ActiveCampaign vs GetResponse
ActiveCampaign fits marketing-led smbs needing deep automation + crm on plus+; GetResponse fits teams wanting forever-free evaluation plus automation/lps.
ActiveCampaign
Email marketing automation ESP with multi-step journeys; CRM pipelines strongest on Plus+; contact-based pricing.
Best for
- • Marketing-led SMBs needing deep automation + CRM on Plus+
- • Buyers OK without a free forever plan
Starting from $15.00/user/mo
No free plan
VS
Our verdict
No universal winner. Choose ActiveCampaign when marketing automation depth (and Plus+ CRM) is the job; choose GetResponse when forever-free entry and an all-in-one email + landing-page stack matter more.
ActiveCampaign is better for
- ✓ Automation
- ✓ Segmentation
- ✓ Integrations
GetResponse is better for
- ✓ Templates
- ✓ Landing pages
- ✓ AI features
Tie
- • Analytics
Choose ActiveCampaign if: Marketing-led SMBs needing deep automation + CRM on Plus+
Choose GetResponse if: Teams wanting forever-free evaluation plus automation/LPs
GetResponse
GetResponse is an AI-driven email marketing and lifecycle automation platform with newsletters, automation workflows, landing pages, funnels, webinars (higher plans), and ecommerce tools. Paid plans use contact-list tiers with unlimited monthly email sends; a forever-free plan an
Best for
- • Teams wanting forever-free evaluation plus automation/LPs
- • SMBs consolidating email, funnels, and landing pages
Starting from $19.00/user/mo
Free plan available
Quick verdict
Start here — then dig into the evidence below.
Choose ActiveCampaign if…
- Marketing-led SMBs needing deep automation + CRM on Plus+
- Buyers OK without a free forever plan
- You prioritize automation
- You prioritize segmentation
Choose GetResponse if…
- Teams wanting forever-free evaluation plus automation/LPs
- SMBs consolidating email, funnels, and landing pages
- You prioritize templates
- You prioritize landing pages
Overall recommendation
No universal winner. Choose ActiveCampaign when marketing automation depth (and Plus+ CRM) is the job; choose GetResponse when forever-free entry and an all-in-one email + landing-page stack matter more.
Key trade-off
ActiveCampaign trades toward automation; GetResponse trades toward templates.
Winner by category
Only dimensions with researched evidence for this pair.
| Dimension | Winner | Why |
|---|---|---|
| Automation | ActiveCampaign wins | ActiveCampaign leads on automation (9/10 vs 8/10) from SoftwareGlimpse research-grounded editorial judgments — not hands-on lab testing. ActiveCampaign/Mailchimp scores may map from crm-editorial evidence where EM re-scores are pending. |
| Templates | GetResponse wins | Stronger coverage across email templates. |
| Segmentation | ActiveCampaign wins | ActiveCampaign leads on segmentation (8/10 vs 7/10) from SoftwareGlimpse research-grounded editorial judgments — not hands-on lab testing. ActiveCampaign/Mailchimp scores may map from crm-editorial evidence where EM re-scores are pending. |
| Landing pages | GetResponse wins | Stronger coverage across landing pages. |
| Reporting | Tie | ActiveCampaign and GetResponse are close on analytics (7/10 vs 7/10) from SoftwareGlimpse research-grounded editorial judgments — not hands-on lab testing. ActiveCampaign/Mailchimp scores may map from crm-editorial evidence where EM re-scores are pending. |
| Integrations | ActiveCampaign wins | Stronger coverage across integrations, forms, email sync. |
| AI features | GetResponse wins | GetResponse leads on ai-features (6/10 vs 7/10) from SoftwareGlimpse research-grounded editorial judgments — not hands-on lab testing. ActiveCampaign/Mailchimp scores may map from crm-editorial evidence where EM re-scores are pending. |
Side-by-side feature matrix
Normalized availability from product research — empty rows are not shown.
Campaigns
| Feature | ActiveCampaign | GetResponse |
|---|---|---|
| Email campaigns | Not evidenced | Strong |
| Newsletter builder | Not evidenced | Strong |
| Email templates | Not evidenced | Strong |
| Drag-and-drop editor | Not evidenced | Strong |
| Landing pages | Not evidenced | Strong |
| Forms | Not evidenced | Strong |
Automation & targeting
| Feature | ActiveCampaign | GetResponse |
|---|---|---|
| Automation workflows | Not evidenced | Strong |
| Segmentation | Not evidenced | Strong |
| Personalization | Not evidenced | Strong |
| A/B testing | Not evidenced | Strong |
| Transactional email | Not evidenced | Moderate |
Platform
| Feature | ActiveCampaign | GetResponse |
|---|---|---|
| Analytics | Not evidenced | Strong |
| Deliverability tools | Not evidenced | Strong |
| AI content generation | Not evidenced | Strong |
| AI assistance | Strong | Not evidenced |
Additional capabilities
| Feature | ActiveCampaign | GetResponse |
|---|---|---|
| Contact management | Strong | Strong |
| Lead management | Strong | Not evidenced |
| Pipeline management | Moderate | Not evidenced |
| Deal management | Moderate | Not evidenced |
| Email sync | Strong | Not evidenced |
| Workflow automation | Strong | Not evidenced |
| Sales automation | Strong | Not evidenced |
| Reporting | Strong | Not evidenced |
| Forecasting | Moderate | Not evidenced |
| Custom fields | Strong | Not evidenced |
| Custom pipelines | Strong | Not evidenced |
| Mobile app | Strong | Not evidenced |
| Integrations | Strong | Not evidenced |
Pricing comparison
Pricing evidence last checked Sep 7, 2026.
