Marketing Automation software profile
ActiveCampaign
ActiveCampaign is a marketing automation platform with multi-step automation from its cheapest plan, AI builders, segmentation and, on higher plans, landing pages, predictive sending and attribution. Plans start at $15 a month billed yearly for 1,000 contacts and rise with list size. There is no free plan, only a 14-day trial.
Pros and cons
Strengths
- Multi-step automation included from the $15 Starter plan
- Clear upgrade path: landing pages (Plus), predictive sending and attribution (Pro)
- 500 AI credits a month on every plan
- 14-day trial with no credit card
- Enterprise adds SSO, HIPAA support and custom objects
Limitations
- No free plan
- Price rises with contact bands as your list grows
- Starter and Plus include only 1 user
- CRM pipelines are an add-on rather than included
What is ActiveCampaign?
ActiveCampaign is a marketing automation platform built around multi-step automations, email campaigns and segmentation, with AI builders for automations and campaigns. Higher plans add cross-channel marketing, landing pages, predictive sending, conditional content and attribution. An enhanced CRM with pipelines and sales engagement is available as an add-on. Pricing is set by plan and contact count.
Who should use ActiveCampaign?
- Small and mid-sized businesses that want sophisticated automation without an enterprise suite.
- Teams that want automation from the first paid plan: Starter includes multi-step automation.
- Not ideal for teams that need a free plan for ongoing use.
ActiveCampaign pricing
| Plan | From, billed yearly, 1,000 contacts | Users | Email sends/month | Adds |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Starter | $15/month | 1 | 10,000 | Multi-step automation, AI builders, 250+ templates |
| Plus | $49/month | 1 | 10,000 | Cross-channel marketing, generative AI, landing pages and site messages, optional enhanced CRM |
| Pro | $79/month | 3 | 12,000 | Predictive sending, conditional content, advanced segmentation, attribution |
| Enterprise | $145/month | 5 | 15,000 | SSO, HIPAA support, custom objects, premium CRM integrations, dedicated account team, uptime SLA |
Prices rise as your contact list grows; when you pass a contact limit you move to the next contact band. ActiveCampaign offers a 14-day free trial with no credit card required.
Ease of use and implementation
SoftPilot has not tested ActiveCampaign hands-on. Because Starter already includes multi-step automation, the main upgrade decision is whether you need landing pages and cross-channel (Plus) or predictive sending and attribution (Pro).
ActiveCampaign compared with close alternatives
| Tool | Entry price | Priced by | Automation on entry plan |
|---|---|---|---|
| ActiveCampaign | $15/mo yearly | Contacts | Multi-step automation |
| Brevo | $9/mo ($8.08 yearly) | Email volume | Unlimited workflows from Standard ($18) |
| Mailchimp | Not verified in USD | Contacts | Flows from Standard |
Should you shortlist ActiveCampaign?
Shortlist ActiveCampaign if automation is your priority and you want it from the cheapest paid plan, with a clear upgrade path.
Look elsewhere if you want a long-term free plan (consider Brevo or Mailchimp), or a large list where per-contact pricing gets expensive (consider Brevo’s volume-based pricing).
ActiveCampaign FAQs
Does ActiveCampaign have a free plan?
No. It offers a 14-day free trial without a credit card.
How does ActiveCampaign pricing scale?
By plan and contact count. Listed prices start at 1,000 contacts billed yearly; larger lists move into higher contact bands.
Does ActiveCampaign include a CRM?
An enhanced CRM with pipelines and sales engagement is available as an add-on, listed as optional from Plus.
Sources and methodology
This profile is desk research: SoftPilot has not tested this product hands-on. Facts come from the sources below, checked on the dates shown. Prices, plans and limits change often; confirm on the vendor's site before you buy. How we research software.
- ActiveCampaign pricing accessed 20 Oct 2026
- Brevo pricing accessed 20 Oct 2026
- Mailchimp pricing accessed 20 Oct 2026
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