EngageBay CRM in 2026: Complete Review, Pricing, Features, and Alternatives
In today’s digital-first world, customer relationship management (CRM) software is no longer a luxury—it’s a necessity.
Businesses of all sizes rely on CRM platforms to organize leads, track customer interactions, automate sales and marketing tasks, and improve customer support. The right CRM can streamline operations, cut costs, and help small businesses compete with larger players.
Among the many options on the market, EngageBay CRM has emerged as a strong contender for startups and small to medium-sized businesses.
Known for its affordability and all-in-one functionality, EngageBay brings sales, marketing, and service into a single platform. This article provides a comprehensive EngageBay CRM review, covering its features, pricing, automation tools, and how it compares with competitors like HubSpot.
We’ll also explore its free plan and discuss several EngageBay CRM alternatives to help you make an informed choice.
EngageBay CRM Review: What Makes It Stand Out
EngageBay CRM is designed to be a cost-effective, all-in-one solution for growing businesses. Unlike many platforms that focus on one function (like sales pipelines or marketing automation), EngageBay integrates multiple tools into one hub.
Key highlights include:
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Centralized contact management with a 360-degree customer view.
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Built-in marketing automation for email, SMS, and campaigns.
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Sales pipelines with drag-and-drop simplicity.
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Customer support tools, including live chat and ticketing.
This blend of features makes EngageBay attractive to businesses that want powerful CRM capabilities without juggling multiple software subscriptions.
EngageBay CRM Features
When evaluating CRM platforms, features are a critical factor. EngageBay offers a solid mix of tools across sales, marketing, and support.
1. Contact and Deal Management
EngageBay provides detailed customer profiles, capturing interactions, activities, and preferences. Users can track deals through customizable pipelines, making it easier for sales teams to monitor progress and forecast revenue.
2. Marketing Campaigns
With EngageBay, you can design and launch email broadcasts, nurture leads through sequences, and track engagement. For small businesses, this is particularly useful because it eliminates the need for separate marketing tools.
3. EngageBay CRM Automation Tools
Automation is one of the platform’s strongest selling points. Businesses can build workflows that:
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Send personalized emails based on customer behavior.
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Score leads automatically and assign them to sales reps.
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Create tasks when deals advance in the pipeline.
These EngageBay CRM automation tools save time, reduce manual effort, and ensure no leads fall through the cracks.
4. Customer Support Features
The inclusion of support tools is a major differentiator. EngageBay offers helpdesk ticketing, live chat, and service automation—all within the same system. This helps businesses manage the entire customer lifecycle, from lead generation to post-sale support.
EngageBay CRM Pricing: Affordable and Transparent
Pricing is often the deciding factor for SMBs. One of EngageBay’s biggest advantages is its affordability compared to competitors.
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EngageBay CRM Free Plan: Up to 250 contacts, basic email marketing, and support tools.
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Basic Plan: Around $14.99/month, suitable for small teams just starting with CRM.
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Growth Plan: Around $42.49/month, includes advanced automation and more contacts.
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Pro Plan: Around $84.99/month, with unlimited contacts and advanced features for scaling businesses.
Unlike many CRM providers that charge extra for essential features, EngageBay bundles most tools into lower tiers, making it more budget-friendly.
EngageBay CRM for Small Business
Small businesses often struggle with balancing cost and functionality when choosing a CRM. EngageBay addresses this by:
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Offering a usable free plan for startups.
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Providing essential tools (sales, marketing, and support) in one place.
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Reducing the need for multiple software subscriptions.
For example, a small marketing agency can use EngageBay to manage client pipelines, run email campaigns, and provide support—all without purchasing separate tools like Mailchimp, Zendesk, and Pipedrive.
EngageBay CRM vs HubSpot: A Direct Comparison
HubSpot is one of the most recognized names in the CRM industry, but it comes at a steep price. So how does EngageBay CRM vs HubSpot compare?
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Pricing: HubSpot’s advanced tiers can cost hundreds per month, while EngageBay remains affordable even at the Pro level.
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Features: HubSpot offers more advanced enterprise-level tools, but EngageBay covers the essentials for SMBs at a fraction of the cost.
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Ease of Use: EngageBay is simpler and requires less onboarding, while HubSpot’s depth comes with a learning curve.
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Support: EngageBay provides personalized support, while HubSpot relies more on community forums unless you’re on higher plans.
