9 min read

HubSpot vs. WordPress as Your Business Website CMS (Updated for 2024)

Picture of George B. Thomas George B. Thomas Aug 5, 2024 8:58:37 AM

HubSpot CMS Hub

Today, we're diving into a debate that’s been buzzing in the business world for quite some time: HubSpot CMS vs. WordPress for your business website. If we haven't met before, I'm your friendly neighborhood HubSpot and Inbound Jedi, George B. Thomas from Sidekick Strategies. I've spent more than two decades as a catalyst for growth, humbly helping incredible business owners and leaders just like you achieve your most aggressive marketing and sales goals.

Now, if you're currently trying to choose between HubSpot and WordPress as the foundation of your business website's underlying architecture (your website CMS), you may be asking yourself one of three questions, depending on where you are in your digital journey:

WordPress has been one of the most popular business website CMS options for more than a decade ... has anything really changed? Can HubSpot even compete?
HubSpot recently replaced their HubSpot CMS Hub with HubSpot Content Hub ... is it even a website CMS anymore? What's changed? (The short answer is yes, HubSpot Content Hub is a website CMS, and we did an entire podcast episode about the change and what it means for you.)
Wait, does the choice of my website CMS really matter that much? Can a website CMS really impact our strategy or out ability to hit our goals? Aren't most platforms all the same?

Well, your website is the digital face of your business, and choosing the right platform can make all the difference in your marketing, sales, and overall online presence. Not to mention, your choice can make your team's job on the website a pure joy or a daily horror flick. So, let’s get into it and help you make that choice wisely.

In this article, I’ll address five key questions to help you choose between HubSpot and WordPress for your business website. We’ll discuss their main differences, compare HubSpot’s all-in-one approach with WordPress’s flexibility, and examine the benefits of using HubSpot for marketing and sales.

💥 We Can Help: HubSpot CMS Website Design That Doesn't Break Your Budget

We’ll also cover cost considerations and ease of use for both platforms. Finally, I’ll share examples of businesses that have successfully switched to HubSpot, providing practical insights for your decision.

1. What Are the Main Differences Between HubSpot and WordPress?

When we talk about HubSpot and WordPress, we’re looking at two giants in the world of content management systems (CMS), but they serve different purposes.

HubSpot is an all-in-one platform designed to integrate your marketing, sales, and service tools seamlessly. It’s like having a Swiss Army knife for all your business needs. This integration means that your CRM, email marketing, social media management, and analytics are all housed under one roof, which can streamline your operations and give you a holistic view of your customer interactions and business performance.

HubSpot also excels in user-friendliness and support, with a drag-and-drop website builder, prebuilt themes, and extensive customer support. It’s a great choice for businesses looking to scale quickly and efficiently without getting bogged down by technical details.

On the other hand, WordPress is an open-source platform known for its flexibility. It powers about 43% of all websites because its extensive range of plugins and themes allows it to be customized to fit almost any requirement.

Think of WordPress as a blank canvas where you can paint anything you envision for your business. With WordPress, you have complete control over your site’s design and functionality. However, this flexibility comes with a steep learning curve. Managing a WordPress site often requires more hands-on maintenance, including regular updates, security checks, and plugin management.

While there’s a vast community of developers and resources available to help, you might still need some technical expertise or hire a developer to get the most out of your site if you’re using WordPress.

Overall HubSpot vs. WordPress in Summary

HubSpot offers a seamless, integrated solution that’s ideal for businesses looking for simplicity and comprehensive support. WordPress, with its vast customization options and control, is perfect for those who want a highly tailored website and are willing to invest the time and effort into managing it.

2. How Does HubSpot’s All-in-One Platform Compare to WordPress’s Plugin Ecosystem?

HubSpot’s all-in-one approach means everything you need is under one roof. Marketing automation, CRM, blogging, email marketing—you name it, HubSpot’s got it. This integration ensures that all your tools work harmoniously, giving you more time to focus on strategy and less on technical hassles.

For instance, you can track a lead from the moment they visit your website, through the nurturing process with automated email campaigns, right up to the sale and beyond—all without leaving the HubSpot platform. This seamless integration is particularly beneficial for small to mid-size businesses that might not have extensive IT resources.

