How to Use Hubspot to Choose the Best Website Builder Alternative

Choosing the right website platform can be overwhelming, but using Hubspot-style evaluation methods makes it easier to compare options and pick the best fit for your business goals.

Based on the comparison approach used in the Squarespace alternatives guide from HubSpot’s website blog, this article walks you through a clear, structured process to select your next website builder with confidence.

Step 1: Define Your Website Goals with a Hubspot-Style Framework

Before signing up for any platform, use a simple framework similar to what Hubspot uses in its educational content: start with goals, audience, and growth plans.

Clarify Your Core Website Purpose

Write down the main thing your site must do. For example:

• Publish long-form content or a blog
• Sell products through ecommerce
• Generate leads through forms, chat, or landing pages
• Showcase a portfolio or simple brochure site

This mirrors how Hubspot breaks down use cases when reviewing tools: the right platform depends on what you need your site to achieve first.

Identify Your Non‑Negotiable Features

Create a short checklist of must-have features. Common examples include:

• Built-in SEO controls and clean URLs
• Blogging tools and content management
• Integrated ecommerce and payments
• Templates you can customize without code
• Analytics and marketing integrations

Using a structured list like this helps you apply a Hubspot-style evaluation lens to every website builder you review.

Step 2: Shortlist Alternatives Using Hubspot Comparison Criteria

The original Squarespace alternatives guide compares products using clear criteria such as price, ease of use, flexibility, and support. You can use the same type of Hubspot comparison criteria for your own shortlist.

Build a Simple Comparison Table

Create a table or spreadsheet with these columns:

• Platform name
• Monthly price (and transaction fees)
• Best for (blog, ecommerce, portfolio, etc.)
• Ease of use (beginner, intermediate, advanced)
• Design flexibility (templates vs. full customization)
• Marketing and CRM integrations
• SEO tools and performance

Then add rows for each platform you are considering. This is exactly the kind of structured overview you see in Hubspot educational articles.

Rate Each Builder with Hubspot-Inspired Scoring

For each platform, rate the key categories from 1 to 5:

1. Features match your goals
2. Ease of setup and daily use
3. Design and branding control
4. Scalability and performance
5. Support, documentation, and community

Add notes to support each rating, the same way Hubspot content explains pros, cons, and ideal users for each alternative.

Step 3: Evaluate Features that Matter Most for Growth

A major theme in Hubspot resources is long-term growth. When picking a website builder, think beyond launch and consider how the platform will support your marketing and sales over time.

SEO and Content Tools with a Hubspot Mindset

Look for SEO and content capabilities that support visibility and traffic, such as:

• Editable title tags, meta descriptions, and headings
• Clean, customizable URLs
• Automatic sitemaps and mobile-responsive design
• Fast hosting and image optimization
• Blogging tools with categories and tags

These match the best practices taught in Hubspot SEO lessons and help your site rank and perform better in search engines.

Marketing, CRM, and Automation Integration

The most powerful sites connect to marketing and CRM platforms. When assessing website builders, check for:

• Native integration or easy connection to CRM tools
• Email marketing and lead capture forms
• Landing page and A/B testing support
• Analytics dashboards or integrations with analytics suites

Using a Hubspot-style evaluation means asking how each platform will support your lead generation, nurturing, and reporting workflows.

Step 4: Compare Pricing and Value Like a Hubspot Guide

Price comparisons in Hubspot articles rarely focus on the lowest cost alone. Instead, they highlight value relative to features and growth potential.

List All Costs, Not Just the Monthly Plan

For each website builder, document:

• Base monthly or annual subscription
• Transaction or processing fees for ecommerce
• Theme or template costs, if applicable
• Paid apps, plugins, or extensions
• Domain name and email hosting costs

This gives you a full-cost picture so you can compare platforms the way Hubspot compares marketing tools: by true total cost of ownership.

Match Price Tiers to Your Growth Stage

Then align price tiers with where your business is today and where it will be in 12–24 months:

• Starter or basic plans for validation and early launch
• Professional tiers when you need more traffic and customizations
• Advanced or enterprise plans when you require scale and integrations

A thoughtful, staged approach mirrors the strategic guidance you see in Hubspot educational content about tools and platforms.

Step 5: Test, Validate, and Decide with Hubspot-Inspired Experiments

Before making a final decision, follow an experiment-driven process similar to what Hubspot often recommends for marketing tests.

Run Short Build Sprints on Two Platforms

Choose your top two builders and run a quick test:

1. Sign up for each platform’s trial or entry plan.
2. Recreate the same core page set on both tools: home, about, contact, and one blog or product page.
3. Note how long each task takes and how natural the workflows feel.
4. Check how easy it is to adjust SEO settings and connect basic analytics.

By testing in parallel, you get a real sense of usability and fit, beyond what feature lists promise. This mirrors the practical, example-led style that Hubspot content often demonstrates.

Review Performance and User Experience

Once you have trial pages built, review:

• Page speed and mobile responsiveness
• Clarity of navigation and design on multiple devices
• Form submissions and basic lead capture tests
• Any friction your team experiences while editing content

Your final decision should balance builder features, pricing, and everyday usability, just as a Hubspot product comparison balances data and real-world use.

Going Beyond the Website Builder: Hubspot-Style Optimization

Once you choose a platform, continue optimizing your site using an iterative, data-driven process. This is a core principle across Hubspot training and articles.

Measure, Improve, and Iterate

After launch, commit to regular reviews:

• Track traffic, engagement, and conversions
• Identify pages with high exit or bounce rates
• Improve content, design, and calls to action based on data
• Test new formats such as lead magnets, blogs, and landing pages

Over time, this ongoing refinement will matter more than the initial choice of builder, which is why a Hubspot-inspired, growth-focused mindset is so important.

Get Expert Help Applying Hubspot Evaluation Methods

If you want strategic support applying a Hubspot-style framework to your website and marketing stack, consider working with specialists who understand both technical and growth perspectives.

For tailored consulting on platform selection, SEO, and performance optimization, you can review services from partners such as Consultevo, which focuses on data-driven website and marketing improvements.

By combining a structured Hubspot-inspired evaluation process with hands-on testing and clear growth goals, you can confidently choose the website builder that will support your business today and scale with you tomorrow.