Becoming the Best Email Marketers with 9 of the Finest ActiveCampaign Alternatives
ActiveCampaign is one of the most popular and common email marketing platforms. Yet, businesses are now starting to look for alternatives.
Whether it is about pricing or features, there is a plethora of other emailing tools available on the market.
Comparisons, advices… We will answer your questions and help you make your way out through the email marketing world, that cannot be disregarded anymore. 🔍
🌟 The most popular alternatives: Brevo, GetResponse, HubSpot, MailChimp.
💙 Our favorites: Campaigner, ConvertKit, Drip, Klaviyo, MaiterLite.
Let’s begin, shall we? 👇
What is ActiveCampaign?
Long story short, ActiveCampaign is a popular cloud-based customer experience automation, or CXA, designed to enhance and streamline various business processes, including:
- email marketing,
- sales,
- and customer support.
At its core, ActiveCampaign combines the functionalities of those processes into a single, intuitive interface, to optimize your email marketing campaign.
Yet, many other tools will provide you with a more comprehensive and intuitive experience, among other benefits.
Let’s dive into it! 👇
Our 9 Best ActiveCampaign Alternatives
1 of 9
 Hub Marketing |  Campaigner |  Brevo (ex Sendinblue) |  GetResponse |  MailChimp |  ConvertKit |  Drip |  Klaviyo |  Mailerlite |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| For companies with more than 1 employees | For all companies | For all companies | For all companies | For all companies | For all companies | For all companies | For all companies | For all companies |
| See software | See software | See software | See software | See software | See software | See software | See software | See software |
| Learn more about Hub Marketing | Learn more about Campaigner | Learn more about Brevo (ex Sendinblue) | Learn more about GetResponse | Learn more about MailChimp | Learn more about ConvertKit | Learn more about Drip | Learn more about Klaviyo | Learn more about Mailerlite |
The Most Popular Alternatives to ActiveCampaign
Brevo
Brevo is a versatile email marketing platform designed to help businesses streamline their marketing efforts. It offers robust email and SMS marketing tools, and integrates critical processes, such as a CRM, making it a comprehensive all-in-one marketing solution for enhancing customer engagement and driving business growth.
For Who? 🕵️
Brevo is tailored for:
- Small to medium-sized enterprises,
- Independent marketers,
- Marketing agencies,
- And e-commerce businesses.
Main Functionalities 🔧
- Intuitive drag-and-drop email builder with A/B testing.
- The possibility to create and send personalized SMS campaigns.
- Website chat and customer management through the built-in CRM.
- Automated email sequences, SMS, and more, through customizable workflows.
- Advanced segmentation to target specific audience groups.
- Design branded transactional emails.
- Easy-to-create landing pages and forms integrated with CRM.
- Managing and tracking of Facebook ad campaigns directly from the platform.
Pros 👍
- The user-friendly interface with intuitive tools is perfect for beginners and advanced users alike.
- Brevo offers a robust suite of marketing tools including email, SMS, chat, and CRM capabilities.
- This solution provides a lot of value at a competitive price, making it accessible for small businesses and startups.
Con 👎
- The design and templates might be less visually appealing compared to competitors.
Brevo (ex Sendinblue)
GetResponse
GetResponse is a robust email marketing platform designed to enhance digital marketing efforts, making it an all-encompassing solution for businesses looking to optimize their marketing strategies, improve customer engagement and drive growth.
For Who? 🕵️
GetResponse is suitable for:
- Small to medium-sized enterprises,
- Large businesses,
- E-commerce platforms,
- And independent marketers.
Main Functionalities 🔧
- AI-powered email generation for creating effective email content automatically.
- Web push notifications to re-engage website visitors and improve conversion rates.
- Funnel conversion tools to optimize customer journeys from initial contact to final purchase.
- Live chat functionality to provide instant support and engagement with website visitors.
- Integration with e-commerce platforms for seamless data synchronization and workflow automation.
- AI recommendations for product promotion and personalized marketing campaigns.
- Webinar hosting and management to engage audiences with live, interactive sessions.
- Pop-up forms and sign-up forms for capturing leads and growing your email list effectively.
Pros 👍
- The advanced AI capabilities are ideal to support the whole process.
