Increase your website traffic?
Written by: Benjamin Paine
Managing Director at Digital Nomads HQ
Why trust Digital Nomads HQ?
Digital Nomads HQ is continually recognised as a leading agency & industry "thought-leader" in the digital marketing segment. Known for our expert insight, industry data, and new innovative finding within the Digital Marketing industry. Our agency is frequently cited as a trusted source of credible marketing information, demonstrating the value and impact of our work in shaping industry standards and practices.
Best CRM for Marketing: Boost Your Campaigns in 2024
Marketing campaigns can fall short despite your best efforts. Many businesses face this challenge. Our experience shows companies consistently struggle to track leads, measure success, and maintain steady communication with customers.
The right CRM software can revolutionise your marketing approach. Simple CRM tools manage contacts well, but a specialised marketing CRM elevates your campaigns significantly. Modern CRM marketing solutions do more than store customer data—they automate campaigns, monitor customer interactions, and produce clear results.
We evaluated the top 10 CRM platforms that excel at marketing automation and campaign management. Let us guide you to find your perfect match among industry leaders like HubSpot and versatile platforms like Zoho CRM to meet your marketing needs in 2024.
10 Best CRM for Marketing
1. HubSpot
Tool Information
Pricing
Free Plan Available
G2 Rating
4.4/5 Stars
Best for:
Campaign management
Lead generation
Multi-channel tracking
Overview
HubSpot has been a powerhouse in marketing CRM solutions for quite a few years now. This AI-powered platform is a chance to experience something special – it’s the only marketing automation solution built right on top of a complete CRM system.
HubSpot Marketing Hub unifies customer insights through Smart CRM as an all-in-one marketing automation platform. The results speak for themselves – customers achieve 129% more leads and 36% more closed deals within their first year.
Pros
- Built-in AI-powered marketing tools
- Complete campaign management system
- Smooth integration with CRM
- Easy-to-use drag-and-drop email builder
- Advanced personalization capabilities
Cons
- Higher learning curve for advanced features
- Premium features limited to higher tiers
- Can get pricey for growing teams
Content Capabilities
- Visual workflow builder for automated campaigns
- Multi-channel campaign tracking
- Custom reporting and analytics
- Social media management integration
- Smart forms and landing pages
- Lead scoring automation
- Behavioural event targeting
- Dynamic content personalisation
2. Salesforce Marketing Cloud
Tool Information
Pricing
Free Trial Available
$35/ per user p/m for Starter Suite
G2 Rating
4/5 Stars
Best for:
Cross-channel campaign management
AI-driven personalisation
Journey builder
Overview
Want an enterprise-grade marketing CRM? We tested Salesforce Marketing Cloud and discovered why large organisations choose it for their marketing automation needs. Salesforce Marketing Cloud is a complete marketing CRM software that combines AI-powered automation with data analytics. Our experience shows it works best for businesses that need advanced cross-channel marketing capabilities.
Pros
- Powerful AI-driven personalisation
- Complete cross-channel campaign management
- Deep integration with the Salesforce ecosystem
- Resilient analytics and reporting
- Enterprise-grade security features
Cons
- Complex setup and learning curve
- Higher price point than competitors
- Technical expertise needed
- Additional third-party integrators might be required
Content Capabilities
- Live customer data unification
- Predictive analytics and AI-powered insights
- Custom reporting dashboards
- Behavioural tracking and analysis
- Cross-channel campaign orchestration
- Journey builder with visual mapping
- Automated workflow creation
- Dynamic content personalisation
- Email marketing studio
- Social media management
- Mobile messaging capabilities
- Web personalisation
3. Zoho CRM
Tool Information
Pricing
Free trial + $18 per month per user
G2 Rating
4.1/5 Stars
Best for:
Campaign builder
Multi-channel execution
RFM segmentation
Overview
Zoho CRM has one of the most detailed marketing automation solutions that cost nowhere near its competitors. Our extensive testing shows it works, especially when businesses need both functionality and affordability.
