6 Affordable CRM Tools With Built‑In Marketing Automation for Growing Agencies
For growing agencies, managing client relationships while running effective marketing campaigns can quickly become overwhelming. Spreadsheets and disconnected tools may work at the beginning, but they rarely scale. What agencies need is a customer relationship management (CRM) platform with built‑in marketing automation—a solution that keeps sales, marketing, and client communication aligned without draining the budget. Fortunately, several affordable platforms now combine both capabilities in a single, streamlined system.
TLDR: Growing agencies can streamline sales and marketing without overspending by choosing a CRM with built‑in automation. Affordable options like HubSpot, Zoho CRM, Agile CRM, EngageBay, Pipedrive, and Freshsales offer strong functionality at competitive prices. The right choice depends on your agency’s size, workflow complexity, and reporting needs. Prioritize scalability, ease of use, and automation depth when selecting a platform.
Below are six affordable CRM platforms that integrate marketing automation features, along with their strengths, limitations, and ideal use cases for agencies.
1. HubSpot CRM (Starter Suite)
Table of Contents
HubSpot is one of the most recognizable names in CRM and marketing automation. While its enterprise tiers can become expensive, the Starter Suite remains relatively affordable for growing agencies.
Image not found in postmetaKey features:
- Email marketing with automation workflows
- Lead tracking and scoring
- Customizable sales pipelines
- Landing pages and forms
- Built‑in reporting dashboards
HubSpot’s main strength is usability. Its interface is intuitive, making it ideal for agencies onboarding new team members or clients frequently. Marketing and sales data live in one system, reducing friction between teams.
Best for: Agencies seeking an easy‑to‑scale platform with strong inbound marketing tools.
Considerations: Costs can rise as contact lists grow or when more advanced automation is required.
2. Zoho CRM Plus
Zoho offers one of the most comprehensive ecosystems for small and mid‑sized organizations. Zoho CRM Plus bundles CRM, email marketing, social media management, campaign analytics, and customer support tools under one subscription.
Key features:
- Omnichannel communication tracking (email, phone, chat, social)
- Advanced workflow automation
- Lead scoring and segmentation
- Marketing campaign management
- AI-powered insights (Zia)
For agencies handling multi‑channel campaigns, Zoho’s integrated environment can replace multiple standalone tools. Automations can trigger follow-ups, assign leads, and update pipelines automatically.
Best for: Agencies managing complex, multi-channel campaigns for several clients.
Considerations: The interface may feel dense for users unfamiliar with CRM systems.
3. Agile CRM
Agile CRM is often overlooked, yet it offers robust marketing automation at a competitive price. It combines sales tracking, email campaigns, web engagement tracking, and helpdesk features.
Key features:
- Drag-and-drop email builder
- Marketing automation workflows
- Web behavior tracking
- Appointment scheduling
- Gamification for sales teams
One of Agile CRM’s advantages is affordability at lower contact tiers. Agencies that need essential automation—without enterprise-level complexity—often find it a cost-effective solution.
Best for: Small agencies needing entry-level automation with sales tracking.
Considerations: Reporting features are less advanced compared to larger competitors.
4. EngageBay
EngageBay positions itself as an all‑in‑one growth platform for small businesses and agencies. It combines CRM, email marketing, landing pages, automation, and helpdesk tools under a single dashboard.
Key features:
- Marketing automation sequences
- SMS marketing integration
- Landing page builder
- Contact segmentation
- Deal pipeline management
Its transparent pricing and generous entry-level plans make EngageBay particularly attractive for agencies working with tight operating budgets. The automation builder supports behavioral triggers, enabling agencies to create personalized nurture journeys.
Best for: Budget-conscious agencies that need an all-in-one platform.
Considerations: Fewer third-party integrations compared to larger ecosystems.
5. Pipedrive with Campaigns Add-On
Pipedrive is traditionally recognized as a sales CRM. However, when paired with its Campaigns add-on, it provides solid email marketing automation capabilities tailored to agencies focused heavily on pipeline management.
Key features:
- Visual sales pipeline management
- Email automation templates
- Workflow automation for deal stages
- Segmentation and filtering
- Performance reporting
Pipedrive excels in sales process clarity. Agencies with strong outbound or B2B client acquisition efforts often prefer its streamlined, deal-focused interface.
Best for: Agencies prioritizing sales pipeline visibility alongside basic marketing automation.
Considerations: Advanced marketing automation features require integrations or upgrades.
6. Freshsales (Freshworks CRM)
Freshsales, part of the Freshworks ecosystem, offers CRM capabilities combined with marketing automation tools in higher-tier plans. It is known for its balanced feature set and competitive pricing.
Key features:
- AI-based lead scoring
- Email sequences and tracking
- Workflow automation
- Built-in phone and chat
- Customizable dashboards
Freshsales stands out for integrating AI insights without excessive pricing. Agencies can automate follow-ups, assign leads dynamically, and track engagement across multiple channels.
Best for: Agencies seeking scalable automation with built-in communication tools.
Considerations: Marketing features are more limited compared to specialized inbound platforms.
Quick Comparison Chart
| Tool | Starting Affordability | Marketing Automation Depth | Ease of Use | Best For |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| HubSpot Starter | Moderate | Strong (entry level) | Excellent | Inbound-focused agencies |
| Zoho CRM Plus | Moderate | Advanced | Good | Multi-channel campaigns |
| Agile CRM | High affordability | Basic to moderate | Good | Small agencies |
| EngageBay | Very affordable | Moderate | Good | Budget-conscious teams |
| Pipedrive + Campaigns | Moderate | Basic | Excellent | Sales-driven agencies |
| Freshsales | Moderate | Moderate | Very good | Growing agencies scaling operations |
What Growing Agencies Should Look For
Choosing the right CRM with built‑in marketing automation involves more than price comparison. Agencies should evaluate:
- Scalability: Will the system grow with client accounts and contact lists?
- Automation flexibility: Can workflows be customized for multiple client needs?
- Reporting depth: Does the platform provide meaningful performance insights?
- Client segmentation: How easily can audiences be divided and targeted?
- Integration ecosystem: Does it connect with your existing tools?
Agencies often manage multiple clients simultaneously, meaning account separation, permission management, and data integrity are essential. An affordable tool that lacks proper structure can create operational inefficiencies over time.
Final Thoughts
The modern agency must do more with less—more personalization, more automation, and more measurable ROI, all while staying within budget. An affordable CRM with built‑in marketing automation is no longer a luxury but a necessity for sustainable growth.
HubSpot and Zoho offer depth and scalability. Agile CRM and EngageBay focus on affordability and practicality. Pipedrive supports sales-driven workflows, while Freshsales delivers balanced automation with AI enhancements.
The most important step is aligning the platform with your agency’s growth trajectory. Select a solution that not only serves your current client base but can also support expansion without forcing a costly migration later.
With careful evaluation and strategic implementation, these six tools can provide the operational foundation growing agencies need to compete effectively in an increasingly data-driven market.