- The inclusion of robust tools for hosting and managing webinars makes it easier to engage with audiences through live sessions.
- GetResponse supports various channels including email, SMS, web push notifications, and live chat, providing a holistic approach to customer engagement.
Con 👎
- The cost increases significantly with the growth of your contact list, which might be a concern for businesses with large databases.
GetResponse
HubSpot
HubSpot, or Hub Marketing, is a leading marketing and automation platform designed to help businesses attract, engage, and delight customers, providing a comprehensive solution for managing and leveraging digital marketing strategies.
For Who? 🕵️
HubSpot is suitable for small to large businesses across various industries, including:
- Technology,
- E-commerce,
- Education,
- And professional services.
Main Functionalities 🔧
- AI-powered email writing tools for quickly generating engaging email content.
- Personalization options to tailor emails based on contact data, such as name, company, and lifecycle stage.
- Automated follow-up actions based on recipient engagement, such as email opens, bounces, and link clicks.
- A/B testing and in-depth analytics to optimize email campaigns and improve engagement rates.
- Sophisticated marketing automation workflows to streamline repetitive tasks and enhance lead nurturing.
- Integration with social media platforms to manage and schedule posts, monitor interactions, and analyze performance.
- Built-in CRM to manage customer relationships, track interactions, and automate follow-ups.
- Customizable landing pages and forms to capture leads and drive conversions.
Pros 👍
- The advanced AI features help quickly create engaging email content and optimize subject lines, saving time and enhancing effectiveness.
- The automation workflows simplify complex marketing processes and improve lead nurturing and customer engagement.
- The detailed analytics and A/B testing provide deep insights into email performance and allow for continuous optimization through testing.
Con 👎
- The cost increases significantly with the size of your contact list, which can be a concern for businesses with large databases.
Hub Marketing
Mailchimp
Mailchimp is a renowned email marketing platform widely used to manage email marketing campaigns and manage your contact databases. Known for its user-friendly interface and comprehensive features, Mailchimp offers powerful email marketing tools to enhance engagement and conversion.
For Who? 🕵️
Mailchimp caters to:
- Small and medium-sized businesses,
- Startups,
- And large enterprises across various industries, including retail, e-commerce, technology, and more.
Main Functionalities 🔧
- Customizable email templates and a drag-and-drop editor for designing professional emails without coding skills.
- Automated email journeys to streamline customer interactions and nurture leads through personalized email sequences.
- Advanced segmentation to target customers based on behaviors, engagement, and predicted demographics.
- A/B testing and analytics to optimize email campaigns and improve performance.
- Comprehensive reporting to track email performance, including open rates, click-through rates, and conversion metrics
- Integration with CRM systems to manage customer data and personalize email content based on user interaction.
Pros 👍
- Mailchimp’s clean and intuitive interface makes it easy for users to design, send, and manage email campaigns.
- Advanced AI features assist in generating email content and optimizing subject lines, enhancing the effectiveness of campaigns.
- Allows for detailed audience segmentation and personalized email content, improving engagement rates.
Con 👎
- The free plan offers limited access to customer support, which is only available via email for the first 30 days.
MailChimp
Our Favorites
Campaigner
Campaigner is an advanced email marketing platform tailored to meet marketers’ needs, designed to elevate marketing campaigns through advanced automation, precise segmentation, and dynamic content personalization.
For Who? 🕵️
Campaigner targets medium to large enterprises across various industries, including:
- financial services,
- retail,
- marketing agencies,
- travel,
- hospitality,
- non-profits,
- and health & wellbeing sectors.
Main Functionalities 🔧
- Campaigner offers sophisticated workflow automation, allowing businesses to create highly customized email and SMS marketing campaigns based on user behaviors and time-based conditions.
- Advanced segmentation to deliver personalized content to specific audience segments, enhancing engagement and conversion rates.
- The intuitive drag-and-drop editor simplifies the creation of professional email templates without the need for coding skills.
- Conversion tracking provides detailed reports and analytics, including real-time conversion tracking, to measure the effectiveness of email campaigns.
- The powerful segmentation capabilities to target specific groups within your contact list based on various criteria, ensuring more relevant and impactful communications.
