WordPress vs Hubspot: Best CMS Comparison (2024)

WordPress vs Hubspot: which CMS (content management system) should you use to create a new site? 

Choosing the right content management system (CMS) can be challenging when establishing an online presence.

In 2024, two of the most popular options are WordPress and HubSpot. Both platforms offer unique features that aim to satisfy different needs and preferences. WordPress CMS helps blogs, eCommerce sites, and more. On the other hand, HubSpot CMS is an all-in-one solution for streamlining digital marketing efforts.

In this detailed comparison, we’ll examine each CMS’s strengths and weaknesses, helping you determine which platform best suits your business.

WordPress CMS (Overview)

WordPress is an open-source content management system (CMS). It lets you create, manage, and publish sites without writing a single line of code, such as:

• Simple Blogs Site
• Complex eCommerce Stores

Since its initial release in May 2003, WordPress has become the world’s most popular CMS. Now, it empowers over 43% of all sites on the Internet. By choosing WordPress, you’re joining a vast community of users.

The core platform offers thousands of amazing themes and plugins.

Have a look at the WordPress Plugins and Themes repository:

Here are some popular examples of some of the best WordPress plugins.

• LoginPress: A WordPress plugin that helps you customize each element on the default WordPress login page, such as adding a background, changing the logo, adding desired colors to the text and button on the login form, and much more.
• Analytify: This powerful WordPress plugin integrates Google Analytics into your site. This integration makes it possible to keep track of your site’s analytics within the admin dashboard, i.e., tracking visitors, bounce rate, affiliates, forms, authors, and whatnot.
• Simple Social Media Share Buttons: This WordPress plugin is there to help you add social media sharing buttons, e.g., Facebook, WhatsApp, Viber, Twitter, Reddit, LinkedIn, and Pinterest, to your WordPress site.

HubSpot CMS (Overview)

HubSpot is another useful content management system (CMS) that offers a suite of marketing, sales, and services tools. This platform is mainly for businesses creating, managing, and optimizing their sites and digital marketing efforts.

HubSpot CMS offers a drag-and-drop editor, which makes it easy for users without technical skills to create and update site content.

HubSpot is a more expensive option than WordPress. Besides, it provides multiple customization options but may not be as flexible as WordPress. 

WordPress vs HubSpot: Features Comparison

WordPress vs. HubSpot are both powerful content management systems (CMS) in their own right. 

Here, we’ll explore the key features of WordPress and HubSpot. This will help us understand the strengths and weaknesses of each CMS so that users can make informed decisions. 

Without much ado, let’s get started!

WordPress vs Hubspot: Ease of Use

WordPress Ease of Use 

WordPress features a user-friendly interface, making it easy for beginners to use. The clean interface simplifies managing content, settings, and various site components.

It is what the WordPress admin dashboard looks like:

See the image below:

Here are what options you get on the WordPress admin dashbaord:

• Posts section helps you create unlimited blog posts for your WordPress site.
• The media option is there to help you upload images, videos, and documents.
• The comments section is there to enable you to manage WordPress comments.
• Appearance area helps you make changes to your site’s overall look and feel.
• The customize section is there to help you change your site’s appearance.
• Plugins menu enables you to add new plugins to your site.
• You can add Users to your site.
• From the Tools section, you can import and export content for your site.
• Settings section is there to help you make changes to your site’s settings.

HubSpot Ease of Use

HubSpot, on the other hand, provides a highly user-friendly, integrated platform.

It minimizes the need for manual site maintenance but at the cost of flexibility and higher pricing. 

It has a drag-and-drop editor that lets you build multiple areas of your site without writing a single line of code, such as:

• Heading
• Text
• Forms
• Image
• Call to Action Buttons

See the image below:

So, your choice will depend on prioritizing ease of management with HubSpot or greater customization and control with WordPress.

WordPress vs HubSpot: Customization Options

WordPress Customization Features

WordPress offers many useful customization options through plugins, themes, and custom coding. These options let you add desired functionality to your site’s visual design and overall layout.

It offers over 12,000 free themes. You can use them to customize the themes in terms of 

• Color schemes
• Typography
• Page layouts
• Homepage Settings
• Widgets

See the image below: 

Besides this, there is a Theme File Editor area within WordPress menus, where you can add codes for additional functionality.

See the image below:

Above all, over 59,000 free themes add up to the core WordPress functionalities without breaking the site.

For example, you can use LoginPress, the best WordPress login page customizer plugin, to change the default WordPress login, registration, and lost password page.

