HubSpot CRM vs SE Ranking
A detailed, side-by-side comparison of HubSpot CRM and SE Ranking. 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, SE Ranking (4.2/5) may be the better fit if you prioritise Freelancers and SMEs wanting comprehensive SEO tools at affordable pricing. Read on for the full breakdown.
HubSpot CRM vs SE Ranking 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 →SE Ranking
★ 4.2SE Ranking is a cost-effective, all-in-one SEO platform that offers keyword research, rank tracking, site audits, competitor analysis, and backlink monitoring. Known for providing comprehensive SEO tools at a fraction of the price of Semrush or Ahrefs, making it popular with freelancers, SMEs, and budget-conscious agencies.
Starting from: £35/month
Best for: Freelancers and SMEs wanting comprehensive SEO tools at affordable pricing
Read full review →HubSpot CRM vs SE Ranking Feature Comparison
Here is how HubSpot CRM and SE Ranking compare across the features that matter most. We have tested both platforms extensively across client implementations.
| Feature | HubSpot CRM | SE Ranking |
|---|---|---|
| Free Plan Available | Yes | No |
| Starting Price | £0/month | £35/month |
| Best For | Small to mid-sized businesses wanting a free starting point with room to grow | Freelancers and SMEs wanting comprehensive SEO tools at affordable pricing |
| Our Rating | 4.5/5 | 4.2/5 |
| Mobile App | Yes | Limited |
| Email Marketing | Yes | No |
| Automation | Yes | Limited |
| Reporting | Yes | Yes |
| Integrations | Extensive | Limited |
| API Access | Limited | Limited |
| Ikaroa Exclusive Discount | N/A | N/A |
HubSpot CRM vs SE Ranking 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
SE Ranking Pricing
Essential
£35/month
- ✓1 user
- ✓500 keywords
- ✓Site audit (40,000 pages)
- ✓Backlink monitoring
Pro
£69/month
- ✓3 users
- ✓2,000 keywords
- ✓Site audit (250,000 pages)
- ✓Historical data
Business
£155/month
- ✓5 users
- ✓5,000 keywords
- ✓Site audit (700,000 pages)
- ✓API access
Not sure which to pick?
Our team has implemented both HubSpot CRM and SE Ranking 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
SE Ranking Pros and Cons
✓Pros
- •Excellent value for money
- •Comprehensive feature set for the price
- •Accurate rank tracking
- •White-label reports for agencies
- •Good local SEO tools
✗Cons
- •Smaller keyword database than Semrush
- •Less well-known brand
- •Backlink data less comprehensive than Ahrefs
- •Interface could be more polished
- •Content tools are newer and less mature
Our Verdict: HubSpot CRM vs SE Ranking
Both HubSpot CRM and SE Ranking 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 SE Ranking if you need Freelancers and SMEs wanting comprehensive SEO tools at affordable pricing. Starting at £35/month with a 4.2/5 rating, it excels at excellent value for money.
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 SE Ranking? 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 SE Ranking for your business, migrate your data, and train your team. We have done it dozens of times.
Free consultation. No obligation.