ActiveCampaign vs ConvertKit
Pick any two tools to get a head-to-head breakdown.
- Most powerful automation builder at this price point
- Built-in CRM with deal tracking — no extra tool needed
- Site tracking lets automations trigger on page visits
- SMS messaging included
- Machine learning send-time optimisation
- Deep Shopify and WooCommerce integrations
- 500+ integration partners
- Free tier goes to 10,000 subscribers — most generous in the market
- Tag-based system more flexible than Mailchimp lists
- Visual automation builder designed for creator workflows
- Built-in digital product sales and tip jar
- Excellent deliverability rates in our testing
- Subscriber tagging keeps list management clean
- Creator community and education resources
- Steep learning curve — not beginner-friendly
- Interface feels dated compared to ConvertKit or Klaviyo
- Pricing increases sharply with list size
- Reporting can be confusing to interpret
- Some features require technical understanding
- No free plan — starts at $29/month
- More expensive than Mailchimp on higher subscriber counts
- Email template designs are more minimal than Mailchimp
- Fewer e-commerce integrations than Mailchimp
- Landing page builder is basic
- Reporting less detailed than ActiveCampaign
ActiveCampaign has the most powerful email automation of any tool at its price point. Its automation builder handles complex multi-branch sequences based on site visits, email behaviour, CRM data, and custom events — the kind of automation that Mailchimp charges enterprise prices for. It also includes a built-in CRM, SMS, and site tracking at no extra cost. The learning curve is steep and the interface feels dated, but for businesses where email automation drives revenue, nothing in this price range comes close.
ConvertKit (now rebranded Kit) is the best email marketing platform for bloggers, newsletter creators, and course sellers. Its free tier allows up to 10,000 subscribers with unlimited sends — 20x more generous than Mailchimp. The tagging and segmentation system is more logical than Mailchimp list management, and the automation builder is designed around subscriber journeys rather than campaign blasts. Commerce features let you sell digital products directly. For content creators, it is the clear choice over Mailchimp.