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Plutio vs HubSpot: Complete Comparison (2026)

HubSpot's free CRM tracks contacts and deals, but invoicing, proposals, contracts, project management, and time tracking are either missing or locked behind plans that start at $890/month with $3,000 mandatory onboarding.

The CRM works for tracking leads... but the moment a deal needs a proposal, a signed contract, or an invoice, a second tool shows up. And when the contact list grows past 1,000, pricing jumps from free to hundreds per month overnight.

Plutio handles contacts and the client workflow that follows: proposals that convert to projects with task templates, contracts with e-signatures, invoicing from tracked time, and a branded portal at your domain where clients check progress without emailing you, all at one flat price with no contact-based surcharges.

Last updated February 2026

Try Plutio free
Winner
9out of 10
CRM
Invoicing
Proposals
Projects
Client Portal
5out of 10
CRM
Invoicing
Proposals
Projects
Client Portal

Quick comparison (TLDR)

HubSpot is a CRM and marketing platform. The free tier tracks contacts, manages deals, and sends up to 2,000 emails per month. Beyond that, pricing climbs fast: Marketing Hub Professional costs $890/month with a $3,000 mandatory onboarding fee, and contact-based pricing means costs increase as the list grows. Sales Hub Professional adds $100/seat/month. For freelancers and small agencies, HubSpot's paid tiers often cost $200-1,500/month before adding the tools HubSpot does not include: invoicing, project management, proposals, contracts, and time tracking.

Plutio is an all-in-one client management platform built for freelancers and agencies. CRM tracks contacts and deals. When a deal closes, the proposal converts into a project automatically with tasks from your template. Contracts attach with e-signatures. Tracked time flows into invoices. Clients log into a branded portal at your custom domain. CRM, projects, invoicing, and the client portal all run under your brand at a flat $19/month with no per-user or per-contact pricing.

Key differences at a glance

  • Invoicing and billing built in: Plutio includes a drag-and-drop invoice builder, payment collection via Stripe, PayPal, and Square, subscriptions, and recurring invoices. HubSpot's Commerce Hub collects payments through Stripe or HubSpot Payments but has no invoice builder, no recurring billing automation for service businesses, and no time-to-invoice connection.
  • Proposals with interactive pricing: Plutio has a drag-and-drop proposal builder where clients pick packages and add-ons, with auto-conversion to projects on approval. HubSpot has quotes (line-item pricing) but no interactive proposals, no proposal analytics, and no auto-project creation.
  • Project management with Kanban and Gantt: Plutio includes 5 project views with task dependencies, templates, and recurring tasks. HubSpot Projects offers basic task lists with assignments and deadlines but no Kanban boards, no Gantt charts, and no dependency tracking.
  • Flat pricing vs contact-based pricing: Plutio Core costs $19/month with no per-user or per-contact charges. HubSpot's free tier limits contacts to 1,000 marketing contacts, and crossing that threshold on Marketing Hub Professional means $890/month plus overage charges that grow with every 5,000 contacts added.

HubSpot includes contact management, deal tracking, and basic email marketing on the free tier, but billing, project handoff, proposals, signed contracts, and time tracking either do not exist or sit behind $890+/month plans with mandatory onboarding fees. Plutio handles CRM alongside projects, invoicing, signed contracts, interactive proposals, and client portals in one platform at $19/month.

CRM and contact management

A lead fills out the inquiry form. Tracking where they came from, what they asked about, and when to follow up requires a CRM. But what happens after the lead becomes a client?

HubSpot

HubSpot starts with CRM. The free tier tracks up to 1,000 marketing contacts with deal pipelines, company records, and activity logging. Email open tracking, meeting scheduling, and live chat are available on the free tier. On paid plans, lead scoring, custom properties, and workflow automation let teams score leads and trigger follow-ups automatically.

Where HubSpot stops is what happens after a lead converts. There is no proposal builder to scope the work, no contract system to formalize terms, no project management to track deliverables, and no invoicing to bill for completed work. The CRM tracks the relationship, but delivering on the project, billing for the work, and giving clients visibility into progress all happen in separate tools.


  • Contact and company records with activity timeline
  • Deal pipeline management
  • Email open and click tracking
  • Meeting scheduling links
  • Live chat and chatbot builder
  • No proposal-to-project workflow
  • No invoicing connected to deals
  • No project management after deal closes

VS

Plutio

CRM that connects to the work. Contacts and companies live alongside proposals, projects, invoices, and conversations. When a lead becomes a client, the proposal converts into a project with tasks, the contract gets signed, and invoicing starts, all without leaving the platform. Every interaction, from the first inquiry to the latest invoice, shows up on the contact timeline.

Custom fields, tags, and filters organize contacts by industry, project type, or revenue. Pipeline views track deals through stages. And because the CRM connects to proposals, projects, and billing, there is no gap between closing a deal and starting the project.


  • Contact and company management
  • Deal pipeline with custom stages
  • Full activity timeline (proposals, projects, invoices, messages)
  • Custom fields, tags, and filters
  • Auto-create project when proposal is signed
  • Invoice history linked to contacts
  • Email conversations in contact thread
  • Forms and intake connected to CRM

Invoicing and payments

The work is done. The invoice needs to go out, payment needs to be collected, and the transaction needs to be tracked. Where does billing happen, and does it connect to the project that generated the work?

HubSpot

HubSpot has Commerce Hub for payments, not invoicing. Commerce Hub processes payments through Stripe or HubSpot Payments (2.9% + 0.5% platform fee). Invoices can be generated from quotes, but there is no visual invoice builder, no invoice customization beyond basic fields, and no recurring invoice scheduling for service businesses.

For freelancers billing hourly, there is no connection between tracked time and invoicing because HubSpot has no time tracking. Generating an invoice from completed project work requires manual data entry or a third-party integration. Subscription billing works through Commerce Hub for product-based recurring charges, but service-based retainer billing needs external tools.


