HubSpot’s free tools provide a strong starting point for small businesses looking to streamline operations, engage customers, and drive growth. While there are usage limits and branding considerations, the free CRM suite remains one of the most robust entry-level platforms available.

Beginner's Guide to HubSpot's Free Tools (Updated for 2026)

What is HubSpot?

HubSpot is an all-in-one customer platform that combines CRM, marketing, sales, content, operations, and service tools. It helps businesses attract visitors, convert leads, close customers, and deliver ongoing value through a unified system.

The HubSpot Methodology:

• Attract: Generate awareness and bring the right audience to your business
• Engage: Build relationships and convert prospects into customers
• Delight: Support and retain customers to turn them into promoters

Key Free Hubs Included

HubSpot offers free versions of its core hubs, built on the Smart CRM:

• Marketing Hub (Free): Includes forms, landing pages, email marketing (with monthly send limits), ad management, list segmentation, basic automation, and reporting dashboards.
• Sales Hub (Free): Includes deal pipelines, email tracking and notifications, meeting scheduling, task management, and basic reporting.
• Service Hub (Free): Includes ticketing, shared inbox, live chat, simple chatbots, and basic knowledge base functionality.
• Content Tools (Free): Includes website pages, landing pages, blog tools, and basic SEO recommendations (with HubSpot branding).

How HubSpot Helps Small Businesses

Streamline Operations: Manage marketing, sales, and service activities in one CRM platform instead of juggling disconnected tools.

Drive Growth: Capture leads, manage pipelines, send marketing emails, and support customers from a centralized system.

Enhance Engagement: Track interactions across email, website, chat, and meetings for a complete contact history.

Improve Efficiency: Automate simple tasks like ticket routing, lifecycle stage updates, and email follow-ups using basic workflow capabilities available in free tiers.

Free Tools You Can Start Using Today

1. Free CRM

HubSpot’s Smart CRM is the foundation of all tools and includes:

• Unlimited contact and company records (storage is free)
• Deal pipelines
• Task management
• Activity tracking (emails, meetings, calls)
• Basic reporting dashboards

Lifecycle Stages: Default stages include Subscriber, Lead, Marketing Qualified Lead (MQL), Sales Qualified Lead (SQL), Opportunity, Customer, and Evangelist. These can be customized in paid tiers.

2. Email Marketing (Free)

Create and send marketing emails with the following limitations:

• Monthly send limit (based on contact tier; includes HubSpot branding)
• Drag-and-drop editor
• Basic personalization tokens
• Simple list segmentation
• Basic email analytics (opens, clicks, bounces)

Note: Advanced automation workflows, A/B testing, smart content, and advanced segmentation require paid plans.

3. Forms

• Embedded forms
• Standalone forms
• Pop-up forms (now created via the Forms tool)
• Custom properties (limited number in free tier)
• Automatic CRM record creation

4. Live Chat & Simple Chatbots

• Live chat widget
• Shared conversations inbox
• Basic chatbot builder
• Ticket creation from chat

Note: Advanced routing logic and automation require paid Service Hub tiers.

5. Meeting Scheduling

• One-to-one meeting links
• Calendar integration (Google / Outlook)
• Automatic contact creation
• Time zone detection

6. Landing Pages & Website Pages

• Drag-and-drop page builder
• Responsive templates
• HubSpot-hosted pages (with branding)
• Basic SEO recommendations

Note: Custom domains, advanced themes, and A/B testing require upgrades.

7. Reporting Dashboards

• Pre-built dashboards
• Traffic analytics
• Email performance reports
• Deal pipeline reports

Note: Custom report builder and advanced revenue attribution are paid features.

8. Free Standalone Tools (Outside CRM)

• Email Signature Generator
• Website Grader
• Campaign Assistant (AI-powered content generation)
• Blog Ideas Generator
• Brand Kit Generator

Limitations and Considerations (Accurate as of 2026)

Email Send Limits: Free accounts have capped monthly marketing email sends and include HubSpot branding.

Automation Limits: Only basic automation is available. Advanced workflows require Marketing Hub Professional or higher.

Custom Properties: Free accounts have limits on custom properties per object.

Branding: HubSpot branding appears on forms, emails, landing pages, and chat widgets in free accounts.

Reporting: Advanced analytics, custom reports, and attribution reporting require paid tiers.

Support: Free accounts receive community and knowledge base support. Phone and advanced support require paid plans.

Why You Might Outgrow the Free Plan

• Need multi-step automation workflows
• Require advanced reporting or forecasting
• Want A/B testing for emails or landing pages
• Need larger marketing email volume
• Require deeper customization and integrations

Key Takeaways

1. Comprehensive Free CRM: One of the most capable free CRM systems available.
2. Strong Entry Point: Ideal for startups and small teams.
3. Upgradeable Platform: Seamless path to advanced features as you grow.
4. Unified Data: Marketing, sales, and service tools all share one database.
5. Transparent Limits: Free tools are powerful but include caps and branding.

What’s Next?

Get Started: Set up your CRM, create your first form, connect your email, and publish a landing page.

Learn More: Explore HubSpot Academy’s free certifications to deepen your expertise.

Scale When Ready: Upgrade only when your business needs automation, advanced reporting, or higher email volume.