Unified CRM and email marketing eliminate data silos, speed implementation, and deliver faster ROI. Don’t juggle separate tools—choose a platform that combines both.
There’s no universal “best” CRM. Choose based on your main need: sales pipeline, marketing automation, e-commerce, or simplicity.
Most platforms offer free trials or free tiers. Use them to test the interface, integrations, and team adoption before making a commitment. Paper features don’t guarantee real-world success.
Managing email campaigns separately from your CRM creates data silos, slows down your team, and leaves money on the table. The best CRM for email marketing integrates both tools seamlessly, so your sales and marketing teams work from a single source of truth. You’ll get better customer insights, faster implementation, and quicker ROI. Email marketing drives an average of $44 for every $1 spent.
Ready to unify your email marketing and CRM?
In this guide, we’ve reviewed nine leading CRM solutions with built-in email marketing to help you find the right fit for your business.
A CRM for email marketing is a unified platform that combines customer relationship management (CRM) functionality with integrated email marketing capabilities in a single system. Instead of using separate tools for managing customer data and sending email campaigns, a CRM with email marketing keeps everything in one place.
Who needs a CRM for email marketing?
If you’re currently managing email campaigns with a standalone tool while tracking customer data elsewhere, you’re creating unnecessary work and missing valuable insights. A CRM for email marketing is ideal for:
Sales teams that want to track email engagement and automate follow-ups
Marketing teams that need to nurture leads with targeted email sequences
Small to mid-sized businesses wanting to eliminate tool fragmentation
Any organization that wants to improve communication between sales and marketing
The bottom line: A CRM for email marketing gives you a single source of truth for customer relationships and email communication, making your team more efficient and your campaigns more effective.
How we selected the best CRM for email marketing
We evaluated each CRM across six key criteria to ensure we were recommending solutions that actually deliver results:
Email marketing features: We assessed email template builders, automation workflows, segmentation capabilities, A/B testing, and deliverability. We looked for platforms that make it easy to create, send, and optimize campaigns without requiring technical expertise.
CRM integration: We evaluated how seamlessly email marketing integrates with core CRM functions like contact management, lead scoring, and pipeline tracking. The best solutions unify data so your entire team sees the complete customer journey.
Ease of use: We tested setup time, learning curve, and interface intuitiveness. We prioritized platforms that get teams productive in hours, not weeks, and don’t require extensive training.
Pricing: We compared base pricing, per-user costs, and add-on expenses. We looked for transparent pricing models that scale with your business without hidden fees.
Customer support: We evaluated support channels (email, chat, phone), response times, and knowledge base quality. We prioritized platforms offering responsive support included with all plans—a feature that sets Nutshell apart from many competitors.
Integrations: We evaluated the compatibility of each CRM with popular tools, including Zapier, Salesforce, Shopify, and Gmail. Better integrations mean less manual data entry and more automation.
Key features to look for in a CRM with email marketing
Not all CRM features are created equal. While every platform claims to offer everything you need, the reality is that some capabilities drive significantly more ROI than others. In this section, we’ll break down the six critical features you should evaluate in any CRM with email marketing—the ones that actually separate high-performing platforms from the rest.
When evaluating a CRM with email marketing, focus on these:
Email automation and workflows: Look for platforms that let you create triggered emails based on customer behavior. Automated emails generate 320% more revenue than non-automated emails, so this feature directly impacts your bottom line.
Lead scoring and nurturing: The platform should automatically score leads based on engagement and behavior, helping your sales team focus on the most qualified prospects. Nurtured leads make 47% larger purchases.
Analytics and reporting: Comprehensive reporting on open rates, click rates, conversions, and revenue attribution helps you optimize campaigns and prove ROI
Compliance and deliverability: Look for CAN-SPAM compliance, email preference centers, authentication setup (SPF, DKIM, DMARC), and strong deliverability rates to ensure your emails reach the inbox.
Now let’s dive deeper into each platform. Below, you’ll find comprehensive reviews of all nine CRMs, including key features, pros, cons, and pricing details to help you make an informed decision.
Rating: 4.8/5 Best for: Easy-to-use email marketing with CRM integration
Nutshell is the CRM that actually makes sense. You’ll be up and running in hours, not weeks.
Your team will love how intuitive it is. Nutshell combines a user-friendly CRM with integrated email marketing, making it ideal for small to mid-sized teams tired of tool fragmentation. The platform prioritizes simplicity without sacrificing essential features, delivering exceptional value for teams that want to start selling faster.
