Ranked by value, ease of use and ROI for small business teams
| Feature | HubSpotTop Pick | ActiveCampaign | Brevo | Mailchimp | ConvertKit |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Starting Price | $18/month | $29/month | $25/month | $13/month | Free |
| Free Trial | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| Best For | All-in-one growth with CRM | Advanced automation & sales alignment | Budget teams needing email + SMS | Beginners & e-commerce email marketing | Content creators & service providers |
| Try It Free | Start Free -> | Start Free -> | Start Free -> | Start Free -> | Start Free -> |
HubSpot offers an all-in-one marketing, sales, and CRM platform that scales with growing small businesses. Its intuitive interface and powerful automation workflows make it ideal for teams wanting to grow without complexity.
Pricing: $18/month (Starter)
Try HubSpot Free ->ActiveCampaign excels in powerful automation and email marketing with CRM and sales features built in. It’s perfect for small businesses that want advanced workflows without enterprise complexity.
Pricing: $29/month (Starter)
Try ActiveCampaign Free ->Brevo (formerly Sendinblue) offers a generous free plan and affordable pricing, making it a top choice for bootstrapped small businesses needing solid email and SMS marketing tools.
Pricing: Free plan available; paid from $25/month
Try Brevo Free ->Mailchimp is a familiar, user-friendly platform great for beginners. While it’s shifted toward mid-market, it still works well for small businesses focused on email and basic automation.
Pricing: $13/month (Essentials)
Try Mailchimp Free ->ConvertKit is built for creators and service-based small businesses. Its visual automation builder and audience tagging make it easy to nurture leads without technical know-how.
Pricing: Free plan for up to 1,000 subscribers
Try ConvertKit Free ->Our free ROI calculator shows payback period & annual savings in seconds.
HubSpot is the best overall marketing automation software for small businesses due to its free CRM, intuitive interface, and scalable features. ActiveCampaign is a close second for teams needing deeper automation.
Most small businesses can expect to pay between $13 and $50 per month for core marketing automation features. Costs increase with contact volume, automation depth, and added functionality like CRM or ads.
Yes, both Brevo and ConvertKit offer free plans that include email marketing and basic automation. HubSpot also offers a free CRM with limited marketing tools, ideal for early-stage businesses.
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