HubSpot vs Zendesk: Which is The Best CRM for 2025?

by | Last updated Mar 28, 2025

Winner
Hubspot
9.0
  • Marketing
  • Content
  • Commerce
  • Automation
  • Reporting
  • Free plan available
  • Paid Plan Starts at $15/month
Runner Up
Zendesk
7.0
HubSpot vs Zendesk

Picking the right CRM feels like choosing between two awesome video games, right?

You know you need one, but HubSpot vs Zendesk? 

Imagine picking the wrong one.

You’re stuck with a system that’s clunky, hard to use, and doesn’t really fit your needs

Good news! We’re going to break down HubSpot vs Zendesk in simple terms.

Overview

We’ve spent considerable time diving into both HubSpot and Zendesk.

Our team rigorously tested each platform, exploring their core features and user interfaces.

This hands-on experience allows us to provide a practical, real-world comparison.

Hubspot

Want to learn more about how HubSpot can help your business grow?

9out of 10

Pricing: It has a free plan. The premium plan starts at $20/month.

Key Features:

Zendesk

Ready to boost your customer satisfaction and streamline your support?

7out of 10

Pricing: It has a free plan. The premium plan starts at $19/month.

Key Features:

  • Advanced Ticketing
  • AI Automation
  • Omnichannel Support.

What is HubSpot?

Now, let’s switch gears to HubSpot.

Think of it as your all-in-one growth platform. It’s not just support.

It handles marketing, sales, and service. It helps you attract and keep customers.

Hubspot
Hubspot
9.0

Grow your business better. HubSpot’s powerful CRM platform gives you the tools you need to attract, engage, and delight customers.

Key Benefits

HubSpot shines with its all-in-one approach and robust free plan. Here’s what makes it stand out:

  • Free CRM: Yes, you read that right! HubSpot offers a completely free CRM with unlimited users and up to 1 million contacts.
  • Marketing Automation: Automate your marketing tasks, like email campaigns & social media posting, to save time & boost efficiency.
  • Sales Pipeline Management: Visualize and track your sales process, making it easier to identify bottlenecks & close deals faster.
  • Extensive Integrations: Connect HubSpot with over 1,000 popular business tools to streamline your workflows.

Pricing

HubSpot prefers a variety of pricing plans to suit different needs and budgets:

  • Free Tools: $0/month
  • Marketing Hub Starter: $15/month
  • Starter Customer Platform: Starts at $15/month
  • Marketing Hub Professional: Starts at $800/month
Hubspot pricing

Pros

  • Excellent training and support.
  • Packed with helpful features.
  • Free plan available for small businesses.
  • Excellent customer support.
  • There are tons of free resources

Cons

  • Can get expensive as you scale.
  • Some limitations on design customization.
  • Advanced features require higher-tier plans.
  • Free plan has HubSpot branding.

What is Zendesk?

Okay, let’s talk about Zendesk. It’s a support powerhouse.

Think of it as a super-organized help desk.

Customers reach out, and Zendesk tracks everything.

It makes handling customer issues much easier.

Zendesk
Zendesk
7.0

Ready to boost your customer satisfaction and streamline your support? Explore Zendesk’s powerful features and start your free trial today.

Key Benefits

  • Unified Platform: Zendesk brings all your customer conversations into one place, whether it’s email, chat, social media, or phone.
  • Ticketing System: It organizes customer inquiries into tickets, helping you track and manage them effectively. No more lost emails!
  • Automation: Zendesk allows you to automate repetitive tasks, saving you time and effort. For example, you can automatically route tickets to the right agent.
  • Reporting & Analytics: Get insights into your customer service performance with detailed reports and analytics. See what’s working and what’s not.
  • Integrations: Zendesk integrates with many other business tools you might already be using.

Pricing

Zendesk offers a variety of pricing plans to fit different business needs. Pricing varies depending on the features and the number of agents you need.

  • Support Team: $19/month
  • Suite Team: $55/month
  • Suite Professional: $115/month
  • Suite Enterprise: Custom Pricing
zendesk pricing

Pros

  • Powerful and feature-rich.
  • Excellent customer support.
  • Highly customizable.
  • Lots of integrations.
  • Easy to use interface.

Cons

  • Can be expensive.
  • Steep learning curve.
  • Overwhelming for small teams.
  • Some features are add-ons.

Feature Comparison

Let’s dive into the core differences. We’ll compare key features side by side. 

This helps you see where each platform shines.

Which one will truly elevate your customer service?