Caractéristiques principales
Unified CRM + email: No tool switching; email integrates directly with CRM data
Email templates: Pre-built templates with drag-and-drop customization
Email automation: Create triggered campaigns based on customer actions
Segmentation: Build targeted lists based on contact properties and behavior
Lead scoring: Automatic lead prioritization based on engagement
Rating: 4.7/5 Best for: Comprehensive marketing automation and lead nurturing
HubSpot CRM is the industry leader for good reason. It combines a powerful CRM with best-in-class email marketing, marketing automation, and lead management.
The platform is particularly strong for teams that need advanced segmentation, complex workflows, and detailed reporting. HubSpot’s free CRM tier gets you started, but you’ll unlock the full email marketing potential with paid plans.
Caractéristiques principales
Email marketing automation: Create multi-step workflows triggered by customer behavior
Lead scoring: Automatically prioritize leads based on engagement and fit
Advanced segmentation: Build highly targeted lists based on dozens of criteria
A/B testing: Test subject lines, content, and send times to optimize performance
Detailed analytics: Track opens, clicks, conversions, and revenue attribution
Template library: Access hundreds of professionally designed email templates
Pour
Comprehensive feature set covers all email marketing needs
Excellent reporting and analytics capabilities
Strong integrations with popular tools
Responsive customer support
Free CRM tier is genuinely useful
Cons
Steep learning curve for advanced features
Can feel overwhelming for small teams
Pricing increases significantly as you add features
Requires commitment to get full value
Tarification
Free tier available for up to two users; paid plans start at $9/user/month (Sales Hub Starter). Professional, the next tier up costs $90 per user per month.
3. Klaviyo
Rating: 4.6/5 Best for: E-commerce email marketing with advanced personalization
Klaviyo is purpose-built for e-commerce businesses that need sophisticated email marketing and SMS capabilities. The platform excels at customer data platform (CDP) functionality, allowing you to create highly personalized campaigns based on purchase history, browsing behavior, and customer segments.
If you’re selling products online, Klaviyo is hard to beat.
Caractéristiques principales
Customer data platform: Unified customer profiles with behavioral data
Advanced segmentation: Create segments based on purchase history and behavior
Email and SMS automation: Multi-channel workflows in a single platform
Dynamic content: Personalize emails based on customer data
Predictive analytics: AI-powered insights on customer behavior
Integrations: Native connections with Shopify, WooCommerce, and other e-commerce platforms
Pour
Best-in-class personalization and segmentation
Excellent for e-commerce businesses
Strong SMS capabilities alongside email
Powerful automation workflows
Responsive customer support
Cons
Pricing can get expensive at scale
Steeper learning curve than some alternatives
Less suitable for B2B or service-based businesses
Requires significant contact list to justify cost
Tarification
Klaviyo starts at $20/month for up to 500 contacts. Pricing scales based on contact count. Enterprise plans are available with custom pricing.
4. ActiveCampaign
Rating: 4.4/5 Best for: Advanced email automation and complex workflows
ActiveCampaign is built for marketing teams that need sophisticated automation. The platform excels at creating complex, multi-step workflows with advanced conditional logic. If your team needs powerful automation and doesn’t mind a steeper learning curve, ActiveCampaign delivers exceptional results.
Caractéristiques principales
Advanced automation: Build complex workflows with unlimited actions and triggers
Behavioral tracking: Track customer actions across email, web, and CRM
Dynamic content: Personalize emails based on customer data and behavior
Lead scoring: Sophisticated scoring based on engagement and fit
Multi-channel automation: Email, SMS, and web automation in one platform
CRM integration: Unified customer view across all touchpoints
Multi-channel automation: Email, SMS, and web automation in one platform
Pour
Most powerful automation capabilities
Excellent for complex workflows
Strong reporting and analytics
Good integrations with popular tools
Responsive customer support
Cons
Steep learning curve for advanced features
Pricing can be expensive
Requires significant setup and configuration
Better for larger teams with dedicated marketing ops
Tarification
ActiveCampaign pricing starts at $15 per month for 1,000 contacts and one user and goes up to $1,169 per month for 50,000 contacts in its Enterprise plan.
5. Zoho CRM
Rating: 4.2/5 Best for: Affordable, flexible CRM with solid email features
Zoho CRM offers impressive functionality at a fraction of the cost of competitors. The platform is highly customizable, making it ideal for teams with specific needs. Zoho’s email marketing capabilities are solid, though not as advanced as HubSpot or Klaviyo. The free tier is genuinely useful for small teams.
