ActiveCampaign Review: Best For Email Marketing?

ActiveCampaign is one of the most powerful all-in-one marketing automation platforms on the market today.

As an experienced user of various email marketing software over the years, I was extremely impressed with the breadth and depth of capabilities that ActiveCampaign provides.

In this detailed and unbiased ActiveCampaign review, I will be exploring the key features and functionality which enable advanced email marketing, lead nurturing, sales pipelines, landing pages, and comprehensive analytics.

My main goal in writing this review is to provide you with a transparent assessment of strengths as well as the limitations to consider.

So whether you are looking for a tool to manage contacts, create targeted email campaigns, leverage marketing automation, or track sales opportunities, this review will highlight what you need to know about ActiveCampaign.

Let's get it moving...!

Plans and Pricing

ActiveCampaign offers flexible pricing plans depending on your needs. Its options range from basic email marketing to robust combinations of marketing automation, CRM, and other functionality.

I have outlined the key packages below so you can get an idea of what is included at different price points.

Keep reading or start a free 14-day trial of ActiveCampaign to experience it firsthand.

Plan	Price	Key Features
Lite	$29/month	Up to 500 contacts and unlimited emails
Plus	$49/month	Up to 5,000 contacts, basic automations, CRM
Professional	$159/month	Up to 15,000 contacts, advanced automations, segmentation
Enterprise	Custom quote	Dedicated account manager, custom integrations

As you can see, ActiveCampaign is competitively priced for the extensive functionality provided across their plans.

And the free 14-day trial allows you to test drive automation recipes, email editor, and other benefits at no cost to see if it meets your needs.

I especially like the Plus package as a "sweet spot" for small businesses. It unlocks multi-channel automations, CRM, and other more advanced capabilities compared to basic email marketing plans...all for just $49/month paid annually.

For larger or complex use cases like high-volume automated workflows, custom integrations, dedicated support and more, the Enterprise plan is available.

But of course, this comes at a much higher customized quote.

One limitation to note upfront relates to email and contact volume. ActivaCampaign's entry-level packages allow 500-5,000 subscribers, with room to grow from there.

So if you are managing massive lists, you would need to budget for a higher tier plan accordingly or piece together multiple accounts.

But for most small businesses, the available plans offer plenty of headroom to get started.

And you can always upgrade seamlessly as your needs evolve.

Based on my experience with a range of email marketing platforms and pricing over the years, ActiveCampaign's model is fair overall.

You get access to leading functionality at reasonable monthly rates.

To recap: ActiveCampaign grants well-priced access to enterprise-level marketing and sales automation, bundled into an integrated platform. If maximizing capability per dollar matters in your selection criteria, sign up for a free trial today and see for yourself!

Key Features and Benefits

ActiveCampaign stands out from other email marketing platforms and CRMs due to robust functionalities across key areas like:

• Marketing automation
• Email marketing capabilities
• Built-in CRM and sales pipeline
• Landing page and form builder
• Reporting and analytics

I'll break down the notable capabilities within each category below so you can better understand the power of ActiveCampaign.

Marketing Automation

Hands down, ActiveCampaign offers one of the most sophisticated yet easy-to-use marketing automation engines I've used.

You can create highly targeted, multi-channel workflows to nurture contacts through campaigns.

Let's highlight some highlighted benefits in this area:

• Intuitive visual automation builder to map trigger-based workflows
• 750+ pre-made automation recipes to choose from or customize
• Track customer journeys across email, SMS, social ads, landing pages and more
• Dynamic content to deliver personalized messaging in real-time
• Integration templates for leading tools like Shopify or WooCommerce

The workflow automation is incredibly powerful.

But it doesn't stop there...you also get robust functionality to automatically manage contact lists, score leads, update CRM records, facilitate appointments, and handle post-sale follow-ups.

I'm unaware of any platform that can match ActiveCampaign's versatility and ease of use when it comes to marketing automation. It's a core strength that sets them apart.