Zoho CRM combines sophisticated marketing automation with powerful analytics capabilities. The platform handles everything from email campaigns to social media marketing and maintains a unified view of customer interactions.
Pros
- Detailed marketing automation tools
- Excellent value for money
- Built-in RFM customer segmentation
- Powerful campaign attribution tracking
- Extensive third-party integrations
Cons
- Interface feels less polished than competitors
- Setup process can be complex
- Learning curve for advanced features
- Limited advanced features in lower tiers
Content Capabilities
- Visual campaign builder
- Multi-channel campaign execution
- Immediate campaign analytics
- Advanced segmentation tools
- Email marketing automation
- Social media management
- Website behaviour tracking
- Lead scoring and nurturing
- Marketing attribution
- ROI tracking
- Custom dashboards
- Performance analytics
4. ActiveCampaign
Tool Information
Pricing
Free trial + $15 per month
G2 Rating
4.5/5 Stars
Best for:
Email marketing
Automation builder
Predictive sending
Overview
Our extensive testing of marketing CRM platforms shows ActiveCampaign delivers customised customer experiences through intelligent automation. The platform impresses users by changing complex marketing processes into optimised, automated workflows.
ActiveCampaign emerges as a powerful marketing CRM software that combines email marketing excellence with sophisticated automation capabilities. The AI-powered features help businesses deliver targeted messaging across multiple channels and maintain customisation at scale.
Pros
- Industry-leading email deliverability (89.6% average rate)
- Advanced automation capabilities with a visual builder
- Detailed segmentation options
- AI-powered content optimisation
- Extensive integration options (900+ apps)
Cons
- No free plan available
- Learning curve for advanced features
- Prices rise substantially with contact growth
- Some advanced features limited to higher tiers
Content Capabilities
- Visual automation builder with 900+ pre-built recipes
- Behavioral-based targeting
- Predictive sending optimisation
- Multi-channel campaign orchestration
- Dynamic content customisation
- Advanced segmentation capabilities
- A/B testing for campaigns and automations
- Up-to-the-minute data analysis and reporting
- SMS marketing integration
- Landing page builder (Plus plan and above)
5. EngageBay
Tool Information
Pricing
Free plan + $12.99 per user per month
G2 Rating
4.6/5 Stars
Best for:
Multi-channel campaigns
Visual workflow builder
Site messaging
Overview
Small businesses looking for an economical yet powerful marketing CRM will find EngageBay a standout solution. Our extensive testing shows it delivers enterprise-level features at a fraction of the cost.
EngageBay helps over 46,000 businesses with its detailed marketing CRM software. The platform combines advanced automation with an accessible interface, which makes it perfect for growing businesses that need sophisticated marketing tools without complexity.
Pros
- Detailed all-in-one marketing platform
- Exceptional value for money
- Free onboarding sessions
- Accessible drag-and-drop campaign builder
- Strong automation capabilities
Cons
- Extra email purchases can get pricey
- Some features are still under development
- Limited workflow automation in simple plans
- Fewer customisation options than enterprise solutions
Content Capabilities
- Visual workflow builder
- Multi-channel campaign execution
- Site messaging and push notifications
- SMS marketing integration
- Social media automation
- Email sequence automation
- Behavior-based triggers
- Lead scoring and segmentation
- Web engagement tracking
- Landing page builder
6. Freshworks CRM
Tool Information
Pricing
Free trial + $11 per user, per month
G2 Rating
4.5/5 Stars
Best for:
AI-powered tools
Multi-channel communication
Campaign tracking
Overview
Our analysis of marketing CRM solutions shows that Freshworks CRM excels with its AI-powered marketing automation. The platform impresses us by turning complex marketing processes into efficient, automated systems.
Freshworks CRM offers a unified marketing suite that combines customer data, engagement tools, and automation capabilities. The platform’s strength lies in its ability to improve customer interactions through multiple channels while retaining control of customer information in one place.
