You know the frustration: a scattered toolkit, lost context between chat, SMS, and emails, and a nagging feeling that customers slip through the cracks. I’ve seen teams burn hours switching apps while conversion falls behind.
This guide cuts through the noise. It compares ten top options — from ActiveCampaign’s deep automation to Brevo’s native WhatsApp, and GetResponse’s funnels, webinars, and AI email generation. You’ll get clear notes on deliverability, data connections, ecommerce fit, and where features land on price tiers. Whether you’re an experienced marketer or just starting out, finding the right tools can make a significant difference in your campaigns. This guide highlights the best email marketing tools for agents, ensuring that you can select the platform that aligns best with your specific needs. With detailed comparisons and insights, you’ll be well-equipped to elevate your email marketing strategy.
Read this if you need a single view of customer journeys, reliable deliverability scores, and practical trade-offs. We focus on real tests, vendor strengths, and which setup suits ecommerce, B2B, or content-led growth. Try a Free 30‑day GetResponse trial to build emails, webinars, and funnels in one platform
Key Takeaways
- One unified tool reduces app switching and preserves context across channels.
- ActiveCampaign leads on automation depth; Brevo and GetResponse stand out for unique native features.
- Check deliverability scores and ecommerce integrations before committing.
- Free plans can be useful, but many omnichannel features sit behind paid tiers.
- Match a platform to your use case: ecommerce, B2B, or support-led revenue.
Why Omnichannel Matters in 2025: From “Everywhere” to a Unified Customer Experience
In 2025, being present everywhere no longer wins customers—coordinated journeys do. Multichannel means presence on many touchpoints with little integration. Cross-channel links steps as a person moves between touchpoints to reduce friction. Omnichannel connects every channel and shares data so messages feel consistent and personal.
What the customer actually feels
When you share a single view of the customer, timing, offers, and content align. That means fewer repeat messages and more relevant nudges that fit each customer’s context.
Real-time context and automation
Unified automation turns broad blasts into adaptive journeys. Brands that centralize segmentation and triggers can update messages mid-journey based on live behavior and consented data.
- Nearly 99% of consumers check email daily; 73% of millennials prefer email for business.
- Privacy-friendly data capture and consent management keep you compliant and trusted.
Actionable step: Orchestrate unified email + webinars + funnels with GetResponse — Free 30‑day trial: https://www.getresponse.com/?a=MacDnqpGmR.
How We Chose the Best Platforms: Criteria for Email, SMS, Push, Social, and Web Journeys
We tested each vendor against real-world workflows to separate hype from measurable capability. Our focus was on systems that keep customer state intact as they move between web, chat, and messaging.
Primary evaluation areas included automation depth, journey orchestration, and unified customer profiles. We measured branching logic, event triggers, real-time updates, and reusable workflows.
Deliverability and creative tooling mattered next. A tool that misses the inbox destroys conversion no matter how good the templates or testing features are.
Pricing transparency, scalability, and integrations also guided choices. Many vendors gate advanced automation and attribution on high tiers, and costs can jump steeply as volume grows.
- Prioritize data unification so automations trigger across channels without losing context.
- Evaluate automation depth: branching logic, triggers, and saved workflows.
- Include deliverability as a hard criterion and require layered testing: subject lines, send-time, and path tests.
- Demand clear pricing and confirm ecommerce + CRM sync for accurate revenue attribution.
- Require dashboards with actionable insights and cohort-level comparison to measure conversion lift.
Actionable next step: Build conversion funnels and automated emails faster with GetResponse — Free 30‑day trial: https://www.getresponse.com/?a=MacDnqpGmR.
ActiveCampaign: Powerful Automation for Complex, Multi-Step Journeys
ActiveCampaign centers on deep automation that maps complex buyer journeys and reacts in real time. It combines email, SMS, landing pages, and social ads with 920+ integrations, including Shopify and WooCommerce. That integration density makes it easy to use product and revenue data to trigger timely messages.
Strengths
- Best-in-class automation and multi-branch workflows that handle event triggers and goal tracking at scale.
- Deep ecommerce integrations (Plus and above) let you run product-driven sales nudges and lifecycle flows.
- Solid deliverability — ranked third of 15 in recent inbox tests — which protects ROI on high-volume emails.
Trade-offs
- Key ecommerce features sit behind higher tiers; plan costs rise with contacts and add-ons.
