Marketing can feel like a three-ring circus when you’re a bootstrapped startup. You’re juggling emails, automations, CRM, and SMS — and trying not to drop the ball. You’ve probably heard of tools like HubSpot, ActiveCampaign, and Sendinblue, but combining them can break your bank and your brain.
What if you could replace them all with one smart, scrappy, all-in-one marketing suite?
Table of Contents
TLDR:
If you’re a startup on a tight budget, there are marketing tools that can do the job of HubSpot, ActiveCampaign, and Sendinblue — all in one platform. These tools offer email marketing, automations, CRM, SMS, and lead capture in one tidy package. We’ve rounded up the top 5, with bonus configuration tips to help you launch faster. Keep reading to find your dream marketing suite without the growing pains.
Why All-in-One Matters for Startups
Startups have three things in common: low funds, high ambition, and not enough time. Using separate tools for CRM, email newsletters, and SMS means juggling integrations and multiple bills. You don’t have time for that. All-in-one marketing platforms bring things together under one login. Fewer moving pieces, more peace of mind.
We picked tools that do the jobs of:
- HubSpot: For CRM, forms, live chat, and email flows
- ActiveCampaign: For automations and split testing
- Sendinblue (now Brevo): For email + SMS campaigns
Top 5 All-in-One Tools for Bootstrapped Startups
1. MailerLite – The Friendly Workhorse
MailerLite is like your chill best friend who just gets stuff done. The free plan is surprisingly generous. You get email automation, a basic CRM, drag-and-drop builders, and a simple website or landing page creator. You can even run limited A/B tests and send SMS (paid feature).
Replaces: Lite versions of HubSpot’s CRM, ActiveCampaign’s automations, and Sendinblue’s email/SMS
Why we love it:
- Super clean interface
- Free up to 1,000 subscribers
- Great for newsletters + automations
Quick-start playbook:
- Import contact list and tag leads by source
- Setup an onboarding automation (welcome sequence + promo)
- Use forms to capture leads, trigger SMS follow-ups
2. Moosend – Power Tools for Pennies
Moosend is the best-kept secret in the email world. It offers powerful workflows, personalization, landing pages, and real-time analytics — all in one sleek dashboard. You’ll feel like you’re cheating the system with their pricing.
Replaces: ActiveCampaign and parts of HubSpot — at a fraction of the cost
Top features:
- Visual automation builder
- Behavioral emails
- Custom landing pages with countdown timers
Configuration tip: Use Moosend’s “Lead Scoring” to prioritize the hottest leads, then set up automated nurturing campaigns that step in at the perfect time.
3. EngageBay – The Swiss Army Knife
EngageBay feels like HubSpot’s younger sibling — only it’s cheaper, faster, and just as talented. It combines marketing, sales, and service into one platform. Email marketing? Check. CRM? Check. SMS, web popups, social post scheduling? Double check.
Replaces: All three — seriously. EngageBay does most things HubSpot does, but better for startups.
Why it’s cool:
- Comes with built-in sales and support desks (no extra cost)
- You can start free and scale without switching platforms
- Smart segmenting tools make targeting easy
Quick-start playbook:
- Create segmented lists for cold, warm, and hot leads
- Design multichannel workflows that combine email, SMS, and tasks
- Integrate with your site to trigger popups and form-driven automations
4. Systeme.io – Funnels + Emails + Sales in One
Systeme.io is tailor-made for the hustle. It’s great for solopreneurs and small teams selling digital products, courses, or services. You get email marketing, funnels, landing pages, and automation under one roof.
Replaces: Sendinblue, a chunk of ActiveCampaign, and your funnel builder (like ClickFunnels)
Why we like it:
- Visual sales funnel creator
- Build your entire sales journey inside one system
- Good for selling + marketing together
Starter playbook:
- Set up a lead magnet funnel with email automation
- Create tags for buyer vs. non-buyer flows
- Use built-in course builder (if applicable) to upsell easily
5. Zoho Marketing Plus – Big Features, Startup Friendly
Zoho has been around forever, but Marketing Plus brings it all together. You get campaign management, social automation, email, webinars, and CRM — all synced up. It’s like the enterprise-level platform that didn’t forget its roots.
Replaces: HubSpot and ActiveCampaign almost completely (though with a slightly steeper learning curve)
Features to highlight:
- Advanced email + social drip campaigns
- Hub-level dashboard: see everything in one place
- Connects smoothly to Zoho CRM and other tools
Suggested usage strategy:
- Design a campaign across email + social with the same goal
- Use Zoho surveys to gather audience data
- Set up lead scoring to align with your sales flow
How to Choose the Right Suite (Without Getting a Headache)
All five tools are solid. But each has its sweet spot. Here’s a quick guide:
- Go with MailerLite if you want something intuitive and email-focused
- Pick Moosend if you’re all about powerful automations
- Choose EngageBay if you need full-on sales + marketing in one app
- Try Systeme.io if funnels and selling are your main gig
- Opt for Zoho if you want advanced features and long-term scalability
Final Thoughts: Ditch the Frankenstack
You don’t have to cobble together five different tools just to run a pro-level marketing campaign. These all-in-one options save you time, money, and headaches.
Test what seems to fit your style. Don’t be afraid to start small and scale. Even giants like HubSpot want to be your all-in-one — but bootstrapped startups need smarter, leaner tools to win early.
Now go simplify your stack, save your sanity, and start engaging leads like a boss.