{"id":99797,"date":"2022-06-23T02:46:55","date_gmt":"2022-06-23T02:46:55","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/monday.com\/blog\/?p=99797"},"modified":"2026-04-05T04:39:11","modified_gmt":"2026-04-05T09:39:11","slug":"crm-with-marketing-automation","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/monday.com\/blog\/crm-and-sales\/crm-with-marketing-automation\/","title":{"rendered":"CRM marketing automation: 7 platforms to streamline marketing in 2026"},"content":{"rendered":"","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

How integrating marketing automation with your CRM platform can maximize its potential.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":212,"featured_media":253135,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"pages\/cornerstone-primary.php","format":"standard","meta":{"_acf_changed":false,"_yoast_wpseo_title":"CRM Marketing Automation: 7 Solutions For 2026","_yoast_wpseo_metadesc":"CRM marketing automation allows teams to automate both sales and marketing workflows in one place. Here are the top automation solutions.","monday_item_id":10045906848,"monday_board_id":0,"footnotes":"","_links_to":"","_links_to_target":""},"categories":[13913],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-99797","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-crm-and-sales"],"acf":{"lobby_image":false,"post_thumbnail_title":"","hide_post_info":false,"hide_bottom_cta":false,"hide_from_blog":false,"landing_page_layout":false,"cluster":"","display_dates":"updated","featured_image_link":"","banner_url":"","main_text_banner":"Try monday.com for CRM and Sales","sub_title_banner":"Join the 152K+ customers who use monday.com","sub_title_banner_second":"","banner_button_text":"","below_banner_line":"","use_customized_cta":false,"display_subscribe_widget":false,"custom_schema_code":"","post_date":"20260308","sidebar_color_banner":"","custom_tags":false,"faqs":[{"faq_title":"FAQs","faq_shortcode":"1","faq":[{"question":"Which platforms offer free marketing automation with CRM integration?","answer":"

HubSpot, Brevo, Freshsales, and Zoho CRM all offer free plans with basic marketing automation features. However, these free versions typically have limited contacts, reduced functionality, and fewer automation triggers. For teams looking for advanced visual workflows and AI-powered automation without significant limitations, monday CRM\u2019s affordable starting price offers significantly more value than restrictive free plans.<\/p>\n"},{"question":"What are the best tools for syncing CRM data with marketing automation platforms?","answer":"

Most modern CRMs offer native integrations and APIs for seamless data syncing. Tools like Zapier can bridge gaps between platforms, but native integrations typically provide the most reliable data flow. Platforms like monday CRM eliminate sync issues entirely by combining both CRM and marketing automation in one unified platform, ensuring your data stays consistent and accessible without complex third-party integrations.<\/p>\n"},{"question":"Which CRM with marketing automation tools is best for small businesses?","answer":"

Small businesses need affordable, user-friendly solutions that don\u2019t require extensive technical expertise. While Pipedrive and Brevo offer basic automation, monday CRM provides the ideal balance of powerful AI-driven marketing automation, intuitive visual workflows, and affordable pricing. Its drag-and-drop interface and customizable automations make it accessible for any team size while offering enterprise-level capabilities for growing businesses.<\/p>\n"}]}],"activate_cta_banner":false,"parse_from_google_doc":false,"content_doc":"

CRM marketing automation: 7 solutions to increase productivity for 2025<\/span><\/h1>\n

Once you get a lead and they convert into a client, they often leave the marketing team\u2019s orbit. However, the data that comes from tracking leads throughout the sales funnel and even after a deal is closed is invaluable. The catch is that most marketing teams don\u2019t have the time or resources to do this.<\/span><\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

With a CRM equipped with marketing automation features, teams can have the best of both worlds: sales and marketing data in one unified platform. With CRM automations, marketing teams can monitor the entire customer journey from first contact to conversion and beyond to get stronger insights that help build more successful campaigns.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

If you\u2019re looking for a CRM with marketing automation, you\u2019re in the right place. In this article, you\u2019ll learn about the benefits of combining these two seemingly independent tools. We\u2019ll also explore the different platforms that can make your team more productive, such as monday CRM, which offers intelligent marketing automations backed by AI.<\/span><\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