  • Commerce Hub payment processing (Stripe/HubSpot Payments)
  • Basic invoices generated from quotes
  • No visual invoice builder
  • No recurring invoices for services
  • No time-to-invoice connection
  • No payment plans or installments
  • No PayPal or Square support

VS

Plutio

Invoicing connected to the work that generated it. Open the visual invoice builder, drag elements where you want them, and create something that carries your brand. When you track time on tasks, one click generates an invoice with a complete breakdown of what was worked on. Retainer clients get auto-billing through subscriptions. Installment plans split larger invoices across scheduled charges.

Multiple payment processors connect: Stripe, Square, PayPal, ACH bank transfers. Automated reminders chase late payments. And because invoicing connects to proposals and projects, the entire chain from scope to payment runs under the same roof.


  • Drag-and-drop invoice builder
  • Multiple gateways: Stripe, Square, PayPal, ACH
  • One-click invoice from tracked time
  • Subscription management (auto-billing)
  • Payment plans with installments
  • Automated payment reminders
  • Expense tracking built in
  • Invoice linked to proposal, project, and time logs

Proposals and contracts

A potential client wants to start a project. Before any work begins, a proposal with pricing goes out, scope gets agreed on, and terms need to be formalized. Where does that happen?

HubSpot

HubSpot has quotes, not proposals. Sales Hub includes a quote tool that generates line-item pricing from products and deals. Quotes can be sent for e-signature (on Professional+ plans). But quotes are static pricing documents, not interactive proposals where clients pick packages, toggle add-ons, or browse visual sections.

There is no proposal builder, no interactive pricing tables, and no proposal analytics showing what sections a prospect read. The community has requested proposal generation from deals, but HubSpot has not built the feature. Contracts require third-party tools like PandaDoc ($35/month) or DocuSign ($15/month).


  • Quotes with line-item pricing from products
  • E-signatures on quotes (Professional+)
  • No interactive proposal builder
  • No package/add-on selection for clients
  • No proposal view analytics
  • No contract management
  • No proposal-to-project automation

VS

Plutio

Proposals that close deals and start projects. Drag in sections, add interactive pricing tables where clients pick packages or toggle add-ons, and send a proposal branded with your logo, colors, and domain. When they accept, the proposal converts into a project automatically with tasks from your template. Contracts attach to the same flow with e-signatures and full audit trails. Real-time analytics show exactly when someone opened the proposal, what they clicked, and how long they spent on each section.

Because proposals connect to projects and invoicing, the handoff from "interested lead" to "active project with billing" takes seconds instead of manual setup across multiple tools.


  • Drag-and-drop proposal builder
  • Interactive pricing tables with packages
  • Auto-convert to project on approval
  • E-signatures with audit trail
  • Real-time view tracking and analytics
  • Contract templates with dynamic fields
  • Proposal-to-invoice automation
  • Reusable content blocks and templates

Project and task management

Three clients with overlapping deadlines, tasks that depend on each other, and deliverables at different stages. Seeing what is due, who is handling what, and where things stand across all projects requires one central view.

HubSpot

HubSpot Projects offers basic task lists. Create tasks, assign team members, set priorities and deadlines, and add subtasks. Tasks can be associated with marketing campaigns or deals. Templates pre-populate task lists for repeating workflows.

But HubSpot Projects has no Kanban boards, no Gantt charts, no task dependencies, and no resource management. Projects is described in HubSpot's own documentation as a "simple project management solution" and can only be purchased as part of the marketing suite. For freelancers managing client deliverables with dependencies and timelines, HubSpot's task lists do not provide enough structure.


  • Task creation with assignments and deadlines
  • Subtasks and task templates
  • Associated with campaigns and deals
  • No Kanban board views
  • No Gantt charts or timelines
  • No task dependencies
  • No project templates with auto-creation
  • No time tracking on tasks

VS

Plutio

Project management built for client work. Kanban boards show work moving through stages, Gantt charts map timelines and dependencies, and list, table, and calendar views handle triage, bulk edits, and deadline planning. When a proposal is signed, the project builds itself from your template with tasks already assigned, so work begins immediately instead of spending 15-20 minutes on manual setup.

Project templates include tasks, subtasks, dependencies, and time estimates. Recurring tasks handle repeating work. Custom fields track anything specific to your workflow. And because invoicing is built in, tracked time flows directly into client invoices without switching tools.


  • 5 views: Kanban, Gantt, List, Table, Calendar
  • Auto-create project when proposal is signed
  • Subtasks with unlimited nesting levels
  • Task dependencies with visual links
  • Recurring tasks (daily, weekly, monthly, custom)
  • Project templates with auto-task creation
  • Custom fields, statuses, and priorities
  • Time tracking connected to invoicing

Client portals and visibility

'Where can I check on the project status?' When clients have their own login to see tasks, files, and invoices, the update-request emails stop.

HubSpot

HubSpot has a customer portal on Service Hub only. The portal lets customers submit and track support tickets. On Service Hub Professional ($100/seat/month), the portal connects to the knowledge base and ticket system. Full portal customization with custom objects requires Enterprise ($150/seat/month).

The portal is designed for support tickets, not client project management. Clients cannot see project tasks, deliverable progress, invoices, or shared files through the portal. There is no custom domain for the portal on standard plans, and HubSpot branding remains visible unless on Enterprise.


  • Customer portal for support tickets (Service Hub only)
  • Knowledge base integration (Professional+)
  • No project task visibility for clients
  • No invoice or payment visibility
  • No custom domain on standard plans
  • No file sharing workspace
  • No deliverable approval workflow

VS

Plutio

Clients get their own branded workspace. When a client logs in, they see yourcompany.com, not third-party software. The portal shows tasks, files, deadlines, and messages all in one place. Clients check progress whenever they want instead of emailing, approve deliverables right in the portal, and upload assets in the same place. Invoice and payment history stays visible too. Full control over what clients see, so internal workflow stays private.


