You are looking for a CRM for your SME and the HubSpot vs Salesforce comparison comes up everywhere. That makes sense: they are the two market references. But for a Belgian company, the question is often framed wrongly. Since 1 January 2026, B2B electronic invoicing via Peppol has been mandatory in Belgium: your CRM no longer lives alone, it has to talk to your invoicing.
We are an Official Odoo Partner. We therefore have an interest in talking about Odoo CRM, and we say so upfront. To keep the comparison useful, we collected the public prices from the three vendors' official pages on 4 November 2026, we lay out our calculation assumptions in full, and we say when HubSpot or Salesforce is the best choice.
In short
- HubSpot is the fastest to pick up and the strongest on marketing. Salesforce is the most configurable and targets complex organisations. Odoo CRM wins when the CRM must be connected to invoicing, accounting and stock.
- Public prices per user per month on 4 November 2026: HubSpot Sales Hub Professional $90, Salesforce Pro Suite €100, Odoo Standard €19.90 the first year then €24.90.
- For 10 users over 3 years, our calculation gives about €38,300 (HubSpot), €44,000 (Salesforce) and €16,400 (Odoo Standard), set-up included.
- Peppol: HubSpot sends Peppol invoices in Belgium under conditions, Odoo builds it into its invoicing, and we found no documented native feature at Salesforce.
- Choosing the implementation partner matters as much as choosing the software.
HubSpot vs Salesforce: what is the real difference for an SME?
The HubSpot vs Salesforce duel is above all a trade-off between simplicity and depth. Both are full CRMs, but they were not designed for the same buyer.
- HubSpot is a marketing and sales platform that is quick to pick up and priced per seat. Its core CRM is free for up to 2 users. Its limits show up as needs grow: paid modules add up and the price per seat climbs.
- Salesforce is a highly configurable platform, built for complex sales processes and structured organisations. In return it demands more configuration, often a dedicated administrator or a partner, and a bigger budget.
HubSpot is the best choice if your sales team has fewer than ten people, if your accounting already exists and suits you, and if your priority is to generate leads fast. Salesforce is the best choice if your processes are complex (several countries, several teams, sophisticated discount rules) and if you have the resources to administer it.
Where does Odoo CRM fit as a third option?
Odoo CRM is not a clone of HubSpot or Salesforce: it is a CRM built into a business management suite. The CRM, quotes, invoicing, accounting, stock and marketing automation share the same database and the same per-user licence. The salesperson who closes an opportunity generates the quote, then the invoice, without switching tools.
Odoo 20 strengthens this CRM with lead generation from the Dun & Bradstreet database and new automatic lead assignment rules, covered in our article on the CRM and marketing automation of Odoo 20 for those who want the detail of the new features.
Full disclosure: we make our living from Odoo projects. That is why every figure in this article points to an official page, and why we tell you below when Odoo is not the right choice.
How do the three compare on CRM, marketing and invoicing?
| Criterion | HubSpot | Salesforce | Odoo CRM |
|---|---|---|---|
| Positioning | Marketing and sales platform, quick to pick up | Highly configurable CRM for complex processes | CRM built into a complete management suite |
| Licence model | Per seat, modules sold separately | Per user, depending on the edition | Per user, all apps included |
| Marketing automation | Marketing Hub, a separate paid module | Separate marketing products, not priced here | App included in the licence |
| Invoicing and accounting | Invoices via Stripe, no accounting | Via an add-on product or tool | Native invoicing and accounting |
| Peppol in Belgium | Native sending under conditions | No native feature found | Handled by Odoo invoicing |
| Customisation | Simple settings, limited custom work | Very deep, with an administrator | Studio and API on the Custom plan |
| Learning curve | Fast | Longer | Medium, depending on the apps enabled |
The "Positioning" and "Learning curve" rows are our field assessment. The other rows rely on the vendors' official pages.
What about Peppol, which is mandatory in Belgium?
Since 1 January 2026, Belgian VAT-registered companies must exchange structured electronic invoices, via the Peppol network, for their B2B sales. A PDF sent by email is no longer enough, according to the official e-invoicing portal of the FPS Finance. For choosing a CRM, the consequence is concrete: the quote accepted in the CRM must become a Peppol invoice without re-typing.
- HubSpot sends Peppol invoices for companies based in Belgium or Germany, but only if Stripe is connected as the payment processor, and with limits: a sent invoice can no longer be edited, and some order-level discounts are not supported.
