Best Marketing Automation Software to Streamline Campaigns

You're sending the same welcome email manually, tracking cart abandoners in spreadsheets, and wondering why competitors seem to be everywhere at once.

Marketing automation software changes that — running your campaigns while you focus on strategy, nurturing leads without your input, and personalizing messages without burning out.

Why Marketing Automation Matters in 2026

Your customers expect instant responses on their schedule, not yours. They browse at midnight, abandon carts during lunch breaks, and make purchase decisions based on perfectly timed follow-ups you can't possibly send manually.

Automation fills those gaps. A welcome series reaches new subscribers within minutes of signup. Abandoned cart campaigns bring back lost sales automatically — some brands recover 20% or more of abandoned revenue.

Behavior-based workflows respond to customer actions in real-time, sending relevant messages when interest peaks.

Each workflow you build becomes a permanent asset. Set up cart recovery once, and it runs forever. Create a welcome series today, and it will greet every future subscriber.

Key Features to Look For

• Visual builders show your entire customer journey on one screen. You see how contacts move through your sequences, where they exit, and which messages drive action. Changes happen instantly without waiting for developers.
• Multi-channel workflows multiply your reach. Email starts conversations, SMS creates urgency for time-sensitive offers, and push notifications catch attention immediately. One platform controlling all channels beats juggling separate tools.
• Dynamic segments update based on real behavior. Your big spenders automatically get VIP treatment. Cart abandoners receive escalating offers. New customers follow different paths from loyal buyers. Manual list management becomes obsolete.
• Deep integrations connect your entire business. Purchase data from your store triggers email sequences. Support tickets influence send frequency. Sales conversations update lead scores. Everything works together instead of creating more data entry.
• Revenue tracking proves what works. You need to know which automations generate sales, not just open rates. See customer lifetime value by campaign — track revenue per workflow. Make decisions based on dollars, not vanity metrics.
• Flexible pricing grows with you. Start free to test the waters. Pay reasonable rates as you scale. Avoid platforms that suddenly triple costs at arbitrary thresholds or hide essential features behind enterprise pricing.

Top Marketing Automation Platforms to Consider

Check out these automation platforms in 2026:

1. Omnisend

Your online store needs customers to complete purchases, not just browse. Omnisend builds automations that guide shoppers from first visit to repeat buyer using coordinated email, SMS, and push campaigns.

Mix channels in single workflows for maximum impact. Cart abandoners might get an email immediately, SMS after two hours, and a push notification with a discount the next day.

Product recommendations pull from your catalog. Segmentation happens based on purchase patterns, not just email engagement.

Key automation features

• Pre-built ecommerce workflows ready to customize
• Shopping behavior triggers (viewed product, abandoned browse)
• Product picker pulls items directly from the store
• Revenue attribution shows earnings per automation
• Unlimited sends on paid plans

Best for

Running an online store and wanting automation that generates sales. It’s a top choice for Shopify, WooCommerce, and BigCommerce stores.

Pricing

• Free: Up to 250 contacts, 500 emails/month
• Standard: From $16/month (500 contacts)
• Pro: From $59/month (2,500 contacts)

Integrations

Native connections to major ecommerce platforms sync everything automatically. Customer data, order history, and product catalogs stay current without manual updates.

G2 rating: 4.6/5.

2. HubSpot

HubSpot eliminates the chaos of disconnected tools. Marketing knows what sales is doing. Support tickets update customer profiles. Website behavior triggers email sequences. One platform, complete visibility.

The free tools help. Build forms, send emails, and create basic automations without paying anything. As you grow, add features incrementally — no painful platform migrations or data exports when you're ready for more power.

Key automation features

• Workflows handle marketing tasks and internal processes
• Lead scoring uses any data point across the platform
• Smart content personalizes based on viewer history
• Attribution reporting tracks every touchpoint
• Forms and landing pages included

Best for

Wanting everything in one place — marketing, sales, service, and operations. Perfect when data silos slow you down.

Pricing

• Free: 2,000 emails monthly
• Starter: From $20/month
• Professional: From $800/month

Integrations

The marketplace includes over 1,000 apps. Native connections to Salesforce, Microsoft, and Google mean your data stays synchronized automatically.

G2 rating: 4.4/5.

3. ActiveCampaign

Email marketing and CRM data live separately in most tools. ActiveCampaign brings them together so your automations know deal values, sales stages, and complete customer history. Campaigns respond to the whole picture, not isolated email metrics.

Machine learning optimizes without your input. The platform identifies ideal send times per person, predicts which content resonates with segments, and adjusts campaigns automatically. Your results improve while you focus on strategy.

Key automation features

• Predictive sending maximizes open rates
• Unlimited workflow conditions and branches
• Site tracking triggers based on page visits
• Sales automation in higher tiers
• Machine learning on professional plans

Best for

Growing beyond basic email marketing into true customer experience automation. Strong choice when you need integrated CRM features.

Pricing

• Lite: $15/month (1,000 contacts)
• Plus: $49/month (includes CRM)
• Professional: $149/month (includes machine learning)

Integrations

900+ apps connect, including ecommerce platforms, webinar tools, and payment processors.

G2 rating: 4.5/5.

4. Mailchimp

Mailchimp makes advanced features accessible with its thoughtful design. The Customer Journey Builder uses plain language to describe complex automations.

AI assists with practical tasks — suggesting subject lines that match your audience, optimizing send times, and recommending content based on past performance.

Multi-channel campaigns extend beyond email. Schedule social posts, send postcards, and launch digital ads from the same platform. Your message stays consistent across channels without learning multiple tools.

Key automation features

• Customer Journey Builder with visual mapping
• AI-powered content and timing optimization
• Behavioral triggers and dynamic content
• Social media scheduling
• Digital ad management features

Best for

Wanting powerful automation wrapped in an intuitive interface. Great when your team includes non-technical members.

Pricing

• Free: Up to 500 contacts
• Essentials: From $13/month
• Standard: From $20/month (includes automation)

Integrations

300+ pre-built connections focus on ecommerce platforms, content management systems, and design tools.

G2 rating: 4.3/5.

5. Klaviyo

Klaviyo transforms customer data into automated revenue. Every feature aims to increase purchase frequency and order values with intelligent personalization.

You see how much each automation earns, which segments spend the most, and where you stand against competitors.

Benchmarking reveals hidden opportunities. Your welcome series converts at 3%? Klaviyo shows similar stores achieving 7% and recommends improvements.

Predictive analytics identifies at-risk customers before they churn. Product recommendations use purchase patterns, not generic algorithms.

Key automation features

• Revenue tracking per automation
• Predictive customer lifetime value
• Churn risk identification
• Industry benchmarking data
• Native SMS marketing

Best for

Making data-driven decisions and wanting clear revenue attribution for every marketing activity.

Pricing

• Free: Up to 250 contacts
• Email: From $20/month (500 contacts)
• Email & SMS: From $35/month

Integrations

Deep ecommerce platform connections plus advertising networks, loyalty programs, and analytics tools.

G2 rating: 4.6/5.

Final Thoughts

The wrong automation platform becomes another abandoned login in your bookmarks. The right one runs daily without you thinking about it.

Start with the workflow that would save you the most time this week, such as abandoned cart emails or a welcome series. Build that first automation — if it takes more than an hour, the platform's too complex for your needs.

Real data beats demo data every time, so import contacts, send a campaign, and connect your store. You'll discover integration issues and interface quirks that matter.