HoneyBook vs HubSpot: Full Comparison (2026)

Service businesses need one workflow from lead capture to final invoice, but most end up stitching together a CRM, a proposal tool, and a billing app to get there.

One handles proposals, contracts, and client bookings for creative freelancers. The other runs CRM pipelines, marketing automation, and sales sequences for growing teams. The gap between them is wide, and neither covers every step from lead to invoice for service businesses that bill by the project or the hour.

HoneyBook starts at $29/month (annual) with proposals, contracts, invoicing, and scheduling. Smart Files combine proposals, contracts, and invoices into one interactive client document. But the CRM has no sales pipeline stages, no lead scoring, no marketing automation, and email tools are limited to basic sequences without A/B testing or dynamic content. Financial reporting stops at basic profit and loss, with no customer lifetime value or sales cycle analytics.

HubSpot offers a free CRM with up to 1,000,000 contacts, deal tracking, and task management. The Starter plan costs $15/seat/month and bundles Marketing, Sales, Service, CMS, and Operations hubs. But HubSpot has no native proposals, no contracts, no e-signatures, and no Smart File-style client documents. Invoicing supports 130+ currencies but requires Starter plan or above. Time tracking does not exist, and billable hours cannot flow into invoices without a third-party integration.

Plutio covers proposals that convert into projects, contracts with e-signatures, Kanban boards, task-level time tracking that flows into invoices, and a white-labeled client portal on a custom domain. If proposals, project completion, and billing need to live in one connected workflow... check out Plutio and skip the comparison.

Last updated February 2026

4.6

Quick comparison (TLDR)

HoneyBook handles the client intake workflow for creative freelancers and service businesses. Proposals, contracts with e-signatures, invoicing with payment plans, scheduling, and a client portal come standard on every plan. Smart Files combine proposals, contracts, and invoices into one interactive document that clients complete in a single flow. HoneyBook starts at $29/month (annual) and charges per account, not per user on the Starter plan. But the CRM lacks pipeline stages, lead scoring, and marketing automation. Email tools handle basic sequences but don't include A/B testing, dynamic content, or drip campaigns.

HubSpot operates as a CRM and marketing platform for sales-driven teams. The free plan includes contact management for up to 1,000,000 contacts, deal tracking, and task management. The Starter plan ($15/seat/month) adds marketing email, forms, ad management, and basic reporting across Marketing, Sales, Service, CMS, and Operations hubs. But HubSpot has no native proposal builder, no contracts, no e-signatures, and invoicing supports 130+ currencies on paid plans. Professional plans start at $890/month for Marketing Hub and $100/seat/month for Sales Hub, so costs scale fast once the free tier's limits hit.

Key differences at a glance

Proposals and contracts: HoneyBook includes interactive proposals (Smart Files) with e-signatures on all plans. HubSpot has no native proposal builder and no contract or e-signature support at all, requiring third-party tools like PandaDoc or Proposify.
CRM depth: HubSpot's CRM includes pipeline management, deal stages, lead scoring (Professional+), and activity tracking across contacts, companies, and deals. HoneyBook's CRM tracks clients and projects but has no pipeline visualization, no deal stages, and no lead scoring.
Marketing automation: HubSpot Professional ($890/month for Marketing Hub) includes email sequences, workflows, A/B testing, and behavioral triggers. HoneyBook's automation handles basic workflows (send contract after inquiry, reminder after 3 days) but has no conditional branching or marketing campaign tools.
Invoicing: HoneyBook includes invoicing with deposits, payment plans, and auto-reminders on every plan. HubSpot's invoicing supports basic invoice creation from deals with 130+ currencies on paid plans, but has no time-to-invoice connection and no automatic recurring charges.
Pricing model: HoneyBook charges $29-$109/month per account (annual billing). HubSpot's free CRM covers basics, but paid plans charge per seat ($15-$150/seat/month) plus per-contact fees for marketing, so a 5-person team on Professional can reach $1,000+/month quickly.
Time tracking: Neither platform includes native time tracking. Hourly billing requires an external tool (Toggl, Clockify, or Harvest) on both platforms, and tracked hours get entered into invoices manually.

The verdict? HoneyBook covers proposals, contracts, and client-facing documents but has no CRM pipeline or marketing tools. HubSpot covers CRM pipelines, lead scoring, and marketing automation but has no proposals, contracts, or time tracking. If the workflow needs proposals, Kanban boards, task-level time tracking, and invoicing without per-seat fees, Plutio covers all four for $19/month.

Tired of switching between apps?

There's a third option

Proposals, contracts, Kanban boards, task-level time tracking, and invoicing with no per-seat fees. All in one platform for $19/month.

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Plutio - Your entire business, one login away

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CRM and contact management

A service business needs to track leads, manage client relationships, and see where every deal stands. How deep does the CRM go, and can it handle both new leads and existing clients without a separate tool?

HoneyBook

Client-focused CRM for creative service businesses. HoneyBook organizes contacts as clients tied to projects. Each client record includes a communication history, attached files, contracts, invoices, and project status. The pipeline view shows projects by status (inquiry, booked, in progress, completed), which handles the photographer or designer workflow where client relationships center around finishing projects. Capterra rates HoneyBook at 4.7/5 across 668 reviews. But the CRM stops at client-project tracking. There are no deal stages for sales teams, no lead scoring to prioritize follow-ups, and no company-level records for B2B relationships.

Client records with full project history
Pipeline view by project status
4.7/5 Capterra rating (668 reviews)
No deal stages or sales pipeline
No lead scoring or prioritization
No company-level B2B records

HubSpot

CRM with sales pipeline management, but no proposals or contracts. HubSpot's CRM tracks contacts, companies, and deals across customizable pipeline stages. The free plan supports up to 1,000,000 contacts with unlimited deals and tasks. Activity tracking logs emails, calls, meetings, and notes automatically. Lead scoring on Professional plans ($100/seat/month for Sales Hub) assigns point values based on contact behavior and demographics. Capterra rates HubSpot CRM at 4.5/5 across 4,400+ reviews. The CRM depth handles enterprise sales workflows, but there are no proposals, contracts, or client-facing documents. For service businesses that close deals through proposals and signed contracts, the sales process requires third-party tools alongside HubSpot.

Pipeline stages with deal tracking
Lead scoring on Professional plan
4.5/5 Capterra rating (4,400+ reviews)
No native proposals or contracts
No e-signature support
Professional plan starts at $100/seat/month

Proposals, contracts, and e-signatures

A new client needs a quote, a proposal with service details, and a signed agreement before work begins. Can the platform handle the entire booking flow without third-party tools?

HoneyBook

Smart Files combine proposals, contracts, and invoices. HoneyBook's Smart Files bundle a proposal, contract, and invoice into one interactive document. Clients review the proposal, sign the contract, and pay the deposit in a single flow without switching between emails or platforms. Templates cover photography packages, design retainers, coaching agreements, and event planning contracts. E-signatures come standard on every plan. The booking workflow (inquiry to signed contract to first payment) happens inside one platform without any third-party integration.

Smart Files combine proposal + contract + invoice
E-signatures on all plans
Templates for creative and service industries
Proposals are static documents, so clients cannot select package options or configure services interactively
Template layouts have fewer design controls than PandaDoc or Proposify, which limits brand customization

HubSpot

No native proposals or contracts. HubSpot does not include a proposal builder, contract management, or e-signature support. The Quotes tool on Sales Hub creates basic sales quotes from products and pricing configured in the CRM, but quotes are not proposals with service descriptions, timelines, or scope details. For contracts and e-signatures, HubSpot users integrate PandaDoc ($35/user/month), Proposify ($49/user/month), or DocuSign. For service businesses where the proposal-to-contract flow is the primary sales motion, HubSpot adds $35-49/user/month in third-party costs on top of the CRM subscription.

