Zendesk Sell to HubSpot
Sales CRM (leads, contacts, deals, tasks, smart lists) that Zendesk is retiring on 31 Aug 2027, and Zendesk points customers to Pipedrive.
Zendesk Sell data can move into HubSpot, landing mainly in Sales Hub. 5 of 11 mapped objects move directly (Contacts, Organizations/accounts, Deals and stages and Notes); 5 items need manual work and 2 do not move. Plan roughly 1-3 weeks for a small move and 8-16 weeks for a large one.
Migration checklist for Zendesk Sell
Three phases, specific to this system. Tick steps off as you go.
Before
0 of 6 doneDuring
0 of 6 doneAfter
0 of 6 doneWhat will it take?
No price list: cost follows volume, custom objects and how much logic must be rebuilt. Answer four quick questions for a planning range.
The three scenarios
Small migration
<10k records
CSV-led, with minimal activity history.
Mid migration
10k-100k records
API pull of activities plus workflow rebuild.
Large migration
>100k records
Heavy activity history, custom mapping, delta loads.
What moves the number
Timeline ranges are planning estimates, not a quote. A partner confirms scope after discovery.
Access, mapping and limits
Start with how data leaves Zendesk Sell: what you need to get in, what lands in HubSpot, and what will not.
REST (Sell Core/Sales CRM API)
Personal access token or OAuth app from the Sell account, plus a HubSpot private app token or OAuth.
Admin, or a user with export permission, for CSV export (Settings > Data > Export).
Choose your route
How will you move the data?
No native connector was found.
- You need: Personal access token or OAuth app from the Sell account, plus a HubSpot private app token or OAuth.
- Permission: Admin, or a user with export permission, for CSV export (Settings > Data > Export).
Native imports often bring over only some data, so check coverage per object in the mapping below.
Export each object, clean it, then import it into HubSpot.
- CSV export of leads, contacts, deals, notes, tasks, smart lists, full account data and the Total Sales report, delivered by secure email link
- Smart-list export for some system fields such as Parent Company ID
- REST API for activities, calls, emails and notes
Limits: To confirm
Migration and sync tools can move more than a plain import. Confirm which objects each one supports before you choose.
Best when volume is high, custom objects are many or automation is heavy. That is the Large scenario: 8-16 weeks, usually phased.
Talk to a partnerWhere each object lands
In Zendesk Sell
In HubSpot
Hover or tap anything on the left to see where it lands.
| Source object | In HubSpot | Moves | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Contacts | Contacts | yes | Included in the CSV export. |
| Leads | Contacts | partial | HubSpot has no matching lead record in this mapping, so leads are typically loaded as Contacts with a lifecycle stage or status to tell them apart. Some partners map them to HubSpot Leads. |
| Organizations/accounts | Companies | yes | Included in the full account export. Parent Company ID appears only in the smart-list export. |
| Deals and stages | Deals | yes | Deals are exported. Pipelines and stages must be created in HubSpot first. |
| Notes | Notes | yes | Exported to CSV. Set the original timestamp on import, or HubSpot uses the import time. |
| Tasks | Tasks | yes | Exported to CSV. Tasks must be associated with a record. |
| Calls and emails | Calls / Emails | partial | The CSV export excludes them. The API reportedly exposes them, so they need scripted extraction. |
| Appointments | Meetings | manual | Not exportable via CSV. API availability is unverified. |
| Documents | Files | manual | Not in the CSV export. Needs API download if available. |
| Products | Products | partial | Partner mapping lists products. Product export coverage is not confirmed in Zendesk's notice. |
| Users/owners | Contacts (owner property) | manual | Users are not in the export list, so map owners manually to HubSpot users. |
What to expect
Zendesk states these cannot be exported through the CSV export.
Zendesk deletes data permanently, and the API stops with the subscription.
Only data exports. Zendesk's export list contains no automation configuration.
Users and permissions are not in the export list.
Only the Total Sales report and smart lists export.
Smart lists export, but their filter logic must be rebuilt.
Custom fields must exist in HubSpot first.
Extract them via the API early, and archive the raw JSON.
Download and checksum files right away. Re-run the export if needed.
Map the original dates to hs_timestamp.
Export a smart list that includes the field and load the associations afterward.
Use batch endpoints and throttling.
Data governance and compliance
Decide what is allowed to move before anything is exported. Tick each gate once it is agreed.
How we researched this page
How much to trust each section, and where it comes from.
Retirement date, CSV export scope and permissions come from Zendesk's own notice. The API details (auth, host, endpoints) come from secondary guides, not the Sell developer docs. No HubSpot-native Sell connector was confirmed. HubSpot import behaviour and mapping rest on partner guides.
Sources
Related migrations
Frequently asked questions
How do I migrate Zendesk Sell to HubSpot?
1. Confirm who has Admin or export permission in Sell. 2. Create a Sell personal access token or OAuth app for API extraction. 3. Inventory custom fields, pipelines, stages, smart lists and users. 4. Create matching HubSpot properties, pipelines and users first.
What data can move from Zendesk Sell to HubSpot?
These objects move directly: Contacts, Organizations/accounts, Deals and stages, Notes and Tasks. Check the mapping table for partial and manual items.
What does not move from Zendesk Sell to HubSpot?
Activity history, appointments, emails, call logs, documents via standard export and Sell data after the subscription ends or on 31 Aug 2027, whichever comes first. Plan to rebuild or retire these.
How long does a Zendesk Sell to HubSpot migration take?
Small (<10k records): 1-3 weeks. Mid (10k-100k records): 3-8 weeks. Large (>100k records): 8-16 weeks. These are planning estimates, not a quote.
What access do I need to export from Zendesk Sell?
Personal access token or OAuth app from the Sell account, plus a HubSpot private app token or OAuth. Admin, or a user with export permission, for CSV export (Settings > Data > Export).
What compliance issues apply when moving Zendesk Sell data?
Check: Check free-text notes and documents for health, financial or minors' data. Agree consent, retention and access rules before exporting.
Moving Zendesk Sell into HubSpot?
A network of 153+ tiered HubSpot partners and 1,800+ accounts of experience. Tell us what you are moving and which hub matters most.
Talk to a partner