Caractéristiques principales
Email marketing: Built-in email campaigns with automation
Sales automation: Workflow automation for sales processes
Customization: Highly customizable workflows and fields
Lead management: Comprehensive lead tracking and scoring
Integrations: Connects with popular tools via Zapier and native integrations
Mobile app: Full CRM functionality on mobile devices
Pour
Very affordable pricing
Highly customizable
Free tier is genuinely useful
Good for small to mid-sized teams
Solid integrations
Cons
Email marketing features less advanced than competitors
Steeper learning curve due to customization options
Support can be slower than premium competitors
Smaller ecosystem of pre-built integrations
Tarification
$14-52/user/month (billed annually); 15-day free trial available
6. Brevo
Rating: 4.0/5 Best for: Budget-conscious multi-channel marketing campaigns
Brevo (formerly Sendinblue) is an excellent choice for teams wanting to combine email, SMS, and chat in one platform at an affordable price point. The free tier is generous, making it ideal for startups and small businesses. Brevo’s strength is multi-channel marketing rather than advanced CRM features.
Caractéristiques principales
Multi-channel marketing: Email, SMS, WhatsApp, and chat in one platform
Email automation: Triggered campaigns and workflows
Segmentation: Build targeted lists based on customer data
Compliance: CAN-SPAM compliance and preference centers
SMS marketing: Send SMS campaigns alongside email
Free tier: Generous free plan with up to 300 contacts
Pour
Very affordable pricing
Generous free tier
Multi-channel capabilities
Easy to use
Good for small businesses
Cons
CRM features less robust than dedicated CRM platforms
Email marketing less advanced than HubSpot or Klaviyo
Smaller feature set overall
Better for marketing than sales teams
Tarification
Brevo is free for up to 300 contacts with 5,000 emails/month. Starter plan begins at $17/month.
7. MailerLite
Rating: 3.9/5 Best for: Small businesses and creators wanting ease of use
MailerLite prioritizes simplicity in its design and interface. The platform is ideal for small businesses, creators, and solopreneurs who want to send professional emails without complexity. While it lacks advanced CRM features, MailerLite excels at making email marketing accessible to non-technical users.
Caractéristiques principales
Drag-and-drop editor: Create beautiful emails without coding
Email automation: Simple workflows and triggered campaigns
Segmentation: Basic segmentation based on subscriber data
Free tier: Generous free plan for up to 1,000 subscribers
Integrations: Connects with popular tools via Zapier
Pour
Extremely easy to use
Beautiful email templates
Generous free tier
Affordable pricing
Great customer support
Cons
Limited CRM functionality
Less advanced automation than competitors
Smaller feature set overall
Better for email marketing than full CRM
Tarification
MailerLite is free for up to 500 subscribers. Paid plans start at $10/month.
8. Pipedrive
Rating: 3.8/5 Best for: Sales teams prioritizing pipeline management with email
Pipedrive is built for sales teams that prioritize pipeline visibility and deal management. The platform excels at visual pipeline management and deal tracking. Email marketing is available as an add-on through the Campaigns feature, but it’s not the platform’s primary strength. If you’re a sales-focused team that needs email as a secondary tool, Pipedrive works well.
Caractéristiques principales
Visual pipeline management: See your entire sales process at a glance
Deal tracking: Comprehensive deal management and forecasting
Email integration: Send emails directly from Pipedrive
Activity tracking: Automatic logging of emails and calls
Mobile app: Full functionality on mobile devices
Integrations: Connects with popular tools via Zapier and native integrations
Pour
Excellent pipeline visualization
Intuitive interface for sales teams
Good deal management features
Affordable pricing
Strong mobile app
Cons
Email marketing features lack advanced automation capabilities
Limited automation capabilities
Better for sales than marketing
Smaller feature set for email campaigns
Tarification
Pipedrive starts at $24/user/month (Essential plan). The Campaigns add-on for email marketing is available on higher-tier plans.
9. Freshsales
Rating: 3.7/5 Best for: Affordable CRM with basic email capabilities
Freshsales is part of the Freshworks ecosystem and offers a comprehensive CRM with basic email marketing features. The platform is particularly strong for customer support integration, making it ideal for teams that need sales and support in one place. Email marketing is functional but not as advanced as dedicated email platforms.
Caractéristiques principales
CRM fundamentals: Contact management, deal tracking, and activity logging
Lead scoring: Automatic lead prioritization
Email sequences: Basic email automation and sales sequences
Phone and chat: Built-in calling and chat features
Integrations: Connects with Freshworks ecosystem and popular tools
Mobile app: Full CRM functionality on mobile
Pour
Affordable pricing
Good for small teams
Integrated phone and chat
Easy to use
Good Freshworks ecosystem integration
Cons
Email marketing features lack advanced automation capabilities
Limited automation compared to competitors
Smaller feature set overall
Better for sales than marketing
Tarification
Freshsales starts at $9/user/month (billed annually) for the Growth plan.
Quel CRM possède les fonctionnalités dont vous avez besoin ?
Notre feuille de calcul interactive compare les avantages offerts par Nutshell, votre solution de gestion des contacts actuelle et tout autre CRM que vous évaluez actuellement.
