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1. HubSpot Marketing Hub
HubSpot Marketing Hub Best Free Tier
HubSpot offers a permanent free tier with forms, email marketing (2,000 sends/month), and basic automation. The 14-day Professional trial unlocks advanced workflows and A/B testing.
- Pricing: Free; Starter $20/mo; Professional $890/mo; Enterprise $3,600/mo
- Pros: Generous free tier, best-in-class workflows, unified with CRM and sales
- Cons: Massive price jump to Professional, contact-based pricing adds cost
- Best for: Teams that want full-stack marketing and sales in one platform
2. ActiveCampaign
ActiveCampaign 14-Day Trial
ActiveCampaign's 14-day trial gives access to the industry's most powerful automation builder. Create conditional workflows, lead scoring rules, and site tracking triggers.
- Pricing: Lite $29/mo for 1K; Plus $49/mo; Professional $149/mo
- Pros: Best visual automation builder, excellent conditional logic, site tracking included
- Cons: No free tier, pricing scales with contacts, learning curve for advanced features
- Best for: Marketing teams that rely heavily on behavior-based automation
3. Mailchimp
Mailchimp Free Plan Available
Mailchimp's free plan supports 500 contacts with basic email campaigns. The Standard plan trial adds automation journeys, A/B testing, and predictive demographics.
- Pricing: Free 500 contacts; Essentials $13/mo; Standard $20/mo; Premium $350/mo
- Pros: Easiest to learn, huge template library, strong integrations
- Cons: Limited automation on free, charges for unsubscribed contacts
- Best for: Small businesses and solopreneurs getting started with email marketing
4. Brevo
Brevo Free Plan + Trial
Brevo offers a free plan with 300 emails/day and a trial of premium features. Marketing automation, landing pages, and SMS marketing included on Business plans.
- Pricing: Free 300/day; Starter $25/mo; Business $65/mo
- Pros: Per-email pricing, SMS included, landing page builder, generous free plan
- Cons: Fewer templates than Mailchimp, automation less advanced than ActiveCampaign
- Best for: Businesses that want email and SMS marketing in one affordable platform
5. GetResponse
GetResponse 30-Day Trial
GetResponse offers 30 days of full feature access including webinars, landing pages, and marketing automation. Free plan supports up to 500 contacts.
- Pricing: Free 500 contacts; Email $15.60/mo; Marketing Automation $48.40/mo; Ecommerce $97.60/mo
- Pros: Webinar hosting included, strong landing pages, 30-day full trial
- Cons: Interface is dated compared to competitors, smaller app marketplace
- Best for: Businesses that use webinars as a lead generation channel
Need help choosing? Use our free Software Comparison Calculator to find the best fit for your budget and team size.
Frequently Asked Questions
Which marketing automation platform has the best free trial?
HubSpot offers the best free tier (permanent). GetResponse gives 30 days of full access. ActiveCampaign's 14-day trial showcases the best automation builder.
How much does marketing automation cost per month?
Entry-level plans start at $15-29/month for up to 1,000 contacts. Mid-tier automation costs $49-890/month depending on volume and features.
Can I do marketing automation for free?
HubSpot and Mailchimp both offer free plans with basic automation. For advanced workflows, expect to pay $29/month minimum.
What is the difference between email marketing and marketing automation?
Email marketing sends broadcasts and newsletters. Marketing automation adds behavior-based triggers, lead scoring, and multi-step workflows that run automatically.
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