Smartblogger vs HubSpot Academy

Smartblogger lands on Depends, and HubSpot Academy lands on Worth it.

Smartblogger

smartblogger.com

Depends

Confidence: Medium

Buy a course only if you're an aspiring writer who wants structured paid training on top of the free blog.

Read the full report

HubSpot Academy

academy.hubspot.com

Worth it

Confidence: Medium

Use it if you want free, respected fundamentals in marketing, sales, service, or HubSpot tools . it costs nothing and carries real employer recognition.

Read the full report

Smartblogger versus HubSpot Academy
Compare	Smartblogger	HubSpot Academy
Verdict	Depends	Worth it
Best for	Aspiring freelance writers	Career switchers into marketing
Who it's not for	Anyone shopping for blogging software	Developers wanting deep hands-on technical training
Privacy	No known public vulnerabilities found in the sources reviewed.^⁹	No known public vulnerabilities found in the sources reviewed.
Support quality	Zendesk desk and support email exist; no reviews	No support evidence in sources
Public sentiment	Free content earns broad praise, but freelance writers on Reddit actively debate whether the paid courses are worth it.^⁴	Users praise the free, easy-to-use certifications as a solid career starting point, though some find depth limited beyond basics.¹³
Biggest gotcha	Expect paid course pitches after joining the free newsletter; set a budget first^³	Certifications removed from MyCAA/DoD funding . not universally accredited

Pick Smartblogger when

Aspiring freelance writers
Beginner bloggers wanting structured training
Content marketers seeking a certification
Fans of long-form writing guides

When Smartblogger is not a fit

Anyone shopping for blogging software
Experienced writers content with free material
Buyers needing transparent published pricing
Teams wanting a content platform with analytics

Pick HubSpot Academy when

Career switchers into marketing
HubSpot platform admins and users
Small sales/service teams upskilling
Agency teams wanting shared fundamentals

When HubSpot Academy is not a fit

Developers wanting deep hands-on technical training
Anyone needing accredited or DoD-funded credentials
Experienced pros seeking advanced depth
Learners outside marketing, sales, and service roles

Sources

Smart Blogger homepagesmartblogger.com
official
Muck Rack media profile (audience figures)muckrack.com
news
Reddit: Opinions on courses like Copyblogger and Smartblogger?reddit.com
review
Reddit: Seeking advice regarding buying Smartblogger copywriting coursereddit.com
review
Honest review of Smart Blogger's Content Marketing Certificationprojectuntethered.com
review
Reddit: It's been two years & I'm still where I startedreddit.com
review
BBB Business Profilebbb.org
news
Conny Manero blog critical of Jon Morrowconnymanero.weebly.com
review
Smart Blogger security page checksmartblogger.com
security
Process Street citing Smart Blogger certificationprocess.st
review
Ful.io company profile (team size)ful.io
news
HubSpot Academy . Courses & Lessonsacademy.hubspot.com
official
HubSpot Academy Reviews . TrustRadiustrustradius.com
review
HubSpot Academy Reviews . G2g2.com
review
Is A HubSpot Certification Worth It? . LeanLabsleanlabs.com
review
HubSpot Academy limitations . Latenode communitycommunity.latenode.com
review