12 Best ActiveCampaign Alternatives Worth Trying (2025)

Looking for a better tool than ActiveCampaign?

ActiveCampaign is powerful, but it’s not a perfect fit for everyone. Some users find it too expensive. Others feel it's hard to use. Many small teams just want something simpler or cheaper without giving up useful features like automation, CRM, or email campaigns.

In fact, according to a 2024 report by EmailToolTester, over 37% of users switch email platforms within their first year—mostly due to cost and complexity.

There are plenty of alternatives out there. Some offer better value. Others come with easier setups or better support. A few even offer free plans that help new businesses get started without spending anything.

In this guide, we’ll look at top ActiveCampaign alternatives. We’ll cover their features, pricing, and what kind of businesses they work best for. Whether you’re a startup, a marketer, or just someone who wants a simple tool that works—you’ll find a match here.

Let’s find the one that fits you best.

Not every email or CRM platform works the same. If ActiveCampaign feels too much or too expensive, switching to a better fit makes sense. But before picking a new tool, it’s smart to know what matters.

Let’s keep it simple.

1. Ease of Use

If a tool takes too long to learn, most people will give up. Look for a clean dashboard, drag-and-drop builders, and clear steps to set up email flows or sales pipelines. The goal is to spend less time figuring things out and more time getting work done.

Example: venturz is often praised for being easy to use, even for beginners.

2. Automation Features

Email automation helps you send messages at the right time. Whether it's a welcome email or a cart reminder, automation saves time. Check if the platform offers ready-made workflows, triggers based on behavior, and visual flow builders.

 Stat: Businesses that use email automation see a 14.5% increase in sales productivity (Forrester).

3. CRM and Contact Management

Some platforms only send emails. Others help manage contacts, deals, and follow-ups. If your team needs a full view of customers—from first email to final sale—make sure the tool includes CRM features like contact history, tagging, and pipelines.

4. Pricing and Free Plan

Cost matters. ActiveCampaign gets expensive fast as your contact list grows. Look for transparent pricing, especially if you're on a tight budget. Free plans or trials are helpful for testing before paying.

Tip: Brevo and Venturz offer free plans with strong features for small businesses.

5. Templates and Design Tools

You don’t need to be a designer to send good emails. Most tools offer pre-made templates. Some let you edit with blocks, colors, and images. If you care about how your emails look, check the builder before signing up.

6. Integrations

Your email tool should connect with your website, eCommerce store, or other apps you use. This includes platforms like Shopify, WordPress, Zapier, Stripe, and others. More integrations = less manual work.

7. Deliverability

This means how well your emails land in inboxes (not spam folders). Some tools test and monitor this. Others don’t. Look for services that mention strong deliverability or run regular tests.

8. Support and Help Resources

Things break. Campaigns go wrong. A good support team can save you hours. Live chat, email help, and clear guides or video tutorials all make a big difference—especially when you’re stuck.

9. Scalability

You might start small, but your list can grow fast. Choose a platform that grows with you. Look for plans that support more contacts, better analytics, or advanced workflows without forcing a full upgrade too soon.

Choosing the right tool depends on what you need today—and what you’ll need six months from now. Keep it simple, clear, and practical.

Next, we’ll break down the 12 best alternatives and help you compare them side by side.

Venturz is an all-in-one platform built for startups, small businesses, and growing teams. It brings together CRM, email marketing, sales funnels, landing pages, and task management—all under one dashboard.

Instead of juggling five different tools, you can run your sales, marketing, and communication in one place. It’s made for users who want less clutter, more control, and faster setup.

ActiveCampaign is packed with features, but many users find it complicated or too expensive. Venturz simplifies everything. You get automation, CRM, emails, landing pages, and task tools in a clean setup—without needing five tools or a big budget.

For early-stage teams or solo users, it’s a smoother start. You don’t have to connect different apps or pay extra for things like funnels or pipeline views.

Venturz also has a free plan, which ActiveCampaign doesn’t offer.

Venturz has a free plan with access to most tools, great for startups and small teams.

There are no setup fees, and you can start using it right away without a credit card.

Brevo is a popular email marketing platform known for its mix of email, SMS, and automation tools. It works well for businesses that want multi-channel communication without spending too much.

The platform includes drag-and-drop email builders, simple workflows, and strong transactional email options. It’s used by marketers, eCommerce stores, and service businesses across different industries.

If you’re looking to save money while still getting key features like automation and email campaigns, Brevo is a solid pick. Unlike ActiveCampaign, Brevo charges based on how many emails you send, not how many contacts you have.

This makes a big difference if you manage a large list but don’t email them often. Plus, Brevo’s free plan includes SMS and basic automation, which ActiveCampaign lacks.

Brevo is also easier for beginners and includes transactional emails—great for order confirmations and alerts.

Brevo offers flexible pricing and one of the most generous free plans available.

You pay for the emails you send—not the number of contacts you store. This can lower costs for growing teams.

Moosend is an email marketing and automation platform built for small to mid-sized businesses. It helps users send campaigns, automate emails, and track performance without needing technical skills.

