Updated October 18, 2026 · ForgeCue Editorial Team
EngageBay vs Kartra
EngageBay
Higher score in this comparison
Kartra
What sets them apart
| Compare | EngageBayReviewVisitVisit | KartraReviewVisitVisit |
|---|---|---|
| Price per user from | $14.99Lower | $59 |
| Free plan | YesHas it | No |
| Plan tiers | Free, Basic, Growth, Pro | Essentials, Starter, Growth, Professional |
| Product | CRM, Help deskCovers more | Help desk |
| Free plan limits | 250 contacts, up to 15 users | Not confirmed |
| Free trial length | Not confirmed | 14 days |
| Integrations | 250 | Not confirmed |
| Compliance certifications | GDPR, DPF | Not confirmed |
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Key differences
- EngageBay scores higher overall: 9.4 vs 9.0.
- Price per user from is lower at EngageBay: $14.99 vs $59.
- Free plan: only EngageBay.
- Support channels: only EngageBay offers Phone.
- Support channels: only Kartra offers Community.
- Pricing model: only EngageBay offers Free plan.
- Pricing model: only Kartra offers Free trial.
- Product: only EngageBay offers CRM.
Our verdict on each
EngageBay
EngageBay suits small businesses and beginners seeking CRM and help-desk tools with a free entry point. Its free plan allows 250 contacts, up to 15 users, giving a clear starting check on contact and user allowances before reviewing paid tiers for your growing team.
Kartra
Kartra suits beginners and small businesses who want a site, a store and a help desk in a single subscription, but its entry price sits above the middle of the field. Entry pricing runs from $59, and the only no-cost look before paying is a trial.
Score breakdown
| Area | EngageBay | Kartra |
|---|---|---|
| Cost | 9.7HigherEngageBay lists a per-user starting price of $14.99. | 8.7The cost part of the score is 3 against 5.2 overall, and entry price ranks 177 of 199. |
| Offer | 9.5HigherEngageBay lists CRM and help-desk coverage as CRM and help desk. | 9.4A single subscription for site, store and landing, plus help desk and automation, with 100 templates to start from. |
| Trust | 8.3EngageBay lists compliance coverage as GDPR and DPF. | Not confirmed |
Licences and countries
| Country | EngageBay | Kartra |
|---|---|---|
| Headquarters | United States | United States |
Where they rank in our lists
| Ranking | EngageBay | Kartra |
|---|---|---|
| Email marketing software | 2 of 100 | 13 of 100 |
| Help desk software | 2 of 51 | 7 of 51 |
Also worth a look
SendPulse has price per user from at $8, against $14.99 for EngageBay and $59 for Kartra.
SendPulse reviewSources behind this comparison
EngageBay
- engagebay.com: 13 facts, checked September 28, 2026
Kartra
- kartra.com: 10 facts, checked September 26, 2026
Every fact side by side
| Fact | EngageBay | Kartra |
|---|---|---|
| Audience | Small business, Beginners | Beginners, Small business |
| Pricing model | Free plan | Free trial |
| Legal entity | EngageBay Inc. | Kartra Inc. |
| Headquarters | United States | United States |
| Founded | 2017 | Not confirmed |
| Support channels | Email, Chat, Phone, Help centre | Email, Chat, Help centre, Community |
Email marketing
| Fact | EngageBay | Kartra |
|---|---|---|
| Price at 1,000 contacts | $64.99Lower | $119 |
| Price at 10,000 contacts | $119.99 | Not confirmed |
Business tools
| Fact | EngageBay | Kartra |
|---|---|---|
| Price from | Not confirmed | $59 |
| Usage limits | Not confirmed | 500 contacts |
| Tool type | Not confirmed | Automation |
| Templates | Not confirmed | 100 |
Where each stands against the rest
| Fact | EngageBay | Kartra | Median |
|---|---|---|---|
| Price per user from | $14.99lowest quarter | $59highest quarter | $25 |
| Free trial length | Not confirmed | 14 daysat the median | 14 days |
| Integrations | 250above the median | Not confirmed | 77 |
Median across 81 listed software products.
Pros and cons
EngageBay
Pros
- The listed allowances of 250 contacts, up to 15 users give you a clear free entry point to review contacts and users before paying.
- The listed total of 250 integrations helps you judge how EngageBay might sit alongside tools you already use.
- Contact based pricing at $64.99 and $119.99 gives you separate listed points for larger contact needs.
Cons
- The included allowances are capped at 250 contacts, up to 15 users, so a growing list or a larger team may need to look beyond the entry allowances.
- EngageBay at $14.99 is higher than Nutshell at $13, which matters when you compare per-user starting prices.
Kartra
Pros
- A single subscription covers site, store and landing, so a site, a store and a landing page do not need separate tools.
- Support runs on email, chat and help centre, which covers most questions without a call.
- Automation and a help desk sit in the same bundle as the builder, widening what the subscription covers.
Cons
- No free plan, so every feature has to be judged inside the trial.
- Entry pricing of $59 asks for more than the group median of €7.89 for website builders.
- Transaction fees run 0% to 5% on store sales, where the group median is 0%.
Who each suits
EngageBay
Who it suits
- Small businesses comparing CRM and help-desk options, with EngageBay listing coverage as CRM and help desk.
- Beginners wanting a free entry point with stated allowances of 250 contacts, up to 15 users and audience focus of small business and beginners.
- Teams that value many connections alongside clear tiers, with 250 integrations and Free, Basic, Growth, Pro.
Who should look elsewhere
- If a lower listed per-user starting price is your main concern, check Nutshell at $13 against EngageBay at $14.99.
- If your contact base already exceeds the free allowances of 250 contacts, up to 15 users, compare Bumpa and Dolisoft before settling on EngageBay.
Kartra
Who it suits
- Beginners and small businesses in beginners and small business who want one paid subscription for site, store and support.
- Solo sellers who also want a help desk and automation in the same place.
- Buyers who would rather test a full plan than stay on a limited free tier.
Who should look elsewhere
- Shoppers on a tight budget: Ko-fi starts at $12.
- Sellers comparing in a local currency: Mitienda Uruguay starts at UYU 400.
- Automation buyers shopping elsewhere: Shafrik starts at XOF 9,900.
Current offers
Kartra
Current offer
Free trial
14 days free on any plan: 14 days
Limited time offer; trial limited to one trial per person per product; payment information must be on file before the account is created; 30-day hold period before a trial rebill counts as a sale
Source, checked September 26, 2026
Bonus
30-Day risk-free money back guarantee: 30 days
Applies to new customers; refund request must be made within 30 days of the start of a subscription; trial payments non-refundable
Source, checked September 26, 2026
Questions about each
EngageBay
What is EngageBay's per-user starting price?+
EngageBay lists a per-user starting price of $14.99. That figure describes the entry per-user price and sits alongside separate contact based prices. Check which pricing basis matches the option you are reviewing so you compare matching measures.
What does EngageBay charge at the lower listed contact volume?+
For the lower listed contact volume, EngageBay gives a price of $64.99. This is a contact based price, separate from the per-user starting price of $14.99. Confirm whether you are comparing contact pricing or per-user pricing before deciding.
Kartra
How much does Kartra cost to start?+
Entry pricing runs from $59, and the e-commerce plan price is $59. Both point at the same starting figure, so a shop and a plain site begin in the same place. Renewal is the number to watch once the trial ends.
Is there a free plan?+
No. There is no free plan, so the 14 day trial is the only no-cost way in. The builder, the store and the help desk can all be tried before anything is paid, which suits a buyer who wants to feel the templates out first.