ActiveCampaign Pricing – Are They Justifiable for Businesses?

ActiveCampaign Pricing – Are They Justifiable for Businesses?

ActiveCampaign is more than just an email marketing tool—it’s a comprehensive platform for automating customer relationships and scaling marketing efforts. Its pricing model is designed to accommodate businesses of all sizes, offering four distinct plans that range from basic to enterprise-level capabilities. With tiered pricing, companies can select the features they need, ensuring flexibility and scalability as they grow. But how does this pricing measure up?

Is the value proposition strong enough to justify the cost for businesses looking to streamline their marketing efforts?

Let’s break it down.

Pricing Plans Overview

Overview of ActiveCampaign Pricing Plans

ActiveCampaign pricing is divided into four tiers: Starter, Plus, Professional, and Enterprise. The Starter Plan is perfect for small businesses just starting out, while the Plus and Professional plans offer more advanced features for growing companies. The Enterprise Plan is aimed at large businesses with complex automation and marketing needs. Each tier is designed to scale alongside your business, making it easy to choose a plan that fits your current size and goals.

Comparison table based on the current ActiveCampaign pricing plans and features:

FeatureStarter ($15/month)Plus ($49/month)Pro ($79/month)Enterprise ($145/month)
Contacts1,0001,0001,0001,000
Users13510
Email Sends (per month)10x contact limit10x contact limit12x contact limitCustom
Automation Actions5UnlimitedUnlimitedUnlimited
SegmentationLimitedStandardAdvancedPremium
A/B TestingNoneEmails OnlyEmails & AutomationsEmails & Automations
Dynamic ContentNoYesYesYes
Predictive SendingNoYesYesYes
CRM FeaturesBasic CRMMarketing CRMAdvanced CRMMarketing CRM
Custom ObjectsNoNoNoYes
Landing PagesNoYesYesYes
Dedicated IPNoNoNoYes
Customer SupportStandardPriorityPriorityCustom, with Dedicated Support
This table summarizes the key features across the different ActiveCampaign pricing plans.

Pricing table for ActiveCampaign based on varying contact sizes across the different pricing plans, here’s a comparison table for ActiveCampaign pricing with varied contact numbers across different plans:

ContactsStarter PlanPlus PlanPro PlanEnterprise Plan
1,000$15/month$49/month$79/month$145/month
2,500$39/month$95/month$149/month$225/month
5,000$79/month$145/month$205/month$375/month
10,000$149/month$189/month$375/month$589/month
25,000$389/month$629/month$879/month
50,000$609/month$969/month$1169/month
75,000$609/month$969/month$1169/month
100,000$609/month$969/month$1169/month
This table represents the cost of each ActiveCampaign plan as the number of contacts increases.

ActiveCampaign price plan table based on the number of emails sent per month across Mailchimp plans, here’s a comparison table for the cost of ActiveCampaign plans based on the number of emails sent per month:

Emails Sent/MonthStarter PlanPlus PlanPro PlanEnterprise Plan
1,000$15/month$49/month$79/month$145/month
10,000$15/month$49/month$125/month$225/month
50,000$79/month$145/month$205/month$375/month
100,000$149/month$189/month$375/month$589/month
500,000$609/month$969/month$1169/month
1,200,000$609/month$969/month$1169/month
This table outlines the monthly cost for ActiveCampaign plans based on the number of emails sent per month.

ActiveCampaign Starter Plan

Detail about ActiveCampaign Starter Plan Plan

The Starter Plan, or Starter Plan, is designed for small businesses looking to break into email marketing with a manageable budget. Priced affordably, it offers essential features to get your campaigns up and running quickly. You’ll have the ability to send emails to 10x your contact limit, perfect for small but growing email lists. It supports only one user and comes with five automation triggers and actions per automation, which limits complex workflows but is enough to start building personalized interactions.

ActiveCampaign Pricing

While its capabilities are foundational, the AI-powered automation builder offers access to 900+ automation recipes, which means you won’t be left entirely on your own to design your campaigns. However, more advanced tools like conditional content and multi-channel support are not included in this plan. Segmentation is available, though limited, and only standard web forms are supported.

For businesses just starting out, this plan is both beginner-friendly and practical, allowing you to test the waters of marketing automation without committing to advanced features you may not yet need. However, as your marketing needs grow, the limitations of the Starter plan may prompt you to upgrade for more robust automation and email customization capabilities.

