What Is HubSpot? HubSpot Explained for Beginners

If you’re a small business owner who uses a content management system (CMS) for your website, chances are, you’re familiar with HubSpot. But if you’re new to website building and don’t know whether you should use a CMS like HubSpot or a website building software like GoDaddy, you’re not alone. 

You might not even be sure what the difference is between a CMS and a website builder, but we’re here to help. This article will give you an overview of what HubSpot does, what HubSpot is used for, and how HubSpot works.  By the end, you’ll know why HubSpot is right for you and your business.

Recommended: HubSpot has everything you need to build and grow your website. Check out HubSpot.

What Is HubSpot?

HubSpot is a cloud-based software development company based in Massachusetts. First founded in 2006, HubSpot focuses primarily on website building and creating all-inclusive marketing services.

What services does HubSpot offer?

HubSpot is one of the largest and most popular CMSs on the market. Here are a few types of websites that you can use its products for:

• Business websites
• Online stores
• Blogs
• Social media websites
• Forums
• Nonprofit websites
• Portfolios 

In addition to website development, HubSpot offers a wide range of products and services including content management, marketing, and web analytics.

What’s the Difference Between a Content Management System and Website Building Software?

A CMS is often more complicated and less user-friendly than a website builder. However, they’re also more customizable than website builders which gives you more control over your site. 

Website builders often use proprietary tools which means that they’re designed to work only on specific platforms. To move your website to a new host, you would have to change platforms entirely. This process is challenging — sometimes even impossible — and it’s usually costly, too. However, if you’re less tech-savvy and want simple, easy-to-use software, a website builder like GoDaddy might be your best bet. 

Since a CMS and a website builder are your primary choices for creating a website, we’ll explain them in a little more depth.

What is a content management system?

A CMS is a software that allows you to design and manage your website. Many providers offer simple, easy-to-use templates and themes, but generally, CMSs are known for being less user-friendly than website builders. Building a website with a CMS doesn’t require coding experience, but the software does give you the option to build a site from scratch. If you choose to build your site from scratch, you have more flexibility to develop an online presence that stands out from your competitors. 

Whether you use their templates or build your own website from the ground up, make sure to always use the best practices of web design. Check out this quick guide to help get you started.

What is website building software?

Website building software is typically a user-friendly software that often has a wide range of templates and themes. Many of these themes and templates are designed for beginners to be able to easily navigate. Website builders typically offer plans that include security, support, maintenance, and sometimes the domain. However, if your domain is included, you probably won’t own it.

For a list of the best website builders on the market, check out our article Best Website Builder

Benefits of Using HubSpot

While a website builder might be simpler and easier to use, there are a few reasons why a CMS like HubSpot might make more sense for you.

HubSpot is affordable

HubSpot offers several affordable plans to match your needs. These plans start around $45/mo, but you can try a 14-day free trial to see if you like it beforehand. To check out the free trial, click here. 

HubSpot is easy to use

A website builder might be the simplest way to quickly build a website, but HubSpot offers many features that make it easy to use even for beginners. These features include drag-and-drop modules that make it easy to modify your website’s layout. They also have thousands of templates and themes to choose from that are simple and easy to use. 

Check out our article HubSpot Review to guide you through the process.

HubSpot is mobile responsive

More than ever, people are using their mobile devices to search for businesses. Your website needs to be mobile-friendly to reach most people. HubSpot’s drag-and-drop templates and themes are mobile-friendly so that users can access your website on any device. 

HubSpot can help you grow your business

If you’re focused on continuing to grow your business, your website will likely need to change and grow, too. If you decide to go with a website builder, you run the risk of not being able to make necessary changes or switch to a platform that is better suited for your long-term goals. 

Business owners who are focused on long-term growth and developing a strong digital presence should consider a CMS rather than website-building software.

Drawbacks of HubSpot

Since CMSs are more difficult to use than website builders, they aren’t for everyone. 

In addition to being less user-friendly than a website builder, there are a few drawbacks to using HubSpot that you should consider before making your final decision.

You pay extra for technical support

Many website builders include technical support as part of the monthly premium, but there are some technical issues that they will charge you extra for using their services or support.

Many tools are free or affordable elsewhere

HubSpot is a complete package. It offers a comprehensive set of products and tools that can’t be found anywhere else on the market. However, many of these tools can be found individually elsewhere, and a lot of times, they’re either cheap or free.

Price jump

While HubSpot’s plans start as low as $45/mo, upgrading to one of its professional plans will cost you. These plans range from $800/mo to $3,200/mo. That price spike could cause problems for small business owners looking to expand their business but aren’t financially able to handle such a steep increase.

Plans and Pricing

Speaking of plans and pricing, here’s a quick overview of HubSpot’s monthly premiums: 

• Starter: Starting at $45/mo, the HubSpot Starter plan includes meeting scheduling, digital payment methods, and management for multiple currencies.
• Professional: This is where the prices start to climb. Starting at $800/mo, the HubSpot Professional plan includes a jump from two paid users to five, sales analytics and automation, forecasting of future sales, and e-signature. 
• Enterprise: Starting at $3,200/mo, the HubSpot Enterprise plan includes all the same benefits as the previous two and expands the account to 10 paid users. It also features playbooks for future planning, hierarchical teams, and predictive lead scoring.

Is HubSpot Right for You?

HubSpot’s CMS is well-designed, and its wide range of tools can help you quickly and easily build a website. As far as a CMS goes, its software is simple and easy to use, but it never sacrifices the customizable features that website designers love.

Final Thoughts

As your business grows, your needs will change. HubSpot will make sure that your website grows and changes as well. This might be the most important difference between a CMS and a website builder that business owners should consider before making their decisions. However, you’ll also need to consider whether you’ll be able to afford the price hike that goes along with expanding your website.

Frequently Asked Questions