Finding the right email CRM for your business can be a game-changer. When you combine email marketing with customer relationship management, you get powerful tools that help you track leads and keep customers happy. The best email CRM systems save you time and boost sales by automating your marketing efforts while keeping all your customer data organized in one place.
Top Email CRM Platforms
| Rank | CRM Platform | Key Features | Best For | Pricing Tier |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | HubSpot CRM | Comprehensive CRM with powerful email marketing, automation, analytics, and free tier | Businesses of all sizes seeking an all-in-one solution | Free tier + scalable paid plans |
| 2 | ActiveCampaign | Advanced email marketing automation, CRM, personalization, sales automation | SMBs focused on customer journey and marketing automation | Affordable entry plans |
| 3 | Salesforce CRM | Highly customizable CRM with integrated email marketing and AI-driven insights | Large enterprises needing robust CRM ecosystem | Premium pricing |
| 4 | Zoho CRM | Integrated CRM with email marketing, multichannel communication, and AI tools | Small to medium businesses seeking budget-friendly options | Flexible pricing |
| 5 | Pipedrive | Sales-focused CRM with email marketing automation and pipeline management | Sales teams prioritizing pipeline and email outreach | Mid-range pricing |
| 6 | Mailchimp CRM | Email marketing leader with basic CRM features and marketing automation | Small businesses emphasizing email campaigns | Free tier + paid plans |
| 7 | Freshsales (Freshworks) | CRM with AI-based lead scoring, email campaigns, and automation | SMBs wanting simple but effective CRM + email | Competitive pricing |
| 8 | Keap (formerly Infusionsoft) | CRM with strong email marketing, automation, and e-commerce integrations | Entrepreneurs and small businesses | Mid to high pricing |
| 9 | Sendinblue CRM | CRM combined with email marketing, SMS campaigns, and marketing automation | SMBs needing multichannel marketing | Affordable plans |
| 10 | SugarCRM | Flexible CRM with email marketing, workflow automation, and analytics | Enterprises requiring customization | Enterprise pricing |
Many businesses struggle with keeping track of customer interactions across different platforms. A good email CRM solves this problem by connecting your emails with your customer database. This means you can see who opens your emails, which links they click, and what they buy. Several top CRM systems like HubSpot and ActiveCampaign offer these features, with options for both small businesses and larger companies.
1. HubSpot CRM
HubSpot CRM stands out as a popular choice for businesses looking to manage their email marketing efforts. This free CRM tool offers a range of features that support customer relationship management across sales, marketing, and support teams.
One of the biggest advantages of HubSpot is its free CRM software that includes email tracking capabilities. This feature lets users see when emails are opened, helping teams follow up at the right time.
The platform makes scheduling emails simple. Teams can plan their email campaigns in advance and set them to send at optimal times. This helps businesses maintain consistent communication with potential customers.
HubSpot CRM works well for small businesses. It lets users schedule emails, phone calls, and other tasks to fit their specific sales cycle needs. This flexibility helps small teams work more efficiently.
Email integration is a key strength of the platform. Users can connect their email accounts directly to HubSpot, making it easier to track conversations and manage relationships from one place.
For those wanting to expand their email capabilities, HubSpot offers an ecosystem of email apps that integrate with their system. Popular options include Mailchimp, NeverBounce, and MailerLite.
Some users have noted that while HubSpot has many features, it might not be the best choice for everyone. On Reddit, some users mention that HubSpot isn’t great for email campaigns specifically, describing it as “big, complex and expensive.”
The platform shines with its contact management system. Users can store detailed information about customers and track every interaction, creating a complete picture of the customer journey.
HubSpot also offers live chat features that complement email marketing efforts. This allows businesses to engage with website visitors in real-time, potentially converting them into email subscribers.
For teams that want to track the success of their email campaigns, HubSpot provides analytics tools. These help measure open rates, click-through rates, and other important metrics.
2. ActiveCampaign
ActiveCampaign stands out as a powerful email marketing and automation platform that has earned loyal users. Some customers have stayed with the service for nine years, showing its lasting value.