Choosing the right CRM depends on your specific needs, budget, and team size. Here’s how to:
Start with your primary use case
Are you primarily a sales team needing pipeline management? Choose Pipedrive or Freshsales. Are you a marketing team needing sophisticated automation? Choose HubSpot or ActiveCampaign. Are you an e-commerce business? Choose Klaviyo. Being clear on your primary need narrows the field significantly.
Consider your team size and budget
Small teams with limited budgets should look at Nutshell, Brevo, or MailerLite. Mid-market teams can afford HubSpot or ActiveCampaign. Enterprise teams should consider HubSpot, ActiveCampaign, or Zoho’s enterprise offerings.
Evaluate implementation time
If you need to be productive quickly, prioritize ease of use. Nutshell, MailerLite, and Brevo get teams up and running in hours—many Nutshell customers report being productive on day one. HubSpot and ActiveCampaign require more setup time but offer more power.
Test before committing
Most platforms offer free trials or free tiers. Take advantage of these to test the interface, features, and integrations with your existing tools. A platform that looks good on paper might not feel right when you’re actually using it.
Think about growth
Choose a platform that scales with your business. Nutshell and Brevo are great for small teams but may feel limiting as you grow. HubSpot and ActiveCampaign scale better but cost more upfront.
Email marketing ROI and implementation
The ROI of email marketing is significant, but it depends on proper 20. Here’s what to expect:
Quick wins (first 30 days): Most teams see immediate improvements in email open rates and click rates just by switching to a platform with better templates and segmentation. You’ll also save time by automating repetitive tasks.
Medium-term results (3-6 months): As you refine your email strategy and build out automation workflows, you’ll see improvements in lead quality and sales cycle length. Customers who receive automated abandoned shopping cart emails are 2.4x more likely to complete their purchase.
Long-term impact (6-12 months): With a mature email marketing program, you’ll see significant improvements in customer lifetime value, retention rates, and overall revenue. The key is consistent optimization based on data.
Implementation timeline: For most small businesses, CRM implementation could take between two weeks and two months. More sophisticated automation takes 2-3 months. Enterprise implementations can take 3-6 months.
Find your perfect CRM for email marketing today
After reviewing nine leading CRM platforms, one stands out for delivering exceptional value: Nutshell.
If you’re tired of juggling multiple tools and want a CRM that gets your team productive immediately, Nutshell is your answer. With a 4.8/5 rating, Nutshell combines ease of use with affordable pricing, comprehensive email marketing features, and included customer support. Most teams are productive within 24 hours, and you’ll see ROI faster than with more complex platforms.
If you need advanced automation or have enterprise-level requirements, HubSpot or ActiveCampaign may be better fits. If you’re an e-commerce business, Klaviyo is purpose-built for you. But if you want simplicity, affordability, and the fastest path to results, Nutshell is your best choice.
The key is choosing a platform that integrates email marketing with your CRM, so your entire team works from a single source of truth. This eliminates data silos, speeds up implementation, and delivers faster ROI.
Ready to stop wasting time on fragmented tools and start selling smarter? See how easy CRM with email marketing can be. No credit card required, and you’ll get full access to all features including email marketing, plus our award-winning customer support. Start your free 14-day trial today. Your team will thank you for making the switch.
Foire aux questions
1. What’s the best email marketing CRM, and what’s the difference between a CRM and email marketing software?
A CRM manages customer relationships and sales processes. Email marketing software sends campaigns and automates email communication. The best solutions integrate both, so you get unified customer data and automated email workflows.
2. Can I use a standalone email marketing tool instead of a CRM with email?
Yes, but you’ll create data silos. Your sales team won’t see email engagement data, and your marketing team won’t see sales activity. Integrated solutions provide a complete customer view.
3. Which CRM with email marketing is best for B2B companies?
For B2B companies, we recommend Nutshell, HubSpot, or ActiveCampaign. These platforms excel at lead nurturing, complex sales cycles, and account-based marketing. Nutshell offers the best balance of ease of use and affordability, while HubSpot and ActiveCampaign provide more advanced automation for larger teams.
4. How long does it take to implement a CRM with email marketing?
Basic implementation takes 2-4 weeks. More sophisticated setups with custom workflows and integrations take 2-3 months. Enterprise implementations can take 3-6 months.
5. What’s the best CRM for email marketing for small businesses?
Nutshell, MailerLite, and Brevo are excellent for small businesses. They’re affordable, easy to use, and get teams productive quickly. Nutshell offers the best balance of CRM and email features.
6. Can I switch CRMs later if I choose the wrong one?
Yes, most CRMs allow data export and migration. However, switching is time-consuming and can disrupt your workflow. Choose carefully the first time, but don’t let perfect be the enemy of good.