  • Custom domain (yourcompany.com)
  • White-label branding (remove Plutio)
  • Tasks, files, deadlines visible to clients
  • In-app messaging tied to projects
  • Deliverable approval workflow
  • File uploads from clients
  • Invoice and payment history
  • Custom CSS for full styling control

Time tracking and billing

A client questions an invoice line item. Showing exactly what that time was spent on requires a connection between tracked hours and the tasks that produced them.

HubSpot

HubSpot has no time tracking. There are no timers, no timesheet reports, and no billable hour management anywhere in HubSpot's platform. Freelancers and agencies using HubSpot add Toggl ($9/user/month), Harvest ($12/user/month), or a similar tool to track time spent on client work.

Because time tracking lives outside HubSpot, there is no way to generate invoices from tracked hours, no way to see which projects are profitable based on time invested, and no way to show clients a task-by-task breakdown of what their bill covers. Billing accuracy depends entirely on manual data transfer between the time tracking tool and the invoicing tool.


  • No time tracking or timers
  • No timesheet reports
  • No billable rate management
  • No time-to-invoice connection
  • No project time budgets
  • No team capacity views based on hours

VS

Plutio

Time tracking included on all plans. Track time at the task level with one-click timers, and logged hours roll up to projects automatically. Generate invoices from tracked hours with a complete breakdown of what was worked on: each task, its duration, and the rate applied. Clients see exactly what each hour went toward.

Custom rates per task, project, or client mean accurate billing across different engagements. When tracked hours flow directly into invoices instead of getting exported to a separate app, billing takes minutes and nothing gets lost in translation.


  • One-click timer on any task
  • Task-level AND project-level tracking
  • Billable vs non-billable separation
  • Custom rates per task, project, or client
  • Time reports by client, project, team
  • One-click invoice from time logs
  • Team timesheet approval workflow
  • Time estimates with actual vs planned

Email marketing and automation

A lead downloads a guide. An automated email sequence starts. Three days later, a follow-up sends based on whether they opened the first email. How much of that runs on autopilot?

HubSpot

HubSpot focuses on marketing automation. The free tier sends up to 2,000 emails per month with HubSpot branding. Starter ($20/seat/month) removes branding and adds basic automation. Marketing Hub Professional ($890/month) unlocks the full automation builder with up to 300 workflows, A/B testing, lead scoring, and multi-step sequences triggered by contact behavior.

Accessing the automation builder requires a $890/month plan with a $3,000 onboarding fee and a 12-month contract commitment. Freelancers sending 500 emails a month to existing clients pay the same as companies running complex nurture campaigns.


  • Email sequences and drip campaigns
  • Workflow automation builder (Professional+)
  • Lead scoring and behavioral triggers
  • A/B testing for emails
  • Landing page builder
  • 2,000 emails/month on free (with HubSpot branding)
  • Full automation locked behind $890/month plan

VS

Plutio

Automation focused on the client workflow. Automatically run actions based on project status, task completion, form submissions, payments received, or client activity. The visual builder lets you set up multi-step workflows without writing code. When a lead becomes a client, automation handles the repetitive setup: creating the project, assigning onboarding tasks, scheduling the kickoff, and sending welcome materials.

Plutio's automation covers what happens after the lead converts: proposals triggering projects, contracts sent on approval, invoices generated from milestones. For mass email marketing campaigns with lead scoring and behavioral segmentation, HubSpot's Marketing Hub includes those features on Professional plans at $890/month, 45x the monthly cost of Plutio's Pro plan.


  • Visual drag-and-drop workflow builder
  • Triggers on project, task, payment, form events
  • Multi-step workflows with conditional logic
  • Proposal-to-project automation
  • Contract-to-task automation
  • Payment-triggered workflows
  • Email notifications and sequences
  • Webhook integrations

White-label branding and customization

Clients should see the business brand everywhere, not the software vendor's logo. When clients log in, receive invoices, and check progress, every touchpoint should carry the business identity.

HubSpot

HubSpot branding persists on most plans. The free tier and Starter plan show HubSpot branding on emails, forms, and landing pages. Starter ($20/seat/month) removes HubSpot branding from emails but not from all client-facing elements. The customer portal on Service Hub shows HubSpot branding on standard plans.

Full white-labeling requires Enterprise pricing ($3,600/month for Marketing Hub Enterprise or $150/seat/month for Service Hub Enterprise), and even then, HubSpot's branding is not fully removable. There is no custom domain for the client portal on standard plans, no way to send emails from a fully branded domain without additional DNS configuration, and no custom CSS control over the portal interface.


  • Remove HubSpot email branding (Starter+)
  • No custom domain for client portal (standard plans)
  • No full white-label (HubSpot branding persists)
  • No branded login pages
  • No custom CSS for portal
  • No workspace embedding

VS

Plutio

Clients see your brand everywhere. When a client logs in, they go to yourcompany.com, not a third-party URL. The login page has your logo and colors. The interface matches your brand. Emails come from you@yourcompany.com because you connect your own email server. If you want to embed the entire client workspace into your own website, you can. Custom CSS gives you exact control over every visual detail.


  • Custom domain (clients see yourcompany.com)
  • Full white-label (remove all Plutio branding)
  • Custom interface theme (your brand colors everywhere)
  • Branded login and signup pages
  • Custom SMTP (emails from your domain)
  • Full workspace embedding into your site
  • Custom CSS for complete styling control
  • Custom logo throughout the platform

Pricing and total cost of ownership

The free CRM sounds appealing until the contact list grows and essential features require $890+/month plans. For freelancers, what matters is the total monthly cost to run a business.

HubSpot

Free to start, expensive to grow. HubSpot's free CRM covers basic contact management for up to 5 users. But features freelancers need are scattered across paid plans: Marketing Hub Professional ($890/month + $3,000 onboarding), Sales Hub Professional ($100/seat/month + $1,500 onboarding), Service Hub Professional ($100/seat/month + $1,500 onboarding). The full Customer Platform Professional bundle costs $1,300/month.

