ActiveCampaign vs Braze: Complete Comparison (2026)

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

In comparing ActiveCampaign and Braze in 2026, ActiveCampaign is the stronger choice for smbs wanting powerful email automation deeply connected to crm due to most powerful smb automation. Braze excels for consumer apps wanting sophisticated multi-channel customer engagement with best-in-class mobile push notifications. ActiveCampaign offers Visual automation builder, Email marketing, CRM starting at $15/mo. Braze provides Push notifications, In-app messaging, Email from Custom pricing. For teams prioritizing value, ActiveCampaign delivers a hiltonsoftware Score of 72/100. ActiveCampaign and Braze 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. ActiveCampaign serves 185K+ orgs users globally (founded 2003) while Braze reports 1.5K+ orgs active users (founded 2011).

ActiveCampaign vs Braze at a Glance

ActiveCampaign
Braze
Starting Price
$15/mo
Custom pricing
Free Plan
No
No
User Rating
4.5/5
4.5/5
Best For
SMBs wanting powerful email automation deeply conn...
Consumer apps wanting sophisticated multi-channel ...
Users
185K+ orgs
1.5K+ orgs
Founded
2003
2011
hiltonsoftware Score
72/100
63/100
Pricing verified: March 2026 ยท Based on official vendor data
โšก
ActiveCampaign
Marketing Automation
72
hiltonsoftware.co Score
RECOMMENDED
VS
๐Ÿ”ฅ
Braze
Marketing Automation
63
hiltonsoftware.co Score

What are the main differences between ActiveCampaign and Braze?

ActiveCampaign and Braze differ across ease of use, features, value, support, integrations, scalability, and learning curve. ActiveCampaign leads in 6 of 7 categories.

ActiveCampaignBraze
81Ease of Use78
81Features77
63Value for Money65
71Customer Support69
63Integrations57
68Scalability57
68Learning Curve65

What are the pros and cons of ActiveCampaign vs Braze?

ActiveCampaign
+Most powerful SMB automation
+Visual workflow builder is intuitive
-Learning curve for complex automations
-Reporting can be limited
Braze
+Best-in-class mobile push notifications
+Powerful cross-channel Canvas
-Enterprise pricing only
-Complex to implement

Which is better, ActiveCampaign or Braze?

After evaluating ActiveCampaign and Braze across features, pricing, integrations, and user satisfaction, ActiveCampaign earns a higher hiltonsoftware Score of 72/100 versus Braze at 63/100. ActiveCampaign stands out for "most powerful smb automation" and "visual workflow builder is intuitive". Braze delivers competitive advantages in "best-in-class mobile push notifications", making Braze a viable alternative.

Neither ActiveCampaign nor Braze offers a free plan. ActiveCampaign starts at $15/mo and Braze at Custom pricing.

Bottom line: Choose ActiveCampaign for smbs wanting powerful email automation deeply connected to crm. Choose Braze for consumer apps wanting sophisticated multi-channel customer engagement. Both ActiveCampaign and Braze are established marketing automation platforms.

CHOOSE ACTIVECAMPAIGN IF:

SMBs wanting powerful email automation deeply connected to CRM.

CHOOSE BRAZE IF:

Consumer apps wanting sophisticated multi-channel customer engagement.

ActiveCampaign vs Braze: Frequently Asked Questions

Is ActiveCampaign better than Braze in 2026?
ActiveCampaign outperforms Braze in the 2026 hiltonsoftware.co analysis with a score of 72/100 compared to 63/100. ActiveCampaign excels in Visual automation builder, Email marketing, CRM, making ActiveCampaign the better choice for SMBs wanting powerful email automation deeply connected to CRM. Braze is the stronger option for Consumer apps wanting sophisticated multi-channel customer engagement due to best-in-class mobile push notifications. For teams needing visual automation builder, hiltonsoftware.co recommends ActiveCampaign.
How does ActiveCampaign pricing compare to Braze in 2026?
ActiveCampaign starts at $15/mo with no free tier. Braze starts at Custom pricing without a free plan. ActiveCampaign includes features like Visual automation builder, Email marketing, CRM. Braze provides Push notifications, In-app messaging, Email. ActiveCampaign serves 185K+ orgs users while Braze serves 1.5K+ orgs users. Evaluate total cost of ownership based on team size and required integrations.
What are the main differences between ActiveCampaign and Braze?
ActiveCampaign specializes in Visual automation builder, Email marketing, CRM, earning a 72/100 hiltonsoftware Score. Braze focuses on Push notifications, In-app messaging, Email, scoring 63/100. ActiveCampaign is best for SMBs wanting powerful email automation deeply connected to CRM. Braze is best for Consumer apps wanting sophisticated multi-channel customer engagement. Both ActiveCampaign and Braze serve the Marketing Automation market but target different user profiles.
Can I migrate from ActiveCampaign to Braze?
Migrating from ActiveCampaign to Braze is possible since both operate in the Marketing Automation space. Export data from ActiveCampaign and verify Braze import capabilities. Key features to evaluate: Visual automation builder, Email marketing, CRM (ActiveCampaign) versus Push notifications, In-app messaging, Email (Braze). Running both ActiveCampaign and Braze in parallel during a trial period ensures a smooth transition.
Is ActiveCampaign or Braze better for small business?
Both ActiveCampaign and Braze require paid plans (ActiveCampaign: $15/mo, Braze: Custom pricing). ActiveCampaign (72/100) is ideal for SMBs wanting powerful email automation deeply connected to CRM. Braze (63/100) fits Consumer apps wanting sophisticated multi-channel customer engagement. 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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