Search Categories

CFML PROCESSING: {ts '2025-12-31 11:51:16'}

We review products independently. We may earn a commission if you buy through our links, at no extra cost to you. Learn more


For additional tools in this area, check out our complete Marketing Automation for Small Businesses guide.

Marketing Automation Tools for Small Businesses
Albert Richer

Finding Your Perfect Match: A Research-Driven Look at the Best Marketing Automation Tools for Small Businesses When analyzing customer feedback across various platforms, it becomes clear that small businesses often prioritize ease of use and affordability over a laundry list of features. Market research indicates that tools like Mailchimp and HubSpot frequently appear in top-rated lists, with users praising Mailchimp's intuitive interface and effective email campaign capabilities. Finding Your Perfect Match: A Research-Driven Look at the Best Marketing Automation Tools for Small Businesses When analyzing customer feedback across various platforms, it becomes clear that small businesses often prioritize ease of use and affordability over a laundry list of features.

Similar Categories
1
Expert Score
9.8 / 10
377
119
SCALABLE SOLUTIONS
CUSTOMIZABLE

Keap: Small Business CRM

Keap: Small Business CRM
View Website
Pricing starts at $79/month, with custom plans available
SCALABLE SOLUTIONS
CUSTOMIZABLE

Why We Love It

Keap is uniquely positioned as a robust, yet user-friendly, CRM and automation tool for small businesses. It's more than just a software; it's a business partner that helps save time and foster growth. With features like appointment scheduling, email marketing, sales pipeline visibility and more, it offers everything a small business needs to organize their work and keep customers satisfied. Its adaptability to specific business needs is what industry professionals love about it.

Pros

  • Tailored for small businesses
  • Comprehensive CRM and marketing automation
  • User-friendly interface
  • 24/7 customer support

Cons

  • May be over-featured for micro businesses
  • No free trial available
  • Slightly higher price point

Pricing starts at $79/month, with custom plans available

Keap is specifically designed to meet the challenges of small businesses in managing customer relationships and marketing automation. It effectively addresses the industry's need for time-saving, growth-enhancing solutions without the disruption often associated with these processes.

Pros

  • Tailored for small businesses
  • Comprehensive CRM and marketing automation
  • User-friendly interface
  • 24/7 customer support

Cons

  • May be over-featured for micro businesses
  • No free trial available
  • Slightly higher price point
SCALABLE SOLUTIONS
CUSTOMIZABLE

Why We Love It

Keap is uniquely positioned as a robust, yet user-friendly, CRM and automation tool for small businesses. It's more than just a software; it's a business partner that helps save time and foster growth. With features like appointment scheduling, email marketing, sales pipeline visibility and more, it offers everything a small business needs to organize their work and keep customers satisfied. Its adaptability to specific business needs is what industry professionals love about it.

Pros

  • Tailored for small businesses
  • Comprehensive CRM and marketing automation
  • User-friendly interface
  • 24/7 customer support

Cons

  • May be over-featured for micro businesses
  • No free trial available
  • Slightly higher price point

Why We Love It

Keap is uniquely positioned as a robust, yet user-friendly, CRM and automation tool for small businesses. It's more than just a software; it's a business partner that helps save time and foster growth. With features like appointment scheduling, email marketing, sales pipeline visibility and more, it offers everything a small business needs to organize their work and keep customers satisfied. Its adaptability to specific business needs is what industry professionals love about it.

Pricing starts at $79/month, with custom plans available

Keap is specifically designed to meet the challenges of small businesses in managing customer relationships and marketing automation. It effectively addresses the industry's need for time-saving, growth-enhancing solutions without the disruption often associated with these processes.

2
Expert Score
9.5 / 10
364
48
EMAIL MARKETING PRO
GREAT SUPPORT
EMAIL MARKETING PRO
GREAT SUPPORT

Why We Love It

Salesforce Small Business Marketing is a versatile, powerful, and comprehensive system that understands the unique needs of small businesses. Its range of tools from lead generation to customer relationship management makes it a one-stop-shop solution. The high level of customization allows brands to create unique, personal experiences, while its robust analytics help track and measure success. It's a premium choice for small businesses looking to scale and professionalize their marketing efforts.

Pros

  • Comprehensive marketing tools
  • CRM integration
  • High level of customization
  • Robust analytics
  • Reliable customer support

Cons

  • Can be complex for beginners
  • Pricier than some competitors
  • May require additional resources for optimization

Enterprise pricing available

Specifically designed for small businesses, this marketing software from Salesforce offers impactful solutions to find leads, boost engagement, and increase revenue. It provides a well-rounded set of tools for email marketing, marketing automation, and customer relationship management, addressing the key needs of small business professionals.