Contact-based pricing adds another layer. Marketing contacts beyond 1,000 on the Professional plan cost $150-250 per additional 5,000 contacts. A freelancer with 5,000 contacts on the Marketing Hub Professional plan pays $890/month before adding Sales Hub or Service Hub. Annual contracts are mandatory on Professional and Enterprise plans, with no true monthly billing option.


  • Free CRM limited to basic features
  • Marketing Hub Pro: $890/mo + $3,000 onboarding
  • Sales Hub Pro: $100/seat/mo + $1,500 onboarding
  • Full Platform Pro: $1,300/mo
  • Contact overage: $150-250 per 5,000 contacts
  • 12-month contracts mandatory (Professional+)
  • Still no invoicing, proposals, or time tracking

VS

Plutio

One price for everything. Plutio's Core plan starts at $19/month and includes CRM, project management, billing, time tracking, client portals, proposals, contracts, and white-labeling. The Pro plan at $49/month adds advanced automation, custom roles, and priority support. No per-user pricing, no per-contact pricing, no mandatory onboarding fees, and no annual contracts required.

When CRM, proposals, invoicing, and project management run under one subscription, there are no integration gaps, no surprise overage charges, and no onboarding fees. The total cost stays the same whether the contact list has 100 or 10,000 entries.


  • $19/month Core (all features included)
  • $49/month Pro (advanced automation + roles)
  • No per-user pricing
  • No per-contact pricing
  • No mandatory onboarding fees
  • No annual contract required
  • CRM, proposals, invoicing, projects included
  • Predictable pricing as business grows

Client communication and inbox

A client replies to a proposal email with a question. A contractor asks about deliverable format. Keeping all conversations tied to the right client and project prevents things from getting lost.

HubSpot

HubSpot has Conversations for team communication. A shared inbox connects email, live chat, Facebook Messenger, and chatbot interactions into one view. Conversations link to CRM contact records. On paid plans, ticket routing, assignment rules, and SLA tracking organize incoming requests.

The Conversations tool covers inbound communication and support tickets. But outbound client communication tied to projects (deliverable updates, milestone notifications, invoice follow-ups) requires manual effort because HubSpot has no project management or invoicing to generate those messages automatically.


  • Shared inbox (email, chat, Messenger)
  • CRM contact association
  • Live chat and chatbot builder
  • Ticket routing and SLA tracking (paid)
  • No project-based conversation threads
  • No invoice-related notifications
  • No file sharing workspace within threads

VS

Plutio

All client conversations in one place. When a client emails, that message shows up in their thread alongside every other conversation: project updates, file shares, payment confirmations. The whole team sees the same inbox, so when someone is away and a client sends an urgent message, another team member can handle it. Replies sent from regular email sync back to the Plutio thread. Internal team channels keep private discussions separate from client-facing threads. Embed live chat on your website to capture leads.


  • Multi-email integration (connect all accounts)
  • Shared team inbox (everyone sees client emails)
  • Auto-sort emails into client 1:1 threads
  • Project conversations stay with the project
  • Team channels for internal discussions
  • Direct messages between teammates
  • @mentions pull people into conversations
  • Embeddable live chat for your website

Plutio vs HubSpot: full feature comparison for 2026

CRM, invoicing, proposals, contracts, project management, time tracking, client portals, and automation compared side by side

PRICING

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Plutio

198/199

HubSpot

106/199

Starting price

$19/month (Core plan)

1 core seat included ($20/month/seat for Starter)

Free plan

No free plan (14-day trial available)

Free plan with CRM, forms, live chat, and email marketing (limited)

Trial period

14-day free trial

14-day free trial on Professional and Enterprise plans

PROJECT MANAGEMENT

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Plutio

198/199

HubSpot

106/199

Manage projects and tasks

Fully flexible project and task setup you can shape to your workflow

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

CRM-level permissions apply to tasks (not task-specific)

Multiple task boards

Unlimited boards to run parallel workflows in the same project

Gantt, Kanban, and Calendar views in Projects

Embeddable project boards

Live project boards embedded into client portals or websites

No embeddable project boards

Sharable project boards

Read-only public links for sharing progress without risk

No shareable project boards

Project stages and milestones

Define custom project lifecycles for different types of work

Custom project statuses (GA on Starter+)

Connected proposals, contracts, and invoices

Everything related stays connected to the project automatically

Quote-to-invoice flow (no proposal-to-contract-to-project flow)

Custom project data fields

Track, sort, filter, and report on custom project data

Project dashboards with custom reporting

Kanban boards

Drag-and-drop tasks across customizable columns

Kanban view available in Sales Workspace and Projects

Table view

Bulk-edit tasks like a spreadsheet

Table view available in CRM

List view

Clean task lists with clear hierarchy

List view available in CRM and tasks

Calendar view

See tasks and deadlines on a calendar

Calendar view for tasks and meetings

Gantt view

Plan work visually with task order and dependencies

Gantt chart view in Projects Object

Subtasks

Break work down into multiple nested levels

No subtasks on tasks

Email to task

Turn emails into tasks without manual copying

Tasks can be created from CRM emails (not direct email-to-task)

Task comments

Keep discussions tied directly to each task

Internal notes on tasks (not full comment threads)

Task attachments

Store files directly on the task they belong to

Files can be linked to CRM records (no direct task attachments)

Task priorities

Define priority levels that fit your workflow

Task priorities supported (Low, Medium, High)

Task labels & color coding

Use unlimited labels to visually organize tasks

Task types available (no color coding)

Multiple task assignees

Assign tasks to one or multiple teammates

Task assignment to team members

Task templates

Reuse task-level structures across projects

Task templates via sequences (Sales Hub Professional+)

Task permissions

Control access at the individual task level

CRM-level permissions apply to tasks (not task-specific)

