Quick Overview
- 1#1: HubSpot - All-in-one CRM platform for creating, executing, and tracking sales pipelines and inbound marketing plans.
- 2#2: Salesforce - Comprehensive CRM with Sales Cloud and Marketing Cloud for enterprise-level sales forecasting and campaign planning.
- 3#3: ActiveCampaign - Email marketing automation and CRM tool that enables personalized sales funnels and marketing automation plans.
- 4#4: Pipedrive - Visual sales pipeline management software designed for planning and tracking sales activities and deals.
- 5#5: Zoho CRM - Affordable CRM with integrated marketing automation for sales territory planning and lead nurturing campaigns.
- 6#6: Marketo Engage - Adobe's marketing automation platform for B2B lead management and multi-channel campaign planning.
- 7#7: Monday.com - Work operating system with customizable sales and marketing plan boards, calendars, and automation workflows.
- 8#8: Keap - Sales and marketing automation software for small businesses to plan automated customer journeys and pipelines.
- 9#9: Close - Inside sales CRM with built-in communication tools for managing sales cadences and opportunity planning.
- 10#10: Outreach - Sales engagement platform for sequencing, planning, and optimizing outbound sales and marketing motions.
Tools were chosen based on evaluating core features, user experience, functional quality, and overall value, ensuring a balanced list that caters to diverse business needs, from enterprise scaling to small business agility.
Comparison Table
Discover how integrated sales and marketing planning tools can align teams, enhance workflows, and boost results, with this comparison featuring HubSpot, Salesforce, ActiveCampaign, Pipedrive, Zoho CRM, and more, to help you identify the best fit for your needs.
| # | Tool | Category | Overall | Features | Ease of Use | Value |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | HubSpot All-in-one CRM platform for creating, executing, and tracking sales pipelines and inbound marketing plans. | enterprise | 9.5/10 | 9.8/10 | 9.2/10 | 9.4/10 |
| 2 | Salesforce Comprehensive CRM with Sales Cloud and Marketing Cloud for enterprise-level sales forecasting and campaign planning. | enterprise | 9.2/10 | 9.8/10 | 7.4/10 | 8.1/10 |
| 3 | ActiveCampaign Email marketing automation and CRM tool that enables personalized sales funnels and marketing automation plans. | specialized | 8.7/10 | 9.2/10 | 7.9/10 | 8.4/10 |
| 4 | Pipedrive Visual sales pipeline management software designed for planning and tracking sales activities and deals. | specialized | 8.2/10 | 7.8/10 | 9.1/10 | 8.4/10 |
| 5 | Zoho CRM Affordable CRM with integrated marketing automation for sales territory planning and lead nurturing campaigns. | enterprise | 8.7/10 | 9.1/10 | 8.0/10 | 9.3/10 |
| 6 | Marketo Engage Adobe's marketing automation platform for B2B lead management and multi-channel campaign planning. | enterprise | 8.4/10 | 9.2/10 | 7.1/10 | 7.8/10 |
| 7 | Monday.com Work operating system with customizable sales and marketing plan boards, calendars, and automation workflows. | other | 8.7/10 | 9.2/10 | 8.9/10 | 8.0/10 |
| 8 | Keap Sales and marketing automation software for small businesses to plan automated customer journeys and pipelines. | specialized | 8.3/10 | 9.0/10 | 7.6/10 | 7.9/10 |
| 9 | Close Inside sales CRM with built-in communication tools for managing sales cadences and opportunity planning. | specialized | 7.8/10 | 7.5/10 | 9.2/10 | 8.0/10 |
| 10 | Outreach Sales engagement platform for sequencing, planning, and optimizing outbound sales and marketing motions. | enterprise | 7.6/10 | 8.2/10 | 6.9/10 | 6.8/10 |
All-in-one CRM platform for creating, executing, and tracking sales pipelines and inbound marketing plans.
Comprehensive CRM with Sales Cloud and Marketing Cloud for enterprise-level sales forecasting and campaign planning.
Email marketing automation and CRM tool that enables personalized sales funnels and marketing automation plans.
Visual sales pipeline management software designed for planning and tracking sales activities and deals.
Affordable CRM with integrated marketing automation for sales territory planning and lead nurturing campaigns.