- Conversations live chat was retired in Jan 2023, so you must add a separate chat tool.
Best fit
Choose this platform when your team needs granular automation control, event-driven paths, and rich third-party data to influence sales across the customer lifecycle.
Actionable tip: Compare automation depth against funnels and test end-to-end flows with GetResponse’s Free 30‑day trial to validate outcomes before committing.
Brevo (Sendinblue): Budget-Friendly Omnichannel with Native WhatsApp
Brevo packs core multichannel tools into a low-cost package that small teams can actually use.
What it includes: a free plan with 300 daily emails, unlimited contacts, a free live chat widget, email marketing, sms, WhatsApp support, Facebook ads, and a built-in CRM.
The UI is clean and fast. You can launch simple funnels and content flows without a steep learning curve. Multi-user access starts on Plus/Business tiers, so collaboration costs rise as teams grow.
Trade-offs: automation is serviceable but lacks advanced lead scoring and deep branching. If you manage a complex product catalog, expect limits around product variants in emails.
- Launch essential email marketing, SMS, WhatsApp, and live chat on a shoestring budget.
- Use the free plan to validate basic omnichannel flows and scale as send limits require.
- Plan team seats ahead: multi-user access is gated to paid tiers.
| Plan | Monthly Sends | Key Limits | Best use |
|---|---|---|---|
| Free | 300 daily emails | Limited sends, single user | Validate basic flows and chat |
| Starter | 20,000 / month (~$29) | Lower automation depth | Small businesses scaling sends |
| Business | 60,000 / month (~$55) | Multi-user, advanced reporting | Growing teams needing collaboration |
Bottom line: Brevo is a value-driven platform that suits small teams and cost-conscious businesses. Use it to win quick gains across core channels and switch to deeper testing tools later as needs evolve. Budget but want funnels and webinars? Try GetResponse Free 30‑day trial: https://www.getresponse.com/?a=MacDnqpGmR.
GetResponse: Funnels, Webinars, and AI Emails for Full-Funnel Omnichannel
GetResponse combines site pages, webinar hosting, and AI drafting to speed execution across funnels. It bundles a website builder, conversion funnels, native webinars, and an AI email generator so you can build a launch without juggling tools.
Standout features
- Guided conversion funnels that link ads, landing pages, automated emails, and sales pages.
- Native webinar hosting that moves registrants straight into nurture streams.
- AI-assisted email creation, copy variation, and fast A/B testing ideas.
Considerations
Many advanced features—deep automation, SMS, and live chat—sit on paid tiers. SMS is included on MAX plans only. Free tier supports 500 subscribers and basic tools.
Pricing snapshot
| Plan | Subscribers | Starts At (approx) | Notable limits |
|---|---|---|---|
| Free | Up to 500 | $0 | Basic funnels, limited automations |
| Plus | 1,000 | $19/month | Core funnels and webinars |
| Professional | 5,000 | $54/month | Advanced automation, templates |
| Max | 10,000 | $79/month | Includes native SMS at scale |
GetResponse centralizes website pages, emails, and webinars so engagement and reporting align across funnel stages. If your growth path depends on webinars, launches, or conversion-driven flows, this software shortens setup time and keeps data in one place.
Try it now: Start your Free 30‑day GetResponse trial and launch funnels + webinars fast — https://www.getresponse.com/?a=MacDnqpGmR
Freshmarketer (Freshworks): Omnichannel Marketing with Offline Activity Tracking
Not every journey happens on a screen. Freshmarketer ingests offline event data and links those interactions to digital touchpoints. That makes it easier to attribute in-person leads to later conversions.
Why it stands out: the product syncs email, sms, WhatsApp, live chat, and social while adding page context into a shared team inbox. If you run events, retail visits, or field sales, you get fuller customer profiles and clearer ROI on mixed channels.
Considerations: there’s no free plan. After a 21‑day trial you must pay to keep landing pages live or to integrate external channels. Offline tracking and advanced analytics appear on Pro tiers and above, so budget accordingly.
- Bring offline event data into profiles to complete attribution across journeys.
- Consolidate conversations with a shared inbox showing page and channel context.
- Orchestrate messaging across email, sms, WhatsApp, and social for cohesive outreach.
- Use segmentation by events, page views, and message reads to target customers precisely.
