Nearly every new website creation tool proclaims itself as the WordPress replacement. Be it Wix, Webflow, Squarespace, or Drupal, each of these platforms has at some point attempted to dethrone WordPress as the leading CMS or low-code website builder.
However, even in 2023, WordPress stands unrivaled as the most popular content management system. The modern website builders, despite their stylish interfaces and user-friendly drag-and-drop editors, still can’t match the extensive add-ons, support, creative autonomy, and adaptability WordPress offers.
Yet, there’s one more potential WordPress substitute that often goes unnoticed – HubSpot. Their official site touts them as “The Best WordPress Alternative”. But is that claim accurate? Let’s delve into it!
WordPress Alternatives
WordPress alternatives generally fall into two main groups – drag-and-drop website builders and publishing platforms. It’s crucial to remember that no platform inherently surpasses the others. Each has its pros and cons, and each is designed with a specific purpose in mind.
If you’re in search of a Content Management System (CMS) or a Web Content Management System (WCM), HubSpot could be the perfect tool for you. However, for simpler sites like portfolios or landing pages, other online tools such as Weblow, Wix, or Squarespace might be more suitable options.
Comparing WordPress and HubSpot
Hubspot versus WordPress: A Brief Overview
WordPress, a well-known open-source content management platform, has been in existence since 2003. It’s more than just an attractive website builder – it’s a robust system with a plethora of free and paid extensions. With these plugins, you can create virtually any type of website, from a simple landing page to a complex customer portal or multi-functional online store.
WordPress is also highly adaptable. If you’re a developer familiar with HTML, CSS, and PHP, you can add a lot of custom functionality yourself. Alternatively, you can use plugins to add additional features to your website.
You also have the option to hire someone to do both for you. Regardless, there’s always more than one way to solve a problem in WordPress, and it’s incredibly easy to find someone who is well-versed in the platform!
Although HubSpot may not be as popular as WordPress, it’s not a newcomer to the industry. HubSpot was established in 2006, just a few years after WordPress. HubSpot is a comprehensive, cloud-based CRM platform with many components.
It’s a complete suite of products designed for businesses of all sizes. In this article, we’ll primarily discuss one of their products – CMS Hub, a content management software developed by HubSpot for marketers, developers, businesses, and content builders.
Similar to WordPress, it offers dynamic content, custom themes, memberships, and more. HubSpot also provides a free plan and an integrated drag-and-drop editor.
Costs
When it comes to costs, both platforms are nearly identical. However, HubSpot provides a clearer costing structure. As a SaaS offering, CMS Hub has a recurring monthly fee that can be paid on a monthly or yearly basis. This fee encompasses everything you need straight away, including premium hosting, regular maintenance and updates, security measures, SEO enhancements, and round-the-clock support through chat, phone, or email.
The final cost of a WordPress website is difficult to predict. Additional costs for themes, hosting, site management, and plugins will be incurred.
| Expenses | WordPress | CMS Hub (HubSpot) |
|---|---|---|
| Core functionality | No charge for the most basic plan and $45/month when billed annually for an eCommerce plan. | Ranges from $23/month (starter plan) to $1,200/month (enterprise plan). |
| Hosting | This is separately managed and can rack up costs from $10/month to $1,000/month. | All three subscription plans cover premium hosting. |
| Add-ons and integrations | A continuously expanding library of over 58,000 free and paid plugins. | Boasts over 650 applications and integrations; majority of them come with CMS Hub right off the bat. |
| Security, maintenance, and upgrades | Additional plugins needed for a WordPress website will probably incur extra costs.Website maintenance is performed manually. | Included within the plan. |
| Total | Greater than $100 per month | $23-$1,200 per month |
Security
WordPress is an open-source platform, which is both its greatest advantage and disadvantage. Regrettably, the safety and security of your WordPress site falls on your shoulders. It can be a time-consuming task and there will be additional costs – monthly security charges vary from $10 to $50. On the contrary, CMS Hub offers basic security features right away:
- A standard SSL certificate
- Web application firewall (WAF)
- Round-the-clock security & threat monitoring
Therefore, if security is your main concern, proprietary software like CMS Hub might be worth considering. Due to HubSpot’s restricted access to its code, it’s less likely to be compromised. While WordPress sites can be secure, a lot depends on the plugins you choose, how frequently you update the system, and who maintains your site.
