Pipedrive vs HubSpot vs EngageBay in 2026 — Pricing, AI Features, CRM Comparison for SMBs & Enterprises

Pipedrive vs HubSpot vs EngageBay — if you’re evaluating these three CRMs in 2026, you’re likely looking for the right balance of AI-powered automation, scalable pricing, pipeline management, and all-in-one functionality without overspending as your contact list grows.

As your business scales, you don’t just need a basic contact manager. You need a modern AI CRM platform that can:

• Automate marketing campaigns

• Manage and forecast sales pipelines

• Centralize customer support

• Score and nurture leads intelligently

• Scale without exploding in cost

But here’s the reality in 2026:

• Some CRMs charge based on contacts + seats (cost increases fast).

• Some are built mainly for sales teams.

• Others offer a true all-in-one CRM suite for SMBs at predictable pricing.

If you’re stuck choosing between Pipedrive, HubSpot, and EngageBay, this updated 2026 comparison will help you make a confident, strategic decision.

We’ll compare them across:

• Core CRM capabilities

• AI features and automation depth

• Pricing models (contact-based vs seat-based)

• Marketing & service functionality

• Scalability for SMBs vs enterprises

• Real-world use cases

And yes — we’ll tell you which CRM is best depending on your growth stage.

Quick Comparison: Pipedrive vs HubSpot vs EngageBay (2026)

Feature (2026)	HubSpot	Pipedrive	EngageBay
Free Plan	Yes (limited features)	14-day trial only	Yes (up to 15 users)
Pricing Model	Contact + seat-based	Seat-based	Seat-based
AI Capabilities	Breeze AI (content, forecasting, copilots, automation)	AI sales assistant, deal insights, next-best actions	AI workflows, scoring, automation support
Best For	Scaling teams & enterprise growth	Sales-focused teams	SMBs needing all-in-one CRM
Marketing Automation	Advanced (separate Marketing Hub tiers)	Limited (add-ons)	Built-in marketing suite
Customer Support Tools	Service Hub	Limited	Built-in helpdesk & ticketing
Cost Scalability	Can increase significantly with contacts	Predictable per user	Predictable, SMB-friendly

Why This Comparison Matters in 2026

The CRM landscape has shifted dramatically:

• AI-driven CRM comparison 2026 is now a major buying factor.

• Businesses are looking for automation-first platforms.

• Cost creep from contact-based billing is a serious concern.

• Sales teams want pipeline clarity without marketing bloat.

• SMBs want an all-in-one CRM without enterprise pricing.

This is no longer just a feature checklist. It’s about:

• Total cost of ownership

• AI enablement across marketing and sales

• Scalability without penalty pricing

• Operational simplicity

In the next sections, we’ll break down:

1. General platform comparison

2. Features and AI automation depth

3. Pricing structure and hidden costs

4. User reviews and market positioning

5. Final recommendation based on business type

If you’re searching for the best CRM for small business in 2026, or trying to decide between HubSpot’s AI ecosystem, Pipedrive’s sales pipeline strength, or EngageBay’s all-in-one affordability, you’re in the right place.

Let’s get into the real comparison.

Pipedrive vs HubSpot vs EngageBay: Overview (2026)

When comparing Pipedrive vs HubSpot vs EngageBay in 2026, you’re not just evaluating CRM software — you’re choosing between a sales-first CRM, an AI-powered enterprise growth platform, and an affordable all-in-one CRM for SMBs.

Each platform has evolved significantly with new AI capabilities, automation depth, pricing models, and scalability options.

Below is a modern, keyword-rich breakdown of how they stack up today.

Pipedrive Overview (Sales-Focused CRM With AI Assistance)

Founded in 2010, Pipedrive remains one of the most popular sales pipeline management CRMs in 2026 — especially for sales-driven teams that prioritize deal visibility and activity-based selling.

 

Pipedrive is built around its signature visual sales pipeline, featuring:

• Drag-and-drop deal stages

• Color-coded opportunities

• Unlimited custom fields

• Activity tracking and reminders

• Revenue forecasting

In 2026, Pipedrive differentiates itself with its AI Sales Assistant, which provides:

• Deal prioritization recommendations

• Next-best-action suggestions

• Win probability insights

• Automated follow-up prompts

Additional features include:

• Built-in meeting scheduler

• Email sync and tracking

• Smart Contact Data enrichment

• Workflow automation

• Document sharing, proposals, and e-signatures

• Call tracking and transcription

However, Pipedrive remains primarily a sales CRM, meaning advanced marketing automation and customer support tools require add-ons or integrations.

