HubSpot for Startups vs Notion for Startups (2026): Which Is Better for Startups?

Both are software perks for startups. Here is how HubSpot for Startups and Notion for Startups compare on what a startup gets, who qualifies and how to apply, and which one we would pick.

HubSpot for Startups

Up to 90% off HubSpot Professional or Enterprise in year one for funded or partner-backed startups

8.0 /10

Pricing: Free to join

Pros

Up to 90% off year one, with discounts for two more years
Open to funded startups without a partner code
Covers the full HubSpot platform at Professional level

Cons

Annual commitment and steep list prices once the discount ends
Only for net-new Professional or Enterprise products

Visit HubSpot for Startups ↗

Notion for Startups

Up to 6 months free on Notion Business with Notion AI included, for startups under 100 employees

8.0 /10

Pricing: Up to $12k in credits & perks

Pros

3 months available without a partner
Notion AI included in every tier
No funding requirement

Cons

Service businesses and agencies usually only get 1 month
Top 6-month tier needs a partner

Visit Notion for Startups ↗

HubSpot for Startups vs Notion for Startups at a glance

	HubSpot for Startups	Notion for Startups
Editor score	8.0 / 10	8.0 / 10
Pricing model	Free	Free
What you get	Free to join	Up to $12k in credits & perks
Who qualifies	Startups that raised pre-seed, seed or Series A (not Series B+) or are affiliated with an approved HubSpot partner; the 30% tier is for members of approved entrepreneurial organisations.	Non-paying Notion customers with fewer than 100 employees, a company-domain email and no previous Notion promotion; 6 months requires a partner affiliation.
Partner code needed	No	Yes
Steps it helps with	claim startup credits, get your first 100 customers	claim startup credits, write content and docs
Who it is for	Pre-seed, Seed stage, Series A+, VC-backed only, SaaS	Any stage, Pre-seed, Seed stage, Bootstrapped, SaaS
Reader upvotes	0	0
Best for	crm, marketing automation, sales	docs, wiki, notion ai

Our pick

HubSpot for Startups edges it with a score of 8.0 versus 8.0. HubSpot for Startups is the better fit if you value: up to 90% off year one, with discounts for two more years, open to funded startups without a partner code. Choose Notion for Startups instead if you need: 3 months available without a partner, notion ai included in every tier. Many startups can claim both: see credits by value.