Trying to grow a business on a tight budget? You're probably stuck in that awkward middle ground. Too many leads to manage manually, but not enough cash to throw at pricey software.
And now, you're about five seconds away from DIY'ing a CRM in Google Docs.
The good news is that you don't need to overspend to stay organized and keep your marketing on point.
Here's a look at the best CRM and marketing automation small business platforms under $100/month. These platforms are perfect for scrappy teams, solo founders, and anyone tired of spreadsheets pretending to be CRMs.
Are you part of the 70% of marketers planning to increase their budget for marketing automation next year?
The right features can save hours of manual work and help you convert more leads with less effort. These are the key capabilities you should look for in a marketing automation small business platform:
An automation builder is where you set up workflows like welcome sequences, abandoned cart emails, or lead nurturing.
Drag-and-drop builders let you create these visually, which helps when you're mapping out multiple steps. Rule-based systems use conditions and actions. For example, "if a user clicks this link, send this email."
Tagging lets you label contacts based on actions like clicking a link, visiting a page, or signing up for a list. Scoring assigns numerical values to those actions so you can prioritize your outreach.
For example, someone who opens five emails and downloads a guide would have a higher score than someone who just opened one email. These tools help you focus on the leads most likely to convert, and automate follow-ups based on interest level or behavior.
The best marketing automation system for small business will track open rates, click-through rates, conversions, unsubscribes, and revenue generated. It should also let you break that data down by campaign, time frame, or segment.
This allows you to adjust your messaging, test different formats, and see which channels drive the most results. Basic reports should be easy to access, with the option to dig deeper if needed.
Your audience doesn't all respond to the same format. Platforms that support multiple channels, like email, SMS, and landing pages, give you more ways to reach people and guide them through the funnel.
You should be able to create and schedule messages across formats, manage responses in one place, and track performance by channel. Landing page builders should include templates and integrations with forms or scheduling tools.
Your marketing automation tool should sync with your CRM, so contact data, activity history, and lead status are always up to date. This reduces manual work and ensures consistent messaging. Look for native integrations or tools with API access. Ideally, you can trigger automations based on CRM activity, like when a lead moves to a new stage, books a call, or becomes a customer.
Can't find the right marketing automation small business tool? We've narrowed it down to the top platforms that strike a balance between features and affordability.
We focused on four key criteria that matter most to small businesses:
Top Marketing Automation Small Business Tools
|
Tool |
Starting Price |
Automation Builder |
CRM Integration |
Multi-Channel Support |
Best For |
|
Ringy |
$109/month |
Yes (visual) |
Native CRM |
Email, SMS, Voice |
Sales teams that rely on texting |
|
ActiveCampaign |
$15/month |
Yes (drag-and-drop) |
Native + 870+ apps |
Email, SMS |
Full-featured automation at scale |
|
Mailchimp |
$20/month |
Yes (basic builder) |
Limited CRM tools |
Email, landing pages |
Email-first strategies |
|
HubSpot Starter |
$20/month |
Yes (workflow builder) |
Native CRM |
Email, forms, ads |
Centralized marketing + CRM |
|
Brevo (Sendinblue) |
$9/month |
Yes (workflow builder) |
Basic CRM |
Email, SMS, WhatsApp |
Budget-friendly omnichannel |
|
Klaviyo |
$20/month |
Yes (visual) |
Native + eComm focused |
Email, SMS |
eCommerce-driven businesses |
Ringy stands out as the most well-rounded option for small businesses that need both CRM and marketing automation in a single, affordable platform. It's designed to simplify sales outreach by combining email, SMS, and voice communication, without needing multiple tools or third-party integrations.
Key features:
ActiveCampaign is known for its flexibility and depth. It offers a powerful drag-and-drop automation builder, advanced segmentation, and robust email marketing tools.
Key features:
Mailchimp remains one of the most accessible platforms for businesses new to marketing automation. It's an excellent choice for small teams that want to launch simple email campaigns with minimal setup.
Key features:
HubSpot Starter provides an all-in-one solution that combines email marketing, forms, live chat, and a built-in CRM. It's great for small teams that want a centralized platform to manage customer interactions and automate basic campaigns.
Key features:
Brevo is a cost-effective tool that supports email, SMS, and WhatsApp campaigns. So, it's a strong contender for businesses looking to reach customers on multiple channels.
Key features:
Klaviyo is tailored for eCommerce businesses and integrates directly with platforms like Shopify, WooCommerce, and BigCommerce.
Key features:
What you need from a marketing automation tool depends on how you run your business. Here's a breakdown of the best small business marketing automation platforms by use case:
Most well-rounded: Ringy or ActiveCampaign
If you want a tool that handles outreach, follow-ups, lead management, and CRM, all in one place, start with Ringy. You get email, SMS, voice calls, and task automation in one system, so you don't have to jump between platforms. It's easy to use, quick to set up, and gives you full visibility into your lead pipeline and outreach.
ActiveCampaign is also a strong option if you need more advanced logic, deep segmentation, and lots of integrations. It's powerful, but a bit more complex, and better suited for businesses that already have some experience with automation tools.
Best value: Brevo or Mailchimp
Brevo offers email, SMS, automation workflows, and even WhatsApp messaging, at a price that works for smaller budgets. It's a nice option if you need multi-channel capabilities without paying for features you won't use.
Mailchimp is another good pick if your focus is email marketing. It's quick to set up, beginner-friendly, and works well for simple automations. You won't get as much flexibility as you would with other tools, but it's a reliable choice if you're just getting started.
Best for e-commerce businesses: Drip or Klaviyo
Running a Shopify or WooCommerce store? Drip is made for eCommerce. It tracks what your customers browse, buy, and leave behind, so you can automate emails and texts based on real behavior.
Klaviyo gives you even more control. It syncs with your store's data, builds detailed flows, and sends product recommendations automatically. If you're serious about eCommerce and want marketing automation that's tightly connected to your store, this is one of the best tools available.
Choosing marketing software is a strategic decision that affects how you engage with leads, manage relationships, and grow your business. For small teams, the right platform should streamline communication, reduce manual work, and support long-term growth without adding unnecessary complexity.
That starts with finding the right marketing automation small business solution—one that integrates with your existing workflow and gives you the tools you need.
Ringy combines CRM, automation, and communication features in a single platform so you can manage outreach, follow-ups, and lead tracking without relying on separate tools or workarounds.
If you're ready to take your marketing operations to the next level, get started with Ringy today.