It’s no surprise that ActiveCampaign is one of the best email marketing tools out there.
It has everything you need to maximize the profitability of your email marketing efforts.
But… It might not be the right tool for everyone.
So, today I’ll be doing an Activecampaign review where we’ll be taking a deep dive into what makes ActiveCampaign such an effective software and breaking down all of its other features to see if it’s the right fit for you.
So, without further ado, let’s get started.
ActiveCampaign Quick Summary
- Has everything you need and more. Not only is it an email marketing tool, but it also has SMS and CRM features.
- There is a slight learning curve but provides enough walkthroughs so you can get up to speed with how to get the most out of it.
- Would I recommend it? Absolutely. It’s one of the best email marketing software out there and has everything you need and more to maximize the profits of your business.
How much does it cost
This is probably the one thing that everyone is interested in, so we’ll address this first.
Considering everything that comes with ActiveCampaign, it’s no surprise that it’s slightly on the more pricey side.
This is what the pricing looks like (All numbers below are what it would look like if you were to be paying monthly).
You can take a look at the pricing in more detail by clicking here.
Unfortunately, ActiveCampaign doesn’t have a free plan, but it does have a 14-day free trial, so you can see if it’s the right fit for you.
Are there any discounts?
The only discount they provide is if you opt to purchase your plan on an annual basis and you’ll receive a 25% discount.
Is it worth it?
Yes, the price you’re paying for ActiveCampaign is most definitely worth it.
But, there’s no getting away from the fact that it’s quite expensive.
If this is what you’re thinking, then I can recommend a cheaper alternative to MailerLite.
And you can check out my in-depth review of that software by clicking here.
Key Features
Here’s a quick breakdown of some of the Activecampaign features that I’ve used and think will be most valuable to you.
As you’re about to see below, Activecampaign has an extensive amount of additional features that a lot of other email software don’t have.
And that’s why it’s such a powerful tool.
Let’s take a look –
Landing Pages
As I mentioned later in this review, one of the greatest things about Activecampaign is that you can virtually run your whole business on this platform without having to use all this other software.
And one way they do this is by allowing you to host your landing page on their platform and what’s even better is that they have a tonne of landing page templates that you can choose from.
In fact, Activecampaign offers over 55+ templates that you can choose from and personalize so you can get them looking how you want.
Email Templates
Email sequences are arguably one of the most integral parts of your email marketing efforts.
An effective email sequence can nurture new leads, and build a relationship with the reader and ultimately make your list more profitable.
The process of setting up sequences inside Activecampaign is pretty simple – this is what it’s looking like:
But if this is something that you’re struggling with, then don’t worry.
Because Activecampaign actually offers quite a lot of support when it comes to setting up this part of your email marketing strategy up.
You can click here where it’s a free lead magnet for some email sequence templates.
And if you scroll further down on that same page, they break down what are the most important sequences to set up which is super useful.
Email Campaigns
Creating email campaigns in Activecampaign is super easy and straightforward to do.
Although the learning curve for creating segments and tagging specific subscribers can sometimes be confusing, sending out a simple email campaign is not.
This is what it looks like –
As you can see, the creation of the email campaign is split into 5 sections:
- The type of email you want to send.
- Who you want to send the email to.
- The design of the email and how it’ll look when the recipient receives it.
- The summary of the email. This is where you can double-check everything to make sure it’s correct.
- And then finally you’re able to send the email.
Super simple and easy to use.
My only criticism of the email campaign section on ActiveCampaign is the user interface of all your previous campaigns – take a look below:
As you can see, all previous campaigns are displayed, but one improvement could be to display all the basic metrics that you look for.
For example, open rate, CTR, if there were any unsubscribes…
This is something ConvertKit does a good job of, check the image below:
What Integrations does Activecampaign offer?
ActiveCampaign has over 920+ integrations that you can connect to.
So, if you’re using any other software, you can rest assured that Activecampaign will be able to integrate with it.
It doesn’t matter if you’re an eCommerce store, lead generation business, accountant or anything in between – ActiveCampaign will no doubt integrate with the tools you’re currently using.
You can check out what integrations they offer by clicking here.
Split testing
Your email marketing efforts shouldn’t be guesswork.
That’s why utilizing the split testing feature is so important. And Activecampaign makes it all the easier.
