Marketing tools

EngageBay vs Ontraport 2026 – The Ultimate CRM Comparison (Honest Review)

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November 14, 2026

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EngageBay vs Ontraport 2026 – CRM & Automation Platforms Compared

Choosing the right CRM and marketing automation platform can be confusing. Both EngageBay and Ontraport are popular all-in-one solutions that promise to handle marketing, sales and support, but they target different users. EngageBay is known for its user-friendly, affordable all-in-one suite (including a free plan for small teams), while Ontraport is recognized for its enterprise-grade automation and CRM depth. This comparison cuts through the hype to show you where each tool shines and falls short. We’ll cover features, pricing, usability, and real-world examples so you can decide which tool fits your business needs. By the end, you’ll know which platform wins for beginners, which excels at advanced automation, and which offers the best value.

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EngageBay vs Ontraport: What Is Ontraport?

Ontraport is an enterprise-grade CRM and business automation platform aimed at scaling businesses and advanced marketers. It combines CRM, marketing automation, and e-commerce in one system. Ontraport is known for handling complex workflows: you can build fully automated sales funnels with branching logic, membership sites, affiliate programs, and custom objects all in one place. Pricing starts around $29 per month (basic tier) and goes up to $149 or more for higher tiers, with enterprise editions around $299+. There’s no free plan – even the basic tier assumes serious businesses willing to invest.

Main features: Ontraport offers a visual “Campaign Builder” for email/SMS sequences, advanced workflow splitting, and conditional logic (if/then paths). It has a built-in landing page and form builder, and you can host membership or subscription sites natively. Ontraport’s CRM is highly customizable: create custom record types, unlimited custom fields, and detailed activity tracking. It also supports affiliate and partner program management (with commission tracking and a partner portal). For sales, Ontraport includes pipelines, lead scoring, and detailed pipeline reporting. It even offers features like custom domain, private IP, and enterprise-grade security at higher tiers.

Strengths: The power of Ontraport lies in its automation capabilities and depth. If your business requires complex customer journeys – say, an online course creator who sells through membership sites and employs affiliates – Ontraport can automate it end-to-end. Its email deliverability is high (with dedicated IP options) and it offers split A/B testing for pages and sequences. Ontraport also integrates with major payment systems for subscriptions, and it provides robust analytics (lead source tracking, ROI per campaign, etc.). In summary, Ontraport is extremely flexible and scalable – you can continue adding users and contacts with no hard limits, and pay for extra features as you grow.

Limitations: This power comes with trade-offs. Ontraport’s pricing is high (even the low-end plan is a notable monthly spend once you add users), which can be prohibitive for very small companies. The interface and setup are quite complex; many users report a steep learning curve and a dated look and feel. Setting up even basic automations can take time. Ontraport also lacks a free option and limits free-trial length (14 days). In short, Ontraport is a tool for businesses ready to invest in automation expertise. For those just starting out or on tight budgets, many features may go unused.

EngageBay vs Ontraport: Pricing Comparison (2026)

Plan/Tier	EngageBay (annual)	Ontraport (monthly)
Free / Starter	$0 for unlimited users (2500 emails/mo, 1000 contacts limit on free)	– (No free tier)
Basic/Essentials	~$11.95/user/mo (billed annually)* includes 500 contacts, landing pages, SMS marketing, basic automation.	$29/mo (3 users included; +$9 per extra user) – Unlimited email (up to 20k contacts), core automation, CRM features.
Growth/Plus	~$45.99/user/mo* includes 3,000 contacts, A/B testing (email/landing), site messages, marketing automation.	$99/mo (10 users included; +$19 per extra) – Advanced CRM, membership sites, e-commerce payments, automation templates.
Pro/Enterprise	~$73.59/user/mo* includes 10,000 contacts, custom reporting, dedicated support, phone support.	$149/mo (unlimited users; +$49 per extra) – Full feature set, affiliate programs, deep funnel reporting.
High-End	EngageBay tops at Pro plan (~$73/user). No separate “enterprise” pricing publicly listed (custom quotes).	$299/mo and up (Enterprise edition with private IP, advanced security, up to 5M contacts, +$69 per extra user).