Pros
- Easy-to-use interface with quick setup
- Built-in multi-channel communication tools
- AI-powered marketing automation
- Detailed campaign tracking
- 24/5 premium support
Cons
- Limited advanced customisation in lower tiers
- Some features require higher-tier plans
- Mobile app functionality needs improvement
- Advanced automation features take time to master
Content Capabilities
- Contact scoring and prioritisation
- Automated lead assignment
- Predictive contact insights
- Smart workflow automation
- Multi-channel campaign orchestration
- Live engagement tracking
- Individual-specific experiences
- Advanced segmentation tools
- Campaign performance metrics
- ROI tracking and analysis
- Custom report generation
- Behavioural analytics
7. Monday.com
Tool Information
Pricing
Free trial + $15 per seat/ month
G2 Rating
4.6/5 Stars
Best for:
Visual workflow builder
Campaign tracking
Content calendar
Overview
Our experience with marketing CRM solutions shows that Monday.com’s unique approach to customization makes it stand out. We tested it extensively and found that it’s changing how marketing teams handle their campaigns and workflows.
Monday.com turns traditional CRM marketing software into a visual, easy-to-use workspace. The platform impresses us because it adapts to any marketing workflow and keeps powerful automation capabilities. It brings campaign management, team collaboration, and customer tracking together in one unified system.
Pros
- Highly customisable with 20+ column types
- Visual workflow builder with drag-and-drop interface
- Detailed campaign tracking templates
- Live collaboration features
- Advanced automation capabilities (up to 250,000 actions)
Cons
- Complex automations take time to learn
- Advanced marketing features need higher-tier
- Costs increase with more users
- Plans have overlapping features
Content Capabilities
- Content calendar view for campaign planning
- Campaign Gantt charts with dependencies
- Custom marketing automations
- Advanced reporting dashboards
- Digital asset management
- Marketing request forms
- Automated workflow triggers
- Custom integration recipes
- Email sequence automation
- Social media scheduling
- Lead capture forms
- Performance tracking
8. Pipedrive
Tool Information
Pricing
Free trial + $14 per month/ seat
G2 Rating
4.3/5 Stars
Best for:
Email campaign builder
Lead qualification
Marketing analytics
Overview
Our detailed analysis of marketing CRM solutions shows that Pipedrive bridges the gap between sales and marketing teams. Our testing has found its unique way to turn traditional sales pipelines into powerful marketing channels.
Pipedrive’s marketing CRM software stands out because it combines activity-based selling with resilient marketing automation. The platform handles over 1.5 million deals daily and helps users achieve a 93% increase in pipeline deals.
Pros
- Accessible email marketing campaign builder
- Powerful lead qualification automation
- Immediate marketing analytics
- Smooth integration with 300+ tools
- Advanced contact data enrichment
Cons
- Limited advanced marketing features in lower tiers
- Email marketing needs a separate add-on
- Higher learning curve for automation features
- Marketing capabilities spread across add-ons
Content Capabilities
- Visual email campaign builder
- Automated lead qualification flows
- Immediate engagement tracking
- Smart contact data enrichment
- Web visitor identification
- Custom workflow automation
- AI-powered sales assistant
- Automated lead scoring
- Smart contact segmentation
- Behavioral tracking
- Multi-channel campaign orchestration
- Performance analytics dashboard
9. Microsoft Dynamics 365
Tool Information
Pricing
Free plan + $65 per user/ month
G2 Rating
3.8/5 Stars
Best for:
AI-driven optimisation
Customer journey orchestration
Event management
Overview
Our complete analysis of marketing CRM platforms shows Microsoft Dynamics 365 stands out as a powerhouse in AI-driven marketing automation. The platform excels at arranging multi-channel campaigns and makes use of artificial intelligence to optimize customer interactions.
Dynamics 365 Customer Insights – Journeys reshape how businesses handle marketing automation. The platform handles over 100,000 interactions monthly per tenant, which proves its strong capability to manage enterprise-scale marketing operations.