CTA<\/span><\/p>\n

What is marketing automation in a CRM?<\/span><\/h2>\n

Marketing automation involves using tools to achieve a company\u2019s business goals and work towards specific marketing strategies. Customer relationship management (CRM) software plays into it since these solutions often encompass marketing automation features, such as email marketing, lead generation tracking, and client behavior tracking.<\/span><\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

Together, CRM marketing automation platforms help businesses accomplish more without expending extra effort. These platforms allow teams to automate manual tasks, improve efficiencies within a marketing department, and deliver better results. Implementing marketing automation enables teams to spend less time on repetitive tasks and more time focusing on higher-value initiatives, such as developing marketing strategies and building customer relationships.<\/span><\/p>\n

CRM vs. marketing automation tools: What\u2019s the difference?<\/span><\/h2>\n

While most CRMs offer marketing automation features, not all marketing automation tools are CRMs. The table below breaks down the differences a bit further so you can get a side-by-side look at each of their strengths and focuses.<\/span><\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n
<\/td>\nCRM<\/span><\/td>\nMarketing automation tools<\/span><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Primary purpose<\/span><\/td>\nManage customer relationships and sales processes throughout the entire customer lifecycle<\/span><\/td>\nAutomate marketing campaigns and nurture leads through the sales funnel<\/span><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Core functions<\/span><\/td>\nContact management, sales pipeline tracking, deal management, customer service, reporting<\/span><\/td>\nEmail marketing, lead nurturing, campaign automation, lead scoring, behavioral tracking<\/span><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Target users<\/span><\/td>\nSales teams, customer service representatives, account managers<\/span><\/td>\nMarketing teams, digital marketers, campaign managers<\/span><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Funnel focus<\/span><\/td>\nBottom of funnel (BOFU) – closing deals and post-purchase relationships<\/span><\/td>\nTop of funnel (TOFU) and middle of funnel (MOFU) for lead generation and nurturing<\/span><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Relationship management<\/span><\/td>\nOne-to-one relationship management with personalized interactions<\/span><\/td>\nOne-to-many automated marketing communications<\/span><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Scalability<\/span><\/td>\nScales with sales team size and customer base growth<\/span><\/td>\nScales with marketing campaign complexity and audience size<\/span><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Automations<\/span><\/td>\nTask reminders, follow-up scheduling, workflow automation for sales processes<\/span><\/td>\nContent delivery, email sequences, lead-nurturing workflows, behavioral triggers<\/span><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Customer interaction<\/span><\/td>\nDirect, personal communication and relationship building<\/span><\/td>\nAutomated, targeted messaging based on behavior and segmentation<\/span><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/tbody>\n<\/table>\n

 <\/p>\n

While CRMs excel at managing existing customer relationships and <\/span>sales automation processes<\/span><\/a>, marketing automation tools specialize in attracting and nurturing prospects before they become customers. That said, businesses can benefit from using both.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

When a lead becomes a customer, there\u2019s no additional need to engage them with marketing automation tools, and they\u2019ll likely move to a CRM. However, CRMs with marketing automation capabilities offer the best of both worlds by offering lead and client engagement through all stages of the marketing funnel and into the sales cycle.<\/span><\/p>\n

The benefits of adopting a CRM with marketing automation<\/span><\/h2>\n

Research shows that <\/span>77% of companies<\/span><\/a> agree that marketing automation leads to increased conversion rates. Companies that want to get a leg up on the competition are integrating marketing automation with CRM capabilities for a stronger user experience. Here\u2019s a closer look at some of the core benefits of using a CRM with marketing automation built in.<\/span><\/p>\n

Improve lead management<\/span><\/h3>\n

Make handoffs between marketing and sales teams smoother with CRM marketing automations for <\/span>lead management<\/span><\/a>. CRMs can help teams score and <\/span>qualify new leads<\/span><\/a> so that marketing teams can create more targeted content. Marketers can access historical data like previous interactions and purchase history to create tailored campaigns.<\/span><\/p>\n

Data integration under one roof<\/span><\/h3>\n

Instead of siloed data in multiple tools for marketing automations and sales tools, keep your data unified and consistent in one place. A <\/span>CRM for marketing<\/span><\/a> acts as a single source of truth for both sales and marketing teams, offering full visibility into insights from the first point of contact all the way to closing and beyond.<\/span><\/p>\n

