10 Best ActiveCampaign Alternatives & Competitors [Free & Paid]

ActiveCampaign has long been a favorite in the marketing automation space, offering a balance between advanced features and usability.

However, it's not always the perfect fit for every business. Some entrepreneurs or business owners may find it either too expensive, too complex, or lacking in certain areas like multi-channel marketing or specific integrations.

Fortunately, there are many alternatives to ActiveCampaign, each offering unique features that may better align with your business goals. This guide will highlight some of the best ActiveCampaign alternatives and competitors.

10 Best ActiveCampaign Alternatives and Competitors (Free & Paid)

1. GetResponse

GetResponse is a robust marketing platform that provides email marketing, landing page creation, and even webinar hosting.

While ActiveCampaign excels in advanced automation, GetResponse’s all-in-one approach allows small businesses to handle a variety of marketing activities from a single dashboard.

Key Features

• Email Marketing: Offers a wide array of pre-built email templates.
• Marketing Automation: Use triggers, actions, and filters to build custom workflows.
• Landing Pages: Create high-converting landing pages with the drag-and-drop editor.
• Auto-funnels: Automatically create full conversion-focused sales funnels using AI
• AI Website Builder: It offers an AI-powered website builder
• Webinars: Host live or recorded webinars directly from the platform.
• Ecommerce Tools: Integrate with eCommerce platforms to track purchases, cart abandonment, and more.

Unique Advantages of GetResponse Over ActiveCampaign

• All-in-one solution that includes webinars and landing page tools.
• It offers AI tools for the creation of websites and sales funnels
• In comparison to ActiveCampaign which offers a free trial, GetResponse offers a free plan
• Free trial includes access to premium features.
• More cost-effective for businesses that need webinar tools alongside email marketing.

Pros

• Webinar feature is a unique addition.
• Affordable pricing with a free plan.
• User-friendly design.
• Integrated landing page builder and eCommerce tools.

Cons

• Limited integrations compared to ActiveCampaign.
• Automation features, while good, are not as sophisticated.

Pricing

• Free plan includes up to 500 subscribers.
• Starts at $15/month with a 30-day free trial.

Ideal for Businesses looking for an all-in-one marketing platform that integrates email marketing, landing pages, and webinars.

Get Started With GetResponse For Free

2. Systeme.io

Systeme.io stands out as a versatile platform designed to simplify marketing automation for small businesses and solopreneurs.

Its all-in-one solution combines a wide array of tools, including email marketing, sales funnels, online courses, and membership site management.

For users looking to replace ActiveCampaign with a simpler and more cost-effective option, Systeme.io is a worthy contender.

Key Features:

• Email Marketing Automation: Build effective email campaigns, automate follow-ups, and segment your audience.
• Sales Funnels: Create and manage custom sales funnels to drive leads through the customer journey.
• Online Course Creation: Host, design, and manage your online courses and membership sites without the need for third-party integrations.
• Affiliate Program Management: Set up affiliate programs to extend your reach and reward your partners.
• Integrations: It integrates with a variety of payment processors, making it easy to handle subscriptions and payments.

Unique Advantages of Systeme.io Over ActiveCampaign:

• Budget-Friendly: Systeme.io’s pricing plans are notably cheaper compared to many ActiveCampaign alternatives.
• User-Friendly Interface: Its simple design is intuitive, even for beginners who don’t have technical expertise.
• All-in-One Solution: You can run your entire marketing operation—email marketing, sales funnels, and memberships—from one dashboard.
• No Need for External Integrations: With built-in tools for a variety of needs, there's less dependency on third-party applications.
• Affiliate Program Built-in: While most platforms require external software for affiliate management, Systeme.io offers it out of the box.