For small businesses, EngageBay often delivers more value, while HubSpot is better suited for enterprises with larger budgets and complex needs.
EngageBay CRM Free Plan: What You Get
The EngageBay CRM free plan is a major draw for startups. Unlike many free tiers that serve as glorified trials, EngageBay’s version is genuinely usable. It includes contact management, email broadcasts, live chat, and ticketing.
This allows a small business to start building customer relationships without upfront investment. As their needs grow, they can seamlessly transition into paid plans.
EngageBay CRM Alternatives
While EngageBay is a great option, it’s important to consider EngageBay CRM alternatives to find the best fit for your business.
1. HubSpot CRM
Free to start, highly scalable, but becomes expensive as you grow. Best for businesses planning rapid expansion.
2. Zoho CRM
Affordable and feature-rich, with strong integrations. Great for SMBs needing flexibility.
3. Pipedrive
Focused on sales pipeline management with an intuitive interface. Ideal for sales-driven teams.
4. Salesforce Essentials
Scaled-down version of Salesforce for SMBs. Offers deep customization but with more complexity than EngageBay.
5. Freshsales (by Freshworks)
Strong in AI-driven insights and sales automation, good for businesses that want advanced features at mid-level pricing.
Advantages and Drawbacks of EngageBay CRM
Advantages
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Affordable for SMBs.
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All-in-one solution (sales, marketing, support).
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Easy to use with minimal training.
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Effective automation tools.
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Scalable pricing tiers.
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Generous free plan.
Drawbacks
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Limited third-party integrations compared to Salesforce.
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Less suitable for large enterprises with complex needs.
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Smaller global community and fewer advanced training resources.
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Fewer AI-driven features than top-tier competitors.
While EngageBay is an excellent solution for many small and medium-sized businesses, it’s always wise to explore the competition before committing to a CRM.
Every business has unique needs, and what works for one organization may not fit another. Below, we’ll take a deeper look at some of the most popular EngageBay CRM alternatives, analyzing their strengths, weaknesses, and ideal use cases.
1. HubSpot CRM
HubSpot is one of the most recognized names in CRM software and often serves as the first alternative businesses consider when evaluating EngageBay.
Key Features:
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Robust contact and deal management.
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Built-in marketing automation, including email and content tools.
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Sales pipeline tracking with customizable stages.
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AI-powered chatbots and conversation tracking.
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Powerful analytics dashboards.
Pricing:
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Free plan: Includes basic CRM functionality, live chat, and marketing forms.
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Starter plan: Around $45/month for essential marketing, sales, and service features.
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Professional plan: $800+/month, includes advanced automation and analytics.
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Enterprise plan: $3,200+/month, tailored for large-scale organizations.
Pros:
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Extremely scalable for growing companies.
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Extensive app marketplace with thousands of integrations.
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Advanced AI and automation in higher tiers.
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Large user community and learning resources.
Cons:
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Pricing escalates quickly as contacts and features increase.
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Some advanced features locked behind expensive plans.
Best For:
Businesses that anticipate rapid growth and want a CRM that can scale alongside them—even if it means paying more as they expand.
2. Zoho CRM
Zoho CRM is another strong alternative to EngageBay, especially for businesses seeking affordability and flexibility.
Key Features:
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AI-powered assistant (Zia) for sales forecasting and recommendations.
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Customizable modules and workflows.
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Multichannel communication: email, social media, and phone.
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Sales performance management and gamification tools.
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Integration with Zoho’s suite (Zoho Books, Zoho Desk, etc.) and third-party apps.
Pricing:
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Free plan: Up to 3 users with basic CRM tools.
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Standard plan: $14/user/month, with scoring rules and custom reports.
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Professional plan: $23/user/month, adds advanced analytics and workflows.
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Enterprise plan: $40/user/month, with AI-driven predictions and more customizations.
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Ultimate plan: $52/user/month, includes advanced BI features.
Pros:
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Affordable pricing with multiple tiers.
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Strong automation and customization.
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Works well with other Zoho apps, creating a full ecosystem.
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AI insights available even at mid-level plans.
Cons:
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Interface can feel less polished compared to competitors.
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Learning curve for teams unfamiliar with customization-heavy platforms.
Best For:
SMBs looking for a customizable yet affordable CRM with a wide range of integrations, particularly if they already use other Zoho products.
