AI tools for automation Blog Feature

10 Best AI Automation Tools for Productivity in 2024 (Free & Paid)

Start using ClickUp today

  • Manage all your work in one place
  • Collaborate with your team
  • Use ClickUp for FREE—forever

Remember how artificial intelligence (AI) was once just about robots and talking machines in sci-fi movies? Then, OpenAI came along and opened up a whole can of worms with ChatGPT.

Well, AI is real and it’s everywhere in business. 👀

According to IBM’s 2022 Global AI Adoption Index, businesses are leveraging AI for various use cases, including business process automation, marketing and sales, customer care, and business analytics. 

The results are interesting: 54% of these businesses reported cost savings and efficiencies, 48% say they have better customer experiences, and 41% are delivering and scaling new services faster.

Regardless of your business industry and size, AI can supercharge your productivity and growth. 

But—and that’s a big but—if you stay on the fence for too long and don’t leverage the power of AI technology, you could end up watching your competitors zoom past you. And we bet you don’t want that. 🌪️

So stick around as we uncover the top 10 AI tools for automation to boost your marketing task workflows and outpace your competition.

Summarize this article with AI ClickUp Brain not only saves you precious time by instantly summarizing articles, it also leverages AI to connect your tasks, docs, people, and more, streamlining your workflow like never before.
ClickUp Brain
Avatar of person using AI Summarize this article for me please

What Are AI Automation Tools?

In simple terms, AI-powered tools for marketing automation make your marketing efforts faster, smarter, and more effective. 

Think of tasks like segmenting your audience, writing marketing copy, sending emails, and posting on social media. Now imagine not just automating these tasks but making them “intelligent.” 

Instead of sending generic emails, AI-powered tools analyze user behavior and tailor content to individual preferences. Rather than posting on social media randomly, these tools identify when your audience is most active and what content resonates with them.

But how does this work? Well, AI tools use machine learning to continuously learn from data, making decisions based on patterns that would otherwise take us forever to analyze. ⏳

Why should you use AI automation tools?

Here’s why the use of AI tools for marketing automation is a smart move for your business:

  • Handle repetitive tasks more accurately and efficiently
  • Free up time to focus on high-value tasks that drive innovation and real growth
  • Boost customer engagement and conversion rates by tailoring your content, interactions, and product recommendations to specific preferences and customer behaviors
  • Generate predictive analytics for strategic decision-making by analyzing extensive sets of customer data (e.g., customer profiles, purchase history, campaign performance, etc.) 
  • Reduce operational costs due to fewer errors, optimized strategies and campaigns, and efficient resource usage
Summarize this article with AI ClickUp Brain not only saves you precious time by instantly summarizing articles, it also leverages AI to connect your tasks, docs, people, and more, streamlining your workflow like never before.
ClickUp Brain
Avatar of person using AI Summarize this article for me please

10 Best AI Automation Tools in 2024

Here are the top 10 AI tools for automating your marketing workflows, selected for their unique features and user reviews on G2 and Capterra. Get ready to be dazzled. 🤩

1. ClickUp — Best for task automation

Use ClickUp Brain to access any information easily

ClickUp is an all-in-one productivity tool for businesses looking to streamline operations and client projects in a central hub. 

With ClickUp AI, this is so much easier and faster than ever. You can access this AI writing assistant in all areas of your workspace—task descriptions, comments, chat, ClickUp Docs, and even in the notifications inbox.

ClickUp AI’s text-based prompt lets you quickly generate ideas and content whenever you feel stuck. And if you aren’t sure what to type, use any of the 100+ prompt templates to give you a head start. 💡

These templates cover multiple use cases spanning business roles from marketing and sales to product and human resources. So whether you’re drafting creative briefs, blog posts, prospecting emails, customer journeys, or process SOPs, there’s a template ready to guide you.

Another awesome feature? You can turn blocks of text into tasks in ClickUp

AI tools for automation: setting up Task Dependencies in ClickUp
Set a clear order of operations by adding “blocking” or “waiting on” dependencies between tasks and keep your team on track to know what to work on first

Instead of spending hours sorting out what needs to be done after a brainstorming or meeting session, ClickUp AI generates a to-do list for you in seconds. It’s user-friendly, functional, adaptive, and oh-so-easy. 🙌

ClickUp best features

  • Summarize long reports, chats, and comment threads with a single click
  • Organize and track tasks using custom fields (like assignee, due date, priority, and rating) and custom statuses (like To Do, In Progress, and Done)
  • Eliminate repetitive tasks by setting up ClickUp automations from scratch or any of the 120+ automation templates 
  • Receive in-app, email, and mobile alerts and reminders so you never miss a deadline
  • Use ClickUp AI to generate copy, correct spelling and grammar errors, simplify your writing, and optimize its quality
  • Access ClickUp via the web, as well as desktop and mobile devices