ActiveCampaign Starter Plan Pro and Con:

ProsCons
Affordable starting price at $15/monthLimited to one user
Includes basic email marketing and automation toolsOnly 5 automation actions per workflow
Access to over 900 automation recipesSegmentation is limited
AI-powered automation builderNo advanced features like A/B testing or conditional content
Great for small businesses just starting outNo multi-channel marketing integration
This table highlights the key advantages and limitations of the Starter Plan.

ActiveCampaign Plus Plan

Detail about ActiveCampaign Plus Plan

The Plus Plan is where ActiveCampaign becomes more powerful and adaptable for growing businesses. Priced at $49/month for up to 1,000 contacts, this plan delivers more advanced automation capabilities, allowing users to create multi-step marketing automation workflows that span multiple channels. What makes the Plus Plan especially attractive is the introduction of omnichannel marketing, enabling businesses to reach their customers not only through email but also via SMS, Facebook, and more.

The Plus Plan also significantly expands segmentation options, providing standard segmentation features that help target different audience groups more effectively. With unlimited automation actions and access to multiple automation triggers, this plan allows for the creation of complex workflows. For example, it supports A/B testing for emails, which means businesses can experiment and optimize their campaigns based on real-time data.

Additionally, the Generative AI tool is included, which assists in creating more personalized and engaging content with ease. The drag-and-drop email designer, combined with 250+ pre-built templates, simplifies the creation of polished, professional emails. Integrations with popular services like Gmail and Outlook, and advanced features like dynamic content, predictive content, and conditional content, further enhance its usability for businesses aiming to improve customer engagement and drive conversions.

ActiveCampaign Plus Plan Pro and Con:

ProsCons
Offers multi-step marketing automationCan become costly as the contact list grows
Includes CRM integration and advanced segmentationLimited design flexibility compared to other platforms
Supports A/B testing for emailsLearning curve for beginners
Omnichannel marketing (SMS, email, social)Some advanced features may be overwhelming for small businesses
Generative AI for personalized contentNo transactional email capabilities in this plan
This table highlights the strengths and areas for improvement of the Plus Plan.

ActiveCampaign Pro Plan

Detail about ActiveCampaign Pro Plan

The Pro Plan steps up the game for businesses looking to implement advanced marketing strategies. At $79/month for up to 1,000 contacts, this plan offers significantly more power with its suite of advanced features. Unlike the Starter and Plus plans, the Pro Plan introduces predictive sending, which uses AI to determine the best times to send emails for maximum engagement.

One of the standout features in the Pro Plan is advanced segmentation, allowing businesses to better categorize their audience based on behaviors and preferences. You also get conditional content, which lets you tailor email content dynamically based on specific conditions—making personalization easy and effective. This plan supports three users, which is ideal for marketing teams.

Automation becomes more sophisticated in the Pro Plan, with unlimited automation actions and multiple triggers, allowing for more complex workflows. It also includes sales automation and eCommerce automation, which helps streamline the customer journey, from marketing to conversion.

A/B testing extends beyond emails to automation workflows, enabling businesses to optimize every aspect of their campaigns. Whether it’s through dynamic content, AI-powered automation, or automations map, the Pro Plan is designed for businesses looking to leverage data and automation to boost their marketing efforts.

ActiveCampaign Pro Plan Pro and Con:

ProsCons
Advanced segmentation for targetingHigher price point may not be feasible for small businesses
Predictive sending for optimized deliverySteep learning curve due to feature complexity
Supports A/B testing for both emails and automationsAutomation can feel overwhelming for new users
Multi-channel marketing (SMS, email, social)Some features may require technical knowledge to fully utilize
Powerful CRM and sales automationLimited customer support without upgrading further
This table highlights the strengths and potential limitations of the Pro Plan.
Add to compare
ActiveCampaign is an all-in-one email marketing and automation platform designed for businesses of all sizes. With customizable pricing plans and a range of features, it is a powerful solution for creating effective campaigns.
Deployment: Cloud Hosted, SaaS
More details +
ActiveCampaign is an all-in-one email marketing and automation platform designed for businesses of all sizes. With customizable pricing plans and a range of features, it is a powerful solution for creating effective campaigns.
Design and Customization
2.5
Easy to use
7.5
Lead Management
9.5
Campaign Management
10
Reporting & Analytics
4.5
PROS:
  • Competitive Price
  • Activity Dashboard
  • Good Platform
  • Automation
  • Good Pricing
CONS:
  • Cutomer Support
  • Tracking
  • Support

ActiveCampaign Enterprise Plan

Detail about ActiveCampaign Enterprise Plan

For large enterprises with complex marketing and automation needs, the Enterprise Plan offers the ultimate package. Priced at $145/month for up to 1,000 contacts, this plan is designed for companies that require a high degree of customization, scalability, and dedicated support. Unlike the other plans, the Enterprise Plan includes five users, making it suitable for larger teams.