Quotes tool for product-based pricing
No proposal builder with service descriptions
No contract management or templates
No e-signatures (requires PandaDoc or DocuSign)
Third-party proposal tools add $35-49/user/month

Invoicing and payments

The work is done, and the invoice needs to go out. Can the platform handle deposits, payment plans, recurring billing, and follow-ups without manual workarounds?

HoneyBook

Invoicing with deposits, payment plans, and auto-reminders. HoneyBook includes invoicing on every plan with deposits, payment plans, tips, and automatic payment reminders. Clients pay through Stripe, credit card, or bank transfer (ACH). Invoices can be attached to Smart Files, so the payment step connects directly to the signed contract. The Essentials plan ($49/month annual) adds expense tracking and profit-and-loss reports. Recurring invoices exist but don't auto-charge. Each one still requires the client to manually complete payment. For retainer-based businesses billing monthly, that means payment follow-up every cycle.

Deposits and payment plans on all plans
Auto-reminders for unpaid invoices
Invoice attached to Smart Files workflow
No automatic recurring charge collection
No time-to-invoice connection
No multi-currency beyond Stripe defaults

HubSpot

Invoicing from deals with 130+ currencies on paid plans. HubSpot's invoicing creates invoices directly from deals and quotes in the CRM. Payment status, overdue accounts, and revenue tracking integrate with HubSpot's reporting tools. Custom net payment terms (Net 30, Net 60) can be set as company-wide defaults. Invoicing supports 130+ currencies on Starter plans and above, though the free plan has limited invoicing capabilities. There is no automatic recurring billing for retainers or subscriptions. Billable hours cannot flow into invoices because HubSpot has no time tracking feature. For service businesses billing by the hour, invoicing requires a separate tool like QuickBooks or FreshBooks alongside HubSpot.

Invoice creation from deals and quotes
Payment status tracking in reports
Custom net payment terms
130+ currencies but only on paid plans
No time-to-invoice flow
No automatic recurring charges

Marketing and automation

Leads need nurturing before they become clients. Can the platform run email campaigns, automate follow-ups, and trigger actions based on client behavior without a separate marketing tool?

HoneyBook

Basic workflow automation for client onboarding. HoneyBook's automation engine on the Essentials plan ($49/month annual) handles triggered workflows: send a contract after an inquiry form submission, send a reminder if a contract sits unsigned for 3 days, or send a questionnaire after a deposit is received. The automation builder is linear, not branching. There is no conditional logic where different client actions trigger different paths. Email tools send transactional messages (reminders, follow-ups, questionnaires) but don't support marketing campaigns, newsletters, A/B testing, or dynamic content. For freelancers managing 10-20 clients per year, the basic automation covers onboarding. For businesses running marketing campaigns to generate leads, a separate email platform (Mailchimp, ConvertKit) runs alongside.

Triggered workflows on Essentials plan
Auto-reminders and follow-up sequences
No conditional branching logic
Starter plan has no automation
No marketing campaigns or newsletters
No A/B testing or dynamic content

HubSpot

Marketing automation on Professional plan ($890/month) only. HubSpot Marketing Hub handles email marketing, landing pages, forms, ad management, and social media scheduling. The Starter plan ($15/seat/month) includes marketing email with 5x the contact limit and basic forms. The Professional plan ($890/month for 2,000 contacts) adds marketing automation workflows with conditional branching, A/B testing, behavioral triggers, lead scoring, and campaign attribution. Enterprise ($3,600/month) adds predictive lead scoring, custom events, and detailed reporting. HubSpot's conditional workflows and behavioral triggers handle complex nurture sequences, but the price jumps from $15/seat/month to $890/month to unlock real marketing automation. For small service businesses, the Professional tier is often more marketing tool than the business needs or can justify.

Email campaigns with A/B testing (Professional)
Behavioral triggers and conditional workflows
Lead scoring on Professional plan
Real automation starts at $890/month (Professional)
Starter plan has limited marketing features
Contact-based pricing adds cost as list grows

Project management and time tracking

The contract is signed, and now there are weeks of deliverables to manage. Can the platform track tasks, deadlines, and billable hours without opening a separate project management app?

HoneyBook

Project tracking by status with task checklists. HoneyBook organizes work into projects tied to clients. Each project moves through configurable statuses (inquiry, booked, in progress, completed). The task feature includes basic checklists within projects, but there are no Kanban boards, no Gantt charts, no task assignments for team members, and no subtasks or dependencies. The project view shows all active projects and their statuses, which handles solo creatives managing 5-15 projects. But time tracking does not exist at all. For consultants, designers, or agencies billing by the hour, tracked time from Toggl or Clockify gets entered manually into HoneyBook invoices.

Project status tracking with configurable stages
Basic task checklists per project
No Kanban boards or Gantt charts
No task assignments or dependencies
No time tracking at all
No billable hours to invoice flow

HubSpot

Task management inside deals, plus Kanban and Gantt via Projects. HubSpot tracks tasks tied to contacts, companies, and deals. Tasks include due dates, queues, and automated reminders. The Projects Object (GA since INBOUND 2025) adds Kanban boards and Gantt charts for managing internal team workflows on paid plans. But HubSpot's project tools are designed for internal CRM workflows, not client-facing task tracking or progress updates. There is no time tracking, and no way to connect tracked hours to invoices. For agencies and service businesses completing multi-week client projects, HubSpot covers the sales pipeline and internal task management but still lacks the client-facing workflow layer.

Task management with due dates and queues
Kanban boards and Gantt charts via Projects Object
Project templates for internal workflows
Projects designed for internal use, not client-facing task tracking or progress updates
No time tracking feature
No billable hours to invoice flow

Scheduling and client communication

Clients need to book calls, meetings, and sessions without the back-and-forth of email scheduling. Can the platform handle scheduling alongside the rest of the client workflow?

HoneyBook

Scheduler on Essentials plan, connected to automation workflows. HoneyBook's scheduler on the Essentials plan ($49/month annual) lets clients book meetings directly from the client portal or a shared scheduling link. The scheduler connects to Google Calendar and syncs availability automatically. Booking confirmations, reminders, and follow-ups can be triggered through HoneyBook's automation workflows. For service businesses where discovery calls convert to proposals, the scheduler-to-Smart File flow keeps booking, proposals, and payments inside one platform. The Starter plan ($29/month annual) does not include scheduling, so solo users on the budget plan need Calendly or Cal.com alongside HoneyBook.

Scheduler on Essentials plan
Google Calendar sync
Connected to automation workflows
Starter plan has no scheduling
No Zoom or Google Meet auto-generation

HubSpot

Meeting scheduler with CRM integration on all plans. HubSpot's meeting scheduler comes free on every plan, including the free CRM. Scheduling links sync with Google Calendar and Outlook, and meetings automatically create CRM records with contact details and activity logs. The scheduler generates Zoom or Google Meet links automatically. Round-robin scheduling on Starter+ distributes meetings across team members. For sales teams booking discovery calls and demos, HubSpot's scheduler ties directly into the CRM pipeline. But the scheduler handles sales meetings and internal calls, not the ongoing client session scheduling that coaching or consulting businesses need for recurring weekly appointments.

Free meeting scheduler on all plans
Google Calendar and Outlook sync
Auto-generates Zoom and Meet links
Round-robin for team scheduling
Optimized for sales calls, not recurring client sessions

Client portal and branding

When clients log in to check project status, review documents, or pay invoices, whose brand do they see? For service businesses where the client experience matters, branding control builds trust.

HoneyBook

Client portal with branding removal on Essentials plan. HoneyBook includes a client portal where clients view proposals, contracts, invoices, and project updates. The Essentials plan ($49/month annual) removes HoneyBook branding from client-facing documents and the portal. The portal URL still shows HoneyBook's domain, and there is no option for a custom domain. For photographers, designers, and event planners whose brand experience is part of the value they deliver, the visible third-party URL can undercut the positioning. But for solo creatives who care more about the document experience than the URL bar, HoneyBook's portal handles the basics at a reasonable price.

