Salesforce Marketing Cloud Account Engagement vs Zoho CRM

Brevo

Gmail

Mailchimp

Brevo is a CRM and email marketing solution that helps businesses run multi-channel marketing campaigns across email, WhatsApp, SMS, web push, and Facebook ads. Teams can trigger transactional emails, SMS, and WhatsApp notifications over Brevo SMTP and APIs.

Gmail is a free, advertising-supported email service offered as part of Google Workspace (formerly G Suite), with 15GB of storage, color-coded inbox filters, and 'unsend' button

Mailchimp is an email and SMS marketing platform that combines artificial intelligence with marketing automation capabilities. The platform features a drag-and-drop builder, content creation tools, and audience management functions to help businesses design and distribute marketing campaigns across multiple channels.

Marketing Automation Specialist

It's not just the tool, but the launch, implementation, and Salesforce partner (or an in-house team of 4-5 experts) to get the most of the tool.

Use Salesforce Pardot to create personalized, triggered email campaigns, landing pages & forms. Features include spam analysis, A/B testing, alerts, & reports.

A/B Testing

Access Controls/Permissions

Activity Dashboard

Activity Tracking

Alerts/Notifications

Archiving & Retention

Autoresponders

Business Card/Badge Scanning

Calendar Management

Campaign Analytics

Campaign Management

Campaign Planning

Campaign Scheduling

Campaign Segmentation

Campaign Tracking

CAN-SPAM Compliance

Channel Management

Chat/Messaging

Collaboration Tools

Contact Database

Contact Management

Content Management

Conversion Rate Optimization

Conversion Tracking

Customer Database

Customer Segmentation

Customer Surveys

Customizable CTAs

Customizable Fields

Customizable Forms

Customizable Reports

Customizable Templates

Dashboard

Data Extraction

Data Import/Export

Data Visualization

Drag & Drop

Drip Campaigns

Dynamic Content

Email Campaign Management

Email Distribution

Email Management

Email Marketing

Email Monitoring

Email Templates

Email Tracking

Engagement Tracking

Event Marketing

Event Triggered Actions

Forms Creation & Design

Forms Management

Full Text Search

Image Library

Interaction Tracking

Keyword Tracking

Landing Pages/Web Forms

Lead Distribution

Lead Generation

Lead Management

Lead Notifications

Lead Nurturing

Lead Qualification

Lead Scoring

Lead Verification/Validation

List Management

Marketing Automation

Marketing Calendar

Mobile Access

Mobile Optimization

Monitoring

Multi-Campaign

Multi-Channel Attribution

Multi-Channel Communication

Multi-Channel Data Collection

Multi-Channel Marketing

Multivariate Testing

Online Forms

Performance Metrics

Pipeline Management

Process/Workflow Automation

Prospecting Tools

Real-Time Analytics

Real-Time Data

Real-Time Notifications

Real-Time Reporting

Reporting/Analytics

Reporting & Statistics

Response Management

ROI Tracking

Sales Activity Management

Sales Analytics

Sales Reports

Sales Trend Analysis

Search/Filter

Search Marketing

Segmentation

Social Marketing

Social Media Integration

Reviewers indicate that Salesforce Marketing Cloud Account Engagement is expensive, especially for small businesses, and some say the cost makes it unviable even at the lowest tier. Users report premium features require costly upgrades, and the pricing structure is confusing. Some reviewers feel the product is only justifiable if integrated with other Salesforce tools. However, some users appreciate the robust functionality and scalability for the price, noting it offers good value for larger organizations or those already using Salesforce, though many still wish for lower costs.

Value for money

The Salesforce Marketing Cloud Account Engagement integration most frequently cited by reviewers is Salesforce Sales Cloud, a CRM product rated 4.3 out of 5 for its integration with Salesforce Marketing Cloud Account Engagement.

Integrations

By industry, Salesforce Marketing Cloud Account Engagement reviewers are most commonly professionals in computer software (24%). The most frequent use case cited by reviewers is email marketing (63%).

Open Source

Salesforce Marketing Cloud Account Engagement

Web-based

Linux

Android

Windows

HubSpot Marketing Hub

Marketo Engage

ActiveCampaign

Zoho CRM

Dynamics 365

Growth

Plus

Advanced

Premium

Limited reporting flexibility

Principal

very mixed experience with this platform, a lot of 'not perfect' features and integration with salesforce that makes the tool a little clunky, reporting is really appaling, unless you get the B2B analytics package/upgrade but even then the creation of dashboard and analytics is not something anyone can do

Demand Generation Marketing Manager

It is extremely difficult to report on our marketing activities with their current reporting structure.

