Looking for the best conversational marketing tool? Here’s a quick rundown of the top 5 options:
- Drift: Best for B2B companies with complex sales cycles
- HubSpot: Ideal for businesses already using HubSpot’s marketing suite
- Intercom: Great for e-commerce and multi-channel support
- Freshchat: Budget-friendly option with solid AI features
- Qualified: Tailored for Salesforce users in B2B sales
Quick Comparison:
| Tool | Best For | Pricing | Key Feature |
|---|---|---|---|
| Drift | B2B sales | $$$$ | Advanced AI chatbots |
| HubSpot | All-in-one marketing | $$ – $$$$ | CRM integration |
| Intercom | E-commerce | $$$ | Multi-channel support |
| Freshchat | Budget-conscious | $ – $$ | AI chatbot (Freddy) |
| Qualified | Salesforce users | $$$$ | Salesforce-specific AI |
Choose based on your business type, budget, and existing tech stack. Most offer free trials, so test before committing.
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1. Drift
Drift is a big player in conversational marketing. They offer a platform that combines AI chatbots with live chat. Let’s look at what makes Drift stand out.
Core Features
Drift’s platform is packed with tools to boost customer engagement and speed up sales:
- Custom chatbots that feel natural
- Drift Intel to identify unknown visitors
- Proactive messaging based on visitor behavior
- Smart lead routing
- A/B testing for better conversations
A cool feature? If your team doesn’t respond within a minute, Drift steps in. No lead left behind!
Integration Options
Drift plays nice with others. It connects easily to major CRMs and marketing tools like:
These connections help you track and nurture leads without a hitch.
Pricing
Drift has plans for different budgets:
- Free: Basic live chat, one agent, 100 contacts
- Premium: Starts at $2,500/month (yearly), includes custom chatbots and more
- Advanced: Custom pricing, adds extra features
- Enterprise: Custom pricing, includes AI chatbots and custom controls
Got a startup? Drift offers a special plan for new companies with under 50 employees.
Best For
Drift works great for:
- B2B companies
- Sales-focused teams
- Mid to large businesses
It’s not the best fit for online stores. Drift shines more in B2B and complex sales.
In the real world, Drift can make a big difference. While we don’t have specific numbers, its personalized chats can lead to more engaged leads.
As IMPACT, a digital marketing agency, says:
"Drift is definitely a leader in the conversational marketing space."
Drift keeps improving too. In late 2019, they overhauled their reporting tools, making it faster and easier to analyze chat data.
2. HubSpot
HubSpot’s chat tool is a key part of their CRM platform. Here’s why it’s worth considering:
Core Features
HubSpot’s chat solution packs a punch:
- AI chatbots that qualify leads and book meetings
- Live chat for real-time support
- Chat across web, mobile, and Facebook Messenger
- Smart routing to the right team members
- Knowledgebase integration for quick answers
The best part? It creates HubSpot contacts right from chat conversations. Talk about streamlining your lead capture!
Integration Options
HubSpot’s chat tool plays nice with other HubSpot products:
- Marketing Hub
- Sales Hub
- Service Hub
- CMS Hub
This means you can do cool stuff like automatically add chat leads to email campaigns or create tasks for your sales team.
Pricing
HubSpot’s pricing is tiered:
- Free: Basic chat with HubSpot CRM
- Starter: $50/month for more features
- Professional: $800/month for full chat marketing
- Enterprise: $3,600/month for advanced customization
Want the full chat marketing experience? You’ll need to open your wallet for a paid plan.
Best For
HubSpot’s chat tool is perfect for:
- HubSpot CRM users (or soon-to-be users)
- Companies wanting an all-in-one marketing, sales, and service solution
- Teams that love easy-to-use, well-integrated tools
HubSpot’s chat really shines when used with its other tools. Take it from the IMPACT brand team – they switched from Drift to HubSpot Conversations and loved the integration and automation perks.
"Live chat can boost conversions by 20%."
That’s a pretty sweet stat, right? It shows how powerful HubSpot’s chat can be in your marketing strategy.
Sure, HubSpot’s chatbots might not be as fancy as some standalone tools. But its real strength is how well it works with everything else in HubSpot. Imagine automatically adding chat leads to your contact lists or kicking off sales tasks – all without any extra integrations.
If you’re already using HubSpot, their chat tool is a no-brainer for ramping up customer engagement and driving more conversions.
3. Intercom
Intercom has been shaking up the conversational marketing world since 2011. Here’s why it’s turning heads:
Core Features
Intercom packs a punch with its customer interaction tools:
- AI chatbots that actually get what customers are saying
- Live chat across web, mobile, and even Facebook Messenger
- A shared inbox to keep all customer chats in one place
- Targeted messages that hit the mark based on customer behavior
- A help center for customers who like to DIY their support
But here’s the kicker: Intercom’s ticketing system. It’s something Drift doesn’t have, and it’s a game-changer for keeping customer issues organized.
