Choosing the right email automation tool can make or break your marketing efforts. You need something that automates workflows, personalizes emails, and helps you scale—without unnecessary complexity. Bento does a decent job, but is it the best option out there? Keep reading to find out…
If you’ve hit roadblocks with Bento or just want to explore better alternatives, you’re in the right place. In this in-depth guide, we’ll dive into the top Bento alternatives that might suit your needs better.
Let’s get into it!
Bento Alternatives: TL;DR
| # | Alternative | Best For | Top Feature | Free Trial? | Starting Price (USD/mo) |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Encharge | Advanced automation | Visual flow builder | ✅ | $79 |
| 2 | Mailchimp | Beginners & small businesses | Drag-and-drop email editor | ✅ | $20 |
| 3 | Klaviyo | E-commerce brands | Deep Shopify integration | ✅ | $0 |
| 4 | Ortto | Data-driven marketing | Customer journey tracking | ✅ | $509 |
| 5 | ActiveCampaign | Sales & marketing teams | CRM + automation in one | ✅ | $15 |
| 6 | Salesforce Marketing Cloud | Large enterprises | AI-powered insights | ❌ | $25 |
| 7 | Customer.io | SaaS & startups | Behavior-based messaging | ✅ | $100 |
| 8 | Brevo | Budget-friendly businesses | Transactional + marketing emails | ✅ | $0 |
🔥Top Pick: Encharge – this tool stands out for its powerful automation features and easy-to-use flow builder, making it a top choice for businesses looking to scale their email marketing.
Still deciding?
If you’re unsure which tool fits your needs best, keep reading. I’ll break down everything in detail, but if you’re short on time, feel free to jump to any section using the table of contents below.
Contents
What is Bento?
Answer: Bento is an email marketing and automation platform built mainly for SaaS and e-commerce businesses. It helps brands send personalized emails, automate workflows, and track customer behavior.
With a focus on email automation, Bento aims to provide a simple yet effective way to nurture leads and retain customers. But is it the best choice for you? Let’s find out…
What Bento Offers
Bento is designed to help businesses automate their email marketing with an emphasis on behavior-based triggers.
Some of its top features include:
- Email Automation – Create automated email sequences based on user behavior.
- Segmentation – Organize contacts based on custom attributes and actions.
- Analytics & Tracking – Measure engagement and optimize campaigns.
While these features are useful, Bento has limitations that drive marketers to seek better alternatives.
Which brings us to the real question…
Why Look for a Bento Alternative?
1. Limited Automation Flexibility
Bento’s automation builder lacks the intuitive drag-and-drop experience that many competitors (like Encharge) offer. If you need more flexibility, you may feel restricted.
2. Weak Personalization Features
While Bento offers basic merge tags, it doesn’t support advanced personalization like Liquid tags, which enable dynamic content.
3. Pricing Isn’t Always Justifiable
For smaller businesses, Bento’s pricing may not offer enough value compared to alternatives that provide more features at a lower cost.
4. Lacks Native Integrations
Bento doesn’t natively integrate with as many third-party tools as some competitors, which can be frustrating if you rely on multiple platforms for your workflow.
Because of these limitations, many marketers are looking for something better. If you’re in the same boat, here are the top alternatives to consider…
Listed: The 8 Best Bento Alternatives for Email Automation
Right now, the best alternatives to Bento for email automation are Encharge, Mailchimp, Klaviyo, and Ortto.
Other options include ActiveCampaign, Salesforce Marketing Cloud, Customer.io, and Brevo.
Let’s break them down one by one, comparing features, pricing, and why they might be a better fit than Bento.
1. Encharge
- G2: 4.7/5 ⭐ (300+ reviews)
- Capterra: 4.9/5 ⭐ (250+ reviews)
Encharge is a powerful marketing automation platform built for businesses that want to grow. It lets you create powerful workflows, send personalized emails, and connect with your entire tech stack—without any headaches.
Unlike basic email tools, Encharge automates customer journeys based on behavior, segmentation, and real-time data triggers. No complicated setup. Just results.
Why Choose Encharge Over Bento?
Bento is a solid platform, but Encharge gives you more flexibility, better automation capabilities, and deeper integrations.
With Encharge, you get a visual flow builder that makes creating automations easy and intuitive. It also offers stronger segmentation and native CRM integrations, which are essential for businesses serious about email marketing. Whether you’re a SaaS company or growing entreprise, Encharge adapts to your needs.
Another key difference? Support. Encharge provides real-time live chat support on all plans, so you’re never left waiting for hours or days to get a response.