It lets you make changes to the core behavior of the login page in terms of:

• Force Password Reset
• Session Expire
• Auto Remember Me
• Custom Password Fields
• PCI Compliance

In addition, you can customize your WordPress login page’s overall appearance with the help of multiple options, such as:

• Theme
• Logo
• Background
• Customize Login Form
• Customize Forget Form
• Button Beauty
• Error Messages
• Welcome Messages
• Custom CSS/JS

Wait, there’s a lot more packed with LoginPress Pro that strengthens the default WordPress login security, including:

• Social Login
• Hide Login
• Login Widget
• Limit Login Attempts
• Login Redirects
• Auto Login

Hubspot Customization Features

Like WordPress, Hubspot has built-in themes but with limitations. 

With this platform, you can  customize different aspects of a page, including:

• Theme Settings
• Header
• Footer options

HubSpot offers a command-line interface (CLI) version for developers. This version allows them to control the customization options, like:

• Colors
• Footers
• Spacing
• More Settings

WordPress vs HubSpot: Publishing Tools

WordPress Publishing Tools

WordPress offers a publishing tool, making it suitable for bloggers, businesses, etc.

With this platform, you get a user-friendly interface that simplifies the process of building and managing content. 

It comes with a visual editor known as the Gutenberg block editor. It enables users to add text, images, videos, etc., to create beautiful pages and posts.

See the image below:

You can enhance WordPress publishing tools with multiple plugins, such as Yoast SEO.

It is better to use those plugins while using the Gutenberg blocks editor. 

In a nutshell, WordPress offers a more flexible option for publishing tools. This makes WordPress CMS a better choice for users needing advanced editing features.

HubSpot CMS Publishing Tools

Compared to WordPress, HubSpot allows you to create blogs but with several limitations. 

Hubspot is there to help you with creating:

• Website Pages
• Landing Pages
• Blogs

You can create a blog post with just a single click.

See the image below:

You can easily add blog content and select a theme to make it stand out.

With that said, HubSpot provides reasonable publishing tools for your content strategy. But remember, it lacks the flexibility and range of options available in WordPress. 

Again, WordPress is the better option for those who prioritize comprehensive publishing features and customization.

WordPress vs HubSpot: Themes and Templates

WordPress Themes and Templates

WordPress offers over 12,000 free themes. You can select the one that perfectly matches your brand and customize it with a built-in customizer or custom coding PHP to suit your needs. 

Take Twenty Twenty-Three, for example.

This modern and versatile theme has a sleek design. It is ideal for various website types, such as blogs and portfolios.

Note: To help select a theme that matches your business type, see our detailed guide on 25+ Best Free WordPress Themes.

After selecting a theme, click on the Customize button.

On the next screen, you will find all the options to customize your theme according to your preferences. For example, you can choose different style combinations for the theme styles.

You can also create new template parts or reset any customizations for:

• Comments Template
• Footer
• Header
• Post Meta

No doubt, WordPress has made life much easier.

HubSpot Themes and Templates

As you can see, WordPress offers multiple themes and templates. You can customize them according to your needs, making it an excellent choice for users who want complete control over their site’s design and functionality. 

In comparison, HubSpot offers some free default themes as well. However, there are fewer options and less flexibility, which limits creativity and specific design needs. 

For example, your site has a limited number of default themes. You can select any one and redesign it yourself. 

See the image below:

WordPress is the clear winner in this category for businesses and individuals who prioritize design freedom and multiple customization options.

WordPress vs HubSpot: Security

WordPress Security

By default, WordPress is committed to providing a stable, secure, and trusted platform for building sites.

However, WordPress also introduces multiple free and premium security plugins to strengthen your site’s security. You can install them to avoid mishaps.

For example, there is LoginPress, which has so many valuable features to strengthen your site’s security, including:

• Social Login to add social login to your WordPress login form so that only authorized users can access your site.
• Hide Login helps you change the default WordPress login slug, e.g., /wp-login.php or /wp-admin/. It is the best way to make your site invisible to cybercriminals.
• Limit Login Attempts are there to limit login attempts for your site, resulting in more secure login for your site.
• Auto Login creates a magic login link that eliminates the need to enter login credentials to access your site. You can give this magic link to those you don’t want to provide your login credentials.
• reCAPTCHA helps differentiate between bots and humans trying to log in to your site. It is the best way to prevent bots from logging in.
• Session Expire features allow you to add session expiration time for your login session. 

