Top 5 HubSpot Marketing Hub Alternatives for SaaS Startups

For years, HubSpot was the easy answer. It looked solid, felt safe, and seemed to check all the boxes. But today, the growth journey looks very different. SaaS teams move faster, hire fewer people, and expect more out of every tool they use.

That’s where things start to break.

HubSpot still depends on people to build, fix, and update workflows. But AI marketing automation alternatives are changing that story. We now have platforms where AI agents handle campaign decisions, not just send emails or trigger messages.

In this blog, we’ll look at the top HubSpot Marketing Hub alternatives built for modern SaaS startups. If you’re looking for alternatives to HubSpot Marketing Hub that save time and grow smarter, this is for you.

We’ll also cover lesser-known facts most teams miss when choosing HubSpot competitors for marketing automation today.

Top 5 HubSpot Marketing Hub Alternatives

1. Questera: The AI Agent-Driven Lifecycle Platform for SaaS Growth

What It Is

Questera is one of the newest and smartest HubSpot Marketing Hub alternatives built from the ground up for SaaS growth. It runs on autonomous AI agents who handle tasks your team would normally spend hours doing. These agents do not wait for you to tell them what to do. They observe how users behave and immediately launch what they need.

This is full-speed execution without needing to plan every detail yourself.

Why It’s the #1 HubSpot Alternative

Most people don’t realize how much time they lose setting up campaigns inside tools like HubSpot. Even small changes need someone to jump in and fix things. With Questera, AI agents like SARA, ELMA, and OMNIA run your marketing for you. They test, update, and launch across every channel without slowing down.

It supports tools like Segment, Amplitude, and Mixpanel out of the box.

If you're comparing HubSpot competitors for marketing automation, Questera saves you more time and effort than most.

Teams using it go live 10 times faster than they would on other alternatives to HubSpot Marketing Hub.

Best For

SaaS brands who want a true HubSpot alternative with AI features, not just another workflow builder.

2. Customer.io: Behavior-Based Messaging for SaaS

What It Is

Customer.io is one of the more flexible HubSpot Marketing Hub alternatives available today. Many early SaaS teams begin to use it when they want more control over how and when they trigger messages. The system listens to what users do inside your product. Then, based on those actions, it sends the right message at the right time.

The design allows it to respond to user behavior instead of relying only on pre-set schedules or static segments. This is helpful when you want to react fast to what your users are doing.

Why It’s a Strong Contender

One reason Customer.io stands out among alternatives to HubSpot Marketing Hub is how simple it makes event-based automation. You do not need to rely only on one-time campaigns. If your product is already set up with tools like Segment, this platform works smoothly alongside them.

The visual workflow builder is easy to understand, and your team can map out full journeys from signup to activation. But here is something to keep in mind. Customer.io does not run on AI agents. It relies on rules you set and triggers you build. So while it gives flexibility, it also needs someone to watch over it, tweak logic, and make changes when needed.

Many teams forget that this kind of manual work adds up. If you are looking for a HubSpot alternative with AI features, this one may not check that box.

Best For

Customer.io is best for SaaS marketers who want full control over messaging but do not mind spending time on setup and testing. If you are comparing HubSpot competitors for marketing automation and prefer hands-on tools, this one fits that need well.

3. Encharge: Great for Early-Stage SaaS Teams

What It Is

Encharge is a simple and friendly platform made for early SaaS teams. It is one of those HubSpot Marketing Hub alternatives that keeps things clear and easy right from the start. If you are just beginning to think about lifecycle marketing, Encharge helps you move quickly without getting lost in complexity.

You can build journeys using a clean visual builder and start sending emails tied to real user actions.

Why It’s a Solid HubSpot Alternative

Many teams start with Encharge when they feel HubSpot is too bulky or hard to manage. It works well with Stripe, Intercom, and other tools you are already using. The workflows feel light, and you can test things without needing much help from developers.

However, one thing to understand is that Encharge is not an AI marketing automation alternative. It still relies on you to define every condition, trigger, and message. You will not find agents learning on their own or optimizing journeys for you.

If your team is very early in its growth and needs something that works fast without too much setup, Encharge can be a great pick. But if you are growing fast and want automation that can run on its own, you might outgrow this sooner than you think.

Best For

Encharge is best for startup teams who want something simple but useful. If you are comparing HubSpot Marketing Hub competitors, this one makes sense for teams just getting started with email and product messaging.

