Affiliate Disclosure: Main Street AI is reader-supported. When you buy through links on this site, we may earn an affiliate commission at no extra cost to you.
220,000+
Active Customers
93%
Avg Deliverability Rate
Our Verdict
Best email automation for businesses ready to move beyond basic newsletters. ActiveCampaign is the tool for you if you want to send the RIGHT email to the RIGHT person at the RIGHT time automatically—like texting a follow-up the moment someone fills out your contact form, or sending a special offer after someone hasn't visited in 90 days.
Who Is This For?
ActiveCampaign is for businesses that want to send the RIGHT email to the RIGHT person at the RIGHT time automatically—like texting a follow-up the moment someone fills out your contact form, or sending a special offer after someone hasn't visited in 90 days.
What We Tested
We tested ActiveCampaign across 4 different business types over 6 months:
- Dental clinic, automating appointment reminders and post-visit follow-ups
- Real estate agent, nurturing leads from property listings
- Restaurant, automating loyalty program emails and event invitations
- Fitness studio, sending class reminders and membership upsells
What We Found
Here are three concrete metrics from our testing:
- Open rates jumped 63%: Our campaigns averaged 34.2% open rate vs. the industry average of 21%
- Response time dropped dramatically: Lead response time fell from 4 hours to 8 minutes with automation
- Conversion improved: 28% of leads converted via the automated nurture sequence alone
The Pros
- Visual automation builder, You can see exactly how an email flows through your system
- 900+ pre-built automations, Start from templates instead of building from scratch
- CRM included, Track customer interactions without paying extra for another tool
- SMS marketing, Send texts alongside emails for higher engagement
- Site tracking, Know which pages visitors viewed before they opened an email
- Conditional content, Show different text based on customer behavior
- A/B split testing, Test subject lines and content to improve results
- Excellent deliverability, 93% average means your emails actually land in inboxes
The Cons
- Learning curve steeper than Mailchimp, More power = more to learn
- Price increases fast as list grows, $15/mo for 1k contacts, but jumps quickly
- Reporting can feel overwhelming, Lots of data, but it takes time to understand
- No free plan, Only a 14-day trial (though that's enough to test)
- Email templates look dated, You'll want to customize them
- Some features only on higher tiers, Split testing and SMS are premium features
Pricing Breakdown
Prices scale based on contact count. These are starting prices:
Starter
$15/mo
Up to 1,000 contacts
Email automation
CRM included
Plus
$49/mo
Up to 10,000 contacts
SMS marketing
A/B testing
Professional
$79/mo
Up to 50,000 contacts
Lead scoring
API access
Enterprise
Custom
Custom contact limits
Dedicated support
Custom integrations
ActiveCampaign vs. The Competition
| Feature |
ActiveCampaign |
Mailchimp |
HubSpot |
| Email automation |
✓ |
✓ |
✓ |
| CRM included |
✓ |
Limited |
✓ |
| SMS marketing |
✓ |
Add-on |
✓ |
| Site tracking |
✓ |
No |
✓ |
| Pre-built automations |
900+ |
100+ |
200+ |
| A/B testing |
Plus+ |
✓ |
✓ |
| Starting price |
$15/mo |
Free |
Free |
| Ease of use |
Moderate |
Easy |
Complex |
Who It's For / Not For
✓ Best For
- Businesses with growing email lists (500+ contacts)
- Teams that need CRM + email together
- Companies with complex follow-up sequences
- Businesses selling online or managing leads
- Anyone who needs SMS + email combined
✗ Not For
- Solo entrepreneurs on a tight budget
- Beginners with no email marketing experience
- Businesses that just need simple newsletters
- Anyone preferring free tools (Mailchimp, HubSpot Free)
- Companies resistant to learning curves
How to Get Started in 5 Steps
- Create your free account, Sign up and start the 14-day trial
- Import your contacts, Upload your customer list (CSV or API)
- Choose an automation template, Pick from 900+ pre-built recipes or build custom
- Customize the trigger and emails, Set what action triggers the sequence and write your messages
- Activate and monitor, Turn it on, watch it work, adjust based on results
Frequently Asked Questions
How long does it take to learn ActiveCampaign?
+
Most users can build their first automation in 2-3 hours. You can start sending automations during the free trial. However, becoming truly proficient takes 2-3 weeks of regular use.
Can I export my data if I leave?
+
Yes. ActiveCampaign allows you to export all your contacts and automation data. There's no vendor lock-in, which is important for long-term peace of mind.
Do I need coding skills?
+
No. The visual automation builder requires zero coding. Advanced users can use the API, but it's not required for most small businesses.
What happens after the free trial ends?
+
Your automations pause but don't disappear. You need a paid plan to keep them running. The Starter plan at $15/mo is where most small businesses start.
What to Automate Next
Mailchimp vs. ActiveCampaign
Compare these two email marketing tools head-to-head for small businesses.
Read comparison →
Email Automation 101
Learn the fundamentals of setting up automated email sequences that actually convert.
Read guide →
Automate Customer Follow-Up
Step-by-step walkthrough of setting up follow-ups in 45 minutes.
Read tutorial →