Best for: Sales teams looking for a streamlined, AI-assisted pipeline CRM with predictable per-user pricing.

Read also: 6 Perfect Pipedrive Alternatives With Better Tools (Features, Pricing)

HubSpot Overview (AI-Powered Growth Platform)

HubSpot has evolved into a full AI-driven CRM platform that combines marketing, sales, service, content, and operations tools under one ecosystem.

Its biggest differentiator in 2026 is Breeze AI, embedded across its Hubs to power:

• AI content generation

• Sales forecasting and deal insights

• Automated campaign optimization

• Predictive lead scoring

• Customer service copilots

HubSpot still offers a free CRM plan, making it attractive for startups. However, pricing scales based on contacts and seats, especially within Marketing Hub — which can significantly increase total cost as your database grows.

Core features include:

• Advanced reporting dashboards

• Customizable pipelines

• Marketing automation workflows

• Email marketing & landing pages

• Conversational inbox & live chat

• Helpdesk and ticketing (Service Hub)

• Extensive app marketplace integrations

HubSpot is no longer just a CRM — it’s a complete growth engine for scaling businesses, particularly those investing heavily in content marketing and automation.

Best for: Scaling teams and enterprises that want deep AI integration and advanced marketing automation.

Read also: 8 Surprisingly Awesome HubSpot Alternatives

EngageBay Overview (All-in-One CRM for SMBs)

Founded in 2017, EngageBay has positioned itself as an affordable all-in-one CRM solution for startups and small to mid-sized businesses.

Like HubSpot, EngageBay’s CRM is free.

Unlike Pipedrive (sales-first) and HubSpot (modular enterprise model), EngageBay bundles:

• CRM

• Marketing automation

• Email campaigns

• Landing pages

• Sales automation

• Helpdesk & ticketing

— all within one unified platform.

EngageBay also offers a free CRM plan (up to 15 users), making it one of the most generous free offerings in the CRM market.

Key features include:

• Lead scoring and segmentation

• Workflow automation

• CRM telephony

• Email sync and tracking

• Sales leaderboards and gamification

• Reporting dashboards with visual analytics

• Built-in customer support tools

In 2026, EngageBay includes AI-assisted automation and campaign support, though its AI depth is lighter compared to HubSpot’s Breeze ecosystem.

Its biggest strength is predictable, SMB-friendly pricing without contact-based cost spikes.

Best for: Growing SMBs that need marketing, sales, and support tools in one affordable CRM platform.

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Here is a full product demo of EngageBay:

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Features Your Business Needs in 2026: Which CRM Comes Out on Top?

When comparing Pipedrive vs HubSpot vs EngageBay in 2026, the real question isn’t just “Which CRM has more features?” — it’s:

• Which CRM offers AI-powered automation?

• Which platform scales without contact-based cost spikes?

• Which one aligns with your team’s workflow — sales-first or all-in-one growth?

Let’s break down the features that matter most in a modern AI CRM comparison for 2026.

Lead Scoring (AI-Powered in 2026)

Lead scoring has evolved. It’s no longer manual tagging — it’s now predictive, behavior-driven, and AI-assisted.

HubSpot Lead Scoring

HubSpot offers predictive lead scoring powered by its AI engine (Breeze AI). It uses historical CRM data to:

• Automatically assign likelihood-to-close scores

• Identify high-converting lead traits

• Adjust scores based on engagement

However, predictive scoring is typically available in higher-tier plans (Professional/Enterprise). Free CRM users get basic scoring but not full predictive AI scoring.

👉 Strong for data-heavy teams but tied to higher pricing tiers.

EngageBay Lead Scoring

EngageBay offers rule-based and behavior-based lead scoring inside its all-in-one CRM.

You can score leads based on:

• Demographics (location, company size, etc.)

• Engagement (email opens, clicks, visits)

• Lifecycle stage

• Custom criteria

Its segmentation is built for SMBs who want fast, practical scoring without enterprise complexity.