Adobe's marketing automation platform for B2B lead management and multi-channel campaign planning.
Work operating system with customizable sales and marketing plan boards, calendars, and automation workflows.
Sales and marketing automation software for small businesses to plan automated customer journeys and pipelines.
Inside sales CRM with built-in communication tools for managing sales cadences and opportunity planning.
Sales engagement platform for sequencing, planning, and optimizing outbound sales and marketing motions.
HubSpot
enterpriseAll-in-one CRM platform for creating, executing, and tracking sales pipelines and inbound marketing plans.
Seamless alignment of marketing and sales via unified customer data platform and shared pipelines
HubSpot is a comprehensive CRM platform that unifies marketing, sales, service, and content management tools to streamline customer acquisition and retention. It excels in inbound marketing with features like email automation, lead scoring, sales pipelines, and analytics for data-driven strategies. Businesses can create personalized buyer journeys, nurture leads effectively, and align sales-marketing teams through its integrated hubs.
Pros
- All-in-one platform integrating marketing, sales, and CRM
- Powerful inbound tools like lead nurturing and automation
- Generous free tier with scalable paid upgrades
Cons
- Premium features require expensive Professional/Enterprise tiers
- Steep learning curve for advanced customizations
- Contact-based pricing can escalate costs quickly
Best For
Growing B2B teams seeking an integrated inbound sales and marketing solution to scale lead generation and revenue.
Pricing
Free CRM forever; Starter hubs from $20/month (1,000 contacts), Professional from $800/month, Enterprise from $3,600/month (billed annually).
Salesforce
enterpriseComprehensive CRM with Sales Cloud and Marketing Cloud for enterprise-level sales forecasting and campaign planning.
Einstein AI for predictive sales forecasting and hyper-personalized marketing campaigns
Salesforce is a comprehensive CRM platform that excels in sales and marketing planning through its Sales Cloud and Marketing Cloud offerings, enabling pipeline management, lead nurturing, campaign orchestration, and customer journey mapping. It leverages Einstein AI for predictive analytics, forecasting, and personalized marketing strategies, all integrated with robust reporting and customizable dashboards. Businesses can align sales and marketing teams with real-time data insights to optimize plans and drive revenue growth.
Pros
- Extremely powerful features including AI-driven forecasting, marketing automation, and 360-degree customer views
- Highly scalable with thousands of integrations via AppExchange
- Advanced analytics and reporting for data-driven sales and marketing planning
Cons
- Steep learning curve and complex interface for non-experts
- High pricing that may not suit small businesses
- Customization often requires developer expertise or additional costs
Best For
Mid-to-large enterprises with complex sales and marketing operations needing scalable, AI-enhanced planning tools.
Pricing
Starts at $25/user/month (Essentials), up to $500+/user/month for advanced editions like Unlimited, plus add-ons for Marketing Cloud (custom/usage-based).
ActiveCampaign
specializedEmail marketing automation and CRM tool that enables personalized sales funnels and marketing automation plans.
Advanced machine learning-powered predictive sending and lead scoring for optimized timing and prioritization
ActiveCampaign is a comprehensive marketing automation platform that integrates email marketing, CRM, and sales tools to streamline sales and marketing planning. It enables users to design automated customer journeys, score leads, manage pipelines, and execute multi-channel campaigns with advanced segmentation and personalization. The platform excels in aligning marketing efforts with sales processes, providing actionable insights for optimized planning and execution.
Pros
- Powerful automation builder with conditional logic for complex workflows
- Built-in CRM and sales pipeline management
- High email deliverability and multi-channel support (email, SMS, site tracking)
Cons
- Steep learning curve for advanced features
- Pricing scales quickly with contact volume
- Reporting and analytics lack depth compared to enterprise tools
Best For
Small to mid-sized businesses and marketing teams seeking integrated automation and CRM for lead nurturing and sales alignment.
Pricing
Starts at $29/month (Starter plan for up to 500 contacts), with Plus ($49), Professional ($149), and custom Enterprise tiers; billed monthly or annually.
Pipedrive
specializedVisual sales pipeline management software designed for planning and tracking sales activities and deals.
The customizable, visual sales pipeline that allows drag-and-drop deal management for intuitive sales forecasting.
