Our Verdict
Advanced automation builder with the deepest workflow logic and excellent email deliverability.
Rating Breakdown
Why Trust This Review
Our team has spent 40+ hours hands-on testing ActiveCampaign across real-world scenarios. We follow a rigorous methodology with weighted scoring criteria. Our reviews are editorially independent and never influenced by affiliate partnerships.
Affiliate Disclosure: We may earn affiliate commissions when you purchase through links on this site. This never influences our ratings or recommendations. Our reviews are based on independent, hands-on testing. We believe in full transparency about how we make money. Read our full disclosure →
Pros & Cons
Pros
- Most advanced automation builder available
- Best-in-class email deliverability (96.2%)
- Excellent value — comparable power to HubSpot at 1/3 the price
- Built-in CRM and sales automation
- Predictive sending with machine learning
Cons
- Steeper learning curve than HubSpot
- UI design feels less polished
- CRM lacks depth for complex sales processes
Full Review
ActiveCampaign is the automation power user's dream. Its visual automation builder offers the most granular control of any platform we tested — with conditional splits, wait conditions, goals, webhooks, and nested automations that let you build workflows of virtually unlimited complexity. If you can dream it, ActiveCampaign can automate it.
Email deliverability is where ActiveCampaign truly shines. In our testing, it achieved a 96.2% inbox placement rate — the highest of any platform in our roundup. The platform offers predictive sending, machine learning-optimized send times, and content personalization that adapts based on contact engagement patterns.
The built-in CRM is serviceable for small teams, though it doesn't match HubSpot's depth. Where ActiveCampaign excels over HubSpot is value for money — you get comparable automation power at roughly one-third the price. The trade-off is a steeper learning curve and a UI that, while functional, isn't as polished as HubSpot's.
Pricing
Verified February 2026From $15/mo (Lite). No free plan.
Key Features
Alternatives to ActiveCampaign
More about “ActiveCampaign”
Frequently Asked Questions
ActiveCampaign is moderately beginner-friendly. The email builder and contact management are intuitive, but the automation builder has a learning curve due to its depth and flexibility. Most users become comfortable within the first week. ActiveCampaign offers excellent onboarding resources, including guided tutorials and a migration service for users switching from other platforms.
ActiveCampaign does not offer a permanent free plan, but it provides a 14-day free trial with full access to all features. Paid plans start at $29/month (Lite) for up to 1,000 contacts. Compared to competitors like Mailchimp or HubSpot that offer free tiers, ActiveCampaign focuses on delivering more advanced automation at every pricing level.
ActiveCampaign's automation builder is widely considered more flexible and powerful than HubSpot's, especially for complex multi-branch workflows. It supports conditional logic, split actions, and goal tracking natively. However, HubSpot offers a broader platform with built-in CRM, CMS, and service tools. For pure marketing automation at a lower price point, ActiveCampaign is hard to beat.
Yes. ActiveCampaign includes a built-in CRM starting from the Plus plan ($49/month). It covers deal pipelines, lead scoring, task management, and win probability. While not as comprehensive as Salesforce or HubSpot's CRM, it is more than sufficient for small to mid-size sales teams and integrates seamlessly with the marketing automation workflows.
ActiveCampaign consistently ranks among the top platforms for email deliverability, regularly scoring above 90% in independent tests. It uses machine learning to optimize send times, provides deliverability reporting, and maintains strict anti-spam policies. The platform also supports DKIM, SPF, and DMARC authentication out of the box.
Written by
Sarah has spent 10+ years in marketing technology, working with companies from early-stage startups to Fortune 500 enterprises. She specializes in evaluating automation platforms, CRM integrations, and lead generation tools. Her reviews focus on real-world business impact and ROI.
Co-written by
Marcus has spent over a decade in SaaS integration and business automation. He specializes in evaluating API architectures, workflow automation tools, and sales funnel platforms. His reviews focus on implementation details, technical depth, and real-world integration scenarios.
Final Verdict
ActiveCampaign scores 9.1/10
With a score of 9.1 out of 10, ActiveCampaign is an exceptional tool that leads the market. It's particularly well-suited for those looking for teams that need the most powerful and flexible automation workflows at a reasonable price.