 
 
HubSpot vs Zendesk Sell CRM Independent Review
HubSpot CRM, has a somewhat simpler data and process model, making it a better fit for SMBs focused on content-centric marketing workflows. In contrast, Zendesk Sell is an entry-level CRM designed for companies utilizing ZenDesk for customer service and ticketing workflows. HubSpot, in particular, is designed with a focus on upstream marketing activities, offering a stronger ecosystem, but it may not be the best fit for companies with complex audiences or transactional customer-facing workflows. Whereas, Zendesk Sell targets smaller companies with under 10-15 employees, lacking mature CRM capabilities such as sales ops planning, marketing automation, and territory management.
HubSpot excels in user-friendliness and customization, even though it may not match the depth of customer and field service workflows or provide as many built-in custom objects for specific industries. On the other hand, Zendesk would not be a fit for them seeking customizability as offered by other platforms such as Salesforce or HubSpot. To better understand HubSpot vs Zendesk Sell CRM systems, let’s take an in-depth look into their features, strengths and weaknesses.
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| HubSpot CRM | Zendesk Sell CRM | |
| Started in | 2006 | 2018 |
| Ownership by | Publicly traded listed on the NYSE under the ticker symbol HUBS | Zendesk Inc. |
| No. of customers | >70,000 | >4,000 |
What Is HubSpot CRM?
HubSpot CRM is a leading choice for smaller companies aiming for seamless integration of customer-centric workflows, covering essential CRM processes such as sales, service, CMS, and marketing automation. In contrast to Salesforce, HubSpot excels in user-friendliness and customization, even though it may not match the depth of customer and field service workflows or provide as many built-in custom objects for specific industries.
However, this adaptability might pose challenges for companies unfamiliar with robust data and process governance. HubSpot CRM proves advantageous, especially for content-heavy B2B companies aiming for centralized management of digital marketing and sales channels. The recent acquisition of Clearbit further enhances HubSpot’s capabilities by integrating data and intelligence with core CRM processes, solidifying its position in the market.
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What Is Zendesk Sell CRM?
Zendesk Sell, an entry-level CRM among top CRM systems designed for companies utilizing ZenDesk for customer service and ticketing workflows, acquired these capabilities through the Base CRM acquisition. It targets smaller companies with under 10-15 employees, lacking mature CRM capabilities such as sales ops planning, marketing automation, and territory management. However, larger companies may find its capabilities limiting.
Also, most enterprises exploring CRMs require custom development capabilities because of the unique customer experience and service workflows. So Zendesk would not be a fit for them seeking customizability as offered by other platforms such as Salesforce or HubSpot.
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HubSpot vs Zendesk Sell CRM Comparison
Navigating the choice between HubSpot vs Zendesk Sell CRM is a significant decision for businesses particularly looking for operational efficiency and strategic alignment. Thus, this section delves into the comprehensive comparison of HubSpot vs Zendesk Sell CRM across various critical dimensions.
| HubSpot CRM | Zendesk Sell CRM | |
| Data Model | Isn’t well-suited for complex operational use cases. | Limited data model. |
| CRM Features | It may not suit companies with deeper compliance, regulatory, and quoting needs. | Offers limited advanced features such as reporting, CSV import/export, and revenue operations planning. |
| Ecosystem | The second choice for most leading marketing technologies to integrate with. | While Zendesk has a strong ecosystem among telecom and Cx vendors, it’s not the leading option for MarTech vendors to integrate. |
| Marketing Automation | Provides an immersive experience as it’s part of the same product and data model. | The upstream marketing use cases would be weaker compared to HubSpot. |
| Integration | Provides options for seamless integration with other CRM systems, CMS platforms, and eCommerce tools. | The integration model is similar to Salesforce’s approach with marketing automation and CRM. |
| Operational Capabilities | The operational capabilities are not as detailed as some of the other CRM systems. | The operational capabilities are not as detailed as some of the other CRM systems. |
| Territory and Comp Planning | The weaker data model makes it less suitable for industries requiring robust out-of-the-box capabilities. | The weaker data model makes it less suitable for industries requiring robust out-of-the-box capabilities. |
| Customizability | Custom objects come with significant limitations, particularly around parent-child hierarchies. | Custom objects come with significant limitations. |
| Price | Offers a free version, but the price spikes substantially with tricky limits and tiers, making estimating prices highly challenging. | Similar tiers and pricing as most other CRM vendors. |
HubSpot vs Zendesk Sell CRM Module Comparison
Both platforms offer a plethora of features and functionalities designed to streamline business operations and enhance efficiency. In this feature comparison, we delve into particularly the distinct capabilities of HubSpot vs Zendesk Sell CRM across various critical dimensions, providing insights to aid businesses in making informed decisions regarding their CRM selection. Thus, this section discusses features under each of the following modules, particularly marketing, sales, customer service and e-commerce.