Integration Options
Intercom plays nice with others – over 300 others, to be exact. That’s way more than Drift’s 50+. Some big names include:
This means your customer chats can easily talk to your other business tools.
Pricing
Intercom’s pricing is like a three-tier cake:
| Plan | Price (per seat/month) | What You Get |
|---|---|---|
| Essential | $29 | Shared inbox, basic chatbots, ticketing |
| Advanced | $85 | Multiple team inboxes, smarter chatbots, Salesforce integration |
| Expert | $132 | Workload management, custom reports, private help center |
Heads up, startups: Intercom’s got your back with their Early Stage Program. You can snag advanced features for just $65 a month in your first year.
Best For
Intercom shines for:
- Businesses on the up and up
- Companies juggling complex customer support
- E-commerce platforms (thanks to that sweet Shopify integration)
- Teams that geek out over detailed analytics
Sure, Intercom might make some small businesses’ wallets sweat. But for companies ready to go all-in on customer relationships, it’s worth every penny.
Remember what Steve from First Pier said about these tools?
"They’re about building your brand, getting to know your customers, and nailing your marketing strategies every single time."
That’s Intercom in a nutshell. It’s not just chat – it’s about creating real connections with your customers.
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4. Freshchat
Freshchat is shaking up the conversational marketing world. Here’s why it’s turning heads:
Core Features
Freshchat’s got some serious muscle:
- AI chatbots that handle customer chats like a pro
- Live chat across web, mobile, and social media
- One inbox to rule them all
- No-code custom workflows
- Built-in number crunching
But here’s the kicker: Freddy, Freshchat’s AI sidekick. This digital whiz can answer questions and even help out live agents. Talk about a productivity boost!
Integration Options
Freshchat plays nice with others. It hooks up with over 1,000 apps in the Freshworks Marketplace. Think Shopify, Salesforce, Slack, and Jira.
But here’s where it gets juicy: Freshchat offers fast-track custom integrations. Ready-to-use connectors and flexible APIs mean you can set up complex integrations in a snap.
"We went with a voice solution from the Freshworks Marketplace. It got us outcalling faster than we ever imagined!" – Nikhil Godbole, Group Customer Service Head, JUPITER.
Pricing
Freshchat’s pricing is like a menu with options for every appetite:
| Plan | Price (per agent/month) | What You Get |
|---|---|---|
| Free | $0 | Basic stuff, up to 10 agents |
| Growth | $15 | 500 Freshbot sessions, multi-channel |
| Pro | $49 | Auto-Resolve, fancy analytics |
| Enterprise | $79 | All Pro goodies plus extra perks |
Pay yearly for these prices. Want to try before you buy? There’s a 14-day free trial, no strings attached.
Best For
Freshchat’s sweet spot? It’s perfect for:
1. Businesses of all sizes wanting AI-powered customer support
2. Companies juggling multiple customer channels
3. Teams needing solid integrations with other tools
4. Budget-conscious businesses (Freshchat claims to be "3x-10x Less Expensive Than Popular Alternatives")
Freshchat’s flexibility makes it a solid pick for many businesses. Its AI smarts and integration options are especially appealing for those looking to streamline customer interactions.
"I love that Freshworks builds the product with us, the customers. We can integrate all the products on the same platform." – Nikhil Asopa, Senior Vice President and Head of Customer Service.
Freshchat might not be a household name yet, but it’s making waves. With a 1.71% market share and 9,713 customers in the Live Chat industry, it’s proving to be a force to be reckoned with in conversational marketing.
5. Qualified
Qualified is a chatbot platform built for Salesforce users. It’s not your average chatbot – it’s more like a digital sales rep that never sleeps.
Core Features
Qualified has two main products:
- Qualified Conversations: An AI chatbot and live chat tool. It’s like having a 24/7 digital sales rep on your site.
- Qualified Signals: An AI tool that spots your best website visitors and figures out who’s ready to buy.
They also have an AI sales rep called Piper. This digital worker can chat with visitors, qualify leads, and even set up meetings – all on its own.
Integration Options
Qualified is made for Salesforce users. Your sales team can easily switch between Qualified and Salesforce, with data flowing smoothly between them.
It also works with other tools like:
- Clearbit for more visitor info
- Demandbase for account-based marketing
- Marketo for marketing automation
- Slack for team messages
- ZoomInfo for extra company details
This means Qualified can fit right into your current tech setup without causing a fuss.
Pricing
Qualified doesn’t share its prices publicly. But here’s what we know:
- On average, companies pay about $70,000 a year
- Deals can range from a low end (based on what you need) up to $270,000
- The typical deal is around $68,156
Fun fact: Vendr customers have saved about 24% off the list price – that’s about $8,500 in savings.