*EngageBay prices shown are estimated annual per-user rates (monthly billing is slightly higher, e.g. Basic $12.99/mo).

EngageBay’s pricing is far more affordable at every level. You can start on EngageBay for free and add users at just ~$12 each per month (annual). Even the top plan is under $80/user. Ontraport’s entry is $29/mo (including 3 seats), but by the time you add users and move to the Pro plan, you’re paying $149 or more each month, plus steep overage for extra seats. Ontraport becomes cost-efficient only if you truly need its enterprise features and have large contact volumes. EngageBay emphasizes affordability: you get basic CRM, email, and automation for much less, but Ontraport wins on scalability – its pricing scales to millions of contacts and unlimited advanced features.
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EngageBay vs Ontraport: Feature-by-Feature Comparison

CRM

EngageBay: Offers a simple CRM with contact and company records, custom fields, appointment scheduling, and deal pipelines. You can track interactions, tag leads, and set up basic lead scoring. It provides a unified “360° customer view,” with contact timelines showing emails, chats, tickets, and notes. Multiple pipelines are supported, and tasks/meetings can be created per deal.
Ontraport: Provides a robust CRM. In addition to contact records, you can define Custom Objects (e.g. subscriptions, invoices, courses) and build complex contact relationships. It has advanced lead scoring, team assignments, and permission levels. Ontraport’s CRM is tightly integrated with its automation – changes in contact status can trigger follow-up workflows automatically.
Example: A marketing agency might use EngageBay’s CRM to assign leads to a small sales team and log calls, which is straightforward. Ontraport, on the other hand, would allow that same agency to create an affiliate program object and automatically credit commissions in the CRM.
Winner: Ontraport. It edges out EngageBay on CRM depth. EngageBay’s CRM is easy to use and covers basic needs, but Ontraport’s customization (custom objects, affiliate/membership tracking) is far more advanced. For most SMBs, EngageBay’s CRM is sufficient, but if you need enterprise-level tracking and data modeling, Ontraport wins.

Marketing Automation

EngageBay: Includes a visual Workflow Builder (drag-and-drop) to automate email sequences, tag contacts, send SMS or site messages based on triggers (like form submissions or page visits). You can send autoresponders and set up simple if/then logic. It also offers A/B testing for emails and landing pages on higher plans.
Ontraport: Has a highly sophisticated automation engine. You can create multi-branch campaigns with conditional splits, wait steps, and multiple triggers. Ontraport supports advanced actions like adding contacts to membership portals, triggering affiliate payouts, and integrating payment actions. It also has split automations, so you can test entire workflows.
Example: If a visitor signs up for a free ebook, EngageBay can automatically send a drip email series and score the lead. Ontraport can do the same plus add the lead to a webinar series, enroll them in a course if they buy later, and notify the sales team with detailed notes.
Winner: Ontraport. Its automation capabilities are league above. EngageBay automations are solid for common tasks, but Ontraport handles truly complex, branching workflows. If your campaigns require multiple conditions or you plan to add membership and affiliate automations, Ontraport wins. For straightforward drip campaigns, EngageBay’s simpler setup may be easier, but it’s less flexible.

Sales Pipelines

EngageBay: Provides deal pipelines and stages you can customize. It lets you move deals through stages (e.g. Lead → Demo → Proposal → Closed) with drag-and-drop in the CRM. You can filter deals by assigned rep or stage and use built-in forecasting reports. Alerts and tasks can be tied to deals to remind salespeople to follow up.
Ontraport: Also offers sales pipelines as part of its CRM. You get similar drag-and-drop boards and stages. Ontraport adds multi-currency support, custom sales processes per team, and deeper analytics on conversion rates by stage. You can also automate stage changes (e.g. move a deal to Closed/Won after payment goes through).
Example: A real estate team using EngageBay can manage a pipeline of properties and leads simply. In Ontraport, a larger firm could have separate pipelines for residential vs commercial and automatically notify agents by SMS when a hot lead moves stages.
Winner: Slightly Ontraport. Both tools cover standard pipeline management well. EngageBay makes it easy for a small sales team to track deals. Ontraport offers a bit more power and customization (multiple pipelines, automation on stage changes). That said, for typical SMB workflows they’re comparable. Ontraport wins by a hair for enterprise flexibility, but EngageBay’s pipeline is user-friendly for newbies.