ClickUp limitations

  • With so many features, it can take a while for new users to learn the platform from end-to-end
  • ClickUp AI isn’t available on the free plan

ClickUp pricing

  • Free Forever
  • Unlimited: $7/month per user
  • Business: $12/month per user
  • Enterprise: Contact for pricing
  • ClickUp AI is available on all paid plans for $5 per Workspace member per month

ClickUp ratings and reviews

  • G2: 4.7/5 (8,200+ reviews)
  • Capterra: 4.7/5 (3,700+ reviews)

2. Drift – Best for automating sales 

AI tools for automation: screenshot of Drift's Overview
via Drift

Drift is a marketing and sales platform designed to transform how businesses engage with website visitors. It offers real-time messaging, AI chatbots, and email tools to instantly connect and offer support to site users. Drift is ideal for businesses that want to provide personalized experiences, boost user engagement, and increase website conversions. 🧑‍💻

Drift best features

  • Answer frequently asked questions about your business using the AI chatbot
  • Route site visitors to the right sales rep when they need more help 
  • Receive notifications when a target user visits your site so you can quickly hop on a chat
  • Communicate in real-time with potential leads and have them book meetings on your Microsoft or Google calendar

Drift limitations

  • Advanced features like AI testing tools, routing, and AI chatbot aren’t available on the starter plan
  • Some users say the mobile app can get buggy at times

Drift pricing

  • Premium: $2,500/month
  • Advanced: Contact for pricing
  • Enterprise: Contact for pricing

Drift ratings and reviews

  • G2: 4.4/5 (1,010+ reviews)
  • Capterra: 4.5/5 (179 reviews)

Check out these AI calendars!

3. Outreach – Best for automated sales outreach

Outreach is a sales automation platform that streamlines lead scoring and outreach processes to help sales teams close more leads. 

Its standout “Sequence” feature lets you structure and automate multiple touchpoints with your leads—via manual and automated emails, phone calls, and LinkedIn messages. This ensures timely and consistent engagement to move your leads along the sales pipeline.

Outreach best features

  • Get an overview of tasks (emails, calls, etc.) you need to complete for the week
  • Track deliveries, open rates, click-through rates, and replies for each email in your sequence
  • Test multiple emails to determine the most effective ones for future outreach
  • Integrate with CRM tools like Salesforce and Microsoft Dynamics 365 Sales

Outreach limitations

  • There’s a deep learning curve for new users
  • Some users report high bounce rates after bulk email send

Outreach pricing

  • Contact for pricing

Outreach ratings and reviews

  • G2: 4.3/5 (3,200+ reviews)
  • Capterra: 4.4/5 (289 reviews)

4. Emplifi – Best for social media automations 

Emplifi is a social media management platform for businesses looking to manage and optimize their social presence. Schedule and publish content to multiple social channels from a single dashboard and track real-time performance.

With its advanced community and analytics tools, you can gain insights into your audience’s preferences, adjust marketing strategies instantly, and ensure consistent and effective communication. 🌻

Emplifi best features

  • Publish content to top social media platforms, including Facebook, Instagram, LinkedIn, Pinterest, and Twitter
  • Set up approval workflows to review posts before they’re published
  • Monitor mentions and sentiments around your brand, industry, and competition on social media to stay ahead of trends
  • Find and manage relationships with influencers that match your brand and target audience

Emplifi limitations

  • Some users mention Emplifi’s clunky user interface
  • The platform gets slow when resizing or cropping images

Emplifi pricing

  • Contact for pricing

Emplifi ratings and reviews

  • G2: 4.3/5 (199 reviews)
  • Capterra: 4.2/5 (38 reviews)

5. Phrasee – Best for creating brand copy

Phrasee is a copywriting tool that leverages advanced machine learning algorithms to create high-performing on-brand copy across all digital channels. Beyond content generation, it also automates large-scale experimentation, testing various copy versions to identify the most effective ones. 

With Phrasee, you can streamline your copy creation process, optimize your messaging, and achieve better results with data-driven insights. 📈

Phrasee best features

  • Configure the style guide with settings like punctuation and restricted words and emojis
  • Choose from 15+ templates to generate copy for your emails, socials, SMS, blog posts, AI product descriptions, and ads
  • Generate diverse copy variations for split testing your digital marketing campaigns
  • Get an overview of marketing campaign performance to see which messages resonate with your customers

Phrasee limitations

  • The tool has a complex setup 
  • Users say it runs slowly at times

Phrasee pricing

  • Contact for pricing

Phrasee ratings and reviews

  • G2: 4.3/5 (5 reviews)
  • Capterra: 4.0/5 (1 review)

6. Jasper – Best for AI-powered writing 

Generating a blog post using Jasper's AI feature
via Jasper

Jasper is an AI-powered writing assistant that helps you create all types of short- and long-form content for your blog, social media posts, and ads. A key standout feature is its ability to learn and adapt to your brand’s unique voice and style, ensuring outputs consistently align with your brand identity. 