There are up to 5 different metrics which you can split test which include:
- Subject Line
- Email Contents
- Sender Name
- Images
- And calls to action
You can even split-test all of these at the same time.
So, next time you send out an email campaign, make sure you use these split-testing features to get the most out of your audience.
Who's it perfect for?
1. You’re serious about getting the most out of your business via email marketing
If you want to maximize the profits you’re getting from your email marketing efforts, then Activecampajgn can allow you to do this.
Being one of the most automation-dense software out there, it’s perfect for taking your email marketing efforts to the next level.
2. You need more than email marketing for your business
Want more than just email marketing for your business?
The Activecampaign roles multiple needs into this one software.
For example, it has a CRM feature that can integrate with almost any software, allowing you to keep track of all your customers, and not only that but you can run your whole business of Activecampaign if you really wanted to. It has everything you need.
3. You want to take advantage of all the automation
If you’re someone that wants to get the most out of automation and make your email marketing campaigns hyper-personalized, then Activecampaign is the one.
It has automation for almost everything you can think of – specific campaigns, email content, recipients clicking on specific links, segmenting your audience automatically based on specific behaviors, and a whole lot more.
Who's it not perfect for?
1. You’re looking for basic email software
If you’re looking for something that’s super basic and all you need is email campaigns and email sequences, then Activecampaign might be a bit over the top.
Because the chances are you’ll be paying for features that you probably won’t be using.
An alternative to this could be something like Aweber, ConvertKit, or MailerLite.
2. You’re working on a budget
If you’re working on a budget and you have a big email list or plan on growing it, then Activecampaign might not be right for you.
It can become quite pricey as your subscriber count increases, especially if you’re on the ‘Professional Plan’.
If this is you, a better alternative is MailerLite. You can click here to check out the pricing of MailerLite (It also has a killer free plan).
3. You’re not sure what you specifically need
If you’re completely new to email marketing and you have no idea what you need specifically, then Activecampaign might not be the right option.
There are plenty of free software out there that you can use which will allow you to get to grips with everything while not having to shell out any money to do so.
Pros and Cons
Not what you were looking for? Here are some alternatives...
If you’ve just read this entire review of ActiveCampaign and thought “This isn’t for me”, then here are a few alternatives:
If you want to check out some more in depth reviews, then here’s a few you can choose from:
And that’s it.
Hopefully you’ve found that useful, got any questions? Just leave a comment below!
Final Verdict:
ActiveCampaign is legit.
It has everything you need and more. Take a look –
- In depth email marketing features as well as SMS marketing.
- 920+ integrations with other software.
- Super in-depth CRM features which are amazing for mainly an email marketing tool.
And that’s just scratching the surface, pretty impressive if you ask me.
So if you’re serious about taking your email marketing efforts to the next level, then ActiveCampaign has got you covered.
Not only have I used it and been impressed, but it’s also what some of my biggest clients use for email lists of 50k+ recipients.
And if you’re still on the fence, then don’t worry…
Although ActiveCampaign doesn’t have a free plan, it does have a 14-day free trial.
So you can try it out for 2 weeks before you make a final decision.
Sound like something you’re interested in?
FAQ
In short, yes.
Although it’s slightly more expensive than some of the other email marketing tools, it is still good value for money. But, if you don’t need all the bells and whistles that come with it, then there are some other alternatives that will 100% fit your needs and wants.
It’s not just a CRM, but it does have a CRM feature. Having this is so valuable because you can keep track of all customer interactions which will help you maximize profits within your business.
The majority of people will be using ActiveCampaign for their email marketing campaigns, and this is what I believe it’s best at. Not only is it super effective but it also has a tonne of additional features that put it head and shoulders above its competition.
No, ActiveCampaign does not have a free plan, but it does have a 14-day free trial. Its cheapest email marketing plan is $49 per month if you pay yearly or $70 per month on a month-by-month basis. You can learn more about pricing by clicking here.
Yep, there are.
Here are a few email software alternatives that I can vouch for –
MailerLite – Perfect if you’re on a budget.
ConvertKit – Easy and simple to use and has everything you need.
GetResponse – Another good option, perfect if you’re an affiliate marketer.
1 thought on “ActiveCampaign Review 2024: The good, the bad and the ugly…”
I have been using ActiveCampaign for a few years and I am pleased with the functionality and the appealing price point.
Thanks for sharing this amazing blog.
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