Pros 👍
- Campaigner is known for its excellent deliverability, ensuring that emails reach the intended inbox rather than the spam folder.
- The round-the-clock customer support through phone, email, and live chat, which is a significant advantage over many competitors.
- The integration of both email and SMS marketing into a single platform, providing a unified approach to customer communication.
Con 👎
- Campaigner does not offer a free plan, only a 30-day free trial, which might be a limitation for smaller businesses or those looking to test the platform extensively before committing
Campaigner
ConvertKit
ConvertKit is an email marketing platform designed specifically for content creators, integrating email marketing, automation, and monetization tools to help users grow their audience, engage effectively, and generate income through digital products and subscriptions.
For Who? 🕵️
ConvertKit is ideal for content creators, specifically:
- influencers,
- solo entrepreneurs,
- bloggers,
- and podcasters who need to build and maintain a direct relationship with their audience.
Main Functionalities 🔧
- Customizable sign-up forms and landing pages with a variety of templates to help grow subscriber lists effectively.
- Visual automations tool allow the creation of complex email sequences and automated marketing workflows to ensure timely and relevant messaging.
- Segmentation and tagging features to segment the audience based on interests, behavior, and other criteria for personalized and targeted email campaigns.
- Integration with e-commerce platforms like Shopify and WooCommerce, enabling the sale of digital products, management of subscriptions, and gaining of sales insights.
- Free migration service to assist users in moving subscribers from other email marketing platforms, ensuring a smooth transition.
Pros 👍
- ConvertKit's visual automation builder allows users to create sophisticated email sequences, enhancing engagement and conversion rates.
- ConvertKit is highly user-friendly, making it easy for beginners to set up and manage their email marketing campaigns without technical expertise, which makes it perfect for content creators.
- The platform offers reliable customer support through live chat and email, along with extensive learning resources and a supportive online community.
Con 👎
- While ConvertKit's templates are easy to use, they offer limited customization options compared to some competitors, which may be a drawback for users seeking highly tailored designs.
ConvertKit
Drip
Drip is a powerful email marketing automation platform designed to help B2C brands achieve better engagement and sales. Known for its high deliverability rates, Drip is an excellent choice for businesses looking to elevate their email marketing strategy.
For Who? 🕵️
Drip is ideal for all sizes of B2C companies, particularly those in the fashion, apparel, and e-commerce industries.
Main Functionalities 🔧
- Sophisticated email automation tools, allowing users to create complex workflows with ease using a visual drag-and-drop builder.
- Behavioral and lifecycle segmentation to automatically update and target specific groups within your audience, ensuring relevant and personalized emails.
- High deliverability rates, with a dedicated team working to maintain a 99% delivery rate, ensuring emails reach the intended inboxes.
- Comprehensive integrations with over 100 applications, including popular e-commerce platforms like Shopify and WooCommerce, enhancing functionality and data synchronization.
- Built-in reporting and analytics that provide detailed insights into campaign performance, including open rates, click-through rates, and conversion metrics.
Pros 👍
- Drip is known for its easy-to-use interface, making it accessible even for users with limited technical expertise.
- Drip offers 24/7 customer support across North American and European time zones, ensuring users receive timely and effective assistance.
- The platform includes robust A/B testing capabilities, allowing users to optimize email elements such as subject lines and delivery times to improve engagement rates
Con 👎
- Drip’s pricing can be quite high, especially for businesses with large subscriber lists, which might be a barrier for smaller enterprises.
Drip
Klaviyo
Klaviyo is a robust email marketing platform designed to offer advanced email and SMS marketing automation and dynamic content, helping businesses engage customers effectively, drive sales, and optimize marketing efforts across multiple channels.
For Who? 🕵️
Klaviyo is ideal for medium to large e-commerce businesses across various industries, including:
- retail,
- fashion,
- and consumer goods.
Main Functionalities 🔧
- Dynamic content personalization for sending personalized product recommendations based on customer behavior and purchase history.
- Advanced segmentation allows targeting of specific audience groups with data-driven insights.
- Email and SMS automation enable the creation and automation of workflows for streamlined communication.
- AI-powered tools to generate compelling email subject lines and optimize campaign performance.
- Comprehensive analytics to monitor key metrics such as open rates, click-through rates, and revenue generated from campaigns.