3. Pipedrive
Pipedrive is designed primarily with sales teams in mind. Its simplicity and focus on pipeline management make it a favorite among companies that prioritize closing deals.
Key Features:
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Visual, drag-and-drop sales pipelines.
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Email integration and tracking.
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Customizable dashboards and reporting.
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Workflow automation for repetitive sales tasks.
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Marketplace with 300+ integrations.
Pricing:
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Essential plan: $14.90/user/month, includes basic pipeline and deal tracking.
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Advanced plan: $27.90/user/month, with workflow automation.
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Professional plan: $49.90/user/month, adds forecasting and advanced reporting.
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Enterprise plan: $99/user/month, with more security and support.
Pros:
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Extremely intuitive and easy to use.
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Strong focus on sales pipeline management.
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Affordable for small sales teams.
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Good automation for repetitive sales processes.
Cons:
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Limited marketing and customer support tools.
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Fewer advanced features compared to EngageBay or HubSpot.
Best For:
Small to mid-sized businesses where the primary focus is sales rather than marketing or support.
4. Salesforce Essentials
Salesforce is the global leader in CRM, but for SMBs, the Salesforce Essentials plan is the most realistic option.
Key Features:
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Customizable objects and fields.
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Workflow automation and approvals.
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AI-powered insights through Salesforce Einstein.
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Integration with thousands of third-party apps.
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Robust reporting and analytics.
Pricing:
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Essentials plan: $25/user/month, includes basic sales and support.
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Professional plan: $75/user/month, more advanced features.
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Enterprise plan: $150/user/month, full customization.
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Unlimited plan: $300/user/month, with advanced support and developer tools.
Pros:
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Unparalleled customization capabilities.
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Enterprise-grade scalability and reliability.
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Large ecosystem of apps and integrations.
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Powerful AI through Einstein Analytics.
Cons:
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More complex to set up compared to EngageBay.
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Higher cost even at lower tiers.
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May require technical expertise or consultants.
Best For:
Companies expecting significant growth or needing enterprise-level customization and scalability.
5. Freshsales (by Freshworks)
Freshsales is a modern CRM that combines ease of use with AI-driven insights, making it a good mid-level alternative to EngageBay.
Key Features:
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AI-powered lead scoring and deal insights.
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Built-in phone and email integration.
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Customizable sales pipelines.
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Automation for lead assignment and follow-ups.
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Native integration with other Freshworks tools (Freshdesk, Freshmarketer).
Pricing:
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Free plan: For small teams with basic CRM tools.
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Growth plan: $15/user/month, with workflows and sales sequences.
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Pro plan: $39/user/month, adds advanced metrics and AI.
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Enterprise plan: $69/user/month, includes custom modules and governance.
Pros:
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Strong AI and automation tools.
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Affordable entry-level pricing.
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Clean, modern interface.
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Works seamlessly with Freshworks suite.
Cons:
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Smaller integration library compared to HubSpot or Salesforce.
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Some advanced features locked behind higher plans.
Best For:
Growing businesses that want a balance of affordability, AI insights, and ease of use.
How to Choose the Right CRM Alternative
When evaluating EngageBay CRM alternatives, businesses should consider the following factors:
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Budget: How much can you afford per user/month?
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Team size: Will you need scalability in the future?
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Primary need: Sales, marketing, or support—or an all-in-one solution?
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Learning curve: Do you want quick adoption or advanced customization?
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Integrations: Does the CRM work with your existing tools?
Ultimately, EngageBay remains an excellent choice for small to medium-sized businesses seeking affordability and all-in-one functionality. However, alternatives like HubSpot, Zoho, Pipedrive, Salesforce, and Freshsales may be a better fit depending on your company’s size, budget, and priorities.
Is EngageBay CRM Right for You?
EngageBay CRM strikes a balance between affordability, functionality, and ease of use, making it one of the most attractive CRM platforms for small to medium-sized businesses in 2026. Its combination of sales, marketing, and customer support tools in one dashboard helps SMBs streamline operations without overspending.
While it may lack some of the advanced customization and AI features offered by enterprise-level solutions, EngageBay more than makes up for it with its user-friendly design and budget-friendly pricing.
For startups, freelancers, and SMBs seeking an all-in-one CRM without breaking the bank, EngageBay is a smart choice. However, businesses with highly complex workflows or enterprise-scale requirements may find better fits in alternatives like HubSpot, Salesforce, or Zoho CRM.