So, all in all, here’s what Encharge has checked as an alternative to Bento:
- More advanced automation capabilities
- Better segmentation and CRM integrations
- Faster, more responsive support
Key Features of Encharge (vs. Bento)
Encharge doesn’t miss any of the core or niche features that Bento offers—but it adds even more advanced automation tools.
- Visual flow builder—for intuitive automation
- Intuitive Email Editor— build and customize emails with drag-and-drop editor
- Advanced segmentation—to target the right audience
- Behavior-based email automation—for personalized campaigns
- Deep CRM and payment integrations—Connect with dozens of marketing & automation apps in a few clicks
- Live chat support for all plans—no waiting overnight for a reply
Check out Encharge’s email editor in action:
Want to explore more of Encharge’s features? Click here.
Pros & Cons of Encharge
| Pros | Cons |
|---|---|
| ✅ Easy-to-use visual automation builder | ❌ No free forever plan |
| ✅ Advanced segmentation & personalization | ❌ Higher starting price than Bento Starter |
| ✅ Native CRM & payment integrations | |
| ✅ Fast, responsive support on all plans | |
| ✅ Scales well for SaaS & eCommerce |
Encharge Pricing
- Growth: $79/month (billed yearly) – For up to 2,000 subscribers
- 14-day free trial
- 10x subscriber limit for monthly email sends
- Unlimited flows, team members, and live chat support
- Premium: $129/month (billed yearly) – For up to 2,000 subscribers
- Includes all Growth features
- HubSpot, Salesforce, and Segment.com integrations
- Event-based segmentation & transactional emails
- Enterprise: Custom pricing – For over 50,000 subscribers
- Dedicated account manager
- Free onboarding
Bento Pricing vs. Encharge
Bento offers two plans:
- Starter: $30/month for up to 3,000 users, with 100,000 emails/month.
- Growth: $40/month for 4,000 users, with unlimited email sending.
While Bento is cheaper, Encharge provides more advanced automation, deeper integrations, and better support.
If you need high-level marketing automation, Encharge is the stronger choice. Try Encharge free for 14 days today and see the difference!
Why Switch from Bento to Encharge?
If you’re looking for a more powerful, flexible, and user-friendly alternative to Bento, Encharge has you covered. Here’s why businesses are making the switch:
- More advanced automation & segmentation
- Deeper CRM and payment integrations
- Visual flow builder for easy automation
- Faster, more responsive support
- Scales better for SaaS and eCommerce brands
Want better email automation with less complexity and better support? Encharge is the upgrade.
2. Mailchimp
- G2: ⭐ 4.3/5
- Capterra: ⭐ 4.5/5
Mailchimp is a well-known email marketing platform designed for businesses of all sizes. It offers automation, segmentation, and AI-powered tools to streamline email campaigns.
While it’s a solid option for small businesses, its pricing and feature limitations make it less ideal for scaling brands.
Key Features of Mailchimp
- AI-powered content generation and automation
- Advanced audience segmentation
- Multi-channel marketing tools (email, social, SMS)
Pros & Cons
| Pros | Cons |
|---|---|
| ✅ User-friendly drag-and-drop editor | ❌ Expensive as your list grows |
| ✅ Strong email automation | ❌ Limited automation in lower plans |
| ✅ Good integration options | ❌ Customer support can be slow |
| ✅ Free plan available | ❌ Complex pricing structure |
Mailchimp Pricing
- Standard: $20/month → AI-powered content creation, segmentation, and automation.
- Premium: $350/month → Advanced analytics, priority support, and migration assistance.
Mailchimp Pricing vs. Encharge
Mailchimp offers lower starting prices, but its features are limited at the lower tiers. Encharge provides more advanced automation and deeper integrations at a more scalable price.
| Plan | Mailchimp | Bento |
|---|---|---|
| Standard | $20/month | $30/month |
| Advanced | $350/month | $40/month |
Why Switch from Mailchimp to Bento?
Mailchimp is great for beginners, but Bento offers more affordable automation and unlimited email sending at a lower cost.
3. Klaviyo
- G2: ⭐ 4.6/5
- Capterra: ⭐ 4.6/5
Klaviyo is a powerful email and SMS marketing platform built primarily for eCommerce brands. It provides advanced segmentation, automation, and data-driven marketing tools to personalize customer interactions.
While it integrates well with platforms like Shopify, its pricing scales up quickly, making it costly for growing businesses.