Pros

  • Comprehensive marketing tools
  • CRM integration
  • High level of customization
  • Robust analytics
  • Reliable customer support

Cons

  • Can be complex for beginners
  • Pricier than some competitors
  • May require additional resources for optimization
EMAIL MARKETING PRO
GREAT SUPPORT

Why We Love It

Salesforce Small Business Marketing is a versatile, powerful, and comprehensive system that understands the unique needs of small businesses. Its range of tools from lead generation to customer relationship management makes it a one-stop-shop solution. The high level of customization allows brands to create unique, personal experiences, while its robust analytics help track and measure success. It's a premium choice for small businesses looking to scale and professionalize their marketing efforts.

Pros

  • Comprehensive marketing tools
  • CRM integration
  • High level of customization
  • Robust analytics
  • Reliable customer support

Cons

  • Can be complex for beginners
  • Pricier than some competitors
  • May require additional resources for optimization

Why We Love It

Salesforce Small Business Marketing is a versatile, powerful, and comprehensive system that understands the unique needs of small businesses. Its range of tools from lead generation to customer relationship management makes it a one-stop-shop solution. The high level of customization allows brands to create unique, personal experiences, while its robust analytics help track and measure success. It's a premium choice for small businesses looking to scale and professionalize their marketing efforts.

Enterprise pricing available

Specifically designed for small businesses, this marketing software from Salesforce offers impactful solutions to find leads, boost engagement, and increase revenue. It provides a well-rounded set of tools for email marketing, marketing automation, and customer relationship management, addressing the key needs of small business professionals.

3
Expert Score
9.3 / 10
406
102
TAILORED FOR SMALL BIZ
USER-FRIENDLY

Mailchimp: Marketing & Automation

Mailchimp: Marketing & Automation
View Website
Free plan available, Paid plans starting from $9.99/month
TAILORED FOR SMALL BIZ
USER-FRIENDLY

Why We Love It

Mailchimp shines in its ability to meet the unique marketing needs of small businesses. It offers an intuitive interface, powerful email marketing tools, and AI-driven insights to help businesses grow their customer base. It's not just an email platform, but a comprehensive marketing solution that allows businesses to automate their marketing efforts, track their success, and understand their audience better. The platform's flexibility and integration capabilities make it easier for small businesses to manage their marketing activities in one place.

Pros

  • Powerful email marketing features
  • AI-driven customer insights
  • Easy-to-use interface
  • Integration with various platforms
  • Excellent customer support

Cons

  • May have a learning curve for beginners
  • Advanced features may require higher-priced plans

Free plan available, Paid plans starting from $9.99/month

Mailchimp is a comprehensive marketing automation tool specifically designed to meet the needs of small businesses. It leverages real-time behavior data and AI to help businesses convert more customers, providing a robust email marketing platform that is easy to use and integrates seamlessly with other business tools.

Pros

  • Powerful email marketing features
  • AI-driven customer insights
  • Easy-to-use interface
  • Integration with various platforms
  • Excellent customer support

Cons

  • May have a learning curve for beginners
  • Advanced features may require higher-priced plans
TAILORED FOR SMALL BIZ
USER-FRIENDLY

Why We Love It

Mailchimp shines in its ability to meet the unique marketing needs of small businesses. It offers an intuitive interface, powerful email marketing tools, and AI-driven insights to help businesses grow their customer base. It's not just an email platform, but a comprehensive marketing solution that allows businesses to automate their marketing efforts, track their success, and understand their audience better. The platform's flexibility and integration capabilities make it easier for small businesses to manage their marketing activities in one place.

Pros

  • Powerful email marketing features
  • AI-driven customer insights
  • Easy-to-use interface
  • Integration with various platforms
  • Excellent customer support

Cons

  • May have a learning curve for beginners
  • Advanced features may require higher-priced plans

Why We Love It

Mailchimp shines in its ability to meet the unique marketing needs of small businesses. It offers an intuitive interface, powerful email marketing tools, and AI-driven insights to help businesses grow their customer base. It's not just an email platform, but a comprehensive marketing solution that allows businesses to automate their marketing efforts, track their success, and understand their audience better. The platform's flexibility and integration capabilities make it easier for small businesses to manage their marketing activities in one place.