Client portal for documents and invoices
Branding removal on Essentials plan
No custom domain for portal
HoneyBook URL visible to clients
No full white-labeling option

HubSpot

Customer portal on Service Hub with limited branding. HubSpot's customer portal (Service Hub Professional, $100/seat/month) lets clients submit tickets, track issue status, and access a knowledge base. The portal supports logo and color customization. But the portal is support-focused, not project-focused. Clients cannot view proposals, contracts, or invoices through the portal. For service businesses that need a client-facing hub where clients check project progress, sign documents, and pay invoices, HubSpot's portal covers support tickets only. The Professional tier pricing ($100/seat/month) also makes the portal one of the more expensive options for basic client-facing visibility.

Customer portal on Service Hub Professional
Logo and color customization
Support-focused, not project-focused
No proposals, contracts, or invoices in portal
Requires Service Hub Professional ($100/seat/month)

Skip the comparison?

Get proposals, projects, and billing in one app

HoneyBook handles client intake, and HubSpot handles sales pipelines, but Plutio covers the full workflow: proposals, Kanban boards, task-level time tracking, invoicing, and white-labeled client portals.

No credit card required

4.6/5 Rating

4.4/5 Rating

4.6/5 Rating

4.7/5 Rating

HoneyBook vs HubSpot pricing breakdown

HoneyBook charges per account with flat monthly pricing. HubSpot charges per seat with additional per-contact fees for marketing, creating a pricing model that scales unpredictably for growing teams.

HoneyBook Pricing (2026)

Starter: $29/month (annual) or $36/month (monthly). Proposals (Smart Files), contracts, invoicing, client portal, lead management. No scheduling, no automation, no team members.
Essentials: $49/month (annual) or $59/month (monthly). Adds scheduler, automations, QuickBooks Online integration, expense tracking, profit-and-loss reports, branding removal, and 2 team members.
Premium: $109/month (annual) or $129/month (monthly). Unlimited team members, multiple companies, priority support, onboarding specialist, and full reports.

HubSpot Pricing (2026)

Free CRM: $0 for up to 2 users. Contact management (1M contacts), deal tracking, tasks, meeting scheduler, basic forms, and email tracking.
Starter: $15/seat/month. Adds marketing email (5x contact limit), simple automation, payments, and removes HubSpot branding from emails.
Professional (Sales Hub): $100/seat/month. Adds sequences, lead scoring, forecasting, custom reporting, and sales automation workflows.
Professional (Marketing Hub): $890/month for 2,000 contacts. Adds marketing automation, A/B testing, campaign management, and behavioral triggers.
Enterprise: $150/seat/month (Sales) or $3,600/month (Marketing, 10,000 contacts).

The real cost comparison

A solo creative on HoneyBook Essentials pays $49/month and gets proposals, contracts, invoicing, scheduling, automation, and a client portal. The same user on HubSpot Starter pays $15/month but still needs PandaDoc ($35/month) for proposals and contracts, Toggl ($0-12/month) for time tracking, and potentially QuickBooks ($25/month) for invoicing beyond basic quotes. The HubSpot stack runs $75-87/month compared to HoneyBook's $49/month.

For a 5-person team, HoneyBook Premium costs $109/month total (unlimited team members). HubSpot Starter for 5 seats costs $75/month, but adding Professional Sales Hub jumps to $500/month and Professional Marketing Hub adds $890/month. The total HubSpot Professional stack for 5 people exceeds $1,390/month, while HoneyBook covers the full team for $109/month.

All-in-one platforms like Plutio start at $19/month for solo users with proposals, projects, time tracking, and invoicing in one subscription, with no per-seat fees on any plan.

Which tool fits your business type?

HoneyBook and HubSpot serve fundamentally different audiences. The right choice depends on whether the business closes deals through proposals and contracts, or through sales pipelines and marketing funnels.

Photographers and creative freelancers

HoneyBook covers this workflow. Smart Files handle the photographer's booking flow (inquiry, proposal, contract, deposit) in one document. Templates cover wedding packages, portrait sessions, and event photography. The client portal delivers documents and payment links in a branded experience. HubSpot's CRM tracks contacts but has no proposal or contract tools, so photographers would need two or three additional subscriptions to match what HoneyBook includes natively.

Marketing agencies and SaaS sales teams

HubSpot fits the sales-driven workflow where leads enter through forms, get scored and nurtured through email sequences, and convert through a multi-stage pipeline. CRM reporting tracks deal velocity, conversion rates, and revenue attribution. For agencies managing hundreds of leads per month, HubSpot's marketing automation on Professional handles nurture campaigns that HoneyBook cannot support. The trade-off is the $890+/month price tag for real marketing automation.

Coaches and consultants

Neither platform is ideal for hourly billing. Both lack time tracking entirely. HoneyBook handles the coaching intake workflow (discovery call, proposal, contract, payment) more directly than HubSpot's sales-focused pipeline. But billing for tracked hours still requires Toggl or Clockify alongside either platform. Platforms with task-level time tracking that flows into invoices handle the coaching billing workflow without extra tools.

Event planners and designers

HoneyBook's project-based workflow aligns with event planning and design workflows because projects center on deliverables, not deal stages like HubSpot's CRM. Proposals, contracts, invoicing, and client communication happen around a project record, not a sales deal. The automation handles onboarding sequences (send questionnaire after deposit, schedule kickoff after questionnaire). HubSpot's deal-stage pipeline makes less sense when the deal is already closed after the contract is signed and the real work is getting the project done.

Growing teams (10+ people)

HubSpot handles larger teams with role-based permissions, team quotas, and sales hierarchies. HoneyBook Premium ($109/month) includes unlimited team members but has limited permission controls compared to HubSpot's granular role management. For teams where sales, marketing, and service operate as separate functions, HubSpot's hub structure (separate tools for each department) fits the organizational model. For teams where everyone handles client work from start to finish, the hub separation adds complexity without value.

What both tools are missing

HoneyBook handles client intake and documents. HubSpot handles sales and marketing. But once the contract is signed and tasks, deadlines, and time tracking begin, both platforms leave gaps that force users into multi-tool stacks.

No time tracking on either platform

Neither HoneyBook nor HubSpot includes any form of time tracking. For photographers billing fixed-rate packages, the gap may not matter. For consultants, coaches, designers, and agencies billing hourly, time tracking runs in a separate tool. Tracked hours from Toggl, Clockify, or Harvest get entered manually into invoices on either platform, adding 10-20 minutes of admin per billing cycle. Platforms with task-level time tracking that flows directly into invoice line items eliminate the manual transfer entirely.

Limited Kanban boards for client work

HoneyBook uses status-based project views but has no Kanban boards, Gantt charts, subtasks with nesting, or task dependencies. HubSpot added Kanban boards and Gantt charts through the Projects Object (GA since INBOUND 2025), but these tools are designed for internal team workflows, not client-facing task boards or milestone tracking. For a one-session photo shoot, status tracking is enough. For a 6-week brand identity project or a multi-phase marketing campaign, HoneyBook users still need a separate tool like Trello, Asana, or ClickUp. Platforms with Kanban boards and timeline views handle longer client-facing projects without adding another app.

No white-labeled client portal

HoneyBook removes branding on the Essentials plan but keeps the HoneyBook URL visible. HubSpot's customer portal (Service Hub Professional, $100/seat/month) handles support tickets but shows HubSpot branding. Neither offers a client portal on a custom domain with complete brand removal. For agencies and premium service providers where the client experience is part of the value, visible third-party URLs and branding undercut the positioning.