What makes ActiveCampaign special? It combines email marketing with automation and sales tools. The platform lets you create personalized email campaigns that connect with your audience.
Email deliverability is a key strength. Independent tests have found that ActiveCampaign has better deliverability rates than competitors like Mailchimp and HubSpot. This means your messages are more likely to reach inboxes instead of spam folders.
The CRM features make ActiveCampaign more than just email software. These tools link seamlessly to your email marketing data, helping sales teams act quickly on leads.
Lead scoring is another helpful feature. This lets you identify your most promising prospects based on their interactions with your campaigns.
For businesses looking to connect different tools, ActiveCampaign offers over 900 integrations. This flexibility means it works well with other software you might already use.
Many consider ActiveCampaign one of the best alternatives for those outgrowing simpler tools. As your marketing needs become more complex, ActiveCampaign provides advanced features to match.
The platform works for various business sizes, from small operations to larger companies. Its scalable pricing makes it accessible for growing businesses.
Learning to use all of ActiveCampaign’s features takes time. The trade-off for its power is a steeper learning curve than simpler email tools.
For businesses serious about email marketing and automation, ActiveCampaign delivers robust tools. Its combination of email features, automation capabilities, and CRM functionality makes it a comprehensive solution.
3. Zoho CRM
Zoho CRM stands out as a solid choice for businesses seeking email management integration with their customer relationship tools. The platform helps users write more powerful and personalized content by combining emails with contextual CRM information.
One of the biggest strengths of Zoho CRM is its user-friendly experience. It offers an intuitive interface while still providing the deep functionality that larger enterprises need. This balance makes it accessible for small teams but powerful enough for growing businesses.
Email marketing becomes simpler with Zoho CRM’s pre-built features. The system offers many pre-defined reports, such as today’s sales summaries and top-performing email templates by click rate. Users can also create custom reports to track specific metrics.
The platform connects with existing marketing tools, allowing businesses to identify which leads convert and compare the return on investment from different marketing campaigns. This integration helps teams make smarter decisions about where to focus their efforts.
For small businesses, Zoho CRM brings everything together in one place. It uses technology to organize, automate, and synchronize sales, marketing, and customer service activities. This unified approach prevents important customer information from falling through the cracks.
The email features in Zoho CRM help teams stay on top of customer communications. By bringing emails inside the CRM system, sales representatives can see the complete history of interactions with each contact. This context helps them provide more personalized service.
Pricing for Zoho CRM is generally competitive compared to other options, making it worth considering for budget-conscious businesses that don’t want to sacrifice functionality. Different tiers are available to match various business needs and sizes.
Zoho’s mobile capabilities allow team members to access customer information and respond to emails even when they’re away from their desks. This flexibility helps maintain quick response times and keep sales processes moving forward.
4. Brevo
Brevo is an all-in-one platform that combines email marketing with CRM capabilities. It offers tools for managing customer relationships through email, SMS, chat, and more.
The platform stands out for small and medium businesses looking for comprehensive solutions without breaking the bank. Many users consider it one of the best options for SMBs in the email marketing space.
Brevo stores valuable customer data and makes it available for targeted email campaigns. This integration helps businesses create more personalized communication with their audience.
Users can access beautiful templates and useful analytics to track campaign performance. The platform offers a clean interface that most people can learn quickly.
Some Reddit users note that while Brevo is solid, alternatives like Flodesk might be easier for beginners who prioritize design and simple statistics.
Pricing is competitive, placing Brevo among the cheapest email marketing services available in 2025. This makes it attractive for startups and small businesses with limited marketing budgets.
The platform’s automation features help save time on repetitive tasks. Users can set up workflows that trigger emails based on customer actions or specific timeframes.
Brevo’s CRM functionality tracks customer interactions across multiple channels. This gives businesses a complete view of the customer journey and helps identify opportunities for engagement.
For growing businesses, Brevo offers scalable plans that expand as your contact list grows. This flexibility prevents paying for features or capacity you don’t yet need.
The platform also provides landing page builders and forms to help capture new leads.
5. Mailchimp
Mailchimp stands out as both an email marketing platform and a marketing CRM software for small businesses. It helps companies understand their customers better and make their marketing budget go further.