Free plan available, Paid plans starting from $9.99/month

Mailchimp is a comprehensive marketing automation tool specifically designed to meet the needs of small businesses. It leverages real-time behavior data and AI to help businesses convert more customers, providing a robust email marketing platform that is easy to use and integrates seamlessly with other business tools.

4
Expert Score
9.0 / 10
386
99
ROBUST ANALYTICS
CRM INTEGRATION

Drip Marketing Automation

Drip Marketing Automation
View Website
Pricing starts at $19/month, with custom enterprise pricing available
ROBUST ANALYTICS
CRM INTEGRATION

Why We Love It

Drip makes marketing automation accessible and effective for small businesses. Its prebuilt workflows simplify the process of setting up complex marketing campaigns. The built-in strategies and tools are tailored to the specific needs of small businesses, making it easier for them to reach their target audience, engage customers, and drive sales. The analytics and tracking features provide deep insights into customer behavior, facilitating data-driven decisions.

Pros

  • Powerful automation capabilities
  • Built-in marketing strategies
  • Prebuilt workflows
  • Deep customer insights
  • Easy-to-use interface

Cons

  • Limited CRM capabilities
  • May require a learning curve
  • No free plan

Pricing starts at $19/month, with custom enterprise pricing available

Drip is a powerful, user-friendly marketing automation SaaS solution designed specifically for small businesses. It offers built-in marketing strategies and tools, prebuilt workflows, and robust analytics that directly address the needs of small businesses to automate their marketing efforts, drive engagement, and increase conversions.

Pros

  • Powerful automation capabilities
  • Built-in marketing strategies
  • Prebuilt workflows
  • Deep customer insights
  • Easy-to-use interface

Cons

  • Limited CRM capabilities
  • May require a learning curve
  • No free plan
ROBUST ANALYTICS
CRM INTEGRATION

Why We Love It

Drip makes marketing automation accessible and effective for small businesses. Its prebuilt workflows simplify the process of setting up complex marketing campaigns. The built-in strategies and tools are tailored to the specific needs of small businesses, making it easier for them to reach their target audience, engage customers, and drive sales. The analytics and tracking features provide deep insights into customer behavior, facilitating data-driven decisions.

Pros

  • Powerful automation capabilities
  • Built-in marketing strategies
  • Prebuilt workflows
  • Deep customer insights
  • Easy-to-use interface

Cons

  • Limited CRM capabilities
  • May require a learning curve
  • No free plan

Why We Love It

Drip makes marketing automation accessible and effective for small businesses. Its prebuilt workflows simplify the process of setting up complex marketing campaigns. The built-in strategies and tools are tailored to the specific needs of small businesses, making it easier for them to reach their target audience, engage customers, and drive sales. The analytics and tracking features provide deep insights into customer behavior, facilitating data-driven decisions.

Pricing starts at $19/month, with custom enterprise pricing available

Drip is a powerful, user-friendly marketing automation SaaS solution designed specifically for small businesses. It offers built-in marketing strategies and tools, prebuilt workflows, and robust analytics that directly address the needs of small businesses to automate their marketing efforts, drive engagement, and increase conversions.

5
Expert Score
8.8 / 10
361
42
AFFORDABLE PLANS
AI-POWERED

FluentCRM

FluentCRM
View Website
Pricing starts at $129/year for Single Site License
AFFORDABLE PLANS
AI-POWERED

Why We Love It

FluentCRM stands out in the small business marketing automation industry because of its seamless integration with WordPress. It allows businesses to manage their marketing activities directly from their WordPress dashboard, eliminating the need to juggle multiple platforms. The automation feature is a big hit among industry professionals, as it saves them time and allows for more targeted marketing campaigns.

Pros

  • Affordability
  • WordPress integration
  • Comprehensive marketing features
  • User-friendly interface
  • Email automation

Cons

  • Limited to WordPress sites
  • Yearly subscription model
  • Lack of live support

Pricing starts at $129/year for Single Site License

FluentCRM is a comprehensive marketing automation tool designed specifically for WordPress users. It caters to small businesses, providing them with features like lead generation, contact segmentation, email campaign launching and automation. It is a perfect fit for small businesses looking to improve their marketing outreach while maintaining a manageable budget.

Pros

  • Affordability
  • WordPress integration
  • Comprehensive marketing features
  • User-friendly interface
  • Email automation

Cons

  • Limited to WordPress sites
  • Yearly subscription model
  • Lack of live support
AFFORDABLE PLANS
AI-POWERED

Why We Love It

FluentCRM stands out in the small business marketing automation industry because of its seamless integration with WordPress. It allows businesses to manage their marketing activities directly from their WordPress dashboard, eliminating the need to juggle multiple platforms. The automation feature is a big hit among industry professionals, as it saves them time and allows for more targeted marketing campaigns.

