Act-On vs Autopilot: Complete Comparison (2026)

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

In comparing Act-On and Autopilot in 2026, Autopilot is the stronger choice for marketing teams wanting visual customer journey automation with analytics due to visual journey builder is exceptional. 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. Autopilot provides Journey builder, Email and SMS, Analytics from $99/mo. For teams prioritizing value, Autopilot delivers a hiltonsoftware Score of 62/100. Act-On and Autopilot 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 Autopilot reports 12K+ orgs active users (founded 2012).

Act-On vs Autopilot at a Glance

Act-On
Autopilot
Starting Price
$900/mo
$99/mo
Free Plan
No
No
User Rating
4.2/5
4.3/5
Best For
Mid-market B2B companies wanting dedicated marketi...
Marketing teams wanting visual customer journey au...
Users
4K+ orgs
12K+ orgs
Founded
2008
2012
hiltonsoftware Score
61/100
62/100
Pricing verified: March 2026 ยท Based on official vendor data
๐ŸŽฏ
Act-On
Marketing Automation
61
hiltonsoftware.co Score
VS
โœˆ๏ธ
Autopilot
Marketing Automation
62
hiltonsoftware.co Score
RECOMMENDED

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

Act-On and Autopilot differ across ease of use, features, value, support, integrations, scalability, and learning curve. Autopilot leads in 6 of 7 categories.

Act-OnAutopilot
72Ease of Use76
77Features77
60Value for Money58
65Customer Support65
54Integrations58
54Scalability59
64Learning Curve66

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

Act-On
+Good for mid-market B2B
+Solid lead scoring
-Expensive for small teams
-Interface needs modernization
Autopilot
+Visual journey builder is exceptional
+Built-in CDP and analytics
-Expensive for smaller teams
-Rebranding has caused some confusion

Which is better, Act-On or Autopilot?

After evaluating Act-On and Autopilot across features, pricing, integrations, and user satisfaction, Autopilot earns a higher hiltonsoftware Score of 62/100 versus Act-On at 61/100. Autopilot stands out for "visual journey builder is exceptional" and "built-in cdp and analytics". Act-On delivers competitive advantages in "good for mid-market b2b", making Act-On a viable alternative.

Neither Act-On nor Autopilot offers a free plan. Act-On starts at $900/mo and Autopilot at $99/mo.

Bottom line: Choose Act-On for mid-market b2b companies wanting dedicated marketing automation beyond email. Choose Autopilot for marketing teams wanting visual customer journey automation with analytics. Both Act-On and Autopilot are established marketing automation platforms.

CHOOSE ACT-ON IF:

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

CHOOSE AUTOPILOT IF:

Marketing teams wanting visual customer journey automation with analytics.

Act-On vs Autopilot: Frequently Asked Questions

Is Act-On better than Autopilot in 2026?
Autopilot outperforms Act-On in the 2026 hiltonsoftware.co analysis with a score of 62/100 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. Autopilot is the stronger option for Marketing teams wanting visual customer journey automation with analytics due to visual journey builder is exceptional. For teams needing journey builder, hiltonsoftware.co recommends Autopilot.
How does Act-On pricing compare to Autopilot in 2026?
Act-On starts at $900/mo with no free tier. Autopilot starts at $99/mo without a free plan. Act-On includes features like Lead nurturing, Email marketing, Landing pages. Autopilot provides Journey builder, Email and SMS, Analytics. Act-On serves 4K+ orgs users while Autopilot serves 12K+ orgs users. Evaluate total cost of ownership based on team size and required integrations.
What are the main differences between Act-On and Autopilot?
Act-On specializes in Lead nurturing, Email marketing, Landing pages, earning a 61/100 hiltonsoftware Score. Autopilot focuses on Journey builder, Email and SMS, Analytics, scoring 62/100. Act-On is best for Mid-market B2B companies wanting dedicated marketing automation beyond email. Autopilot is best for Marketing teams wanting visual customer journey automation with analytics. Both Act-On and Autopilot serve the Marketing Automation market but target different user profiles.
Can I migrate from Act-On to Autopilot?
Migrating from Act-On to Autopilot is possible since both operate in the Marketing Automation space. Export data from Act-On and verify Autopilot import capabilities. Key features to evaluate: Lead nurturing, Email marketing, Landing pages (Act-On) versus Journey builder, Email and SMS, Analytics (Autopilot). Running both Act-On and Autopilot in parallel during a trial period ensures a smooth transition.
Is Act-On or Autopilot better for small business?
Both Act-On and Autopilot require paid plans (Act-On: $900/mo, Autopilot: $99/mo). Act-On (61/100) is ideal for Mid-market B2B companies wanting dedicated marketing automation beyond email. Autopilot (62/100) fits Marketing teams wanting visual customer journey automation with analytics. 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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