Ecommerce businesses constantly face challenges in managing marketing operations and automation is the key to overcoming these hurdles.
With online channels expected to account for 23% of total retail purchases by 2027, using automation strategies will become even more essential.
In this guide, you’ll discover the best budget-friendly ecommerce marketing automation tools to help optimize your business operations.
To simplify your search, the tools are categorized as follows:
- All-in-One Marketing Automation Tools
- Ecommerce Marketing Automation Tools
- Email Marketing Automation Tools
- Social Media Management Tools
- Customer Support and Communication Tools
- Automation and Integration Tools
- Loyalty and Rewards Tools
Plus, you’ll gain additional insights and explore even more ecommerce marketing automation strategies!
Ecommerce Marketing Automations Terminology
To get started, here are the essential terms related to ecommerce marketing automation tools with simple explanations:
- Workflow Automation – Automates tasks like sending emails or following up with customers when triggered by certain actions or schedules.
- Drip Campaigns – Sends a series of emails over time, triggered by what a customer does or shows interest in.
- Customer Journey Mapping – Tracks the steps a customer takes, from discovering your business to making a purchase.
- A/B Testing – Tests two different versions of a campaign to see which one works better.
- Retargeting – Shows ads to people who visited your site but didn’t complete a purchase, encouraging them to come back.
- Conversion Tracking – Monitors what customers do after seeing your marketing, like signing up or buying something.
- Dynamic Content – Changes website or email content automatically, based on who is viewing it, to make it more relevant.
Top All-in-One Ecommerce Marketing Automation Tools
All-in-one solutions are ideal for businesses that need multiple marketing functions in one platform.
Here are the best budget friendly options for ecommerce marketing automation tools for all-in-one solutions:
EngageBay
EngageBay is a budget-friendly option for startups and small businesses. It combines CRM, ecommerce marketing automation, and customer service tools, all in one easy-to-use platform.
- Top Features: CRM, email marketing, landing pages, helpdesk support, and social media tools.
- Pricing: EngageBay offers a free plan that supports up to 250 contacts and includes features like email marketing, autoresponders, CRM, helpdesk, and live chat. The Basic plan starts at $12.74 per user/month, offering 500 contacts, email templates, lead scoring, SMS marketing, and integrations with third-party apps.
For more detailed info about the pricing of EngageBay, check out their pricing page.
Brevo
Brevo, formerly known as Sendinblue, is designed for small to medium-sized businesses that need affordable ecommerce marketing automation. It offers a variety of features including email, SMS, and workflow automations.
- Top Features: Email marketing, SMS marketing, workflow automation, and detailed analytics.
- Pricing: Brevo offers a free plan that includes 300 emails per day, customizable email templates, and SMS & WhatsApp campaigns. The Starter plan starts at $9/month, offering 5,000 emails per month, no daily sending limit, and basic reporting. For businesses needing more advanced features like marketing automation tools and A/B testings, the Business plan starts at $18/month.
Check out Brevo’s full pricing breakdown on their pricing page.
HubSpot
HubSpot is a powerful platform for businesses that need advanced CRM, marketing, and sales tools. It provides comprehensive solutions for all budgets.
- Top Features: CRM, email marketing, workflow automation, social media management, and in-depth reporting.
- Pricing: HubSpot offers a free plan that includes essential tools like CRM, email marketing, customer support, and more for up to two users.The Starter plan begins at $15/month per user and includes features such as 1,000 marketing contacts, sales, and service tools, with no credit card required for signup. For more advanced features, businesses can explore higher-tier plans.
For additional information on HubSpot’s pricing and features, take a look at their pricing page.
GetResponse
GetResponse is an all-in-one email marketing platform that also includes webinar hosting, landing pages, and ecommerce marketing automation tools.
It’s best suited for businesses looking for a comprehensive email marketing solution. For businesses looking for expert support, here are the 10 Best Email Marketing Agencies in the UK.
- Top Features: Email marketing, landing pages, webinar hosting, and automation workflows.
- Pricing: GetResponse offers a free plan for up to 500 contacts and basic email marketing tools. Paid plans start at $15/month and include features like email automation, advanced analytics, and integrations with CRM tools. The Professional plan, which adds webinars and advanced automation features, starts at $99/month.
For more detailed info about the pricing of GetResponse, check out their pricing page.