Task dependencies

Prevent work from starting out of order

No task dependencies

Recurring tasks

Automate repeating work with flexible schedules

Recurring tasks supported

Custom task data fields

Add task-level fields for tracking custom details

Custom task properties available

TIME TRACKING

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Plutio

198/199

HubSpot

106/199

Time tracking system

Easily track time using timers or manual entries

No built-in time tracking

Task-level tracking

Log time directly against tasks and subtasks

No time tracking

Project-level tracking

See time spent per project and per client

No time tracking

Billable time tracking

Clearly separate billable and non-billable time

No billable time tracking

Billable time invoicing

Turn tracked time into invoices without extra steps

No time tracking to convert to invoices

Timesheet reports

View detailed time reports by task, project, or client

No timesheet reports

Team timesheets

See how each team member tracks their time

No team timesheets

PROPOSALS

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Plutio

198/199

HubSpot

106/199

Create and send proposals

Create proposals clients can review, approve, and sign in one flow

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

Template-based quote builder with sections (not drag-and-drop)

Reusable proposal templates

Reuse proven proposal layouts across clients

Quote templates with reusable modules

Real-time proposal analytics

See exactly when proposals are opened and reviewed

Track quote views, downloads, and engagement

Live messenger on proposals

Answer questions directly while clients review 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

Quote-to-invoice flow (no proposal-to-contract-to-project flow)

Convert proposal to invoice

Create invoices directly from approved proposals

Quotes auto-create invoices via subscriptions or manual conversion

Packages and add-ons

Offer upsells and add-ons directly inside proposals

Line items with tiered pricing (no interactive package selection)

Interactive pricing tables

Let clients choose options before approving

Static pricing on quotes (no client-selectable options)

Dynamic data and variables

Auto-fill proposal content with client and project data

AI-generated cover letters and line items from deal context

Expiration dates

Automatically expire proposals after a set date

Quote expiration dates supported

PDF Export

Download as branded PDFs

PDF download included

Reusable content blocks

Create reusable proposal sections you can reuse on demand

Reusable template modules (not individual content blocks)

Legally binding e-signatures

Collect secure electronic signatures on proposals

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

Custom deal and quote properties available

CONTRACTS

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Plutio

198/199

HubSpot

106/199

Create and sign contracts

Create, send, and sign contracts in one continuous flow

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

No contract builder

Legally binding e-signatures

Collect secure signatures with audit trails and signer verification

E-signatures on quotes only (not standalone contracts)

Multi-signature / signees

Collect signatures from multiple people on the same contract

Counter-signing on quotes (limited multi-party)

Reusable contract templates

Reuse contract structures to create new agreements faster

No contract templates (quote templates only)

Auto-reminders automation

Automatically follow up until contracts are signed

No contract reminders (workflow reminders for deals)

Dynamic data/variables

Auto-fill contract content with client and project data

No contract variables (quote variables only)

Contract automation triggers

Trigger automated workflows the moment a contract is signed

No contract triggers (deal stage triggers exist)

View notifications

See when contracts are opened and reviewed

Quote view and engagement tracking available

PDF download with signature certificate

Download signed contracts with official proof of signature

Countersigned quotes downloadable (limited certificate)

Custom signer data fields

Collect structured signer information during signing

No custom signer data fields on contracts

Custom contract data fields

Create custom contract data you can sort, filter, and report on

No contract data fields

INVOICES & PAYMENTS

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Plutio

198/199

HubSpot

106/199

Create invoices and get paid

Send invoices and collect payments in one connected flow

Free invoicing with HubSpot Payments or Stripe

Fully branded invoices

Match invoices to your brand with custom logos, colors, and layout

Basic branding (logo and colors, fixed template layout)

Drag and drop invoice builder

Create custom invoice layouts visually without formatting limits

No drag-and-drop invoice builder (template-based)

Customizable line items

Edit pricing, quantities, descriptions, and structure freely

Line items with descriptions, quantities, and pricing

Item or invoice discounts

Apply discounts at the item or full invoice level

Discounts supported on invoices

Customizable taxes

Create tax rules that match your location and use case

Tax configuration supported

ACH payments

Accept bank transfers for lower-fee payments

ACH bank debits supported (US-based companies, first $50K/month free)

Stripe integration

Accept credit and debit cards instantly

Full Stripe payment processing integration

Square integration

Collect in-person payments when needed

Square integration via third-party tools (not native)

PayPal integration

Let clients pay using PayPal

PayPal integration via third-party tools (not native)

Flexible partial payments

Collect deposits and split payments across milestones

Deposit requests available via subscriptions (limited installment options)

Payment plans

Break invoices into scheduled installments

Recurring invoices and subscription billing supported

Automated recurring invoices

Automatically send invoices on a recurring schedule

Recurring invoices with auto-charge or manual payment

Subscription management

Manage ongoing client subscriptions and billing

Subscription billing via HubSpot Payments or Stripe

Automated payment reminders

Follow up automatically until invoices are paid

Payment reminders via workflows (Professional+ only)

Reusable invoice templates

Reuse invoice layouts without rebuilding each time

Basic invoice templates (limited customization)

Multiple currency support

Bill clients globally in their local currency

130+ currencies supported (Starter+)

Invoice automation triggers

Trigger automated workflows when invoices are sent or paid

Invoice and payment events trigger workflows (Professional+)

View notifications

See when invoices are opened and paid

Invoice view and payment notifications

Built-in expense tracking

Track project-related costs alongside invoices

No built-in expense tracking

Invoice deposits

Collect upfront payments before work starts

Deposit requests via subscriptions (limited)

Auto-invoice billable time

Turn tracked time into invoices automatically

No time tracking to convert to invoices

Custom invoice data fields

Create custom invoice data you can sort, filter, and report on

Custom invoice properties available

INBOX

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198/199

HubSpot

106/199

Centralized unified inbox

Manage email, chat, and messages from one shared inbox

Conversations inbox with email, chat, forms, and Facebook Messenger

Full email integration

Connect and manage all your email accounts in one place

Two-way email sync with Gmail and Outlook

Embeddable live chat

Add real-time chat to your website and client portals

Free live chat widget for websites

Instant direct messages

Message teammates privately without leaving your workspace

Internal comments and @mentions (no dedicated DM system)

