Salesloft vs HubSpot (2026) Compared
One is a sales engagement layer you bolt onto your CRM. The other IS the CRM. That distinction matters more than any feature checklist.
The Short Version
Salesloft is the better fit for enterprise outbound teams already running Salesforce who need structured cadences, call coaching, and pipeline visibility. HubSpot Sales Hub wins for marketing-led organizations that want CRM + engagement in a single platform without managing multiple vendor contracts. Salesloft's biggest risk is the compounding cost of needing a separate CRM underneath it. HubSpot's biggest risk is that its engagement features don't go as deep as a purpose-built tool.
Quick Comparison
| Feature | Salesloft | HubSpot CRM |
|---|---|---|
| Starting Price | ~$125/user/mo | Free CRM |
| Enterprise Price | $165/user/mo | $150/user/mo (Sales Enterprise) |
| Contract | Annual required | Monthly available (Starter) |
| Setup | 2–4 weeks with onboarding | Self-service in days |
| Core Strength | Structured outbound cadences | CRM + marketing automation |
| Dialer Built-in | Yes, with call recording and coaching | Yes, basic (calling add-on for advanced) |
| Marketing Built-in | No | Yes (Marketing Hub) |
| Integrations | Salesforce-first, HubSpot supported | 1,500+ Marketplace |
| Job Demand | 43 postings | 432 postings |
| Best For | Enterprise outbound sales teams | Marketing-led, mid-market orgs |
| The Big Risk | You're paying for Salesloft AND a CRM | Engagement features lag behind dedicated tools |
Deep Dive: Salesloft
What They're Selling
Salesloft is an enterprise sales engagement platform built for structured outbound. It gives SDR and AE teams multi-step cadences, a native dialer with call coaching, deal intelligence, and pipeline analytics. It's designed to sit on top of your CRM and make reps more productive.
What It Actually Costs
Plans range from $125 to $165/user/mo depending on tier. But that's not the full picture. You still need a CRM underneath, usually Salesforce at $75–165/user/mo. For a 20-person team, expect $60K–80K/year for Salesloft alone, plus your CRM costs. Implementation and onboarding typically run $5K–15K. Total first-year cost for 20 reps: $100K–150K when you stack both tools.
What Users Say
Sales managers like the cadence structure and coaching features. Reps appreciate the automation but some find the interface dense. The Salesforce integration is tight; the HubSpot integration works but isn't as deep. Teams that switch from Outreach often cite Salesloft's better UX as the reason.
Pros
- Purpose-built for outbound sales execution
- Call coaching and conversation intelligence built in
- Strong Salesforce integration
- Cadence analytics help managers identify what's working
Cons
- Requires a separate CRM, which doubles your stack cost
- Annual contracts with limited flexibility
- Smaller integration ecosystem than HubSpot
- 43 job postings vs 432 means a smaller talent pool
Deep Dive: HubSpot CRM
What They're Selling
HubSpot Sales Hub is the sales arm of the HubSpot platform. Its pitch is consolidation: CRM, email sequences, calling, deal tracking, and reporting in one system. For teams already using HubSpot Marketing Hub, adding Sales Hub means zero integration headaches and a single source of truth from first touch to closed-won.
What It Actually Costs
The free CRM is a real starting point. Starter Sales Hub runs $20/user/mo. Professional ($100/user/mo) is where sequences and automation kick in. Enterprise ($150/user/mo) adds predictive scoring and custom objects. A 20-person team on Professional: $24K–48K/year depending on hub combinations. Mandatory onboarding fees ($1,500–6,000) add to the first year. But you aren't buying a separate CRM, so total cost is often lower than Salesloft + Salesforce.
What Users Say
Teams praise the unified platform experience. Everything lives in one place, and non-technical reps can build their own sequences and reports. The complaints: sequences aren't as sophisticated as Salesloft's cadences, the dialer is basic without add-ons, and advanced outbound teams feel constrained by the workflow limitations.
Pros
- CRM + engagement in one platform, no integration tax
- Free tier that works for small teams
- Native marketing automation eliminates a separate MAP
- 10x larger job market (432 vs 43 postings)
Cons
- Sequences lack the depth of dedicated engagement platforms
- Basic dialer without paid calling add-ons
- Contact-based pricing can spike at scale
- Outbound-heavy teams may outgrow the engagement features
Which Should You Pick?
The Honest Take
These tools solve different problems. Salesloft is a sales engagement layer on top of your CRM. HubSpot IS the CRM with engagement tools built in. If you're already deep in Salesforce and your outbound team runs tight, structured cadences, Salesloft earns its place. But if you're evaluating both from scratch, the math favors HubSpot for most teams under 100 reps. You're paying one vendor instead of two, and the engagement gap has narrowed considerably since 2023. The 10x difference in job postings (432 vs 43) also signals where the market is heading.
Questions to Ask Before Buying
- Do you already have a CRM, and if so, which one?
- What percentage of your pipeline comes from outbound vs inbound?
- How many touches per week does each rep execute?
- Do you need call coaching and conversation intelligence?
- What's your realistic all-in budget, including CRM costs?
- Does your marketing team need to share the same platform?
- How technical is your ops team for managing integrations?
- Are you willing to commit to an annual contract?
Frequently Asked Questions
Can Salesloft replace your CRM?
No. Salesloft is a sales engagement platform, not a CRM. You'll still need Salesforce, HubSpot, or another CRM for pipeline management, reporting, and data storage. Salesloft's deal intelligence features overlap with some CRM functionality, but it doesn't replace the system of record.
Is HubSpot's Sales Hub good enough for outbound teams?
For teams running fewer than 100 touches per rep per week, yes. HubSpot's sequences handle basic multi-step outreach well. But if your outbound motion requires branching logic, A/B testing at scale, or sophisticated call coaching, Salesloft's purpose-built approach is noticeably stronger.
Which has more career demand?
HubSpot by a wide margin. Our data shows 432 job postings mentioning HubSpot vs 43 for Salesloft. HubSpot skills are in demand across sales, marketing, and ops roles. Salesloft experience is valued but mostly relevant for sales ops and SDR management positions.