WordPress’s flexibility, on the other hand, comes from its vast plugin ecosystem. Need an e-commerce site? Install WooCommerce. Want to optimize your SEO? Yoast just might be your best friend. The possibilities are endless. WordPress allows you to tailor your website precisely to your needs with plugins for almost any function you can imagine—from social media integration to advanced security measures.

However, this flexibility can sometimes lead to compatibility issues and requires regular maintenance to keep everything running smoothly. Each plugin is developed by different creators, and updates can sometimes cause conflicts that need troubleshooting.

All-in-One (HubSpot) vs. Plugins (WordPress) in Summary

HubSpot might be your go-to if you’re looking for simplicity and integration. Its all-in-one nature means fewer headaches and a more streamlined workflow. WordPress could be the better choice if you have a tech-savvy team and need extensive customization. You can even consider integrating WordPress with HubSpot to enjoy the best of both worlds.

3. What Are the Perks of Using HubSpot for Marketing + Sales Alongside Your Website?

Using HubSpot for both your website and your marketing and sales efforts is like having a well-oiled machine. HubSpot’s CRM is tightly integrated with your website, allowing you to track customer interactions from the first touchpoint to the final sale. This level of insight helps you create highly personalized marketing campaigns that resonate with your audience and drive conversions.

HubSpot’s CRM captures and organizes customer data in real-time, providing a 360-degree view of each of your contacts in your database. This detailed tracking allows you to tailor your messaging to each lead’s specific needs and behaviors, significantly improving your chances of converting them into customers. Moreover, HubSpot’s marketing automation tools can save you a load of time.

You can set up workflows that nurture leads, send follow-up emails, and even score leads based on their interactions with your content. These workflows ensure that your leads receive the right content at the right time, keeping them engaged and moving through the sales funnel efficiently.

Additional Advantages Include

Seamless Integration: All your marketing, sales, and customer service tools are under one roof, ensuring everyone is on the same page and working towards common goals.
Enhanced Reporting: HubSpot’s advanced analytics and reporting tools provide deep insights into your marketing and sales performance, helping you understand what’s working and where there’s room for improvement.
Content Management: HubSpot’s CMS allows you to create, optimize, and personalize content easily, using smart content to deliver personalized experiences to different audience segments.
Lead Scoring: HubSpot’s lead scoring feature helps prioritize leads based on their engagement and likelihood to convert, improving efficiency and effectiveness.
Customer Support: HubSpot offers robust customer support, including a comprehensive knowledge base, live chat, and customer success managers, ensuring you get the help you need to maximize the platform’s potential.

Marketing + Sales in HubSpot Summary

By understanding and utilizing HubSpot’s full capabilities, you can create a streamlined, data-driven approach to manage your marketing and sales efforts, ultimately driving growth and success for your business.

4. What Are the Costs to Consider for Businesses Choosing Between HubSpot and WordPress?

Cost is a crucial factor for many businesses when choosing a website platform. HubSpot has a higher upfront cost but offers a comprehensive suite of tools:

HubSpot’s pricing starts at $20 a month for the Starter plan, which includes basic CMS features, email marketing, and live chat.
The Professional plan costs around $500 a month and adds advanced marketing automation, SEO recommendations, and custom reporting.
The Enterprise plan is priced at about $1,500 a month and includes advanced analytics, team management tools, and more. These costs cover hosting, security, marketing automation, CRM, and customer support, providing an all-in-one solution that can save time and reduce the need for multiple subscriptions.

Yes, WordPress, on the other hand, is free to use but requires additional costs for a fully functional business website:

Hosting typically ranges from $10 to $50 a month, and domain registration costs about $10 to $15 a year. (In full transparency, these are costs you will have with HubSpot, as well.)
Premium themes can cost anywhere from $30 to $100 a year, and essential plugins such as Yoast SEO, WooCommerce extensions, and security plugins can add to the overall expense.
For a medium-sized business website using WordPress, the estimated annual cost might range from $1,000 to $3,000, or approximately $90 to $300 a month.

Keep in mind, however, that HubSpot is a much more robust and comprehensive growth solution. So, yes, the costs are higher, but you win in terms of more access to marketing, sales, and service automation tools, increased security, and greater customer service options ... that last one matters given that WordPress does not have any centralized support at all for customers.

HubSpot vs. WordPress Cost in HubSpot Summary

It’s essential to calculate the total cost of ownership for both platforms, including hidden costs like maintenance, updates, and potential downtime. HubSpot’s total ownership cost is more predictable with its subscription-based pricing, while WordPress’s total cost of ownership can fluctuate based on your hosting provider, the number and type of plugins used, and the cost of any additional support or development work required.

5. Is HubSpot or WordPress Easier to Use?

HubSpot is designed to be user-friendly, especially for non-technical users. Its drag-and-drop editor and prebuilt themes make it easy to create and manage your website without any coding knowledge. This means you can quickly put together a professional-looking site, customize it to your brand’s needs, and keep it updated with minimal effort.

💥 We Can Help: HubSpot CMS Website Design That Doesn't Break Your Budget

Additionally, HubSpot’s integrated tools for marketing, sales, and customer service ensure that your website is not just a static page but a dynamic part of your overall business strategy. Plus, their super helpful support team is always available to help you out, providing guidance and solutions whenever you encounter an issue.

WordPress, while also user-friendly, does have a steeper learning curve, especially when you start adding plugins and customizing themes. The initial setup is relatively straightforward, but as you begin to tailor the site to your specific needs, the complexity can increase. You might need some technical skills or a developer to get the most out of it. This is because WordPress offers unparalleled flexibility and customization options, which can be both a blessing and a curse. Managing these components requires regular updates and maintenance to ensure compatibility and security.

Ease of Use in HubSpot Summary

If ease of use is a priority and you want a hassle-free setup, HubSpot is the way to go. Its intuitive interface and comprehensive support make it an excellent choice for businesses that need to get online quickly and efficiently without worrying about technical details. For those who have the technical know-how and desire complete control over their website’s functionality and appearance, WordPress offers unmatched flexibility.

Real-World Examples of Companies Switching from WordPress to HubSpot

Let’s look at some examples of companies that have made the switch from WordPress to HubSpot CMS.

ClassPass, a fitness company, switched to HubSpot’s Content Hub to integrate their marketing efforts and gain more control over their website updates. Prior to HubSpot, ClassPass relied on their engineering team for website changes, which led to delays.

By using HubSpot, they centralized their marketing data and allowed their marketing teams to manage the website directly. This switch resulted in a 52% increase in lead conversion rates on their website. The flexibility and speed of HubSpot’s Content Hub enabled ClassPass to update their site frequently and align their marketing strategies more effectively.

Another example is Ving, a safety training platform, which experienced a dramatic improvement after switching back to HubSpot from Salesforce and other tools. Initially using Salesforce combined with various other products like WordPress, MailChimp, and Zendesk, Ving found the accumulated cost and fragmented data to be problematic. After a re-implementation of HubSpot, Ving consolidated their sales, marketing, and service operations into one platform.

This integration allowed them to track customer journeys comprehensively, leading to a 96% increase in revenue and a 360% rise in leads generated. The ease of managing all functions within HubSpot significantly boosted their operational efficiency.

Now, It's Your Website's Turn to Shine

Your goal here is simple, folks, because what happens next is entirely up to you. We can't tell you which one you should choose — as much as we love HubSpot and would choose it every single day of the week for virtually every single one of our clients, we know there are cases for WordPress, too. Take these insights and put them into action by carefully evaluating your business needs and resources. Start by considering the key differences between HubSpot and WordPress, setting clear goals for what you want your website to achieve, and assessing your team's technical capabilities.

Foster an environment of continuous learning and adaptation within your team, and make regular reviews of your website’s performance and functionality a part of your strategy. By doing these things, you'll make a well-informed decision that not only supports your business goals but also enhances your online presence. Choosing the right platform takes careful consideration, but the rewards are worth it. By focusing on the factors that matter most to your business, you can create a website that drives growth, efficiency, and success.

If you have any questions or need more insights, schedule a time to talk with me for a completely unbiased, no-strings-attached conversation, right here at Sidekick Strategies. Until next time, remember to be a happy, helpful, humble human. And don’t forget to do some happy HubSpotting along the way.

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