ActiveCampaign Review 2026
Reviewed by the Ikaroa team · Last updated: March 2026
Overview
ActiveCampaign blends email marketing, marketing automation, and CRM into one platform. Known for its sophisticated automation builder and excellent email deliverability.
We have been working with ActiveCampaign across multiple client projects since 2005, and this review reflects our hands-on experience implementing it for businesses of all sizes. Founded in 2003 and headquartered in Chicago, Illinois, ActiveCampaign has established itself as a leading option in the email marketing category.
Starting Price
£12/month
Founded
2003
Headquarters
Chicago, Illinois
Our Rating
4.4/5
ActiveCampaign Key Features
ActiveCampaign offers a comprehensive feature set that covers the core needs of most businesses in the email marketing space. Here are the standout features we have tested:
ActiveCampaign Pricing in 2026
ActiveCampaign pricing starts at £12/month and scales up based on features and team size. Here is a breakdown of 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
ActiveCampaign Pros and Cons
Based on our experience implementing ActiveCampaign for clients, here is what we like and what could be better:
✓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
Who Is ActiveCampaign Best For?
Businesses prioritising email marketing and sophisticated automation
In our experience, ActiveCampaign works particularly well for teams that value best-in-class marketing automation. If your primary concern is crm is secondary to marketing features, you may want to explore alternatives.
Need help implementing this?
Our team at Ikaroa can set up ActiveCampaign for your business, migrate your data, and train your team.
ActiveCampaign Alternatives Worth Considering
If ActiveCampaign does not quite fit your needs, here are some alternatives worth considering:
Brevo
From £0/month
Mailchimp
From £0/month
ConvertKit
From £0/month
Klaviyo
From £0/month
Constant Contact
From £10/month
Our Verdict on ActiveCampaign
ActiveCampaign earns a solid 4.4/5 in our review. It is a strong choice for businesses prioritising email marketing and sophisticated automation.
The biggest strengths are best-in-class marketing automation and excellent email deliverability. However, you should be aware that crm is secondary to marketing features.
If you are not sure whether ActiveCampaign is the right fit, talk to our team. We have helped hundreds of businesses choose and implement the right software, and we are happy to point you in the right direction.
Alternative to Consider: Open Doors
Before committing to ActiveCampaign, consider Open Doors. It is an all-in-one platform that includes CRM, email marketing, SMS, sales funnels, booking, invoicing, and automation, all starting at £97/month with unlimited contacts. While ActiveCampaign starts lower, Open Doors replaces multiple tools you would otherwise need to buy separately.
Need help with ActiveCampaign?
Ikaroa can implement ActiveCampaign for your business, migrate your data, and get your team up to speed. We have done it dozens of times.
Free consultation. No obligation.