Salesforce Marketing Cloud vs Financial Services Cloud

Salesforce Sales Cloud

HubSpot CRM

Zoho CRM

Salesforce Sales Cloud is a cloud-based Customer Relationship Management (CRM) application from Salesforce. The platform combines human sales professionals with AI-powered automation, data, and intelligence. This integrated solution is designed to help businesses of all sizes and industries.

HubSpot CRM is a lead management solution that helps businesses with recording calls, logging emails and managing customer data. It has been designed from the ground up and is ready to eliminate manual work and actually help sales teams. It was built ready for the modern world to help users get running and start selling.

Zoho CRM is a cloud-based customer relationship management (CRM) solution that helps businesses of all sizes close deals smarter, better and faster. The solution lets businesses reach customers through every channel, including telephone, email, social media, and live chat.

VP of Operations

Hard to pick what was worst - terrible customer service, despite paying for Premiere Support it often took days to get problems solved (and updates were constantly causing new problems), or the fact that the answer to every question was either no or an upsell.

Salesforce Marketing Cloud combines a number of features to execute basic or complex email marketing campaigns. Create targeted, timely emails & track campaigns

A/B Testing

Access Controls/Permissions

Activity Dashboard

Activity Tracking

Ad hoc Reporting

Ad Network Integration

AI Copilot

AI/Machine Learning

Alerts/Notifications

Analytics

Archiving & Retention

Asset Lifecycle Management

Audience Targeting

Audio File Management

Automated Publishing

Autoresponders

Behavioral Analytics

Behavior Tracking

Brand Management

Brand Tracking

Calendar Management

Campaign Analytics

Campaign Management

Campaign Planning

Campaign Scheduling

Campaign Segmentation

Campaign Tracking

Canned Responses

CAN-SPAM Compliance

Categorization/Grouping

Channel Management

Click Tracking

Collaboration Tools

Commenting/Notes

Communication Management

Competitive Analysis

Configurable Workflow

Contact Management

Content Library

Content Management

Content Publishing Options

Conversion Rate Optimization

Conversion Tracking

Customer Engagement

Customer Experience Management

Customer History

Customer Journey Mapping

Customer Profiles

Customer Segmentation

Customer Surveys

Customizable Branding

Customizable CTAs

Customizable Fields

Customizable Forms

Customizable Reports

Customizable Templates

Customization

Dashboard

Dashboard Creation

Data Capture and Transfer

Data Connectors

Data Import/Export

Data Recovery

Data Security

Data Visualization

Document Classification

Document Management

Document Storage

Drag & Drop

Drip Campaigns

Dynamic Content

eCommerce Management

Electronic Forms

Email Campaign Management

Email Distribution

Email Management

Email Marketing

Email Monitoring

Email Templates

Email Tracking

Engagement Tracking

Event Triggered Actions

File Management

Filtering

For iPad Devices

For Marketing and Advertising

Forms Management

For Startups

Full Text Search

Generative AI

Image Editing

Image Library

Inbox Management

Interaction Tracking

Keyword Filtering

KPI Monitoring

Landing Pages/Web Forms

Lead Capture

Reviewers indicate that Salesforce Marketing Cloud is expensive compared to alternatives, and some users report that high upfront and ongoing costs, unclear fees, and required expertise can be prohibitive. Some reviewers feel discounts help, but value depends on fully leveraging features.

Value for money

The Salesforce Marketing Cloud integration most frequently cited by reviewers is Salesforce Sales Cloud, a CRM product rated 4.7 out of 5 for its integration with Salesforce Marketing Cloud.

Integrations

Reviews for Salesforce Marketing Cloud come from a wide variety of industries, including computer software (10% of reviewers), marketing and advertising (9%), and information technology and services (7%). The most frequent use case for Salesforce Marketing Cloud cited by reviewers is email marketing (49% of reviewers).

Salesforce Marketing Cloud

Web-based

Android

iPhone

iPad

Mailchimp

HubSpot Marketing Hub

ActiveCampaign

SendGrid

Veeva CRM

Outreach

Oracle Responsys

Total Expert

Starter Suite

 Marketing Cloud Growth Edition

 Marketing Cloud Advanced Edition

Slow and clunky performance

Project Manager and L&D Specialist 

The platform can be buggy sometimes and loading times are below average.