Translate your brand content to 30+ languages, including English, French, Dutch, and German. If you want to maintain a cohesive brand voice across various platforms and global audiences, Jasper is the tool for the job. 

Jasper best features

  • Access 40+ customizable templates to quickly generate content
  • Collaborate with your team on real-time content edits 
  • Generate AI images with a text description and details like style (3D render, anime, abstract), medium (painting, chalk, etc.), and mood (bright, calm, etc.)
  • Integrate with popular tools like Google Docs, Google Sheets, Grammarly, and Surfer

Jasper limitations

  • Generates inaccurate and out-of-brand content occasionally
  • Not accessible on mobile devices

Jasper pricing

  • Creator: $49/month
  • Teams: $125/month
  • Business: Contact for pricing

Jasper ratings and reviews

  • G2: 4.7/5 (1,200+ reviews)
  • Capterra: 4.8/5 (1,700+ reviews)

7. Rytr – Best for automated blog outlines 

Example of a Profile Bio written by Rytr
via Rytr

Rytr is another writing tool that helps you create high-quality and engaging content by choosing from over 40 use cases. These include blog idea and outline, blog section writing, social media ads, caption ideas, and product descriptions. 

In addition to content generation, Rytr lets you improve and rephrase your content to enhance grammar and readability. Unlike similar writing tools, Rytr is easier to use, faster, more affordable, and accessible on mobile devices. 📱

Rytr best features

  • Create AI-generated images from text directly in the app
  • Generate content in 30+ languages, including English, French, Spanish, Dutch, Italian, and German
  • Rephrase your content in 20+ tones including funny, formal, casual, passionate, and urgent
  • Get feedback on your content’s originality using the native plagiarism checker

Rytr limitations

  • Free plan is limited to generating 10k characters and 5 AI images per month
  • Starts to get repetitive when expanding on blog sections
  • Limited integrations

Rytr pricing

  • Free
  • Saver: $9/month
  • Unlimited: $29/month

Rytr ratings and reviews

  • G2: 4.7/5 (769 reviews)
  • Capterra: 4.6/5 (16 reviews)

8. Smartwriter – Best for automated research

Smartwriter is a copywriting tool that automates research about your prospects and helps you create personalized messages at scale. Use it for writing cold emails, LinkedIn pitches, and SEO backlink requests. It’s ideal for businesses looking to boost engagement and conversions by scaling their personalized outreach efforts. 

Smartwriter best features

  • Navigate its user-friendly interface with ease even if you’re a beginner
  • Create messages using details from mediums such as your prospect’s blog, podcast, LinkedIn profile, and top Google reviews
  • Find leads in any industry and verify their email addresses 
  • Integrate with popular email marketing platforms like Hubspot, Mailshake, Lemlist, and Snov.io

Smartwriter limitations

  • You have to contact customer support to cancel your subscription
  • Output generates unrelated information at times

Smartwriter pricing

  • Basic: $59/month
  • Popular: $149/month
  • Pro: $359/month

Smartwriter ratings and reviews

  • G2: 4.0/5 (10 reviews)
  • Capterra: No reviews

9. Seventh Sense – Best for email delivery automation

Seventh Sense is an email delivery optimization tool that predicts the best time to send emails to each of your leads and customers. By analyzing past engagement data, it predicts when a person is most likely to open and read an email. 📧

This ensures your emails are not lost in a crowded inbox and increases the chances of higher engagement rates. If you’re a business owner or a marketing team member looking to improve your email campaign performance for better deliverability, engagement, and conversions, Seventh Sense can help.

Seventh Sense best features

  • Segment active customers from dormant ones and tailor your campaign efforts accordingly
  • Spread emails throughout the day to improve deliverability, especially when emailing multiple contacts at the same company
  • Set up split tests for multiple variables (e.g., subject lines, preview text, content, CTA positioning) in your email workflows 
  • Get a summary of monthly, quarterly, and yearly email campaign performance 

Seventh Sense limitations

  • The user interface might feel complex for new users
  • Only integrates with Hubspot and Marketo

Seventh Sense pricing

  • Business (Hubspot): $80/month (5,000 marketing contacts)
  • Business (Marketo): $450/month (50,000 leads)
  • Enterprise: Contact for pricing

Seventh Sense ratings and reviews

  • G2: 4.8/5 (18 reviews)
  • Capterra: 5.0/5 (3 reviews)

10. Surfer – Best for AI SEO optimization

Example of a blog written by Surfer SEO
via Surfer

Surfer is a cloud-based SEO optimization tool that helps you research, outline, write, and optimize blog posts to rank in search engines. It analyzes top-ranking pages and compares your website’s content against them. 