👉 Strong for startups and small businesses needing intuitive scoring at affordable pricing.

Pipedrive Lead Scoring

Pipedrive focuses more on deal-based prioritization than marketing-style scoring. Through its AI Sales Assistant, it:

• Recommends which deals to focus on

• Predicts win probability

• Highlights stalled deals

It’s more sales-centric than marketing-driven.

👉 Best for pipeline prioritization rather than full marketing lead scoring.

Read also: The Best Lead Management Software for Small Businesses

Automation (The 2026 Differentiator)

Automation is where modern CRMs separate average tools from growth engines.

Pipedrive Automation

Pipedrive supports:

• Workflow automation (deal stage triggers, task creation)

• Email sequences

• Activity reminders

• AI Sales Assistant optimization suggestions

• Automated follow-ups

Automation limits vary by plan (higher tiers unlock more workflows).

👉 Excellent for sales process automation.

HubSpot Automation (AI-Driven)

HubSpot offers advanced:

• Marketing automation workflows

• Sales sequences

• AI-generated email personalization

• Predictive content recommendations

• Smart campaign optimization

• Conversational bots

But automation depth depends heavily on your Hub tier and contact volume.

👉 Powerful, but cost scales quickly.

EngageBay Automation (All-in-One)

EngageBay includes:

• Marketing automation workflows

• Drip email campaigns

• Trigger-based segmentation

• Automated lead scoring

• Task rules

• Popups and form automation

• Email personalization

• Prospect tracking

Unlike modular CRMs, EngageBay includes marketing + sales automation together.

👉 Strong automation suite at predictable pricing.

Read also: 8 Incredible Ontraport Alternatives & Their Key Features

Contact Management (360° CRM View)

Pipedrive

• Smart Contact Data enrichment

• Email sync & tracking

• Meeting scheduler

• Live Chat & web forms (via add-ons)

• Custom fields & filters

Strong sales contact management, lighter marketing depth.

HubSpot

• Unlimited contact storage (free tier)

• Lifecycle stage tracking

• Email & conversation inbox

• Marketing engagement tracking

• Service ticketing

HubSpot delivers a true customer data platform feel, especially when using multiple Hubs.

EngageBay

In EngageBay’s CRM, tracking contacts couldn’t be easier.

EngageBay offers:

• 360-degree contact view

• Email sync

• Call logs & notes

• Social media profiles

• Engagement history

• Behavior tracking

• Task history

It’s built to give SMBs a centralized contact intelligence hub.

👉 Great balance between simplicity and depth.

Read also: How EngageBay’s Contact Management Tool Improves Customer Relationships

Pipeline Management (Sales Execution)

Pipedrive (Pipeline Specialist)

• Fully customizable pipelines

• Drag-and-drop deals

• Win probability

• Revenue forecasting

• Color-coded deals

• AI deal recommendations

Pipedrive remains one of the strongest visual sales CRMs in 2026.

HubSpot

• Custom pipelines per team

• Deal automation

• Sales forecasting

• AI insights

• Cross-team visibility

HubSpot pipelines integrate tightly with marketing & service data.

EngageBay

EngageBay’s sales pipeline is visual so it’s easy to understand and disseminate.

• Visual sales pipelines

• Deal tracking

• Proposal management

• Lost/won deal tracking

• Sales leaderboards

Great visibility without enterprise-level complexity.

Read also: 9 Sales Pipeline Tools for Power Sellers (Pricing, Features)

Reporting & Analytics (Data-Driven CRM)

Pipedrive Reporting

• Custom dashboards

• Revenue forecasting

• Activity performance tracking

• Visual charts & shareable reports

Strong sales analytics focus.

HubSpot Reporting

• Advanced custom reporting

• Marketing attribution tracking

• Sales performance dashboards

• AI insights

• Campaign ROI analytics

Enterprise-level analytics — pricing reflects that.

EngageBay Reporting

EngageBay takes gamification a step further. This will inspire sales team members to do their best — in a fun way.

• Custom dashboards

• Sales leaderboards (gamification)

• Deal funnel reports

• Automated report delivery

• Growth tracking

More than enough for SMB performance tracking.

Read also: Pipedrive vs Close Comparison — Which CRM Is Right For You?