Pros:

• Affordable pricing for small businesses
• Supports a variety of digital marketing functions in one platform
• Includes unlimited emails even on lower-tier plans
• Easily customizable sales funnel templates
• Great for managing online courses and memberships

Cons:

• Lacks advanced CRM functionalities found in platforms like ActiveCampaign
• Limited third-party integrations compared to bigger competitors

Pricing Plans:

• Free Plan: $0 (Up to 2,000 contacts, 3 funnels, 1 membership site)
• Startup Plan: $27/month (Up to 5,000 contacts, 10 funnels, 5 membership sites)
• Webinar Plan: $47/month (Up to 10,000 contacts, unlimited funnels)
• Unlimited Plan: $97/month (15,000 contacts, unlimited funnels and memberships)

Ideal for small to mid-size businesses, solopreneurs, and freelancers who are interested in automating their marketing campaigns and managing their entire business online for cheap.

Get Started With Systeme.io For Free

3. Constant Contact

Constant Contact is one of the most well-known names in email marketing. With a focus on simplicity and ease of use, it’s perfect for small businesses looking to quickly set up email campaigns, newsletters, and even some basic automation.

While it lacks some of the advanced automation features found in ActiveCampaign, it compensates with its user-friendly interface and robust support.

Key Features

• Email Campaigns: Easily create and send branded emails using a drag-and-drop editor.
• Email List Segmentation: Group your subscribers based on their interests or demographics.
• Social Media Ads Integration: Run ads on Facebook and Instagram directly from the platform.
• Event Management: Set up and manage event invitations and registrations.
• Email Automation: While not as advanced as ActiveCampaign, it offers basic automation triggers like welcome emails and time-based sequences.

Unique Benefits of Constant Contact Over ActiveCampaign

• Simpler user interface, perfect for beginners.
• Direct integration with social media ad platforms.
• Excellent support and onboarding for new users.
• Focus on event management features, making it a good choice for non-profits and event-driven businesses.

Pros

• Beginner-friendly with an intuitive UI.
• Great for event management.
• Extensive support and training resources.
• High deliverability rates for emails.

Cons

• Lacks advanced automation workflows.
• Pricing can be high for the features offered.

Pricing

• Lite: $12/month
• Standard: $35/month
• Premium: $80/month

Ideal for Small businesses, non-profits, and event-based organizations looking for an easy-to-use email marketing solution.

Get Started With Constant Contact For Free

4. Omnisend

Omnisend is a powerful marketing automation platform specifically designed for eCommerce businesses.

It allows users to create personalized email campaigns, SMS messages, and push notifications.

While it’s similar to ActiveCampaign in terms of automation, Omnisend’s strong focus on eCommerce makes it a compelling alternative for online retailers.

Key Features

• Email & SMS Marketing: Create personalized campaigns using email and SMS.
• Automation Workflows: Build advanced workflows based on customer behavior.
• Product Recommendations: Automatically include recommended products in emails.
• Audience Segmentation: Use eCommerce data to segment your audience more effectively.
• Push Notifications: Send browser notifications to engage customers.

Unique Benefits of Omnisend Over ActiveCampaign

• Strong focus on eCommerce integrations and features.
• SMS marketing is seamlessly integrated into the platform.
• Unique product recommendation tools for retailers.

Pros

• Great for eCommerce businesses.
• Excellent multi-channel marketing (email, SMS, push notifications).
• High deliverability rates.
• Easy-to-use interface.

Cons

• Limited non-eCommerce features.
• Smaller template library compared to other platforms.

Pricing

• Free plan available with up to 500 emails/month.
• Paid plans start at $16/month.

Ideal for ECommerce businesses looking to integrate email, SMS, and push notifications into their marketing strategies.

Get Started With Omnisend For Free

5. HubSpot

HubSpot is a comprehensive CRM platform with robust marketing, sales, and service tools.

Unlike ActiveCampaign, which focuses primarily on marketing automation, HubSpot offers a wider range of tools for managing leads, tracking sales, and automating customer support.

Its free CRM functionality makes it an attractive alternative for small to medium-sized businesses.

