"Starter" means very different things to these two vendors. HubSpot's is a genuine first paid step for small teams; Salesforce's Starter Suite is a curated slice of its platform, priced to get you in the door.
At a glance
| HubSpot Starter | Salesforce Starter | |
|---|---|---|
| Price | $20/mo (2 seats) | $25/user/mo |
| Free tier below | Yes (1,000 contacts) | No |
| Email sequences | Yes | Limited |
| Marketing tools | Forms, email, live chat | Minimal |
| Customization | Moderate | Object model + flows |
HubSpot Starter in practice
At $20/mo for two users, HubSpot Starter adds email sequences, simple automation, and better reporting on top of the free CRM. Because marketing tools live in the same platform, a small team gets a functional growth stack without stitching tools together[1].
Salesforce Starter in practice
Salesforce's $25/user/mo Starter Suite bundles basic sales, service, and a bit of marketing. The appeal is real — it's Salesforce's brand and object model at a low price — but seats add up, and the included features are deliberately thin to push upgrades[2].
The verdict
Pick HubSpot Starter for the best small-team value. Pick Salesforce Starter only if you know you're heading deeper into Salesforce and want a low-risk on-ramp.