Contextual project conversations

Keep conversations tied directly to the project they belong to

CRM record-based conversations (not project-contextual)

Team channels

Create shared spaces for team-wide discussions

No team channel system

Customized channels

Organize channels by team, topic, or workflow

No customized channel system

@mentions

Notify teammates instantly inside conversations

@mentions in CRM comments and tasks

Message read receipts

See when messages are read

Email open and click tracking included

File sharing in chat

Share files directly inside conversations

File sharing in Conversations inbox

Shared email inbox

Collaborate on incoming emails as a team

Shared team email inbox included (free)

Inbox mobile app

Access and respond to messages on mobile

Full inbox access on mobile apps

Email reply to inbox

Reply from your email client and keep conversations synced

Email replies sync to Conversations inbox

FILES

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HubSpot

106/199

Store and manage files

Keep all client and project files in one organized place

File Manager for marketing assets (not a project file system)

Advanced folder organization

Organize files by project, client, or structure you choose

Folder structure in File Manager (marketing-focused)

Folder permissions

Control who can view or edit folders

CRM-level access controls apply to files

People folders

Group files by person when needed

Files are asset-based, not person-based

Project folders

Keep files scoped to each project

Files can be associated with CRM records

In-app previews

Preview files instantly without downloading

In-app file previews supported

Custom file data fields

Capture file metadata you can sort and filter

No custom file metadata fields

Built-in documents

Create and edit documents directly inside Plutio

Document tracking tool for sales content (no editor)

Comments on files and docs

Leave comments directly on files and documents

No file commenting system

Bulk file actions

Move, tag, or manage many files at once

Basic bulk actions in File Manager

Files search & filter

Find files quickly using search and filters

Search and filter in File Manager

External cloud sync

Sync files with Google Drive or Dropbox

Google Drive, Dropbox via integrations (no native sync)

Secure sharing controls

Restrict access with permissions or passwords

Document tracking with password protection and link controls

File sharing links

Share files externally with controlled access

Trackable document sharing links

SCHEDULING

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198/199

HubSpot

106/199

Schedule meetings

Let clients book meetings directly without back-and-forth emails

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 on paid plans (Starter removes HubSpot branding)

Advanced availability management

Define flexible availability rules applied automatically to bookings

Custom availability windows with configurable start time increments

Automatic buffer times

Add buffer time automatically between meetings

Buffer times between meetings supported

Multiple meeting types

Create unlimited booking types with different rules and setups

Multiple scheduling page types supported

Calendar sync (Google/Outlook)

Two-way calendar sync that stays up to date automatically

Two-way sync with Google Workspace, Outlook, and Office 365

Customizable booking confirmations

Fully customizable confirmation pages with no layout or branding limits

Customizable confirmation and reminder emails

Redirect after booking

Send bookers anywhere after scheduling, not just a fixed thank-you page

Redirect after booking supported

Booking automation triggers

Trigger automated workflows the moment a meeting is booked

Meeting booked triggers workflows (Professional+)

Smart meeting reminders

Send automatic reminders without manual follow-ups

Automatic meeting reminders included

Automatic timezone detection

Handle timezones automatically without manual adjustments

Automatic timezone detection based on browser

Paid appointments (Stripe/PayPal)

Collect payments during booking without extra steps

Payment collection via HubSpot Payments or Stripe (no PayPal at booking)

Custom booking forms

Build booking forms with full control over questions and layout

Custom questions on scheduling pages

Minimum notice / daily booking limits

Set booking limits to control lead time and daily volume

Minimum notice and booking frequency controls

Rescheduling and cancellation controls

Define flexible rules for rescheduling and cancellations

Reschedule and cancel links included in booking confirmations

AUTOMATION

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198/199

HubSpot

106/199

Automated workflows builder

Build advanced workflows visually without code or rigid templates

Visual workflow builder with branching logic (Professional+, 300 workflow limit)

Trigger-based workflows

Start workflows from real events across projects, clients, and payments

Triggers from contacts, deals, tickets, forms, and custom objects

Schedule-based workflows

Run workflows on schedules you control, not fixed intervals

Date-based and scheduled workflow triggers

Multi-step workflows

Chain multiple actions into one continuous automation

Multi-step workflows with branching supported

True/False branching

Create conditional paths instead of one-size-fits-all flows

If/then branching with conditional logic

Delay-based actions

Add precise timing between steps, down to minutes or days

Delay actions between workflow steps

Create & update records

Create, update, or move records automatically across the system

Create and update contacts, deals, tasks, and tickets via workflows

Move & duplicate records

Reorganize work automatically without manual cleanup

Move deals through pipeline stages (no duplicate action)

Delete & archive records

Automatically archive or remove records based on rules

Delete contacts via workflows (limited scope)

API calls (webhooks)

Trigger or receive real-time events from external systems

Full API access with webhooks and Service Keys

Send emails

Send automated emails tied to real workflow events

Send automated emails via workflows

Post comments

Add notes or comments automatically where work happens

Internal notes via workflows (not comments on tasks)

Complete automation logs

See exactly what ran, when, and why

Workflow execution history and logs

Auto-fill data/variables

Pass data between steps dynamically without manual mapping

Dynamic CRM data in workflow emails and actions

Cross-entity connections

Run workflows that span projects, tasks, proposals, invoices, and more

Workflows span contacts, deals, tickets, companies, and custom objects

FORMS

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HubSpot

106/199

Create branded forms

Build fully branded forms that match your workflow and client experience

Free form builder with branding and WYSIWYG editor

Drag-and-drop form builder

Design forms visually with full layout control, no code required

Drag-and-drop form builder included

Reusable form templates

Reuse form structures without rebuilding from scratch

Form templates available

Custom form data fields

Collect structured data you can sort, filter, and report on

Custom fields with multiple field types

Smart conditional logic

Show or hide fields based on responses, not static forms

Conditional logic to show/hide fields based on responses

Instant email notifications

Get notified immediately when forms are submitted

Email notifications on form submission

Form automation triggers

Trigger automated workflows when a form is submitted

Form submissions trigger workflows

Embed forms

Embed forms anywhere without layout restrictions

Embeddable forms on any website

Advanced field preferences

Control required, hidden, and default field behavior

Required fields, progressive profiling, and smart forms

Comprehensive field types

Collect text, files, dates, selections, and more

Text, number, date, dropdown, checkbox, file upload, and more

Form signature field

Collect legally binding signatures directly inside forms

No signature field on forms (e-signatures on quotes only)