The interface is clean, the tools are simple to use, and setup takes minutes. It works well for marketers who want to launch emails quickly and automate follow-ups without extra cost or confusion.

Moosend is easier to use and more affordable than ActiveCampaign. While ActiveCampaign has a lot of tools, many users find it hard to manage without training.

Moosend keeps things simple. You get drag-and-drop builders, pre-made automation recipes, and clear reports—all without the learning curve. It also offers AI tools to help you write email content and product recommendations.

And the pricing? Much lower. Moosend starts at just $9/month, and you can try it free for 30 days.

Moosend keeps its pricing simple and budget-friendly.

All plans include unlimited emails and access to core features like automation, reporting, and landing pages.

Mailchimp is one of the most well-known email marketing platforms. It’s used by small businesses, creators, eCommerce stores, and agencies. With a large template library, drag-and-drop editor, and built-in analytics, it’s made for people who want to launch email campaigns without much setup.

Mailchimp also offers landing pages, social posting, and simple automation—all from one dashboard.

Mailchimp is easier for beginners. While ActiveCampaign has more advanced tools, many users say it feels overwhelming. Mailchimp, on the other hand, focuses on ease of use.

If you’re just getting started with email marketing, Mailchimp’s ready-to-use templates and step-by-step guides make a smoother entry point. It also has a free plan, which ActiveCampaign does not.

For small teams who need quick results and clean designs, Mailchimp is a safer pick.

Mailchimp offers flexible pricing for businesses of all sizes.

Mailchimp pricing grows based on contact count, so it’s best for users with smaller lists or lighter send needs.

Klaviyo is a marketing platform made for eCommerce businesses. It helps online stores send personalized emails and SMS messages based on customer behavior. With deep integrations with platforms like Shopify and WooCommerce, it tracks user activity and uses that data to send smarter campaigns.

If you sell products online, Klaviyo gives you the tools to grow your sales through better targeting and automation.

While ActiveCampaign is great for general marketing, Klaviyo is built specifically for eCommerce. If you want to track customer actions like purchases, cart abandonment, or product views—and send emails based on those actions—Klaviyo does that better.

It’s also easier to connect with online stores. No need for third-party apps. The integration is direct and real-time.

Plus, Klaviyo supports both email and SMS, letting you run two channels from one place. That’s something ActiveCampaign doesn’t offer natively.

Klaviyo pricing is based on the number of contacts, and both email and SMS are pay-as-you-go.

All plans include unlimited email flows and core eCommerce features.

Drip is a marketing automation platform built for eCommerce brands. It focuses on helping online stores connect with customers through personalized email and SMS campaigns. With deep integrations, behavior tracking, and pre-built workflows, it’s made for stores that want to boost repeat sales and customer loyalty.

Drip is used by thousands of Shopify and WooCommerce stores around the world.

Drip is built specifically for eCommerce, while ActiveCampaign is more general-purpose. If your business runs an online store, Drip gives you stronger tools to track customer behavior and send smarter emails based on that data.

With features like purchase-based segmentation, pre-set automations, and real-time syncing with your store, Drip helps you reach the right customer at the right time. It’s also easier to use for building revenue-focused email flows, like abandoned cart, upsells, or re-engagement.

And unlike ActiveCampaign, Drip includes SMS marketing without needing a separate tool.

Drip’s pricing is based on the number of contacts. All plans include full access to features.

There are no feature limits across pricing tiers—just pay based on your list size.

HubSpot is a well-known platform that combines CRM, email marketing, sales tools, and automation in one place. It’s used by businesses of all sizes, from startups to large companies.

What makes HubSpot stand out is how it connects your sales, marketing, and customer support efforts. You can manage contacts, track deals, send campaigns, and handle support—all from the same dashboard.

ActiveCampaign focuses mainly on marketing automation and email. HubSpot gives you more. It includes a full CRM, plus tools for lead management, customer service, landing pages, live chat, and more.

If you want everything under one roof, HubSpot makes that possible. It’s also a good choice if you have multiple teams (marketing, sales, support) working together.

HubSpot’s free plan is another big advantage. You can test the platform and use basic tools before upgrading, something ActiveCampaign doesn’t offer.

HubSpot offers a mix of free tools and paid upgrades.

The free plan is great for testing. But advanced automation and features require upgrading.

MailerLite is a simple and budget-friendly email marketing platform. It’s made for creators, small businesses, and anyone who wants to send emails without dealing with complex tools.

The platform offers email campaigns, automation, landing pages, and pop-up forms. It’s clean, fast, and easy to learn—even for people who have never used email software before.

MailerLite is much easier to use. While ActiveCampaign comes with lots of features, it can feel overwhelming for smaller teams. MailerLite keeps things light and straightforward.

The pricing is another big reason people switch. MailerLite has a free plan, and its paid plans start lower than ActiveCampaign. You get unlimited emails, basic automation, and design tools for a much smaller price.

If you're looking for something easy to learn and easy to afford, MailerLite fits well.