Key Features of Klaviyo
- AI-powered email and SMS automation
- Advanced audience segmentation and analytics
- Pre-built eCommerce integrations (Shopify, BigCommerce, WooCommerce)
Pros & Cons
| Pros | Cons |
|---|---|
| ✅ Strong eCommerce integrations | ❌ Expensive for larger lists |
| ✅ Powerful automation features | ❌ Limited customer support on lower plans |
| ✅ AI-driven personalization | ❌ Can be complex for beginners |
| ✅ Free plan available | ❌ SMS pricing adds up quickly |
Klaviyo Pricing
- Free Plan: $0/month → 500 emails, 150 SMS/MMS credits, basic analytics, and limited support.
- Email Plan: $45/month → 15,000 emails, AI-powered content, and advanced segmentation.
- Email + SMS Plan: $60/month → 15,000 emails + 1,250 SMS/MMS credits, multi-channel automation, and reporting.
- Advanced Add-ons: Marketing analytics from $100/month, data insights from $500/month.
Klaviyo Pricing vs. Bento
Klaviyo’s free plan is attractive, but it quickly becomes costly as contacts increase. Bento offers unlimited email sending at a lower price, making it a better option for budget-conscious businesses.
| Plan | Klaviyo | Bento |
|---|---|---|
| Free | $0/month | Not available |
| Starter | $45/month | $30/month |
| Growth | $60/month | $40/month |
Why Switch from Klaviyo to Bento?
Klaviyo is powerful for eCommerce, but Bento provides unlimited email sending at a lower price, making it more cost-effective for growing businesses.
4. Ortto
- G2: 4.4/5 ⭐
- Capterra: 4.6/5 ⭐
What is Ortto?
Ortto is a customer data platform with built-in email marketing, automation, and AI-driven insights. It enables businesses to unify customer data, automate workflows, and personalize communication across multiple channels.
Ortto is particularly strong in data visualization and customer journey tracking, making it ideal for businesses that want deep analytics combined with automation.
Key Features of Ortto
- Customer data platform (CDP) with automation
- AI-driven insights and predictive analytics
- Omnichannel marketing (email, SMS, in-app messaging)
Ortto: Pros & Cons
| Pros | Cons |
|---|---|
| ✅ Strong customer data visualization | ❌ Pricing increases with contacts |
| ✅ AI-driven insights for segmentation | ❌ Steeper learning curve |
| ✅ Multi-channel automation | ❌ Limited integrations compared to competitors |
| ✅ Good reporting and analytics | ❌ No free plan |
Ortto Pricing
- Professional – $509/month → Core marketing automation with AI insights.
- Business – $849/month → Adds priority support, transactional messaging, and advanced reporting.
- Enterprise – $1,699/month → Dedicated consultants, SLAs, and large-scale custom setups.
Ortto Pricing vs. Bento
Ortto is significantly more expensive than Bento, especially for businesses that need large-scale automation. While Ortto provides AI-driven insights and a built-in CDP, Bento offers unlimited email sending at a fraction of the cost.
| Plan | Ortto | Bento |
|---|---|---|
| Professional | $509/month | $30/month |
| Business | $849/month | $40/month |
| Enterprise | $1,699/month | Not available |
Why Switch from Ortto to Bento?
Ortto is ideal for businesses that need AI-powered analytics and a customer data platform, but Bento is a far more affordable option for those focused on unlimited email automation. If you don’t need enterprise-grade data insights, Bento offers better value.
5. ActiveCampaign
- G2: 4.5/5 ⭐
- Capterra: 4.6/5 ⭐
What is ActiveCampaign?
ActiveCampaign is a powerful marketing automation platform offering email marketing, CRM, and advanced workflow automation. It’s popular among businesses that need sophisticated automation and personalization tools.
It’s best known for its conditional workflows and deep customization capabilities, making it great for advanced users.
Key Features of ActiveCampaign
- Advanced automation with conditional logic
- Integrated CRM for lead tracking
- AI-powered predictive sending and personalization
ActiveCampaign: Pros & Cons
| Pros | Cons |
|---|---|
| ✅ Highly customizable automation | ❌ Can be overwhelming for beginners |
| ✅ Strong email personalization | ❌ Pricing increases quickly |
| ✅ CRM and email marketing in one | ❌ No free plan |
| ✅ AI-powered optimization | ❌ Learning curve for advanced features |
ActiveCampaign Pricing
- Starter – $15/month → Basic automation and email marketing.
- Plus – $49/month → CRM, landing pages, and SMS automation.
- Pro – $79/month → AI-powered automation and omnichannel marketing.
- Enterprise – $145/month → Custom solutions with dedicated support.
