Quick Overview
- 1#1: HubSpot - All-in-one inbound marketing, sales, and CRM platform to attract visitors, convert leads, and acquire customers.
- 2#2: Salesforce - Cloud-based CRM with marketing automation tools to manage leads and drive customer acquisition at scale.
- 3#3: Marketo - Adobe-backed marketing automation platform for lead nurturing, scoring, and B2B customer acquisition.
- 4#4: ActiveCampaign - Email marketing and automation platform with built-in CRM for personalized customer acquisition campaigns.
- 5#5: Intercom - Customer messaging platform for real-time chat, targeted messaging, and acquiring users through conversations.
- 6#6: Klaviyo - Email and SMS marketing platform optimized for e-commerce customer acquisition and retention.
- 7#7: Apollo.io - Sales intelligence platform for prospecting, enriching leads, and automating customer outreach.
- 8#8: Outreach - Sales engagement platform to automate sequences and workflows for efficient customer acquisition.
- 9#9: Mailchimp - Email marketing tool for creating campaigns, automating flows, and acquiring customers via targeted emails.
- 10#10: Pipedrive - Sales CRM focused on pipeline management, deal tracking, and converting leads into customers.
We prioritized tools based on feature depth, user experience, reliability, and value, ensuring the ranked software deliver practical, scalable capabilities to meet diverse customer acquisition needs.
Comparison Table
This comparison table examines leading customer acquisition software, such as HubSpot, Salesforce, Marketo, ActiveCampaign, Intercom, and more, to help readers evaluate key features, pricing, and usability. It simplifies selecting the right tool by highlighting how each solution aligns with diverse acquisition strategies, ensuring clarity for informed business decisions.
| # | Tool | Category | Overall | Features | Ease of Use | Value |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | HubSpot All-in-one inbound marketing, sales, and CRM platform to attract visitors, convert leads, and acquire customers. | enterprise | 9.7/10 | 9.8/10 | 9.2/10 | 9.0/10 |
| 2 | Salesforce Cloud-based CRM with marketing automation tools to manage leads and drive customer acquisition at scale. | enterprise | 9.2/10 | 9.8/10 | 7.4/10 | 8.1/10 |
| 3 | Marketo Adobe-backed marketing automation platform for lead nurturing, scoring, and B2B customer acquisition. | enterprise | 8.7/10 | 9.2/10 | 7.1/10 | 7.8/10 |
| 4 | ActiveCampaign Email marketing and automation platform with built-in CRM for personalized customer acquisition campaigns. | specialized | 9.0/10 | 9.5/10 | 7.8/10 | 8.5/10 |
| 5 | Intercom Customer messaging platform for real-time chat, targeted messaging, and acquiring users through conversations. | specialized | 8.4/10 | 9.2/10 | 7.7/10 | 7.5/10 |
| 6 | Klaviyo Email and SMS marketing platform optimized for e-commerce customer acquisition and retention. | specialized | 8.7/10 | 9.3/10 | 8.2/10 | 8.1/10 |
| 7 | Apollo.io Sales intelligence platform for prospecting, enriching leads, and automating customer outreach. | specialized | 9.2/10 | 9.5/10 | 8.8/10 | 8.7/10 |
| 8 | Outreach Sales engagement platform to automate sequences and workflows for efficient customer acquisition. | enterprise | 8.5/10 | 9.2/10 | 7.4/10 | 8.0/10 |
| 9 | Mailchimp Email marketing tool for creating campaigns, automating flows, and acquiring customers via targeted emails. | other | 8.2/10 | 8.4/10 | 9.1/10 | 7.6/10 |
| 10 | Pipedrive Sales CRM focused on pipeline management, deal tracking, and converting leads into customers. | specialized | 8.1/10 | 8.2/10 | 9.2/10 | 7.5/10 |
All-in-one inbound marketing, sales, and CRM platform to attract visitors, convert leads, and acquire customers.
Cloud-based CRM with marketing automation tools to manage leads and drive customer acquisition at scale.
Adobe-backed marketing automation platform for lead nurturing, scoring, and B2B customer acquisition.
Email marketing and automation platform with built-in CRM for personalized customer acquisition campaigns.
Customer messaging platform for real-time chat, targeted messaging, and acquiring users through conversations.