Budget-Friendly Ecommerce Marketing Automation Tools
Below are some of the leading ecommerce marketing automation tools for automating marketing processes:
ActiveCampaign
ActiveCampaign is a powerful tool that combines email marketing, CRM, and marketing automation into one tool.
It stands out for its AI automation features, making it a top choice for businesses looking to personalize their marketing strategies.
There are a variety of AI tools that can automate customer interactions, streamline operations, and boost sales. Explore the Top AI Products we’ve reviewed to find the best fit for your business.
- Top Features: AI-driven automation, email marketing, CRM, sales automation, and SMS marketing.
- Pricing: ActiveCampaign offers a 14-day free trial for all its plans. The Starter plan begins at $15/month and includes personalized marketing campaigns. The Plus plan starts at $49/month, offering more advanced automation and customer insights. For businesses seeking more comprehensive features, higher-tier plans are available at increased pricing.
Head to ActiveCampaign’s official pricing page for a detailed look at their plans and pricing.
Customer.io
Customer.io focuses on delivering highly customizable workflows and automated messaging based on customer behavior. It is well-suited for businesses that want full control over their ecommerce marketing automations.
- Top Features: Workflow automation, behavioral targeting, customer segmentation, and personalized messaging.
- Pricing: Customer.io offers a free trial to explore its features. The Essentials plan starts at $100/month and includes 5,000 profiles, 1 million emails per month, and core automation features like email workflows and audience sync.
For more detailed info about the pricing of Customer.io, check out their pricing page.
Omnisend
Omnisend is created for ecommerce businesses, making it easy to automate email and SMS marketing campaigns. It’s an ideal tool for small to medium-sized businesses on a budget.
- Top Features: Email and SMS automation, segmentation, product recommendations, and reporting.
- Pricing: Omnisend offers a free plan that includes up to 500 emails per month, 500 web push notifications, and basic features. The Standard plan starts at $16/month and allows 6,000 emails per month, unlimited web push notifications, and advanced segmentation features. The Pro plan, starting at $59/month, includes unlimited emails, advanced reporting, and free monthly SMS credits.
To learn more about Omnisend’s plans and pricing, check out their pricing page.
Klaviyo
Klaviyo is widely known for its user-friendly interface and seamless integration with ecommerce platforms like Shopify.
It’s a great option for businesses looking to automate both email and SMS marketing without much technical know-how.
- Top Features: Email and SMS marketing automation, drag-and-drop builder, detailed segmentation, and analytics.
- Pricing: Klaviyo offers a free plan for businesses with up to 250 contacts and 500 monthly emails, including 150 free monthly SMS/MMS credits. Paid plans start at $20/month for email marketing, with pricing increasing based on the number of contacts. SMS is available as an add-on, starting at $0.01 per message, depending on the region.
For more information about the pricing of Klaviyo, click here.
Shopify Automations
Shopify’s built-in automations provide a simple yet effective way for store owners to automate various tasks, from inventory management to email marketing.
- Top Features: Workflow automation for sales, inventory updates, email marketing, and customer segmentation.
- Pricing: Shopify Automations are available to all Shopify users as part of their subscription. Plans start at $39/month, with automations included in the platform’s core features.
Essential Email Marketing Tools for Ecommerce Businesses
These ecommerce marketing automation tools are designed specifically for email campaigns in order to help you ecommerce businesses:
Mailchimp
Mailchimp is widely known for its ease of use and powerful email marketing features. It’s a popular choice for businesses of all sizes looking to run targeted email campaigns.
If you are also looking for agencies to handle your email marketing campaigns, be sure to check out our post on Top 10 Email Marketing Agencies in the US.
- Top Features: Drag-and-drop email builder, audience segmentation, A/B testing, and detailed performance reports.
- Pricing: Mailchimp offers a free plan that includes basic email marketing tools for up to 500 contacts. The Essentials plan starts at $13/month and provides more advanced features such as email automation and A/B testing.
Visit Mailchimp’s pricing page for more details.
Campaign Monitor
Campaign Monitor is designed for users who prioritize sleek, professionally designed emails and robust analytics.
It’s particularly useful for businesses that rely heavily on visual content in their email campaigns.
- Top Features: Customizable templates, drag-and-drop builder, analytics dashboard, and list management.
