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HubSpot POS vs. Tessitura: Why Museums Are Making the Switch

Running a museum means managing a complex mix of ticketing, memberships, events, gift shop sales, and donor engagement. Your technology should simplify these processes, not add to the complexity. For years, Tessitura has been a go-to solution, but it comes with significant drawbacks — high costs, a steep learning curve, and siloed systems. HubSpot offers a modern, integrated alternative that streamlines operations, reduces costs, and improves the visitor experience.

Let’s take a closer look:

Read the Case Study
Feature HubSpot POS Tessitura
Ease of Use Intuitive and user-friendly for both staff and volunteers. Steep learning curve; requires extensive training.
System Integration Fully integrates ticketing, memberships, marketing, and CRM in one platform. Limited integrations; requires additional tools to bridge gaps.
Events & Ticketing Built-in tools for ticketing, event registration, and attendee tracking. Strong ticketing tools but not as well integrated with marketing or CRM.
Real-Time Reporting Live dashboards for ticket sales, memberships, and revenue insights. Reports often require manual processes or lengthy processing times.
Cost of Ownership Lower total cost: $280K–$295K (Year 1, incl. integrations). High total cost: $537K–$612K (Year 1, incl. integrations).
Customization Flexible integrations through CommerceHub, StoreHub, and App Marketplace. Rigid customization options; expensive to adapt to specific needs.
Membership Management Automated renewals, personalized outreach, and dynamic benefits. Manual or partially automated membership workflows.
Gift Shop Integration Tracks purchases in CRM for personalized upselling and inventory management. Requires third-party solutions or manual processes for gift shop tracking.
Onboarding & Training Quick setup with in-app guidance and pre-built templates. Lengthy onboarding and ongoing training costs.
Scalability Designed for growth, with adaptable features for any size organization. Scalable but at a significantly higher cost.

Why Museums Choose HubSpot Over Tessitura

Connected Museum

A More Connected Museum Experience

With HubSpot, ticketing, memberships, and marketing work seamlessly together. A visitor’s journey — from purchasing a ticket to receiving personalized event invitations — is managed in one system. Tessitura, in contrast, often requires additional tools or manual workarounds.

Expense Tessitura HubSpot
Annual Costs $387K–$462K $250K–$265K
Integration Costs $150K $30K
Total (Year 1) $537K–$612K $280K–$295K

Museums save an average of $300K in the first year alone by switching to HubSpot — funds that can go directly toward exhibits, programs, and staffing.

Real TIme

Real-Time Data for Smarter Decisions

HubSpot provides live dashboards that track revenue, attendance, and membership renewals. With real-time insights, museums can act quickly — whether it’s restocking a popular gift shop item or following up with a recent donor. Tessitura’s reporting often involves delays and manual data processing.

Better Visitor and Event Experiences

From automated member discounts in the gift shop to personalized post-visit emails, HubSpot helps museums create seamless, engaging visitor experiences. Ticketing, registration, and attendee tracking are all built-in, eliminating the need for additional integrations.

Proven Success

Case Study

Proven Success: HubSpot in Action

A large historical society managing 26 museums and historic sites switched from Tessitura to HubSpot, streamlining operations and achieving:

  • A single system for managing constituents across all locations
  • A 33% reduction in tools for a more efficient workflow
  • 100% connected data for smarter fundraising
  • Greater scalability and a cohesive visitor experience
  • Doubled HubSpot Monthly Recurring Revenue (MRR), increasing from $4K to $8K
Read the Full Case Study

Is HubSpot Right for Your Museum? Let’s Find Out.

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