Act-On vs ActiveCampaign: Complete Comparison (2026)

By Marcus Johnson, Marketing & Growth Specialistยท7 years of experienceยทUpdated 2026-04-24ยท8 min read

In comparing Act-On and ActiveCampaign in 2026, ActiveCampaign is the stronger choice for smbs wanting powerful email automation deeply connected to crm due to most powerful smb automation. Act-On excels for mid-market b2b companies wanting dedicated marketing automation beyond email with good for mid-market b2b. Act-On offers Lead nurturing, Email marketing, Landing pages starting at $900/mo. ActiveCampaign provides Visual automation builder, Email marketing, CRM from $15/mo. For teams prioritizing value, ActiveCampaign delivers a hiltonsoftware Score of 72/100. Act-On and ActiveCampaign compete in the marketing automation segment of the SaaS market, where cloud-native solutions, API integrations, and workflow automation drive enterprise and SMB adoption. Other leading marketing automation tools include HubSpot Marketing, Marketo, Pardot. Act-On serves 4K+ orgs users globally (founded 2008) while ActiveCampaign reports 185K+ orgs active users (founded 2003).

Act-On vs ActiveCampaign at a Glance

Act-On
ActiveCampaign
Starting Price
$900/mo
$15/mo
Free Plan
No
No
User Rating
4.2/5
4.5/5
Best For
Mid-market B2B companies wanting dedicated marketi...
SMBs wanting powerful email automation deeply conn...
Users
4K+ orgs
185K+ orgs
Founded
2008
2003
hiltonsoftware Score
61/100
72/100
Pricing verified: March 2026 ยท Based on official vendor data
๐ŸŽฏ
Act-On
Marketing Automation
61
hiltonsoftware.co Score
VS
โšก
ActiveCampaign
Marketing Automation
72
hiltonsoftware.co Score
RECOMMENDED

What are the main differences between Act-On and ActiveCampaign?

Act-On and ActiveCampaign differ across ease of use, features, value, support, integrations, scalability, and learning curve. ActiveCampaign leads in 7 of 7 categories.

Act-OnActiveCampaign
72Ease of Use81
77Features81
60Value for Money63
65Customer Support71
54Integrations63
54Scalability68
64Learning Curve68

What are the pros and cons of Act-On vs ActiveCampaign?

Act-On
+Good for mid-market B2B
+Solid lead scoring
-Expensive for small teams
-Interface needs modernization
ActiveCampaign
+Most powerful SMB automation
+Visual workflow builder is intuitive
-Learning curve for complex automations
-Reporting can be limited

Which is better, Act-On or ActiveCampaign?

After evaluating Act-On and ActiveCampaign across features, pricing, integrations, and user satisfaction, ActiveCampaign earns a higher hiltonsoftware Score of 72/100 versus Act-On at 61/100. ActiveCampaign stands out for "most powerful smb automation" and "visual workflow builder is intuitive". Act-On delivers competitive advantages in "good for mid-market b2b", making Act-On a viable alternative.

Neither Act-On nor ActiveCampaign offers a free plan. Act-On starts at $900/mo and ActiveCampaign at $15/mo.

Bottom line: Choose Act-On for mid-market b2b companies wanting dedicated marketing automation beyond email. Choose ActiveCampaign for smbs wanting powerful email automation deeply connected to crm. Both Act-On and ActiveCampaign are established marketing automation platforms.

CHOOSE ACT-ON IF:

Mid-market B2B companies wanting dedicated marketing automation beyond email.

CHOOSE ACTIVECAMPAIGN IF:

SMBs wanting powerful email automation deeply connected to CRM.

Act-On vs ActiveCampaign: Frequently Asked Questions

Is Act-On better than ActiveCampaign in 2026?
ActiveCampaign outperforms Act-On in the 2026 hiltonsoftware.co analysis with a score of 72/100 compared to 61/100. Act-On excels in Lead nurturing, Email marketing, Landing pages, making Act-On the better choice for Mid-market B2B companies wanting dedicated marketing automation beyond email. ActiveCampaign is the stronger option for SMBs wanting powerful email automation deeply connected to CRM due to most powerful smb automation. For teams needing visual automation builder, hiltonsoftware.co recommends ActiveCampaign.
How does Act-On pricing compare to ActiveCampaign in 2026?
Act-On starts at $900/mo with no free tier. ActiveCampaign starts at $15/mo without a free plan. Act-On includes features like Lead nurturing, Email marketing, Landing pages. ActiveCampaign provides Visual automation builder, Email marketing, CRM. Act-On serves 4K+ orgs users while ActiveCampaign serves 185K+ orgs users. Evaluate total cost of ownership based on team size and required integrations.
What are the main differences between Act-On and ActiveCampaign?
Act-On specializes in Lead nurturing, Email marketing, Landing pages, earning a 61/100 hiltonsoftware Score. ActiveCampaign focuses on Visual automation builder, Email marketing, CRM, scoring 72/100. Act-On is best for Mid-market B2B companies wanting dedicated marketing automation beyond email. ActiveCampaign is best for SMBs wanting powerful email automation deeply connected to CRM. Both Act-On and ActiveCampaign serve the Marketing Automation market but target different user profiles.
Can I migrate from Act-On to ActiveCampaign?
Migrating from Act-On to ActiveCampaign is possible since both operate in the Marketing Automation space. Export data from Act-On and verify ActiveCampaign import capabilities. Key features to evaluate: Lead nurturing, Email marketing, Landing pages (Act-On) versus Visual automation builder, Email marketing, CRM (ActiveCampaign). Running both Act-On and ActiveCampaign in parallel during a trial period ensures a smooth transition.
Is Act-On or ActiveCampaign better for small business?
Both Act-On and ActiveCampaign require paid plans (Act-On: $900/mo, ActiveCampaign: $15/mo). Act-On (61/100) is ideal for Mid-market B2B companies wanting dedicated marketing automation beyond email. ActiveCampaign (72/100) fits SMBs wanting powerful email automation deeply connected to CRM. Evaluate both during trial periods.

Reviewed by Marcus Johnson, Marketing & Growth Specialist. Last updated: 2026-04-24. Pricing verified: March 2026.

Read our scoring methodology to understand how the hiltonsoftware Score is calculated.

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