ActiveCampaign vs Salesforce
A detailed, side-by-side comparison of ActiveCampaign and Salesforce. 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, Salesforce (4.3/5) may be the better fit if you prioritise Mid to large enterprises needing highly customisable CRM with complex workflows. Read on for the full breakdown.
ActiveCampaign vs Salesforce 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 →Salesforce
★ 4.3The world's leading CRM platform, Salesforce offers unmatched customisation and scalability. Best suited for larger organisations with complex sales processes and dedicated admin resources.
Starting from: £20/user/month
Best for: Mid to large enterprises needing highly customisable CRM with complex workflows
Read full review →ActiveCampaign vs Salesforce Feature Comparison
Here is how ActiveCampaign and Salesforce compare across the features that matter most. We have tested both platforms extensively across client implementations.
| Feature | ActiveCampaign | Salesforce |
|---|---|---|
| Free Plan Available | No | No |
| Starting Price | £12/month | £20/user/month |
| Best For | Businesses prioritising email marketing and sophisticated automation | Mid to large enterprises needing highly customisable CRM with complex workflows |
| Our Rating | 4.4/5 | 4.3/5 |
| Mobile App | Limited | Yes |
| Email Marketing | Yes | No |
| Automation | Yes | Yes |
| Reporting | Yes | Yes |
| Integrations | Extensive | Limited |
| API Access | Limited | Yes |
| Ikaroa Exclusive Discount | N/A | N/A |
ActiveCampaign vs Salesforce 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
Salesforce Pricing
Starter
£20/user/month
- ✓Lead management
- ✓Opportunity tracking
- ✓Email integration
Professional
£60/user/month
- ✓Everything in Starter
- ✓Pipeline management
- ✓Forecasting
Enterprise
£120/user/month
- ✓Everything in Professional
- ✓Workflow automation
- ✓Advanced reporting
Unlimited
£240/user/month
- ✓Everything in Enterprise
- ✓AI features
- ✓24/7 support
- ✓Sandbox
Not sure which to pick?
Our team has implemented both ActiveCampaign and Salesforce 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
Salesforce Pros and Cons
✓Pros
- •Incredibly customisable and scalable
- •Massive ecosystem (AppExchange has 5,000+ apps)
- •Industry-leading AI features with Einstein
- •Robust reporting and analytics
- •Trusted by Fortune 500 companies
✗Cons
- •Steep learning curve, often requires admin training
- •Expensive, especially for smaller teams
- •Complex pricing with many add-ons
- •Can feel over-engineered for simple use cases
- •Implementation can take months
Our Verdict: ActiveCampaign vs Salesforce
Both ActiveCampaign and Salesforce 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 Salesforce if you need Mid to large enterprises needing highly customisable CRM with complex workflows. Starting at £20/user/month with a 4.3/5 rating, it excels at incredibly customisable and scalable.
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 Salesforce? 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 Salesforce for your business, migrate your data, and train your team. We have done it dozens of times.
Free consultation. No obligation.