ActiveCampaign Pricing vs. Bento
ActiveCampaign offers deep automation but at a much higher cost than Bento. Bento provides unlimited email sending at a fraction of the price.
| Plan | ActiveCampaign | Bento |
|---|---|---|
| Starter | $15/month | $30/month |
| Growth | $49/month | $40/month |
| Enterprise | $145/month | Not available |
Why Switch from ActiveCampaign to Bento?
ActiveCampaign is great for businesses needing complex automation, but Bento is much more affordable with unlimited email sending.
6. Salesforce Marketing Cloud
- G2: 4.0/5 ⭐
- Capterra: 4.2/5 ⭐
What is Salesforce Marketing Cloud?
Salesforce Marketing Cloud is a high-end marketing automation platform built for large enterprises. It provides AI-driven campaign management, multi-channel automation, and deep customer analytics.
It integrates seamlessly with Salesforce’s CRM, making it a powerful tool for businesses already using the Salesforce ecosystem.
Key Features of Salesforce Marketing Cloud
- AI-powered marketing automation
- Advanced customer journey tracking
- Deep CRM and sales integration
Salesforce Marketing Cloud: Pros & Cons
| Pros | Cons |
|---|---|
| ✅ AI-powered personalization | ❌ Very expensive |
| ✅ Enterprise-grade automation | ❌ Complex setup and learning curve |
| ✅ Deep CRM integration | ❌ No free plan |
| ✅ Advanced analytics and reporting | ❌ Requires Salesforce ecosystem |
Salesforce Marketing Cloud Pricing
- Starter Suite – $25/user/month → Basic CRM, email marketing, and analytics.
- Growth Edition – $1,500/month → Multi-channel automation and landing pages.
- Advanced Edition – $3,250/Org/month → AI-powered analytics and SMS marketing.
Salesforce Marketing Cloud Pricing vs. Bento
Salesforce Marketing Cloud is significantly more expensive than Bento, making Bento a better option for cost-conscious businesses.
| Plan | Salesforce Marketing Cloud | Bento |
|---|---|---|
| Starter | $25/user/month | $30/month |
| Growth | $1,500/month | $40/month |
| Advanced | $3,250/Org/month | Not available |
Why Switch from Salesforce Marketing Cloud to Bento?
Salesforce Marketing Cloud is best for large enterprises, while Bento offers an affordable and simpler alternative for growing businesses.
7. Customer.io
- G2: 4.4/5 ⭐
- Capterra: 4.7/5 ⭐
What is Customer.io?
Customer.io is a powerful messaging automation platform designed for tech-savvy businesses. It allows for highly customizable email, SMS, and push notification campaigns.
Key Features of Customer.io
- API-driven messaging automation
- Advanced audience segmentation
- Multi-channel campaign management
Customer.io: Pros & Cons
| Pros | Cons |
|---|---|
| ✅ Highly flexible automation | ❌ Expensive compared to alternatives |
| ✅ API-driven workflow customization | ❌ No free plan |
| ✅ Multi-channel messaging (email, SMS, push) | ❌ Steep learning curve |
| ✅Advanced workflow builder |
Customer.io Pricing
- Essentials – $100/month → 5,000 profiles, 1M emails/month.
- Premium – Starts at $1,000/month → Custom profiles, volume, and premium support.
- Enterprise – Custom pricing → Dedicated infrastructure and support.
Customer.io Pricing vs. Bento
Customer.io is much more expensive than Bento, especially at scale.
| Plan | Customer.io | Bento |
|---|---|---|
| Essentials | $100/month | $30/month |
| Premium | $1,000/month | $40/month |
Why Switch from Customer.io to Bento?
Customer.io is great for API-driven automation, but Bento is far more affordable with unlimited email sending.
8. Brevo
- G2: 4.5/5 ⭐
- Capterra: 4.6/5 ⭐
What is Brevo?
Brevo (formerly Sendinblue) is a budget-friendly email marketing and automation platform offering email, SMS, and chat features.
Key Features of Brevo
- Email, SMS, and chat automation
- Affordable pricing with unlimited contacts
- Predictive email sending and landing pages
Brevo Pros & Cons
| Pros | Cons |
|---|---|
| ✅ Cost-effective pricing | ❌ Basic automation in lower tiers |
| ✅ Unlimited contacts | ❌ Limited reporting and analytics |
| ✅ Multi-channel messaging | ❌ Fewer integrations than competitors |
| ✅ Free plan available |
Brevo Pricing
- Free – 300 emails/day, basic automation.
- Starter – $8.08/month → 5,000+ emails.
- Business – $16.17/month → Advanced automation and predictive sending.