- Salesforce: we found no documented native Peppol feature for Belgium. Plan for a compatible invoicing tool connected to the CRM, or ask the vendor for confirmation.
- Odoo handles Peppol in its invoicing app, via the UBL format, with the CRM and sales in the same database. Our Peppol 2026 guide details the obligation and the compliance steps one by one.
How much do they cost per user in 2026?
Here are the public prices collected from the official pages on 4 November 2026, per user per month, excluding applicable taxes and excluding set-up fees.
| Vendor | Entry level | Mid level | Top level | Entry fees |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| HubSpot Sales Hub (in dollars) | Free up to 2 users, Starter from $7 | Professional: $90 (annual commitment), $100 monthly | Enterprise: $150 | Mandatory onboarding: $1,500 (Professional), $3,500 (Enterprise) |
| Salesforce Sales Cloud (in euros) | Free Suite €0, Starter Suite €25 | Pro Suite: €100 (annual) | Core €195, Advanced €395, Max €550 | Not stated on the page |
| Odoo (in euros) | One App Free: €0 (a single app) | Standard: €19.90 the first year, then €24.90 | Custom: €35.90 the first year, then €44.90 | Implementation billed separately |
The HubSpot page we consulted shows dollars only and displays two amounts per plan without labelling them. From its layout, $90 corresponds to the annual commitment and $100 to monthly payment. Prices change: check them before you decide.
Another point of caution: Odoo raised its Custom plan in autumn 2026, from about €29 to €35 per user per month according to the Belgian press, while the basic plan stays at €19.90. Our article on the price of Odoo in Belgium details licences, implementation and hidden costs, with prices updated in November 2026.
How much does a 10-person team cost over 3 years?
For 10 users over 3 years, the gap depends less on the price of a seat than on what the licence includes. Here is our calculation, with all its assumptions.
- 10 users with a full licence, at the public prices of 4 November 2026, assumed constant for 3 years (price rises are not modelled).
- Annual billing: HubSpot Sales Hub Professional at $90, converted at the ECB reference rate of 3 November 2026 (€1 = $1.1179); Salesforce Pro Suite at €100; Odoo Standard at €19.90 the first year, then €24.90.
- Mandatory HubSpot Professional onboarding: $1,500, or €1,342.
- Identical set-up for all three: €8,000. This is our assumption (100 hours of configuration, data migration and training at €80 excl. VAT per hour, our rate), kept equal to isolate the effect of the licences.
- Excluded: HubSpot Marketing Hub, invoicing and accounting software for HubSpot and Salesforce, custom development, Odoo.sh hosting and VAT.
| Item over 3 years | HubSpot Sales Pro | Salesforce Pro Suite | Odoo Standard |
|---|---|---|---|
| Licences | €28,982 | €36,000 | €8,364 |
| Mandatory vendor onboarding | €1,342 | Not stated | None stated |
| Total with set-up (+ €8,000) | €38,324 | €44,000 | €16,364 |
| Average per user per month | €106 | €122 | €45 |
Odoo Standard costs about €22,000 less than HubSpot Professional over three years (€38,324 minus €16,364). This is not a like-for-like comparison, but the gap is in favour of HubSpot and Salesforce: Odoo includes invoicing, accounting and stock, whereas the other two assume additional software that we have not priced.
Two caveats. On the Custom plan (external API, Studio), Odoo licences rise to €15,084 over three years and the total to €23,084. Conversely, if you need HubSpot Marketing Hub Professional, add about €28,400 over three years ($800 per month and $3,000 onboarding). Using the same number of hours for all three is a simplification: ask each candidate for a fixed quote.
Which CRM for which company profile?
| Profile | Best choice | Why |
|---|---|---|
| Freelancer or sales duo | HubSpot (free CRM) | Free up to 2 users, with no set-up project |
| SME of 5 to 50 people that sells, invoices and manages stock | Odoo (Standard plan) | One tool from quote to Peppol invoice, one price per user |
| Marketing and sales team with a satisfactory existing ERP | HubSpot Professional | Strong on inbound and marketing automation, it adds to what you have |
| Multi-country group with complex sales processes | Salesforce (Sales Cloud) | The deepest customisation, provided you fund its administration |
| B2B SME still invoicing by PDF | Odoo, or HubSpot with Stripe | Both send Peppol invoices, within the limits described above |
Odoo is not always the right choice. If your need is single and simple, a dedicated CRM such as HubSpot will be lighter and faster to deploy. And if your organisation is not ready to change its processes, no tool will keep its promises.
