Top 8 Tools SaaS Teams Use to Upsell Features

Drive revenue growth with the right upselling software and strategies

Upselling is a strategy where businesses encourage customers to upgrade to a better plan, add premium features, or choose a higher-value version of a product that offers more benefits than the basic option.

In the competitive SaaS landscape, acquiring new customers costs 5–25x more than retaining and upselling to existing ones. Yet, many SaaS companies struggle to unlock revenue from their current user base. The real differentiator? Using the right tools to upsell features at the right moment.

This guide explores the best SaaS upsell tools across two key channels: email automation and in-product messaging. We’ve evaluated dozens of platforms to highlight proven solutions that drive feature adoption, increase MRR, and reduce churn—while delivering real value to users.

Why Upselling Tools Matter for SaaS Growth

Before diving into specific tools, it's essential to understand why automated upselling has become non-negotiable for SaaS success:

• Higher conversion rates: Upsell conversion rates in SaaS typically range from 10-30%, compared to 1-3% for new customer acquisition

• Better customer lifetime value: Existing customers who upgrade have 3x higher LTV than those who remain on basic plans

• Reduced churn: Users who adopt premium features are 60% less likely to churn within 12 months

• Scalable growth: Automated upselling tools allow you to expand revenue without proportionally scaling your sales team

The most successful SaaS companies use a multi-channel approach, combining email automation with in-product messaging to reach users at key moments in their journey.

Email Automation Tools for SaaS Upselling

Email marketing remains a powerhouse channel for online businesses; the latest email marketing statistics studies show that it delivers an average return of $36 for every dollar spent. But choosing the right platform can dramatically impact those results

1. Mailmodo 

Mailmodo is an AI email marketing software that helps you create, automate, and optimize campaigns effortlessly. From planning strategy to writing copy and building journeys, Mailmodo’s AI Agents handle it all, with no technical expertise needed. It’s the fastest way to send smart, interactive, and high-performing emails.

Key Features

• AI Email Assistant: Helps identify the right moments to introduce higher-value plans or features and creates targeted campaigns with AI-generated strategies, subject lines, and contextual copy.

• AI-Powered Email Builder: Enables quick creation of conversion-focused emails with AI-generated layouts, feature highlights, and clear upgrade CTAs—fully on brand.

• AI Audience Segmentation: Automatically groups users based on usage patterns, plan limits, and engagement signals to ensure relevant messages reach the right audience.

• Smart Email Automation: Triggers timely email journeys when users reach milestones, hit usage limits, or explore advanced functionality.

• AMP & Interactive Emails: Allows users to compare plans, explore premium features, and take action directly within the email, without leaving their inbox.

Best For: Product-led SaaS companies with freemium or free trial models looking to maximize trial-to-paid conversion and drive plan upgrades through frictionless email experiences.

Pricing: It offers a forever-free plan with limited features, while the Pro plan comes with a 21-day free trial. After the trial, pricing starts at $79/month for up to 10,000 contacts, with more advanced features available on the Max plans.

2. Encharge 

Encharge excels at behavior-based email automation, making it ideal for SaaS companies that want to trigger upsells based on specific user actions and product usage patterns.

Key Features

• Visual flow builder: Create sophisticated multi-step upsell sequences with if/then logic based on user behavior

• Event tracking: Monitor feature usage, plan limits, and key milestones to trigger timely upgrade prompts

• Lead scoring: Identify high-value users ready to upgrade based on engagement and product adoption metrics

• Deep integrations: Connects with Segment, Stripe, and other SaaS tools for comprehensive user tracking

Best For: SaaS teams with a product-led growth strategy who need sophisticated automation based on real-time product usage data.

Pricing: Starts at $99/month with unlimited email sends and flows.

3. Customer.io 

Customer.io provides a robust platform for coordinating upsell campaigns across email, in-app messages, push notifications, and SMS, perfect for reaching users wherever they are most engaged.

Key Features

• Multi-channel campaigns: Coordinate upsell messages across email, SMS, push, and in-app channels

• Advanced segmentation: Create precise user segments based on attributes, events, and engagement history

• A/B testing: Optimize upsell messaging, timing, and channels through built-in experimentation tools

Best For: SaaS companies with mobile apps or those wanting to orchestrate upselling across multiple touchpoints.

Pricing: Contact sales for custom pricing based on message volume and features needed.

4. HubSpot Marketing Hub 

HubSpot offers a comprehensive marketing automation platform with robust Built-in CRM integration, making it ideal for SaaS companies that want sales and marketing alignment in their upselling efforts.

Key Features

• Built-in CRM: Track customer journey from trial to paid to upgraded tiers in one platform

• Workflow automation: Create automated upsell sequences triggered by user behavior or account properties

• Revenue attribution: Track which emails and campaigns drive the most upsell revenue

Best For: B2B SaaS companies with complex sales processes who need tight integration between marketing automation and sales outreach.