Integrations (Ecosystem Strength)

In 2026, integrations matter more than ever.

Platform	Integration Strength
HubSpot	Extensive marketplace (1,000+ apps) including Salesforce, Zendesk, WordPress
Pipedrive	Strong sales integrations, Zapier, document & calling apps
EngageBay	Key SMB integrations (Stripe, QuickBooks, WooCommerce, Zapier, Xero, DocuSign)

• HubSpot has the largest ecosystem.
• Pipedrive excels in sales stack integrations.
• EngageBay covers essential SMB tools.

Navigate through the top HubSpot competitors with our expert guide. 

Pipedrive vs HubSpot vs EngageBay: Pricing (2026 Reality Check)

Pricing is where the decision often becomes clear.

Let’s examine another huge factor that plays a significant role while selecting between Pipedrive vs HubSpot vs EngageBay: CRM pricing in 2026.

Pipedrive CRM Pricing

Unlike some CRMs with free tiers, Pipedrive does not offer a permanent free plan — but it does provide a 14-day free trial with no credit card required. All paid plans are per user, per month and offer more sales-focused tools as you go up the tiers.

 

Lite

• Entry-level CRM focused on pipeline and deal tracking

• Basic deal and activity management

• Email integration and basic reporting

• Does not include email automation or advanced workflow tools

Perfect for solo sales reps or very small teams just getting started with CRM.

Growth

• Adds full email sync, tracking & simple workflow automation

• Meeting scheduling and contacts timeline

• Sales forecasting reports

This tier is often the minimum practical choice for small teams that want automation and email capabilities.

Premium

• Includes lead scoring, expanded automation, and enhanced reporting

• Bundles popular add-ons like LeadBooster and Projects in many markets

• Better forecasting, team goals, and sales insights

Considered the sweet spot for most growing sales teams because it includes advanced CRM features without huge incremental cost.

Ultimate

• Adds enterprise-grade security, audit logs, sandbox tools

• Higher limits on automations, analytics, and custom permissions

• Best for larger sales teams needing comprehensive control

Great choice for established teams that need strong governance and security.

Important Notes (2026 Pricing Reality)

• • No free tier: Pipedrive is paid only after the 14-day trial.

  • Add-ons: Tools like LeadBooster, web visitor tracking, Projects, Smart Docs, or Campaigns can add monthly costs — sometimes significantly.

  • Annual billing is cheaper: Prices listed above are usually the annual discounted rate. Monthly billing often costs more, especially at higher tiers

👉 Predictable per-seat pricing for sales teams.

HubSpot CRM Pricing

HubSpot’s CRM is free, but remember, its features are limited in the free version.

• Free CRM available

• Paid Hubs (Marketing, Sales, Service)

• Contact-based + seat-based pricing

• Advanced AI features in higher tiers

HubSpot offers a generous free CRM plan that’s still one of the most comprehensive free CRM options in the market:

• Contact & company management

• Deal pipeline tracking

• Email tracking and notifications

• Meeting scheduling

• Live chat and forms

• Up to ~1M contacts with unlimited users in some accounts*

This makes it ideal for startups and small businesses testing the CRM waters before investing in paid hubs.

Starter Plan (Small Teams & Basics)

Small sales or support teams ready to remove HubSpot branding and unlock more workflows can choose Starter, typically priced around $15–$20 per user/month.

Starter includes:

• Email sequences & simple automation

• Basic reporting upgrades

• Additional contact and seat allowances

• Basic sales and service features beyond free CRM

Professional Tier (Growing Businesses)

Professional plans — usually around $90 per user/month on average — are where HubSpot becomes a true platform:

• Advanced automation and customized workflows

• AI-assisted features (e.g., sales sequence automation, insights)

• Custom dashboards and analytics

• Multi-pipeline support and deeper campaign tools

Professional plans often require a minimum number of seats and annual commitment, increasing pricing complexity, especially when combining Sales, Marketing, and Service Hubs.

Enterprise Plan (Large Teams & Advanced Needs)

Enterprise plans scale pricing around $150 per user/month and above, and include:

• Advanced permissions and governance

• Custom objects and field control

• Conversation intelligence and large-scale reporting

• Built-in tools for compliance and team governance

This level is geared toward mid-size and distributed teams with heavy data, segmentation, security, or compliance needs.