Email and SMS marketing platform optimized for e-commerce customer acquisition and retention.
Sales intelligence platform for prospecting, enriching leads, and automating customer outreach.
Sales engagement platform to automate sequences and workflows for efficient customer acquisition.
Email marketing tool for creating campaigns, automating flows, and acquiring customers via targeted emails.
Sales CRM focused on pipeline management, deal tracking, and converting leads into customers.
HubSpot
enterpriseAll-in-one inbound marketing, sales, and CRM platform to attract visitors, convert leads, and acquire customers.
Flywheel-powered CRM that unifies marketing, sales, and service data for closed-loop customer acquisition analytics
HubSpot is an all-in-one CRM platform designed for customer acquisition through inbound marketing, sales automation, and analytics. It provides tools for attracting visitors via SEO, content marketing, and ads; converting leads with landing pages, forms, and email nurturing; and closing deals with sales pipelines and workflows. The platform integrates marketing, sales, service, and operations hubs into a unified system, enabling data-driven strategies to grow revenue efficiently.
Pros
- Comprehensive inbound marketing suite with SEO, email, and ad management
- Free forever CRM with unlimited users and robust core features
- Seamless integrations with 1,000+ apps and AI-powered insights
Cons
- Higher-tier pricing can become expensive for scaling teams
- Steep learning curve for advanced automation and customizations
- Some premium features locked behind enterprise plans
Best For
Growing B2B and B2C businesses seeking a scalable, all-in-one platform for inbound customer acquisition.
Pricing
Free CRM tier; Marketing/Sales Hubs start at $20/month (Starter), up to $3,600/month (Enterprise) billed annually.
Salesforce
enterpriseCloud-based CRM with marketing automation tools to manage leads and drive customer acquisition at scale.
Einstein AI for predictive analytics and automated personalization across the customer acquisition lifecycle
Salesforce is a comprehensive cloud-based CRM platform renowned for its Sales Cloud and Marketing Cloud tools that streamline customer acquisition by managing leads, automating marketing campaigns, and tracking sales pipelines. It leverages AI through Einstein to provide predictive lead scoring, personalized customer journeys, and actionable insights across the acquisition funnel. With seamless integrations via AppExchange and extensive customization options, it scales effortlessly for complex enterprise needs.
Pros
- Unmatched customization and scalability for enterprise-level customer acquisition
- Powerful AI-driven insights with Einstein for lead scoring and personalization
- Vast AppExchange ecosystem for seamless integrations with acquisition tools
Cons
- Steep learning curve requiring significant training and setup time
- High pricing that may not suit small businesses or startups
- Occasional performance issues with heavy customizations
Best For
Mid-to-large enterprises with complex sales and marketing teams seeking an all-in-one platform to optimize lead generation, nurturing, and conversion.
Pricing
Starts at $25/user/month (Essentials) up to $300+/user/month (Unlimited); volume discounts and custom enterprise pricing available.
Marketo
enterpriseAdobe-backed marketing automation platform for lead nurturing, scoring, and B2B customer acquisition.
Revenue Cycle Analytics for measuring marketing's direct impact on pipeline and revenue
Marketo Engage, part of Adobe Experience Cloud, is a powerful marketing automation platform focused on customer acquisition through lead generation, nurturing, and revenue optimization. It provides tools for multi-channel campaigns, behavioral tracking, lead scoring, and account-based marketing to convert prospects into customers efficiently. With deep integrations to CRMs like Salesforce and advanced analytics, it helps B2B marketers scale personalized engagement across the buyer journey.
Pros
- Comprehensive lead management and nurturing workflows
- Advanced personalization and segmentation capabilities
- Robust analytics and revenue attribution reporting
Cons
- Steep learning curve for non-experts
- High pricing that scales with volume
- Complex setup requiring dedicated resources
Best For
Mid-to-large B2B enterprises with sophisticated marketing teams seeking scalable customer acquisition automation.
Pricing
Custom enterprise pricing starting around $1,200/month for basic plans, scaling to $10,000+/month based on contacts, users, and features.
ActiveCampaign
specializedEmail marketing and automation platform with built-in CRM for personalized customer acquisition campaigns.
