ConvertKit vs ActiveCampaign [August 2023]

Are you looking for a way to improve your business results, convert more prospects, and earn additional revenue?

An automation tool will help you with that.

These services are not only there to do the work for you, they also enhance the quality of your campaigns by allowing you to segment your audience, create beautiful email templates, and much more. You can even track the results of your campaigns through A/B testing and reports.

People who use automation have improved their conversion rate by up to 50%.

But which tool to choose?

In 2020, the debate is generally ActiveCampaign versus ConvertKit.

Why?

These are two popular platforms, excellent for email marketing and creating visual lists.

ActiveCampaign has been the choice to make for some time now. It has been around since 2003, offering easy automation and convenient A/B testing options.

However, ConvertKit has gradually built its presence in the background, starting from 2015. Instead of trying to conquer the entire market, ConvertKit has maintained its differentiation by positioning itself as the ultimate platform for bloggers.

So, how do you know which one suits you best?

I have set up a test account on both to give you a complete behind-the-scenes overview.

ConvertKit vs ActiveCampaign: Basic Features

ActiveCampaign and ConvertKit are quite similar tools.

They both help you manage and build an email list with segmentation and tags. On both platforms, you can design an immersive automation strategy based on drag-and-drop triggers and events. Additionally, each option comes with sign-up forms and landing page templates for lead generation.

So, what do they do differently?

From what I can see, ActiveCampaign offers a more comprehensive overall experience, with enhanced reporting and A/B testing options, and better email templates. On the other hand, ConvertKit prioritizes simplicity with basic tools and features that are perfect for beginners. Segmentation and integration with ConvertKit are also better supported.

Although both tools cover the basics of automation tools, there are some essential differences in their features.

Let's take a closer look at Convertkit vs ActiveCampaign.

Convertkit vs ActiveCampaign: Prices

Let's be realistic, we all have budgets to adhere to.

ConvertKit offers monthly and annual billing, with prices based on the number of subscribers you have. For up to 1,000 people on your list, you will pay $29 per month, or $24 per month if you opt for

All features are included in every plan, allowing you to have the same experience no matter which option you choose. The only thing you pay extra for is the number of subscribers. I find this appealing because it makes pricing pleasant and transparent.

Let's now examine the pricing of ActiveCampaign.

Here again, you have four plans, although they are a bit more customizable than with ConvertKit. You choose the number of subscribers you want to manage, and the price changes from there.

The plans also vary in the features they offer. The lowest level gives you the basics of email marketing, but you will need to upgrade to improve data integration, sales automation, custom domains, and lead scoring.

A good thing?

The migration is free, which means that ActiveCampaign will help you transfer all your data and subscribers from another platform.

Winner

It's a tie. Overall, ConvertKit and ActiveCampaign seem to be quite similar in terms of pricing. For buyers on a limited budget, try something like MailerLite (review), which is 100% free for up to 1000 subscribers.

ConvertKit vs. ActiveCampaign: Automation

Let's now examine the most useful feature of ActiveCampaign and ConvertKit: Automation.

According to the DMA, over 75% of email revenue is generated by triggered campaigns. Automated emails have a lot to offer.

In ConvertKit, your sequences are called "Automations". You can automatically add subscribers to an automation as soon as they join your list.

Have you never designed an automation map? No worries, ConvertKit offers plans to help you determine what needs to be done. You define your own rules for actions and triggers using the logic "If this, then that"

Honestly, even if you are a beginner in automation, ConvertKit makes it super easy to create your templates. The visual interface is easy to use, and you can create your campaigns as you wish.

For example, you could develop a funnel that would send subscribers unique content not found on your blog, then bring them back to your website. When the same subscriber makes a purchase, they may receive another email thanking them and offering them a cross-sell opportunity.

So, how does ActiveCampaign compare?

Well, like ConvertKit, you get a visual workflow builder for your automation - which is great.

The builder is once again very easy to use, with the logic of "if this, then that". In addition, it can be as complicated or as simple as you want. You can even automatically send your contacts to different segments and campaigns when they complete a task.

Combine ActiveCampaign triggers and actions with intelligent website tracking, and your marketing automation possibilities reach new heights.

Although the construction experience may be a bit clumsy in places, such as taking you to a new page when you want to add a new email to your sequence, it is very comprehensive.

Furthermore, unlike ConvertKit, ActiveCampaign gives you the ability to combine your automation tools with a CRM integration to boost your sales.

ActiveCampaign's sales and CRM offerings are equipped with lead scoring capabilities, a Gmail extension, and even machine learning tools to help you determine which of your campaigns is the most effective.

It is evident that the fact that ActiveCampaign is more comprehensive can also make the task more difficult for some users. However, the additional effort may be worth it for a more thorough campaign.

Winner

If you are looking for a basic email software with easy-to-use sequences, choose ConvertKit.

If you need to work with more complex sales funnels and customer segments, ActiveCampaign is the best choice - even though it may require a slightly longer learning process.

