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Top 10 ActiveCampaign Alternatives for Your Business Success
How ActiveCampaign Alternatives Can Transform Your Marketing Approach
Nicola Vaughan & Linda Hwang
March 24th, 2024
ActiveCampaign is one of the top recommended tools when it comes to email marketing, but if you’ve been using it for a while you may be thinking, “What’s better than ActiveCampaign?” - and you’re not alone.
Unfortunately, ActiveCampaign can get expensive, with plans tripling in price compared to competitors and no cap if your subscriber list continues to grow. And if you’re wondering whether there’s a free version of ActiveCampaign, sadly there isn’t. They do offer a free trial; however, this is very limited and only lasts for fourteen days.
Keep reading to get the low-down on all the great ActiveCampaign alternatives, from our top pick to our recommended ten platforms for you to try.
Table of Contents
What is ActiveCampaign?
ActiveCampaign is one of the heavy contenders for email marketing. Founded in 2003, it is a Chicago-based software-as-a-service (SaaS) platform and one of the first of its kind.
Not only is ActiveCampaign an email platform, but it also offers a suite of tools such as marketing automation, customer relationship management (CRM), and sales engagement tools to give its users a comprehensive all-in-one sales and marketing platform.
ActiveCampaign is great for large enterprises with a massive contact list and high monthly email sends. It offers unlimited monthly email sends for up to 250,000 contacts, which is rare in the world of email marketing platforms!
With years of experience, ActiveCampaign has fine-tuned its analytics and reporting capabilities, including website and event tracking. It has been an industry leader in automation, allowing users to automate customer processes and workflows by segments. This gives your contacts a more personalized feel in various factors—subscribers, purchase history, interests, and actions.
Why Would You Need an Alternative to ActiveCampaign?
For businesses or novices looking for an email marketing platform, ActiveCampaign checks off many boxes at first glance.
They offer features like data import and export tools, building and personalizing emails, automated email responses, managing email deliverability, and landing pages and forms.
Even though they boast impressive features, they may only be ideal for some. ActiveCampaign offers some pain points requiring you to look for alternatives depending on your company’s needs, flexibility, and learning curve.
Pricing Plans
For starters, their pricing plans just for Marketing features (Email and Marketing Automation) are on the higher side compared to some of the best competitors on the market— which is not ideal given that they don’t offer a free plan.
As previously mentioned, they provide a 14-day free trial; however, it comes with significant limitations, such as a cap of 500 contacts and 100 emails sent. Moreover, many of the features are unavailable during the trial period, making it difficult for you to accurately test whether they would benefit your business.
Furthermore, numerous reviewers on prominent software review platforms like G2 and Trustpilot have highlighted the issue of confusion between plans as a downside of ActiveCampaign.
One G2 reviewer said, “The company offers marketing, sales, and bundle features, each allowing for different solutions. Speaking with a representative is the only way to know which one has all the features you need and should pick.”
Pricing: The Plus plan is $49/month and allows up to 1,000 contacts. After that, the Professional plan starts at $149/month for 2,500 contacts.
When you compare the pricing to a competitor like beehiiv, the differences are night and day. beehiiv offers a free plan for up to 2,500 subscribers; you would be saving $149 a month going this route.
Frequent Updates
ActiveCampaign is known for its frequent updates, which can be both a blessing and a curse.
On the one hand, you enjoy the latest features and improvements regularly. On the other hand, some of these updates may feel poorly planned or unnecessary.
372 G2 reviewers mention missing features and updates as a leading dislike about the platform. One reviewer specified upgrading the number of contacts, and ActiveCampaign removed their ability to use the landing page feature.
With all the frequent updates, the documentation process needs to be updated. This can cause confusion and waste time figuring out how to use certain features (some of which are no longer valid), which leads us to our next topic.
Outdated Documentation
As a business owner, a pet peeve would be reading through a document about the tool you plan to implement for your company and discovering that all the features listed in the guide do not apply to your current software version.
This is a noted drawback of ActiveCampaign.
Many users have complained about its outdated documentation, which can deter new businesses and users. Granted, the platform has been around since 2003, but these documents should have been updated after each software rollout or pulled from implementation if those features are no longer available.