Infinite if/then automation branching with machine learning-powered predictive sending
ActiveCampaign is a robust marketing automation platform designed for customer acquisition through email marketing, CRM, and multi-channel messaging like SMS and WhatsApp. It enables businesses to create personalized customer journeys, automate lead nurturing, and use lead scoring to convert prospects into customers efficiently. With built-in site tracking and machine learning features, it provides deep insights into user behavior to optimize acquisition strategies.
Pros
- Powerful visual automation builder for complex workflows
- Integrated CRM with lead scoring and deal pipelines
- High email deliverability and advanced personalization options
Cons
- Steep learning curve for beginners
- Pricing increases significantly with contact volume
- Reporting and analytics limited in entry-level plans
Best For
Small to mid-sized businesses and marketing teams needing scalable automation and CRM for lead generation and nurturing.
Pricing
Starts at $29/mo (Lite, 500 contacts), $49/mo (Plus), $149/mo (Professional); Enterprise custom; billed annually with contact-based scaling.
Intercom
specializedCustomer messaging platform for real-time chat, targeted messaging, and acquiring users through conversations.
Proactive Messenger with AI-powered bots for real-time visitor engagement and instant lead qualification
Intercom is a comprehensive customer messaging platform designed to help businesses acquire, engage, and retain customers through real-time chat, AI-powered bots, and targeted campaigns. It excels in converting website visitors into leads by offering proactive messaging, lead qualification, and personalized outreach across web, mobile, and email. With robust segmentation and analytics, it optimizes acquisition funnels for higher conversion rates.
Pros
- Advanced personalization and segmentation for targeted acquisition
- AI bots for automated lead qualification and 24/7 engagement
- Strong integrations with CRMs like Salesforce and HubSpot
Cons
- Pricing scales quickly and becomes expensive with growth
- Steep learning curve for setup and advanced customization
- Limited capabilities in the free or entry-level plans
Best For
Growing SaaS and e-commerce companies seeking conversational marketing to turn visitors into qualified leads.
Pricing
Starts at $74/month for Starter (billed annually), scales based on active users; Pro and enterprise plans are custom-priced.
Klaviyo
specializedEmail and SMS marketing platform optimized for e-commerce customer acquisition and retention.
Revenue per recipient analytics that directly attributes customer acquisition value to campaigns and flows
Klaviyo is a powerful marketing automation platform tailored for e-commerce businesses, focusing on email, SMS, and push notification campaigns to acquire and engage customers. It leverages first-party data for hyper-personalized messaging, advanced segmentation, and automated flows like welcome series and sign-up incentives. With robust integrations to platforms like Shopify and WooCommerce, it enables precise targeting and revenue attribution to optimize customer acquisition strategies.
Pros
- Exceptional segmentation and personalization using customer data
- Seamless e-commerce integrations with real-time revenue tracking
- Comprehensive A/B testing and analytics for acquisition optimization
Cons
- Pricing scales quickly with contact volume, pricey for large lists
- Steep learning curve for advanced automation features
- Limited suitability outside e-commerce verticals
Best For
Growing e-commerce brands seeking data-driven email and SMS campaigns to scale customer acquisition efficiently.
Pricing
Free for up to 250 contacts; paid plans start at $20/month for 500 contacts, billed based on active profiles with add-ons for SMS.
Apollo.io
specializedSales intelligence platform for prospecting, enriching leads, and automating customer outreach.
Its industry-leading database of 265M+ verified B2B contacts with direct emails and mobile numbers for precise targeting.
Apollo.io is a comprehensive sales intelligence and engagement platform designed for customer acquisition, featuring a massive database of over 265 million B2B contacts with verified emails and phone numbers. It enables teams to prospect, enrich leads, automate personalized outreach via email sequences, cold calling, and LinkedIn integration, while providing analytics for optimizing campaigns. The platform streamlines the entire go-to-market process from lead generation to deal closure, making it a powerhouse for outbound sales strategies.
Pros
- Vast, accurate B2B contact database with high-quality enrichment data
- All-in-one platform for prospecting, sequences, calling, and analytics
- Seamless CRM integrations and AI-powered personalization tools
Cons
- Pricing scales quickly for larger teams or high-volume usage
- Occasional data inaccuracies requiring manual verification
- Steeper learning curve for advanced sequencing and reporting features
Best For
B2B sales and marketing teams focused on scalable outbound prospecting and automated engagement.
