ActiveCampaign vs Listmonk: 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 ActiveCampaign and Listmonk side by side. This page compares data; it is not a hands-on review.
On the data: On the data below the two are close or not directly comparable, so we do not name a 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:
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
Listmonk
Self-hosted, open-source platform for managing newsletters, mailing lists, and transactional messages.
Best for you if:
- • You want a fully free tool (ActiveCampaign requires payment)
| At a Glance | ActiveCampaign | Listmonk |
|---|---|---|
Starts at | Free plan, paid from $15/mo, billed monthly Starter plan | Free 100% free |
Category | Marketing Automation Email Marketing | Email Marketing Newsletter Tools |
Rating | 4.5/5 G2 4.4 · Capterra 4.6 17,363 reviews | n/a |
Free plan | Yes | Yes |
Choose ActiveCampaign or Listmonk?
Choose ActiveCampaign if
- You want AI agents dramatically speed up campaign creation and personalization
- You want excellent email deliverability with dedicated IP management and monitoring
- You work in marketing automation, not email marketing
Choose Listmonk if
- You want a fully free tool (ActiveCampaign requires payment)
- You want completely free and open-source, offering full control and transparency
- You want high performance and efficiency with a low resource footprint, even for large campaigns
- You work in email marketing, not marketing automation
In-Depth Analysis
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
Listmonk
Self-hosted, open-source platform for managing newsletters, mailing lists, and transactional messages.
Listmonk offers an incredibly generous pricing model, as it is entirely free and open-source.
Strengths
- Pro: Completely free and open-source, offering full control and transparency.
- Pro: High performance and efficiency with a low resource footprint, even for large campaigns.
- Pro: Versatile templating options and support for various message types beyond email.
- Pro: Strong privacy features and robust authentication/authorization controls.
Weaknesses
- Con: Requires technical expertise for self-hosting and setup.
- Con: No mention of direct customer support, relying on community for help.
- Con: Manual setup of SMTP servers needed for email sending.
Key features
Plans and prices: ActiveCampaign vs Listmonk
| Tool | Plans and prices | Source |
|---|---|---|
| ActiveCampaign |
| activecampaign.com/pricing read Oct 30, 2026 |
| Listmonk |
| listmonk.app read Sep 28, 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 ActiveCampaign pricing and Listmonk pricing.
Key Takeaways
ActiveCampaign
- Choose if you want autonomous marketing platform with AI-powered email, SMS, and WhatsApp automation
Listmonk
- Choose if you want self-hosted, open-source platform for managing newsletters, mailing lists, and transactional messages
What the data shows
On the data below the two are close or not directly comparable, so we do not name a winner for this pair.
- Only ActiveCampaign has a published user rating (4.5/5 from 17,363 reviews); Listmonk has none we can show.
- ActiveCampaign starts at $15/mo, billed monthly; Listmonk has no public paid plan price on file.
- Both have 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 ActiveCampaign and Listmonk compare in 2026?
On the data below the two are close or not directly comparable, so we do not name a winner for this pair. Only ActiveCampaign has a published user rating (4.5/5 from 17,363 reviews); Listmonk has none we can show. ActiveCampaign starts at $15/mo, billed monthly; Listmonk has no public paid plan price on file. Both have a free plan.
What are ActiveCampaign and Listmonk used for?
ActiveCampaign: Autonomous marketing platform with AI-powered email, SMS, and WhatsApp automation. Listmonk: Self-hosted, open-source platform for managing newsletters, mailing lists, and transactional messages.
What does ActiveCampaign cost vs Listmonk?
ActiveCampaign's cheapest paid plan is Starter at $15/mo, billed monthly; it also has a free plan. Listmonk is free. Prices read on the vendors' pricing pages, latest check Oct 30, 2026.
What's the main difference between ActiveCampaign and Listmonk?
ActiveCampaign's main strength: AI agents dramatically speed up campaign creation and personalization. Listmonk's main strength: completely free and open-source, offering full control and transparency.