Limited cross-platform connection

HoneyBook connects to Google Calendar, Zoom, Stripe, and QuickBooks. HubSpot has a large integration marketplace (2,000+ apps) but the richest integrations require Professional plans ($100+/seat/month). Neither platform connects proposals to project boards to time tracking to invoices in a single flow. The proposal lives in one tool, the project lives in another, and the invoice gets created manually from data scattered across platforms.

What users do when neither tool is enough

When HoneyBook or HubSpot cannot handle the full workflow alone, users build multi-tool stacks or look for platforms that cover proposals through invoicing in one place.

The typical workaround stack

Most users end up assembling something like:

HoneyBook or HubSpot for CRM and client management ($29-$100+/month)
PandaDoc or Proposify for proposals and contracts, HubSpot users only ($35-49/user/month)
Asana, Monday, or ClickUp for project management ($0-25/month)
Toggl, Clockify, or Harvest for time tracking ($0-12/month per user)
QuickBooks or FreshBooks for accounting ($0-25/month)

The total runs $65-200+ per month for a solo user, with four or five logins and constant manual data transfer between each tool.

The hidden cost: workflow friction

The subscription cost is the visible expense. The hidden cost is the manual transfer between tools. When a proposal gets accepted in HoneyBook, someone manually creates a project in Asana, sets up time tracking in Toggl, and then copies completed hours into a HoneyBook invoice when the work finishes. Each handoff takes 5-15 minutes. Across 15-20 clients per year, that amounts to 25-40 hours annually spent on data transfer that connected software should handle automatically.

The one-platform path

If the workflow already spans three or more tools and the handoffs between them eat into billable hours: Plutio covers the complete workflow in one platform. Proposals convert into projects with Kanban boards. Time tracking happens at the task level and flows directly into invoice line items. Clients access a portal on a custom domain, not the software vendor's URL. The comparison table below shows exactly where Plutio fills the gaps that HoneyBook and HubSpot leave open.

Final verdict: HoneyBook vs HubSpot

HoneyBook and HubSpot serve different sides of the client lifecycle. HoneyBook handles the proposal-to-payment flow for creative freelancers. HubSpot handles the lead-to-close pipeline for sales and marketing teams. The overlap is narrow, and the gaps on both sides are significant.

HoneyBook trade-offs:

HoneyBook covers proposals, contracts, invoicing, scheduling, and automation at $49/month (Essentials), but the CRM has no sales pipeline, no lead scoring, and no marketing automation.
Smart Files handle the booking workflow in one document, but the CRM tracks clients and projects only, not complex sales workflows with multiple stakeholders.
Email tools are transactional (reminders, follow-ups), not campaign-based. There is no A/B testing, no drip sequences, and no time tracking at all.

HubSpot trade-offs:

HubSpot covers CRM pipelines, deal stages, and marketing automation, but has no proposals, no contracts, and no e-signatures. Service businesses need PandaDoc ($35/user/month) or DocuSign alongside HubSpot.
Per-seat pricing and contact-tier fees make costs unpredictable as the team and contact list grow. A 5-person team on Professional can exceed $1,000/month before third-party tool costs.
Invoicing requires paid plans for full currency support, and there is no time tracking or time-to-invoice flow on any plan.

Consider a platform that covers both sides if:

The workflow needs proposals that convert into projects with task tracking and time logging, not just a CRM pipeline or a document flow.
Manual data transfer between contracts, project boards, time tracking, and invoicing creates errors or delays in billing.
Clients should see a white-labeled portal on a custom domain, not a third-party URL.
Time tracking needs to connect directly to invoice line items without manual data entry.

The bottom line: HoneyBook covers proposals and client documents for creative freelancers under $50/month. HubSpot covers CRM, marketing, and sales automation for growing teams with bigger budgets. Both stop short of project management, time tracking, and connected billing. If the workflow already spans multiple tools and the handoffs between them eat into billable hours, the comparison table below shows how Plutio stacks up against both.

Research & Sources

Comparison based on official documentation review, pricing page verification, and analysis of user feedback across review platforms. All data verified in February 2026.

Research methodology

Each platform was evaluated through official feature documentation, pricing pages, and analysis of user reviews across Capterra, G2, and independent review sites. The focus was on common pain points from lower-rated reviews where users share honest limitations rather than promotional praise.

Platform ratings (February 2026)

HoneyBook: 4.7/5 on Capterra (668 reviews). Reviewers mention Smart Files, proposal flow, and creative-focused templates. Criticized for limited CRM depth, basic reporting, and no pipeline management.
HubSpot CRM: 4.5/5 on Capterra (4,400+ reviews), 4.5/5 on G2 (13,900+ reviews). Reviewers mention CRM features, marketing automation, and integration ecosystem. Criticized for steep pricing on Professional plans, no native proposals or contracts, and limited invoicing.
Plutio: 4.6/5 on G2 (200+ reviews), praised for all-in-one coverage and white-labeling.

Common user complaints (from 1-3 star reviews)

HoneyBook users frequently mention: "Limited CRM compared to dedicated CRMs," "No pipeline view for sales teams," "Automation is basic compared to competitors," "Financial reporting is surface-level"

HubSpot users frequently mention: "Price jumps from Starter to Professional are extreme," "Per-seat pricing gets expensive fast," "No native proposals or contracts," "Invoicing requires a paid plan and lacks recurring billing"

Pricing sources (verified February 2026)

HoneyBook: Official pricing page - Starter $29/month, Essentials $49/month, Premium $109/month (annual)
HubSpot: Official pricing page - Free CRM, Starter $15/seat/month, Professional $100/seat/month (Sales Hub)
Plutio: Official pricing page

Feature verification

HoneyBook Capterra reviews (668 reviews, 4.7/5)
HubSpot CRM Capterra reviews (4,400+ reviews, 4.5/5)
HoneyBook plan features
HubSpot Starter platform

If any information is inaccurate or outdated, please let us know so the team can investigate and update.

HoneyBook vs HubSpot vs Plutio: full feature comparison

See how all three platforms compare on proposals, CRM, project management, time tracking, invoicing, and client portals

