EngageBay vs Iterable
EngageBay and Iterable are both popular choices in the all-in-one marketing platform space. Iterable has been around since 2013, giving it a 5-year head start over EngageBay (founded 2018). Iterable is the more affordable option at $0/mo — that's $14.99 less per month than EngageBay's $14.99/mo entry point. EngageBay offers a free plan (250 contacts, 1,000 branded emails, up to 15 users), while Iterable does not. EngageBay has the edge with landing pages.
Quick Verdict
EngageBay wins on rating, free tier.
Iterable wins on deliverability, integrations.
It's a close call — your choice depends on your specific needs.
EngageBay
All-in-one CRM for marketing, sales & support
EngageBay is a bootstrapped all-in-one CRM platform that bundles marketing automation, sales pipeline management, helpdesk ticketing, and live chat into a single affordable package. Founded in 2018 as a cost-effective alternative to HubSpot, it serves over 150,000 businesses with a free plan supporting up to 15 users. Its strongest differentiator is delivering the full marketing-sales-support stack at a fraction of enterprise CRM pricing, making it particularly attractive to budget-conscious SMBs.
Iterable
Campaigns are out. Moments are in.
Iterable is an AI-powered cross-channel marketing platform that helps brands create individualized customer experiences across email, SMS, push, in-app, and web. It focuses on turning behavioral data into personalized moments rather than batch campaigns, best suited for growth-stage and enterprise companies.
Feature Comparison
| Feature | EngageBay | Iterable |
|---|---|---|
| Rating | 4.7/5 | 4.3/5 |
| Starting Price | $14.99/mo | Custom |
| Free Plan | 250 contacts, 1,000 branded emails, up to 15 users | No free plan |
| Founded | 2018 | 2013 |
| Email Templates | 100 | 80 |
| Integrations | 30 | 150 |
| Deliverability Rate | 95% | 97% |
| Marketing Automation | ✓ | ✓ |
| A/B Testing | ✓ | ✓ |
| Landing Pages | ✓ | ✕ |
| Segmentation | ✓ | ✓ |
| Drag & Drop Editor | ✓ | ✓ |
| SMS Marketing | ✓ | ✓ |
| Ecommerce Features | ✓ | ✓ |
| API Access | ✓ | ✓ |
| Multi-Language | ✕ | ✓ |
| Web Push Notifications | ✓ | ✓ |
| Live Chat | ✓ | ✕ |
| Advanced Analytics | ✓ | ✓ |
EngageBay: Pros & Cons
Pros
- +Exceptionally affordable all-in-one platform combining CRM, marketing, sales, and support — Pro plan at $119.99/mo vs HubSpot at $900+/mo
- +Generous free plan supports up to 15 team members with email marketing, CRM, helpdesk, and live chat included
- +Highly rated customer support (4.8/5 on Capterra) with live chat and real human agents available 24/5
- +Built-in landing page builder with 87 templates, web forms, pop-ups, and SMS marketing included from Basic plan
- +Strong marketing automation with visual workflow builder, lead scoring, and A/B testing on Growth plan and above
Cons
- −Limited email editor widgets and somewhat outdated email template designs compared to modern competitors
- −Reporting module offers only basic analytics — lacks advanced custom reporting depth for data-driven teams
- −Per-user pricing model becomes expensive as teams scale beyond 5-10 users, especially on Growth and Pro plans
- −Occasional performance issues including slow page loads and intermittent bugs reported by users
- −Steep learning curve for advanced features — the breadth of the all-in-one platform can overwhelm new users
Iterable: Pros & Cons
Pros
- +Cross-channel orchestration across email, SMS, push, in-app, and web messaging
- +AI-powered send time optimization and content personalization
- +Flexible data model with real-time behavioral event tracking
- +150+ technology partner integrations
- +AI-powered send time optimization improves engagement across channels
Cons
- −No public pricing, requires demo and sales conversation
- −No free plan or self-service trial
- −Complex initial setup typically requires a dedicated implementation phase
- −Too expensive for small businesses
- −Pricing is not publicly listed — requires sales conversation
The Verdict
EngageBay edges ahead with a 4.7/5 rating compared to Iterable's 4.3/5. The gap comes mainly from value for money (4.8 vs 3.4) and ease of use (4.8 vs 4). On deliverability, Iterable reports 97% compared to 95% for EngageBay — a meaningful difference if inbox placement is critical for your campaigns.
| Criterion | Weight | EngageBay | Iterable |
|---|---|---|---|
| Starting Price | 30% | $14.99/mo | Free |
| Deliverability | 25% | 95% | 97% |
| Rating | 25% | 4.7/5 | 4.3/5 |
| Integrations | 10% | 30 | 150 |
| Free Tier | 10% | Yes | No |
Weights determine how much each criterion counts toward the final score. See full methodology
Choose EngageBay if…
- + You need a free plan to get started
- + You need built-in landing pages
- + You're a small businesses on a budget
- + You're a startups replacing hubspot
Choose Iterable if…
- + You're a growth stage companies
- + You're a consumer brands
- + Cross-channel orchestration across email, SMS, push, in-app, and web messaging