marketing planning tools

Looking for the best marketing planning tools to streamline your workflows and boost your results? We've curated a comprehensive list of the top 5 tools, complete with key features, pros, cons, and real user reviews. Whether you're a small business owner or a seasoned marketer, you'll find valuable insights to help you choose the right tool for your needs.

From all-in-one platforms like HubSpot and Mailchimp to specialized solutions for sales prospecting and AI sales automation, we've got you covered. Discover which tools consistently earn high praise for their ease of use, robust features, and customer support. Plus, get an overview of pricing options to find the best fit for your budget. Read on for our in-depth look at the 5 best marketing planning tools available today.

1. Bardeen

Bardeen is an AI-powered browser extension that automates repetitive tasks across web apps, making it a top choice for marketing planning and automation. With its ability to control any browser tab and run automations continuously in the cloud, Bardeen offers unmatched flexibility and efficiency in optimizing marketing workflows. Sign up for free and see how Bardeen can revolutionize your marketing planning process.

Key Features

Bardeen offers a range of features that make it a top choice for marketing planning and automation:

• Integrates with 100+ apps for seamless workflow automation
• Scrapes data from LinkedIn and other websites for lead generation and management
• Uses AI agents and prompts to analyze and process data
• Builds custom workflows using Bardeen's no-code builder or AI-powered Magic Box

Popular Use Cases

• Automating market research and data analysis
• Personalizing marketing campaigns and automating outreach and follow-ups
• Integrating LinkedIn with popular apps and CRMs for AI-powered sales automation

Pros

• Versatile capabilities beyond just marketing planning and automation
• Runs 24/7 in the cloud, not limited to browser uptime, perfect for teams
• AI-powered features for intelligent automation and data processing

Cons

• Steeper learning curve, but offers added personal productivity use cases
• Higher pricing for premium features and credits
• Requires some technical know-how for advanced automations

Reviews

On Capterra, Bardeen has an overall rating of 4.5 out of 5, with users praising its ease of use, customer service, and value for money. One reviewer noted, "Bardeen is one of the best no-code automation platforms and won the runner-up award from Product Hunt in the SaaS category."

G2 reviewers give Bardeen 4.9 out of 5 stars, highlighting its time-saving benefits and powerful automation features. A user shared, "Bardeen solves the problem of manually doing repetitive tasks, which saves me a lot of time. Prices are also affordable."

While not as widely discussed on Reddit as some other marketing planning tools, Bardeen has generally positive sentiment among users who have tried it for automation and web scraping. They appreciate its user-friendliness and extensive integration options.

Pricing

Bardeen’s pricing has been optimized for 2025 and includes the following plans:

• Free plan: Get 100 credits per month to build and test automations to transform your GTM motion.
• Starter plan: From $99/month for 15,000 annual credits, includes AI agents, AI playbook Builder, basic Integrations, and unlimited team members.
• Teams plan: From $500/month for 120,000 annual crexdits, includes everything on Starter and CRM + outreach integrations, waterfall enrichment, cloud workflows, dedicated Slack channel, and 2 custom-built AI playbooks built by Bardeen AIgency.
• Enterprise plan: From $1,500/month for over 500,000 annual credits, includes everything on Teams and custom contracts with unlimited credit options, dedicated GTM consultant, priority integrations, SSO, and 5+ custom-built AI playbooks built by dedicated AIgency.

Read why Bardeen is doubling down on AI + humans and how it can accelerate your sales cycle.

Ready to automate your workflows and maximize sales productivity? Sign up to Bardeen's free plan and experience the power of AI sales automation firsthand.

2. HubSpot

HubSpot is an all-in-one CRM platform that offers a comprehensive suite of marketing, sales, customer service, and content management tools. Its Marketing Hub, in particular, stands out as a top choice for businesses looking to attract, engage, and delight customers through inbound marketing strategies.

Key Features

HubSpot's Marketing Hub offers an array of features designed to fuel your entire marketing funnel:

• Blogging, landing pages, and email tools to create and optimize content
• Marketing automation to personalize customer journeys at scale
• Lead management and analytics to track and improve campaign ROI
• Social media management to engage audiences across channels

Popular Use Cases

• Generating and nurturing leads through targeted content and email campaigns
• Personalizing customer experiences based on behavior and preferences
• Aligning marketing and sales efforts for seamless handoffs and follow-up

Pros

• Intuitive interface and seamless integration of marketing channels
• Robust automation and personalization capabilities
• Comprehensive analytics for data-driven decision making

Cons

• Steeper learning curve compared to simpler marketing tools
• Higher price point, especially as contact volume and features scale

Reviews

G2 users give HubSpot Marketing Hub an average rating of 4.3 out of 5 stars, praising its user-friendliness, extensive feature set, and positive impact on lead generation efforts. They note that while setup takes time, the results are well worth the effort.

On Capterra, reviewers appreciate the platform's ability to streamline marketing workflows and provide a holistic view of the customer journey. HubSpot Marketing Hub earns an overall rating of 4.5, with high marks for ease of use, features, and customer support.

Across Reddit threads, marketers consistently recommend HubSpot for its inbound methodology, content optimization tools, and integration with sales processes. Users advise taking advantage of HubSpot Academy's free certifications to get the most out of the software.

Pricing

• Starter: starts at $45/month for 1,000 marketing contacts
• Professional: starts at $800/month for 2,000 marketing contacts
• Enterprise: starts at $3,600/month for 10,000 marketing contacts
• Free tools available for basic features like forms, live chat, and landing pages

3. Buffer

Buffer is an intuitive, streamlined social media management platform trusted by over 140,000 individuals and businesses to drive meaningful engagement and results. With Buffer, you can easily plan, publish, and analyze your social media content across multiple channels, saving you significant time and effort.