Email Marketing

EngageBay: Comes with an HTML email builder and a library of responsive templates. You can send one-off broadcasts or automated drip campaigns. On higher tiers you get A/B split testing and advanced segmentation. Emails are unlimited (within your plan’s contact limit) – even the free plan allows sending up to a certain volume per month.
Ontraport: Also has an email campaign builder with a decent template library. It boasts unlimited email sends up to a generous contact cap and includes features like deliverability consulting on top tiers. Ontraport supports advanced personalization (merge fields, dynamic content) and automated SMS alongside email.
Example: A blogger might use EngageBay to send weekly newsletters and simple follow-ups (easy setup). A larger business might use Ontraport to trigger a thank-you SMS after purchase, then a sequence of emails with personalized product recommendations based on the CRM data.
Winner: Ontraport. Both platforms are capable at basic email marketing. Ontraport’s strength is sending email at scale with advanced personalization (and includes SMS). EngageBay’s emails are easy to create and mobile-friendly, but Ontraport wins in raw power. EngageBay wins on cost (you don’t pay per email), but Ontraport wins if email deliverability, SMS channels and unlimited sending are vital.

Integrations

EngageBay: Integrates with common tools via a native list (Zapier, Shopify, Xero, Stripe, Twilio, etc.) and has open APIs. It covers the basics – you can connect ecommerce (Shopify/Stripe), SMS (Twilio), accounting (Xero), and many apps through Zapier.
Ontraport: Also integrates widely, including payment gateways (Stripe, PayPal), WordPress sites, Zapier, and has its own partner apps (e.g. WebinarJam integration, webinar registration). Its standout is built-in membership site capability and affiliate program – things you’d need plugins for on EngageBay.
Example: If your team uses QuickBooks, EngageBay’s Xero integration (via Zapier) will sync contacts. Ontraport lets you sell a membership course and handle billing natively, without a separate plugin.
Winner: Ontraport. Both tools cover essentials, but Ontraport has more deep, no-code integrations for marketing (webinars, membership sites) and commerce (billing, subscriptions) out of the box. EngageBay relies on middleware for some of these. For everyday apps (Zapier, CRMs, ESPs) they’re on par, but Ontraport wins for built-in e-commerce and affiliate connections.

Usability

EngageBay: Designed to be easy. The interface is clean and modern, and the learning curve is minimal. Even beginners can figure out key tasks (like sending email blasts or creating a landing page) in minutes. Common tasks have guided setup wizards, and the support team is accessible (chat, email, phone).
Ontraport: Powerful but complex. There are many features and menus, which means new users often find it intimidating. It has a drag-and-drop builder, but it can feel clunky compared to leaner competitors. Expect to spend days learning and customizing; Ontraport does offer onboarding packages if you need help.
Example: A small team switching from nothing to EngageBay could have campaigns and pipelines live in a day. Learning Ontraport might take a week or more to understand its logic.
Winner: EngageBay. By a wide margin. Ease-of-use is EngageBay’s strong suit, earning it points for quick onboarding. Ontraport is not terrible, but it demands more training and patience. For companies without dedicated tech staff, EngageBay is much more user-friendly.

Templates & Assets

EngageBay: Comes with hundreds of built-in templates for emails and landing pages, organized by industry and use case. These are fully customizable, drag-and-drop responsive designs. It also offers a library of email sequences (e.g., “welcome series”, “abandoned cart”) that you can deploy instantly.
Ontraport: Offers template options as well, though its landing page builder is a bit basic in terms of design variety. You get a set of templates, but often you or a designer will build from scratch for a polished look. Ontraport’s content management (for dynamic sites) uses its Dynamic CMS system (at extra cost).
Example: A freelance marketer can quickly send a professional webinar invitation using EngageBay’s pre-built email template. In Ontraport, you might start from a blank canvas unless you save your own templates.
Winner: EngageBay. It has a clear advantage in ready-to-use design assets. Its gallery of email and page templates helps novices look professional quickly. Ontraport has templates too, but EngageBay’s focus on small businesses shows in its larger template library. So EngageBay wins on ease of finding and customizing templates.