File upload fields

Accept file uploads as part of form submissions

File upload fields supported on forms

Redirect after submission

Send submitters to a custom next step, not a fixed thank-you page

Custom redirect URL after form submission

CRM

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198/199

HubSpot

106/199

Manage clients and leads

Manage contacts and companies in one connected system

Industry-leading CRM with contact management, deal pipeline, and lead scoring

Full company management

Track organizations, not just individual contacts

Company records with contact associations and hierarchy

Custom contact data fields

Collect and manage structured contact data you define

Up to 1,000 custom properties per object

Complete activity timeline

See every interaction with a client in one place

Full activity timeline on every CRM record

Contacts labeling and grouping

Organize contacts flexibly without rigid pipelines

Lists, segments, and lifecycle stages for contact organization

WIKI

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198/199

HubSpot

106/199

Comprehensive knowledge base

Create an internal wiki for processes, docs, and guides

Knowledge base available (Service Hub Professional+ only, $90/seat/month)

Beautiful rich text pages

Write structured, formatted content without complexity

Rich text knowledge base articles (Service Hub Professional+ only)

Unlimited nested pages

Build deep knowledge hierarchies without limits

Category and subcategory structure (not unlimited nesting, Service Hub Pro+)

Granular page permissions

Control exactly who can view or edit each page

No granular per-page permissions on knowledge base

DASHBOARDS

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HubSpot

106/199

Custom dashboards and pages

Build dashboards around what matters to you, not fixed metrics

Custom dashboards with report widgets

Drag-and-drop dashboard builder

Design dashboards visually with full layout control

Widget-based dashboard builder (not full drag-and-drop)

Charts widget

Visualize data with customizable charts

Custom report charts available

Metrics widget

Track key numbers without manual reporting

KPI and metric tracking on dashboards

Goals widget

Monitor progress toward defined goals

Goals tracking for sales teams (Sales Hub Professional+)

Notes widget

Add contextual notes directly to dashboards

Text widgets available (not dedicated notes widget)

Calendar widget

View upcoming events alongside work and metrics

Calendar and task widgets on dashboard

Financial widgets

Track revenue and expenses in the same view

Revenue and deal reporting (no expense tracking)

BRANDING

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198/199

HubSpot

106/199

White-label and branding

Run the entire platform under your brand

HubSpot branding removable on Starter+ (not full white-label)

Custom interface theme

Apply your brand colors across the system

Brand colors, logos, and favicons configurable

Stylesheet customization

Fine-tune styling beyond basic theming

Custom CSS on CMS Hub pages only (not CRM interface)

Custom login/signup pages

Use branded authentication pages instead of generic screens

Customer portal login can be branded (Service Hub Pro+)

Email branding

Send all system emails with your branding

Branded email templates with custom design

Custom brand fonts

Use your own fonts throughout the platform

Custom fonts configurable in brand settings

Custom brand logos

Replace all platform logos with your own

Logo upload on all branded content

Custom domain name

Run everything on your own domain

Custom domain for CMS, email, and portal content

Custom email SMTP

Send emails from your own email infrastructure

No custom SMTP (sends from HubSpot infrastructure)

Full workspace embedding

Embed Plutio directly into your website or product

No embeddable workspace

CUSTOMIZATION

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HubSpot

106/199

Flexible workspace setup

Shape the platform to match how your business works

Configurable CRM layout (not fully flexible workspace)

Main menu editor

Add, remove, or reorder navigation items freely

Navigation can be partially rearranged

User-based menus

Show different navigation for different roles

Permission-based feature visibility (not true menu customization)

Custom user roles

Create role types beyond preset permissions

Predefined roles with configurable permissions (Super Admin, Admin, etc.)

Advanced user permissions

Control access at a granular level

Granular CRM permissions by object and property

SSO / OAuth

Support enterprise-grade single sign-on

SAML-based SSO on Enterprise tier only

INTEGRATIONS

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HubSpot

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Connect with other tools

Integrate with external systems without lock-in

2,000+ integrations via App Marketplace

Zapier integration

Connect to thousands of apps without custom code

Full Zapier integration (free for all users)

Make.com integration

Build advanced automation scenarios visually

Make.com integration supported

Pabbly Connect

Connect services without usage-based limits

Possible via API (no native Pabbly module)

Full REST API access

Build custom integrations with full system access

Full REST API with OAuth, Service Keys, and extensive documentation

Incoming & outgoing webhooks

Send and receive real-time events

Full webhook support (incoming and outgoing)

PLATFORM

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HubSpot

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Mobile apps

Access your business from native mobile apps

Full-featured iOS and Android apps

iOS app

Full-featured iPhone app

Full iOS app available

Android app

Full-featured Android app

Full Android app available

Mac desktop app

Native macOS app for desktop workflows

No native Mac desktop app (web-only)

Windows desktop app

Native Windows app for desktop workflows

No native Windows desktop app (web-only)

Plutio vs HubSpot FAQ: common questions answered

Is Plutio better than HubSpot?