With unlimited automation actions and premium segmentation, this plan allows businesses to create highly personalized and targeted marketing campaigns across multiple channels. The inclusion of Custom Objects takes personalization to the next level, letting companies store and use custom data for even more precise targeting. The Enterprise Plan is geared towards large organizations with complex needs.

It offers custom reporting, a dedicated account representative, and HIPAA compliance, catering to businesses requiring top-tier customization, security, and support. The ability to use a custom mail server domain and enjoy advanced onboarding services ensures that large teams and enterprises can manage large-scale campaigns efficiently.

The Enterprise Plan also includes A/B testing for both emails and automations, enabling businesses to experiment and refine their marketing strategies. Another major perk of this plan is access to dedicated IPs, which improves email deliverability and provides more control over sending reputations. In addition to that, features like predictive sending, Generative AI, and conditional content ensure that your campaigns are optimized for maximum engagement and efficiency.

For businesses needing comprehensive CRM and marketing automation, the Marketing CRM included in this plan helps manage leads, deals, and customer relationships, while advanced reporting tools provide deep insights into campaign performance. Overall, the Enterprise Plan is perfect for businesses with complex marketing needs that require advanced tools and personalized support.

ActiveCampaign Plus Plan Pro and Con:

ProsCons
Full customization of automation workflowsHigh starting price may be prohibitive for smaller businesses
Dedicated support and account managerSome features may require deep technical knowledge
Unlimited users and custom objectsSetup can be complex for less experienced teams
Advanced reporting and predictive analyticsRequires a long-term commitment to fully leverage features
Dedicated IP for better deliverabilityNot ideal for businesses with simple email marketing needs
This table highlights the strengths and areas for improvement of the Enterprise Plan.

Feature-to-Cost Justification

Feature-to-Cost Justification

ActiveCampaign justifies its pricing through an impressive array of features across all plans, providing excellent ROI for businesses that utilize its full potential. Its powerful automation capabilities, especially in the Plus, Professional, and Enterprise plans, set it apart. From lead scoring to predictive content and advanced CRM, these tools streamline both marketing and sales, offering significant value compared to competitors like HubSpot and Mailchimp. While some may find the pricing high, the depth of features, especially in advanced automation and analytics, makes it worth considering.

For businesses looking for automation, the features provided by ActiveCampaign justify the cost, especially compared to platforms like Mailchimp, which lacks advanced CRM and automation tools. ActiveCampaign delivers value with customizable automations, personalized journeys, and detailed reporting.

Hidden Costs to Watch Out For:

Despite the value, hidden costs can include exceeding contact limits, opting for additional add-ons (such as extra users or custom branding), and potential training costs for complex features. Users should carefully evaluate how many contacts they plan to manage and which advanced tools are truly necessary to avoid paying for underused features.

Which Plan Fits Your Needs?

ActiveCampaign Pricing for Different Business Sizes

ActiveCampaign pricing is designed to scale based on a business’s size and needs, making it flexible for a wide range of organizations. For small businesses, the Starter Plan offers essential tools, but may feel limited as their marketing needs grow. Medium-sized businesses often find the Plus Plan to be a sweet spot, offering more robust features like CRM integration and sales automation without breaking the bank. Large enterprises, on the other hand, benefit from the Professional and Enterprise plans, which deliver advanced automations, predictive content, and dedicated support for managing complex workflows.

For small businesses, the Starter Plan provides enough tools to get started with email marketing and basic automations. However, if the business plans to scale, ActiveCampaign might become too expensive, especially once contacts start increasing, pushing them toward higher-priced plans.

The Plus Plan fits well for mid-sized businesses seeking omnichannel marketing, advanced automations, and CRM integration, all at a reasonable price point compared to competitors.