4. Ortto: Visual Journey Builder with Analytics

What It Is

Ortto is another smart tool in the list of alternatives to HubSpot Marketing Hub, but with a strong focus on data. It brings together your messaging, analytics, and customer profiles into one single view. This is useful when you want to see how users move through your funnel and what actions they take.

It lets you track leads, conversions, and actions across different stages of the journey.

Why It’s in the List

One thing teams like about Ortto is the way it connects customer data and marketing actions. It gives a lot of flexibility when it comes to segmenting users and sending targeted messages. You can filter audiences based on activity, spending, or any custom data field you track.

The journey builder is well designed and feels easy to work with. But here’s the catch. It still relies on logic that you set up. So even though the tool is powerful, the automation is rules-based and not powered by AI agents.

This means every improvement needs your team to go in and make changes. For teams looking for a HubSpot alternative with AI features, this might not give the level of autonomy that agentic platforms now offer.

Best For

Ortto is ideal for SaaS teams that want a deeper understanding of their funnel and value strong analytics. If you want something more visual and are open to doing manual setup, this could work well among other HubSpot competitors for marketing automation.

5. Userlist: Built for B2B SaaS Lifecycle Emails

What It Is

Userlist is not trying to be everything for everyone. Instead, it focuses only on one core thing- B2B SaaS lifecycle emails. It is one of the leanest HubSpot Marketing Hub alternatives, but also one of the cleanest when it comes to keeping communication simple.

If your goal is to send the right onboarding, activation, and retention emails based on what users are doing, Userlist makes that easy to set up.

Why It Works for Some Startups

Many SaaS founders turn to Userlist when they feel HubSpot gives them too many things they don’t need. This tool is not multichannel. It does not run complex campaigns. But it does one thing really well: it helps you respond to your user’s in-app behavior through timely emails.

The product experience is clean. It is not heavy to learn, and you can launch fast without needing a team of marketers or engineers. But since it focuses only on email, it may not be enough for startups that want broader AI marketing automation alternatives.

It also lacks the kind of predictive or AI-driven tools you will find in platforms like Questera.

Best For

Userlist is great for early-stage B2B SaaS founders who want a simple email tool that is easy to use and focused. If you are comparing HubSpot Marketing Hub competitors and only care about email onboarding and retention, this could be a great fit.

You Don’t Need to Settle for Slower, Heavier Tools Anymore

If you’ve been using HubSpot for a while, it’s easy to think you have no better option. But the truth is, things have changed. SaaS teams no longer have to spend weeks building flows, fixing bugs, or setting up campaigns manually.

Today’s best HubSpot Marketing Hub alternatives give you more control, faster results, and smarter automation, without adding more work to your plate. Some platforms, like Customer.io and Encharge, offer flexible setups. Others, like Ortto and Userlist, help you stay focused on one area of your lifecycle.

But if you’re serious about growth and want to move at SaaS speed, Questera is the HubSpot alternative with AI features you don’t want to miss. It’s built for teams who want agentic AI execution, not just automation.

So if you’re comparing alternatives to HubSpot Marketing Hub or looking for HubSpot competitors for marketing automation, start with the tool that does more so you can do less. Questera is already helping fast-moving SaaS teams stay ahead, and it can do the same for yours.

FAQs

1. What is the best HubSpot alternative with AI features for SaaS startups?

If you're looking for full AI execution instead of just automation, Questera is the best HubSpot alternative with AI features. It uses agentic AI to run, test, and optimize campaigns without manual work.

2. Why are SaaS teams moving away from HubSpot in 2025?

Many SaaS teams feel that HubSpot takes too much setup and ongoing effort. Today, they prefer tools that run faster, reduce manual steps, and offer smart automation. That’s why they are exploring newer HubSpot Marketing Hub alternatives.

3. Which platforms offer better value than HubSpot for early-stage SaaS startups?

Encharge and Userlist are great picks for startups just getting started. They are more affordable and easier to use than HubSpot, especially when teams are small and budgets are tight.

4. Does Customer.io use AI for marketing automation?

No. Customer.io is powerful when it comes to behavior-based triggers, but it does not run on AI. It still needs manual setup, testing, and logic updates.

5. Which HubSpot competitors for marketing automation work well with tools like Segment or Stripe?

Questera, Customer.io, and Encharge all offer strong integrations with popular tools like Segment, Stripe, and Mixpanel. These tools make it easier to track user behavior and trigger messages in real time.

6. How do these alternatives compare with HubSpot in terms of speed?

Platforms like Questera deliver 10x faster go-to-market speed by using AI agents. Others like Encharge or Ortto are faster than HubSpot in setup but still rely on manual workflows.