Updated for 2026: If you want one platform to manage contacts and run email campaigns (newsletters, automations, drip sequences, nurture journeys), you need more than “email sync.” The best tools connect CRM data → segmentation → automation → reporting so you can see what emails actually create deals.

In this guide, you’ll get:

• A quick comparison table
• 13 CRM options that include email marketing (built-in or tightly integrated add-ons)
• A practical buying guide (what matters in 2026)
• FAQs + recommended next steps

Table of Contents

Quick Picks (If you’re in a hurry)

• Best all-in-one for growth teams: HubSpot
• Best value suite: Zoho CRM + Zoho Campaigns
• Best automation depth for SMB: ActiveCampaign
• Best for solo operators & small service businesses: Keap
• Best affordable “all-in-one” alternative: Brevo
• Best budget all-in-one suite: EngageBay
• Best for sales teams who want email campaigns inside CRM: Pipedrive + Campaigns
• Best “work hub” style CRM with emailing: monday CRM (+ monday campaigns)
• Best suite to unify sales + marketing: Freshsales Suite
• Best for enterprises (B2B marketing automation): Salesforce + Account Engagement
• Best for Microsoft-centric orgs: Dynamics 365 + Customer Insights – Journeys
• Best for internal comms + marketing tools bundle: Bitrix24
• Best underrated CRM with campaign journeys: Salesmate

Jump to the full reviews ↓

How We Evaluated These CRMs (2026 criteria)

To make this list useful, I focused on CRMs that can genuinely support email marketing workflows, not just “send a one-off email.” Here’s what mattered:

1) Email marketing depth

• Drag-and-drop email builder + templates
• Lists/segments and personalization fields (merge tags)
• Automations (drips, behavior triggers, journeys)
• Deliverability basics (double opt-in, suppression, unsubscribe compliance)

2) CRM depth

• Contacts + companies + deal pipelines
• Lead scoring, tasks, notes, activity tracking
• Reporting that ties campaigns to revenue

3) “Single source of truth” feel

The best experience is when marketing and sales see the same contact timeline—emails sent, opens/clicks, form fills, deal stage—without exporting CSVs every week.

4) Integrations & ecosystem

Even if the email marketing is built-in, most teams still need integrations (forms, landing pages, ecommerce, helpdesk, ads, analytics).

Note: Pricing and plan names can change quickly. I link to each vendor’s official pages so you can verify current details before choosing.

Comparison Table (At a Glance)

The 13 Best CRM with Email Marketing (Reviews)

1) HubSpot (CRM + Email Marketing)

Best for: teams that want one platform for CRM, marketing, and scalable automation.

HubSpot is still the clearest “CRM-first email marketing” experience. You build emails and automations using CRM properties (lifecycle stage, deal stage, behaviors), which makes personalization and segmentation feel natural instead of forced.

• Email marketing highlights: drag-and-drop editor, personalization using CRM data, automation workflows, reporting.
• CRM highlights: clean contact timelines, deals/pipelines, strong ecosystem.
• Watch-outs: once you outgrow basics, the cost can rise quickly depending on features and contact volume.

Official links:
HubSpot CRM |
HubSpot Email Marketing

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2) Zoho CRM + Zoho Campaigns

Best for: budget-conscious businesses that want a full suite without “enterprise” pricing.

Zoho’s strength is the ecosystem: CRM for sales plus Campaigns for newsletters and nurture flows—connected so marketing and sales see the same lead/contact context. If you’re already in Zoho (Books, Desk, Projects), this combo becomes a very cost-effective “all-in-one” setup.

• Email marketing highlights: campaigns synced with CRM leads/contacts, tracking, shared context across teams.
• CRM highlights: strong customization, automation options, broad app integrations in Zoho’s ecosystem.
• Watch-outs: setup can feel “option-heavy,” so plan a simple pipeline + 2–3 segments first.

Official links:
Zoho Campaigns ↔ Zoho CRM integration |
Zoho CRM Integration overview

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3) ActiveCampaign

Best for: automation-first marketing teams who want deep segmentation + a built-in sales CRM.

ActiveCampaign is famous for automation and deliverability focus. The CRM is designed to feed journeys: deal stages, lead scoring, and behaviors can trigger targeted sequences. If your main goal is “send the right email at the right time” using CRM signals, this is one of the strongest choices.

• Email marketing highlights: advanced automations, segmentation, reporting, multi-channel options (varies by plan).
• CRM highlights: deals pipeline tied directly to campaigns, contact activity history.
• Watch-outs: power comes with complexity—expect a learning curve if you build big automations fast.

Official links:
ActiveCampaign Email Marketing |
ActiveCampaign Sales CRM

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4) Keap

Best for: coaches, consultants, local services, and small teams that need automated follow-up without a “marketing ops” hire.

Keap blends CRM + email marketing automations with practical small-business workflows. It’s built around keeping leads warm: forms, tagging/segmentation, and automated email follow-ups tied to pipeline activity. If you sell services and want to “set it and forget it” for nurture, Keap is a strong fit.

