Act-On vs Marketo: Complete Comparison (2026)

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

In comparing Act-On and Marketo in 2026, Marketo is the stronger choice for enterprise b2b marketing teams running complex demand generation programs due to powerful for enterprise b2b. 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. Marketo provides Lead management, Email marketing, Account-based marketing from Custom pricing. For teams prioritizing value, Marketo delivers a hiltonsoftware Score of 64/100. Act-On and Marketo 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, Pardot, ActiveCampaign. Act-On serves 4K+ orgs users globally (founded 2008) while Marketo reports 5K+ orgs active users (founded 2006).

Act-On vs Marketo at a Glance

Act-On
Marketo
Starting Price
$900/mo
Custom pricing
Free Plan
No
No
User Rating
4.2/5
4.2/5
Best For
Mid-market B2B companies wanting dedicated marketi...
Enterprise B2B marketing teams running complex dem...
Users
4K+ orgs
5K+ orgs
Founded
2008
2006
hiltonsoftware Score
61/100
64/100
Pricing verified: March 2026 ยท Based on official vendor data
๐ŸŽฏ
Act-On
Marketing Automation
61
hiltonsoftware.co Score
VS
๐Ÿ”ต
Marketo
Marketing Automation
64
hiltonsoftware.co Score
RECOMMENDED

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

Act-On and Marketo differ across ease of use, features, value, support, integrations, scalability, and learning curve. Marketo leads in 4 of 7 categories.

Act-OnMarketo
72Ease of Use76
77Features73
60Value for Money58
65Customer Support66
54Integrations58
54Scalability59
64Learning Curve60

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

Act-On
+Good for mid-market B2B
+Solid lead scoring
-Expensive for small teams
-Interface needs modernization
Marketo
+Powerful for enterprise B2B
+Extensive integration ecosystem
-Expensive and complex
-Steep learning curve

Which is better, Act-On or Marketo?

After evaluating Act-On and Marketo across features, pricing, integrations, and user satisfaction, Marketo earns a higher hiltonsoftware Score of 64/100 versus Act-On at 61/100. Marketo stands out for "powerful for enterprise b2b" and "extensive integration ecosystem". Act-On delivers competitive advantages in "good for mid-market b2b", making Act-On a viable alternative.

Neither Act-On nor Marketo offers a free plan. Act-On starts at $900/mo and Marketo at Custom pricing.

Bottom line: Choose Act-On for mid-market b2b companies wanting dedicated marketing automation beyond email. Choose Marketo for enterprise b2b marketing teams running complex demand generation programs. Both Act-On and Marketo are established marketing automation platforms.

CHOOSE ACT-ON IF:

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

CHOOSE MARKETO IF:

Enterprise B2B marketing teams running complex demand generation programs.

Act-On vs Marketo: Frequently Asked Questions

Is Act-On better than Marketo in 2026?
Marketo outperforms Act-On in the 2026 hiltonsoftware.co analysis with a score of 64/100 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. Marketo is the stronger option for Enterprise B2B marketing teams running complex demand generation programs due to powerful for enterprise b2b. For teams needing lead management, hiltonsoftware.co recommends Marketo.
How does Act-On pricing compare to Marketo in 2026?
Act-On starts at $900/mo with no free tier. Marketo starts at Custom pricing without a free plan. Act-On includes features like Lead nurturing, Email marketing, Landing pages. Marketo provides Lead management, Email marketing, Account-based marketing. Act-On serves 4K+ orgs users while Marketo serves 5K+ orgs users. Evaluate total cost of ownership based on team size and required integrations.
What are the main differences between Act-On and Marketo?
Act-On specializes in Lead nurturing, Email marketing, Landing pages, earning a 61/100 hiltonsoftware Score. Marketo focuses on Lead management, Email marketing, Account-based marketing, scoring 64/100. Act-On is best for Mid-market B2B companies wanting dedicated marketing automation beyond email. Marketo is best for Enterprise B2B marketing teams running complex demand generation programs. Both Act-On and Marketo serve the Marketing Automation market but target different user profiles.
Can I migrate from Act-On to Marketo?
Migrating from Act-On to Marketo is possible since both operate in the Marketing Automation space. Export data from Act-On and verify Marketo import capabilities. Key features to evaluate: Lead nurturing, Email marketing, Landing pages (Act-On) versus Lead management, Email marketing, Account-based marketing (Marketo). Running both Act-On and Marketo in parallel during a trial period ensures a smooth transition.
Is Act-On or Marketo better for small business?
Both Act-On and Marketo require paid plans (Act-On: $900/mo, Marketo: Custom pricing). Act-On (61/100) is ideal for Mid-market B2B companies wanting dedicated marketing automation beyond email. Marketo (64/100) fits Enterprise B2B marketing teams running complex demand generation programs. 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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