Many other security plugins exist, such as Jetpack, WordFence, etc.

In addition, you can go for security audits for your WordPress site to mitigate the attack risks.

For example, you can keep your WordPress themes and plugins up to date, analyze activity logs, use a strong password, and much more.

HubSpot Security

HubSpot is a software-as-a-server (SaaS) solution that offers multiple security features for your site, such as:

• SSL certificate
• Network and perimeter protection
• Customer data protection
• Application protection, all in one platform

It eliminates the need to install third-party plugins on your account. Plus, you get a web application firewall that protects against DDoS attacks. 

No doubt, WordPress security surpasses HubSpot’s built-in security capabilities with the help of security plugins.

WordPress vs HubSpot: eCommerce Capability

WordPress eCommerce

WordPress enables you to create an outstanding online store with the help of powerful eCommerce plugins, including:

• WooCommerce
• Easy Digital Downloads
• BigCommerce
• Shopify

However, WooCommerce is the most widely used plugin for this proposal. It is entirely free and trusted by over 7 million active installations. 

With this plugin, you get all the tools required to run a successful online store, like:

Unlike hosted eCommerce solutions, WooCommerce stores your data. You can easily export it and move your site to any platform without breaking the core store.

HubSpot eCommerce

Hubspot also doesn’t have a built-in eCommerce solution. You’ll need to use a third-party plugin, which can be a bit challenging for beginners. For example, you can add:

• ECWID
• Shopify

Remember, you’ll be required to add a sub-domain on your HubSpot site to get started with this solution.

Unlike WordPress, HubSpot handles a few products for you. Plus, HubSpot provides a higher-cost eCommerce solution that offers less customization flexibility. Considering these important factors, WordPress stands outs for delivering the best eCommerce solutions.

WordPress vs HubSpot: Analytics and Data 

WordPress Analytics

WordPress offers multiple analytics plugins that keep you informed about the total number of site visitors, demographics, and activity on your site. This information can help you make informed decisions to grow your website and online business. 

Analytify is the best Google Analytics plugin among the rest. 

Analytify automates the process of adding Google Analytics tracking code in WordPress. All you need to do is install and activate the plugin on your WordPress site to simplify your GA4 reporting with Analytify Dashboard reports.

It eliminates the need to add GA4 Tracking code manually. Sounds convenient! 

This plugin lets you get your site’s stats within your WordPress admin dashboard. For example, you can see detailed analytics for several important metrics including: 

• Sessions
• Visitors
• Bounce Rate
• Average Time on Site
• Page Views

Unlike other WordPress analytics plugins, Analytify provides multiple actionable data in a single view on the dashboard, such as:

• Ecommerce Tracking
• Forms Tracking
• Authors Tracking
• UTM Campaigns

HubSpot Analytics

HubSpot offers built-in analytics for your site.  For example, HubSpot’s traffic analytics tool helps you get stats for:

• Traffic Source
• Topic Cluster
• Pages
• UTM Parameters
• Countries
• Device Types

See the image below:

HubSpot requires users to install the tracking code on their site manually. Once done, they can begin tracking traffic. However, WordPress plugins, such as Analytify, make the job even easier.

WordPress vs HubSpot: SEO Features

WordPress SEO

By default, WordPress offers built-in search optimization tools, including:

• .htaccess 
• Permalinks
• Blogrolls
• Pinging

Other than this, there are multiple third-party SEO plugins that you can use to improve search engine optimization (SEO), including:

• Yoast SEO
• Rank Math SEO
• AIOSEO
• SEO Plugin by Squirrly SEO

Note: See our detailed guide on 17 Best WordPress SEO Plugins – Expert Pick (2024).

Yost SEO has over 10 million active installations and has all the essential tools for optimizing your site. It offers so many useful features, such as:

• Automated technical SEO improvements
• Canonical URLs
• Advanced XML Sitemaps
• Schema.org structured data integration
• Breadcrumbs 
• Advanced Crawl Settings

Overall, WordPress SEO plugin integration optimizes your site for a local audience and establishes your presence in local SERPs.

HubSpot SEO

Hubspot has SEO tools to help you improve your site’s search engine rankings and drive traffic.

This comprehensive feature set allows businesses to tackle all aspects of their SEO strategy in one place.

However, Hubspot doesn’t suit businesses looking for more advanced SEO needs. This is where WordPress is again the winner!