• Email marketing highlights: templates, automations, CRM-based segmentation.
• CRM highlights: contact management + pipeline + automation-friendly tagging.
• Watch-outs: not the cheapest option for very small budgets; best when you’ll use automation heavily.

Official links:
Keap Email Marketing |
Keap Automation

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5) Brevo

Best for: affordable email + SMS marketing with a built-in CRM layer.

Brevo positions itself as an all-in-one customer engagement platform: email marketing, automations, and CRM together. If you want solid campaigns, basic CRM tracking, and multi-channel messaging without committing to a heavyweight enterprise stack, Brevo can be a sweet spot.

• Email marketing highlights: campaign builder, templates, automation workflows, multi-channel options.
• CRM highlights: lightweight CRM for managing customer relationships and sales touchpoints.
• Watch-outs: if your sales process is complex (multi-team, advanced permissions), you may outgrow the CRM side first.

Official links:
Brevo Platform |
Brevo Pricing

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6) EngageBay

Best for: startups and small businesses that want CRM + email marketing on a tight budget.

EngageBay is built as a “single suite” approach: CRM, email campaigns, automations, and other customer-facing tools. It’s especially attractive if you’re moving from spreadsheets and want a practical toolset without paying for multiple platforms from day one.

• Email marketing highlights: email broadcasts, sequences, and CRM-connected campaign tracking.
• CRM highlights: contact and deal management + suite-style modules.
• Watch-outs: if you need very advanced attribution or enterprise governance, it’s not the top tier—choose it for value.

Official links:
EngageBay Email Marketing CRM |
EngageBay Pricing

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7) Pipedrive + Campaigns

Best for: pipeline-driven sales teams that want simple email campaigns without leaving the CRM.

Pipedrive is loved for sales pipeline usability. If you add Campaigns, you can run marketing-style email communications inside Pipedrive, with tracking and CRM context. This is a great fit if your team is sales-first but still needs newsletters, updates, and targeted outreach to segments.

• Email marketing highlights: templates, tracking/analytics, segmentation filters, marketing automations (tier-dependent).
• CRM highlights: best-in-class pipeline UX and deal activity visibility.
• Watch-outs: Campaigns is an add-on—budget for it if email marketing is core.

Official links:
Campaigns by Pipedrive |
Campaigns knowledge base

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8) monday CRM (+ monday campaigns)

Best for: teams that want CRM + operations/work management + centralized email activity.

monday CRM includes email handling features like templates and mass emailing, and monday’s ecosystem now includes campaign-oriented workflows. If your “CRM” lives close to project delivery, tasks, and cross-team execution, monday’s approach can feel more natural than a traditional sales-only CRM.

• Email marketing highlights: mass emailing for sales outreach; campaign workflows depending on your setup/product mix.
• CRM highlights: highly customizable boards/pipelines + automation recipes.
• Watch-outs: best when you already run operations in monday; otherwise HubSpot/ActiveCampaign may feel more marketing-native.

Official links:
Emails & Activities (monday CRM) |
Mass emailing |
monday campaigns overview (email marketing workflows)

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9) Freshsales Suite

Best for: businesses that want a unified platform connecting sales CRM and marketing automation under one roof.

Freshsales Suite is positioned as an all-in-one experience: a customer view that includes sales and marketing interactions, with marketing automation as part of the suite. If you like Freshworks tools (support/helpdesk, chat, etc.), this can be a cohesive choice.

• Email marketing highlights: suite-style marketing automation connected to CRM context; sequences and lifecycle touchpoints.
• CRM highlights: strong for SMB-to-midmarket sales teams; practical lead management.
• Watch-outs: ensure you pick the right “Suite” level—Freshworks can be modular.

Official links:
Freshsales Suite |
Freshsales ↔ Freshmarketer integration

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10) Salesforce Sales Cloud + Marketing Cloud Account Engagement

Best for: B2B companies that need enterprise CRM + serious marketing automation, reporting, and governance.

If your business runs complex sales processes (multiple teams, territories, long deal cycles) and you want robust marketing automation tied to CRM records, Salesforce + Account Engagement is a classic enterprise path. It’s designed for alignment: marketing nurtures, sales follows up, and reporting stays connected to pipeline.

• Email marketing highlights: B2B marketing automation workflows and campaign management tied to CRM.
• CRM highlights: enterprise-grade customization, permissions, and ecosystem.
• Watch-outs: implementation effort is higher; best with admin resources (internal or partner).

Official links:
Marketing Cloud Account Engagement (B2B automation) |
Account Engagement pricing page

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11) Microsoft Dynamics 365 + Customer Insights – Journeys

Best for: organizations already invested in Microsoft (Teams, Microsoft 365, Azure, Dynamics).

Microsoft’s approach supports marketing emails and customer journeys inside the Dynamics ecosystem. If you want enterprise identity/security alignment and tight integration with the Microsoft stack, this is worth shortlisting—especially for midmarket and enterprise teams.

• Email marketing highlights: marketing email creation and go-live process, personalization, and journey-based orchestration.
• CRM highlights: strong enterprise capabilities and integration patterns across Microsoft tools.
• Watch-outs: like Salesforce, setup is heavier—plan for onboarding and governance.