👉 Extremely powerful — but total cost can grow fast as your database scales.

Read also: HubSpot Pricing and Comparison with Other Alternatives

EngageBay CRM Pricing

EngageBay’s CRM is free forever.

If you wish to get even more use out of EngageBay, you can opt for a paid plan.

Free plan

The Free plan is $0 per month and includes CRM these features:

• 250 contacts
• 1,000 branded emails
• 360-degree contact view
• Lists
• Deals
• Tasks
• Appointment scheduling
• Forms and pop-ups
• Email tracking
• Reporting dashboard

Basic plan

The Basic plan is quite affordable at $14.99 per month and offers all the needed by businesses to get started:

• 500 contacts
• 10,000 emails
• Calling minutes
• Custom deal milestones

Growth plan

For the small business that’s progressing, try the Growth plan for $64.99 a month:

• 5,000 contacts
• 25,000 emails
• Call reports
• Custom fields
• Email scheduling
• Leaderboards
• Email sequences
• Automation workflows
• Triggers
• Proposals

Pro plan

The Pro plan at $119.99 has the most CRM and sales features from EngageBay:

• Unlimited contacts
• 50,000 emails
• Proposal analytics
• Call records
• Call scripts
• Goals
• Conversational inboxes
• Custom reporting

👉 Best balance of functionality vs affordability for small and growing businesses.

Read also: CRM Functionality — Zoho vs HubSpot vs EngageBay

Pipedrive vs HubSpot vs EngageBay: User Reviews

No comparison is complete without some real, raw user reviews. Let’s take a look:

Pipedrive User Reviews

Pros

Cons

HubSpot User Reviews

Pros

Cons

EngageBay User Reviews

Pros

Cons

Read also: ActiveCampaign vs Mailchimp vs EngageBay For Email Marketing — The Winner?

The Verdict in 2026

The verdict is in for Pipedrive vs HubSpot vs EngageBay in 2026 — and the winner depends on what kind of growth you’re building.

If you want a sales-first CRM with strong pipeline visibility and AI-assisted deal prioritization, Pipedrive remains one of the best tools for pure sales execution.

It’s focused, intuitive, and built for revenue teams that live inside their pipeline every day.

But it’s not a true all-in-one platform — marketing automation and customer support require add-ons or integrations.

If you want an enterprise-grade, AI-powered growth ecosystem, HubSpot is incredibly powerful in 2026.

With Breeze AI, advanced automation, deep reporting, and a massive integration marketplace, it’s a serious growth engine.

The trade-off? Pricing scales with contacts and seats — and costs can rise quickly as your database and automation needs expand.

But if you’re a startup or small-to-mid-sized business looking for a balanced, affordable, all-in-one CRM with marketing, sales, and support built together, the strongest overall value in 2026 is:

🏆 EngageBay

Here’s why:

• Free CRM with meaningful functionality (not just contact storage)

• Built-in marketing automation, sales pipeline management, and helpdesk

• Predictable pricing without aggressive contact-based cost spikes

• AI-assisted workflows and automation suited for SMB growth

• A unified platform — no need to stitch together multiple hubs

Unlike HubSpot’s modular structure — where advanced automation and AI often require higher-tier plans — EngageBay offers an integrated system that small businesses can realistically afford and grow with.

And unlike Pipedrive, which excels in sales but lacks a built-in marketing and support suite, EngageBay delivers a true all-in-one CRM platform.

Final Take

• Choose Pipedrive if you’re a sales-driven team that prioritizes deal management above all else.

• Choose HubSpot if you’re scaling aggressively and budget is not your primary constraint.

• Choose EngageBay if you want modern CRM capabilities, automation, and AI support — without enterprise pricing.

For most small and growing businesses in 2026, EngageBay strikes the best balance between functionality, scalability, and cost-efficiency.

That’s the practical winner.

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Learn more about EngageBay:

• Compare EngageBay with HubSpot
• Visit our website
• Request a demo with our experts
• Check pricing

Sign up with EngageBay for free

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Related reading: 

• The best CRM Tools for Small Businesses
• The 14 Best CRM Automation Software in 2024
• 15 Best Marketing Automation Tools for Small Businesses
• Is HubSpot Worth It? In-Depth Review for Small Businesses