Many users have also reported that the documentation could be more helpful because it covers only some of the platform’s features and functions. This can be frustrating for new users trying to learn how to use ActiveCampaign effectively.
According to a review on G2, “The documentation is a bit outdated and can be hard to navigate. Many features are not explained in depth, and some of the information is not accurate anymore due to updates.”
Another user on Trustpilot wrote, “The documentation is terrible. It’s out of date, incomplete, and hard to navigate.”
UI Glitches and Poor UX
One of the common complaints among ActiveCampaign users is that the platform often suffers from UI glitches and poor user experience (UX). Multiple reviewers have highlighted these issues, making them a point of concern for many businesses.
According to user reviews on G2, some users have reported problems with the platform’s interface. One reviewer stated that “the user interface can be confusing and requires a learning curve,” while another user mentioned that “the platform can be slow and buggy at times.” 212 reviewers on G2 mention the platform not being intuitive.
Similarly, many Trustpilot users have complained about the platform’s poor UX. One wrote, “The platform is clunky and difficult to use, with a steep learning curve. The interface is not intuitive, and the platform is not very user-friendly.”
Another Trustpilot reviewer mentioned that “the platform is not very user-friendly, with confusing navigation and poorly designed menus.”
These reviews indicate that ActiveCampaign’s UI glitches and poor UX can significantly impact the platform’s user experience, making it challenging for businesses to use the platform effectively.
Keep in mind that these issues may vary depending on individual experiences. Many other reviews have said ActiveCampaign’s UI is exceptional, so be mindful when choosing a platform. You’re the only one who understands your business’s needs and the users working on the platform.
Challenging to Contact Customer Support
For many businesses, excellent customer support ranks high on the list. When you are always diving deep into different platforms, you may hit a problem and need help figuring a solution out; most people like the ease and speed of reaching out to customer support with the issue and getting a response.
Many reviewers on G2 and Trustpilot have agreed that ActiveCampaign’s customer support lacks quality and response.
One G2 reviewer mentioned, “The support team was unable to identify the problem and suggested that it might be a user issue.” Another stated, “I have spoken to the support team on multiple occasions and received answers that arrived way too late for my needs.”
With these pain points, it’s no wonder that businesses would like a list of top email marketing contenders.
ActiveCampaign Alternative (Top Pick)
If this all sounds familiar, don’t worry. We have the answer for you. Our email platform, beehiiv, is a great alternative to ActiveCampaign. Our free plan provides up to 2,500 subscribers, which is ideal if you have a small subscriber base and want to keep your marketing costs low.
You may have lots of subscribers and be wondering if beehiiv is the best ActiveCampaign alternative for you. Well, you’ll be pleased to hear that our top Enterprise plan allows you to have an unlimited number of subscribers for a capped price of $84 per month.
In comparison, ActiveCampaign charges anywhere from $809 to $1,059 dollars per month to store 50,000 subscribers, and a custom price on anything more than this.
We believe in helping our customers grow their audience without penalizing them financially for doing so. This is why we cap our top-tier plan at $84. We want you to continue growing your email lists, without being scared to grow because of the financial implications.
Here at beehiiv, there are many other benefits too, including our referral platform. This enables you to incentivize subscribers to encourage their contacts to sign up to your mailing list in return for perks or monetary rewards. We also have a built-in ad network, allowing you to start monetizing your newsletter, too.
The real benefit of beehiiv compared to ActiveCampaign is the ability to monetize a newsletter. ActiveCampaign is a great source for businesses that need a CRM or advanced automation in segmentation and sales follow-ups, but it doesn’t have features to monetize a newsletter.
One of beehiiv’s content creators, Samir Mezrahi, founder of Zillow Gone Wild, said, “Now that I have shifted to beehiiv, I’m trying to monetize and grow aggressively. On beehiiv, it was first bi-weekly, but it seems like the audience is into weekly. I want to focus more on the biggest possible scale, at least for now.”
If you like the sound of these great features, sign up for free with beehiiv. We can’t wait to have you on board!
