HubSpot vs Google Sheets for Lead Management

Spreadsheets are great—until you need scale, speed, or structure.

If you’re still managing leads in Google Sheets, you’re not alone.
It’s fast. It’s free. It works... for a while.

But here’s the truth:
Spreadsheets break when your team scales, your leads increase, or you want real-time visibility.

So, how does Google Sheets compare to a CRM like HubSpot?

Let’s break it down.

Google Sheets: Good for Getting Started

Pros:

• Free and accessible
• Simple columns for name, email, and status
• Easy to share across the team
• Lightweight and fast for <100 contacts

But…

Cons:

• No automation (unless you code it)
• Zero activity tracking (calls, emails, notes)
• Easy to overwrite or lose data
• No lead scoring or follow-up reminders
• Poor reporting and analytics

The moment you forget to update a cell, you’re flying blind.

HubSpot CRM: Built for Growth

HubSpot’s free CRM offers:

• Centralised contact records with activity timelines
• Deal pipelines with drag-and-drop stages
• Email templates, task reminders, and follow-up queues
• Lead capture forms that sync automatically
• Dashboards that show where leads come from, and which close

Bonus: You can still export to Sheets if needed.

Why We Moved Clients Off Sheets

Here’s what we saw over and over:

• Leads are going cold because no one followed up
• Sales reps stepping on each other’s deals
• No idea where deals were getting stuck
• Founders have zero visibility into performance

After switching to HubSpot, they could:

• Track deals and contacts by lifecycle stage
• Automate task assignments
• Set up lead scoring and routing
• See real revenue attribution—not just email addresses

When It’s Time to Switch

If you answer “yes” to any of these:

• Are leads falling through the cracks?
• Do you have more than one person handling leads?
• Do you want to run automations or send personalised follow-ups?
• Do you wish you had better reporting?

It’s time to move from Sheets → HubSpot.

Final Thought

Google Sheets is a great launchpad.
But if your lead gen is working—and you’re ready to grow—you need a CRM that supports your next stage.

HubSpot’s free plan gives you the structure without the cost.