Large enterprises looking for high levels of customization, predictive insights, and advanced reporting find the Enterprise Plan a great investment, especially with features like HIPAA compliance and dedicated support.

Different ActiveCampaign pricing plans and the ideal user match for each:

Starter Plan$15/monthSmall businesses and startups new to email marketing
Plus Plan$49/monthGrowing businesses needing multi-step automation and CRM
Pro Plan$79/monthMid-sized businesses requiring advanced segmentation and AI
Enterprise Plan$145/monthLarge enterprises with complex automation and support needs
This table helps identify which plan is best suited for different types of businesses based on their needs and budget.

Comparison with Other Competitors

Comparison of ActiveCampaign Pricing with Competitors

When it comes to choosing an email marketing platform, price and features are often the deciding factors. Comparing ActiveCampaign to its competitors like Encharge, Drip, and Wishpond, it becomes clear that ActiveCampaign offers a more comprehensive feature set, particularly in terms of automation and personalization.

Encharge focuses heavily on marketing automation but lacks some of the in-depth email marketing tools that ActiveCampaign provides. Its starting price is higher, and while it offers powerful automation, the overall feature set is narrower. Drip, on the other hand, is geared specifically towards eCommerce businesses and offers similar automation features. However, Drip pricing is slightly higher, and it doesn’t include some of the AI-powered tools and predictive features that ActiveCampaign offers in its Pro and Enterprise plans.

HubSpot comprehensive CRM tools often come with a hefty price tag, making it ideal for enterprises with big budgets. In contrast, ActiveCampaign provides similar automation and CRM functionalities at a lower price, making it more accessible for small and mid-sized businesses.

ActiveCampaign Generative AI, predictive sending, and Custom Objects stand out as unique features that aren’t typically found in competitor platforms at the same price point. Additionally, the platform’s integration with eCommerce automation and advanced reporting tools makes it a more well-rounded choice for businesses seeking to scale. While competitors like Drip and Encharge offer solid automation, ActiveCampaign balance of price and features makes it a top contender for businesses of all sizes.

Here’s a table comparing ActiveCampaign pricing with three other popular email marketing tools based on the number of contacts:

ContactsActiveCampaign (Starter Plan)Mailchimp (Essentials Plan)Constant Contact (Standard Plan)Brevo (Starter Plan)
1,000$15/month$26.50/month$55/month$17/month
2,500$39/month$45/month$75/month$17/month
5,000$79/month$75/month$110/month$29/month
10,000$149/month$110/month$160/month$39/month
25,000$270/month$310/month$55/month
50,000$385/month$460/month$69/month
100,000
This table compares ActiveCampaign plan pricing with Mailchimp, Constant Contact, and Brevo. Each service pricing and features can vary significantly based on the number of contacts and plan tier.

Add-Ons Pricing Analysis

Additional Costs and Add-Ons

ActiveCampaign offers a range of features across its different pricing tiers, but for businesses needing more specialized tools, there are additional costs to consider. One of the most notable add-ons is the transactional email feature, which isn’t included in the standard plans. Transactional emails are critical for eCommerce businesses and can be added for an extra fee depending on usage.

Another potential cost is the option for premium templates. While ActiveCampaign offers a wide range of templates in its standard library, businesses looking for more custom or advanced designs may need to purchase premium options. Similarly, dedicated IPs are available at an additional cost. A dedicated IP is useful for businesses that send large volumes of emails, as it helps improve deliverability by allowing better control over the sender reputation.

For businesses operating in eCommerce, domain registration and custom domains are also not included in the basic plans, which might be a consideration for companies looking to manage everything within the ActiveCampaign ecosystem. These additional costs allow businesses to fine-tune their marketing strategy but should be factored into the overall budget when considering which plan to choose.

Choose Right ActiveCampaign Plan

Tips for Choosing the Right ActiveCampaign Plan

Choosing the right ActiveCampaign plan depends on several factors specific to your business. First, assess your contact list size—larger lists will require higher-tier plans like Plus or Pro. Then, consider your email frequency; if you’re sending frequent campaigns or need advanced segmentation, you may need more automation actions, offered in the Pro and Enterprise plans.

Make sure to also manage list hygiene by cleaning inactive contacts to avoid overpaying. If you’re just starting, the Starter plan may suffice, but growing businesses will benefit from more advanced features like A/B testing or CRM integration in higher plans. Balancing feature requirements with cost will help ensure you select the best plan for your email marketing needs.