Pipedrive is a user-friendly CRM platform primarily designed for sales teams, offering visual pipeline management to track deals from lead to close. It includes tools for contact management, activity scheduling, email integration, and basic automation to support sales processes. While it integrates with marketing tools, its core strength lies in sales planning rather than comprehensive marketing campaign orchestration.
Pros
- Intuitive drag-and-drop pipeline visualization for easy sales tracking
- Strong customization options for workflows and fields
- Excellent mobile app and integrations with popular tools like Google Workspace and Mailchimp
Cons
- Limited native marketing automation and campaign planning features
- Advanced reporting and AI insights require higher-tier plans
- No built-in lead scoring or nurturing sequences compared to marketing-focused CRMs
Best For
Small to mid-sized sales teams needing a straightforward tool to visualize and manage sales pipelines without complex marketing requirements.
Pricing
Starts at $14.90/user/month (Essential) billed annually, up to $99/user/month (Enterprise); 14-day free trial available.
Zoho CRM
enterpriseAffordable CRM with integrated marketing automation for sales territory planning and lead nurturing campaigns.
Zia AI assistant for predictive analytics, lead scoring, and automated sales forecasting
Zoho CRM is a comprehensive cloud-based platform designed for managing customer relationships, sales pipelines, and marketing campaigns. It provides tools for lead management, sales forecasting, territory planning, and marketing automation to help align sales and marketing strategies. With customizable workflows, AI-driven insights via Zia, and seamless integrations, it supports end-to-end sales and marketing planning for growing businesses.
Pros
- Affordable pricing with a robust free tier for small teams
- Extensive automation and AI features like Zia for sales predictions
- Deep integrations with Zoho suite and 500+ third-party apps
Cons
- Steep learning curve for complex customizations
- Advanced reporting and analytics locked behind higher plans
- Mobile app lags in intuitiveness compared to desktop
Best For
Small to mid-sized businesses needing an integrated CRM for sales pipeline management and marketing campaign planning.
Pricing
Free for up to 3 users; paid plans from $14/user/month (Standard) to $52/user/month (Ultimate), billed annually.
Marketo Engage
enterpriseAdobe's marketing automation platform for B2B lead management and multi-channel campaign planning.
Revenue Cycle Analytics for precise attribution of marketing efforts to revenue generation
Marketo Engage is an enterprise-grade marketing automation platform that helps B2B teams plan, execute, and optimize sales and marketing campaigns across the customer lifecycle. It provides tools for lead generation, nurturing, scoring, personalized email marketing, account-based marketing (ABM), and revenue analytics. As part of Adobe Experience Cloud, it integrates deeply with CRM systems like Salesforce to align sales and marketing efforts effectively.
Pros
- Robust lead management and nurturing capabilities
- Advanced analytics and revenue attribution
- Seamless integrations with Salesforce and other enterprise tools
Cons
- Steep learning curve for non-experts
- High cost unsuitable for SMBs
- Complex setup and customization
Best For
Mid-to-large B2B enterprises with complex marketing operations needing sophisticated automation and sales alignment.
Pricing
Custom quote-based pricing, typically starting at $1,000+ per month for basic plans, scaling significantly with contacts, features, and usage.
Monday.com
otherWork operating system with customizable sales and marketing plan boards, calendars, and automation workflows.
Itemized automations that trigger actions across sales stages and marketing tasks without coding
Monday.com is a versatile work operating system that enables teams to create customizable boards for managing sales pipelines, marketing campaigns, and strategic planning. It supports visual workflow automation, real-time collaboration, and dashboards for tracking KPIs like lead conversion and campaign performance. With extensive templates and integrations, it streamlines sales and marketing alignment in a single platform.
Pros
- Highly customizable boards and templates tailored for sales funnels and marketing calendars
- Powerful no-code automations and 200+ integrations for seamless workflows
- Intuitive dashboards and real-time collaboration for team alignment
Cons
- Can feel overwhelming for beginners due to extensive customization options
- Pricing scales quickly for larger teams or advanced features
- Not as specialized for deep CRM analytics compared to dedicated sales tools
Best For
Mid-sized sales and marketing teams seeking a flexible, visual platform for collaborative planning and execution.
Pricing
Basic at $9/user/month, Standard at $12/user/month, Pro at $19/user/month (billed annually); free plan and trial available.