- Customizable sign-up forms to collect customer data integrated into your website.
- E-commerce integrations syncing with platforms like Shopify and WooCommerce to enhance marketing efforts with real-time data.
Pros 👍
- The extensive data collection and analysis capabilities allow businesses to gain deep insights into customer behavior and preferences.
- Klaviyo scales effectively with growing businesses, making it a robust choice for companies planning to expand their marketing activities over time.
- The platform is user-friendly, making it accessible to marketers with varying levels of technical expertise.
Con 👎
- Klaviyo's pricing can be relatively high, especially for smaller businesses or startups, which might limit its accessibility for those with tighter budgets.
Klaviyo
MailerLite
MailerLite is an email marketing platform designed to help businesses create, send, and optimize email campaigns effortlessly. It offers a range of features, making it a versatile tool for growing your business.
For Who? 🕵️
MailerLite is suitable for:
- small to medium-sized businesses,
- startups,
- freelancers,
- and non-profit organizations.
Main Functionalities 🔧
- The variety of prebuilt templates that you can customize with your own logos, images, and design elements. This allows for quick and professional email creation.
- Powered by GPT, MailerLite’s AI text generation tools help you create impactful email content, headlines, CTAs, and subject lines in seconds.
- The drag-and-drop editor, along with advanced blocks like surveys, quizzes, and social embeds, makes designing engaging emails straightforward and intuitive.
- Advanced marketing workflows using an intuitive automation builder to set up triggers to automatically deliver emails or update custom fields based on subscriber behavior.
- The personalized content to subscribers using segmentation based on interests, geography, and behavior.
- The integration with major e-commerce platforms like Shopify and WooCommerce, enabling you to create effective e-commerce campaigns and track sales performance.
Pros 👍
- The platform is easy to use, with a clean and intuitive interface, making it ideal for those new to email marketing.
- MailerLite’s free plan supports up to 1,000 subscribers and includes essential features like the drag-and-drop editor, email automation builder, and sign-up forms.
- The advanced design features offer robust design tools, including a rich text and HTML editor, customizable templates, and Canva integration for creating stunning visuals.
Con 👎
- The live chat support is only available on higher-tier plans, which may be a limitation for users on the free or lower-tier plans.
Mailerlite
Why Use an ActiveCampaign Alternative?
While ActiveCampaign is a popular tool, being considered a must-have, it could be wiser to go for an alternative. But why is that? 🤔
Cost Efficiency
ActiveCampaign can be quite expensive, especially for small businesses and startups who can’t afford to spend a high amount of money on tools.
💡 Alternatives might offer similar features at a lower cost.
Specific Needs
Businesses with unique requirements may find better-suited alternatives, such as those with robust social media integration or industry-specific tools.
Ease of Use
Alternatives might be simpler, with more intuitive interfaces, improving the experience for those with limited technical expertise.
Customer Support
Some businesses may prefer the customer support model of other platforms if ActiveCampaign's support does not meet their expectations.
Integration Capabilities
Other platforms might integrate better with specific tools and workflows essential to a business.
Scalability
Alternatives may offer more flexible or better scalability options as businesses grow.
User Community and Resources
Some platforms have more active user communities, better documentation, and more comprehensive learning resources.
Regulatory Compliance
Alternatives might offer stronger compliance features for industries with specific regulatory needs.
So… ActiveCampaign or Not?
As you may have understood by now, if ActiveCampaign was a must-have, alternatives became way more interesting.
Depending on your company, your budget, and the type of features you are looking for, you will definitely find your soulmate (Ahem… for email marketing only, sorry). 🤭
And if you need more tools, we have more than one trick up our sleeve! 👉 Take a look at our full list of email marketing software.
After attaining a master's degree in translation and communication, Coralie stepped into the world of SEO and copywriting, drawn by the magic of words and the art of influencing. With her social media expertise, she effortlessly navigates digital communication. Fluent in English, Japanese and French, Coralie skillfully uses her understanding of cultural and linguistic nuances to engage a broad and diverse audience.
Fun fact: In her free time, Coralie swaps her keyboard for a game controller and an apron, indulging her passions for video games and food. She’s currently on a quest to find the best ramen in Paris. 🍜