Key Features

Buffer offers an array of features to help you grow your audience on social media:

• Schedule and publish content to multiple social media accounts
• Collaborate with team members using shared drafts and approval flows
• Analyze your social media performance with built-in analytics
• Engage with your audience through a unified social inbox

Popular Use Cases

• Streamlining social media management for small businesses and solopreneurs
• Collaborating on social media content creation and publishing within marketing teams
• Analyzing social media metrics to optimize content strategy and performance

Pros

• User-friendly interface and straightforward content scheduling
• Robust analytics for tracking key social media metrics
• Affordable pricing plans for individuals and small teams

Cons

• Limited customization options compared to some competitors
• Occasional issues with Instagram direct publishing
• Free plan has restricted features and number of connected accounts

Pricing

• Free plan for individuals with up to 3 social channels
• Essentials plan starts at $5/month per social channel, billed annually
• Team plan starts at $10/month per social channel, billed annually
• 14-day free trial available for paid plans

Reviews

On G2, Buffer has an average rating of 4.3 out of 5 stars from over 1,000 reviews. Users praise its ease of use, robust analytics, and helpful customer support.

Capterra reviewers give Buffer an overall rating of 4.0, highlighting its time-saving benefits and intuitive interface. Some noted minor UX issues and feature limitations on the free plan.

Reddit users generally recommend Buffer as a solid, affordable option for social media management, particularly for those just starting out. They appreciate the tool's simplicity and core features, though some mention exploring alternatives as their needs become more complex.

4. Mailchimp

Mailchimp is a comprehensive email marketing platform known for its user-friendly interface and robust features. Its ability to create and manage mailing lists, newsletters, and automated campaigns makes it a popular choice among businesses of all sizes for their marketing planning needs.

Key Features

Mailchimp offers a range of features that make it well-suited for marketing planning:

• Email marketing capabilities for creating and sending personalized campaigns
• Marketing automation for scheduling targeted messages at optimal times
• Customizable templates and a built-in photo editor for visually appealing emails
• Advanced analytics and reporting to measure campaign effectiveness

Popular Use Cases

• Building and growing email lists to expand reach
• Designing professional newsletters to engage subscribers
• Setting up automated drip campaigns for lead nurturing

Pros

• User-friendly interface and straightforward campaign setup
• Robust marketing automation and personalization options
• A/B testing to optimize email performance

Cons

• Limited customization in free plan
• Potential learning curve for advanced features
• Pricing can add up for businesses with large contact lists

Pricing

• Free plan for up to 1,000 contacts and 10,000 sends per month
• Essentials plan starts at $13/month for 500 contacts
• Standard plan starts at $20/month for 500 contacts
• Premium plan starts at $350/month for 10,000 contacts

Reviews

On G2, Mailchimp has an average rating of 4.4 out of 5 stars based on nearly 5,000 reviews. Users praise its ease of use, range of features, and helpful automation.

Capterra reviewers give Mailchimp an overall score of 4.5, with high marks for customer service, features, and value for money. Some note occasional complexity with advanced functionality.

5. Hootsuite

Hootsuite is a comprehensive social media management tool that enables businesses to effectively manage their social media presence across multiple platforms. Its user-friendly interface, robust features, and extensive integrations make it a popular choice for marketers looking to streamline their social media efforts.

Key Features

Hootsuite offers an array of features that are essential for effective social media marketing:

• Social media scheduling and publishing across multiple networks
• Social media monitoring and listening to track brand mentions and sentiment
• Unified social inbox for streamlined engagement and customer support
• Detailed analytics and reporting to measure performance and ROI

Popular Use Cases

• Scheduling and publishing content across multiple social media platforms
• Monitoring brand mentions and engaging with customers in real-time
• Collaborating with team members on social media management tasks

Pros

• Intuitive interface and easy-to-use features
• Extensive integrations with third-party apps and platforms
• Robust analytics and reporting capabilities

Cons

• Higher pricing compared to some alternatives
• Learning curve for advanced features and customization options
• Occasional performance issues and bugs reported by users

Pricing

• Professional: $99/month for 1 user and 10 social accounts
• Team: $249/month for 3 users and 20 social accounts
• Enterprise: Custom pricing, starting at 5 users and 50 social accounts
• 30-day free trial available for all plans

Reviews

On G2, Hootsuite has an average rating of 4.2 out of 5 stars based on over 4,200 reviews. Users praise its ease of use, robust features, and time-saving capabilities.

Capterra reviewers give Hootsuite an overall rating of 4.5 out of 5, highlighting its simplicity, ability to manage multiple social accounts, and helpful customer support. Some users note the learning curve and occasional glitches as drawbacks.

Sentiment on Reddit is generally positive, with users appreciating Hootsuite's scheduling and reporting features. However, some express concerns about the pricing and suggest exploring more affordable alternatives for small businesses. Overall, Hootsuite is seen as a powerful tool for social media management, particularly for larger organizations.

Conclusions

In summary, choosing the best marketing planning tool depends on your specific needs, budget, and the size of your team. Key factors to consider include ease of use, automation capabilities, integrations with other tools, and analytics features.

Among the top 5 tools discussed, Bardeen, HubSpot, and Buffer stand out as the most popular and versatile options. Bardeen's AI-powered browser extension offers unmatched flexibility and efficiency in automating repetitive tasks across web apps, making it a game-changer for marketing teams. HubSpot provides a comprehensive all-in-one solution for inbound marketing, while Buffer simplifies social media management and collaboration.

To streamline your marketing planning process and boost productivity, we recommend giving one of these tools a try. Sign up for a free account or start a 14-day free trial of premium features to experience the benefits firsthand. Don't miss out on the opportunity to revolutionize your marketing workflows - download and install the Bardeen Chrome extension today!