ActiveCampaign vs GetResponse: Which Is Better in 2026?
ActiveCampaign is an automation tool that also sends email. GetResponse packs a lot around its email tool: automation, landing pages, sign-up funnels, webinars and a website builder. ActiveCampaign’s strength is complex, behavior-driven automation at a price below enterprise marketing platforms; GetResponse’s is covering email, landing pages and webinars under one login.
01Pricing
ActiveCampaign: paid plans start at $15/mo for 1,000 contacts. GetResponse: paid plans start at $15.58/mo for 1,000 contacts. Both price by the size of your list or sending volume, so the entry prices above only hold for a small audience; check each vendor’s calculator at your list size. ActiveCampaign has no free plan; the trial runs 14 days. GetResponse has a free plan (up to 500 contacts).
| Plan | Billed annually | Billed monthly | Limits | Adds |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Starter † | $15 | $19 | 1,000 contacts at this price; Email sends 10x contact limit; 1 user included; 5 actions per automation | Marketing automation; Email marketing; Limited segmentation; Standard CRM & ecommerce integrations |
| Plus † | $49 | $59 | 1,000 contacts at this price; Email sends 10x contact limit; 1 user included | Unlimited automation actions; Standard segmentation; Landing pages; Generative AI |
| Pro † | $79 | $99 | 1,000 contacts at this price; Email sends 12x contact limit; 3 users included | Advanced segmentation; Conditional content; Predictive sending; 200 active goals |
| Enterprise † | $145 | $179 | 1,000 contacts at this price; Email sends 15x contact limit; 5 users included | Premium segmentation; Single sign-on (SSO); Unlimited Active Intelligence access |
| Plan | Billed annually | Billed monthly | Limits | Adds |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Free | $0 | $0 | Up to 500 contacts; Landing page visits capped at 1,000 per month; GetResponse badge on every message | |
| Starter † | $15.58 | $19 | 1,000 contacts at this price; Unlimited monthly email sends; 3 users; 1 custom automation workflow | AI email generator; Welcome email series; Landing page builder; Signup forms and popups |
| Marketer † | $48.38 | $59 | 1,000 contacts at this price; 5 users | Unlimited automation workflows; Abandoned cart recovery; A/B testing; Promo codes and revenue reports |
| Creator † | $56.58 | $69 | 1,000 contacts at this price; 5 users; Up to 500 students; Webinars up to 100 attendees | Website builder; Course creator; Webinars; Premium newsletter subscriptions |
| Enterprise | Custom | Custom | Unlimited users; Webinars up to 1,000 attendees | SMS marketing; Mobile push notifications; Dedicated sending domain; Single sign-on (SSO) |
Prices are per month on annual billing. † marks prices taken from the vendor’s documentation or page data instead of its visible pricing page. ActiveCampaign pricing and GetResponse pricing have the full detail.
02The Two Tools
ActiveCampaign
ActiveCampaign is an automation tool that also sends email. Its visual builder handles branching logic, lead scoring, site tracking and conditional content, and a sales CRM can be added on. It asks for more learning than its simpler rivals and repays it for businesses whose marketing depends on timing and behavior.
- Best at
- Complex, behavior-driven automation at a price below enterprise marketing platforms.
- Falls short
- There is no free plan, the learning curve is real, and the cost climbs with both contacts and tier.
GetResponse
GetResponse packs a lot around its email tool: automation, landing pages, sign-up funnels, webinars and a website builder. It suits marketers who want one subscription for lead generation and follow-up. Breadth is the appeal, and no single part is the best in its class.
- Best at
- Covering email, landing pages and webinars under one login.
- Falls short
- The interface is crowded, and the more advanced automation and webinar features need the higher tiers.
03Which Fits Your Situation
| If you are | Better fit | Why |
|---|---|---|
| Small Business | Either | ActiveCampaign: For the small business ready to invest in automation. GetResponse: Worth it if you also want landing pages and webinars. |
| Ecommerce | Either | ActiveCampaign: Deep automation for stores with complex customer journeys. GetResponse: Covers abandoned-cart and product emails as part of a wider marketing bundle. |
| Startups | Either | ActiveCampaign: The choice once lifecycle automation becomes a growth channel. GetResponse: Email plus landing pages and funnels without extra subscriptions. |
| Creators | Neither | Neither is a natural fit for creators. |
| Agencies | ActiveCampaign | Sophisticated automation that agencies can build and maintain for clients. |
04Verdict
Choose ActiveCampaign if you need serious automation and will invest time in building it. Choose GetResponse if you want email, landing pages and webinars from one vendor.
05FAQ
Is ActiveCampaign or GetResponse cheaper?
ActiveCampaign starts at $15/mo and GetResponse at $15.58/mo. Both rise with the size of your list. Prices are per month on annual billing.
Do ActiveCampaign and GetResponse have free plans?
ActiveCampaign has no free plan; the trial runs 14 days. GetResponse has a free plan (up to 500 contacts).
Which is easier to learn, ActiveCampaign or GetResponse?
GetResponse is moderately involved to set up; ActiveCampaign is demanding to set up. There is no free plan, the learning curve is real, and the cost climbs with both contacts and tier.
Which is better for agencies, ActiveCampaign or GetResponse?
ActiveCampaign. Sophisticated automation that agencies can build and maintain for clients.