PRICING Collapse	Plutio 198/199	HoneyBook 83/199	HubSpot 106/199
Starting price	$19/month (Core plan)	$36/month (Starter, $29/month annual)	1 core seat included ($20/month/seat for Starter)
Free plan	No free plan (14-day trial available)	No free plan (7-day trial)	Free plan with CRM, forms, live chat, and email marketing (limited)
Trial period	14-day free trial	7-day trial + 60-day money-back guarantee	14-day free trial on Professional and Enterprise plans
PROJECT MANAGEMENT Collapse	Plutio 198/199	HoneyBook 83/199	HubSpot 106/199
Manage projects and tasks	Fully flexible project and task setup you can shape to your workflow	Projects with task lists and pipeline	Projects Object (GA since INBOUND 2025, available on Starter+)
Project roles and permissions	Control exactly who can view or edit each part of a project	5 team roles with project access control	CRM-level permissions apply to tasks (not task-specific)
Multiple task boards	Unlimited boards to run parallel workflows in the same project	You cannot use task boards	Gantt, Kanban, and Calendar views in Projects
Embeddable project boards	Live project boards embedded into client portals or websites	You cannot embed project views	No embeddable project boards
Sharable project boards	Read-only public links for sharing progress without risk	You can share projects via the client portal only	No shareable project boards
Project stages and milestones	Define custom project lifecycles for different types of work	You can use pipeline stages, but they are predefined	Custom project statuses (GA on Starter+)
Connected proposals, contracts, and invoices	Everything related stays connected to the project automatically	Integrated via Smart Files	Quote-to-invoice flow (no proposal-to-contract-to-project flow)
Custom project data fields	Track, sort, filter, and report on custom project data	Basic custom fields	Project dashboards with custom reporting
Kanban boards	Drag-and-drop tasks across customizable columns	You cannot view tasks in a kanban board	Kanban view available in Sales Workspace and Projects
Table view	Bulk-edit tasks like a spreadsheet	You cannot view tasks in a table	Table view available in CRM
List view	Clean task lists with clear hierarchy	You can view projects in a list	List view available in CRM and tasks
Calendar view	See tasks and deadlines on a calendar	You can see bookings on a calendar	Calendar view for tasks and meetings
Gantt view	Plan work visually with task order and dependencies	You cannot view work on a gantt chart	Gantt chart view in Projects Object
Subtasks	Break work down into multiple nested levels	You cannot split tasks into subtasks	No subtasks on tasks
Email to task	Turn emails into tasks without manual copying	Not supported (email sync only)	Tasks can be created from CRM emails (not direct email-to-task)
Task comments	Keep discussions tied directly to each task	You cannot comment on tasks	Internal notes on tasks (not full comment threads)
Task attachments	Store files directly on the task they belong to	You can share files, but not attach them to tasks	Files can be linked to CRM records (no direct task attachments)
Task priorities	Define priority levels that fit your workflow	You cannot set task priorities	Task priorities supported (Low, Medium, High)
Task labels & color coding	Use unlimited labels to visually organize tasks	You cannot label or color-code tasks	Task types available (no color coding)
Multiple task assignees	Assign tasks to one or multiple teammates	You cannot assign tasks to multiple people	Task assignment to team members
Task templates	Reuse task-level structures across projects	You cannot reuse task templates	Task templates via sequences (Sales Hub Professional+)
Task permissions	Control access at the individual task level	You cannot set permissions per task	CRM-level permissions apply to tasks (not task-specific)
Task dependencies	Prevent work from starting out of order	You cannot link tasks together	No task dependencies
Recurring tasks	Automate repeating work with flexible schedules	You cannot create recurring tasks	Recurring tasks supported
Custom task data fields	Add task-level fields for tracking custom details	Basic custom fields	Custom task properties available
TIME TRACKING Collapse	Plutio 198/199	HoneyBook 83/199	HubSpot 106/199
Time tracking system	Easily track time using timers or manual entries	Basic time tracking (manual entry on desktop, stopwatch on mobile)	No built-in time tracking
Task-level tracking	Log time directly against tasks and subtasks	Project-level only, no task-level tracking	No time tracking
Project-level tracking	See time spent per project and per client	Time tracked at project level	No time tracking
Billable time tracking	Clearly separate billable and non-billable time	Billable time tracking available	No billable time tracking
Billable time invoicing	Turn tracked time into invoices without extra steps	Invoice from time logs (desktop only)	No time tracking to convert to invoices
Timesheet reports	View detailed time reports by task, project, or client	Basic time logs per project	No timesheet reports
Team timesheets	See how each team member tracks their time	Team members can log time on shared projects	No team timesheets
PROPOSALS Collapse	Plutio 198/199	HoneyBook 83/199	HubSpot 106/199
Create and send proposals	Create proposals clients can review, approve, and sign in one flow	Smart files combine proposals and contracts	Quotes tool with line items and e-signatures (not full proposals)
Drag-and-drop proposal builder	Create custom, branded proposals without layout limits or code	You can edit sections, not free drag-and-drop)	Template-based quote builder with sections (not drag-and-drop)
Reusable proposal templates	Reuse proven proposal layouts across clients	You can use proposal templates	Quote templates with reusable modules
Real-time proposal analytics	See exactly when proposals are opened and reviewed	You can see when a proposal is viewed	Track quote views, downloads, and engagement
Live messenger on proposals	Answer questions directly while clients review proposals	You cannot chat inside proposals	Breeze closing agent answers buyer questions on quotes (AI, not live chat)
Proposal flow automation	Move from proposal to contract, invoice, or booking automatically	Complete Smart Files flow	Quote-to-invoice flow (no proposal-to-contract-to-project flow)
Convert proposal to invoice	Create invoices directly from approved proposals	Accepted proposals create invoices	Quotes auto-create invoices via subscriptions or manual conversion
Packages and add-ons	Offer upsells and add-ons directly inside proposals	You can offer packages and add-ons	Line items with tiered pricing (no interactive package selection)
Interactive pricing tables	Let clients choose options before approving	Pricing updates dynamically	Static pricing on quotes (no client-selectable options)
Dynamic data and variables	Auto-fill proposal content with client and project data	You can use smart fields	AI-generated cover letters and line items from deal context
Expiration dates	Automatically expire proposals after a set date	You can set proposal expiry	Quote expiration dates supported
PDF Export	Download as branded PDFs	You can download proposal PDFs	PDF download included
Reusable content blocks	Create reusable proposal sections you can reuse on demand	You can reuse proposal sections	Reusable template modules (not individual content blocks)
Legally binding e-signatures	Collect secure electronic signatures on proposals	Clients can sign online	E-signatures on quotes (10/month Pro, 30/month Enterprise, powered by Dropbox Sign)
Custom proposal data fields	Create custom proposal data you can sort, filter, and report on	Basic custom fields	Custom deal and quote properties available
CONTRACTS Collapse	Plutio 198/199	HoneyBook 83/199	HubSpot 106/199
Create and sign contracts	Create, send, and sign contracts in one continuous flow	Smart files combine contracts and invoices	No native contract creation (e-signatures only on quotes, third-party needed for contracts)
Drag-and-drop contract builder	Create fully custom contracts with flexible layouts, no code or formatting limits	You cannot visually build contracts	No contract builder
Legally binding e-signatures	Collect secure signatures with audit trails and signer verification	Contracts support legal e-signatures	E-signatures on quotes only (not standalone contracts)
Multi-signature / signees	Collect signatures from multiple people on the same contract	You can collect multiple signatures, with fixed roles	Counter-signing on quotes (limited multi-party)
Reusable contract templates	Reuse contract structures to create new agreements faster	You can use contract templates	No contract templates (quote templates only)
Auto-reminders automation	Automatically follow up until contracts are signed	You can send automatic reminders	No contract reminders (workflow reminders for deals)
Dynamic data/variables	Auto-fill contract content with client and project data	You can use smart fields in contracts	No contract variables (quote variables only)
Contract automation triggers	Trigger automated workflows the moment a contract is signed	Contracts can trigger workflows	No contract triggers (deal stage triggers exist)
View notifications	See when contracts are opened and reviewed	You receive contract notifications	Quote view and engagement tracking available
PDF download with signature certificate	Download signed contracts with official proof of signature	You can download signed PDFs	Countersigned quotes downloadable (limited certificate)
Custom signer data fields	Collect structured signer information during signing	You cannot customize signer fields	No custom signer data fields on contracts
Custom contract data fields	Create custom contract data you can sort, filter, and report on	Basic custom fields	No contract data fields
INVOICES & PAYMENTS Collapse	Plutio 198/199	HoneyBook 83/199	HubSpot 106/199
Create invoices and get paid	Send invoices and collect payments in one connected flow	Invoices with instant online payments	Free invoicing with HubSpot Payments or Stripe
Fully branded invoices	Match invoices to your brand with custom logos, colors, and layout	You can brand invoices	Basic branding (logo and colors, fixed template layout)
Drag and drop invoice builder	Create custom invoice layouts visually without formatting limits	Fixed themes (non-customizable layouts)	No drag-and-drop invoice builder (template-based)