92% of reviewers feel negative about Salesforce Marketing Cloud’s performance and speed. Reviewers indicate the platform often experiences slow loading times and lag, making daily tasks inefficient. They say the user interface feels outdated and clunky, with inconsistent responsiveness, especially during campaign setup or navigation. Some users report that heavy system requirements contribute to delays, and the workspace can be unreliable. Multiple reviewers mention that these performance issues disrupt workflow and make campaign management more cumbersome than with other tools.

Frequent email delivery problems

UX Designer

I don't like that the UI of the entire website is very hard to use. If you click on something, you lose your work. And there's no way to preview my emails for multiple devices to troubleshoot.

77% of reviewers feel negative about Salesforce Marketing Cloud’s email issues. Reviewers report problems such as duplicate or excessive email sends, high spam ratings, and technical glitches in email formatting. They say managing opt-out lists and integrating with other systems can be problematic, leading to compliance headaches. Some users mention difficulties with email previews, device compatibility, and campaign tracking. Reviewers also highlight frustrations with troubleshooting email errors, often requiring significant internal effort due to limited support.

Persistent bugs and glitches

Product Management Director

65% of reviewers feel negative about Salesforce Marketing Cloud’s bugs and issues. Reviewers indicate the platform is prone to technical glitches that disrupt workflow, such as problems with search functions, importing/exporting files, and UI inconsistencies. They say some bugs are difficult to resolve and may require significant troubleshooting. Users report frustration with recurring issues that impact productivity, and some mention that implementation and project management can be challenging due to these persistent technical problems.

High and complex pricing

76% of reviewers feel negative about Salesforce Marketing Cloud’s pricing. Reviewers indicate the platform is expensive both to purchase and maintain, with additional costs for onboarding, consultants, and premium support. They say the pricing structure can be confusing, with many features requiring extra fees. Some users feel the high cost is not justified for smaller businesses or those not utilizing all functionalities. Reviewers mention that the expense can be a barrier for companies with strict budgets or limited resources.

Slow and ineffective support

41% of reviewers feel negative about Salesforce Marketing Cloud’s customer support. Reviewers say support is often slow to respond and struggles to resolve issues effectively. They indicate that opening tickets can be cumbersome, and documentation is frequently outdated or insufficient. Some users report difficulty reaching knowledgeable representatives and express dissatisfaction with the quality of assistance provided. Reviewers mention that even premium support does not always lead to timely or satisfactory solutions, leading to ongoing frustration.

Effective lead tracking and nurturing

91% of reviewers feel positive about Salesforce Marketing Cloud’s lead management. Reviewers say the platform offers a wide array of tools for capturing, organizing, and nurturing leads. They appreciate the ability to track lead status, segment contacts, and automate drip campaigns for ongoing engagement. Users find the system helps keep client and lead information organized and secure, supporting integration with other tools like Outlook. Some reviewers mention the platform’s robust analytics and reporting, which provide valuable insights for marketing strategy and pipeline management.

Seamless system integrations

VP - Marketing

Extensive features, and seamless integration with Salesforce CRM.

89% of reviewers feel positive about Salesforce Marketing Cloud’s integrations. Reviewers indicate the platform integrates smoothly with Salesforce CRM and other business systems, allowing for centralized data management and streamlined workflows. They appreciate the extensive ecosystem, which supports connectivity with a wide range of third-party applications and APIs. Users say integration capabilities help unify marketing, sales, and customer service efforts. Some reviewers highlight the ease of connecting with existing tools and the benefits of having a predictable, feature-rich environment for expanding business operations.

Robust multi-channel automation

digital marketer

Salesforce Marketing Cloud is an excellent marketing automation software that provides a comprehensive solution for managing and automating marketing campaigns across multiple channels.

Senior Account Executive 

Journey builder looks easy and very visual -Robust and comprehensive marketing automation features-Extensive integrations with other Salesforce products-Customizable dashboards and reporting for personalized insights-Multi-channel communication capabilities for seamless customer engagement

94% of reviewers feel positive about Salesforce Marketing Cloud’s marketing automation. Reviewers appreciate the platform’s comprehensive suite of automation tools, allowing them to manage campaigns across email, SMS, social media, and web. They indicate the integration with Salesforce CRM enables intelligent, personalized automations based on customer data and behavior. Users say features like Journey Builder and customizable dashboards make it easy to design complex workflows and track results. Some reviewers highlight the platform’s flexibility and scalability for businesses of various sizes, making automated marketing processes more efficient and effective.