- Pricing: Campaign Monitor’s Basic plan starts at $9/month, including email support, basic templates, and up to 500 contacts. The Unlimited plan begins at $29/month, offering unlimited sends, priority support, and advanced segmentation features. While there’s no free plan, Campaign Monitor offers a 30-day free trial to explore the platform.
Check Campaign Monitor’s pricing page for more.
Rejoiner
Rejoiner is designed specifically for ecommerce businesses, focusing on email marketing automation to reduce cart abandonment and drive repeat sales. It offers a personalized approach to email campaigns.
- Top Features: Automated cart recovery, personalized email templates, customer lifecycle tracking.
- Pricing: Rejoiner’s pricing starts at $95/month, which includes unlimited emails and all core platform features, tailored to your contact list size. While there’s no free plan, businesses can choose higher-tier plans that offer additional services for higher prices.
Get details of higher tier plans on Rejoiner’s pricing page.
Sendlane
Sendlane is known for its advanced email automation features, making it a great choice for ecommerce stores that need to segment their audiences and send targeted messages.
- Top Features: Advanced segmentation, email automation, real-time analytics, and SMS marketing integration.
- Pricing: Sendlane offers a 14-day free trial. Paid plans begin at $99/month for up to 1,000 contacts, with all features included. While there’s no free plan, discounts are available for annual subscriptions, and additional SMS plans are offered based on the number of credits needed.
Find more info on Sendlane’s pricing page.
Best Social Media Platforms for Ecommerce Management
The following ecommerce marketing automation tools focus on social media scheduling and analytics, helping businesses manage their social presence efficiently:
Buffer
Buffer is a user-friendly tool designed to help businesses plan, schedule, and analyze their social media posts across multiple platforms.
It’s perfect for businesses that want to stay consistent with their social media strategy.
- Top Features: Social media scheduling, analytics, team collaboration, and post performance tracking.
- Pricing: Buffer offers a free plan that allows users to schedule up to 10 posts for 3 social accounts. Paid plans start at $6/month, allowing for unlimited scheduled posts, advanced analytics, and team collaboration features. A 14-day free trial is available for premium plans.
Explore Buffer’s pricing on their page.
Looking for ways to improve your social media strategy? Discover the Best Times to Post on TikTok for Maximum Engagement and take your ecommerce marketing to the next level.
Social Pilot
Social Pilot is a comprehensive social media management tool offering more advanced features than Buffer, making it suitable for businesses managing multiple social accounts with larger teams.
- Top Features: Bulk scheduling, content curation, advanced analytics, and client management for agencies.
- Pricing: SocialPilot offers a free 14-day trial for all its plans. Paid plans start at $30/month, covering up to 10 social media accounts with advanced scheduling. For teams, the Small Team plan begins at $50/month, supporting 20 accounts and additional collaboration tools.
For more detailed info about the pricing of Social Pilot, check out their price plans.
Ecommerce-Focused Customer Support & Communication Tools
Providing great customer service is essential for ecommerce, and these tools help manage communication, support, and satisfaction more efficiently:
Zendesk
Zendesk is a well-known customer service platform that helps businesses manage customer support tickets, live chats, and other communication channels.
It’s widely used by businesses of all sizes to improve their customer service operations.
- Top Features: Ticketing system, live chat, email integration, and customer feedback management.
- Pricing: Zendesk offers a free trial for businesses to explore its features. Paid plans begin at $49/month for the Support Team plan, which provides essential customer service tools. For more advanced capabilities like automation and AI insights, higher-tier plans start at $99/month.
Visit Zendesk’s pricing page for more details.
Tidio
Tidio is a live chat and chatbot platform designed to help businesses engage with their customers in real-time.
It’s especially useful for ecommerce businesses that want to automate customer service while still maintaining a personal touch.
- Top Features: Live chat, chatbots, email integration, and customer engagement tracking.
- Pricing: Tidio offers a free plan that includes live chat and chatbot features for up to 100 contacts. Paid plans start at $25/month and include unlimited contacts, advanced automation, and integrations with ecommerce platforms. A 7-day free trial is available for all premium plans.
View Tidio’s pricing page for details.
Avada
Avada is a comprehensive solution that combines email and SMS marketing with customer support features.
It’s a versatile tool that allows businesses to automate communication and stay in touch with customers across multiple channels.
- Top Features: Email marketing, SMS marketing, customer support, and workflow automation.
