IT, and Finance in one platform
- •Powerful automation engine
- •500+ integrations
- •Excellent device and app management
- •Scales well from startup to enterprise
✗Cons
- •Modular pricing can be confusing
- •Full cost depends on modules selected
- •Primarily US-focused for payroll and benefits
- •Setup can be complex
- •Some modules are still maturing
Our Verdict: HubSpot CRM vs Rippling
Both HubSpot CRM and Rippling are solid options, but they serve different needs. Having implemented both for multiple clients, here is our recommendation:
Choose HubSpot CRM if you need Small to mid-sized businesses wanting a free starting point with room to grow. With a starting price of £0/month and a rating of 4.5/5, it offers generous free tier with no time limit.
Choose Rippling if you need Growing companies wanting unified HR, IT, and Finance management with powerful automation. Starting at From £7/user/month with a 4.4/5 rating, it excels at unifies hr, it, and finance in one platform.
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 HubSpot CRM and Rippling? 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 HubSpot CRM or Rippling for your business, migrate your data, and train your team. We have done it dozens of times.
Free consultation. No obligation.