Plutio and HubSpot serve different needs. HubSpot covers CRM, email marketing, and sales automation for larger teams. Plutio covers CRM alongside project management, billing, time tracking, client portals, and the full proposal-to-contract workflow for freelancers and agencies. If the primary need is mass email marketing and lead nurturing at scale, HubSpot's Marketing Hub includes lead scoring, behavioral triggers, and A/B testing, though those features require a $890/month plan with a $3,000 onboarding fee. For a service business that needs to quote, manage projects, track time, bill clients, and give clients a branded portal, Plutio covers the full workflow at a fraction of that cost.

Can Plutio replace HubSpot?

For freelancers and small agencies, yes. Plutio includes CRM with contact management and deal pipelines, plus project management, invoicing, proposals, signed contracts, and client portals that HubSpot does not have. For enterprise marketing teams that rely on HubSpot's email automation, lead scoring, and A/B testing, Plutio's automation covers the client workflow rather than mass marketing campaigns.

Does Plutio offer a free trial?

Yes. Plutio offers a 14-day free trial with full access to all features. No credit card required. The trial includes CRM, invoicing, project management, proposals, contracts, time tracking, and client portals.

Does HubSpot have invoicing?

HubSpot has Commerce Hub for payment processing through Stripe or HubSpot Payments, but no visual invoice builder. Invoices generated from quotes are basic documents without customization. There is no recurring invoice scheduling for service businesses, no time-to-invoice connection, and no payment plans. Plutio includes a visual invoice builder with multiple payment gateways and invoicing from tracked time.

Does HubSpot have project management?

HubSpot Projects offers basic task lists with assignments and deadlines. Projects has no visual task views, no dependency tracking, and no auto-project creation from deals. HubSpot describes Projects as a "simple project management solution" available only as part of the marketing suite. Plutio includes 5 project views with dependencies, templates, and auto-creation from signed proposals.

How much does Plutio cost compared to HubSpot?

Plutio Core starts at $19/month with one price regardless of team or contact list size. HubSpot's free CRM covers basic features for up to 5 users. HubSpot Marketing Hub Professional costs $890/month plus a $3,000 mandatory onboarding fee. A freelancer needing CRM, marketing, and sales features on HubSpot Professional pays $1,300/month for the Customer Platform, then still adds invoicing and project management tools separately. Plutio includes all features at $19-49/month.

Can I white-label Plutio with my own branding?

Yes. Plutio includes white-labeling with custom domains, branded login pages, logo and colors throughout, custom SMTP for email, and CSS customization. Clients see your brand, not Plutio. HubSpot requires Enterprise plans ($3,600+/month) for white-labeling, and even then full removal of HubSpot branding is limited.

Does HubSpot have proposals or contracts?

HubSpot has a quote tool that generates line-item pricing from products and deals. Quotes support e-signatures on Professional+ plans. But HubSpot has no interactive proposal builder, no proposal analytics, no package selection for clients, and no contract management. Community members have requested proposal generation from deals, but the feature remains unbuilt. Plutio includes both proposals and contracts with visual builders.

Can I use Plutio and HubSpot together?

Yes. Plutio connects to HubSpot through Zapier. Some businesses keep HubSpot for email marketing and lead nurturing while using Plutio for project management, proposals, invoicing, and client portals. Contact data syncs between the two so both systems stay current.

Does HubSpot have a client portal?

HubSpot has a customer portal on Service Hub, but it is designed for support ticket management, not project visibility. Clients can submit and track tickets but cannot see project tasks, deliverables, or invoices through the portal. Full customization requires Enterprise pricing ($150/seat/month). Plutio offers a project-focused client portal at your custom domain on all plans.

Why is HubSpot so expensive?

HubSpot's pricing is designed for enterprise marketing teams, not freelancers. The free CRM attracts signups with basic contact management, then features like automation, A/B testing, and lead scoring are locked behind Professional plans starting at $890/month. Contact-based pricing means costs increase as the email list grows. Mandatory onboarding fees ($1,500-7,000) and 12-month contracts add to the total. For freelancers and small agencies, the cost often exceeds the value of the features used.

Does HubSpot have time tracking?

No. HubSpot has no native time tracking. There are no timers, no timesheet reports, and no billable hour management. Freelancers and agencies using HubSpot add Toggl or Harvest for time tracking. Plutio includes time tracking on all plans with task-level timers, billable rates, and invoice generation directly from logged hours.

What integrations does Plutio support?

Plutio connects to 5,000+ apps through Zapier, including HubSpot, Google Calendar, Stripe, PayPal, QuickBooks, Slack, and more. Plutio also has a REST API for custom integrations. Native integrations include calendar sync, payment processors, and email services.

Does Plutio have a mobile app?

Yes. Plutio has native iOS and Android apps for managing projects, communicating with clients, tracking time, and sending invoices from a phone. The mobile apps sync in real-time with the web platform.

Is my data safe with Plutio?

Yes. All data is private, encrypted, and never used to train AI models. Plutio uses SSL encryption, runs regular backups, and follows GDPR requirements. Data can be exported at any time.

How long has Plutio been around?

Plutio launched in 2015 and has been in active development since. The feature set has grown from basic project management to include CRM, proposals, contracts, invoicing, time tracking, and client portals based on what freelancers and agencies asked for over 10 years of development.

Does Plutio have a unified inbox?

Yes. Plutio has a unified inbox where multiple email accounts connect into one place. Client emails automatically sort into conversation threads. The whole team shares one inbox so no one misses urgent requests. Live chat can also be embedded on a website. HubSpot has Conversations (shared inbox) on all plans, but project-related communication requires separate tools.

Does HubSpot require annual contracts?

Starter plans offer monthly billing. Professional and Enterprise plans require a 12-month commitment with no true monthly option. Auto-renewals lock in another year unless cancelled before the contract ends. Mandatory onboarding fees add $1,500-7,000 depending on the plan. Plutio offers monthly billing on all plans with no annual commitment required.

Paying $890/month for features that should be included?

CRM, proposals, projects, invoices, and client portals in one place

Start your 14-day trial and see how proposals auto-create projects, tracked time flows into invoices, and clients check progress in their branded portal.

No credit card required

Plutio - Your entire business, one login away