Practical tip: If you plan to blend in-person activity with digital nurture, test funnels elsewhere while you scope this — try GetResponse Free 30‑day trial: https://www.getresponse.com/?a=MacDnqpGmR.
HubSpot: Generous Free CRM + Starter Omnichannel, Pricey at Scale
HubSpot bundles a deep CRM with basic outreach tools that let small teams move fast. The free tier includes email marketing, landing pages, conversational bots, and ad management. That makes it easy to centralize contacts and prove fit before you spend.
Strengths
Unified CRM and core features
The product combines CRM, landing pages, ads, chatflows, and templates in one place. You get a consistent customer view that aligns sales and service signals.
Trade-offs
Advanced automation sits behind Professional plans that start near $890/month for ~2,000 contacts. In recent inbox tests, deliverability ranked below many competitors, so monitor inbox placement closely.
Best fit
Small businesses that need CRM depth
- Start with a unified CRM and basic tools at no cost to validate workflows.
- Build landing pages and chatflows quickly; manage ads from the same interface.
- Plan for steep price jumps to unlock full automation across channels.
- Use templates to speed creation and keep brand consistency.
| Plan | Included | Note |
|---|---|---|
| Free | CRM, landing pages, basic email tools | Good to prove fit |
| Professional | Advanced automation, cross-channel workflows | Starts ~ $890/mo (2,000 contacts) |
| Scale | Custom reporting, expanded seats | Costs rise quickly with contacts |
Practical tip: If Pro pricing is steep, pilot funnels and webinars with GetResponse — Free 30‑day trial: https://www.getresponse.com/?a=MacDnqpGmR.
Omnisend: Ecommerce-Focused Email, SMS, and Web Push
Omnisend focuses on quick wins for online stores that need fast, revenue-ready automations. It syncs with Shopify, WooCommerce, and BigCommerce so product data drives personalized offers.
Highlights: the free plan ships with 500 emails, 60 sms, and 500 web push notifications per month. You get built-in automation templates, A/B testing, and Campaign Booster to resend to non-openers. That mix speeds early sales and lifts engagement without heavy setup.
What to watch
Omnisend has no native live chat. Use Tidio or LiveChat to add real-time support. Advanced reports refresh daily, not in real time, so plan decisions around that delay.
- Quickly launch welcome, abandoned-cart, and post-purchase automations.
- Use Campaign Booster to re-engage non-openers with minimal effort.
- Leverage ecommerce-first templates and synced product data for targeted recommendations.
- Drive incremental sales with timely sms and web push nudges.
- Run subject-line testing to improve open rates and conversions.
Bottom line: Omnisend is a practical platform if your goal is fast time-to-value for store growth. Need funnels beyond ecommerce? Try GetResponse free 30-day trial: https://www.getresponse.com/?a=MacDnqpGmR.
Klaviyo: All Features on Every Plan with Strong Ecommerce Attribution
Klaviyo centers on ecommerce insights that tie behavior to measurable revenue. It ships predictive segments, industry benchmarks, and multichannel attribution without hiding those tools behind higher tiers. You pay more only as contacts and sends grow.
What stands out
- Access attribution and predictive segments without upgrading tiers.
- Benchmark performance vs. peers to set realistic targets and measure lift.
- Templates and flows tuned to ecommerce lifecycles speed setup and lift engagement.
Limits to plan around
- Automation logic is simpler than some advanced tools—expect fewer branching triggers.
- No native live chat or WhatsApp; you must integrate third-party chat apps.
- Scale costs predictably with contacts and send volume.
| Area | All Plans | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Feature access | Predictive segments, benchmarks, attribution | Included across tiers; no feature gating |
| Automation | Core flows and lifecycle templates | Simpler branching vs. advanced automation tools |
| Channels | Emails, sms, mobile push, paid retargeting | Live chat and WhatsApp via integrations |
If you outgrow basic automation, compare funnels and webinars with GetResponse — Free 30‑day trial can speed funnel and webinar testing while you scale attribution and customer insights.
Shopify & Tidio: Storefront-Led Omnichannel and Conversational Engagement
A tight link between product pages and conversation tools shortens the path from browse to purchase. Shopify combines storefront operations and marketing into a single platform so you run catalog, checkout, and messages from one place.
Shopify strengths: Shopify Email and Shopify Inbox let you launch campaigns and manage conversations without leaving the website. The system also supports sales on TikTok, YouTube, and Walmart Marketplace and powers roughly 19% of global ecommerce.
