HubSpot vs. WordPress: Which CMS is Best for Your Business

Customer Management Systems (CMS) are an integral part of how a business operates.

HubSpot and WordPress are among the two top choices for businesses, both of which have functions to make the building and optimization of a website easy.

For more about what makes these systems similar and what sets them apart, we'll be looking at the things you need to keep in mind when selecting the best one for your business. 

Business Websites

The majority of the world's population has access to the internet and uses it daily. With e-commerce continuing to grow worldwide, many businesses are utilizing digital means to reach their audiences. 

Your business's website is its online storefront. It is an important asset that customers refer to during the buyer's journey. Whether they can shop online or not, your website is the source of information that tells the customer what your brand is all about and how they can reach you. Therefore, the experience one has on your website is a reflection of your brand, with the power to influence perceptions and the actions taken next. 

The key to having a good website includes having an aesthetically pleasing design and user-friendly functionality. It should load quickly and be populated with engaging content. It is also essential to use tools that optimize your website on an ongoing basis, which will ensure your website is agile. 

For marketers and developers to create a great website that ticks all the boxes, you need to choose the CMS that suits your business's needs. This software has been designed for businesses to build and manage their website with ease without building them using code.

Elements of a CMS

This is how HubSpot compares with WordPress in relation to the seven critical elements of a CMS. 

Domain registration: Your business will need a URL that matches your brand. To do this, you will need to buy a domain (or multiple versions of it). 

  • HubSpot: You buy the domain through a third-party and then connect it to HubSpot.
  • WordPress: You can register a domain directly through WordPress.

Your business will need a domain of its own, though this is relatively easy to set up in both instances. 

Hosting: Hosting is the buying or leasing of space on a server where your website will reside. 

  • HubSpot: Websites built with the HubSpot CMS Hub are hosted in HubSpot and all inclusive access to the HubSpot CMS and a range of features and security measures, costs from $240 to $900 per month.  These include editors, customizable themes, and dynamic content options such as SEO recommendations, A/B testing, and conversational bots.
  • WordPress: Websites built and hosted on WordPress.com include free hosting, though having your own domain requires a subscription plan. The Personal plan is priced at $4 per month and includes basic design functionality. For additional features and options, you'll need to purchase other plugins.  You'll also need to consider the cost of additional security features as Wordpress websites are often subject to unwanted security and content breaches.

Consider all of the requirements your website needs and compare the costs between HubSpot's all-inclusive plan versus the costs of the plugins you'd require on WordPress to find the most affordable solution for your business.

Design: The template and aesthetics of a website cannot be underestimated.

  • HubSpot: You can create a website with a WYSIWYG feel using HubSpot's drag and drop editor. There are templates available in the HubSpot Marketplace, with just about everything you need, included and accessible. There are premium template upgrades and packaged themes with a once-off cost, starting at $50. 
  • WordPress: WordPress themes are available from free basic options to premium selections that cost hundreds of dollars. Some of the plugins you'll require are free, while others cost $500-$,000 per year.

When it comes to your website's design elements, choosing a theme and having all of the necessary plugins is crucial. Explore both HubSpot and WordPress to see which options suit your business's needs and budget. For purposes of ease, the all-inclusive option may be best.

Developer Involvement and Fees: CMS makes it possible to build your website without the need for a developer to build it from scratch; however, you may need one on hand to help maintain your site. 

  • HubSpot: No third-party maintenance is required for HubSpot sites' backend since it doesn't use plugins. With the editing and templates available, no developer involvement is needed. 

"CMS Hub takes care of maintenance and website management for you, so you can focus on what really matters -- the experience you're providing your customers. With security and regular updates taken care of, you can focus on creating new content. And with CMS Hub'sHub's flexible design system, your marketers will never have to work through their developers to make simple updates to their website," says Alex Girard, Product Marketing Manager at Hubspot.

  • WordPress: If you're working with a theme that doesn't require much work, you may not need a developer. However, customizing your site will likely require one, as advanced backend knowledge will help maintain your themes and plugins. 

Security: Your business needs a safe website that provides security protection against hackers and spammers. An SSL certificate is the standard security included with websites. When hosting on HubSpot or WordPress, you can access top-tier security that features automated and manual checks for abuse, anomalies, and attacks. Each CMS platform has a team dedicated to security which monitors 24/7. However, there are other factors to consider. 

  • HubSpot: HubSpot also offers a content delivery network and custom global CDN configuration to ensure your website remains active without any downtime due to high levels of traffic. 
  • WordPress: Note that if your website is self-hosted, the security management will be up to your business to manage and maintain. There are many free options for this, though installation is done at your own risk. 

Backup and Storage: Your business will require storage and backups of its data to keep it secure and running.  

  • HubSpot: HubSpot'sHubSpot's file manager is limitless and able to handle images, fonts, audio, PDFs, and more. Websites are backed up on HubSpot'sHubSpot's servers without any additional costs.
  • WordPress: This depends on the hosting and configurations selected. WordPress has packages that include storage, with additional storage needs available with additional costs. Select a package that suits your needs and ensure that upgrading in the future will be feasible for your business. 

Support: This refers to the platform's support for purposes of troubleshooting and can be a valuable resource to have on hand. 

  • HubSpot: HubSpot Support comprises an expert team that can be contacted via the live chat function (within office hours), logging a call via email (they reply within 24 hours), or calling them (available 24/7). There is also a HubSpot Community platform and self-service knowledge base.  
  • WordPress: Support depends on where your website is hosted. When hosting with WordPress, you will have access to their support services, though troubleshooting for the platform and a theme may be separate, as WordPress hosts not all themes. Ensure you know which support is available to you and that it is high-quality. 

 

Both WordPress and HubSpot have functionality and pricing to suit various business needs. Weighing up your requirements and budget will point you in the direction towards the best CMS for your business. For high-level websites operating with multiple domains, HubSpot provides much value. Smaller-scale businesses that require minimal customization may benefit more from WordPress. If those needs and requirements change, you can begin the process of migrating to another CMS platform. To do so, or for more help in selecting and the CMS best suited to grow your business, reach out to us at DXG.

Get in touch with one of our experts.

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