ActiveCampaign vs Freshworks CRM
A detailed, side-by-side comparison of ActiveCampaign and Freshworks CRM. We compare features, pricing, ease of use, and value for money to help you make the right choice in 2026.
Reviewed by the Ikaroa team · Last updated: March 2026
Quick Verdict
ActiveCampaign edges ahead overall with a rating of 4.4/5. However, Freshworks CRM (4.2/5) may be the better fit if you prioritise Growing businesses wanting a modern CRM with built-in communication tools. Read on for the full breakdown.
ActiveCampaign vs Freshworks CRM at a Glance
ActiveCampaign
★ 4.4ActiveCampaign blends email marketing, marketing automation, and CRM into one platform. Known for its sophisticated automation builder and excellent email deliverability.
Starting from: £12/month
Best for: Businesses prioritising email marketing and sophisticated automation
Read full review →Freshworks CRM
★ 4.2Freshworks (formerly Freshsales) offers a modern, AI-powered CRM with a clean interface. Part of the Freshworks suite that includes helpdesk and marketing tools.
Starting from: £0/month
Best for: Growing businesses wanting a modern CRM with built-in communication tools
Read full review →ActiveCampaign vs Freshworks CRM Feature Comparison
Here is how ActiveCampaign and Freshworks CRM compare across the features that matter most. We have tested both platforms extensively across client implementations.
| Feature | ActiveCampaign | Freshworks CRM |
|---|---|---|
| Free Plan Available | No | Yes |
| Starting Price | £12/month | £0/month |
| Best For | Businesses prioritising email marketing and sophisticated automation | Growing businesses wanting a modern CRM with built-in communication tools |
| Our Rating | 4.4/5 | 4.2/5 |
| Mobile App | Limited | Yes |
| Email Marketing | Yes | No |
| Automation | Yes | Yes |
| Reporting | Yes | Yes |
| Integrations | Extensive | Limited |
| API Access | Limited | Limited |
| Ikaroa Exclusive Discount | N/A | N/A |
ActiveCampaign vs Freshworks CRM Pricing
Pricing is often the deciding factor. Here is a full breakdown of what each platform charges at every tier:
ActiveCampaign Pricing
Starter
£12/month
- ✓Email marketing
- ✓Marketing automation
- ✓Inline forms
- ✓Site tracking
Plus
£42/month
- ✓Everything in Starter
- ✓CRM
- ✓Lead scoring
- ✓Landing pages
- ✓SMS marketing
Pro
£135/month
- ✓Everything in Plus
- ✓Predictive sending
- ✓Split automation
- ✓Attribution
Enterprise
£225/month
- ✓Everything in Pro
- ✓Custom objects
- ✓Single sign-on
- ✓Dedicated account rep
Freshworks CRM Pricing
Free
£0/month
- ✓Contact management
- ✓Built-in phone
- ✓Built-in email
- ✓Mobile app
Growth
£12/user/month
- ✓Everything in Free
- ✓Visual pipeline
- ✓AI lead scoring
- ✓Sequences
Pro
£33/user/month
- ✓Everything in Growth
- ✓Multiple pipelines
- ✓Time-based workflows
- ✓AI insights
Enterprise
£55/user/month
- ✓Everything in Pro
- ✓Custom modules
- ✓AI forecasting
- ✓Audit logs
Not sure which to pick?
Our team has implemented both ActiveCampaign and Freshworks CRM for clients. We can help you decide based on your specific needs.
ActiveCampaign Pros and Cons
✓Pros
- •Best-in-class marketing automation
- •Excellent email deliverability
- •Sophisticated automation builder
- •Good CRM functionality
- •Strong segmentation capabilities
✗Cons
- •CRM is secondary to marketing features
- •Can be complex for beginners
- •Contact-based pricing escalates
- •Reporting could be more visual
- •Limited social media features
Freshworks CRM Pros and Cons
✓Pros
- •Clean, modern interface
- •Built-in phone and email (no extra tools needed)
- •Good AI features with Freddy
- •Competitive pricing
- •Free plan available
✗Cons
- •Smaller integration marketplace
- •Less established than HubSpot or Salesforce
- •Limited marketing automation on lower tiers
- •Reporting could be deeper
- •Occasional performance issues
Our Verdict: ActiveCampaign vs Freshworks CRM
Both ActiveCampaign and Freshworks CRM are solid options, but they serve different needs. Having implemented both for multiple clients, here is our recommendation:
Choose ActiveCampaign if you need Businesses prioritising email marketing and sophisticated automation. With a starting price of £12/month and a rating of 4.4/5, it offers best-in-class marketing automation.
Choose Freshworks CRM if you need Growing businesses wanting a modern CRM with built-in communication tools. Starting at £0/month with a 4.2/5 rating, it excels at clean, modern interface.
Still not sure? Talk to the Ikaroa team. We have helped hundreds of businesses make this exact decision, and we are happy to point you in the right direction.
🎁 Get either product at a discount through Ikaroa Partners
Consider Open Doors Instead
Why choose between ActiveCampaign and Freshworks CRM? Open Doors gives you the best features of both in one platform, for less. It is an all-in-one CRM with email marketing, SMS, funnels, booking, invoicing, automation, and more, starting at just £97/month with unlimited contacts.
Need implementation help?
Ikaroa can set up ActiveCampaign or Freshworks CRM for your business, migrate your data, and train your team. We have done it dozens of times.
Free consultation. No obligation.