MailerLite offers one of the best free plans for small teams.

Each plan grows based on subscriber count, but the base prices are very affordable.

Constant Contact is an email marketing platform that helps small businesses and nonprofits stay connected with their audience. It’s been around for over two decades and is known for its strong focus on events, newsletters, and list building.

The platform offers email templates, contact management, automation, and even event invitations and RSVPs, which is a unique feature compared to many other tools.

While ActiveCampaign is strong on automation, it’s not the easiest tool for beginners. Constant Contact is simpler and more focused on helping you send campaigns fast without needing a big learning curve.

If you run events or need to send reminders, invites, or RSVPs, Constant Contact has built-in tools to handle that. That’s something ActiveCampaign doesn’t offer out of the box.

It also includes social media scheduling, which is helpful for small teams managing email and social channels in one place.

Constant Contact’s pricing is based on contact count and feature access.

Pricing increases with your contact list size, so it’s best for smaller to medium lists.

GetResponse is an email marketing and automation platform with extra features for building funnels, hosting webinars, and selling online. It’s a good pick for digital marketers, coaches, and small businesses that want more than just email.

It includes landing pages, lead capture tools, and even built-in webinar hosting. That makes it stand out from most other tools on this list.

ActiveCampaign is focused on automation and email, but GetResponse gives you more variety in one place. If you want to run webinars, build sales funnels, and manage emails without buying extra tools, GetResponse is worth looking at.

It’s especially useful for people who sell digital products, courses, or services. You can collect leads, run email campaigns, and host a webinar—all from the same dashboard.

GetResponse also offers a 30-day free trial, which ActiveCampaign does not.

GetResponse offers both a free plan and paid plans that scale with your needs.

All plans include unlimited email sends, and you can try premium features free for 30 days.

ConvertKit, now branded simply as Kit, is an email marketing platform built for creators. It’s popular with bloggers, course makers, musicians, coaches, and YouTubers who need a simple way to grow their audience and stay in touch.

Kit focuses on clean email design, automation, and tools for selling digital products or subscriptions.

If you’re a solo creator or building a personal brand, Kit is often a better fit than ActiveCampaign. It’s much easier to use, with a visual automation builder, simple tagging, and no cluttered dashboard.

While ActiveCampaign feels more like a tool for sales teams, Kit is made for creators who want to write emails, sell products, and grow their list—without hiring a tech expert.

Plus, ConvertKit has a free plan with solid features, making it easier to start without spending upfront.

ConvertKit offers flexible plans, including a generous free option.

All plans include unlimited emails and full access to the visual automation builder (except the free plan, which has limits).

EngageBay is an all-in-one platform that combines CRM, email marketing, automation, live chat, and help desk tools. It’s made for small businesses and startups that want everything in one place without paying for multiple tools.

The platform is split into three parts—Marketing Bay, Sales Bay, and Service Bay—but you can use them all together or choose just the features you need.

EngageBay offers more tools at a lower price. While ActiveCampaign focuses mainly on email and automation, EngageBay includes a full CRM, ticketing system, live chat, and landing page builder—all in one plan.

It’s ideal for small teams that want to manage sales, marketing, and customer service from one dashboard. Plus, EngageBay has a free plan, which ActiveCampaign doesn’t offer.

If you want more features without paying for extra add-ons, EngageBay is a solid choice.

EngageBay has flexible pricing, including a generous free plan.

You can also bundle all tools (Marketing + Sales + Service) in one package or pay separately based on your needs.

Many people are now looking for ActiveCampaign alternatives. The reason is simple. Not every tool fits every business.

Some need lower prices. Others want fewer steps to set things up. Some just want a cleaner way to send emails and build connections.

There’s no one-size-fits-all. But the good news? You have options.

Pick an ActiveCampaign alternative that saves you time, cuts the clutter, and fits your daily work. It doesn’t have to be complex. It just has to work.

Venturz is one of the best free alternatives to ActiveCampaign. It includes CRM, email marketing, sales funnels, landing pages, and automation—all in the free plan. Other solid free options include MailerLite (up to 1,000 subscribers) and Brevo (300 emails per day with unlimited contacts).

Mailchimp is easier to use, especially for beginners. It offers better templates and a more intuitive setup. ActiveCampaign has more advanced automation and CRM features, which are better for larger teams or businesses with complex workflows. If simplicity matters, Mailchimp wins. For deeper automation, ActiveCampaign has the edge.

Yes, Venturz is a strong alternative to ActiveCampaign, especially for startups and small teams. It combines CRM, email, automation, funnels, and landing pages in one place. Unlike ActiveCampaign, it has a free plan, is easier to learn, and doesn’t require multiple tools to manage marketing and sales.

Some of the most affordable options include:

All of these offer key features like automation and email campaigns at lower prices than ActiveCampaign.

Yes, most platforms allow you to import contacts from ActiveCampaign using CSV files. Some tools like Venturz, GetResponse, and Moosend even offer migration help or onboarding support. You can usually move your lists, tags, and templates in a few simple steps.