Pros

  • Affordability
  • WordPress integration
  • Comprehensive marketing features
  • User-friendly interface
  • Email automation

Cons

  • Limited to WordPress sites
  • Yearly subscription model
  • Lack of live support

Why We Love It

FluentCRM stands out in the small business marketing automation industry because of its seamless integration with WordPress. It allows businesses to manage their marketing activities directly from their WordPress dashboard, eliminating the need to juggle multiple platforms. The automation feature is a big hit among industry professionals, as it saves them time and allows for more targeted marketing campaigns.

Pricing starts at $129/year for Single Site License

FluentCRM is a comprehensive marketing automation tool designed specifically for WordPress users. It caters to small businesses, providing them with features like lead generation, contact segmentation, email campaign launching and automation. It is a perfect fit for small businesses looking to improve their marketing outreach while maintaining a manageable budget.

6
Expert Score
8.5 / 10
645
145
TIME-SAVER
ALL-IN-ONE SOLUTION

ActiveCampaign

ActiveCampaign
View Website
Starting at $9/month, Free trial available, Enterprise pricing available
TIME-SAVER
ALL-IN-ONE SOLUTION

Why We Love It

ActiveCampaign is the Swiss Army Knife of marketing automation for small businesses. It is not just an email marketing tool, but a complete sales and marketing machine that combines the power of email, CRM, and automation. It provides a level of sophistication that is usually reserved for enterprise-level companies. The ease of use, combined with a powerful feature set, makes it a favorite among small businesses.

Pros

  • Advanced automation features
  • Strong CRM capabilities
  • Broad range of integrations
  • Great customer support
  • Highly scalable

Cons

  • Can be overwhelming for beginners
  • Relatively higher price point
  • Limited functionalities in basic plan

Starting at $9/month, Free trial available, Enterprise pricing available

ActiveCampaign is a powerful marketing automation tool ideal for small businesses. It offers an array of features like email marketing, CRM, and SMS messaging that specifically cater to the diverse needs of small businesses, helping them to engage with their target audience more effectively and efficiently.

Pros

  • Advanced automation features
  • Strong CRM capabilities
  • Broad range of integrations
  • Great customer support
  • Highly scalable

Cons

  • Can be overwhelming for beginners
  • Relatively higher price point
  • Limited functionalities in basic plan
TIME-SAVER
ALL-IN-ONE SOLUTION

Why We Love It

ActiveCampaign is the Swiss Army Knife of marketing automation for small businesses. It is not just an email marketing tool, but a complete sales and marketing machine that combines the power of email, CRM, and automation. It provides a level of sophistication that is usually reserved for enterprise-level companies. The ease of use, combined with a powerful feature set, makes it a favorite among small businesses.

Pros

  • Advanced automation features
  • Strong CRM capabilities
  • Broad range of integrations
  • Great customer support
  • Highly scalable

Cons

  • Can be overwhelming for beginners
  • Relatively higher price point
  • Limited functionalities in basic plan

Why We Love It

ActiveCampaign is the Swiss Army Knife of marketing automation for small businesses. It is not just an email marketing tool, but a complete sales and marketing machine that combines the power of email, CRM, and automation. It provides a level of sophistication that is usually reserved for enterprise-level companies. The ease of use, combined with a powerful feature set, makes it a favorite among small businesses.

Starting at $9/month, Free trial available, Enterprise pricing available

ActiveCampaign is a powerful marketing automation tool ideal for small businesses. It offers an array of features like email marketing, CRM, and SMS messaging that specifically cater to the diverse needs of small businesses, helping them to engage with their target audience more effectively and efficiently.

Product Comparison

Product Has Mobile App Has Free Plan Has Free Trial Integrates With Zapier Has Public API Live Chat Support SOC 2 or ISO Certified Popular Integrations Supports SSO Starting Price
1Keap: Small Business CRM
Yes No No Yes Yes Yes Not specified QuickBooks, Zapier, Gmail, Outlook No $79/month
2ActiveCampaign
Yes No Yes - 14 days Yes Yes Yes SOC 2 Shopify, WordPress, Zapier, Facebook Enterprise plans only $9/month
3Drip Marketing Automation
No No Yes - 14 days Yes Yes Yes Not specified Shopify, WooCommerce, Facebook, Zapier No $19/month
4FluentCRM
No No No No No Email/Ticket only Not specified WordPress, WooCommerce, Easy Digital Downloads No $129/year
5Salesforce Small Business Marketing
Yes No Contact for trial Yes Yes Yes SOC 2 Slack, Google Workspace, Microsoft 365, Mailchimp Yes Contact for pricing
6Mailchimp: Marketing & Automation
Yes Yes No Yes Yes Email/Ticket only Not specified Shopify, WooCommerce, Zapier, Salesforce No $9.99/month
1

