Act! vs ActiveCampaign: Pricing and Ratings Compared (2026)
Entry prices and free plans as read on each vendor's pricing page, and user ratings as published on review sites, for Act! and ActiveCampaign side by side. This page compares data; it is not a hands-on review.
On the data: On the data below, ActiveCampaign leads on higher user rating and lower entry price and a free plan. We do not name an overall winner for this pair.
Short on time? Here's the quick answer
Based on published vendor pricing and features and on public review data, here's who should pick what:
Act!
CRM and marketing automation for small businesses
ActiveCampaign
Autonomous marketing platform with AI-powered email, SMS, and WhatsApp automation.
Best for you if:
- • You want a free tier before you commit
| At a Glance | Act! | ActiveCampaign |
|---|---|---|
Starts at | From $30/user/mo Act! Advantage Standard plan | Free plan, paid from $15/mo, billed monthly Starter plan |
Category | Marketing Automation CRM | Marketing Automation Email Marketing |
Rating | 3.3/5 Capterra 3.9 · SourceForge 2.0 · G2 3.9 2,008 reviews | 4.5/5 G2 4.4 · Capterra 4.6 17,363 reviews |
Free plan | No | Yes |
Choose Act! or ActiveCampaign?
Choose Act! if
- You need marketing automation features specifically.
Choose ActiveCampaign if
- You want a free tier before you commit
- Budget matters ($15/mo, billed monthly vs $30/user/mo)
In-Depth Analysis
Act!
CRM and marketing automation for small businesses
Act!'s pricing is on the higher side for small businesses, especially considering the feature sets at the lower tiers.
Strengths
- Pro: Comprehensive all-in-one platform integrating CRM, marketing automation, and customer management for SMBs.
- Pro: Highly customizable interface and data fields allow tailoring to unique business specifications and industry needs.
- Pro: Strong emphasis on personalized customer support, including dedicated account managers and free onboarding.
- Pro: Offers robust mobile access for managing contacts, activities, and opportunities on iOS and Android devices.
- Pro: Includes advanced features like interactive quotes, AI writing assistant for marketing, and SMS text messaging integration.
Weaknesses
- Con: The product's long history (since 1987) might suggest a legacy interface or architecture, though recent updates are mentioned.
- Con: The information provided does not explicitly mention advanced analytics capabilities beyond basic dashboards and reports, which might be a limitation for businesses requiring deep data science insights.
Key features
ActiveCampaign
Autonomous marketing platform with AI-powered email, SMS, and WhatsApp automation.
Strengths
- Pro: AI agents dramatically speed up campaign creation and personalization.
- Pro: Excellent email deliverability with dedicated IP management and monitoring.
- Pro: Robust integration ecosystem connects with most major business tools.
- Pro: 30-day satisfaction guarantee and free 1:1 coaching for new users.
Weaknesses
- Con: Pricing can become expensive as contact lists grow, especially with add-ons.
- Con: Advanced features like WhatsApp, SMS, and enhanced CRM are paid add-ons.
- Con: Some users may find the initial setup and breadth of features overwhelming.
Key features
Plans and prices: Act! vs ActiveCampaign
| Tool | Plans and prices | Source |
|---|---|---|
| Act! |
| act.com/pricing read Nov 1, 2026 |
| ActiveCampaign |
| activecampaign.com/pricing read Oct 30, 2026 |
Prices as read on each vendor's own pricing page on the date shown. Plans are listed per tool and are not matched against the other tool's plans: a plan name or price in one column says nothing about the same row in the other. Details on Act! pricing and ActiveCampaign pricing.
Key Takeaways
Act!
- Worth considering for marketing automation
ActiveCampaign
- Higher user rating: 4.5/5 vs 3.3/5
- Lower entry price: $15/mo, billed monthly vs $30/user/mo
- Has a free plan
What the data shows
On the data below, ActiveCampaign leads on higher user rating and lower entry price and a free plan. We do not name an overall winner for this pair.
- ActiveCampaign has the higher user rating (3.3/5 from 2,008 reviews for Act!, 4.5/5 from 17,363 reviews for ActiveCampaign).
- ActiveCampaign has the lower entry price: $15/mo, billed monthly (Starter) against $30/user/mo (Act! Advantage Standard) for Act!.
- Only ActiveCampaign has a free plan.
Criteria: user rating (only above 20 reviews on both sides, gap of 0.2 or more), entry price (only on the same billing basis), free plan. How we rate
Frequently Asked Questions
How do Act! and ActiveCampaign compare in 2026?
On the data below, ActiveCampaign leads on higher user rating and lower entry price and a free plan. We do not name an overall winner for this pair. ActiveCampaign has the higher user rating (3.3/5 from 2,008 reviews for Act!, 4.5/5 from 17,363 reviews for ActiveCampaign). ActiveCampaign has the lower entry price: $15/mo, billed monthly (Starter) against $30/user/mo (Act! Advantage Standard) for Act!. Only ActiveCampaign has a free plan.
What are Act! and ActiveCampaign used for?
Act!: CRM and marketing automation for small businesses. ActiveCampaign: Autonomous marketing platform with AI-powered email, SMS, and WhatsApp automation.
What does Act! cost vs ActiveCampaign?
Act!'s cheapest paid plan is Act! Advantage Standard at $30/user/mo. ActiveCampaign's cheapest paid plan is Starter at $15/mo, billed monthly; it also has a free plan. Prices read on the vendors' pricing pages, latest check Nov 1, 2026.
What's the main difference between Act! and ActiveCampaign?
Act!'s main strength: comprehensive all-in-one platform integrating CRM, marketing automation, and customer management for SMBs. ActiveCampaign's main strength: AI agents dramatically speed up campaign creation and personalization.
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