Ticketing and Support Tickets

  • Zendesk: Zendesk is great for managing high volumes of support tickets. Its robust system excels at organizing and tracking customer interactions. Zendesk provides detailed ticket views and efficient workflows.
  • HubSpot Service Hub: This HHub also handles tickets within the HubSpot ecosystem. If you’re already using HubSpot, this integration is seamless. HubSpot Service Hub stands out for its connection to the HubSpot CRM, which gives a complete view of the customer.

Automation and AI

  • Zendesk: Zendesk offers powerful automation and AI features like smart routing and chatbots. Zendesk helps automate responses and improve efficiency.
  • HubSpot Service Hub: This service Hub also has AI features, automation, and AI, but it focuses on personalized support. It uses HubSpot CRM data to tailor interactions.
Hubspot marketing

Knowledge Base

  • Zendesk: Zendesk provides a strong knowledge base platform. It allows for the easy article creation and management, improving self-service options.
  • HubSpot Service Hub: HubSpot offers a knowledge base feature that is deeply integrated within HubSpot. This ties into customer feedback and customer engagement metrics.

CRM Integration

  • Zendesk: While Zendesk integrates with many CRMs, its core strength is not CRM.
  • HubSpot Service Hub: The HubSpot CRM is the core of the HubSpot Service Hub. It provides a 360-degree view of customer relationships.

Service Analytics

  • Zendesk: Zendesk provides in-depth service analytics. It tracks key metrics like customer satisfaction and resolution times.
  • HubSpot Service Hub: HubSpot Service Hub also gives service analytics, but it is more focused on overall customer experience and customer success metrics.

Omnichannel Support

  • Zendesk: Zendesk is great for support across multiple channels. It handles email, chat, social media, and more.
  • HubSpot Service Hub: This service also offers omnichannel service, but it emphasizes a consistent customer service experience across all HubSpot channels.

Support Operations

  • Zendesk: Zendesk helps streamline support operations for large service teams. Its focus is on efficiency and scalability.
  • HubSpot Service Hub: HubSpot Service Hub focuses on improving customer service experience and customer engagement. It is designed to enhance customer satisfaction and customer relationships.
Personal experience with Zendesk

What to Look For When Choosing CRM Software?

  • Scalability: Can it grow with your business?
  • Integration: Does it connect with your existing tools?
  • Ease of Use: Is it intuitive for your team?
  • Reporting: Does it provide actionable insights?
  • Customer Support: How reliable is their support?
  • Specific Needs: Does it meet industry-specific demands?
  • Mobile Access: Can your team access it on the go?
  • Scalability: Can it grow with your business?
  • Integration: Does it connect with your existing tools?
  • Ease of Use: Is it intuitive for your team?
  • Reporting: Does it provide actionable insights?
  • Customer Support: How reliable is their support?

Final Verdict (Our Pick)

So, which Zendesk vs HubSpot wins? It really depends on you.

If you need a powerful customer service platform for lots of tickets, Zendesk is great.

It has strong service tools.

However, HubSpot is a better fit for a system that integrates sales, marketing, and support.

If you are already using Hubspot, then Zendesk and Hubspot service hub is a no-brainer. 

For most businesses, especially those focused on growth.

We lean towards HubSpot

You can trust our insights because we’ve been in the trenches, trying these tools ourselves. We know what works.

Frequently Asked Questions

What are the key differences between Zendesk and HubSpot Service Hub?

Zendesk vs HubSpot Service Hub boils down to focus. Zendesk excels in dedicated customer support, offering features of Zendesk like robust ticketing. HubSpot Service Hub is also a support tool, but it’s part of a wider CRM platform, offering a comprehensive customer view.

Is Zendesk better for large support teams?

Yes, Zendesk is often preferred for large teams. Its robust ticketing and automation make handling high volumes of support requests efficient. Zendesk also offers advanced reporting and analytics, which are crucial for managing big teams.

Can Zendesk integrate with other CRM systems?

Yes, Zendesk can integrate with various CRM systems. However, its strength lies in its support features. If you need tight integration with your existing CRM, check if it’s compatible.

Is HubSpot Service Hub suitable for small businesses?

Yes, especially if they already use HubSpot’s CRM or marketing tools. Its user-friendly interface and integrated approach make it easy to manage customer support alongside other business functions.

Which platform offers better AI features?

Both platforms offer AI, but Zendesk uses AI more heavily for automation and ticket routing. HubSpot uses AI to personalize customer interactions and leverage CRM data.

Fahim Joharder

Fahim Joharder

Author

A tech enthusiast and writer with a passion for AI and software innovations. He simplifies complex topics to help readers stay ahead in the digital world.

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