ConvertKit vs ActiveCampaign Tagging & Segmentation

Automation is wonderful.

However, for your sequences to be effective, you need to know how to divide and segment your audience. After all, personalized emails result in six times higher transaction rates.

Let's start by examining ConvertKit's approach to segmentation.

It's very simple: you can choose three ways to import your subscribers, including taking lists from another application or importing a CSV file.

Once your contacts are loaded into your application, you can manage them using tags and segments.

Tags divide your prospects and customers based on the actions they take. On the other hand, segments organize your tags, allowing you to create audiences based on factors such as product purchase, origin, etc.

It is a very simple way to manage your contacts - but in my opinion, the ActiveCampaign solution is far from being as good.

With ActiveCampaign, you can combine both lists and tags

In your contact list, you will be able to see everything you need to know about each of your subscribers, including the lists and segments they belong to.

If you have multiple websites to manage, you can also isolate your subscribers for each business and organize these lists separately. If you wanted to do this in ConvertKit, you would need multiple accounts, which is quite tedious.

The real magic of ActiveCampaign?

By combining segmentation functionality with sales and tracking capabilities, you can tag subscribers based on their actions on your website, and even allow your sales team to assign tasks to a contact based on their behavior.

At the same time, ActiveCampaign also has its own lead scoring system to help you see which individuals are most likely to become customers.

None of these features are offered in ConvertKit.

Winner

ActiveCampaign leads with a more comprehensive strategy of tagging and segmentation. You can gather information from website analysis and your customer relationship management systems for more valuable segments.

ConvertKit vs ActiveCampaign: Forms and Landing Pages

So, how do you attract all the subscribers you want to add to your list?

ConvertKit and ActiveCampaign both come with handy form builders to play with.

ConvertKit comes with two-field forms where you can simply collect names and email addresses. You also have the option to design complete landing pages that work seamlessly with WordPress through ConvertKit's official plugin.

The forms available with ConvertKit are simple and straightforward. You can choose where you want to display them, including as inline boxes, dialog boxes, or slide-ins.

You can also choose from many different templates for your homepages, and you can sort your options by categories such as "eBook" or "Video"

There are very few reasons to complain about ConvertKit here. The landing pages and forms are easy to build and customize, and adding them to your website is a breeze.

The only reason ConvertKit is behind ActiveCampaign in this regard is that ActiveCampaign offers a fourth style of pop-up box: The floating bar.

Unfortunately, I was not able to test this feature, as it is only available for paid plans

With only the online form to explore, I still felt comfortable enough to use the builder. You can add custom fields such as checkboxes and CAPTCHA to your forms for security reasons and to avoid spam. It is also possible to add a custom style with cascading style sheets (CSS).

In addition, ActiveCampaign offers other ways to reach your audience that you do not get with ConvertKit, for example

• Interactions with the Facebook audience

• Les SMS

• Messages du site (chatbots)

Winner

Honestly, I feel a little uncomfortable giving the win to ActiveCampaign here, simply because I haven't had the chance to test their advanced tool myself. However, it is hard to argue with the fact that they offer more options for landing pages and forms - even if you have to pay to use them.

If you are looking for something to boost your lead generation strategy, try OptinMonster or Thrive Leads instead. These options offer dedicated lead generation strategies, whereas most email marketing tools' forms are just additional features.

ConvertKit vs ActiveCampaign: A/B Testing and Analysis

Once you have set up your homepages, email sequences, and segments, you need to run tests.

Tracking and analyzing your emails is the best way to ensure that you are getting the most out of your campaigns.

While researching for this article, I found many people saying that ConvertKit provides a lot of analysis and reporting tools. However, when I used the service for myself, I didn't find much.

When you set up a sequence, you can see basic elements like click rate, unsubscribes, open rate, and subscribers - but that's it

Regarding A/B testing, if you want to see how two different emails perform, you need to go to the "Campaigns" tab and activate the A/B option next to your subject line

This is the only support you will get for split tests, but it should be enough to test at least your subjects. I'm not sure if there is a way to test anything else in your content - but if there is one, I haven't found it.

ActiveCampaign is much more comprehensive when it comes to A/B testing and analysis.

To begin, you have two options. You can either test the information in the form and the email subject, or test the performance of your entire automation sequence.

To test your entire sequence, simply add the "Split" action to your workflow

You will be able to choose exactly how you want to distribute your contacts.

In addition, you will also be able to choose a winner during your test, both after the end of the campaign and during its progress.

ActiveCampaign gives you a lot of control over how your criteria should be applied - which is very useful. This feature can add a lot of value to your business.

As for reporting and analysis, ActiveCampaign also offers many features, including the ability to track visitor engagement on your site and create actionable items. This allows you to send the most relevant and personalized emails to your subscribers.

ActiveCampaign allows you to do more than just guess what your audience expects and what they need. Ultimately, this is the very essence of email analysis.

In addition, so that you can make the most of your personalized campaigns, ActiveCampaign also gives you the ability to save records on your clients.