- Pricing: Avada offers multiple pricing plans to suit different needs. The Standard plan starts at $19.99/month and includes 5 projects and 5 GB of storage. The Premium plan, priced at $29.99/month, offers 10 projects, 15 GB of storage, and unlimited users. The Professional plan starts at $39.99/month and includes 15 projects and 30 GB of storage.
Get details on Avada’s pricing page.
Best Tools for Automation and Integrations For Ecommerce
These ecommerce marketing automation tools help reduce manual work, improve efficiency, and ensure that different tools in your tech stack work seamlessly together.
Zapier
Zapier is one of the most popular automation tools, enabling users to connect over 2,000 apps and automate tasks without needing to write any code.
It’s ideal for businesses that need to create custom workflows across multiple platforms.
- Top Features: Workflow automation, app integrations, conditional logic, and multi-step workflows.
- Pricing: Zapier offers a free plan with 100 tasks per month and basic single-step automations. Paid plans start at $19.99/month for the Starter plan, which includes multi-step workflows and 750 tasks per month. The Enterprise plan, which offers advanced admin controls and priority support, is available with custom pricing. A 14-day free trial is available for all paid plans.
Check out here for further detailed info about the pricing of Zapier.
Make
Integromat, now known as Make, is a highly customizable automation tool that allows businesses to create complex workflows between apps.
It’s a great option for companies that need advanced automation and more flexibility than basic automation tools can provide.
- Top Features: App integrations, complex workflows, advanced scheduling, and real-time monitoring.
- Pricing: Make offers a free plan with 1,000 operations per month and access to most features. Paid plans start at $9/month, which includes 10,000 operations and more advanced automation capabilities. For larger businesses, the Professional plan starts at $29/month and includes higher limits on operations. Make also offers a 14-day free trial for its paid plans.
Discover Make’s pricing on their page.
Top Loyalty and Rewards Tools for Ecommerce
Loyalty programs are key to retaining customers and encouraging repeat purchases. The tools we picked below help create and manage programs that boost engagement and loyalty:
Smile.io
Smile.io is a popular loyalty and rewards platform that helps ecommerce businesses reward their customers through points, referrals, and VIP programs.
It’s a flexible solution designed to boost customer retention and engagement.
- Top Features: Points-based rewards, referral programs, VIP tiers, and custom branding.
- Pricing: Smile.io offers a free plan that includes basic loyalty and referral features. Paid plans start at $49/month, which includes advanced features such as custom program branding and email marketing integrations. Smile.io also offers a 30-day free trial for its paid plans.
Learn more on Smile’s pricing page.
Growave
Growave is an all-in-one platform for ecommerce businesses, offering loyalty programs, product reviews, and social sharing tools.
It’s an affordable option for businesses that want to increase customer engagement through multiple channels.
- Top Features: Loyalty programs, product reviews, wishlists, and social sharing.
- Pricing: Growave provides a free plan that includes loyalty programs and product reviews for up to 100 orders per month. Paid plans start at $19/month, unlocking features like unlimited orders, custom rewards, and advanced product review management. The Growth plan, starting at $99/month, includes premium features like priority support. A 14-day free trial is available for all plans.
For more detailed info about the pricing of Growave, check out their pricing page.
Creative Marketing Automation Strategies for Ecommerce
Here are seven creative and impactful automation strategies to elevate your ecommerce marketing:
- Create surprise-and-delight email campaigns to boost loyalty.
Instead of sending typical promotional emails, surprise your customers with unexpected offers or personalized recommendations.
By sending emails with exclusive discounts or gifts on random occasions, you create memorable customer experiences that drive loyalty.
- Leverage automated influencer outreach to expand your reach.
Automate your influencer marketing by reaching out to micro-influencers or niche creators who align with your brand.
Customer.io and HubSpot can help easen influencer communication and performance tracking, letting you focus on building long-term relationships with influencers.
- Automate post-purchase experiences to foster brand loyalty.
Post-purchase is often an underutilized touchpoint.
Automating thank-you messages, product care tips, or post-purchase surveys can deepen customer engagement after the sale
Offering personalized recommendations based on past purchases can also encourage repeat buying.
- Send gamified SMS campaigns to engage customers.
Turn your SMS marketing into a fun and interactive experience by gamifying it.
For example, create SMS quizzes, contests, or challenges that reward customers with discounts or points for participation.
This approach keeps customers engaged and eager to interact with your brand.