Choosing implementation partner: seven questions before you sign
A good CRM badly installed costs more than an average CRM well deployed. Whether you choose HubSpot, Salesforce or Odoo, these seven questions apply to any partner.
- Is it certified on the product? For Odoo, check the official partner status. For HubSpot and Salesforce, the vendor's equivalent partner programme.
- Does it have comparable references? Ask for two clients of your size and sector that you can call.
- Is the scope in writing? A requirements document, a quote by phase, what is included and what is not.
- Who actually does the work? In-house team or subcontracting, with a single point of contact.
- How does it handle data migration? Duplicates, history, clean-up before migration.
- What support after launch? Training, support, response time, maintenance contract.
- What happens if you want to leave? Ownership of your data, documentation, export.
On budget, integrators generally charge between €50 and €150 per hour in Belgium. At Nexuro, our rate is €80 excl. VAT per hour, with a free audit to frame the scope before any commitment. Our guide to choosing an Odoo integrator in Belgium details the method and the pitfalls.
FAQ
HubSpot vs Salesforce: which one suits a small business better?
HubSpot, in most cases. Its core CRM is free for up to 2 users, it is quick to pick up and the cost rises gradually with modules. Salesforce becomes relevant when sales processes are complex and the company has an administrator or a partner to configure it. For an SME that also invoices, compare with Odoo.
Can Odoo CRM replace HubSpot or Salesforce?
Yes for most SME needs: pipeline, leads, quotes, activity tracking and marketing automation are included. It is less specialised than HubSpot on inbound marketing and less deep than Salesforce on very complex processes. Its strength is native integration with invoicing, accounting and stock, within a single licence per user.
Which CRM can send Peppol invoices in Belgium?
Odoo handles Peppol in its invoicing app. HubSpot sends Peppol invoices to companies based in Belgium or Germany, provided Stripe is connected, with some limits on discounts and edits. For Salesforce, we found no documented native feature: check with the vendor or plan for a compatible invoicing tool.
How much does a CRM cost for 10 people over three years?
By our calculations on 4 November 2026, set-up included (an €8,000 assumption): about €38,300 for HubSpot Sales Hub Professional, €44,000 for Salesforce Pro Suite and €16,400 for Odoo Standard. Price rises, marketing modules and additional invoicing tools are not included.
Do I need an implementation partner?
Not necessarily for a free or very simple CRM. As soon as you migrate data, connect invoicing or train a team, a partner saves time and avoids configuration mistakes. Compare two or three quotes on a written scope, and check references, certification and exit conditions.
Can I switch CRM without losing my data?
Yes, by exporting contacts, companies, opportunities and activity history, then importing them after clean-up. Duplicates, custom fields and attachments take the most work. Plan a test phase on a sample before the full switch, and keep the old tool read-only for a few weeks.
Key takeaways
- HubSpot wins on speed of adoption and marketing, Salesforce on depth, Odoo on integration with invoicing.
- On 4 November 2026, a 10-person team costs about €38,300 (HubSpot), €44,000 (Salesforce) and €16,400 (Odoo Standard) over 3 years, set-up included.
- With Peppol mandatory since 1 January 2026, check how the quote becomes a compliant invoice.
- The scope is not equivalent: Odoo includes accounting and stock, the other two do not.
- Compare partner quotes on a written scope, with references and exit conditions.
- We are an Odoo partner: check our figures against the official pages listed below.
What next? If you are torn between these three options, we can price your case on the same basis as in this article, including when the answer is HubSpot or Salesforce. Ask for a free audit of your CRM and your invoicing, with no commitment, for an honest recommendation.
About the author
Timothy Jacqmin is co-founder of Nexuro Digital, a digital marketing agency and Official Odoo Partner in Belgium. He helps companies with their SEO, their Odoo projects and their visibility in AI engines. LinkedIn profile · About us
Sources
- HubSpot, Sales Hub pricing, accessed 4 November 2026
- HubSpot, Marketing Hub pricing, accessed 4 November 2026
- HubSpot Knowledge Base, Send e-invoices through HubSpot, accessed 4 November 2026
- Salesforce, Sales Cloud pricing, accessed 4 November 2026
- Odoo, Pricing, accessed 4 November 2026
- Brussels Times, Odoo announces €10-billion valuation and a partial price increase
- FPS Finance, Who will have to use electronic invoicing?
- Odoo, Documentation, e-invoicing in Belgium
- European Central Bank, EUR/USD reference exchange rate, 3 November 2026
- Odoo, Odoo 20 Release Notes, CRM section, September 2026