Alternative To ActiveCampaign (Best Options)
If you’re wondering what else is out there when it comes to ActiveCampaign alternatives, there’s no need to worry. We’ve compiled a list of our top ten recommendations if you’re tired of ActiveCampaign and need a change.
MailChimp
If you’ve been in the email marketing game for a while, you’ve probably heard of MailChimp. It’s used by thousands of companies all over the world and is loved due to its easy-to-use editor and automated workflows.
It integrates well with CRM and SEO tools and offers A/B testing as one of its key features. One thing to bear in mind with MailChimp, however, is that it does charge more as your subscriber base grows–so if you’re looking for a cheaper way of doing things, take a look at our other ActiveCampaign alternatives.
MailerLite
If you’re a creator or small business, MailerLite would be a good option for you. MailerLite is probably the cheapest alternative to ActiveCampaign, offering its customers unlimited monthly emails and 1,000 contacts for just $10 per month.
They also have a free plan available, providing 12,000 monthly emails and 1,000 subscribers. If you have an eCommerce store you’ll enjoy MailerLite, as you can connect your online shop, set up behavior-based campaigns, and monitor sales performance.
Moosend
Another cheaper alternative to ActiveCampaign is Moosend, a marketing automation software that offers paid plans for as little as $9 per month. Many Moosend customers love the platform because you don’t need to be a highly qualified developer to use it. Moosend is built with an easy-to-use drag-and-drop editor, making it easy for anyone to make a beautiful email template regardless of technical competence.
You’ll also have the option to choose from many template designs, as well as use segmentation to make more out of your email lists.
For inspiration on template designs, check out our favorite email newsletters of 2022!
HubSpot
HubSpot is a good alternative to ActiveCampaign if you’re super into collecting data from your email lists.
While more expensive than ActiveCampaign, HubSpot has many advanced features, including a comprehensive analytical dashboard, tailored unsubscription features whereby users can choose to unsubscribe from certain email topics rather than leave the list completely, and ‘smart content’ which allows you to customize features and CTAs based on subscriber data.
Klaviyo
Another top pick is the email and SMS marketing tool Klaviyo. This one’s great if you require advanced automation and have an eCommerce business.
Klaviyo offers powerful eCommerce benefits, including advanced segmentation and dynamic coupons for Shopify/Magento platforms. It also helps you analyze your marketing channels by reporting on revenue by attributed channels.
GetResponse
If you’re looking for marketing automation that doesn’t cost the Earth, GetResponse may be a good ActiveCampaign alternative for you. They offer useful features such as autoresponders, unlimited landing pages, and segmentation, along with great spam check features to improve the chance of your emails hitting user inboxes.
They also offer fairly good audience segmentation features, allowing you to send better-targeted emails to your subscribers.
Brevo (formerly SendinBlue)
Brevo is a good ActiveCampaign alternative if you want email marketing and a CRM tool in one. It’s highly compatible with eCommerce sites such as Shopify, and they also allow you to run social media advertisements from their platform.
You can turn your subscribers into brand ambassadors via their CRM system, and you’ll also be able to use advanced API functionality and transactional emails.
Constant Contact
If you want a fair bit of time to test out a platform before going ahead, Constant Contact is a great option. They offer an impressive 60-day free trial, giving you ample time to try out all features before making a decision.
A unique feature of Constant Contact is their event invitation management, which has earned it a fantastic reputation - if you’re in the events industry, you’ll love the features this offers. You’ll also receive access to autoresponders, A/B testing, and an RSVP tool.
ConvertKit
A creator’s typical choice for an ActiveCampaign alternative is ConvertKit, a firm favorite among bloggers and YouTubers. It’s popular among creatives because it allows you to monetize content easily while growing your subscriber list and sending regular newsletters.
They offer a free plan which accommodates up to 1,000 contacts, and integrations within their paid plans include automated emails, advanced reporting, and affiliate management tools.
For top tips on how to monetize your newsletter, check out our blog.
Drip
The last ActiveCampaign alternative on our list is Drip, an email marketing platform that is highly popular among Shopify store owners.
Drip allows you to integrate your store with your email marketing, alongside custom automation, dynamic templates, and advanced A/B testing. It’s not the cheapest alternative to ActiveCampaign; however, they do offer SMS packages alongside email marketing, which can be useful in connecting with subscribers.
