Running a CRM and a separate email marketing platform means double the cost, double the data sync headaches, and double the login screens. The smarter approach for small businesses is a single platform that handles both contact management and email campaigns. This guide compares six platforms where CRM and email marketing live together, starting from completely free.
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1. HubSpot CRM
HubSpot CRM Best Free Bundle
HubSpot offers the most complete free CRM with email marketing package on the market. The free tier includes unlimited contacts, a deal pipeline, email tracking, meeting scheduling, and up to 2,000 emails per month with the HubSpot branding. For small businesses testing the waters with email marketing, this is enough to run basic nurture sequences and newsletters without paying anything.
- Key strength: Complete CRM plus 2,000 marketing emails per month on the free plan
- Forms: Embedded forms on your website capture leads directly into the CRM
- Sequences: Paid plans add automated email sequences triggered by contact behavior
- Pricing: Free CRM with email; Marketing Starter at $20/mo; Professional at $890/mo
2. Brevo (formerly Sendinblue)
Brevo Cheapest Paid Plan
Brevo rebranded from Sendinblue in 2023 and has since become the price leader in CRM plus email marketing. The free plan supports unlimited contacts with up to 300 emails per day. The Starter plan at $9/mo removes the daily limit and gives you 5,000 emails per month. Unlike competitors who charge per contact, Brevo charges per email volume, which saves money for businesses with large contact lists.
- Key strength: Per-email pricing instead of per-contact, saving money on large lists
- Automation: Visual workflow builder with triggers for email opens, clicks, page visits, and purchases
- Transactional: Handles marketing and transactional emails from the same platform
- Pricing: Free for 300 emails/day; Starter at $9/mo; Business at $18/mo
3. ActiveCampaign
ActiveCampaign Best Automation
ActiveCampaign is the automation powerhouse of CRM email marketing. The visual automation builder supports conditional branching, split testing, goal tracking, and multi-channel workflows that competitors simply cannot match. While more expensive than Brevo, the automation depth justifies the cost for businesses that rely on nurture sequences and behavioral email triggers to drive revenue.
- Key strength: Most powerful email automation builder with 900+ pre-built automation recipes
- Predictive sending: AI determines the optimal send time for each individual contact
- Lead scoring: Automatic scoring based on email engagement, site visits, and form submissions
- Pricing: Starter at $15/mo (1,000 contacts); Plus at $49/mo; Professional at $79/mo
4. Zoho CRM + Campaigns
Zoho CRM Best Ecosystem Value
Zoho CRM paired with Zoho Campaigns creates a tightly integrated CRM and email marketing stack at a fraction of the cost of HubSpot's paid tiers. The CRM handles contacts, deals, and pipeline management, while Campaigns manages newsletters, drip sequences, and email automation. Both tools sync contacts bidirectionally, so you never lose data between systems.
- Key strength: Full CRM plus email marketing for under $20/mo combined
- Zoho One: Bundle all 45+ Zoho apps for $35/user/mo for the ultimate value stack
- Segmentation: Sync CRM segments to email campaigns for targeted messaging
- Pricing: CRM Standard at $14/user/mo; Campaigns free for 2,000 contacts or $3/mo for more
5. EngageBay
EngageBay Best All-in-One Starter
EngageBay bundles CRM, email marketing, helpdesk, and live chat into a single platform at prices that undercut established competitors significantly. The free plan includes 500 contacts and 1,000 branded emails per month. For startups that need CRM, marketing, and support in one tool without the enterprise price tag, EngageBay is the most affordable all-in-one option.
- Key strength: CRM, marketing, support, and live chat in one platform from $12.74/user/mo
- Landing pages: Built-in landing page builder with templates and A/B testing
- Social suite: Schedule and publish to social media from the same dashboard
- Pricing: Free for 500 contacts; Basic at $12.74/user/mo; Growth at $49.99/user/mo
6. Mailchimp
Mailchimp Most Recognized
Mailchimp expanded from pure email marketing into a full marketing CRM over the past few years. The free plan supports 500 contacts and 1,000 emails per month. While Mailchimp is more expensive than Brevo on a per-email basis, its template library, drag-and-drop builder, and brand recognition make it the most approachable option for non-technical users.
- Key strength: Best email template library and drag-and-drop editor in the market
- Content optimizer: AI-powered suggestions for subject lines, send times, and content
- E-commerce: Deep Shopify and WooCommerce integration with product recommendation emails
- Pricing: Free for 500 contacts; Essentials at $13/mo; Standard at $20/mo
Side-by-Side Comparison
| Feature | HubSpot | Brevo | ActiveCampaign | Zoho | EngageBay |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Free Plan | Yes | Yes | No | Limited | Yes |
| Free Contacts | Unlimited | Unlimited | N/A | 2,000 | 500 |
| Cheapest Paid | $20/mo | $9/mo | $15/mo | ~$17/mo | $12.74/mo |
| Automation | Basic free | Good | Best | Good | Good |
| Landing Pages | Paid | Yes | Yes | Separate | Yes |
| Best For | Free start | Large lists | Automation | Ecosystem | Startups |
How to Choose
Just starting out? HubSpot's free CRM with 2,000 emails per month covers most small businesses. Upgrade when you need automation or want to remove the HubSpot branding.
Large contact list, small budget? Brevo's per-email pricing means you do not pay more just because your list is bigger. At $9/mo for 5,000 emails with unlimited contacts, it is the best value for large lists.
Automation is everything? ActiveCampaign's workflow builder is in a league of its own. If automated nurture sequences drive your revenue, the higher price pays for itself.
Final Verdict
For most small businesses, start with HubSpot's free CRM and email marketing. It is genuinely capable and costs nothing. When you outgrow the free tier, Brevo offers the cheapest upgrade path for businesses with growing email needs. And businesses that need sophisticated automation should invest in ActiveCampaign, where the email workflows alone can justify the subscription cost.
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