Keap
specializedSales and marketing automation software for small businesses to plan automated customer journeys and pipelines.
Advanced multi-channel automation that handles the full customer lifecycle from lead capture to repeat sales
Keap is an all-in-one CRM and marketing automation platform tailored for small to medium-sized businesses, enabling automated email campaigns, lead nurturing, sales pipeline management, and customer relationship tracking. It supports creating landing pages, handling appointments, invoicing, and payments to streamline sales and marketing workflows. With robust reporting and segmentation tools, Keap helps users execute data-driven sales and marketing plans efficiently.
Pros
- Comprehensive marketing automation with multi-step campaigns and triggers
- Integrated CRM, sales pipelines, and e-commerce tools in one platform
- Strong analytics and reporting for optimizing sales and marketing performance
Cons
- Steep learning curve for complex automations
- Pricing scales quickly with contact volume
- Interface can feel dated compared to newer competitors
Best For
Small to mid-sized businesses seeking an integrated solution to automate lead generation, nurturing, and sales processes.
Pricing
Plans start at $129/month (Pro, up to 1,500 contacts) billed annually, with higher tiers like Max ($169/month for 2,500 contacts) and Ultimate (custom); scales by contact count and includes a free trial.
Close
specializedInside sales CRM with built-in communication tools for managing sales cadences and opportunity planning.
Built-in Power Dialer and one-click communication tools that eliminate the need for external dialers or email apps
Close is an all-in-one inside sales CRM that enables teams to manage sales pipelines, automate workflows, and handle communications like calling, emailing, and SMS directly within the platform. It provides tools for sales forecasting, reporting, and custom views to support sales planning and execution. While strong in sales operations, it offers limited native features for comprehensive marketing planning, relying on integrations for broader marketing needs.
Pros
- Seamless built-in calling, emailing, and SMS for efficient sales execution
- Intuitive interface with one-click actions and customizable pipelines
- Robust reporting and forecasting tools for sales planning
Cons
- Limited native marketing planning capabilities like campaign calendars or content tools
- No free tier or trial without commitment
- Higher pricing for advanced automation and team features
Best For
Inside sales teams needing a fast, communication-focused CRM to execute and track sales plans.
Pricing
Starts at $59/user/month (Essential, billed annually); Professional at $99/user/month; Enterprise custom.
Outreach
enterpriseSales engagement platform for sequencing, planning, and optimizing outbound sales and marketing motions.
Revenue Intelligence: AI analyzes sales activities to provide real-time coaching, deal risk alerts, and performance recommendations.
Outreach is a sales engagement platform designed to automate and scale outbound sales efforts through personalized email sequences, call scheduling, and multi-channel cadences. It provides analytics, A/B testing, and AI-driven insights to optimize sales performance and coach reps. While strong in execution, its planning tools are limited to sequence builders and activity forecasting rather than comprehensive sales and marketing strategy planning.
Pros
- Powerful automation for sales sequences and multi-channel outreach
- Deep integrations with CRMs like Salesforce and analytics for performance tracking
- AI-powered Revenue Intelligence for coaching and deal insights
Cons
- Steep learning curve and complex setup for new users
- High pricing geared toward enterprises, less ideal for small teams
- Limited native tools for broader marketing planning or strategy roadmapping
Best For
Mid-sized to large sales teams focused on scaling outbound prospecting and execution rather than high-level planning.
Pricing
Custom enterprise pricing; typically starts at $100/user/month for standard plans, with professional and enterprise tiers higher based on features and users.
Conclusion
With a diverse range of tools catering to different business needs, the reviewed software highlights strong options for planning, executing, and tracking sales and marketing efforts. At the top, HubSpot shines as an all-in-one CRM, excelling in creating, managing, and monitoring sales pipelines and inbound marketing plans, making it a well-rounded choice. Salesforce and ActiveCampaign follow closely—Salesforce for enterprise-level forecasting and B2B campaign planning, and ActiveCampaign for personalized automation and sales funnels—offering solid alternatives for specific priorities.
Ready to enhance your sales and marketing game? HubSpot’s integrated capabilities make it the top pick to streamline your processes, create impactful plans, and drive results—start exploring today.
Tools Reviewed
All tools were independently evaluated for this comparison