The platform is known for its user-friendly interface, making it accessible even for those without technical expertise. Small business owners can easily set up email campaigns without a steep learning curve.
One of Mailchimp’s strengths is its AI-powered email marketing and automation features. These smart tools suggest ways to improve open rates, clicks, and sales. The system learns from your data to help optimize your marketing efforts.
For businesses looking to grow, Mailchimp offers more than just email services. It provides customer relationship management tools that help track interactions and build stronger connections with clients.
Many companies choose to integrate Mailchimp with other CRM platforms to create a more robust system. This flexibility allows businesses to customize their tech stack based on specific needs.
When choosing between Mailchimp and other CRMs, consider your business type. Some users on Reddit mention that certain CRMs like Salesflare work better for B2B sales, while Mailchimp might be more suited for businesses focusing on direct-to-consumer marketing.
Mailchimp’s pricing structure works well for growing businesses. As your subscriber list expands, you can upgrade your plan to access more advanced features and higher sending limits.
The reporting tools in Mailchimp help track campaign performance with easy-to-understand metrics. This data helps businesses refine their approach and improve future marketing efforts.
For small teams with limited resources, Mailchimp offers a good balance of features and simplicity. The platform continues to evolve, adding new capabilities while keeping its core functions straightforward.
6. EngageBay
EngageBay stands out as an affordable and feature-rich CRM solution ideal for small to medium-sized businesses and startups. This platform combines email marketing capabilities with comprehensive CRM tools in one package.
The system offers customizable HTML templates to create attractive emails for various marketing needs. Users can build campaigns and newsletters while tracking performance to improve ROI.
One notable advantage is EngageBay’s two-way sync with Gmail and Outlook365, allowing users to manage all emails from a single dashboard. This integration streamlines communication and keeps everything organized in one place.
Small businesses appreciate EngageBay as a budget-friendly alternative to more expensive options like HubSpot. The platform doesn’t skimp on features despite its lower price point.
The email marketing CRM software includes automation features that save time and improve efficiency. Users can set up automatic responses and workflows based on customer actions.
EngageBay positions itself as an all-in-one solution covering marketing, sales, and customer support. This unified approach helps teams stay coordinated without switching between multiple tools.
The platform allows users to send free emails within certain limits, making it accessible for businesses just starting out with email marketing. As needs grow, users can upgrade to paid plans with more features.
Contact management is straightforward with EngageBay. Users can segment contacts for targeted campaigns and track interactions across the customer journey.
For businesses seeking to level up their marketing efforts, EngageBay appears in lists of top email CRM software for 2025. Its combination of affordability and robust features makes it worth considering for growing companies.
7. Klaviyo
Klaviyo stands out as a powerful CRM for consumer brands that combines email marketing and SMS capabilities. It’s designed specifically with ecommerce businesses in mind, making it a great choice for online stores.
What makes Klaviyo special is its built-in customer data platform. This feature helps store owners collect and unify customer information in one place. No more jumping between different tools to understand your customers!
The platform stores your customer data indefinitely without filtering it. This means you can track customer behavior over long periods and create highly targeted messages.
Email automation is one of Klaviyo’s strongest features. The platform offers 10 essential email automation workflows that every ecommerce business should use. These automations can help recover abandoned carts, welcome new customers, and re-engage people who haven’t purchased in a while.
Shopify store owners often wonder if Klaviyo can work as both an email platform and a CRM. According to discussions on Reddit, many users successfully use it this way because of its strong customer data capabilities.
When compared to other platforms like HubSpot, Klaviyo holds its own. Both systems are easy to use and feature full email editors, making them accessible even for marketing beginners.
Klaviyo’s deep focus on ecommerce sets it apart from general email tools. It understands metrics like average order value, purchase frequency, and customer lifetime value – measurements that matter to online retailers.
The platform prices its plans based on the number of contacts in your database. This makes it scalable for growing businesses that are just starting out.
For businesses selling physical products online, Klaviyo offers templates and features specifically designed to showcase products effectively in emails and SMS messages.