Key Features

• Marketing Automation: Set up advanced workflows that trigger based on user actions.
• CRM Integration: Manage contacts, deals, and pipelines directly in HubSpot’s CRM.
• Sales Tools: Send personalized email sequences, track email opens, and manage sales pipelines.
• Landing Pages: Build and customize landing pages with forms to capture leads.
• Analytics & Reporting: In-depth reporting on your marketing campaigns and customer behavior.

Unique Benefits of HubSpot Over ActiveCampaign

• Built-in CRM with free access, perfect for managing sales pipelines and customer relationships.
• Integrates marketing, sales, and service in one platform.
• More powerful analytics and reporting features.

Pros

• Free CRM with extensive features.
• Excellent for sales and service automation.
• Advanced marketing workflows.
• Great customer support and educational resources.

Cons

• Expensive as you scale up with advanced features.
• Complex setup process for beginners.

Pricing

• Free CRM available.
• Paid plans start at $50/month for marketing tools.

Ideal for Businesses that need a robust CRM and marketing platform that integrates sales, marketing, and customer support.

6. MailerLite

MailerLite is a popular email marketing platform known for its affordability and simplicity.

It offers essential features like email automation, landing pages, and pop-ups, making it a great alternative to ActiveCampaign for small businesses that don’t need highly advanced workflows.

Key Features

• Email Marketing: Easily design responsive email campaigns with a drag-and-drop editor.
• Automation: Set up basic automation triggers like welcome emails and time-based sequences.
• Landing Pages: Build and customize landing pages for lead generation.
• Pop-ups: Use customizable pop-ups to capture leads on your website.
• Surveys & Forms: Collect data from your customers through surveys and forms.

Unique Benefits of MailerLite Over ActiveCampaign

• Easier to use with a simpler interface.
• More affordable for small businesses with limited budgets.
• Free plan includes a lot of basic features like automation and landing pages.

Pros

• Very affordable for small businesses.
• User-friendly design and interface.
• Great for email marketing beginners.
• Free plan available with automation features.

Cons

• Lacks advanced automation features.
• Limited reporting and analytics.

Pricing

• Free plan available for up to 1,000 subscribers.
• Paid plans start at $10/month.

Ideal for Small businesses and startups that need a cost-effective and simple email marketing solution.

Get Started With HubSpot For Free

7. Mailchimp

Mailchimp is a well-known platform that has evolved from being a simple email marketing tool to a comprehensive marketing automation solution.

It is designed for small to medium-sized businesses that need an easy-to-use platform to handle email marketing, social media marketing, landing pages, and more.

Mailchimp's freemium model makes it a highly accessible option for businesses starting out, and its wide range of integrations makes it versatile.

Key Features

• Email Campaigns: Create and send branded emails using a drag-and-drop editor.
• Automation: Use triggers to create simple workflows for follow-up emails, onboarding sequences, and more.
• Multi-Channel Marketing: Includes email, SMS, social media ads, and postcards.
• Landing Pages: Build customizable landing pages to capture leads.
• Segmentation and Targeting: Allows advanced audience segmentation based on demographics, behaviors, and engagement.

Unique Benefits of Mailchimp Over ActiveCampaign

• Mailchimp's free plan offers a more generous subscriber limit (up to 500 subscribers) with basic email marketing and automation tools.
• Mailchimp offers multi-channel marketing tools, including social media ads and postcards, which ActiveCampaign lacks.
• The user interface is highly intuitive and easy to use, especially for beginners.
• Mailchimp's integrations with other apps and platforms are extensive, including eCommerce, CRM, and social media tools.
• Freemium pricing model makes it accessible to businesses with lower budgets.

Pros

• Easy to use, especially for beginners.
• Freemium model offers essential tools for free.
• Multi-channel marketing tools included.
• Wide range of integrations with third-party apps.
• In-depth audience segmentation and reporting.