Better budget and resource management<\/span><\/h3>\n

CRM platforms with integrated marketing automation features, like monday CRM, allow teams to remain consistent with customer engagement at multiple touchpoints. Because of this, organizations can analyze marketing spend and workforce allocation more effectively by identifying which channels and campaigns generate the highest-quality leads that convert, while eliminating wasteful spending on activities that don’t contribute to the bottom line.<\/span><\/p>\n

Enhanced personalization<\/span><\/h3>\n

The right <\/span>CRM automation tools<\/span><\/a> can help you segment your leads into numerous groups based on a wide set of demographics. Segmentation allows your company to send emails, targeted ads, and messages to the right audience. When backed by AI, CRMs can go a step further by crafting personalized content like messaging and sales assets that are tailored to each individual customer based on previous interactions and sentiment analysis.<\/span><\/p>\n

Sales and marketing collaboration<\/span><\/h3>\n

Your business can achieve better results and improved profits when your sales and marketing teams are aligned on strategy, data, and communication. A marketing automation CRM provides insights into campaign performance and sales outcomes, creating visibility across departments. Additionally, unified reporting and analytics give both teams a complete view of the funnel from marketing to qualified leads to closing deals.<\/span><\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

CTA<\/span><\/p>\n

7 of the best CRM and marketing automation platforms<\/span><\/h2>\n

To make your choice a little easier, we\u2019ve narrowed down your options with our top picks for CRMs with marketing automations. Below, you can see a quick side-by-side comparison of the top CRMs in this category, or you can scroll a bit more to read about each in greater detail.<\/span><\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n
Platform<\/span><\/td>\nBest for<\/span><\/td>\nPricing<\/span><\/td>\nFree Trial<\/span><\/td>\nUser Score<\/span><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
monday CRM<\/span><\/td>\nCustomizable and visual marketing automation powered by AI<\/span><\/td>\n$12\/user\/month<\/span><\/td>\n14-day free trial<\/span><\/td>\n4.6\/5 (G2)<\/span><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
HubSpot Smart CRM<\/span><\/td>\nInbound marketing and sales alignment<\/span><\/td>\n$9\/seat\/month<\/span><\/td>\nFree forever plan<\/span><\/td>\n4.4\/5 (G2)<\/span><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Salesforce<\/span><\/td>\nEnterprise-level customization and advanced marketing automation<\/span><\/td>\n$25\/user\/month<\/span><\/td>\n30-day free trial<\/span><\/td>\n4.4\/5 (G2)<\/span><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Pipedrive<\/span><\/td>\nSales-focused teams who want light marketing automation features<\/span><\/td>\n$14\/user\/month<\/span><\/td>\n14-day free trial<\/span><\/td>\n4.3\/5 (G2)<\/span><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Brevo<\/span><\/td>\nEmail marketing automation for growing businesses<\/span><\/td>\n$8.08\/month<\/span><\/td>\nFree forever plan<\/span><\/td>\n4.5\/5 (G2)<\/span><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Freshsales Suite<\/span><\/td>\nUser-friendly CRM with strong email marketing tools<\/span><\/td>\n$9\/user\/month<\/span><\/td>\n21-day free trial<\/span><\/td>\n4.5\/5 (G2)<\/span><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Zoho CRM<\/span><\/td>\nAll-in-one automation suite for small businesses<\/span><\/td>\n$14\/user\/month<\/span><\/td>\n15-day free trial<\/span><\/td>\n4.1\/5 (G2)<\/span><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/tbody>\n<\/table>\n

1. monday CRM<\/span><\/h3>\n

Best for:<\/b> Customizable and visual marketing automation powered by AI<\/span><\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

Combining intuitive visual workflows with robust AI-powered marketing automation capabilities, <\/span>monday CRM<\/span><\/a> gives teams the best of both worlds. The platform gives users the power to create custom workflow automations that make marketing tasks like lead nurturing and email campaign personalization quick and painless. With monday CRM\u2019s AI in the mix, marketing teams can gain deeper insights into customer behavior to create strategies and campaigns that stand out.<\/span><\/p>\n

Key features<\/span><\/h4>\n