Best Marketing Automation Software 2026: Top 10 Compared
Marketing automation saves time and increases conversions. Here are the best platforms for 2026.
Quick Comparison
| Software | Free Plan | Starting Price | Best For |
|---|---|---|---|
| HubSpot | ✅ Generous | $45/mo | All-in-one |
| ActiveCampaign | ❌ | $29/mo | Email + CRM |
| Mailchimp | ✅ 500 contacts | $13/mo | Email focus |
| Brevo | ✅ 300/day | $25/mo | Budget |
| Klaviyo | ✅ 500 contacts | $45/mo | E-commerce |
1. HubSpot — Best All-in-One
Free: Unlimited contacts, basic features
HubSpot offers the most comprehensive marketing suite.
Features
- ✅ Email marketing
- ✅ Landing pages
- ✅ Forms & pop-ups
- ✅ CRM integration
- ✅ Blog hosting
- ✅ Social media
- ✅ Analytics
Best For: Growing businesses wanting everything in one place.
👉 Related: Best Free CRM Software
2. ActiveCampaign — Best for Email + CRM
Price: $29-149/mo
ActiveCampaign excels at sophisticated automation.
Features
- ✅ Visual automation builder
- ✅ Email marketing
- ✅ CRM included
- ✅ Lead scoring
- ✅ Site tracking
- ✅ SMS marketing
Best For: B2B, sophisticated automation needs.
3. Mailchimp — Best for Email Focus
Free: 500 contacts, 1,000 sends/mo
Mailchimp is the most recognizable email platform.
Features
- ✅ Email builder
- ✅ Automation
- ✅ Landing pages
- ✅ Analytics
- ✅ Integrations
Best For: Small businesses, email marketing.
👉 Related: Best Email Marketing Tools
4. Brevo — Best Budget Option
Free: 300 emails/day
Brevo (formerly Sendinblue) offers great value.
Features
- ✅ Email marketing
- ✅ SMS marketing
- ✅ Chat
- ✅ CRM
- ✅ Automation
Best For: Budget-conscious marketers.
5. Klaviyo — Best for E-commerce
Free: 500 contacts, 500 emails
Klaviyo is built specifically for e-commerce.
Features
- ✅ E-commerce integrations
- ✅ Predictive analytics
- ✅ Segmentation
- ✅ SMS + Email
- ✅ Product recommendations
Best For: Shopify, WooCommerce stores.
👉 Related: Shopify vs WooCommerce
Feature Comparison
| Feature | HubSpot | ActiveCampaign | Mailchimp | Klaviyo |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Free plan | ✅ | ❌ | ✅ | ✅ |
| CRM | ✅ | ✅ | Basic | Basic |
| SMS | Paid | ✅ | Paid | ✅ |
| Landing pages | ✅ | ✅ | ✅ | ✅ |
| E-commerce | Good | Good | Good | ✅ Best |
Our Recommendations
| Need | Choose |
|---|---|
| All-in-one | HubSpot |
| Advanced automation | ActiveCampaign |
| Email focus | Mailchimp |
| Budget | Brevo |
| E-commerce | Klaviyo |
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Last updated: January 2026