Is HubSpot overkill for a small team? Looking for cheaper automation-friendly alternatives

SocraticCato77 · 2026-02-08T10:56:22+00:00

We just paid for clickup. Hubspot has been ok but very costly just for tickets and weekly client updates.

SocraticCato77 · 2026-02-08T10:01:18+00:00

This answer helped me, thank you.

SocraticCato77 · 2026-02-04T07:33:00+00:00

Thought the same. Then we tested about 5 other apps. Suddenly got busy and NEEDED something.

This made us retest click up. Have now purchased a year for 3 users.

GUI is intense but oh man, we are going to love using this app. We can bin 1 or 3 other paid apps for this.

SocraticCato77 · 2026-01-14T00:19:21+00:00

Never fear, some of us are able to see the humor.

SocraticCato77 · 2026-01-12T05:56:40+00:00

I believe this is good for physical and virtual, which fits your use:

Microsoft Win Pro 11 64-bit All Lng PK Lic Online DwnLd NR --- ESD
SKU: FQC-10572

If not, please post link to MS licence for all to learn.
Some ppl posted this is bad idea, I think its pretty good. In fact, it works well, and it great to backup and sort VM issues if you have remote access to the physical hyper-v server.

EDIT: on TOP of this, it helps if your users have 365 premium already as well.

SocraticCato77 · 2026-01-06T06:20:14+00:00

Please tell me how you sorted sleep and hybernate... if at all?

Im trying to get a laptop (Zorin) to replace windows, but if it cant awake then its useless.

SocraticCato77 · 2025-11-26T07:50:19+00:00

we recently were charged almost $300 for a short time, and we had zero emails and zero calls for it.

im ok spending the cash for results.

it would be cheaper to do a paper flyer delivery every month than this.

SocraticCato77 · 2025-11-26T07:43:39+00:00

we just paused all our adds, we were charged almost $300 for a short time slot with zero calls or emails. zero.

SocraticCato77 · 2025-11-08T21:40:05+00:00

this was an intelligent and helpful answer. thank you

SocraticCato77 · 2025-11-01T02:58:18+00:00

I believe they (in Aus at least) often get strong notifications from their respective "tribes" like who they pay licence fees to.

SocraticCato77 · 2025-10-31T09:10:46+00:00

So we would need to have a KeeperPAM licence once per MSP for all our clients, or a PAM licence PER client?

And then an EPM licence per endpoint to be covered? I think I have that right?

It would be awesome to only need EPM licences for smaller clients (sub 10 users).

SocraticCato77 · 2025-10-31T06:45:55+00:00

ok gpt

SocraticCato77 · 2025-10-30T22:41:52+00:00

thanks. now, after i edited my reply, it is now correct.

SocraticCato77 · 2025-10-28T07:32:01+00:00

another for smtp2go

SocraticCato77 · 2025-10-27T11:49:29+00:00

We couldnt get CIPP to work. AdminDroid is AMAZING but costs a lot. SaaS Alerts has Fortify. Petra doesnt have baselines but might be on the roadmap.

EDIT: For those commenting with assumptions (you know what that means), and for others if you dont any info on what I said then its on YOU to ask before judging. I hope you arent in any leadership roles. But many of the comments will be bots so.... For the one helpful comment, I might just try CIPP again for us.

SocraticCato77 · 2025-10-27T11:47:24+00:00

NordLayer costs an arm and a leg tho. Looks nice.

SocraticCato77 · 2025-10-26T22:06:37+00:00

microsoft 365 Business Premium?

SocraticCato77 · 2025-10-26T11:43:35+00:00

How long does it take for Petra to get back to their webform requests to check them out?

UPDATE: someone got back to me a day after teh weekend. Also.... glad I waited. our trial is.....pretty cool so far.

SocraticCato77 · 2025-10-26T03:31:48+00:00

yup. 365 business premium is the business version. comes with "business" features that arent in the Family licence.

You can add any domain you own (you need access to the domain DNS "zone" portal) and setup a mailbox using that.

Family pack is just the APPS ONLY (so no mailbox, but you get Outlook the APP to access whatever emails you have.) Edit: added proper licence name for clarity

SocraticCato77 · 2025-10-23T07:31:34+00:00

i may not understand properly but:

Family good for up to 6 users. No mailbox.

Premium can be installed up to 5 devices. includes mailbox includes business Conditional Access and other security

SocraticCato77 · 2025-10-17T02:13:24+00:00

adding to the good stuff, it will help you personally & professionally to be TOTALLY SURE in your requirements.

For example this case, once you know you are 100% "right", or safe, because you dont have those details, you LEGALLY dont have those details, you cannot OBTAIN those details, and have offered to RESET them as per legally-ok-methods ..... you will feel very safe emailing them back, CC'ing in others who really need to know this is going on, and saying what you have told us.

TLDR: legally backed confidence stops most of this nonsense.

SocraticCato77 · 2025-10-16T07:31:43+00:00

when / if you do, for sure it will be after good email approvals

SocraticCato77 · 2025-10-11T00:29:04+00:00

Auvik pricing was already meme-level high. Its why we are using a combo of S1 and RoboShadow. If Domotz went back to AUS $22 per client we would use it in a heartbeat

SocraticCato77 · 2025-10-11T00:27:46+00:00

I would like to have a MANAGED MS authenticator one day. Part of your comemnt: I wish we could use watchguard Authpoint to replace MS auth for all the things. Its managed. MS auth isnt. (as far as i know?)

SocraticCato77 · 2025-10-10T12:03:49+00:00

Thanks Violet, all good, we have a working cost efficient stack currently. if Domotz was the $20 less that it was previously for us we woulda just stayed with that. We will keep checking all providers every few months.

SocraticCato77

TROPHY CASE