Why add Tidio
Tidio centralizes live chat, AI chatbots, and social DMs. It integrates with Shopify and email tools so you automate replies and route high-value leads to sales.
- Run store ops and marketing from Shopify’s unified platform for faster execution.
- Use Shopify Email to launch messages and Shopify Inbox to handle customer service quickly.
- Expand reach via social commerce on TikTok, YouTube, and Walmart Marketplace.
- Add Tidio to automate chat, manage social DMs, and surface offers during conversations.
- Trigger emails from storefront events and consider push notifications to complement chat.
Practical note: Trials are short (three days or $1 for initial months). Factor transaction fees if you don’t use Shopify Payments and budget for paid plans. This combo fits teams that want a storefront-led approach and conversational service at scale.
Try pairing storefront and conversations with funnel automation — Try GetResponse Free 30‑day trial: https://www.getresponse.com/?a=MacDnqpGmR.
Email Marketing Platforms for Omnichannel Campaigns: Side-by-Side Buying Guide
Pick the tool that maps to your use case, not the one with the flashiest homepage. Start by listing your core needs: ecommerce revenue, B2B funnels, content growth, or service-led sales. That focus narrows choices quickly and saves testing time.
Match use cases:
- ecommerce: Omnisend, Klaviyo.
- Advanced automation: ActiveCampaign.
- CRM-led growth: HubSpot.
- Funnels & webinars: GetResponse.
- Storefront + chat: Shopify + Tidio.
- Offline + online tracking: Freshmarketer.
Channel coverage matters. Verify support for core channels you need now: email marketing, sms, push notifications, paid social, and live chat. Tools vary: some excel at push/web push and ecommerce triggers; others prioritize CRM depth or webinar hosting.
Key factors to vet:
- Deliverability — a 5–10% inbox swing can change revenue.
- Templates and dynamic content that support product feeds and fast rollout.
- Testing depth: A/B, send-time, multivariate, and path tests.
- Segmentation, predictive audiences, and first-/zero-party data capture.
- Total cost of ownership across contacts, sends, and add-ons.
| Need | Best fit | Why |
|---|---|---|
| Ecommerce growth | Klaviyo / Omnisend | Strong product syncs, revenue attribution |
| Complex automation | ActiveCampaign | Deep branching and event-driven logic |
| Funnels & webinars | GetResponse | Built-in funnels, webinar hosting, fast setup |
Practical checklist: confirm integration maturity with your ecommerce, CRM, and analytics stack. Match your team’s skills to UI simplicity or power-user controls. Start lean, prove ROI, then scale into advanced journeys once basics convert.
Pro tip: Launch conversion funnels and webinars in GetResponse — Free 30‑day trial: https://www.getresponse.com/?a=MacDnqpGmR
From Strategy to Execution: Implementing Real-Time, Automated Journeys
Start with a few high-impact flows and let data drive the rest of your automation. Build practical journeys that win revenue quickly and scale later.
Build foundational journeys
Stand up welcome, cart abandonment, and browse recovery first. A typical cart flow sends an email reminder, waits 24 hours, then follows with sms if no purchase. These basic workflows produce fast conversion and reduce lost carts.
Unify data and capture ownership
Connect your systems so profiles update in real time. Collect zero- and first‑party data with short forms, surveys, and interactive content to sharpen segmentation.
Optimize with testing and cadence
Run A/B tests on subject lines, send-times, and CTAs across channels. Sequence messages across emails, sms, and push notifications while applying suppression and frequency caps to avoid fatigue.
Measure and scale: use cohort and path analysis, embed revenue attribution, and move from simple merges to predictive segments as data matures. Brands like NA‑KD saw a 25% CLTV boost; Clarins reported 45% lead capture and a 4% conversion lift with data-driven personalization.
Execution CTA: Orchestrate your journeys with GetResponse — Free 30‑day trial
Conclusion
Conclusion
Wrap your strategy around measurable journeys that drive repeat revenue. Pick tools that match your data, team capacity, and growth goals. Start with a few reliable flows, measure outcomes, and expand only when they convert.
Brands like NA‑KD and Clarins show how unified data and automation lift conversion and lifetime value. Keep deliverability and inbox placement non‑negotiable. Focus on the customer, test rapidly, and let insights guide investments in wider channel coverage.