Pricing
Free plan available; paid tiers start at $49/user/month (Basic, billed annually), up to $99/user/month (Professional), with custom Organization pricing.
Outreach
enterpriseSales engagement platform to automate sequences and workflows for efficient customer acquisition.
AI-powered Kaia for real-time sales coaching and personalized guidance during calls and emails
Outreach is a robust sales engagement platform that automates multi-channel outreach sequences for emails, calls, LinkedIn tasks, and more to drive customer acquisition. It provides advanced analytics, A/B testing, and performance insights to optimize sales workflows and rep effectiveness. The tool integrates deeply with CRMs like Salesforce, enabling seamless data sync and scalable prospecting for revenue teams.
Pros
- Powerful multi-channel sequence automation with A/B testing
- Deep analytics and real-time engagement tracking
- Seamless integrations with Salesforce and other CRMs
Cons
- Steep learning curve for new users
- High pricing suited for enterprises only
- Interface can feel overwhelming with too many features
Best For
Mid-to-large sales teams scaling high-volume outbound prospecting and needing advanced automation.
Pricing
Custom enterprise pricing, typically starting at $100-$150 per user per month with annual contracts.
Mailchimp
otherEmail marketing tool for creating campaigns, automating flows, and acquiring customers via targeted emails.
Integrated multi-channel journeys combining email automation, landing pages, and connected ads for end-to-end customer acquisition.
Mailchimp is an all-in-one marketing platform primarily focused on email marketing, audience segmentation, and automation to help businesses acquire and engage customers. It offers tools for creating email campaigns, landing pages, signup forms, popups, and even Facebook/Google ads to capture leads and drive conversions. While versatile for small to mid-sized teams, it excels in nurturing acquired leads through personalized automations and behavioral triggers.
Pros
- Intuitive drag-and-drop editor for quick campaign setup
- Robust free plan for up to 500 contacts and 1,000 emails/month
- Seamless integrations with e-commerce platforms like Shopify and WooCommerce
Cons
- Pricing scales steeply with contact list size
- Advanced automation and A/B testing limited to higher tiers
- Customer support can be slow for free/basic users
Best For
Small to medium-sized businesses and solopreneurs seeking an easy-entry tool for email-driven lead generation and nurturing.
Pricing
Free plan for up to 500 contacts; paid Essentials starts at $13/mo (500 contacts), Standard at $20/mo (500 contacts), Premium at $350/mo (10k+ contacts), billed monthly with contact-based scaling.
Pipedrive
specializedSales CRM focused on pipeline management, deal tracking, and converting leads into customers.
Visual sales pipeline with drag-and-drop customization for real-time deal progression tracking
Pipedrive is a sales-focused CRM platform that provides a visual pipeline for managing leads, deals, and customer interactions to streamline the sales process. It enables teams to track activities, automate workflows, and gain insights into sales performance, making it effective for converting prospects into customers. While strong in sales pipeline management, it integrates with various tools for broader customer acquisition efforts.
Pros
- Highly intuitive visual drag-and-drop pipeline for sales tracking
- Robust automation and activity reminders to boost efficiency
- Strong mobile app and 400+ integrations for seamless workflows
Cons
- Limited native marketing automation and lead generation tools
- Basic reporting in lower-tier plans requires upgrades
- Pricing scales quickly for teams needing advanced features
Best For
Sales teams in small to mid-sized businesses focused on pipeline management and deal conversion for customer acquisition.
Pricing
Starts at $14.90/user/month (Essential, billed annually) up to $99/user/month (Enterprise).
Conclusion
The top 10 tools provide a range of solutions, but HubSpot leads as the top pick, offering an all-in-one platform that seamlessly combines inbound marketing, sales, and CRM capabilities to attract and convert customers. Salesforce and Marketo are strong alternatives—Salesforce for scalable CRM and marketing automation, Marketo for B2B lead nurturing—each suited to different operational needs.
Start building your customer acquisition strategy today by exploring HubSpot; its integrated tools are designed to streamline processes and drive meaningful growth for your business.
Tools Reviewed
All tools were independently evaluated for this comparison