Customizable line items	Edit pricing, quantities, descriptions, and structure freely	You can edit line items	Line items with descriptions, quantities, and pricing
Item or invoice discounts	Apply discounts at the item or full invoice level	You can apply discounts	Discounts supported on invoices
Customizable taxes	Create tax rules that match your location and use case	You can set tax rates	Tax configuration supported
ACH payments	Accept bank transfers for lower-fee payments	You can accept bank transfers	ACH bank debits supported (US-based companies, first $50K/month free)
Stripe integration	Accept credit and debit cards instantly	You can accept payments via Stripe	Full Stripe payment processing integration
Square integration	Collect in-person payments when needed	You cannot accept payments via Square	Square integration via third-party tools (not native)
PayPal integration	Let clients pay using PayPal	You cannot accept payments via PayPal	PayPal integration via third-party tools (not native)
Flexible partial payments	Collect deposits and split payments across milestones	You can accept partial payments	Deposit requests available via subscriptions (limited installment options)
Payment plans	Break invoices into scheduled installments	You can split invoices into payments	Recurring invoices and subscription billing supported
Automated recurring invoices	Automatically send invoices on a recurring schedule	You can schedule payments, not subscriptions	Recurring invoices with auto-charge or manual payment
Subscription management	Manage ongoing client subscriptions and billing	You cannot manage subscriptions	Subscription billing via HubSpot Payments or Stripe
Automated payment reminders	Follow up automatically until invoices are paid	Payment reminders send automatically	Payment reminders via workflows (Professional+ only)
Reusable invoice templates	Reuse invoice layouts without rebuilding each time	You can reuse invoice templates	Basic invoice templates (limited customization)
Multiple currency support	Bill clients globally in their local currency	You can use one account currency only	130+ currencies supported (Starter+)
Invoice automation triggers	Trigger automated workflows when invoices are sent or paid	Contracts can trigger workflows	Invoice and payment events trigger workflows (Professional+)
View notifications	See when invoices are opened and paid	You receive contract notifications	Invoice view and payment notifications
Built-in expense tracking	Track project-related costs alongside invoices	You cannot track expenses	No built-in expense tracking
Invoice deposits	Collect upfront payments before work starts	You can request deposits	Deposit requests via subscriptions (limited)
Auto-invoice billable time	Turn tracked time into invoices automatically	There is no time to convert	No time tracking to convert to invoices
Custom invoice data fields	Create custom invoice data you can sort, filter, and report on	Basic custom fields	Custom invoice properties available
INBOX Collapse	Plutio 198/199	HoneyBook 83/199	HubSpot 106/199
Centralized unified inbox	Manage email, chat, and messages from one shared inbox	Messages and emails live in one inbox	Conversations inbox with email, chat, forms, and Facebook Messenger
Full email integration	Connect and manage all your email accounts in one place	You can sync your email	Two-way email sync with Gmail and Outlook
Embeddable live chat	Add real-time chat to your website and client portals	You cannot add live chat to your site	Free live chat widget for websites
Instant direct messages	Message teammates privately without leaving your workspace	You cannot DM teammates	Internal comments and @mentions (no dedicated DM system)
Contextual project conversations	Keep conversations tied directly to the project they belong to	Messages are tied to projects	CRM record-based conversations (not project-contextual)
Team channels	Create shared spaces for team-wide discussions	You cannot create team channels	No team channel system
Customized channels	Organize channels by team, topic, or workflow	Channels are not supported	No customized channel system
@mentions	Notify teammates instantly inside conversations	You cannot mention teammates	@mentions in CRM comments and tasks
Message read receipts	See when messages are read	You can see when clients read messages	Email open and click tracking included
File sharing in chat	Share files directly inside conversations	You can share files in messages	File sharing in Conversations inbox
Shared email inbox	Collaborate on incoming emails as a team	Team email is not shared	Shared team email inbox included (free)
Inbox mobile app	Access and respond to messages on mobile	Mobile inbox available	Full inbox access on mobile apps
Email reply to inbox	Reply from your email client and keep conversations synced	Email replies sync to conversations	Email replies sync to Conversations inbox
FILES Collapse	Plutio 198/199	HoneyBook 83/199	HubSpot 106/199
Store and manage files	Keep all client and project files in one organized place	Files exist per project only	File Manager for marketing assets (not a project file system)
Advanced folder organization	Organize files by project, client, or structure you choose	Fixed themes (non-customizable layouts)	Folder structure in File Manager (marketing-focused)
Folder permissions	Control who can view or edit folders	Fixed themes (non-customizable layouts)	CRM-level access controls apply to files
People folders	Group files by person when needed	Fixed themes (non-customizable layouts)	Files are asset-based, not person-based
Project folders	Keep files scoped to each project	Fixed themes (non-customizable layouts)	Files can be associated with CRM records
In-app previews	Preview files instantly without downloading	Fixed themes (non-customizable layouts)	In-app file previews supported
Custom file data fields	Capture file metadata you can sort and filter	You can add custom fields	No custom file metadata fields
Built-in documents	Create and edit documents directly inside Plutio	Fixed themes (non-customizable layouts)	Document tracking tool for sales content (no editor)
Comments on files and docs	Leave comments directly on files and documents	Fixed themes (non-customizable layouts)	No file commenting system
Bulk file actions	Move, tag, or manage many files at once	Fixed themes (non-customizable layouts)	Basic bulk actions in File Manager
Files search & filter	Find files quickly using search and filters	Fixed themes (non-customizable layouts)	Search and filter in File Manager
External cloud sync	Sync files with Google Drive or Dropbox	Fixed themes (non-customizable layouts)	Google Drive, Dropbox via integrations (no native sync)
Secure sharing controls	Restrict access with permissions or passwords	Fixed themes (non-customizable layouts)	Document tracking with password protection and link controls
File sharing links	Share files externally with controlled access	Fixed themes (non-customizable layouts)	Trackable document sharing links
SCHEDULING Collapse	Plutio 198/199	HoneyBook 83/199	HubSpot 106/199
Schedule meetings	Let clients book meetings directly without back-and-forth emails	Scheduler with intake forms	Basic scheduling link free; group and round-robin scheduling on Starter+ only
Branded booking page	Build a fully branded, customizable booking system using a drag-and-drop editor	Branding options are limited	Branding on paid plans (Starter removes HubSpot branding)
Advanced availability management	Define flexible availability rules applied automatically to bookings	You can control availability	Custom availability windows with configurable start time increments
Automatic buffer times	Add buffer time automatically between meetings	You can add buffer times	Buffer times between meetings supported
Multiple meeting types	Create unlimited booking types with different rules and setups	You can offer multiple session types	Multiple scheduling page types supported
Calendar sync (Google/Outlook)	Two-way calendar sync that stays up to date automatically	Fixed themes (non-customizable layouts)	Two-way sync with Google Workspace, Outlook, and Office 365
Customizable booking confirmations	Fully customizable confirmation pages with no layout or branding limits	Confirmation customization is limited	Customizable confirmation and reminder emails
Redirect after booking	Send bookers anywhere after scheduling, not just a fixed thank-you page	You cannot redirect after booking	Redirect after booking supported
Booking automation triggers	Trigger automated workflows the moment a meeting is booked	Contracts can trigger workflows	Meeting booked triggers workflows (Professional+)
Smart meeting reminders	Send automatic reminders without manual follow-ups	Meeting reminders send automatically	Automatic meeting reminders included
Automatic timezone detection	Handle timezones automatically without manual adjustments	Timezones adjust automatically	Automatic timezone detection based on browser
Paid appointments (Stripe/PayPal)	Collect payments during booking without extra steps	Fixed themes (non-customizable layouts)	Payment collection via HubSpot Payments or Stripe (no PayPal at booking)
Custom booking forms	Build booking forms with full control over questions and layout	Booking forms are fixed	Custom questions on scheduling pages
Minimum notice / daily booking limits	Set booking limits to control lead time and daily volume	You can set booking limits	Minimum notice and booking frequency controls
Rescheduling and cancellation controls	Define flexible rules for rescheduling and cancellations	Clients can reschedule or cancel	Reschedule and cancel links included in booking confirmations
AUTOMATION Collapse	Plutio 198/199	HoneyBook 83/199	HubSpot 106/199
Automated workflows builder	Build advanced workflows visually without code or rigid templates	AI-powered workflow builder with branching	Visual workflow builder with branching logic (Professional+, 300 workflow limit)
Trigger-based workflows	Start workflows from real events across projects, clients, and payments	You can automate actions with workflows	Triggers from contacts, deals, tickets, forms, and custom objects
Schedule-based workflows	Run workflows on schedules you control, not fixed intervals	Workflows cannot repeat on a schedule	Date-based and scheduled workflow triggers
Multi-step workflows	Chain multiple actions into one continuous automation	Workflows can include multiple steps	Multi-step workflows with branching supported
True/False branching	Create conditional paths instead of one-size-fits-all flows	Branching exists, but options are limited	If/then branching with conditional logic