Email Marketing

While automation takes center stage, ActiveCampaign also provides reliable email marketing capabilities.

Useful features include:

• Simple drag-and-drop email builder
• 250+ responsive template designs
• Email personalization with merge tags
• Expansive reporting on opens, clicks, etc
• High inbox placement and deliverability

Formatting emails is simple with ActiveCampaign's editor. Just drop in content blocks, customize templates, and leverage their tailored automations to craft targeted campaigns.

Deliverability and inbox placement with ActiveCampaign also continues to test well and rank among the industry leaders. This helps ensure your messages get to the intended recipients without pesky spam filtering.

CRM and Sales Pipeline

For small to mid-sized businesses, ActiveCampaign eliminates the need to stitch together standalone marketing and sales tools. Their built-in CRM enables you to:

• Manage contacts and deals
• Build multi-stage sales pipelines
• Track communications and activity timeline
• Score leads based on engagement and behaviors
• Share record access across teams

Having this unified view of all customer interactions in one place is extremely valuable.

You can run complete lead nurturing sequences via marketing automation...then pass warmed prospects to sales teams to actively convert and close through the CRM.

It's a very scalable and high-performance sales and marketing solution out of the box.

Landing Pages and Forms

ActiveCampaign enables you to create customized landing pages to capture leads, run promotions, host contests, and more without any coding.

Here are the key features of their page builder:

• 56 responsive pre-made page templates
• Drag-and-drop editing of layouts and content
• Dynamic elements to display personalized content
• Lead capture forms for list building
• Mobile optimization for all devices

The built-in page creator has all the basic functionality that most small businesses need.

While advanced users may desire more template selection or flexibility in design, it's still a very capable offering.

And having landing pages housed directly inside your ActiveCampaign account eliminates hassles of integrating third-party tools.

Reporting and Analytics

Generating actionable insights is key to optimizing campaign performance. ActiveCampaign provides expansive reporting and analytics covering:

• Email metrics like opens, clicks, bounces
• Contacts including trends and source tracking
• Deals with status and pipeline analysis
• Automation progress and impact
• Landing page visits and conversions
• Location trends including geo-data

The breadth of reporting dashboards lets you slice and dice site visitor behaviour, email engagement, sales opportunities, and more to continually improve.

It's a centralized hub to assess marketing and sales program effectiveness.

For those needing even deeper analysis, ActiveCampaign integrates seamlessly with Google Analytics for expanded monitoring of ads, landing pages, and web conversions.

But even without third-party add-ons, the built-in analytics are comprehensive.

Why Choosing ActiveCampaign?

At this point, you may be wondering...

"With so many solutions to choose from, why should I consider ActiveCampaign over alternatives?"

In my experience through evaluating dozens of platforms, ActiveCampaign stands out by offering one of the most robust and unified all-in-one marketing and sales automation systems, tailored to small and mid-sized businesses.

The breadth of email, landing pages, CRM, analytics, and especially sophisticated automation capacities enables you to manage the entire lifecycle within a single platform.

That saves massive headaches trying to integrate disparate vendors.

While not as cost-effective as basic email tools, ActiveCampaign provides tremendous value per dollar spent when you factor the extended functionality.

And they continue releasing advanced capabilities like 1:1 sales automation based right in your email inbox with no extra effort.

So, if you're looking to level up beyond basic newsletter blasts and get serious about automated workflows between marketing and sales, ActiveCampaign deserves a close look.

You can try ActiveCampaign free for 14 days without commitment to experience the platform first-hand. I'd encourage taking advantage of the trial to see capabilities up close.

Ease Of Use

This ActiveCampaign Review will not be full without looking into how the platform renders it GUI (Graphical User Interface).

So, let's face it too!

With the extensive functionality offered by ActiveCampaign, first-time users may feel a bit overwhelmed navigating through available tools.

I'll admit...the administrative layout has a lot going on with features links scattered across the interface.