Here’s a table that summarizes reviews for each of ActiveCampaign price plans, based on personal experience and comparison with other tools:

Price PlanReviewComparisonImprovements
Starter PlanGood for small businesses starting with email marketing. Easy to set up but lacks advanced features like A/B testing.Cheaper than most competitors but falls short in automation capabilities compared to tools like Mailchimp.Adding A/B testing and improving segmentation options would make it more versatile.
Plus PlanA solid choice for growing businesses, offering multi-step automation. It balances cost with functionality but can get expensive as the contact list grows.Comparable to Drip but lacks some visual design tools available in competitors like Constant Contact.More integrations and better template designs would enhance its value.
Pro PlanExcellent for mid-sized businesses. Advanced segmentation and predictive tools work great, but learning curve can be steep.On par with HubSpot but cheaper. However, HubSpot offers better analytics and customization options.Improving user interface and reducing the complexity of features would help usability.
Enterprise PlanPerfect for large enterprises with complex workflows. Full customization and dedicated support are standout features but comes at a premium price.Compared to Mailchimp highest tier, ActiveCampaign offers more in automation, but HubSpot has better CRM integration at a similar price point.Better real-time support options and CRM features would justify the cost.
This table reflects personal experiences with each plan, comparing ActiveCampaign with competitors and suggesting areas for improvement.

FAQs

Questions to ask while choosing the best plan

What are the different pricing tiers of ActiveCampaign?

ActiveCampaign offers four pricing tiers: Starter, Plus, Professional, and Enterprise. These range in cost depending on the number of contacts and features required.

How does ActiveCampaign pricing compare to Mailchimp?

ActiveCampaign provides more advanced automation and CRM features than Mailchimp, making it a better value for businesses needing complex workflows, though Mailchimp has a lower entry price.

Is the Professional Plan worth the cost?

For businesses needing advanced automation, predictive content, and reporting, the Professional Plan is a strong investment.

Does ActiveCampaign offer discounts for non-profits or educational institutions?

Yes, ActiveCampaign provides discounts for non-profits and educational institutions, offering up to 20% off their regular plans.

What features does ActiveCampaign provide at each pricing level?

Starter focuses on basic email marketing, Plus adds CRM and sales tools, Professional provides advanced automation and reporting, while Enterprise offers custom features and dedicated support.

How does ActiveCampaign pricing scale with contact numbers?

Pricing increases as the number of contacts grows, with options for both monthly and annual billing, offering discounts for yearly commitments.

What hidden costs should I expect with ActiveCampaign?

Hidden costs may include add-ons like extra users, exceeding contact limits, or opting for advanced onboarding and support.

Is ActiveCampaign a good fit for small businesses?

The Starter Plan is suitable for small businesses, but as their needs grow, they may need to upgrade, making ActiveCampaign potentially expensive in the long run.

How does ActiveCampaign pricing compare to HubSpot?

HubSpot tends to be pricier, especially for larger teams, while ActiveCampaign offers similar CRM and automation features at a lower cost.

What CRM features are included in the Plus Plan?

The Plus Plan includes CRM integration, lead scoring, sales automation, and SMS marketing, making it ideal for businesses looking to automate their customer management.

Ankit Prakash
Ankit Prakash

Ankit is a seasoned technology entrepreneur and founder of Aritic and EasySendy. With over 10 years of experience building product-led B2B SaaS companies, he is focused on ambitious goals and bringing innovative platforms to market. As a Principal Founder, Ankit leads product, engineering, marketing, and strategic partnerships for Aritic's suite of sales and marketing automation tools. He has grown the brand to over $120M valuation and $8M+ in revenue since 2015. Ankit is passionate about analyzing and reviewing software to provide readers with authoritative, in-depth insights. His articles cover martech, SaaS, entrepreneurship, and other technologies based on his hands-on expertise. He stays on top of industry trends and best practices in product marketing, performance marketing, inbound marketing, and content marketing. His work has been featured in leading publications including G2Crowd, Scoop.It, Brandvertisor, Martech Advisor, Smart Insights, and more. Driven by a dedication to shaping the future of B2B SaaS, Ankit enjoys translating his experiences building, marketing, and scaling companies into actionable thought leadership.

We will be happy to hear your thoughts

Leave a reply

Sprout24
Logo
Compare items
  • Total (0)
Compare
0
Shopping cart