A Guide for US Businesses on Salesforce Marketing Cloud vs Hubspot

Are you caught in the HubSpot and Salesforce Marketing Cloud crossfire? Let's analysis both products quickly and efficiently so you get to the right conclusion in no time.
Fatima
August 4, 2025
Salesforce Marketing Cloud vs HubSpot

The right marketing automation platform is always a headache. For many companies the dilemma is the same: Salesforce Marketing Cloud or HubSpot? One has immense capabilities for big organizations while the other caters to growing teams who prefer a more simplistic solution.

U.S. companies now face a widening gap in marketing automation needs. With more people than ever accessing the internet, connecting with the right customers at the right time is crucial. This is where Salesforce Marketing Cloud and HubSpot come in. Both make marketing, organization, and brand growth more effortless.

This blog will highlight the key differences for each platform. We'll cover the HubSpot vs Salesforce Marketing Cloud comparison for features, pricing, ease of use, and more, so you can make an informed choice.

What Is Salesforce Marketing Cloud?

Salesforce Marketing Cloud assists large companies in executing intricately targeted and powerful marketing campaigns. Its features target businesses that want to reach customers via email, text messages, websites, and social media ads. 

Since it is part of the Salesforce family, it integrates seamlessly with Salesforce CRM, providing a 360-degree view of the customers and their interactions. It also leverages Artificial Intelligence (AI) to optimize the timing of message delivery. 

Key Features:

  • Multi-channel marketing - Deliver text through email, SMS, push notifications, advertisements, and more. 
  • CRM integration - Collaborate closely with Salesforce CRM for seamless customer data tracking and management.
  • Einstein AI - Provides suggestions to enhance marketing performance. 
  • Reports and analytics - Reporting tools that provide insights into areas of improvement. 
  • Custom journeys - Create and automate different journeys for different customers. 

Furthermore, Salesforce Marketing Cloud serves large enterprises and companies with multifaceted marketing requirements. It is highly advantageous if you are already using Salesforce and need to manage large-scale campaigns.

What is HubSpot?

HubSpot is a user-friendly inbound marketing software that aids in the marketing, servicing, and selling of products and services for a new company. Using powerful content like blogs and emails, HubSpot can help to “Inbound” clients to a particular business. 

Tracking the results HubSpot yields is easily manageable without the necessity of coding skills. As suggested by the name, inbound marketing services offered by HubSpot is followed without any additional purchases required.

Key Features:

  • Email campaigns, blogs, and landing pages can all be constructed and managed from one place. 
  • Simple and effortless to learn with no complicated coding. 
  • Store your employees' or clients' contacts alongside your email for easy access. 
  • Easily follow up at appropriate times with appropriate clients and other such leads. 
  • Augment your company’s earning potential by monitoring campaigns with clear report evaluations. 

HubSpot Inbound Marketing Software is aimed specifically for small to medium sized businesses dubbed SMB. The inclusion of information technology teams to any company isn’t always a guarantee. Nevertheless, with HubSpot, one can rest assured knowing they don’t have to forgo powerful tools, accessible interfaces, and tech teams for ease of use.

What is the difference between Salesforce Marketing Cloud vs HubSpot?

Now that you understand what each platform presents, let us explore the core differences between Salesforce Marketing Cloud vs HubSpot. These differences should guide you in choosing the alternative which is better suited to your business.

1. Pricing

HubSpot is more affordable, considering that Salesforce Marketing Cloud is more expensive. The latter does not offer fixed prices. Instead, costs are determined by the size of the business and what features are required.

Salesforce Marketing HubSpot does offer a free plan. You pay more only when you require extra tools.

2. Ease of Use

Salesforce Marketing Cloud is hard to use and tricky to set up due to the need of a specialist to manage everything while other tools do not require a specialist.

HubSpot is quite user friendly, to the point where even absolute beginners can jump right into it. No coding or special training is required to get started.

3. Customization and Flexibility

Flexibility and customization are also offered with Salesforce, where users have complete control over custom workflows and journeys, allowing for more complex marketing. 

Hubspot also provides its flexibility, but not as deeply as Salesforce does.

4. Target Market

Salesforce Marketing Cloud is designed for larger companies, particularly those already using Salesforce CRM and are looking for more advanced features.

In short, for small to medium-sized businesses (SMB) and fast-growing startups looking for a CRM that's simple and effective, HubSpot is a better option. 

Features Comparison Between Salesforce Marketing Cloud vs HubSpot

Let’s closely explore the most important attributes of Salesforce Marketing Cloud and HubSpot. Understanding their respective strengths will help you determine which platform best suits your business needs.