Cons

• Automation features are more limited compared to ActiveCampaign.
• Paid plans can become expensive as subscriber numbers grow.
• Advanced reporting and customer journey mapping are locked behind higher-tier plans.

Pricing

• Free plan available for up to 500 subscribers.
• Paid plans start at $13/month.

Ideal for Small to medium-sized businesses looking for an all-in-one marketing platform with a generous free plan and multi-channel marketing tools.

8. AWeber

AWeber is a long-standing email marketing platform that focuses on simplicity and affordability.

It offers essential email marketing features along with basic automation capabilities, making it a good ActiveCampaign alternative for smaller businesses or those new to email marketing.

Its user-friendly interface and strong customer support make it an attractive choice for beginners.

Key Features

• Email Campaigns: Design professional emails with AWeber’s drag-and-drop editor.
• Automation: Set up simple automation workflows such as welcome emails and drip campaigns.
• Segmentation: Segment your audience based on their behavior or attributes.
• Landing Pages: Create customizable landing pages to capture leads.
• RSS-to-Email: Automatically send emails whenever new content is published on your website.

Unique Benefits of Aweber Over ActiveCampaign

• Simpler and easier to use for beginners compared to ActiveCampaign's more advanced platform.
• Cheaper plans and more affordable entry-level options for businesses with smaller email lists.
• RSS-to-email feature is particularly useful for bloggers and content creators.
• Strong customer support with live chat and phone support, which ActiveCampaign lacks at lower-tier plans.
• Focuses heavily on email deliverability to ensure your emails avoid spam folders.

Pros

• Great for beginners with a simple interface.
• Strong customer support and onboarding resources.
• RSS-to-email feature is a unique advantage for content-driven businesses.
• Affordable for small businesses.

Cons

• Lacks advanced automation workflows compared to ActiveCampaign.
• Fewer integration options than ActiveCampaign.

Pricing

• Free plan available for up to 500 subscribers.
• Paid plans start at $19.99/month.

Ideal for Small businesses, bloggers, and content creators looking for a user-friendly and affordable email marketing platform.

9. SendPulse

SendPulse is an all-in-one marketing platform that goes beyond email marketing. It includes tools for SMS marketing, push notifications, and chatbot creation.

It’s a versatile platform that offers multi-channel communication, making it a good ActiveCampaign alternative for businesses looking for more than just email marketing.

Key Features

• Email Campaigns: Easily create and send personalized email campaigns.
• Automation: Set up automation workflows based on customer behavior and actions.
• SMS & Web Push Notifications: Send messages directly to your customers’ phones or browsers.
• Chatbots: Build chatbots for Facebook Messenger and other platforms.
• CRM Integration: Manage customer relationships directly within the platform.

Unique Benefits of SendPulse Over ActiveCampaign

• SendPulse offers multi-channel marketing, including SMS, push notifications, and chatbots, all from one platform.
• Free chatbot and push notification tools are available, which are not included in ActiveCampaign.
• Easier to use for creating automated messages across multiple channels.
• Offers multi-language support, making it ideal for businesses with an international presence.
• Cheaper pricing compared to ActiveCampaign, especially for businesses using multiple channels.

Pros

• Multi-channel communication tools included (SMS, push, chatbots).
• Free plan includes chatbots and push notifications.
• Easy-to-use interface for setting up automations.
• Affordable compared to competitors.

Cons

• Automation features are not as advanced as ActiveCampaign’s.
• Fewer third-party integrations.

Pricing

• Free plan available for up to 500 subscribers.
• Paid plans start at $8/month.

Ideal for Businesses looking for a multi-channel marketing solution that includes email, SMS, push notifications, and chatbots.

10. Brevo (formerly Sendinblue)

Brevo, formerly known as Sendinblue, is a versatile platform that offers email marketing, SMS marketing, and CRM tools.

It's particularly well-suited for small to medium-sized businesses due to its affordability and range of features.

Unlike ActiveCampaign, which focuses heavily on email automation, Brevo takes a multi-channel approach, offering a more holistic marketing solution.