Pricing: Starts at $800/month for Marketing Hub Professional with automation features.

In-Product Messaging Tools for Feature Upselling

While email drives awareness and consideration, in-product messaging captures users at the moment they're most engaged with your platform. These tools help you showcase premium features, guide users toward upgrades, and remove friction at critical decision points.

5. Userpilot 

Userpilot combines powerful analytics with no-code in-app messaging, making it the go-to platform for product-led SaaS companies focused on driving feature adoption and plan upgrades.

Key Features

• Contextual modals and tooltips: Display upgrade prompts when users try to access premium features or hit plan limits

• Product analytics: Track feature usage, identify power users, and measure the impact of upsell campaigns

• A/B testing: Optimize upsell messaging and placement through built-in experimentation

• No-code builder: Create and launch in-app experiences without developer resources

Best For: Mid-market SaaS companies with product-led growth models who want to combine analytics and in-app messaging in one platform.

Pricing: Starts at $249/month for up to 2,500 monthly active users.

6. Pendo 

Pendo offers the most comprehensive product analytics and in-app guidance platform, making it ideal for enterprise SaaS companies that need deep insights to inform their upselling strategy.

Key Features

• Advanced analytics: Deep insights into feature usage, user flows, and retention cohorts

• In-app guides: Create multi-step walkthroughs to showcase premium features and drive upgrades

• Resource center: Build an in-app help center with pricing information and upgrade paths

• Mobile support: Deploy upsell campaigns across web and mobile applications

Best For: Enterprise SaaS companies with complex products who need robust analytics alongside in-app messaging.

Pricing: Free plan available for up to 500 MAUs; paid plans require a custom quote.

7. Appcues 

Appcues focuses on simplicity and speed, allowing SaaS teams to launch upsell campaigns quickly without technical resources.

Key Features

• Drag-and-drop builder: Create modals, tooltips, and slideouts without coding

• Event-based triggers: Show upgrade prompts based on user actions and feature usage

• Native integrations: Two-way data sync with popular analytics and CRM platforms

Best For: Early-stage to mid-market SaaS companies that want to get started with in-app upselling quickly.

Pricing: Starts at $249/month with a 14-day free trial.

8. Intercom 

Intercom combines in-app messaging with live chat and chatbots, enabling personalized, conversation-driven upselling alongside automated campaigns.

Key Features

• Product tours: Guide users through premium features with interactive walkthroughs

• Live chat: Enable sales conversations at the moment users show upgrade intent

• Custom bots: Automate upgrade conversations and qualify leads for sales handoff

Best For: B2B SaaS companies with sales-assisted models who want to combine automated and human-led upselling.

Pricing: Starts at $39/month for basic features; advanced plans available for larger teams.

When to Use Email vs. In-Product Tools

The most effective SaaS upselling strategies combine both channels strategically. Here's when to use each:

Use Email Automation When:

• Users are inactive or need re-engagement

• You want to educate users about advanced features over time

• Announcing new features or plan updates

• Creating urgency with limited-time offers

Use In-Product Messaging When:

• Users are active and reach feature or usage limits

• Highlighting advanced features in context

• Guiding users through trial or freemium experiences

• Enabling upgrades without leaving the product

The Winning Combination:

Use Mailmodo for behavior-triggered email sequences that educate users about premium features and drive consideration. Combine it with Userpilot or Pendo for contextual in-app prompts that capture users at moments of high intent. This multi-touch approach ensures you're reaching users through their preferred channel at the optimal time.

Best Practices for SaaS Feature Upselling

Regardless of which tools you choose, these proven strategies will maximize your upsell success:

1. Segment by Usage, Not Demographics: Focus on users nearing plan limits, frequently attempting premium features, or showing high product engagement.

2. Lead With Outcomes: Position higher plans around tangible benefits like time saved, increased productivity, or problems solved rather than feature lists.

3. Time It Right: Reach users after key wins, during premium feature discovery, before capacity limits are hit, and 30–60 days before renewal.

4. Reduce Upgrade Friction: Enable instant actions from emails or in-app messages, pre-fill user details, and unlock features immediately.

5. Measure and Improve: Track conversion rates, time to conversion, expansion revenue, and long-term retention impact

Quick Comparison: Top SaaS Upselling Tools

Conclusion

Successful SaaS growth is not about one perfect tool. It’s about building the right stack based on your growth stage, product complexity, and go-to-market strategy.

Using the right mix of channels helps you reach users at the right moments, communicate the value of advanced features, and reduce friction in decision-making. As you scale, you can add tools like Customer.io for SMS and push notifications or HubSpot for deeper sales alignment.

The best solution is the one that fits naturally into your user’s journey and delivers real value at every step. Start with one channel, get it right, and expand strategically.