Marketing
In this section, we are discussing a detailed comparison of the marketing capabilities particularly offered by HubSpot vs Zendesk Sell CRM. By examining their respective strengths and functionalities, particularly in managing marketing processes. Businesses can therefore gain valuable insights to determine the best-suited CRM solution for their marketing needs.
| Features | HubSpot CRM | Zendesk Sell CRM |
| Content Creation | Offers tools for creating blog posts, landing pages, and also marketing emails. | Does not have dedicated content creation tools. |
| SEO Tools | Includes built-in SEO recommendations and also optimization features. | Does not have dedicated SEO tools. |
| Social Media Management | Allows scheduling, publishing, and also monitoring of social media posts. | Does not have dedicated social media management tools. |
| Email Marketing | Includes email marketing tools with templates, automation, and also analytics. | Integration with existing email, bulk email sending, and automated email sequences. |
| Analytics | Provides detailed analytics and reporting particularly on marketing campaigns. | Tools for reporting, pipeline visibility, and performance metrics |
Sales
In this comparison, we explore and analyze the sales capabilities of HubSpot vs Zendesk Sell CRM, shedding light particularly on their respective strengths and weaknesses.
| Features | HubSpot CRM | Zendesk Sell CRM |
| Lead Management | Manages leads with tracking and nurturing tools. | Manage leads, build targeted prospect lists, and create customized follow-up sequences. |
| Sales Pipeline Management | Visualizes and also tracks sales pipeline stages and progress. | Offers pipeline visibility and analysis tools. |
| Email Tracking | Tracks email opens, clicks, and responses. | Can integrate email, set up automated sequences, and track email performance. |
| Meeting Scheduling | Integrates with calendars for easy scheduling of meetings. | No dedicated tool but can manage appointments and tasks. |
| Collaboration Tools | Facilitates team collaboration with shared information and tasks. | Provides options to log, record, and reference calls and texts, and sync customer information across sales and support teams. |
Customer Service
In this comparison, we explore and analyze the customer service capabilities of HubSpot vs Zendesk Sell CRM, shedding light particularly on their respective strengths and weaknesses.
| Features | HubSpot CRM | Zendesk Sell CRM |
| Ticket System | Offers a support ticketing system for customer inquiries. | Part of Zendesk Support. |
| Live Chat | Provides live chat support for customer interactions. | Part of Zendesk Support. |
| Customer Support Automation | Automates customer support processes and workflows. | Part of Zendesk Support. |
| Omni-channel Support | Supports multiple channels like email, chat, and also social media. | Part of Zendesk Support. |
E-commerce
In this comparison, we explore and analyze the e-commerce capabilities of HubSpot vs Zendesk Sell CRM, shedding light particularly on their respective strengths and weaknesses.
| Features | HubSpot CRM | Zendesk Sell CRM |
| Product Catalog Management | Manages product listings and also descriptions. | Does not offer this capability natively. |
| Order Fulfillment | Tracks and manages order processing and fulfillment. | Does not offer this capability natively. |
| Personalized Shopping Experiences | Customizes shopping experiences particularly based on customer behavior. | Does not offer this capability natively. |
HubSpot vs Zendesk Sell CRM Pros
When evaluating CRM solutions, understanding the distinct advantages of HubSpot vs Zendesk Sell CRM is crucial. In this section, we are particularly exploring the strengths of HubSpot vs Zendesk Sell CRM across various dimensions. Thus, shedding light on their respective capabilities and functionalities.
| HubSpot CRM | Zendesk Sell CRM |
| Stronger with upstream marketing and also content-driven workflows. | Simple and straightforward interface for startups. |
| Has strong workflows and also custom-coded actions. | Design is user-friendly for sales development reps involved in multi-touch campaign execution. |
| Offers consolidated platform that siloed apps. | Ideal fit for companies and their users with limited technical expertise without as steep a learning curve. |
| Offering fairly detailed custom objects. | Has some capabilities that are considered advanced in this market segment. |
HubSpot vs Zendesk Sell CRM Cons
Just like recognizing strengths is important, it’s also crucial to weigh the specific drawbacks of HubSpot vs Zendesk Sell CRM. Therefore, in this section, we will delve into the limitations and challenges associated with HubSpot vs Zendesk Sell CRM across various operational and financial dimensions.
| HubSpot CRM | Zendesk Sell CRM |
| Not fit for ad-hoc flows. | Zendesk Sell and Support are not tightly integrated. |
| Overall expensive, also tiers are tricky to work with. | Marketing automation capabilities in Zendesk CRM are not as robust. |
| The data model is rigid and also weak for B2B businesses. | Users have reported occasional glitches with the system. |
| It may not suit companies particularly with deeper compliance, regulatory, and quoting needs. | The territory planning capabilities are going to be fairly lean. |
Conclusion
When deciding between HubSpot vs Zendesk Sell CRM, businesses must evaluate their unique needs, operational scale, and strategic priorities. HubSpot CRM stands out as a comprehensive, user-friendly solution ideal for SMBs with content-focused marketing workflows and robust integration requirements. It offers extensive tools for marketing automation, content creation, and analytics, making it an excellent fit for B2B companies aiming for centralized management of digital marketing and sales channels. However, its cost structure and rigid data model might pose challenges for businesses seeking flexibility and affordability.
On the other hand, Zendesk Sell CRM caters to smaller companies looking for a straightforward, budget-friendly system. Its seamless integration with Zendesk Support makes it a good option for businesses prioritizing customer service and ticketing workflows. However, it lacks advanced CRM capabilities like marketing automation, territory management, and customizable data models, limiting its suitability for more complex operational needs. Both systems have their strengths and limitations, so businesses should carefully evaluate their specific needs. Also, seeking assistance from an independent CRM consultant can significantly aid the decision-making process.