ActiveCampaign
From $15.00/user/mo
- Starter$15.00/mo
- Plus$49.00/mo
- Professional$79.00/mo
- Enterprise$145.00/mo
GetResponse
From $19.00/user/mo
- Free$0.00/user/mo
- Starter$19.00/mo
- Marketer$59.00/mo
- Creator$69.00/mo
- EnterpriseCustom
Seat-count estimates
Labeled estimates from verified starting per-seat pricing — not invoices.
| Seats | ActiveCampaign | GetResponse |
|---|---|---|
| 5 | ~$75.00/mo (5 × starting seat) | ~$95.00/mo (5 × starting seat) |
| 10 | ~$150.00/mo (10 × starting seat) | ~$190.00/mo (10 × starting seat) |
| 25 | ~$375.00/mo (25 × starting seat) | ~$475.00/mo (25 × starting seat) |
| 50 | ~$750.00/mo (50 × starting seat) | ~$950.00/mo (50 × starting seat) |
Estimate from verified starting per-seat pricing — actual total depends on plan, annual discounts, and add-ons.
ActiveCampaign: no free plan; Starter/Plus/Professional/Enterprise contact tiers (Starter ~$15/mo at ~1k contacts annual per research). GetResponse: Free + Starter from $19/mo at ~1k contacts; unlimited sends on paid. Confirm live vendor pricing.
Best for
Scenario picks from researched strengths — not a universal ranking.
- → ActiveCampaign
Best for automation
ActiveCampaign leads on automation (9/10 vs 8/10) from SoftwareGlimpse research-grounded editorial judgments — not hands-on lab testing. ActiveCampaign/Mailchimp scores may map from crm-editorial evidence where EM re-scores are pending.
- → ActiveCampaign
Best for segmentation
ActiveCampaign leads on segmentation (8/10 vs 7/10) from SoftwareGlimpse research-grounded editorial judgments — not hands-on lab testing. ActiveCampaign/Mailchimp scores may map from crm-editorial evidence where EM re-scores are pending.
- → ActiveCampaign
Best for integrations
Stronger coverage across integrations, forms, email sync.
- → GetResponse
Best for templates
Stronger coverage across email templates.
- → GetResponse
Best for landing pages
Stronger coverage across landing pages.
- → GetResponse
Best for ai features
GetResponse leads on ai-features (6/10 vs 7/10) from SoftwareGlimpse research-grounded editorial judgments — not hands-on lab testing. ActiveCampaign/Mailchimp scores may map from crm-editorial evidence where EM re-scores are pending.
The differences that actually matter
Pair-specific analysis for ActiveCampaign vs GetResponse — not generic category copy.
Starting pricing
DependsStarting pricing: ActiveCampaign — ActiveCampaign: no free plan; researched Starter ~$15/mo at ~1k contacts (annual) with 14-day trial. GetResponse: forever-free (≤500 contacts) plus Starter from $19/mo at ~1k contacts.. GetResponse — ActiveCampaign: no free plan; researched Starter ~$15/mo at ~1k contacts (annual) with 14-day trial. GetResponse: forever-free (≤500 contacts) plus Starter from $19/mo at ~1k contacts..
Automation
ActiveCampaign aheadOn automation, ActiveCampaign is ahead. ActiveCampaign: ActiveCampaign leads on automation (9/10 vs 8/10) from SoftwareGlimpse research-grounded editorial judgments — not hands-on lab testing. ActiveCampaign/Mailchimp scores may map from crm-editorial evidence where EM re-scores are pending.. GetResponse: Trails ActiveCampaign on this criterion.
Segmentation
ActiveCampaign aheadOn segmentation, ActiveCampaign is ahead. ActiveCampaign: ActiveCampaign leads on segmentation (8/10 vs 7/10) from SoftwareGlimpse research-grounded editorial judgments — not hands-on lab testing. ActiveCampaign/Mailchimp scores may map from crm-editorial evidence where EM re-scores are pending.. GetResponse: Trails ActiveCampaign on this criterion.
Analytics
TieActiveCampaign and GetResponse are close on analytics. ActiveCampaign and GetResponse are close on analytics (7/10 vs 7/10) from SoftwareGlimpse research-grounded editorial judgments — not hands-on lab testing. ActiveCampaign/Mailchimp scores may map from crm-editorial evidence where EM re-scores are pending.
Templates
GetResponse aheadOn templates, GetResponse is ahead. ActiveCampaign: Trails GetResponse on this criterion. GetResponse: Stronger coverage across email templates..