Flexible template customization options

89% of reviewers feel positive about Salesforce Marketing Cloud’s template customization. Reviewers appreciate the platform’s flexibility, allowing them to tailor templates for different customer types and business needs. They indicate the use of tools like Ampscript, content areas, and drag-and-drop builders helps create dynamic, personalized assets efficiently. Users say the availability of pre-defined templates and widgets speeds up design and deployment. Some reviewers value the platform’s adaptability for businesses of various sizes and requirements, enabling them to maintain brand consistency and streamline campaign creation.

Comprehensive email campaign tools

89% of reviewers feel positive about Salesforce Marketing Cloud’s email campaign capabilities. Reviewers indicate the platform supports a wide range of email marketing functions, from basic newsletters to advanced, targeted campaigns. They appreciate the ability to segment audiences, automate workflows, and personalize messages at scale. Users say the platform’s integration with CRM data enables more effective campaign tracking and reporting. Some reviewers find features like A/B testing, send time optimization, and analytics valuable for improving engagement. They also mention that managing large-scale campaigns is efficient, and the tool helps boost productivity and campaign performance.

Shop Owner

Especially the Marketing Cloud for managing email campaigns on customers, which makes things organised and easy to track at a glance and go through analytics. If you were managing things on your own like myself, Salesforce might be too sophisticated for its own good as a start, but something you can start looking into if you were looking to scale or to sell to various markets.

It is a sophisticated CRM software, and great for managing customer database and workflows, but more feared towards larger enterprises I feel, and not exactly cost-effective for small business owners.

Content Marketing Manager

The platform’s ability to segment audiences and automate marketing workflows is pretty powerful, allowing for precise targeting and engagement across email, social media, and SMS.

Digital Marketing Manager

Salesforce Marketing Cloud invites users to share their positive experiences, focusing on its features and benefits in managing marketing efforts, such as email campaigns and customer data analysis.

Connect Partner

It can become quite technical for some people resulting in creation of multiple duplicates and linking errors.

Additionally, some tasks that should be straightforward, like creating email templates or setting up automation workflows, can be a bit cumbersome due to the number of steps involved.

Direct Marketing Lead

You weren't able to track replies, it didn't allow setting up an email that will be able to receive replies.

Senior sales rep

To me it has completely eliminated excel spreadsheets.

The email creator was super old-fashioned comparing to way cheaper alternatives where you can easily build emails using drag-n-drop sections.

Sales Consultant

Sales and marketing teams in my organization connect in one place with the help of Salesforce Marketing Cloud.

CRM Lead

Great marketing automation tech for complex automation and detailed customer footprint tracking

Solution Engineer

I have been a Salesforce Marketing Cloud solution engineer for 3 years where I was demoing it to potential customers in order to sell them the product

Sales Specialist

it's easy to keep track of sales and sales opportunities, it is a very intuitive program that helps with sles and marketing.

Researcher

The high cost and no automatic way of importing multiple emails per contact

Senior Director Of Marketing

Using Marketing Cloud, we can simply keep tabs on all of our social media profiles, Facebook updates, and email automation tools.

multichannel marketing tool (email, SMS, mobile, ads, social)

Manager

What I liked least about Salesforce Marketing Cloud is the complexity of implementation and the steep learning curve

Lead Associate

There are alot of opportinities to improve on as well as enhancement that aid in bussiness.

Human Resources Generalist

More automated components for plug-and-play building of user journeys would be preferable, as much of Automation Studio as possible must be implemented in SQL, which can get complicated.

Program Manager

We are able to automate the process and make following up and answering the questions so much easier.

Founder and CEO

Able to look at analytics and properly guage information.

It has so many hidden benefits to it which helps you elevate your marketing potential.

This platform is an effective tool for shipping and logistics.

Customer support

Navigating the system sometimes is a little difficult if you are not familiar with the system.

Salesforce Marketing Cloud vs Financial Services Cloud Comparison (2026)

Salesforce Marketing Cloud

Financial Services Cloud

Overview

Video & Screenshots

Pricing

User reviews

Key features

Integrations

Alternatives