Integration with popular ecommerce platforms happens seamlessly, allowing customer purchase data to flow automatically into your email marketing system without manual updates.
8. Freshworks CRM
Freshworks CRM offers powerful yet simple customer relationship management tools for sales, marketing, and support teams. The platform is designed to be user-friendly while still providing comprehensive features.
Businesses can use Freshworks CRM to track customer interactions and manage sales pipelines effectively. The system helps teams stay organized and focused on converting leads into customers.
One standout offering is Freshmarketer, which provides robust marketing automation capabilities including email campaigns, SMS messaging, and WhatsApp integration. These tools help businesses reach customers through multiple channels.
For companies wanting to align their sales and marketing efforts, Freshsales Suite combines CRM functionality with marketing automation. This integration gives teams a complete 360-degree view of customer interactions.
The platform includes helpful sales enablement features to boost conversion rates. Teams can identify customer intent and leverage this information to improve their sales approach.
Freshworks CRM has been recognized for its extensive business analytics toolkit, making it particularly valuable for sales-focused organizations. These analytics help teams understand what’s working and where to improve.
The system offers various pricing plans to accommodate different business needs and sizes. Companies can start with basic features and upgrade as their requirements grow.
Freshmarketer has been praised as an email marketing platform with excellent integrations. This makes it easier to connect with other business tools and create seamless workflows.
The intuitive interface requires minimal training, allowing teams to become productive quickly. This ease of use helps organizations implement the system without extensive downtime.
Freshworks CRM provides mobile access so teams can update records and respond to customers from anywhere. This flexibility supports remote work and field sales activities.
Customer data is centralized in the platform, eliminating silos between departments. This shared information helps create more consistent customer experiences across all touchpoints.
9. Pipedrive
Pipedrive combines CRM functionality with email marketing features, making it a solid choice for sales teams focused on managing their pipeline. The platform integrates with your existing email client to sync, store, and track all messages in one place.
Email automation and customized templates are standout features that help boost productivity. Teams can save time by creating reusable templates for common communications and setting up automatic follow-ups.
For marketing needs, Pipedrive offers Campaigns, their built-in email marketing tool. This feature includes customizable layouts, tracking capabilities, and analytics to measure campaign performance.
While Pipedrive excels as a CRM for managing deals and pipelines, it’s worth noting that some users find it isn’t built to be a comprehensive email marketing platform. Its strength lies more in sales process management than in running complex marketing campaigns.
The platform is known for being affordable and easy to use, with clean visuals and an intuitive interface. Sales teams particularly appreciate the visual pipeline view that shows deal progress at a glance.
Pipedrive works well for small to medium businesses that need both CRM and basic email marketing capabilities. The visual sales pipeline makes it easy to track deals, while the email features support the sales process.
Integration options are plentiful, connecting with many popular business tools. This flexibility allows teams to build a tech stack that meets their specific needs while keeping Pipedrive at the center of customer communications.
Pricing is tiered based on features and user numbers. Basic plans cover core CRM and email tracking, while advanced tiers add automation and more sophisticated marketing tools.
Mobile apps for iOS and Android let users manage contacts and deals on the go. This mobility helps sales teams stay responsive even when they’re out of the office meeting clients.
10. EspoCRM
EspoCRM is an open-source CRM solution that helps businesses track customer relationships effectively. This web-based platform allows users to manage all company relationships regardless of type.
Small businesses looking for affordable CRM options often compare EspoCRM with other solutions. When matched against Hubspot’s free version, EspoCRM stands out for its ease of use and comprehensive tools for customer information tracking.
The platform shines in its email management capabilities. It features a built-in email client that streamlines communication with customers. This makes it particularly valuable for teams needing coordinated email correspondence.
Customization is a key strength of EspoCRM. Users can tailor fields for specific data collection needs, allowing businesses to capture exactly the information they require from customers.
One major benefit of using EspoCRM is improved efficiency. A well-maintained CRM system helps teams work faster with fewer errors. The unified interface puts customer data, communication history, and task management in one place.
Customer tracking features stand out in EspoCRM. The platform lets businesses organize and monitor customer information, interactions, and history seamlessly. This creates a complete picture of each customer relationship.
