Best Marketing Automation Software
Real automation that converts — not just drip campaigns. Here's what actually works.
Marketing automation platforms go beyond email — they trigger messages, score leads, and move contacts through sales funnels based on behavior. ActiveCampaign and HubSpot lead this space for different buyer profiles.
Brevo
Email, SMS, and chat marketing — formerly Sendinblue
Brevo (formerly Sendinblue) competes on price and breadth. Its free tier is one of the most generous in the industry — 300 emails/day forever — and it bundles SMS, live chat, and transactional email without add-on fees.
Starting at
Free
- ✓Most generous free tier in email marketing (unlimited contacts)
- ✓Transactional email included without extra fees
- ✓Built-in SMS marketing
💡 Commission triggers when referred user creates a free account
ActiveCampaign
Email marketing, automation, and CRM in one platform
ActiveCampaign combines email marketing, marketing automation, and a built-in CRM. It's the go-to for businesses that want advanced automation without enterprise pricing.
Starting at
$15/mo
- ✓Best-in-class automation builder with visual canvas
- ✓Built-in CRM with lead scoring
- ✓Conditional content and dynamic email blocks
Klaviyo
The e-commerce email platform built for revenue
Klaviyo dominates e-commerce email marketing. Native integrations with Shopify, BigCommerce, and WooCommerce mean it syncs purchase data, abandoned carts, and browsing behavior automatically — turning that data into revenue.
Starting at
Free
- ✓Best-in-class e-commerce integrations (Shopify native)
- ✓Revenue attribution shows exact ROI per campaign
- ✓Predictive analytics for customer lifetime value
Kit
Email marketing built for creators (formerly ConvertKit)
Kit (rebranded from ConvertKit in 2024) is purpose-built for creators — bloggers, podcasters, YouTubers, and course sellers. Its tagging system, subscriber-centric model, and creator-specific features make it the default for the creator economy.
Starting at
Free
- ✓Free plan up to 10,000 subscribers
- ✓Tag-based subscriber management (vs list-based)
- ✓Built-in paid newsletter monetization
HubSpot
The all-in-one CRM platform for growing businesses
HubSpot is the dominant all-in-one CRM, covering marketing, sales, service, and operations hubs. The free CRM is genuinely powerful — but paid tiers scale to enterprise pricing quickly. It's the safe choice for B2B businesses that want everything integrated.
Starting at
Free
- ✓Best free CRM on the market — genuinely functional
- ✓All hubs (marketing, sales, service) integrate natively
- ✓Massive ecosystem of integrations and apps
GetResponse
Email marketing, automation, and webinar platform
GetResponse bundles email marketing, marketing automation, landing pages, webinars, and a website builder into one platform. It's an all-in-one stack for marketers who want to avoid juggling multiple tools.
Starting at
Free
- ✓Built-in webinar hosting (unique differentiator)
- ✓All-in-one: email + landing pages + automation + website builder
- ✓Generous affiliate program ($100 one-time or 33% recurring)
Mailchimp
The world's most popular email marketing platform
Mailchimp is where most small businesses start their email marketing journey. Its free plan, intuitive builder, and brand recognition make it the default choice — but power users often outgrow it.
Starting at
Free
- ✓Free plan for up to 500 contacts
- ✓Extremely beginner-friendly drag-and-drop editor
- ✓Massive template library
Marketing Automation Comparisons
ActiveCampaign vs Mailchimp
This is the most-asked email marketing comparison for a reason. Mailchimp wins on ease of use and brand recognition. ActiveCampaign wins on everything else that actually moves revenue.
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HubSpot vs Pipedrive
HubSpot is the all-in-one platform; Pipedrive is the sales-first CRM. Both are excellent — but they're built for different teams. HubSpot wins for marketing-led growth; Pipedrive wins for outbound sales teams.
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Mailchimp vs Brevo
Both are popular free email marketing options — but their free tiers work very differently. Mailchimp limits by contacts; Brevo limits by sends. If you have a large list but send infrequently, Brevo wins on price. If you're just starting with a small list, Mailchimp's UX may feel easier.
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