WordPress vs HubSpot: Pros and Cons

WordPress Pros and Cons

WordPress Pros	WordPress Cons
WordPress offers a user-friendly interface.	There can be performance issues, especially when overloaded with too many plugins or heavy themes.
You get many customization options that allow you to create a dream site.	It requires a steeper learning curve.
It offers a robust eCommerce solution.	It requires some know-how about HTML, CSS, and PHP.
You don’t require coding knowledge to get started with WordPress.	Sometimes, there are compatibility issues with plugins and themes.

HubSpot Pros and Cons

Hubspot Pros	Hubspot Cons
HubSpot offers over 300 built-in integrations.	It demands time to master it.
It has a free trial period.	It is challenging to customize templates.
It offers powerful marketing automation.	HubSpot is high-priced for small organizations.
It has a drag-and-drop feature to help you design landing pages, etc.	It has limited eCommerce features.

WordPress vs HubSpot Pricing

WordPress Pricing

WordPress.org is completely free. But you require two things to make your site visible to the audience across the internet, including:

• Hosting plan
• Domain name

There are multiple platforms from where you can buy a domain name, including:

• SiteGround – at $3.99/ month
• GoDaddy – at $4.99/ month
• BlueHost – at $2.95/ month
• Hostinger – at $2.99/ month
• DreamHost – at $2.95/ month

Note: Are you confused about selecting a suitable WordPress hosting for your site? Don’t worry; we have a detailed guide on 11+ Best WordPress Hosting Providers 2024 to help you choose the right one for you.

Remember, over 59,000 free plugins and over 12,000 free themes are available in the WordPress repository. You can use them for your site without spending a penny.

However, there are premium versions for more advanced functionality.

So, the total WordPress cost will depend on your site’s requirements for the themes and plugins for your site.

HubSpot CMS Pricing

HubSpot CMS is also accessible for free on its own. 

However, it offers a few products with multiple pricing plans, including:

• Marketing – You can get the Marketing Hub Enterprize for $800/ month.
• Sales – This product is available at $90/ month.
• Service – You can get this product, which is available at $90/ month per seat.
• Content –  The Content Hub Professional plan is $450/ month per seat.
• Operations – You can get this product for $720/ month.
• Commerce – You can get started with this product for free.

Remember, you can select multiple products simultaneously to grow your business. The final cost will depend on your selected products.

WordPress vs HubSpot: Which is the Best CMS in 2024?

We’ve compared WordPress and HubSpot regarding features, ease of use, customization options, publishing tools, and more.

WordPress is ideal for those seeking flexibility, extensive customization, and control over their site. It’s also a cost-effective and flexible solution.

On the other hand, HubSpot is suited for those looking for an all-in-one solution for their business with solid marketing, sales, and service tools. But it is more expensive and less flexible.

Your choice depends on your specific needs and, most importantly, your budget. This is why WordPress is the best choice for you.

Features	WordPress	Hubspot
Ease of Use	✓	✓
Customization	✓	Limited Functionality
Themes	✓	Limited Functionality
Built-in Templates	✓	Limited Functionality
Publishing Tools	✓	✓
Security	✓	✓
SEO	✓	✓
eCommerce	✓	✓

WordPress vs HubSpot FAQs 

These FAQs help you understand the critical differences between WordPress and HubSpot and guide you in choosing the right platform for your needs.

Final Thoughts

In conclusion, WordPress stands out for its flexibility, third-party integration, eCommerce support, and many other features. 

Undoubtedly, it’s the best choice for users who prioritize customization, control over their site, and access to many themes and plugins. 

That’s all for this article!

Here are the key takeaways:

• WordPress vs Hubspot: Ease of Use
• WordPress vs Hubspot: Customization Options
• WordPress vs Hubspot: Publishing Tools
• WordPress vs Hubspot: Themes and Templates
• WordPress vs Hubspot: Security
• WordPress vs Hubspot: eCommerce Capability
• WordPress vs Hubspot: Analytics and Data 
• WordPress vs Hubspot: SEO Features

We hope you enjoyed reading this article. It may also be a great time to dive into some other helpful WordPress articles:

• WordPress vs Squarespace vs Wix: Which One Is Best In 2024?
• 30+ Best WordPress Blogs To Read In 2024
• ClickFunnels vs WordPress: A Detailed Comparison (2024)
• Best Free WooCommerce Themes
• What Is A WordPress Plugin? [12 Amazing Examples]
• Why You Should Be Using WordPress for Ecommerce