EspoCRM currently holds a strong 4.7 rating among CRM solutions. This speaks to user satisfaction with its features and performance. Many users appreciate its balance of functionality and simplicity.
The interface is designed with user experience in mind. Navigation is straightforward, making the platform accessible even for team members with limited technical skills. This reduces training time when implementing the system.
For businesses seeking email-focused CRM tools without breaking the budget, EspoCRM presents a compelling option.
Key Features of Top Email CRMs
When choosing an email CRM for your business, certain features stand out as essential for maximizing customer relationships and marketing efforts. The right combination of automation tools and integration capabilities can dramatically improve your workflow efficiency.
Automation Capabilities
Email CRMs with strong automation features save time and boost engagement. Drip email campaigns that adjust based on contact behavior are now standard in top platforms. These smart systems send the right message at the right time without manual work.
Modern CRMs let you set up triggers based on customer actions. For example, when someone downloads your guide, they automatically receive a follow-up email three days later. This keeps your leads warm without extra effort.
The best platforms like HubSpot and ActiveCampaign offer lead scoring capabilities. This helps you focus on high-value prospects by automatically ranking contacts based on their interactions with your business.
Personalization options go beyond just using first names. Top CRMs segment your audience based on interests, purchase history, and website behavior.
Integration with Other Tools
No CRM exists in isolation. The ability to work seamlessly with your existing tools is crucial for a smooth workflow. Gmail integration ranks high on the must-have list for many businesses.
Top email CRMs connect with:
- Website forms to capture leads automatically
- E-commerce platforms for purchase tracking
- Social media accounts for unified marketing
- Calendar apps for scheduling meetings
These connections create a complete picture of each customer. When your CRM talks to your other business tools, you avoid duplicate data entry and get better insights.
Many leading platforms offer API access for custom integrations. This flexibility means your CRM can grow with your business and adapt to new tools you add later.
Mobile access has become essential too. The best CRMs offer apps that let you manage contacts and campaigns from anywhere.
How Email CRMs Boost Business Efficiency
Email CRM tools combine contact management with email capabilities to save time and improve results. They organize customer data and automate routine tasks so businesses can focus on building relationships instead of managing inbox chaos.
Streamlined Communication
Email CRMs help businesses automate repetitive tasks like sending follow-ups and reminders. This automation frees up valuable time for teams to focus on more important work.
With an email CRM, everything stays in one place. No more switching between platforms or losing track of conversations. Teams can see the entire history with each contact at a glance.
These tools make it easy to create email templates for common situations. Sales reps can personalize these templates quickly rather than writing each message from scratch.
Many email CRMs also include scheduling features. These let teams send messages at the perfect time for each recipient, improving open and response rates.
Collaboration becomes simpler too. Team members can share information about contacts and see who’s handling which conversations.
Enhanced Customer Insights
Email CRMs collect valuable data about how customers interact with your messages. They track open rates, click-through rates, and response patterns.
This data helps businesses understand what content resonates with different segments of their audience. Teams can use these insights to improve their marketing strategies over time.
Most email CRMs offer detailed reporting tools. These make it easy to spot trends and identify opportunities for growth.
By tracking customer interactions, teams can identify their most engaged prospects. This helps prioritize follow-ups with people most likely to convert.
Email CRMs also help create personalized experiences. When you know a customer’s preferences and history, you can tailor communications to match their interests and needs.
Smart segmentation features let businesses group contacts based on behavior and characteristics. This enables highly targeted campaigns rather than generic mass emails.
Choosing the Right Email CRM for Your Needs
Evaluating Business Requirements
Finding the perfect email CRM requires understanding your specific business needs and growth plans. The right system will streamline your email marketing efforts while providing valuable customer insights.
Start by listing your must-have features. Are you looking for personalized email management or advanced automation? Consider how your team will use the system daily. Do you need email tracking, contact scoring, or pipeline management?