Features Salesforce Marketing Cloud Hubspot
Multi-Channel Marketing Supports email, SMS, social media, advertisements, and notifications. Meanwhile, it excels in email, blogs, social media, and landing pages.
Automation and Personalization Offers strategy-driven campaigns with Salesforce AI tools (Einstein) and advanced automation. In contrast, lead nurturing and inbound marketing are easy with automation tools.
Analytics and Reporting Provides comprehensive, detailed reporting with powerful dashboards. On the other hand, reporting is simplified and easy to review.
Integration Most beneficial for Salesforce and other larger business tools. Additionally, it includes a native CRM and integrates with numerous third-party applications.

Pros and Cons of Salesforce Marketing Cloud vs HubSpot

In every website or application, there are some features that users just love and other that they want to avoid. For better understanding the advantages and disadvantages of each, let’s analyze the benefits and drawbacks of Salesforce Marketing Cloud and HubSpot.

Pros Salesforce Marketing Cloud HubSpot
Customization Offers strong customization capabilities for complex marketing workflows. In contrast, HubSpot provides a free package, ideal for startups and small businesses.
Campaigns Ideal for large and detailed campaigns with multi-channel targeting. Meanwhile, it’s highly user-friendly and easy to navigate for beginners.
AI Integration Integrated with advanced AI technology (Einstein) to personalize campaigns intelligently. Additionally, it’s efficient in managing blogs, emails, and inbound marketing efforts.
Scalability Flexible and scalable as your company grows. Moreover, it offers very fast installation and setup with minimal technical requirements.
Cons Salesforce Marketing Cloud HubSpot
Cost Pricey, especially for small businesses or early-stage teams. However, it has limited capabilities for advanced customization and automation features.
Technical Complexity Requires a highly technical skill set of skills to operate and maintain. As the company scales, HubSpot’s fee structure can become costly.
Support Requirements Needs a tech-savvy support team to ensure proper functioning. Furthermore, it is primarily designed for mid-tier corporations, making it less ideal for large enterprises.

Final Verdict

As to whether HubSpot or Salesforce Marketing Cloud is more suitable, depends primarily on your business size, objectives, and budget.  

Does your business already use Salesforce products? Do you require deep customization with powerful features? If yes, then Salesforce Marketing Cloud will be great for you. It is geared towards larger businesses with sophisticated marketing requirements.  

However, if you are looking for an easier-to-use, lower-cost SMB option for blogs, emails, and lead generation, then HubSpot is the better option. It is well-suited for small and medium businesses looking for speedy outcomes without the need to hire IT specialists.

Are You Set to Pick an Appropriate Platform?

To determine the suitable marketing automation platform for your business, Contact Us at PixelConsulting. So, we will help to assist you to grow your business using the ideal technology that upholds your requirements and budget!

FAQs

What’s the key difference between Salesforce Marketing Cloud and HubSpot?

Salesforce Marketing Cloud was specifically designed for massive enterprises, and that is its greatest disadvantage. HubSpot is, however, geared towards SMBs and does a much better job at serving that particular customer segment.

Is HubSpot better than Salesforce?  

If advanced functionality is not a concern, go with HubSpot. If they are important, go with Salesforce Marketing Cloud.  

Is HubSpot suitable for large enterprises?  

No, and that is typical for all other SMB-focused platforms. Their feature set simply won’t meet the level of complexity required by large organizations.

Which platform offers the best ROI for SMBs?

HubSpot usually has the best ROI for SMBs as it is cost-effective, user-friendly, and contains multiple tools at a lower price. Salesforce Marketing Cloud works well with bigger businesses that have larger budgets.

Can Salesforce Marketing Cloud integrate with other tools besides Salesforce?

Yes, Salesforce Marketing Cloud can work with many other third-party tools along with Salesforce products. For other non-Salesforce tools, Salesforce offers great integration flexibility, although it performs best with Salesforce products.

How does HubSpot’s pricing compare to Salesforce Marketing Cloud’s?

HubSpot is less expensive, offering a free plan and additional features available for purchase. On the other hand, Salesforce Marketing Cloud is pricier and charges according to business size and required features.


Read Also: How to increase salesforce user adoption

Author Insights:
Fatima
Hi! I’m an SEO Content Writer and Brand Copywriter who turns complex ideas into engaging and easy-to-understand content. Lately, I’ve been simplifying Salesforce, helping businesses navigate their CRM systems with confidence. My goal? To make tech and marketing feel simple, clear, and impactful.
August 4, 2025

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