Delay-based actions	Add precise timing between steps, down to minutes or days	You can delay workflow steps	Delay actions between workflow steps
Create & update records	Create, update, or move records automatically across the system	Creation actions are limited	Create and update contacts, deals, tasks, and tickets via workflows
Move & duplicate records	Reorganize work automatically without manual cleanup	Items cannot be duplicated automatically	Move deals through pipeline stages (no duplicate action)
Delete & archive records	Automatically archive or remove records based on rules	Items cannot be deleted via automation	Delete contacts via workflows (limited scope)
API calls (webhooks)	Trigger or receive real-time events from external systems	You cannot use APIs or webhooks	Full API access with webhooks and Service Keys
Send emails	Send automated emails tied to real workflow events	Workflows can send emails	Send automated emails via workflows
Post comments	Add notes or comments automatically where work happens	You cannot post comments via automation	Internal notes via workflows (not comments on tasks)
Complete automation logs	See exactly what ran, when, and why	You cannot view automation logs	Workflow execution history and logs
Auto-fill data/variables	Pass data between steps dynamically without manual mapping	You can use smart fields	Dynamic CRM data in workflow emails and actions
Cross-entity connections	Run workflows that span projects, tasks, proposals, invoices, and more	Forms, bookings, and payments trigger workflows	Workflows span contacts, deals, tickets, companies, and custom objects
FORMS Collapse	Plutio 198/199	HoneyBook 83/199	HubSpot 106/199
Create branded forms	Build fully branded forms that match your workflow and client experience	Questionnaires with limited styling	Free form builder with branding and WYSIWYG editor
Drag-and-drop form builder	Design forms visually with full layout control, no code required	You cannot visually build contracts	Drag-and-drop form builder included
Reusable form templates	Reuse form structures without rebuilding from scratch	You cannot reuse form templates	Form templates available
Custom form data fields	Collect structured data you can sort, filter, and report on	You can add custom fields	Custom fields with multiple field types
Smart conditional logic	Show or hide fields based on responses, not static forms	Fields cannot change based on answers	Conditional logic to show/hide fields based on responses
Instant email notifications	Get notified immediately when forms are submitted	You can email on submission	Email notifications on form submission
Form automation triggers	Trigger automated workflows when a form is submitted	Contracts can trigger workflows	Form submissions trigger workflows
Embed forms	Embed forms anywhere without layout restrictions	You can embed forms	Embeddable forms on any website
Advanced field preferences	Control required, hidden, and default field behavior	Field behavior is fixed	Required fields, progressive profiling, and smart forms
Comprehensive field types	Collect text, files, dates, selections, and more	Field types are limited	Text, number, date, dropdown, checkbox, file upload, and more
Form signature field	Collect legally binding signatures directly inside forms	Forms can include signatures	No signature field on forms (e-signatures on quotes only)
File upload fields	Accept file uploads as part of form submissions	File uploads are limited	File upload fields supported on forms
Redirect after submission	Send submitters to a custom next step, not a fixed thank-you page	You cannot redirect after submit	Custom redirect URL after form submission
CRM Collapse	Plutio 198/199	HoneyBook 83/199	HubSpot 106/199
Manage clients and leads	Manage contacts and companies in one connected system	Pipeline with AI lead prioritization	Industry-leading CRM with contact management, deal pipeline, and lead scoring
Full company management	Track organizations, not just individual contacts	Companies exist, but contacts come first	Company records with contact associations and hierarchy
Custom contact data fields	Collect and manage structured contact data you define	You can add CRM fields	Up to 1,000 custom properties per object
Complete activity timeline	See every interaction with a client in one place	You can see full activity history	Full activity timeline on every CRM record
Contacts labeling and grouping	Organize contacts flexibly without rigid pipelines	You can tag and segment contacts	Lists, segments, and lifecycle stages for contact organization
WIKI Collapse	Plutio 198/199	HoneyBook 83/199	HubSpot 106/199
Comprehensive knowledge base	Create an internal wiki for processes, docs, and guides	You cannot create an internal wiki	Knowledge base available (Service Hub Professional+ only, $90/seat/month)
Beautiful rich text pages	Write structured, formatted content without complexity	Not supported (requires integration)	Rich text knowledge base articles (Service Hub Professional+ only)
Unlimited nested pages	Build deep knowledge hierarchies without limits	Not supported (requires integration)	Category and subcategory structure (not unlimited nesting, Service Hub Pro+)
Granular page permissions	Control exactly who can view or edit each page	Not supported (requires integration)	No granular per-page permissions on knowledge base
DASHBOARDS Collapse	Plutio 198/199	HoneyBook 83/199	HubSpot 106/199
Custom dashboards and pages	Build dashboards around what matters to you, not fixed metrics	HoneyBook does not have custom dashboards	Custom dashboards with report widgets
Drag-and-drop dashboard builder	Design dashboards visually with full layout control	Limited dashboard widgets	Widget-based dashboard builder (not full drag-and-drop)
Charts widget	Visualize data with customizable charts	Basic charts only	Custom report charts available
Metrics widget	Track key numbers without manual reporting	Basic metrics only	KPI and metric tracking on dashboards
Goals widget	Monitor progress toward defined goals	Not supported (requires integration)	Goals tracking for sales teams (Sales Hub Professional+)
Notes widget	Add contextual notes directly to dashboards	Not supported (requires integration)	Text widgets available (not dedicated notes widget)
Calendar widget	View upcoming events alongside work and metrics	Calendar on dashboard	Calendar and task widgets on dashboard
Financial widgets	Track revenue and expenses in the same view	Revenue & invoice tracking	Revenue and deal reporting (no expense tracking)
BRANDING Collapse	Plutio 198/199	HoneyBook 83/199	HubSpot 106/199
White-label and branding	Run the entire platform under your brand	HoneyBook branding, not white-label	HubSpot branding removable on Starter+ (not full white-label)
Custom interface theme	Apply your brand colors across the system	Color themes on Deliver+ (no Free plan theme customization)	Brand colors, logos, and favicons configurable
Stylesheet customization	Fine-tune styling beyond basic theming	You cannot apply custom CSS	Custom CSS on CMS Hub pages only (not CRM interface)
Custom login/signup pages	Use branded authentication pages instead of generic screens	Login pages cannot be customized	Customer portal login can be branded (Service Hub Pro+)
Email branding	Send all system emails with your branding	You can brand outgoing emails	Branded email templates with custom design
Custom brand fonts	Use your own fonts throughout the platform	You cannot use custom fonts	Custom fonts configurable in brand settings
Custom brand logos	Replace all platform logos with your own	You can add your logo	Logo upload on all branded content
Custom domain name	Run everything on your own domain	Not supported (requires integration)	Custom domain for CMS, email, and portal content
Custom email SMTP	Send emails from your own email infrastructure	Not supported (requires integration)	No custom SMTP (sends from HubSpot infrastructure)
Full workspace embedding	Embed Plutio directly into your website or product	Not supported (requires integration)	No embeddable workspace
CUSTOMIZATION Collapse	Plutio 198/199	HoneyBook 83/199	HubSpot 106/199
Flexible workspace setup	Shape the platform to match how your business works	HoneyBook has fixed workspace	Configurable CRM layout (not fully flexible workspace)
Main menu editor	Add, remove, or reorder navigation items freely	You cannot customize navigation	Navigation can be partially rearranged
User-based menus	Show different navigation for different roles	Menus are the same for all users	Permission-based feature visibility (not true menu customization)
Custom user roles	Create role types beyond preset permissions	You cannot define custom roles	Predefined roles with configurable permissions (Super Admin, Admin, etc.)
Advanced user permissions	Control access at a granular level	Permissions are not configurable	Granular CRM permissions by object and property
SSO / OAuth	Support enterprise-grade single sign-on	You cannot use SSO	SAML-based SSO on Enterprise tier only
INTEGRATIONS Collapse	Plutio 198/199	HoneyBook 83/199	HubSpot 106/199
Connect with other tools	Integrate with external systems without lock-in	Zapier only	2,000+ integrations via App Marketplace
Zapier integration	Connect to thousands of apps without custom code	You can connect HoneyBook to Zapier	Full Zapier integration (free for all users)
Make.com integration	Build advanced automation scenarios visually	You cannot connect via Make	Make.com integration supported
Pabbly Connect	Connect services without usage-based limits	You cannot connect via Pabbly	Possible via API (no native Pabbly module)
Full REST API access	Build custom integrations with full system access	You cannot access an API	Full REST API with OAuth, Service Keys, and extensive documentation
Incoming & outgoing webhooks	Send and receive real-time events	You cannot use webhooks	Full webhook support (incoming and outgoing)
PLATFORM Collapse	Plutio 198/199	HoneyBook 83/199	HubSpot 106/199
Mobile apps	Access your business from native mobile apps	Full-featured iOS and Android apps	Full-featured iOS and Android apps
iOS app	Full-featured iPhone app	You can use HoneyBook on iOS	Full iOS app available
Android app	Full-featured Android app	You can use HoneyBook on Android	Full Android app available
Mac desktop app	Native macOS app for desktop workflows	There is no desktop app	No native Mac desktop app (web-only)
Windows desktop app	Native Windows app for desktop workflows	There is no desktop app	No native Windows desktop app (web-only)