52% of reviewers feel negative about Reporting. Some users say the reporting features are basic and lack customization options, making it hard to track ROI or analyze marketing activities in depth. Reviewers indicate that the reporting interface is not intuitive and that terminology can be confusing. They report frustration with the inability to create custom reports and note that campaign-level reporting is weak. Some reviewers find that the reporting module is not robust compared to other platforms and that it often fails to deliver actionable insights.

High cost barrier

Support enginner 

The cost makes it an unviable option for small and medium-sized companies, even with the most economical plan.

64% of reviewers feel negative about Pricing. Some users report that the platform is expensive, making it difficult for small and medium-sized businesses to afford. Reviewers indicate that the cost is often higher than comparable alternatives, and they dislike the need to pay annually or upgrade for advanced features. They say the pricing structure is confusing and that onboarding and support do not always justify the expense. Some reviewers feel that the product’s value does not match its premium price, especially when considering additional partner or consulting fees.

Difficult landing page creation

45% of reviewers feel negative about Landing Pages. Some users say that building and customizing landing pages is complicated and often requires coding knowledge. Reviewers indicate that the included templates are limited, not mobile responsive, and hard to edit. They report that the editor is clunky, with confusing navigation and inefficient workflows. Some reviewers find that embedding forms and managing layouts is time-consuming, and they struggle with formatting issues and lack of documentation for advanced customization.

Steep onboarding process

42% of reviewers feel negative about Training and Learning Curve. Some users report that the platform is complex and requires significant time and effort to learn. Reviewers indicate that onboarding is lengthy and that training resources are often outdated or insufficient. They say that the interface is not intuitive, making it difficult for new users to become proficient without extensive support. Some reviewers find that a dedicated team or consultant is needed for implementation, which adds to the overall challenge and cost.

Cumbersome email design

46% of reviewers feel negative about Email Templates. Some users report that designing and customizing email templates is challenging, often requiring HTML or developer support. Reviewers indicate that the editor is slow, glitchy, and lacks modern drag-and-drop features. They say that making simple changes can be time-consuming and that templates are not always mobile responsive. Some reviewers find that the system is not user-friendly for building attractive emails, and they express frustration with limited design flexibility and outdated interface elements.

Enhanced workflow efficiency

91% of reviewers feel positive about Operational Improvement. Some users report that the platform significantly improves daily operations and increases productivity. Reviewers indicate that marketing campaign ROI has improved, and they appreciate the continual updates and enhancements to the system. They find the user interface elegant and easy to maintain, which helps streamline their work. Some reviewers mention that the tool accelerates value delivery and recommend it for organizations seeking to optimize their marketing and sales processes.

Streamlined client engagement

The feature I like most is the ease with which we can communicate with our clients, it is easy to send regular updates through the integrated system of Salesforce.

92% of reviewers feel positive about Client Communication. Some users say the platform makes it easy to automate client acquisition and maintain ongoing communication through integrated CRM features. Reviewers appreciate the tools for sending regular updates, managing notifications, and building lasting client relationships. They find that bi-directional communication with Salesforce CRM is a significant benefit, and they value the responsive client support and onboarding process. Some reviewers report that these features help them better understand and address client needs.

Seamless salesforce connectivity

Operations Manager

It also integrates seamlessly with Salesforce CRM and a wide variety of 3rd party applications.

88% of reviewers feel positive about Cloud Integrations. Some users report that native integration with Salesforce is a major advantage, allowing them to connect marketing and sales data without third-party plugins. Reviewers appreciate the ease of connecting with other applications via API and say the platform is intuitive for Salesforce users. They indicate that real-time updates and deep integrations with CRM and third-party tools help streamline their workflows. Some reviewers find that the integration supports efficient marketing tracking and campaign management, while others note that connecting multiple business intelligence services is straightforward.

Comprehensive automation features

90% of reviewers feel positive about Marketing Automation. Some users say the platform provides a wide range of automation tools, including drip campaigns, dynamic content, and engagement tracking. Reviewers indicate that seamless Salesforce integration enhances automation effectiveness and helps unify sales and marketing efforts. They appreciate the visual interface for building campaigns and the ability to measure ROI objectively. Some reviewers find that the platform is suitable for both beginners and advanced users, and they value the onboarding support that helps teams become autonomous in their marketing activities.