Best Alternative to ActiveCampaign (Getting Started)
Now that you’ve read our recommended alternatives to ActiveCampaign, you should have found a favorite that works best for your brand/business. There are many great ActiveCampaign alternatives, including our platform, beehiiv, which offers free sign-up.
And, the best part? Migrating from ActiveCampaign to beehiiv is easy. You can use a service such as Integrately, to import lists, contacts, tags, and custom fields, re-create opt-in forms and email templates, and recreate automation workflows.
If you’re more of the hands-on DIY type, you can migrate your contacts easily by uploading .csv files with a few simple steps:
Log in to your beehiiv account.
Click on Audience, found on the left side of the dashboard.
Click on Subscribers.
Click Import, and you will be asked whether you want to import a .csv file or manually type in email addresses. If you’re importing a .csv file, simply copy/paste the URL, check the box if you want beehiiv to set up an automated welcome email, and click Import Subscribers.
Take your email marketing to the next level by signing up for free with beehiiv today. You’ll receive great customer service, automated user journeys, and access to our referral program and ad network. We can’t wait to see what you come up with!
ActiveCampaign Alternatives: Frequently Asked Question
Now that you’ve reviewed all the ActiveCampaign alternatives, we compiled a few frequently asked questions to help you better understand whether ActiveCampaign or an alternative is better suited for your business needs.
This is the million-dollar question for those looking for an email marketing platform. Not only do you want to know how to build a newsletter, but you also want to know whether it’s easy and whether the platform offers customizable templates.
Building an email newsletter in ActiveCampaign can be done in just a few steps.
Step 1: Create a New Campaign
Log in to your ActiveCampaign account and click the “Campaigns” tab. Then, click the “Create a Campaign” button. Choose “Standard” as the campaign type and select “List” to whom you want to send the campaign.
Step 2: Choose a Template
You can start from scratch or use a pre-built template. ActiveCampaign offers templates for different industries and purposes. Click on the “Email Designer” tab and select a template that suits your needs. This is the easiest method.
Step 3: Choose Sender
You can choose who to send the campaign to, which email you would like the campaign to send from, and the email subject line you want to use.
Step 4: Customize Your Template
Once you have selected a template, you can customize it to fit your brand. Use the drag-and-drop editor to add or remove elements and change colors, fonts, and images. Make sure your newsletter is visually appealing and easy to read.
Step 5: Add Your Content
Now, it’s time to add your content to the newsletter. Use the editor to add text, images, and links. Remember to keep your message brief and concise, and always include a clear call-to-action.
Step 6: Personalize Your Newsletter
ActiveCampaign allows you to personalize your newsletter by using merge tags. Merge tags are placeholders that are automatically replaced with the recipient’s information when the email is sent. Use merge tags to greet the recipient by name and add other personalized details.
Step 7: Test and Preview
Before sending your newsletter, make sure to test and preview it. Use the “Preview” button to see how your newsletter will look on different devices and email clients. You can also send a test email to yourself or a colleague to make sure everything looks and works as intended.
Step 8: Send or Schedule Your Newsletter
Once you are happy with your newsletter, it’s time to send it. You can either send it immediately or schedule it for a later date and time. Click on the “Send” button and choose your sending options.
Does ActiveCampaign Have Newsletter Templates?
Who wouldn’t want to create a stunning and professional newsletter in a flash?
ActiveCampaign offers over 125 templates based on your business goals. You can even build them from scratch using HTML. They offer newsletter templates, feedback requests, and abandoned cart notifications.
You can access templates by determining your business goals. With many different customizable templates, picking the one that you want is key.
Log into ActiveCampaign.
Click “Campaigns” in the left menu.
Navigate to the “Campaign Templates” option.
Then click on the “Create a Template” button.
Finally, choose a “Template Type.”
A downside of ActiveCampaign that you need to keep in mind is that templates are only compatible with the designer on which they were created. If you select Email Designer templates, they will only work with campaigns created with the Email Designer. Classic Designer or HTML templates will not work when using the Email Designer, and vice versa.
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