- Enterprise – Custom pricing → Unlimited contacts and exclusive features.
Brevo Pricing vs. Bento
Brevo is cheaper at the lower tiers, but Bento offers more automation and unlimited email sending.
| Plan | Brevo | Bento |
|---|---|---|
| Free | $0/month | Not available |
| Starter | $8.08/month | $30/month |
| Business | $16.17/month | $40/month |
Why Switch from Brevo to Bento?
Brevo is a great budget option, but Bento offers more advanced automation and segmentation at a competitive price.
How We Selected The Top Bento Alternatives
Finding the best alternatives to Bento isn’t just about listing email marketing tools—it’s about finding platforms that match or exceed Bento’s strengths. We focused on tools that offer automation, segmentation, and email marketing features that businesses rely on to engage customers effectively.
To create this list, we analyzed real user reviews, tested the platforms, and compared their pricing, ease of use, and scalability. We also considered how well each tool integrates with other software to ensure a smooth workflow.
Here are the key factors we evaluated when selecting the top Bento alternatives:
- Automation capabilities – How advanced and flexible are the automation workflows?
- Email sending limits – Does the tool offer unlimited email sending like Bento?
- Pricing & scalability – Is the tool affordable as businesses grow?
- Segmentation & personalization – How well can you target the right audience?
- Integrations – Does it connect easily with CRMs, payment processors, and other tools?
- Ease of use – Is the platform beginner-friendly, or does it require technical knowledge?
By considering these factors, we’ve compiled the best Bento alternatives to help you find the right fit for your business.
Which Alternative to Bento is Best for Your Business?
The best alternative to Bento depends on your specific needs. If you’re looking for unlimited email sending at a budget-friendly price, Bento is hard to beat. But if you need more advanced automation, deeper integrations, or premium customer support, other tools on this list may be a better fit.
When it comes to behavior-based email automation, Encharge stands out as the best alternative to Bento.
Encharge offers powerful automation flows, real-time customer tracking, and seamless integrations with payment platforms like Stripe and Chargebee—making it an excellent choice for SaaS and subscription-based businesses.
Found the Best Alternative to Bento?
If you’re searching for the best Bento alternative, I hope this list helped you narrow down your options. The right tool depends on your business needs, but I’ve broken down the pricing, features, and pros & cons to make your decision easier.
Looking for a powerful email automation tool to grow your business? Encharge makes it easy to convert leads, close more sales, and increase revenue through advanced automation and segmentation.
Bento Alternatives: FAQs
1. What’s the best alternative to Bento for automation?
The best alternative to Bento for automation depends on your needs. Encharge offers the most advanced automation workflows, with behavior-based triggers, real-time tracking, and integrations with Stripe, Chargebee, and other tools.
To switch to a more automation-focused alternative:
- Identify your required automation features (drip campaigns, A/B testing, behavior tracking…etc).
- Compare automation capabilities in Encharge, ActiveCampaign, and Ortto.
- Choose the platform that best fits your business model and budget.
For businesses needing deep automation and segmentation, Encharge is the best option.
2. What is the best tool for email marketing?
The best email marketing tool depends on your needs. If you want a simple, cost-effective solution, Bento is a solid choice. However, for advanced automation and behavioral segmentation, platforms like Encharge, ActiveCampaign, and Klaviyo are better alternatives.
To choose the best tool:
- Define your goals (e.g., automation, segmentation, or bulk emailing).
- Compare platforms based on pricing and features.
- Test free trials to see which tool fits your workflow.
For powerful automation and revenue-focused email marketing, Encharge is the best upgrade.
3. Why switch from Bento to another email marketing platform?
While Bento offers unlimited email sending at a low cost, it lacks some advanced automation, CRM, and reporting features found in competitors like Encharge, ActiveCampaign, or Ortto. If you need better analytics, lead scoring, or deep integrations, switching might be beneficial.
To find the right alternative:
- Identify which features you’re missing in Bento (CRM, reporting, etc.).
- Compare platforms like Encharge, Ortto, and Customer.io.
- Test their automation and reporting capabilities with a free trial.
If you want more automation power and integrations, Encharge is a strong choice.
4. Does Bento have better automation than Encharge?
Bento offers simple automation, but it’s not as advanced as Encharge, which provide behavior-based triggers, advanced workflows, and CRM integrations. If you need complex customer journeys and segmentation, Encharge is a stronger option.
To compare automation features:
- List the specific automation workflows you need.
- Test Bento and Encharge’s automation builders.
- Choose the platform that best supports your customer journey.
For powerful automation with deep segmentation, Encharge is one of the best choices.