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HoneyBook vs HubSpot FAQ

Is HoneyBook or HubSpot better for freelancers?

HoneyBook fits the freelancer workflow more directly because proposals, contracts, invoicing, and scheduling come in one platform starting at $29/month. HubSpot's free CRM tracks contacts but has no proposals, contracts, or e-signatures. Freelancers on HubSpot need PandaDoc ($35/user/month) and a separate invoicing tool to match what HoneyBook includes natively.

Does HubSpot have proposals and contracts?

HubSpot does not include a native proposal builder, contract management, or e-signature support. The Quotes tool creates basic sales quotes from product catalogs. For proposals and contracts, HubSpot users integrate third-party tools like PandaDoc ($35/user/month), Proposify ($49/user/month), or DocuSign.

How much does HoneyBook cost vs HubSpot?

HoneyBook Starter costs $29/month (annual). HubSpot offers a free CRM for 2 users, with Starter at $15/seat/month. But HubSpot's Professional plans jump to $100/seat/month (Sales Hub) or $890/month (Marketing Hub). A solo user on HoneyBook Essentials ($49/month) gets proposals, contracts, invoicing, and scheduling. The same coverage on HubSpot runs $75-87/month with third-party tools added.

Does HoneyBook have a CRM pipeline?

HoneyBook tracks clients and projects through configurable status stages (inquiry, booked, in progress, completed). But the platform lacks a traditional sales pipeline with deal stages, lead scoring, forecasting, and company-level records. For businesses that need multi-stage deal tracking and sales analytics, HubSpot's CRM handles that workflow directly.

Can HoneyBook or HubSpot track time?

Neither HoneyBook nor HubSpot includes any time tracking feature. Hourly billing on both platforms requires a separate tool (Toggl, Clockify, or Harvest at $0-12/month per user). Tracked hours from external tools get entered manually into invoices on either platform. Platforms like Plutio include task-level time tracking that flows directly into invoices.

Does HubSpot invoicing support all currencies?

HubSpot's native invoicing supports 130+ currencies on Starter plans and above, though the free plan has limited invoicing capabilities. HoneyBook's invoicing handles additional currencies through Stripe's supported currency list.

Which platform has better automation?

HubSpot offers conditional branching, A/B testing, behavioral triggers, and lead scoring, but those marketing automation features require the Professional plan (Marketing Hub at $890/month). HoneyBook's automation on the Essentials plan ($49/month) handles basic triggered workflows (send contract after inquiry, reminder after 3 days) but has no conditional logic or marketing campaigns.

Is HubSpot free CRM really free?

HubSpot's free CRM includes contact management for up to 1,000,000 contacts, deal tracking, tasks, a meeting scheduler, and basic forms. The free plan is limited to 2 users. HubSpot branding appears on emails and forms. The free tier handles basic contact management, but proposals, contracts, marketing automation, and detailed reporting require paid plans starting at $15/seat/month.

Can I white-label HoneyBook or HubSpot?

Neither platform offers full white-labeling. HoneyBook's Essentials plan ($49/month) removes HoneyBook branding from documents, but the portal URL still shows HoneyBook's domain. HubSpot allows logo and color customization but keeps HubSpot branding on free and Starter plans. Neither supports custom domains for client portals. Platforms like Plutio support custom domains and complete brand removal.

Does HoneyBook have marketing automation?

HoneyBook's automation handles client workflow triggers (send documents, reminders, questionnaires) but does not include marketing automation. There are no email campaigns, newsletters, A/B testing, dynamic content, or drip sequences. For lead generation and nurture campaigns, HoneyBook users add Mailchimp ($0-13/month) or ConvertKit ($0-29/month) alongside the platform.

Which is easier to set up: HoneyBook or HubSpot?

HoneyBook gets most users sending their first Smart File (proposal + contract + invoice) within a few hours. HubSpot's free CRM takes under an hour to set up, but configuring pipelines, properties, automation workflows, and integrations takes days or weeks for most teams. HubSpot's onboarding for Professional plans often involves a consulting partner at additional cost.

Does HoneyBook work for teams?

HoneyBook Essentials includes 2 team members. Premium ($109/month annual) includes unlimited team members with permission controls. But team collaboration tools are limited compared to HubSpot. There are no shared dashboards, team quotas, sales hierarchies, or role-based pipeline views. For teams larger than 5 people with separate sales, marketing, and service functions, HubSpot's per-seat model and granular permissions handle the organizational structure.

Can I use HoneyBook and HubSpot together?

HoneyBook integrates with HubSpot through Zapier ($0-20/month). A common setup uses HubSpot for lead capture and email marketing, then pushes qualified leads to HoneyBook for proposals, contracts, and invoicing. The Zapier connection syncs contacts and triggers but does not merge the two platforms into one workflow. Data still lives in two separate places, and managing duplicate records requires manual cleanup.

What if neither HoneyBook nor HubSpot fits my workflow?

If both platforms leave gaps in task management, time tracking, or connected billing, look at all-in-one platforms that cover the complete client lifecycle. Key features to evaluate: proposals that convert into projects, Kanban boards, task-level time tracking, white-labeled client portals, and no per-seat fees. Plutio covers all of these, and the comparison table on this page shows how Plutio stacks up against HoneyBook and HubSpot feature by feature.

Does HoneyBook or HubSpot have project management?

Both have task tracking but differ in project management depth. HoneyBook organizes projects by status with task checklists but has no Kanban boards, Gantt charts, or task dependencies. HubSpot added Kanban boards and Gantt charts through the Projects Object (GA since INBOUND 2025), though these are designed for internal workflows rather than client-facing project tracking. HoneyBook still requires a separate tool like Asana or Monday for multi-phase projects. Plutio includes Kanban boards and timeline views without adding another app.

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