However, after reviewing available training resources to understand capabilities better, usability improves quickly. The platform aligns reasonably well with typical digital marketing workflows.

Here are the key aspects related to ActiveCampaign's User Experience:

Simplified Campaign Building

While many configuration options exist across the platform, ActiveCampaign makes executing common tasks simple in most cases. It ships with:

• Intuitive drag-and-drop email editor
• Straightforward contact management
• Pre-made page and email templates
• Automation recipe library for plug-and-play workflows

For the most common day-to-day activation of emails, landing pages, and basic customer journeys, usability is solid.

Steep Curve on Advanced Features

The functionality is all there...you just need to carve out some time to wrap your head around capabilities based on your unique objectives.

Improvements in Mobile and UX

In the previous years, clunky mobile responsiveness and dated designs received complaints.

But recent UI updates provide a fresh feel with cleaner navigation plus overhauled reporting dashboards.

There is still room to modernize certain elements and enhance consistency in user experience across areas. But the ActiveCampaign continues to trend positively.

Bottom Line: ActiveCampaign's Interface is intuitive and user-friendly. However, you need to expect an average ramp up time to understand its robust features compared to simpler email solutions.

Customer Support - ActiveCampaign Review

Ensuring reliable support response when issues ultimately arise is imperative for any business-critical marketing platform like ActiveCampaign.

Especially for technically complex scenarios.

So how does ActiveCampaign's customer service hold up?

From my experience, it's generally solid in key areas like:

Knowledgeable Assistance Across Channels

I've interacted with the ActiveCampaign support team across email, chat, and help docs with positive outcomes each time:

• Fast Email Replies: Average response within 1-3 hours during business days for my submitted tickets.
• Live Chat Support: Quick answers to basic questions through real-time chat.
• Searchable Help Articles: Documentation covers the most common issues I investigated.

Having access to self-service content for fast DIY troubleshooting or live chat for urgent needs is invaluable.

Proactive Onboarding Guidance

Beyond reactive support, ActiveCampaign provides guidance during the initial platform setup.

You can expect:

• Dedicated account manager for onboarding calls
• Tailored resources based on your configuration
• Best practice playbooks for design, automation, etc

Proactive consulting when launching helps circumvent roadblocks down the line. With ActiveCampaign, Education is built-in, not an upsell.

Constraints of Scale

With over 150,000 customers, however, individualized attention has limitations as ActiveCampaign grows. Users needing "white glove" concierge service may desire a personalized touch lacking at times here.

But for the price point, included frontline assistance and self-service content generally satisfies...with enterprise accounts receiving an elevated response for premium fees.

Potential Drawbacks (cons)

While ActiveCampaign is currently one of my top recommendations for a marketing automation platform, no software product is perfect.

There are downsides depending on your needs which are important to highlight.

I'll summarize a few limitations or cases where other tools may serve you better.

❌Steep Learning Curve

The extensive capabilities within ActiveCampaign can lead to a steeper learning curve upfront for new users.

The administrative interface has a lot going on which can seem overwhelming initially.

You may need to set aside some time to go through available training resources to understand how all the modules and tools work together.

But once concepts click, it begins to flow well. Just factor ramp-up time into your rollout plans.

PRO Tip: For those seeking the absolute easiest email marketing solution to launch basic newsletters, ActiveCampaign may feel overly complex. In those cases, a more lightweight option like MailerLite could suit better.

❌Potential Glitches

Based on user reviews, some customers highlight frustrations around minor software bugs or inconsistencies while navigating certain complex workflows.

I didn't experience major issues firsthand during testing. But it's something to note for those expecting totally polished and refined performance across every feature.

❌Cost Considerations

Pricing is competitive for what's included but still represents real budget outlays to consider.

The Plus plan starts at $49/month when billed annually. And higher tiers with expanded capability for larger businesses run $159+/month.

For extremely lean startups or solopreneurs on tight budgets, even $50 monthly may feel steep at first. Competing basic email tools like MailerLite are priced as little as $15/month by comparison.