| Feature | WordPress | HubSpot |
|---|---|---|
| Security | Requires extra security plugins that may range from $10 to $50 monthly. | Security measures are a part of all three pricing plans. |
| Stability | Largely reliant on your selected hosting service. | Offers 99.999% uptime with round-the-clock customer assistance. |
Functionalities
Both WordPress and HubSpot are robust platforms that offer a comprehensive set of features for content creation, SEO optimization, and blogging. The primary distinction lies in the structure of the two platforms – HubSpot is a fully integrated platform with numerous built-in features, whereas WordPress serves as a digital canvas filled with digital building blocks.
To build an impressive website, you’ll need to assemble various plugins, integrations, and solutions, ensuring they all mesh well together. It’s important to note that the more plugins you use, the more expenses, effort, and potential complications you face, particularly regarding maintenance, updates, and security issues.
| Feature | WordPress | CMS Hub |
|---|---|---|
| Content creation, blogging | Originally designed for blogging, WordPress provides an easy-to-use editor and essential tools for creating effective blog posts. To get a sophisticated drag-and-drop interface like Elementor, you will need to spend extra. | Equipped with premium themes, blogging and landing page tools, and a drag-and-drop editor as standard. |
| SEO optimization | WordPress doesn’t come with built-in SEO functionality. However, there are a variety of plugins available (free and premium) to help optimize your content for search from the beginning. | Comes with an inherent tool for SEO recommendations and on-page SEO tools integrated into the website pages. |
| Analytics & Reports | WordPress lacks comprehensive built-in analytics tools. While basic information like page views is available by default, a third-party product will be required for more detailed information and analysis. | Includes all the necessary analytics tools to gauge the performance of the website in all three plans. |
| Speed | The speed of a WordPress site can vary depending on the plugins used, the hosting provider, among other factors. | Delivers a speedy and optimized website immediately, without any additional setup. |
User Experience
The complexity of your website highly depends on its nature, but WordPress websites can become intricate rather quickly. In contrast, CMS Hub simplifies website management, allowing you to concentrate on other crucial aspects such as content creation or marketing.
HubSpot provides all the necessary tools to create a website, while with WordPress, you have to assemble the components yourself. As plugins are developed by various companies, it demands time and energy to ensure their compatibility.
As a WordPress user, regular website maintenance and plugin updates are essential. This could pose challenges in training new users or finding the right individual to maintain and enhance your custom website.
Maintaining WordPress websites, given their diversity, can be laborious. The presence of numerous third-party plugins can also complicate scaling and modifications to an existing website.
In conclusion, maintaining a HubSpot website is considerably simpler. CMS Hub is part of a larger ecosystem, but the entire product is developed by a single company. Consequently, you experience a consistent feel, a predictable user interface, and all tools included in your monthly subscription.
| Feature | WordPress | HubSpot |
|---|---|---|
| Easy to get started | + | + |
| Easy to maintain | – | + |
| Easy to learn | + | + |
| Easy to use | Generally dependent on the complexity of the website being built. | Generally dependent on the complexity of the website being built. |
Hubspot vs. WordPress: Conclusion
Evidently, the decision between these two platforms requires careful deliberation. Both WordPress and CMS Hub present their own advantages and drawbacks. If you’re searching for a more tailored solution, WordPress remains a top contender in the market.
On the other hand, if your priority is to concentrate on other crucial elements of your business and leave website maintenance behind, then HubSpot and its wide range of product offerings could be precisely what you need.