Reporting & Analytics

EngageBay: Includes dashboards for campaign performance and sales forecasts. You get metrics like email open/click rates, landing page views, and a pipeline revenue report. You can filter by campaign or rep and see simple graphs. Reports are useful, but somewhat basic (e.g. you can’t deeply slice-and-dice data or see multi-touch attribution across channels).
Ontraport: Offers robust analytics. Its dashboard tracks revenue, contacts, and allows custom report creation. You get advanced tracking like lead source ROI, conversion history per campaign, split-test results, and affiliate performance. At higher tiers, you even get customizable report builder (for things like LTV, funnel analytics).
Example: A small store using EngageBay could see total sales by salesperson easily. Using Ontraport, that store could generate a report showing how a specific email campaign and Facebook ad together drove revenue, and measure it precisely.
Winner: Ontraport. EngageBay’s analytics are perfectly adequate for most SMB needs – they’re clean and actionable. But Ontraport takes the crown for depth. If you need granular marketing attribution or multi-funnel analysis, Ontraport’s reporting wins out.

EngageBay vs Ontraport: Pros & Cons

Pros:
– Affordable – EngageBay’s free plan and low starting prices make entry easy for small businesses.
– User-Friendly – EngageBay’s interface is clean and intuitive (perfect for beginners).
– All-in-One – Both tools combine CRM, email, automation, and more, but EngageBay includes helpdesk and live chat without extra cost.
– Powerful Automation – Ontraport offers unmatched automation features (split tests, membership sites, affiliate tracking).
– Scalability – Ontraport can grow with large teams, offering enterprise features (private IPs, custom objects) when needed.

Cons:
– Limited Advanced Features (EngageBay) – Lacks built-in membership/affiliate tools; some integrations require Zapier. Free plan has usage caps.
– Less Integration (EngageBay) – Fewer direct integrations; you may need workarounds for some e-commerce or course tools.
– Complexity (Ontraport) – Steep learning curve and a less modern interface can slow new users.
– High Cost (Ontraport) – Even basic plans are pricey; costs rise steeply with more users and contacts.
– No Free Plan (Ontraport) – Ontraport offers only a limited free trial; there’s no forever-free option to test or scale slowly.

EngageBay vs Ontraport image - CRM pricing and features comparison infographic for EngageBay and Ontraport.

Quick Comparison: EngageBay vs Ontraport

Feature	EngageBay	Ontraport
Pricing	Free plan available; Premium from ~$12–$74 per user/mo (annual billing)	No free plan; Basic $29/mo (up to 3 users), scales to Pro $149+ and Enterprise $299/mo
Automation Level	Built-in workflows, sequences, simple A/B testing	Very advanced (branching workflows, split automations, triggers, membership sites)
CRM Depth	Core CRM with contact/deal management, task reminders	Robust CRM with custom objects, affiliate/membership support, advanced lead scoring
Ease of Use	Intuitive, beginner-friendly UI; minimal training needed	Steeper learning curve; complex interface with many options
Best For	Budget-conscious SMBs, startups, solopreneurs, agencies managing many small clients	Growing businesses needing scalable automation, marketers running membership or affiliate programs

This table summarizes the key differences at a glance. EngageBay’s strength is affordability and simplicity, making it attractive for small teams. Ontraport’s strength is power and scale, though at higher cost and complexity.

EngageBay vs Ontraport: What Is EngageBay?

EngageBay is an all-in-one marketing, sales and support suite designed for small and mid-sized businesses. It combines CRM, email marketing, landing pages, marketing automation, live chat, and helpdesk tools under one roof. A standout feature is its free tier – you can manage up to 15 users without paying anything, with basic features like email blasts (up to a limit), landing pages and contact management. Paid plans start around $12–$15 per user per month (billed annually) and unlock higher contact limits, A/B testing, and more marketing features.

