ActiveCampaign logo
Email Marketing

Best ActiveCampaign alternatives

We put ActiveCampaign head to head with the 6 closest rivals we have tested, so you can switch on evidence, not a hunch.

Read our ActiveCampaign review
Why people look elsewhere

Where ActiveCampaign can fall short

Learning curve for the automation depth
Pricing scales steeply with contacts
No permanent free plan
Ranked by our testing

6 alternatives worth your time

1beehiiv logo

beehiiv

4.6 out of 54.6

A modern newsletter platform built for growth.

Free planFrom $39/moFree tier

Unlike ActiveCampaign, beehiiv ships a genuine free tier, so you can start without a card and only pay once it earns it.

  • Well established product with an active user base
  • Regular updates and clear roadmap
2MailerLite logo

MailerLite

4.5 out of 54.5

Clean, affordable email marketing for creators.

Free planFrom $10/moFree tier

Unlike ActiveCampaign, MailerLite ships a genuine free tier, so you can start without a card and only pay once it earns it.

  • Well established product with an active user base
  • Regular updates and clear roadmap
3Kit logo

Kit

4.4 out of 54.4

Email and automation made for creators.

Free planFrom $0, paid from $25/moFree tier

Unlike ActiveCampaign, Kit ships a genuine free tier, so you can start without a card and only pay once it earns it.

  • Creator focused automations and tagging
  • Free plan up to a real subscriber count
4.4
Our score
Try KitRead review
4Substack logo

Substack

4.3 out of 54.3

Publish and monetize a newsletter with zero setup.

Free planFrom Free + 10%Free tier

Unlike ActiveCampaign, Substack ships a genuine free tier, so you can start without a card and only pay once it earns it.

  • Well established product with an active user base
  • Regular updates and clear roadmap
5Brevo logo

Brevo

4.2 out of 54.2

Email, SMS, and CRM on a generous free plan.

Free planFrom $9/moFree tier

Unlike ActiveCampaign, Brevo ships a genuine free tier, so you can start without a card and only pay once it earns it.

  • Well established product with an active user base
  • Regular updates and clear roadmap
6GetResponse logo

GetResponse

4.1 out of 54.1

Email marketing with funnels and webinars built in.

Free planFrom $19/moFree tier

Unlike ActiveCampaign, GetResponse ships a genuine free tier, so you can start without a card and only pay once it earns it.

  • Well established product with an active user base
  • Regular updates and clear roadmap
Side by side

ActiveCampaign vs the alternatives

ToolOur scoreFromFree tierBest for
ActiveCampaign logoActiveCampaignYou have4.3$15/mo NoBusinesses that want deep automation and segmentation
beehiiv logobeehiiv4.6$39/mo YesA modern newsletter platform built for growth.
MailerLite logoMailerLite4.5$10/mo YesClean, affordable email marketing for creators.
Kit logoKit4.4$0, paid from $25/mo YesCreators and newsletters building an audience
Substack logoSubstack4.3Free + 10% YesPublish and monetize a newsletter with zero setup.
Brevo logoBrevo4.2$9/mo YesEmail, SMS, and CRM on a generous free plan.
GetResponse logoGetResponse4.1$19/mo YesEmail marketing with funnels and webinars built in.
Our pick

Switch to beehiiv

Unlike ActiveCampaign, beehiiv ships a genuine free tier, so you can start without a card and only pay once it earns it. It is the ActiveCampaign alternative we recommend first for most people.

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Affiliate disclosure: We may earn a commission if you buy through the links on this page, at no extra cost to you. We only recommend tools we have tested, and commissions never change our scores or rankings. We currently track 218+ tools, including 9 across Email Marketing.