It’s not always easy to determine what’s the best solution for the needs of your business. For example, many people wonder if they should use HubDB or custom objects. Both features are super helpful, but which one is best for your business? That’s the question we’ll answer today!
As you may already know, not every tool will fit your business needs perfectly or structure your data in a way that helps you manage it and use it most efficiently. On one hand, using HubDB is a great tool to manage your business data as a beginner.
On the other hand, custom objects allow you to store information in objects of your own making. They also allow you to represent custom data that you’re free to organize to fit the needs of your business.
To learn more about the difference between HubDB and custom objects, we have to look at them individually and discuss their benefits. This will allow you to make the best possible decision for your business. So, let’s get into it!
What Is HubDB?
HubDB is a relational database where you can store your business data and organize it in tables, very similar to a spreadsheet. It offers a ready-to-use solution for data storage and management. You can customize your data without any issues, which is great.
When you compare this with other relational databases, the main difference is that this one is integrated with HubSpot. As such, you can access HubDB data points through the HubDB API so your data can be shown in HubSpot.
You can access the database on the HubSpot CMS Hub if your subscription is Professional or Enterprise. Additionally, this tool is compatible with HubL, so it can extract data and render it in the CMS Hub, which provides data abstraction that doesn’t require servers.
What Are Custom Objects?
Custom objects are another HubSpot feature and they’re very similar to CRM objects you may already know, such as tickets, contacts, deals, and more. They allow you to create objects to represent your data, which you can base on the needs of your business.
You can easily create custom objects using the API, UI with a private app, or HubSpot CLI. With custom objects, you can customize the properties, schema, and associations with other projects. This way, you can create an accurate representation of your business data.
HubDB vs. Custom Objects: Which One Should I Use?
HubDB and HubSpot custom objects both offer great benefits. Choosing the right one for your business is just a matter of determining which one is the right tool. This is a ready-to-use database, which means you can build and manage it on your own and you won’t need a dedicated IT team.
You can give access to other team members so they can use the database as well and the data will be displayed in a familiar spreadsheet format. This tool makes your business more powerful, especially when it’s used for website work.
HubDB can help you build dynamic pages and it’s not as expensive as HubSpot Custom Objects. If you already have a massive website, the tool will allow you to edit back-end information in no time. You will even be able to display information in emails, not just on web pages.
Not everything’s perfect, though! HubDB has a few drawbacks to keep in mind. Such as:
- It only allows tables to have 10,000 rows and you can only have 1,000 tables per account.
- It’s compatible only with the CMS, so if you need your data to be linked to the CRM, you won’t be able to do that.
- It allows you to create public APIs to access the database, which means unauthenticated APIs can access it as well. As such, you need to be extra careful about what you share and keep it within your team.
As you know, HubSpot already offers standard objects such as deals, contacts, tickets, companies, and more. Additionally, it offers HubSpot Custom Objects, which allow you to personalize your approach a lot better. You can create them with an API and also associate them with objects that are already there.
Custom objects are not limited to the CMS, so you will be able to use them to display data in the CRM, a webpage, or even via email. This tool enables you to unify your website and business data for any purpose you may need.
In other words, HubSpot Custom Objects offer a lot of flexibility. They also offer more freedom because the instances per type of object are not limited by HubSpot. Overall, it’s a great way to store and manage your data.
The only major drawback is that HubSpot Custom Objects are only available on the Professional or Enterprise subscription. These subscriptions cost $800 and $3,600 a month, respectively.
Not all businesses have that kind of budget, so this feature is not as accessible. If your budget is limited, which is often the case for startups and small businesses, it will be very difficult to get the feature.
Final Words
When it comes down to it, no tool is necessarily better than the other. Choosing between them is only a matter of knowing what your needs are. HubSpot Custom Objects offers more options, variations, freedom, and flexibility. However, it’s expensive!
HubDB is a lot more accessible and though it has limitations, it’s still valuable and it’s perfect for a variety of projects. At the end of the day, you’re the only one who can determine which option will serve you the best, so read this short guide carefully and consider all the factors.
If your budget is limited at the moment because your business is just getting started, using HubDB will not disappoint. As your business grows, so will your budget. Not to mention your needs will evolve as well. At that point, if HubDB is no longer suiting your business, you can upgrade to HubSpot Custom Objects.
Need professional assistance? Contact us and we’ll be happy to help!