Main features: EngageBay offers drag-and-drop email campaign and form builders, workflow automation (sequences and site messages), a 360° contact timeline, sales pipelines, appointment scheduling, and a knowledgebase with canned responses. It even includes a free live chat and helpdesk tool, which is rare at this price point. There are many templates and assets built-in – email and landing page templates for dozens of industries, as well as reporting dashboards for campaigns and sales.

Strengths: EngageBay’s greatest strengths are affordability and ease of use. The interface is clean and logical, with pre-built automations for common marketing tasks. Its free plan and low starting price make it ideal for startups or small teams that need a unified system on a tight budget. Support is responsive, and everything from lead capture to customer support lives in one place. The platform is designed to get you up and running quickly without a steep learning curve.

Limitations: EngageBay does have limitations compared to enterprise tools. The free plan has strict caps (for example, a few thousand contact/email sends per month), and higher plans limit contacts/marketing emails unless you upgrade. There are fewer native integrations than Ontraport – many advanced e-commerce and membership integrations require Zapier. Advanced users note that EngageBay lacks built-in membership site or affiliate management features (you’d need third-party tools for those). Reporting is solid for basics, but you won’t find the deep funnel attribution and conversion tracking that enterprise CRMs offer. In short, EngageBay covers 90% of SMB needs at 10% of the cost – at the expense of some advanced customization.

EngageBay vs Ontraport: Who Should Choose EngageBay?

EngageBay is ideal for small businesses, startups, agencies, and solopreneurs who need a CRM/automation platform without a big budget or steep learning curve. If you’re running your first email marketing campaigns and sales pipeline, EngageBay gets you up and running in hours, not weeks. It’s perfect for cost-sensitive teams: schools, nonprofits, local services, freelancers, or any company looking to replace multiple tools (like Mailchimp + a CRM + a helpdesk) with one package. Agencies managing multiple clients will appreciate EngageBay’s flat pricing and ability to spin up projects quickly.

For example, a small boutique, a local consultant, or a young digital marketing agency will find EngageBay covers most needs: capturing leads, sending newsletters, and handling support tickets. If your top priorities are ease-of-use, affordability, and all-in-one convenience, EngageBay is the clear choice. Its free tier is also great for experimenting or training sales staff without any upfront cost. In short, go with EngageBay when you want solid automation and CRM features at the lowest price, especially if your team is not heavily technical.

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EngageBay vs Ontraport: Who Should Choose Ontraport?

Ontraport is best for growing businesses and marketing teams that need advanced automation and scalability. If your business model relies on complex funnels, subscriptions, or member content, Ontraport shines. Think online course creators, membership sites, multi-tier subscription services, or any company that has extensive affiliate or partner programs. Ontraport’s deep CRM and automation means you can automate virtually everything – from handling split-payment orders to managing a global sales team with custom roles.

It’s also suited for businesses with higher budgets and a willingness to invest time in setup. For example, a mid-sized ecommerce brand that wants to automatically segment customers by buying behavior and trigger dynamic cross-sells would benefit from Ontraport. Or a health coach who sells membership programs, affiliate packages, and detailed webinars can automate all of that in one place. If your priority is powerful features and scalability over cost, and you have some technical support, Ontraport is the right choice. It’s geared towards organizations prepared to grow and automate at enterprise levels, where the advanced capabilities justify the price tag.

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EngageBay vs OntraportFinal Verdict

Beginners & Budget: EngageBay wins. Its free plan, low-cost tiers and user-friendly design make it a no-brainer for those starting out or on tight budgets.
Advanced Automation: Ontraport wins. Its superior automation, membership/affiliate management and enterprise features outclass EngageBay for complex needs.
Pricing: EngageBay wins. By a wide margin – you get similar core features for a fraction of Ontraport’s price.
Overall: This depends on your needs. For most small to mid-size businesses looking to optimize cost, EngageBay is the overall winner – it does 80% of what Ontraport does, but is simpler and cheaper. However, if your operations demand the utmost in automation and CRM complexity (and you can handle the learning curve), Ontraport is the winner in capability.

Make no mistake: for value-conscious SMBs and startups, EngageBay often comes out ahead. But for marketing teams focused on growth and technical automation, Ontraport is a heavyweight contender.