Act-On vs Mailshake (Outreach): Complete Comparison (2026)

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

In comparing Act-On and Mailshake (Outreach) in 2026, Mailshake (Outreach) is the stronger choice for sdrs and sales teams running high-volume cold outreach campaigns due to simple and focused on outreach. 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. Mailshake (Outreach) provides Email sequences, Email warm-up, Phone dialer from $29/user/mo. For teams prioritizing value, Mailshake (Outreach) delivers a hiltonsoftware Score of 67/100. Act-On and Mailshake (Outreach) 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 Mailshake (Outreach) reports 75K+ active users (founded 2015).

Act-On vs Mailshake (Outreach) at a Glance

Act-On
Mailshake (Outreach)
Starting Price
$900/mo
$29/user/mo
Free Plan
No
No
User Rating
4.2/5
4.4/5
Best For
Mid-market B2B companies wanting dedicated marketi...
SDRs and sales teams running high-volume cold outr...
Users
4K+ orgs
75K+
Founded
2008
2015
hiltonsoftware Score
61/100
67/100
Pricing verified: March 2026 ยท Based on official vendor data
๐ŸŽฏ
Act-On
Marketing Automation
61
hiltonsoftware.co Score
VS
๐Ÿค
Mailshake (Outreach)
Marketing Automation
67
hiltonsoftware.co Score
RECOMMENDED

What are the main differences between Act-On and Mailshake (Outreach)?

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

Act-OnMailshake (Outreach)
72Ease of Use78
77Features78
60Value for Money60
65Customer Support66
54Integrations61
54Scalability62
64Learning Curve67

What are the pros and cons of Act-On vs Mailshake (Outreach)?

Act-On
+Good for mid-market B2B
+Solid lead scoring
-Expensive for small teams
-Interface needs modernization
Mailshake (Outreach)
+Simple and focused on outreach
+Good deliverability tools
-Narrowly focused feature set
-Limited reporting

Which is better, Act-On or Mailshake (Outreach)?

After evaluating Act-On and Mailshake (Outreach) across features, pricing, integrations, and user satisfaction, Mailshake (Outreach) earns a higher hiltonsoftware Score of 67/100 versus Act-On at 61/100. Mailshake (Outreach) stands out for "simple and focused on outreach" and "good deliverability tools". Act-On delivers competitive advantages in "good for mid-market b2b", making Act-On a viable alternative.

Neither Act-On nor Mailshake (Outreach) offers a free plan. Act-On starts at $900/mo and Mailshake (Outreach) at $29/user/mo.

Bottom line: Choose Act-On for mid-market b2b companies wanting dedicated marketing automation beyond email. Choose Mailshake (Outreach) for sdrs and sales teams running high-volume cold outreach campaigns. Both Act-On and Mailshake (Outreach) are established marketing automation platforms.

CHOOSE ACT-ON IF:

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

CHOOSE MAILSHAKE (OUTREACH) IF:

SDRs and sales teams running high-volume cold outreach campaigns.

Act-On vs Mailshake (Outreach): Frequently Asked Questions

Is Act-On better than Mailshake (Outreach) in 2026?
Mailshake (Outreach) outperforms Act-On in the 2026 hiltonsoftware.co analysis with a score of 67/100 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. Mailshake (Outreach) is the stronger option for SDRs and sales teams running high-volume cold outreach campaigns due to simple and focused on outreach. For teams needing email sequences, hiltonsoftware.co recommends Mailshake (Outreach).
How does Act-On pricing compare to Mailshake (Outreach) in 2026?
Act-On starts at $900/mo with no free tier. Mailshake (Outreach) starts at $29/user/mo without a free plan. Act-On includes features like Lead nurturing, Email marketing, Landing pages. Mailshake (Outreach) provides Email sequences, Email warm-up, Phone dialer. Act-On serves 4K+ orgs users while Mailshake (Outreach) serves 75K+ users. Evaluate total cost of ownership based on team size and required integrations.
What are the main differences between Act-On and Mailshake (Outreach)?
Act-On specializes in Lead nurturing, Email marketing, Landing pages, earning a 61/100 hiltonsoftware Score. Mailshake (Outreach) focuses on Email sequences, Email warm-up, Phone dialer, scoring 67/100. Act-On is best for Mid-market B2B companies wanting dedicated marketing automation beyond email. Mailshake (Outreach) is best for SDRs and sales teams running high-volume cold outreach campaigns. Both Act-On and Mailshake (Outreach) serve the Marketing Automation market but target different user profiles.
Can I migrate from Act-On to Mailshake (Outreach)?
Migrating from Act-On to Mailshake (Outreach) is possible since both operate in the Marketing Automation space. Export data from Act-On and verify Mailshake (Outreach) import capabilities. Key features to evaluate: Lead nurturing, Email marketing, Landing pages (Act-On) versus Email sequences, Email warm-up, Phone dialer (Mailshake (Outreach)). Running both Act-On and Mailshake (Outreach) in parallel during a trial period ensures a smooth transition.
Is Act-On or Mailshake (Outreach) better for small business?
Both Act-On and Mailshake (Outreach) require paid plans (Act-On: $900/mo, Mailshake (Outreach): $29/user/mo). Act-On (61/100) is ideal for Mid-market B2B companies wanting dedicated marketing automation beyond email. Mailshake (Outreach) (67/100) fits SDRs and sales teams running high-volume cold outreach campaigns. 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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