Think about integration capabilities too. A good CRM should work with your current tools. Many businesses need their email CRM to connect with their:
- Email service provider
- Calendar apps
- Social media platforms
- E-commerce systems
- Customer support software
Budget is another key factor. Options like HubSpot, ActiveCampaign, and Brevo offer various pricing tiers for different business sizes. Free options exist but often have limitations. For example, Hubspot’s free version automatically BCCs emails, which some users find problematic.
Scalability Considerations
Choose a CRM that can grow with your business. What works for you now might become limiting as your customer base expands. Look for systems with flexible subscription tiers.
Data capacity matters too. How many contacts can the system handle? Will you face extra charges for exceeding limits? Top CRMs like BIGContacts offer scalable solutions that adapt to your growing needs.
Consider the learning curve for new team members. A complex system might offer powerful features but could slow down onboarding. User-friendly interfaces with good support resources make scaling easier.
Mobile functionality is increasingly important. Check if the CRM offers responsive and mobile-friendly templates so your team can work effectively from anywhere.
Finally, evaluate the reporting capabilities. As your business grows, you’ll need deeper insights into customer behavior and campaign performance to make smart decisions.
Frequently Asked Questions
Choosing the right email CRM can be confusing. Here are answers to some common questions about email CRM options, integrations, and features that might help you make the best decision for your needs.
What are some affordable CRM options for small businesses that include email integration?
Zoho CRM offers a free plan for up to three users, making it a budget-friendly option for small businesses. The paid plans start at $14 per user per month and include email integration.
HubSpot CRM provides a robust free version that includes email marketing tools. Their starter plans are reasonably priced when you’re ready to scale up.
Brevo (formerly Sendinblue) offers CRM features with email marketing at affordable rates. Their pricing is based on email volume rather than the number of contacts, which can be cost-effective for growing businesses.
Which CRM platforms offer seamless integration with email marketing tools?
ActiveCampaign excels at combining CRM with powerful email automation. It connects with over 850 external applications, making it highly versatile for most business needs.
HubSpot offers an all-in-one platform where the CRM and email marketing tools are built to work together seamlessly. No integration needed because they’re part of the same system.
Mailchimp has expanded beyond email marketing to include CRM features. It also integrates well with many third-party platforms if you need additional functionality.
Can you recommend a user-friendly CRM with robust email campaign features?
HubSpot CRM is known for its intuitive interface and requires minimal training. Their email campaign builder uses drag-and-drop functionality that makes creating professional-looking emails simple.
Brevo offers a user-friendly platform with strong email campaign features. Their template designer is straightforward, and the automation options are powerful yet easy to understand.
Zoho CRM provides a clean interface with customizable email templates and campaign tracking. Users appreciate its balance of functionality and ease of use.
What are some examples of CRM software that work well with Gmail for business use?
HubSpot CRM offers a Gmail extension that lets you track emails, use templates, and log email activity without leaving your inbox. This creates a seamless workflow between Gmail and your CRM.
Zoho CRM integrates directly with Google Workspace. The Gmail add-on allows you to add contacts, create deals, and access CRM data right from your email.
ActiveCampaign has a strong Gmail integration that syncs contacts and allows you to see contact information and history when reading emails. You can also add contacts to automation workflows directly from Gmail.
Are there any CRMs that are particularly good for personal email management?
HubSpot CRM’s free version works well for personal email management. It helps track conversations and set follow-up reminders without overwhelming you with enterprise features.
Zoho CRM offers customizable views that can be simplified for personal use. Its email tracking and template features work just as well for personal networking as they do for business.
Mailchimp provides user-friendly tools that work well for individuals. The platform’s simplicity makes it appropriate for personal email management while still offering powerful features when needed.
Could you suggest a few CRMs that provide great templates for email marketing?
ActiveCampaign offers hundreds of responsive email templates organized by industry and purpose. These templates are fully customizable and look professional on all devices.
Mailchimp is renowned for its email marketing templates. Their designs are modern, and the drag-and-drop editor makes customization easy even for beginners.
Brevo provides a variety of sleek, professional templates. Their design options cover everything from newsletters to promotional campaigns, and all templates are mobile-optimized.
HubSpot includes a template marketplace where you can find free and premium designs. Their template editor balances simplicity with customization options for creating branded emails.