Best For
Qualified works best for:
- B2B companies using Salesforce
- Sales teams wanting to speed up their pipeline
- Businesses looking to use AI for lead scoring and engagement
- Companies with tricky sales cycles that need smart lead scoring
Here’s what one user, a Senior Project Manager at a mid-sized company, said:
"Qualified is easy to get. Its simple design makes it a breeze to use. It catches every sign that someone might buy. The Salesforce link-up is great. It helps turn more leads into customers."
This shows that Qualified is user-friendly and good at boosting lead conversion.
Qualified might cost more than some other options. But for businesses serious about ramping up their inbound pipeline, its Salesforce focus and AI features make it worth a look.
What Works and What Doesn’t
Let’s dive into the strengths and weaknesses of our top 5 conversational marketing tools:
Drift
Drift shines with its powerful chatbots and sales-focused approach. It plays nice with popular CRMs and marketing tools. But watch out – it’s not exactly a walk in the park to set up, and it might make your wallet a bit lighter than some alternatives.
HubSpot
HubSpot’s all-in-one marketing suite is a dream if you’re already in their ecosystem. It’s user-friendly and even offers a solid free plan. But don’t expect cutting-edge chat features or AI-powered conversations. And if you want the full package, be prepared to open your wallet.
Intercom
Intercom is like a Swiss Army knife for customer communication. It handles multiple channels and offers top-notch support features. Plus, it’s got more integrations than you can shake a stick at. The downside? It can get pricey fast, and you might need a Ph.D. to figure out all its features.
Freshchat
Freshchat is the people’s champion – affordable and easy to use. Its AI chatbot, Freddy, is no slouch either. But if you’re looking for all the bells and whistles, you might find it a bit lacking. And don’t expect to dive deep into data with its basic reporting.
Qualified
Qualified is the Salesforce whisperer. If you’re in B2B and Salesforce is your jam, this tool could be your new best friend. Its AI sales rep, Piper, is pretty nifty too. But if you’re not a Salesforce user or you’re watching your pennies, you might want to look elsewhere.
Here’s a quick comparison to help you see how they stack up:
| Feature | Drift | HubSpot | Intercom | Freshchat | Qualified |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Ease of Use | So-so | Easy peasy | So-so | Easy peasy | So-so |
| Chatbot Smarts | Top-notch | Basic | Top-notch | Top-notch | Top-notch |
| CRM Buddy | Good | Great | Good | Good | Great (Salesforce) |
| Pricing Flex | Tight | Good | Tight | Great | Tight |
| AI Tricks | Strong | Okay | Strong | Strong | Strong |
| App Hookups | 50+ | Tons | 300+ | 1000+ | Not many |
Picking the right tool is like finding the perfect pair of shoes – it’s got to fit just right. If you’re all about Salesforce and B2B, Qualified might be your glass slipper. But if you want a marketing Swiss Army knife with chat on the side, HubSpot could be your match.
Remember, it’s not just about the tool – it’s how you use it. As Steve from First Pier puts it:
"Conversational marketing tools aren’t just traffic boosters. They’re about building your brand, getting to know your customers, and nailing your marketing strategies every single time."
So, choose a tool that fits your strategy like a glove. And while AI and automation are cool, don’t forget the human touch – it’s what turns customers into fans.
Which Tool Should You Choose?
Picking the right conversational marketing tool can make a big difference in how you talk to customers. Let’s look at which tool might work best for you:
B2B companies with long sales cycles: Go for Drift or Qualified. Drift’s AI chatbots are great for guiding leads through complex sales. Qualified works well if you’re already using Salesforce.
E-commerce businesses: Intercom is your best choice. It’s got everything an online store needs – chat for support, sales, and marketing. Plus, it plays nice with lots of other tools.
Businesses watching their budget: Try Freshchat. It’s got good features at a nice price. Their AI chatbot, Freddy, is pretty smart, and plans start at just $15 per agent each month.
Need an all-in-one marketing package? HubSpot’s your answer. While its chatbot might not be the fanciest, it works smoothly with all of HubSpot’s other tools.
But remember, how well these tools work depends on how you use them. Take Notion AI – when they launched on Product Hunt in March 2023, their daily sign-ups jumped from 5,000 to 20,000 for a week. That’s pretty impressive, but it’s not guaranteed for everyone.
Before you decide, think about:
- How well it works with your other tools, especially your CRM
- If it can grow as your business grows
- How easy it is for your team and customers to use
- If it fits your budget
And don’t forget to try before you buy. Most of these tools offer free trials or demos. Use them to get a feel for what works best for you.
The chatbot market is growing fast – experts say it’ll grow by 23.3% each year from 2023 to 2030. So, picking the right tool now could set you up for success later. Choose carefully, and you’ll be on your way to better customer conversations that help your business grow.