Pros
- Advanced AI-powered campaign optimisation
- Smooth integration with the Microsoft ecosystem
- Immediate customer journey arrangement
- Complete event management tools
- Built-in Power BI analytics
Cons
- Complex implementation process
- Steeper learning curve
- Higher price point than competitors
- Technical expertise needed for full utilisation
Content Capabilities
- Customer journey arrangement
- Predictive analytics
- Automated lead scoring
- Immediate personalisation
- Smart content recommendations
- Multi-channel campaign execution
- Event management integration
- Landing page builder
- Email marketing automation
- Social media integration
- Custom channel support
10. Insightly
Tool Information
Pricing
Free trial + $29 per user, per month, billed annually
G2 Rating
4.2/5 Stars
Best for:
Journey builder
Multi-touch capabilities
Prospect scoring
Overview
Our tests of many platforms show that Insightly’s unified approach to marketing CRM software stands out. The uninterrupted integration of marketing automation with core CRM functionality impressed us most. This makes it an excellent choice for businesses that need complete campaign management solutions.
Insightly has grown to over 1.5 million users in businesses of all sizes. The platform excels in the CRM for marketing space by combining sophisticated marketing automation with user-friendly CRM features on a single platform.
Pros
- Unified platform for sales and marketing arrangement
- User-friendly builder with multi-touch capabilities
- Advanced A/B and multivariate testing options
- Complete prospect scoring and grading
- Dynamic list segmentation capabilities
Cons
- Advanced features take time to master
- Lower-tier plans have limited functionality
- Enterprise users get exclusive features
- Setup can be challenging
Content Capabilities
- Visual journey builder for multi-step sequences
- Dynamic list segmentation for targeted campaigns
- UTM tracking and multi-touch attribution
- Prospect ID tracking for intent analysis
- Health reporting and analytics dashboard
- Email marketing with drag-and-drop builder
- Landing page creation and management
- Lead scoring and grading models
- A/B and multivariate testing capabilities
- Marketing journey automation
- Social media integration
Comparison Table
CRM Tool | Starting Price (Per Month, Billed Monthly/ USD) | Best For | Main Pros | Main Cons | G2 Rating (Out of 5) |
HubSpot | $20 per month per seat |
|
|
| 4.4 |
Salesforce Marketing Cloud | Free trial + $25/ per user per month |
|
|
| 4 |
Zoho CRM | Free trial + $18 per month per user |
|
|
| 4.1 |
ActiveCampaign | Free trial + $15 per month |
|
|
| 4.5 |
EngageBay | Free plan + $12.99 per user per month |
|
|
| 4.6 |
Freshworks CRM | Free trial + $11 per user, per month |
|
|
| 4.5 |
Monday.com | Free trial + $15 per seat/ month |
|
|
| 4.6 |
Pipedrive | Free trial + $14 per month/ seat |
|
|
| 4.3 |
Microsoft Dynamics 365 | Free plan + $65 per user/ month |
|
|
| 3.8 |
Insightly | Free trial + $29 per user, per month, billed annually |
|
|
| 4.2 |
Final Thoughts
Our evaluation of leading marketing CRM platforms shows each platform brings distinct advantages to different businesses. HubSpot delivers complete marketing features, and Salesforce Marketing Cloud shines with its enterprise-level capabilities. Platforms like EngageBay and Zoho CRM provide great value to smaller businesses.
The right marketing CRM choice depends on these essential factors:
- Your business size and growth plans
- Budget constraints and ROI expectations
- Required marketing automation capabilities
- Team technical expertise
- Integration needs with existing tools
A full picture of your marketing needs and team capabilities should come first. HubSpot or Salesforce work best for larger organisations that need advanced automation. Zoho CRM or ActiveCampaign might be a better fit for growing businesses. Small businesses and startups can start with EngageBay or Freshworks CRM’s free tiers to explore their features before upgrading.
The best CRM for marketing isn’t always the one packed with features – it’s the one that lines up with your marketing goals and helps your team perform better. A free trial of your top choices is the quickest way to ensure the platform meets your needs before you make a long-term commitment.
"Inside the agency" A Digital marketing podcast
Tune in to our weekly Youtube and Podcasts discussing industry changes, news & hot topics across all digital marketing channels.