Keap: Small Business CRM

Has Mobile App
Yes
Has Free Plan
No
Has Free Trial
No
Integrates With Zapier
Yes
Has Public API
Yes
Live Chat Support
Yes
SOC 2 or ISO Certified
Not specified
Popular Integrations
QuickBooks, Zapier, Gmail, Outlook
Supports SSO
No
Starting Price
$79/month
2

ActiveCampaign

Has Mobile App
Yes
Has Free Plan
No
Has Free Trial
Yes - 14 days
Integrates With Zapier
Yes
Has Public API
Yes
Live Chat Support
Yes
SOC 2 or ISO Certified
SOC 2
Popular Integrations
Shopify, WordPress, Zapier, Facebook
Supports SSO
Enterprise plans only
Starting Price
$9/month
3

Drip Marketing Automation

Has Mobile App
No
Has Free Plan
No
Has Free Trial
Yes - 14 days
Integrates With Zapier
Yes
Has Public API
Yes
Live Chat Support
Yes
SOC 2 or ISO Certified
Not specified
Popular Integrations
Shopify, WooCommerce, Facebook, Zapier
Supports SSO
No
Starting Price
$19/month
4

FluentCRM

Has Mobile App
No
Has Free Plan
No
Has Free Trial
No
Integrates With Zapier
No
Has Public API
No
Live Chat Support
Email/Ticket only
SOC 2 or ISO Certified
Not specified
Popular Integrations
WordPress, WooCommerce, Easy Digital Downloads
Supports SSO
No
Starting Price
$129/year
5

Salesforce Small Business Marketing

Has Mobile App
Yes
Has Free Plan
No
Has Free Trial
Contact for trial
Integrates With Zapier
Yes
Has Public API
Yes
Live Chat Support
Yes
SOC 2 or ISO Certified
SOC 2
Popular Integrations
Slack, Google Workspace, Microsoft 365, Mailchimp
Supports SSO
Yes
Starting Price
Contact for pricing
6

Mailchimp: Marketing & Automation

Has Mobile App
Yes
Has Free Plan
Yes
Has Free Trial
No
Integrates With Zapier
Yes
Has Public API
Yes
Live Chat Support
Email/Ticket only
SOC 2 or ISO Certified
Not specified
Popular Integrations
Shopify, WooCommerce, Zapier, Salesforce
Supports SSO
No
Starting Price
$9.99/month

Similar Categories

How We Rank Products

How We Evaluate Products

Our Evaluation Process

The "How We Choose" section for marketing automation tools for small businesses outlines a comprehensive evaluation process focusing on key factors such as specifications, features, customer reviews, ratings, and overall value for money. Critical considerations specific to this category include user-friendliness, scalability, integration capabilities, and customer support, which are essential for small businesses seeking effective solutions. The research methodology involves analyzing data from product specifications, aggregated customer feedback across multiple platforms, and comparative ratings to establish a clear ranking based on the price-to-value ratio and feature set. This objective approach ensures that the selected products meet the unique needs and budget constraints of small business users.

As an Amazon Associate, we earn from qualifying purchases. We may also earn commissions from other affiliate partners.

Frequently Asked Questions About Marketing Automation Tools for Small Businesses

What makes a marketing automation tools for small businesses the "best"?

We evaluate products based on quality, performance, value for money, user reviews, durability, and ease of use. Our rankings are updated regularly to reflect the latest market offerings and user feedback.

How often do you update your marketing automation tools for small businesses recommendations?

Our team continuously monitors the market for new products and updates our recommendations quarterly. We also adjust rankings based on user feedback and new testing results.

Do you test all the products you recommend?

Yes, whenever possible, we physically test products in our labs. For products we can't test directly, we rely on verified user reviews, expert opinions, and detailed specifications to make informed recommendations.

What if I'm looking for a specific type of marketing automation tools for small businesses?

Our top 10 list covers the most popular and highly-rated options. If you have specific requirements, check our detailed product descriptions and pros/cons to find the best match for your needs.

×

Score Breakdown

0.0 / 10
Excellent

What This Award Means