Act-On vs Mailshake: Complete Comparison (2026)

By Marcus Johnson, Marketing & Growth Specialist·7 years of experience·Updated 2026-04-24·8 min read

In comparing Act-On and Mailshake in 2026, Mailshake is the stronger choice for sales teams running personalized cold email outreach campaigns due to great for cold 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 provides Cold email sequences, Email warm-up, Dialer from $29/user/mo. For teams prioritizing value, Mailshake delivers a hiltonsoftware Score of 66/100. Act-On and Mailshake 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 reports 75K+ active users (founded 2015).

Act-On vs Mailshake at a Glance

Act-On
Mailshake
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...
Sales teams running personalized cold email outrea...
Users
4K+ orgs
75K+
Founded
2008
2015
hiltonsoftware Score
61/100
66/100
Pricing verified: March 2026 · Based on official vendor data
🎯
Act-On
Marketing Automation
61
hiltonsoftware.co Score
Try Act-On Free →
VS
🤝
Mailshake
Marketing Automation
66
hiltonsoftware.co Score
RECOMMENDED
Try Mailshake Free →

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

Act-On and Mailshake differ across ease of use, features, value, support, integrations, scalability, and learning curve. Mailshake leads in 5 of 7 categories.

Act-OnMailshake
72Ease of Use76
77Features74
60Value for Money64
65Customer Support68
54Integrations61
54Scalability60
64Learning Curve63

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

Act-On
+Good for mid-market B2B
+Solid lead scoring
-Expensive for small teams
-Interface needs modernization
Mailshake
+Great for cold outreach
+Built-in email warm-up
-Narrowly focused on cold outreach
-Limited analytics

Which is better, Act-On or Mailshake?

After evaluating Act-On and Mailshake across features, pricing, integrations, and user satisfaction, Mailshake earns a higher hiltonsoftware Score of 66/100 versus Act-On at 61/100. Mailshake stands out for "great for cold outreach" and "built-in email warm-up". Act-On delivers competitive advantages in "good for mid-market b2b", making Act-On a viable alternative.

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

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

CHOOSE ACT-ON IF:

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

CHOOSE MAILSHAKE IF:

Sales teams running personalized cold email outreach campaigns.

Act-On vs Mailshake: Frequently Asked Questions

Is Act-On better than Mailshake in 2026?
Mailshake 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. Mailshake is the stronger option for Sales teams running personalized cold email outreach campaigns due to great for cold outreach. For teams needing cold email sequences, hiltonsoftware.co recommends Mailshake.
How does Act-On pricing compare to Mailshake in 2026?
Act-On starts at $900/mo with no free tier. Mailshake starts at $29/user/mo without a free plan. Act-On includes features like Lead nurturing, Email marketing, Landing pages. Mailshake provides Cold email sequences, Email warm-up, Dialer. Act-On serves 4K+ orgs users while Mailshake 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?
Act-On specializes in Lead nurturing, Email marketing, Landing pages, earning a 61/100 hiltonsoftware Score. Mailshake focuses on Cold email sequences, Email warm-up, Dialer, scoring 66/100. Act-On is best for Mid-market B2B companies wanting dedicated marketing automation beyond email. Mailshake is best for Sales teams running personalized cold email outreach campaigns. Both Act-On and Mailshake serve the Marketing Automation market but target different user profiles.
Can I migrate from Act-On to Mailshake?
Migrating from Act-On to Mailshake is possible since both operate in the Marketing Automation space. Export data from Act-On and verify Mailshake import capabilities. Key features to evaluate: Lead nurturing, Email marketing, Landing pages (Act-On) versus Cold email sequences, Email warm-up, Dialer (Mailshake). Running both Act-On and Mailshake in parallel during a trial period ensures a smooth transition.
Is Act-On or Mailshake better for small business?
Both Act-On and Mailshake require paid plans (Act-On: $900/mo, Mailshake: $29/user/mo). Act-On (61/100) is ideal for Mid-market B2B companies wanting dedicated marketing automation beyond email. Mailshake (66/100) fits Sales teams running personalized cold email outreach campaigns. Evaluate both during trial periods.

Related Comparisons

Act-On vs HubSpot MarketingAct-On vs MarketoMailshake vs HubSpot MarketingMailshake vs MarketoAct-On vs PardotAct-On vs ActiveCampaignAct-On AlternativesMailshake AlternativesBest Marketing Automation Tools

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.

Visit Act-On →Visit Mailshake →

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