Robust salesforce integration

We appreciate it's deep integration with Salesforce and know that it has feature parity with most of the other major players out there.

87% of reviewers feel positive about Integrations. Some users indicate that seamless integration with Salesforce is the platform’s strongest feature, enabling efficient data exchange and workflow automation. Reviewers appreciate the ease of connecting with Salesforce objects and other tools, which they say supports a wide range of business scenarios. They find that native integration reduces reliance on other apps and simplifies processes. Some reviewers mention that the integration is a key reason for choosing the platform, especially for organizations already using Salesforce as their CRM.

CRM Specialist

The main modules we've been using such as Email Studio, Journey Builder with Automation Studio, Contact Builder, and Web Studio enable us to manage data, design campaigns, and automate customer journeys at scale.

Drag-and-drop editor and reusable templates make it easy to design professional emails without needing deep HTML skills.

The platform's capabilities has increased productivity by organising, tracking, storing and conveniently accessing crucial client information and also helping with targeted marketing campaigns.

Marketing Operations Manager

My overall experience with Salesforce Marketing Cloud Account Engagement (Pardot) has been positive, as it has enabled us to efficiently manage and personalize our marketing efforts, resulting in improved customer engagement and lead generation.

Software Engineer

It's fully integrated into our CRM used between our internal sales and external vendors.

The automation features, such as email workflows and journey builders, made it easy to create and automate multi-channel marketing campaigns.

Business development manager

For a company that communicates with clients and leads primarily via email this platform has changed the game for productivity and delivering personalized emails

Marketing Director

Byzantine and near to no onboarding - we have had it for 3 months with no clear onboarding process - all we get area bunch of random links from our sales executives and sale support - They do a great with their Sales CRM , but fail miserably with their Pardot/Account Engagement

The platform offered a robust set of tools for managing customer engagement and executing marketing campaigns.

Owner

The price can seem a little high based on some of the industry competitors.

Additionally, the pricing structure of Salesforce Marketing Cloud Account Engagement could be quite expensive, especially for small businesses or startups with limited budgets.

Marketing Manager

It can be clunky to set up the customer databases and connect the corresponding fields between Salesforce & Marketing Cloud.

It allows us to gather, segment and target leads all in one place.

I found that the user interface of Salesforce Marketing Cloud (formerly known as Pardot) could be a bit complex and not as intuitive as I would have liked.

Email Marketing Specialist

Validations - if you didn’t create custom objects for your form data it was a mess

It is also more useful in terms of features than any other CRMs I've used- Also suitable for smaller businesses like us- Good customisation options

Data and Impact Associate

As a small non profit, being able to have a tool with a lot of automation enables us to be a lot more efficient in terms of marketing campaigns, news letter management, and integrated forms with our CRM and analytics.

Marketing

I like the holistic platform because it helps us automate processes, score leads, send emails, segment lists, and integrate with other platforms.

Marketing Operations Manager 

The engagement studio is the most helpful feature of the tool, organizing the flow of prospects according to their behavior on a website, landing page, etc.

Sales  Marketing Specialist

I really like the ability to have a granular data for each and every customer we have.

Backend developer

The platform gives companies the tools they need to build highly personalised and customised customer experiences, even though it can be complicated and requires a learning curve.

Social Media Marketing Specialist

Salesforce Marketing Cloud Account Engagement lets you personalize your communication with prospects and customers based on their past interactions with your brand.

Not possible to send emails based on user behavior (also the time when they are sent)

Innovation Manager

It is a tool with a great potential for lead management and cross selling actions.

A fantastic tool for us, it has helped us create new leads, move prospects through the sales funnel in an automated method, and so on and so forth

Marketing 

The analysis tool can be changed or improved as it doesn't leads to understand by using different filters if could be done in dashboard standards so that it can be used in a more understanding way.

Associate

Can classify these leads based on the metrics and criteria we set - automates a lot of tasks the marketing team would have to perform.

Salesforce Marketing Cloud Account Engagement vs Zoho CRM Comparison (2026)

Salesforce Marketing Cloud Account Engagement

Zoho CRM

Overview

Video & Screenshots

Pricing

User reviews

Key features

Integrations

Alternatives