Learn about the best lead management software solutions for top sellers, including the best use-cases for each of the top options.
Email is a crucial part of the lead generation and nurturing process. But with automated responses, email blasts, newsletters, drip feeds, and more, it isn’t always a novice-friendly experience. Not only do the best email marketing CRMs help you generate leads, but they also help you nurture those leads via robust email marketing and core CRM functionality.
Here are the top eight email marketing CRMs for marketers and salespeople:
There are many options to consider here, so we narrowed down the list by focusing on CRM software with the maximum amount of email integration, automation, and usability. Additionally, we put a lot of consideration into those with strong public reputations and unique features that can’t be found anywhere else.
We established six categories, along with more specific subcriteria to find a leader in every category. This gave us a specific score for each entry, which was ultimately used to determine their overall ranking.
There are a few free options on this list, but all of the entries provide some sort of additional services for a monthly fee.
Criteria Winner: MailChimpYou’re already expecting a certain amount of functionality from your CRM solution, so we’ve made sure to include all of the common features in this category.
Criteria Winner: Zoho MailEmail marketing is a crucial benchmark for this list. We looked for solutions with newsletter and drip feed support, auto-responders, customizable email templates, and more.
Criteria Winner: ActiveCampaign, Agile CRMIt might not hold as much weight as some of the other categories, but it’s always helpful to customize your reports, dashboards, and analytics to better match your CRM and email marketing needs.
Criteria Winner: Microsoft Dynamics 365Accessibility can make or break your experience with any software. It’s also important to remember that some solutions are focused on novice users, while others cater specifically to advanced and tech-savvy users.
Criteria Winner: Microsoft Dynamics 365This category represents a combination of our expertise and the entry’s perception within the public eye. Our expert score takes into account overall popularity and reputation above all else.
Criteria Winner: ActiveCampaignAll pricing based on annual commitments unless otherwise noted.
Overall, we found Agile CRM to be the best overall CRM for email marketing based on our analysis above. However, all of the options on our list provide good solutions for specific use cases. Check out how each scored below.
Agile CRM provides third-party email accessibility at an affordable price.
Price Range: Free to $47.99 per month
Pros:
Cons:
While some solutions are only compatible with one or two email services, Agile CRM features more integrations than any other entry on the list. Fully compatible with Gmail, Office 365, and IMAP, Agile CRM is a versatile solution that lets you keep your current provider while still enjoying the benefits of email marketing and CRM.
Zoho CRM offers in-house email hosting with a free version available, also rated our top marketing CRM.
Price Range: Free to $52 per month (15-day free trial)
Pros:
Cons:
Zoho CRM provides an in-house email client that integrates directly with your CRM. This is perfect for salespeople who have yet to settle on a permanent email client or for those who want an all-in-one solution. Not only does this let you manage business leads while simultaneously viewing previous emails, but it lets you easily add email addresses to your database, auto-suggest potential contacts before sending new emails, and more.
ActiveCampaign provides full-service CRM marketing and email automation in one.
Price Range: $9 to $229 per month
Pros:
Cons:
ActiveCampaign lets you automate your email marketing campaigns with just a few clicks. Not only does it provide automated follow-ups and notifications, but you can kick off the entire customer relationship with an automated message that’s sent after they visit your site. Combine this with the ability to transfer from a fully automated campaign to a human representative, and you have one of the best email marketing CRM solutions available.
HubSpot CRM provides integrations for CRM email marketing and live chat for added customer support.
Price Range: Free to $1,200 per month (Sales Hub)
Pros:
Cons:
HubSpot CRM lets you support your customer base regardless of their preferred platform. Start with the free option, then upgrade to Sales Hub for more functionality and integrations with Marketing Hub, which is sold separately at a monthly cost of $45-$3,200. With compatibility for email, online webchat, and voice chat, HubSpot CRM is the best choice for those working with diverse demographics and a variety of different technologies.
Microsoft Dynamics 365 offers their Dynamics 365 Sales platform for Microsoft users.
Price Range: $65 to $162 per month
Pros:
Cons:
If you’re already a user of Microsoft products like Outlook, Word, Excel, or Access, then you’re already an excellent match for Dynamics 365 Sales. Featuring a familiar platform and full integration with all of the Microsoft Office tools you’re accustomed to, this is an excellent choice for those who want to stick with a brand they already know. However, it may be pricey for some.
Mailchimp is an email marketing platform with CRM capabilities excelling at email drop campaigns.
Price Range: Free to $299 per month
Pros:
Cons:
With more of a focus on email marketing rather than CRM, MailChimp offers plenty of tools that help drive sales, marketing, and customer service. MailChimp excels in email automation and email drip campaigns, which can segment your email list and send specific email sequences based on things like shopping behavior, order status, specific dates, and more. This is ideal for product retargeted ads, upselling campaigns, and follow-up messages.
Constant Contact lets you build a digital storefront and an entire online presence.
Price Range: $20 to $45 per month
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Constant Contact can get your brand online with a complete website and digital storefront for your ecommerce needs. It doesn’t matter if you specialize in physical or digital goods, or even whether you already have an online presence; Constant Contact helps build your brand with built-in tools for email marketing, social media marketing, and more.
Cooper CRM is the best available solution for current Google Workspace users, formerly G Suite.
Price Range: $25 to $119 per month
Pros:
Cons:
While it’s compatible with many other apps and services, Copper CRM was built with Google Workspace in mind. Formerly known as G Suite, it features native integration with apps such as Gmail, Google Docs, Google Drive, and more. Not only, but Copper CRM even boasts some features that can’t be found in other Workspace integrations, including advanced reports from Google Sheets, analytics from Google Data Studio, and more.
Never underestimate the reach of a strong email marketing campaign. Although they often work best when paired with other strategies, your email campaigns have the potential to reach far more consumers than social media or SMS advertising alone. Since extended campaigns can be difficult to manage, it’s highly recommended to find a CRM solution with built-in email marketing integration available.
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