Official links:
Prepare marketing emails (Microsoft docs) |
Customer Insights – Journeys email editor

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12) Bitrix24

Best for: teams that want CRM + communication + marketing tools in one place.

Bitrix24 is popular with ops-heavy teams because it combines CRM with broader workplace tools. For email marketing, it provides built-in campaign tools and automation options. If you like an “all-in-one workplace” approach, Bitrix24 can reduce tool sprawl.

• Email marketing highlights: email marketing inside CRM + automation rules and templates.
• CRM highlights: broad feature set beyond sales (depends on plan).
• Watch-outs: because it can do a lot, keep your initial setup simple to avoid overwhelm.

Official links:
Bitrix24 CRM Marketing (email marketing inside CRM) |
Create email campaigns (helpdesk)

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13) Salesmate

Best for: SMBs that want CRM + email campaigns + automation journeys without enterprise complexity.

Salesmate is a strong “underrated” option if you want campaigns and automation journeys connected to CRM behavior. It’s built around outreach efficiency: triggers, conditions, and actions that run emails automatically based on what leads do.

• Email marketing highlights: email campaign tools + automation journeys for trigger-based outreach.
• CRM highlights: practical pipelines, productivity features, strong fit for small-to-midsize teams.
• Watch-outs: confirm the plan that includes the automation depth you need.

Official links:
Salesmate CRM email marketing automation |
Salesmate email campaign software

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Buyer’s Guide: How to Choose a CRM with Email Marketing (2026)

Step 1: Decide your primary goal

• Sales-first (pipeline + follow-up): Pipedrive + Campaigns, Salesmate, Keap
• Marketing-first (segmentation + journeys): ActiveCampaign, HubSpot, Dynamics Journeys
• All-in-one affordability: Zoho + Campaigns, Brevo, EngageBay
• Enterprise scale & governance: Salesforce Account Engagement, Dynamics 365

Step 2: Audit segmentation and personalization

In 2026, generic email blasts underperform. You want segmentation that can use CRM fields (industry, deal stage, last activity, lead score) and dynamic personalization (name, company, product interest, last purchase, etc.).

Step 3: Verify automation is truly “CRM-connected”

The best setup is when actions in the CRM (deal stage changes, meeting booked, quote sent, form filled) automatically trigger the right email series.

Step 4: Don’t ignore deliverability & compliance

Even the best campaigns fail if emails land in spam. Look for:

• Double opt-in options
• Unsubscribe and suppression management
• Domain authentication support (SPF, DKIM, DMARC)

Helpful official resources:

• CAN-SPAM compliance guide (FTC)
• GDPR overview
• Set up SPF (Google Workspace admin help)
• Set up DKIM (Google Workspace admin help)
• Set up DMARC (Google Workspace admin help)

Step 5: Choose based on “time-to-value”

If you’re starting now, pick a platform where you can launch:

• 1 clean pipeline
• 3 segments (e.g., new leads, warm leads, customers)
• 2 automations (welcome + follow-up)

Then expand.

FAQs

What is the difference between sales email sequences and email marketing?

Sales sequences are usually 1-to-1 or small-batch outreach (follow-ups, cadences). Email marketing is campaign-based (newsletters, promotions, nurture to segments) with compliance and analytics focus. Many modern CRMs support both—but not equally well.

Do I need a separate email marketing tool if I already have a CRM?

Not always. If your CRM has built-in campaigns or a tightly integrated module (like HubSpot, Zoho+Campaigns, ActiveCampaign, etc.), you can keep everything together. If your CRM only offers email sync, you’ll likely need a separate email platform.

Which CRM is best for small business in 2026?

For most small businesses: HubSpot (best all-in-one), Zoho (best value suite), or ActiveCampaign (best automation depth). Your choice depends on whether you are sales-first or marketing-first.

Which tool is best for B2B lead nurturing?

For B2B at scale: Salesforce + Account Engagement or Dynamics 365 + Customer Insights – Journeys. For SMB B2B: ActiveCampaign or HubSpot can be excellent.

How many contacts do I need before I should upgrade?

Upgrade when you hit one of these points: (1) you need advanced automation, (2) you need deeper reporting/attribution, (3) you need multi-team permissions/governance, or (4) you’re sending enough volume that deliverability tooling becomes essential.

Key Takeaways

• Pick CRM + email marketing based on your primary motion: sales-first vs marketing-first vs all-in-one.
• CRM-connected automation is the biggest “2026 advantage” (behavior and deal stages trigger the right emails).
• Don’t ignore deliverability: SPF/DKIM/DMARC + compliance systems matter as much as templates.
• Start small: 3 segments + 2 automations, then expand once you see what converts.
• Use official pricing pages before committing—plan names and limits change frequently.

References

• HubSpot Email Marketing
• Zoho Campaigns ↔ Zoho CRM integration (Zoho Help)
• ActiveCampaign Email Marketing
• Campaigns by Pipedrive
• Brevo Platform
• EngageBay Email Marketing CRM
• Bitrix24 Email marketing inside CRM
• Salesmate CRM email marketing automation
• Salesforce Marketing Cloud Account Engagement
• Microsoft Customer Insights – Journeys (marketing emails)

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