Why Small Businesses Need a Simpler HubSpot Alternative
Most small businesses don’t need enterprise automation. They need to:
- Keep contacts, emails and reminders in one place
- Follow up quickly and consistently
- Spot buying signals at the right time
- Send email campaigns without extra tools
“HubSpot’s free plan was great — until I actually needed to use it.”
popcorn CRM focuses on clarity, not complexity — ideal if you’ve been searching for a CRM like HubSpot but easier.
It’s designed around daily sales habits: a visual pipeline, simple email marketing, website tracking, and automatic hot-lead alerts.
If you’ve tried HubSpot and found it confusing or costly, you’re not alone. This page explains why many small businesses look for an alternative to HubSpot and how popcorn CRM delivers the essential tools without the complexity.
popcorn CRM is a simple, UK-built CRM for small businesses. It keeps contacts, emails, pipelines and follow-ups in one place so you can convert more leads with less faff.
The HubSpot Rabbit Hole: How “Free” Quickly Adds Up
HubSpot’s Free CRM looks attractive, but costs escalate when you add automation, email marketing, users and contacts. The visual below shows how a free plan can become a four-figure monthly bill.
HubSpot vs popcorn CRM: Updated Cost Comparison
| Plan / Add-on | UK Approx. Monthly Cost | What You Actually Get |
|---|---|---|
| Free CRM | £0 | Basic contact storage and deals; limited automation. |
| Starter (Marketing / Sales / Service) | ~ £16–£42 (annual billing) | Entry features; limited contacts and tools. Reference |
| Professional (single Hub) | ~ £410 (annual billing) | Automation, workflows, analytics, higher limits. HubSpot UK pricing |
| Sales Hub Professional (example) | ~ £400 for 5 users | Sequences, pipeline automation, forecasting. Article |
| Enterprise (single Hub) | ~ £1,100+ | Custom objects, predictive scoring, enterprise scale. |
| Combined Hubs / extra users / contacts | Easily £1,000+ total | Multiple Hubs + users + contact tiers raise the bill quickly. |
Prefer a UK alternative to HubSpot with predictable costs? Try popcorn’s Free CRM or book a 15-minute demo.
Notes and Clarifications
- UK approximations; typically annual billing and minimum seats; prices may exclude VAT.
- Each Hub (Marketing, Sales, Service) is billed separately.
- Adding users, contacts and add-ons pushes totals into four figures.
popcorn CRM: The UK Alternative to HubSpot That Keeps It Simple
- Visual sales pipeline
- Built-in email marketing
- Website tracking with simple insights
- Automatic lead scoring
- Reminders and daily task lists
- FreeAgent integration for financial visibility
“We switched from HubSpot to popcorn CRM and it’s been a breath of fresh air — everything’s easier, quicker, and the support actually talks to you.”
— Rachel P., Marketing Consultant, Birmingham
popcorn CRM vs HubSpot — Which Suits Small Businesses?
| Feature | HubSpot | popcorn CRM |
|---|---|---|
| Ease of use | Complex setup, multiple Hubs | Simple, visual, intuitive |
| Built for | Enterprise and marketing teams | Small businesses and start-ups |
| Cost profile | £0–£1,000+ with Hubs/users/contacts | Free plan + transparent upgrades |
| Email marketing | Add-on or limited | Fully built-in |
| Website tracking | Detailed but complex | Clear, actionable insights |
| Lead scoring | Workflow setup required | Automatic hot-lead alerts |
| Support | Global ticket system | Local UK team |
| FreeAgent integration | Not available | Fully integrated |
| Main focus | Marketing automation | Prospect management & follow-up |
Compare HubSpot plans or see popcorn CRM for a small-business-first approach.
Built by a Small Business, for Small Businesses
popcorn CRM was founded by Simon Washbrook in Birmingham to give UK SMEs a practical HubSpot alternative for small business. The mission is simple: help owners convert more leads without enterprise complexity or cost.
Today, popcorn CRM is award-winning and integrates with FreeAgent (part of NatWest Group).
