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ActiveCampaign vs HeyNews: Which is Better in 2026?

Choosing between ActiveCampaign and HeyNews comes down to understanding what each tool does best. This comparison breaks down the key differences so you can make an informed decision based on your specific needs, not marketing claims.

Bottom line: ActiveCampaign wins this matchup. Omnisend ranks #1 on our Email Marketing list. Omnisend is the highest-listed Email Marketing tool with a free plan. Pick HeyNews if you need a free tier to start with.

··Methodology
Editor reviewed0 verified reviews comparedPricing checked Oct 2026

Short on time? Here's the quick answer

We've tested both tools. Here's who should pick what:

ActiveCampaign

Autonomous marketing platform with AI-powered email, SMS, and WhatsApp automation.

Best for you if:

  • • You want aI agents dramatically speed up campaign creation and personalization
  • • You want excellent email deliverability with dedicated IP management and monitoring

HeyNews

Create and publish your newsletter in minutes, directly from your browser.

Best for you if:

  • • You want extremely fast publishing process (5 minutes)
  • • You want simple and intuitive to use, no technical skills required
At a Glance
ActiveCampaignActiveCampaign
HeyNewsHeyNews
Starts at
FreeFree tier available
FreeFree tier available
Best For
Email MarketingEmail Marketing
Rating
4.5/5-
Free plan
Yes Yes

Choose ActiveCampaign or HeyNews?

ActiveCampaign

Choose ActiveCampaign if

Autonomous marketing platform with AI-powered email, SMS, and WhatsApp automation.

  • You want aI agents dramatically speed up campaign creation and personalization
  • You want excellent email deliverability with dedicated IP management and monitoring
HeyNews

Choose HeyNews if

Create and publish your newsletter in minutes, directly from your browser.

  • You want extremely fast publishing process (5 minutes)
  • You want simple and intuitive to use, no technical skills required
FeatureActiveCampaignHeyNews
Pricing ModelFreemiumFreemium
User Rating
★4.5/5
17,363 reviews
No ratings yet
Categories
Email MarketingMarketing Automation
Email MarketingWriting & Content

In-Depth Analysis

ActiveCampaignActiveCampaign

Autonomous marketing platform with AI-powered email, SMS, and WhatsApp automation.

Starts at Free

Strengths

  • +AI agents dramatically speed up campaign creation and personalization.
  • +Excellent email deliverability with dedicated IP management and monitoring.
  • +Robust integration ecosystem connects with most major business tools.
  • +30-day satisfaction guarantee and free 1:1 coaching for new users.

Weaknesses

  • -Pricing can become expensive as contact lists grow, especially with add-ons.
  • -Advanced features like WhatsApp, SMS, and enhanced CRM are paid add-ons.
  • -Some users may find the initial setup and breadth of features overwhelming.

Key features

AI Campaign Builder & Content GeneratorMulti-step marketing automation with 950+ recipesEmail, SMS, WhatsApp, and ad campaignsPredictive sending and conditional contentAdvanced segmentation and AI-suggested segmentsIntegrated CRM with pipeline and sales engagement add-ons

HeyNewsHeyNews

Create and publish your newsletter in minutes, directly from your browser.

Starts at Free
Good value

HeyNews offers a fair pricing structure, especially with its generous Free tier and affordable Basic plan at $10/month.

Watch out

No clear overage fees for storage

Strengths

  • +Extremely fast publishing process (5 minutes)
  • +Simple and intuitive to use, no technical skills required
  • +Accessible directly from a web browser

Weaknesses

  • -Limited information on advanced features or integrations
  • -No explicit mention of a free tier or trial

Key features

Browser-based publishingQuick newsletter creationFocus on user-friendly interface

Pricing: ActiveCampaign vs HeyNews

PlanActiveCampaignHeyNews
Tier 1
$15
Starter
Free
Free
Tier 2
$49
Plus
$10/mo
Basic
Tier 3
$79
Pro
$25/mo
Pro
Tier 4
$145
Enterprise
N/A

Pricing verified from each vendor's public pricing page. Compare in detail on ActiveCampaign pricing and HeyNews pricing.

Who Should Use What?

On a budget?

Both are freemium. Compare plans on their websites.

Go with: ActiveCampaign

Want the highest-rated option?

ActiveCampaign is rated 4.5/5. HeyNews has no ratings yet.

Go with: ActiveCampaign

Value user reviews?

ActiveCampaign: 17,363 reviews (4.5/5). HeyNews: no ratings yet.

Go with: ActiveCampaign

3 Questions to Help You Decide

1

What's your budget?

Both are freemium. Pricing won't help you decide here.

2

What's your use case?

Both are email marketing tools. Compare their specific features to decide.

3

How important are ratings?

ActiveCampaign is rated 4.5/5; HeyNews has no ratings yet.

Key Takeaways

ActiveCampaign

  • Free tier available
  • Our pick for this comparison

HeyNews

  • Choose if you want create and publish your newsletter in minutes, directly from your browser

The Bottom Line

ActiveCampaign wins this matchup. Omnisend ranks #1 on our Email Marketing list. Omnisend is the highest-listed Email Marketing tool with a free plan.

Frequently Asked Questions

Is ActiveCampaign or HeyNews better?

ActiveCampaign is rated in our evaluation. Both are freemium.

What are ActiveCampaign and HeyNews used for?

ActiveCampaign: Autonomous marketing platform with AI-powered email, SMS, and WhatsApp automation.. HeyNews: Create and publish your newsletter in minutes, directly from your browser..

What does ActiveCampaign cost vs HeyNews?

ActiveCampaign is freemium (free tier + paid plans). HeyNews is freemium (free tier + paid plans). Visit their websites for detailed pricing.

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