Key Features

• Email Marketing: Design and send customized email campaigns.
• Automation: Set up workflows for email sequences, customer behavior triggers, and more.
• SMS Marketing: Reach your customers directly via SMS.
• Transactional Emails: Send invoices, confirmations, and other transactional emails.
• CRM: Manage customer relationships and track sales pipelines.

Unique Benefits of Brevo Over ActiveCampaign

• SMS marketing is fully integrated into Brevo, providing more options for multi-channel communication.
• Transactional email functionality is built-in, which is not standard in ActiveCampaign.
• Cheaper pricing, especially for businesses with large email lists or those needing SMS features.
• No sending limits on emails, even in the free plan, whereas ActiveCampaign limits the number of sends.
• Focuses more on transactional email support and eCommerce businesses.

Pros

• Free plan with unlimited email sending.
• Easy to set up automation workflows.
• Multi-channel marketing (email, SMS, and CRM).
• Affordable pricing for growing businesses.

Cons

• Fewer integrations than ActiveCampaign.
• Limited templates and design options for emails.

Pricing

• Free plan available with unlimited contacts but limited features.
• Paid plans start at $25/month.

Ideal for Small to medium-sized businesses that need an affordable multi-channel marketing platform with SMS and email capabilities.

Conclusion

ActiveCampaign may be a well-established tool, but it's far from being the only solution for marketing automation. With platforms like GetResponse and Systeme.io offering robust, budget-friendly alternatives, businesses have more choices than ever.

From the simplicity of Mailerlite to the comprehensive capabilities of HubSpot, there’s a solution for every need, budget, and business size. Whether you’re looking for an affordable, free, or feature-rich solution, one of these tools is bound to suit your requirements.

Frequently Asked Questions

1. What are the best free alternatives to ActiveCampaign?

Free alternatives to ActiveCampaign include platforms like GetResponse and SendPulse, both of which offer free plans with basic email marketing tools. Systeme.io is also a viable free option, offering sales funnel creation, email marketing, and automation for small businesses. These platforms are great for startups or those looking to get started without a large investment.

2. Which ActiveCampaign alternatives are better for small businesses?

For small businesses, GetResponse and Systeme.io are popular alternatives that provide affordable plans, user-friendly interfaces, and solid email automation tools.

3. Which alternatives to ActiveCampaign offer better CRM integration?

HubSpot and Zoho CRM stand out as alternatives to ActiveCampaign that offer more robust CRM features. Both platforms provide integrated CRM systems along with marketing automation, which can be highly beneficial for businesses needing comprehensive lead management.

4. What is the best alternative to ActiveCampaign for eCommerce businesses?

Omnisend is an excellent ActiveCampaign alternative for eCommerce businesses due to its specialized eCommerce marketing features, such as cart abandonment recovery, product recommendations, and integration with platforms like Shopify and WooCommerce. GetResponse also offers similar features, making it ideal for eCommerce automation.

5. Which ActiveCampaign alternatives are better for startups and solopreneurs?

For startups and solopreneurs, Systeme.io and Moosend are highly recommended due to their affordability and ease of use. Systeme.io offers all-in-one marketing tools without needing multiple software solutions, while Moosend provides a straightforward approach to email marketing and automation.

6. How do HubSpot and ActiveCampaign compare in terms of automation features?

HubSpot provides more advanced CRM integration and lead tracking, making it a stronger choice for businesses focused on inbound marketing. On the other hand, ActiveCampaign has a more flexible automation builder, allowing for complex workflows with ease. However, for businesses with larger budgets, HubSpot's automation and CRM capabilities may be more comprehensive.

7. Are there any free alternatives to ActiveCampaign with automation features?

Yes, Mailchimp offers a free plan that includes basic automation tools like welcome emails, drip campaigns, and more. Systeme.io also provides a free plan with automation features like email sequences, although with some limitations on the number of contacts and emails sent.