Surfer provides actionable suggestions on keyword usage, content structure, and other on-page SEO elements. This ensures you maximize the chances of blog posts climbing search results and attracting more organic visitors to your website.

Surfer best features

  • Analyze top-ranking pages for a keyword with metrics that contribute to their ranking (e.g., word count, domain score)
  • Discover keyword clusters around your chosen topic, complete with each keyword’s monthly search volume and keyword difficulty
  • Optimize your articles with real-time keyword suggestions
  • Check your content’s originality with the native plagiarism checker

Surfer limitations

  • A steep learning curve for new users
  • The editor doesn’t allow you to add tables
  • Can’t edit keywords after the editor has been created 

Surfer pricing

  • Essential: $89/month
  • Advanced: $179/month
  • Max: $299/month
  • Enterprise: Contact for pricing

Surfer ratings and reviews

  • G2: 4.8/5 (468 reviews)
  • Capterra: 4.9/5 (373 reviews)
Summarize this article with AI ClickUp Brain not only saves you precious time by instantly summarizing articles, it also leverages AI to connect your tasks, docs, people, and more, streamlining your workflow like never before.
ClickUp Brain
Avatar of person using AI Summarize this article for me please

What to Look for in AI Automation Tools?

Choosing the best AI automation tools for your business needs can be overwhelming given the vast number of options available. Each tool has unique features and benefits, but some key factors should guide your decision.

  • Ease of Use: A user-friendly and intuitive interface is crucial for any AI automation tool. Ensure your chosen tool requires minimal coding skills and is straightforward to set up.
  • Integrations: Look for tools that integrate seamlessly with your current systems and other digital tools. This integration can enhance the efficiency and productivity of your operations.
  • AI Testing Tools: These are critical for testing and evaluating your AI systems’ output in a controlled environment before going live. Look for AI automation tools that include robust AI testing functionalities.
  • Test Automation: Opt for AI automation tools that offer comprehensive test automation capabilities. These tools should provide codeless automation solutions, visual test automation, and end-to-end test coverage with less effort. Fast and low-maintenance test automation, along with automated functional testing using AI and ML, is essential. Features like in-built self-healing capabilities, mobile testing, and realistic test data generation can significantly improve test data management and identify data dependencies.
  • Scalability: your chosen AI tool should accommodate your businesses’ growth and changing needs. This means it can handle an increased workload and continues to adapt and learn as your business evolves.
  • Security: Security is paramount when handling data in AI tools. Choose a provider with strict security protocols and strong data encryption to guard against breaches and protect your data.
  • Technical Support: Reliable customer support is essential when it comes to AI tools. Unanticipated challenges may arise, so having a knowledgeable support team on standby can make all the difference.
  • AI Functionality: The automation tool should match your business needs. Whether it’s enhancing workflow efficiency, simplifying sales processes, or aiding in marketing tasks, the tool should meet your criteria effectively.
  • Pricing: The cost-value proposition is a critical consideration. Make sure your chosen tool offers a good return on investment and aligns with your budget. Compare prices with competing tools for a better understanding of the market standards.
Summarize this article with AI ClickUp Brain not only saves you precious time by instantly summarizing articles, it also leverages AI to connect your tasks, docs, people, and more, streamlining your workflow like never before.
ClickUp Brain
Avatar of person using AI Summarize this article for me please

Outpace Your Competition With AI Automation Tools 

To scale your business operations, serve customers better, and gain a competitive edge in your industry, investing in AI marketing automation tools is no longer an option—it’s a necessity. 

Take time to evaluate each of these 10 AI tools for automation and do your own software testing to determine which aligns best with your business needs and goals. 🏆

And if you’re looking to manage all your content marketing workflows (and business processes) in an intuitive central dashboard, don’t miss out on ClickUp.

In addition to being the first role-based AI assistant, its project management features, advanced task automation, and 100+ native integrations make it a versatile, powerful tool for businesses of all sizes. 

So why wait? Sign up for ClickUp today! ✨

Everything you need to stay organized and get work done.
clickup product image
Sign up for FREE and start using ClickUp in seconds!
Please enter valid email address