You can use these folders in conjunction with your CRM and sales information to give you a more in-depth overview of your target audience.

Even better? The tool is GDPR compliant, so you don't have to worry about collecting too much personal data and putting your brand in jeopardy.

Winner

ActiveCampaign is the clear winner in the field of reporting, analysis, and A/B testing.

Maybe I was missing something with ConvertKit because I only had access to a free account. However, I couldn't find any way to deepen my analysis.

ConvertKit vs ActiveCampaign: Ease of Use and Delivery

Before investing in either of these software programs, it is good to get an idea of the ease of use of both tools. They are both offered in a free trial version, which is convenient if you want to test them without committing (like me).

In addition, ConvertKit and ActiveCampaign offer many integrations so that you can integrate the tools you already use into your email automation workflow.

So, how do they compare to each other?

One thing you cannot argue with about ConvertKit is its ease of use.

Everything you need is in your toolbar as soon as you log in

Furthermore, throughout the site, you will find numerous drag-and-drop features.

It seems like this tool was specifically built for less technical users.

However, in my opinion, simplicity goes a little too far - especially when it comes to things like your email templates.

For example, here is what you can choose when you create a show

Is that it?!

With so many different landing pages available, I thought there would be at least a few more attractive templates to try in the email section.

We all want our automated campaigns to be simple, but there is a limit to what we want to do by default.

ActiveCampaign, on the other hand, is a bit more comprehensive.

As soon as you log into the system, you have access to your main dashboard, which is filled with things you can do.

It's a bit more cluttered on ActiveCampaign than on ConvertKit, but that's because you have more features to play with.

If you click on the Getting Started widget at the top of your screen, the tool will guide you through some of the initial steps you need to follow when launching your first campaigns. It will even guide you in creating your first membership form.

The dashboard also includes a variety of customizable widgets that you can view to see the performance of all your campaigns using the latest statistics and check the tasks you have set for yourself.

When it comes to email templates, ActiveCampaign also has a lot more to offer. You can choose from many attractive options, or you can choose to build something unique from scratch.

In terms of deliverability, ConvertKit and ActiveCampaign are very similar. Here are the results that AuthorityHacker obtained during their tests:

Don't forget that deliverability rates can be complicated, as they often depend on many different factors. Don't dwell too much on these numbers when making your choice.

Winner

If you are looking for simplicity above all, then ConvertKit may be the type of tool you are looking for.

However, I found that ActiveCampaign was the best choice in terms of user-friendliness. There is still a lot to do, but the dashboard is clean and simple. Plus, you have a lot more options with the templates.

ConvertKit vs ActiveCampaign: Customer Support

Finally, let's look at the type of help you can get through these two tools.

After all, we all need a little support sometimes.

ConvertKit offers the possibility to either "open a ticket" for customer support, or to consult the help center for articles and guides.

There is no option to chat or even call a representative, which seems a bit unsettling. That being said, the knowledge base is quite comprehensive, and there are many workshops you can consult if you want to learn how to use ConvertKit from scratch.

ActiveCampaign also offers email support and live chat, as well as weekly training webinars where you can learn about the basic features of the software.

If you are feeling lost and confused, then you may consider booking an individual training session with a representative. You should also find plenty of videos and guides to help you in the "Education" section of your dashboard.

It takes a little time to get a direct response to your question, but you can expect virtually any company to do so these days. Someone will respond to you, usually within five minutes or less

You can also check where you are in the queue when waiting for a response - this way you know how long you will be waiting.

Winner

ActiveCampaign and ConvertKit are both similar in the support they offer. Unfortunately, ConvertKit seems to be more of a DIY tool than ActiveCampaign.

With ActiveCampaign, you can access live chat, email, and much more. It is even possible to arrange an in-person training session if you live in Chicago, which is very impressive.

ConvertKit or ActiveCampaign: Which one to choose

As marketing automation tools, ActiveCampaign and ConvertKit both offer many useful features, and their prices are also very reasonable.

However, each option has its advantages and disadvantages to take into account.

Choose ConvertKit if..

Are you looking for a simple and straightforward solution to manage your subscribers, set up email automation, and manage your triggers? The prices are transparent, with plenty of guides and DIY articles, and the service's simplicity is unbeatable. Click here to start your free trial today.

Choose ActiveCampaign if..

You need something more comprehensive to manage your campaigns. ActiveCampaign offers better email templates, a wider selection of forms, and more in-depth analytics.

If you need a complete dashboard and numerous options to customize and update your emails, this tool is made for you.

In my opinion, ActiveCampaign has a clear advantage. It is roughly the same price as ConvertKit and offers a much more comprehensive user experience. You will be able to learn more about your campaigns and access better templates and sign-up forms.

ActiveCampaign has a slightly steeper learning curve to consider, but with such a large amount of customer support available, you should not have too much trouble getting used to it. You can always schedule a one-on-one training session if you need it.

The only reason I suggest using ConvertKit is if you are looking for simplified simplicity, with fewer options and basic features. ActiveCampaign is the best choice for flexibility and performance.