So while affordable relative to alternatives when you factor breadth of features, the cost of ActiveCampaign is higher than entry-level email platforms.

Rating and Reviews (ActiveCampaign Review)

Ideal Users and Use Cases

Given the extensive capabilities that accompany increased cost and complexity, ActiveCampaign aligns better with certain users compared with simpler email tools.

Based on my experience, here are the best-fit scenarios:

Growing SMBs and Mid-Market Companies

The platform delivers tremendous value for small to mid-sized businesses who need to scale their messaging while tightening sales and marketing alignment.

Leveraging Multi-Channel Automations

Businesses that focus on advanced behavioural triggers and multi-faceted workflows will maximize ActiveCampaign's versatility.

If you only blast basic newsletters, it's likely overkill.

Customizable CRM Requirements

The built-in sales pipeline, deal tracking, and account management modules eliminate the need for separate CRM software.

B2B Sales Teams

Functionalities like lead scoring, call logging, task assignment, and DM communications empower sales reps to actively convert and close prospects.

Agencies and Marketing Consultants

With white labelling, reseller credits, and support for unlimited brand accounts, the platform makes managing campaigns for clients under your brand simple and efficient.

For the reasons above, growing organizations with complex workflows or sales teams stand to benefit most from what ActiveCampaign brings to the table.

But if you are just launching a basic email newsletter as a solopreneur, the Advanced plan from a provider like MailerLite could offer sufficient functionality at a lower price.

Verdict

So what's the final take - is ActiveCampaign a recommended email marketing and automation platform that lives up to expectations?

In my opinion...YES. Definitely.

The solution rightfully earns a leadership position as an integrated email, sales, and marketing powerhouse for SMBs.

After extensive testing and research across competing options, ActiveCampaign clearly rises to the top pack regarding:

• Sophisticated automation - Robust multi-channel workflows and triggers
• Unified architecture - Deep CRM, email, analytics, pages under one roof
• Overall value - Competitive pricing for included capabilities
• Delivery and support - Consistent inbox placement, responsive assistance

While the platform isn't without downsides that I've already outlined, the all-in-one bundles of both marketing and sales tools provide tremendous efficiencies for growing organizations.

The granular segmentation, custom fields, and automation capacities empower you to execute extremely targeted, personalized messaging as well.

Competing platforms are often segmented by lists or basic tags alone.

And exciting new capabilities like 1:1 sales automation directly in your email inbox showcase how aggressively their product roadmap continues pushing the envelope.

Yes, niche use cases exist where a more specialized tool could edge out ActiveCampaign.

Highly complex enterprise requirements may warrant elevated solutions like Salesforce or Marketo.

But for the target mid-market buyer, ActiveCampaign strikes the right balance of affordable access to robust functionality.

While the platform deserves to be a leader in the space, don't just take my word for it. Try ActiveCampaign free for 14 days to experience intuitive automation and extensive reporting first-hand.

Alternatives to Consider

While ActiveCampaign ranks as one of my top recommendations for marketing automation and CRM, I realize it isn't the right solution for everyone.

Here are leading alternative platforms to also evaluate based on your email marketing requirements:

Platform	Best For
MailerLite	Simple email newsletters and automation
GetResponse	Webinars and sophisticated funnels
MailChimp	Basic email and landing pages

Let's explore these competitors briefly...

Important: You can read my blog post on ActiveCampaign vs Mailchimp – Which Is Better for Your Business?

MailerLite shines for basic email newsletters and automation. Its decent templates, analytics, and deliverability make it easy for novices to broadcast and track campaign performance.

GetResponse caters to marketers who need webinars, sophisticated funnels, and advanced conversions like their Automation Suite. But it lacks CRM and CMS strength.

And MailChimp dominates simple email, basic automation, and integrated landing pages. Mailchimp isn't as robust on custom fields, tagging, sales, etc.

Trying before buying is wise to validate the best platform that fits your exact requirements.

FAQs - ActiveCampaign Review