Pros and cons
Product-specific for this pair — derived from researched outcomes and editorial notes.
ActiveCampaign
Pros
- Stronger on automation
- Stronger on segmentation
- Stronger on integrations
Cons
- Trails on templates
- Trails on landing pages
- Trails on ai features
GetResponse
Pros
- Stronger on templates
- Stronger on landing pages
- Stronger on ai features
Cons
- Trails on automation
- Trails on segmentation
- Trails on integrations
Who should not choose each product
Decision quality improves when we say who should walk away.
Don't choose ActiveCampaign if…
- You need GetResponse's stronger templates more than ActiveCampaign's strengths
- You need GetResponse's stronger landing pages more than ActiveCampaign's strengths
- You need GetResponse's stronger ai features more than ActiveCampaign's strengths
- Your primary fit looks closer to: Teams wanting forever-free evaluation plus automation/LPs
Don't choose GetResponse if…
- You need ActiveCampaign's stronger automation more than GetResponse's strengths
- You need ActiveCampaign's stronger segmentation more than GetResponse's strengths
- You need ActiveCampaign's stronger integrations more than GetResponse's strengths
- Your primary fit looks closer to: Marketing-led SMBs needing deep automation + CRM on Plus+
Alternatives worth considering
When neither product is the right fit.
Ecommerce email + SMS platform with Shopify-native flows, revenue attribution, and active-profile billing.
AI-powered customer platform with free forever CRM, plus paid Smart CRM seats and Sales/Marketing/Service hubs for growing teams.
Multi-channel email marketing with send-based pricing, a generous free plan, and CRM-lite tools — formerly Sendinblue.
Ecommerce multichannel email, SMS, and web push with Shopify-centric automation — a common Klaviyo alternative.
Final verdict
Scenario-level close — not a repeat of the intro.
ActiveCampaign wins when…
Marketing-led SMBs needing deep automation + CRM on Plus+
GetResponse wins when…
Teams wanting forever-free evaluation plus automation/LPs
- Best for automationActiveCampaign
- Best for segmentationActiveCampaign
- Best for integrationsActiveCampaign
- Best for templatesGetResponse
Which one should you choose?
Choose ActiveCampaign if:
- Marketing-led SMBs needing deep automation + CRM on Plus+
- Buyers OK without a free forever plan
Choose GetResponse if:
- Teams wanting forever-free evaluation plus automation/LPs
- SMBs consolidating email, funnels, and landing pages
Product screenshots
Real product UI from our media library — no placeholders.
ActiveCampaign
GetResponse
FAQ
- Is ActiveCampaign better than GetResponse?
- No universal winner. Choose ActiveCampaign when marketing automation depth (and Plus+ CRM) is the job; choose GetResponse when forever-free entry and an all-in-one email + landing-page stack matter more.
- Which email marketing fits which team?
- ActiveCampaign: Marketing-led SMBs needing deep automation + CRM on Plus+ GetResponse: Teams wanting forever-free evaluation plus automation/LPs
- Does ActiveCampaign or GetResponse have a free plan?
- ActiveCampaign: No free plan. GetResponse: Free plan available.
- How does ActiveCampaign vs GetResponse pricing compare?
- ActiveCampaign starts from $15.00/user/mo. GetResponse starts from $19.00/user/mo. Confirm live vendor pricing before purchasing.
- How did SoftwareGlimpse compare these products?
- We map both products to the same category criteria, then evaluate trade-offs using verified product, pricing and feature evidence. Affiliate relationships never change outcomes.
- reviewActiveCampaign review
- reviewGetResponse review
- pricingActiveCampaign pricing
- pricingGetResponse pricing
- alternativeKlaviyo alternative
- alternativeHubSpot alternative
- alternativeBrevo alternative
- guideWhat Is Email Marketing Software? Beginner’s Guide
- guideHow to Choose Email Marketing Software: Job-First Framework
- guideEmail Marketing Pricing Guide: Contact Tiers & First 90 Days
- categoryemail marketing hub
- finderBest email marketing software
- calculatorCost calculator
Related comparisons
Alternatives to consider
Klaviyo
Ecommerce email + SMS platform with Shopify-native flows, revenue attribution, and active-profile billing.
HubSpot
AI-powered customer platform with free forever CRM, plus paid Smart CRM seats and Sales/Marketing/Service hubs for growing teams.
Brevo
Multi-channel email marketing with send-based pricing, a generous free plan, and CRM-lite tools — formerly Sendinblue.
Omnisend
Ecommerce multichannel email, SMS, and web push with Shopify-centric automation — a common Klaviyo alternative.
Still deciding between ActiveCampaign and GetResponse?
Use Best email marketing software for a shortlist matched to your priorities, or build another side-by-side comparison.
- Independent criterion outcomes
- No invented scores or prices
- Affiliate links never change winners
Some visit links may be affiliate links — we may earn a commission at no extra cost to you. Comparison outcomes are never based on commission.
Part of Software comparisons · Email Marketing Software hub
Try a decision tool
Interactive helpers use recommendation criteria — affiliate status never changes outcomes.