- Set up automation to deliver personalized content across multiple platforms.
Create a consistent, personalized customer experience by automating the delivery of relevant content across email, social media, and even in-app messaging.
By tailoring content to individual customer behavior and preferences, you can engage them across every touchpoint.
- Launch personalized referral programs that scale automatically.
Referral programs are a powerful way to attract new customers, but automating them can take things to the next level.
Create a referral program where each customer gets a unique referral link and personalized rewards for bringing in new buyers.
- Use customer feedback automation to drive continuous improvement.
Make collecting and acting on customer feedback part of your automated workflow.
Automatically send post-purchase surveys, review requests, or feedback forms at various points in the customer journey.
Analyze the feedback to improve your offerings and increase customer satisfaction.
- Bonus strategy: Keep up with the rapidly changing ecommerce landscape through newsletters and podcasts.
With newsletters and podcasts growing in popularity, they’ve become essential tools for staying current.
Not sure where to start?
Explore our curated posts on Top Ecommerce Newsletters in 2025 and 10+ Ecommerce Podcasts to Explore for valuable insights and updates that can help you stay ahead.
FAQ: Frequently Asked Questions About Ecommerce Marketing Automation Tools
Here are the frequently asked questions about the affordable marketing automation tools for ecommerce:
How do I choose the right ecommerce marketing automation tool?
Choosing the right ecommerce marketing automation tool depends on your specific business needs. If you need robust email marketing, Klaviyo and Mailchimp are solid options. For more comprehensive automation that includes SMS and workflows, consider ActiveCampaign or HubSpot. Think about your budget, desired integrations, and automation features before deciding.
What are the best affordable marketing automation tools for ecommerce?
For affordable marketing automation, Brevo, Omnisend, and GetResponse are excellent choices. These platforms offer cost-effective plans with essential automation features like email campaigns, customer segmentation, and cart recovery, making them perfect for budget-conscious businesses.
What are the best ecommerce marketing automation tools for small businesses?
Small businesses can benefit from platforms like Brevo, Omnisend, and ActiveCampaign. These tools provide affordable and scalable automation solutions, allowing smaller businesses to automate their marketing without needing a large budget.
What is the best platform for ecommerce email marketing automation?
Klaviyo and Mailchimp are leading platforms for email marketing automation in ecommerce. Both provide features like customer segmentation, behavior-triggered emails, and automated campaigns, tailored to boost engagement and conversions for online stores.
Do ecommerce marketing automation tools benefit businesses?
Yes, ecommerce marketing automation tools greatly benefit businesses by automating repetitive tasks like email campaigns, segmentation, and customer follow-ups. This leads to improved efficiency, better customer engagement, higher conversion rates, and time savings.
What are the best marketing automation tools for ecommerce?
The best marketing automation tools for ecommerce include Klaviyo, Omnisend, HubSpot, and ActiveCampaign. These platforms are designed to help ecommerce businesses automate their marketing, personalize customer interactions, and boost sales.
Which ecommerce automation tools integrate with Shopify?
Popular ecommerce marketing automation tools that integrate with Shopify include Klaviyo, Omnisend, ActiveCampaign, and Brevo. These platforms offer Shopify-specific features like product recommendations, automated emails, and cart recovery, making them perfect for Shopify store owners.
What are the B2B marketing automation platforms?
Top B2B marketing automation platforms include HubSpot, Marketo, ActiveCampaign, and Pardot. These tools offer advanced features like lead scoring, CRM integration, and account-based marketing, helping B2B businesses manage complex sales cycles.
What are the top ecommerce marketing automation platforms?
Some of the leading platforms for ecommerce marketing automation are HubSpot, Klaviyo, ActiveCampaign, and Omnisend. These tools offer a wide range of automation features, including email marketing, customer segmentation, and workflows.
What are the best free marketing automation tools for ecommerce?
Free marketing automation tools include Brevo, Mailchimp, Omnisend, and GetResponse. These platforms offer limited free plans that cover basic email marketing and automation features, making them a good option for small businesses just starting with automation.
Conclusion
Marketing automation is key to improving efficiency and growing your ecommerce business.
By using the right tools, you can save time, engage customers, and boost sales. Choose the best tools for your needs and start automating to stay ahead of the competition.
🎊 Bonus Content: You can explore more about marketing for ecommerce businesses with our articles:
