Act-On vs Drip (Marketing): Complete Comparison (2026)

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

In comparing Act-On and Drip (Marketing) in 2026, Drip (Marketing) is the stronger choice for e-commerce marketers wanting sophisticated, behavior-based automation due to best visual workflow builder for e-commerce. 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. Drip (Marketing) provides Email automation, SMS, Workflow builder from $39/mo. For teams prioritizing value, Drip (Marketing) delivers a hiltonsoftware Score of 66/100. Act-On and Drip (Marketing) 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 Drip (Marketing) reports 30K+ orgs active users (founded 2013).

Act-On vs Drip (Marketing) at a Glance

Act-On
Drip (Marketing)
Starting Price
$900/mo
$39/mo
Free Plan
No
No
User Rating
4.2/5
4.4/5
Best For
Mid-market B2B companies wanting dedicated marketi...
E-commerce marketers wanting sophisticated, behavi...
Users
4K+ orgs
30K+ orgs
Founded
2008
2013
hiltonsoftware Score
61/100
66/100
Pricing verified: March 2026 ยท Based on official vendor data
๐ŸŽฏ
Act-On
Marketing Automation
61
hiltonsoftware.co Score
VS
๐Ÿ’ง
Drip (Marketing)
Marketing Automation
66
hiltonsoftware.co Score
RECOMMENDED

What are the main differences between Act-On and Drip (Marketing)?

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

Act-OnDrip (Marketing)
72Ease of Use75
77Features76
60Value for Money62
65Customer Support68
54Integrations62
54Scalability58
64Learning Curve64

What are the pros and cons of Act-On vs Drip (Marketing)?

Act-On
+Good for mid-market B2B
+Solid lead scoring
-Expensive for small teams
-Interface needs modernization
Drip (Marketing)
+Best visual workflow builder for e-commerce
+Revenue attribution is accurate
-Expensive baseline
-Not ideal for non-e-commerce

Which is better, Act-On or Drip (Marketing)?

After evaluating Act-On and Drip (Marketing) across features, pricing, integrations, and user satisfaction, Drip (Marketing) earns a higher hiltonsoftware Score of 66/100 versus Act-On at 61/100. Drip (Marketing) stands out for "best visual workflow builder for e-commerce" and "revenue attribution is accurate". Act-On delivers competitive advantages in "good for mid-market b2b", making Act-On a viable alternative.

Neither Act-On nor Drip (Marketing) offers a free plan. Act-On starts at $900/mo and Drip (Marketing) at $39/mo.

Bottom line: Choose Act-On for mid-market b2b companies wanting dedicated marketing automation beyond email. Choose Drip (Marketing) for e-commerce marketers wanting sophisticated, behavior-based automation. Both Act-On and Drip (Marketing) are established marketing automation platforms.

CHOOSE ACT-ON IF:

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

CHOOSE DRIP (MARKETING) IF:

E-commerce marketers wanting sophisticated, behavior-based automation.

Act-On vs Drip (Marketing): Frequently Asked Questions

Is Act-On better than Drip (Marketing) in 2026?
Drip (Marketing) outperforms Act-On in the 2026 hiltonsoftware.co analysis with a score of 66/100 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. Drip (Marketing) is the stronger option for E-commerce marketers wanting sophisticated, behavior-based automation due to best visual workflow builder for e-commerce. For teams needing email automation, hiltonsoftware.co recommends Drip (Marketing).
How does Act-On pricing compare to Drip (Marketing) in 2026?
Act-On starts at $900/mo with no free tier. Drip (Marketing) starts at $39/mo without a free plan. Act-On includes features like Lead nurturing, Email marketing, Landing pages. Drip (Marketing) provides Email automation, SMS, Workflow builder. Act-On serves 4K+ orgs users while Drip (Marketing) serves 30K+ orgs users. Evaluate total cost of ownership based on team size and required integrations.
What are the main differences between Act-On and Drip (Marketing)?
Act-On specializes in Lead nurturing, Email marketing, Landing pages, earning a 61/100 hiltonsoftware Score. Drip (Marketing) focuses on Email automation, SMS, Workflow builder, scoring 66/100. Act-On is best for Mid-market B2B companies wanting dedicated marketing automation beyond email. Drip (Marketing) is best for E-commerce marketers wanting sophisticated, behavior-based automation. Both Act-On and Drip (Marketing) serve the Marketing Automation market but target different user profiles.
Can I migrate from Act-On to Drip (Marketing)?
Migrating from Act-On to Drip (Marketing) is possible since both operate in the Marketing Automation space. Export data from Act-On and verify Drip (Marketing) import capabilities. Key features to evaluate: Lead nurturing, Email marketing, Landing pages (Act-On) versus Email automation, SMS, Workflow builder (Drip (Marketing)). Running both Act-On and Drip (Marketing) in parallel during a trial period ensures a smooth transition.
Is Act-On or Drip (Marketing) better for small business?
Both Act-On and Drip (Marketing) require paid plans (Act-On: $900/mo, Drip (Marketing): $39/mo). Act-On (61/100) is ideal for Mid-market B2B companies wanting dedicated marketing automation beyond email. Drip (Marketing) (66/100) fits E-commerce marketers wanting sophisticated, behavior-based automation. 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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