Did you know that 81% of small businesses rely on email as their primary customer acquisition channel and 80% for retention?
This goes to show the growing importance of email but you can’t send out amazing emails without a strong email marketing tool.
Choosing the right email marketing tool for your business can be hard especially since there are TONS of different email marketing tools on the market to choose from.
In doing my research on the best email marketing tools I came across two tools that completely blew me back, GetResponse and ActiveCampaign.
They were both PHENOMENAL platforms and both had some amazing features (keep reading to find out what these are).
I knew immediately I had to compare both of these tools and bring you the TRUTH.
In this GetResponse vs ActiveCampaign comparison, I will be taking an in-depth look at these two email marketing tools to determine which one is better and why.
So without further ado, let’s hop straight into this review!
Related: 9 Best Email Marketing Tools of This Decade!
Table of Contents
- GetResponse vs ActiveCampaign
- Pricing
- Ease of Use
- Email Design & Templates
- Automation
- Segmentation
- Deliverability
- Reporting & Analytics
- Integration
- Customer Support
- What I like and don’t like about GetResponse & ActiveCampaign
- The Verdict: Which one is better?
- Best GetResponse & ActiveCampaign Alternatives
GetResponse vs ActiveCampaign
Before we break down both of these email marketing tools and see what makes them tick, let’s take a look at what they really are and who they are for.
What is GetResponse?
Founded in 1998 by Simon Grabowski, GetResponse is an email marketing tool that helps you create content and increase the conversion rate on your website.
Needless to say, GetResponse goes a bit further than just email marketing as they consider themselves the all in one marketing software.
Some of the tools that GetResponse offers include landing pages, webinars, autoresponders, and conversion funnels.
GetResponse designed their entire platform for organizations that want to implement effective, high-impact campaigns that have the main goal of driving a high ROI.
Today they have over 350,000 customers in 183 countries and it’s even available in 27 different languages!
Some of their customers include Hilton, Shaw, Paylane, and Ikea.
Related: My honest review on GetResponse
Try GetResponse For Free For 30 Days!!
What is ActiveCampaign?
In a nutshell, ActiveCampaign is an advanced email marketing, marketing automation, and sales CRM platform.
Founded in 2003 by Jason F. VandeBoom, ActiveCampaign was built to go a bit further than just email marketing by helping you put systems in place to improve your overall customer experience.
ActiveCampaign lives by the simple mission and that’s to “help growing businesses make meaningful connections with their customers”.
The marketing automation tool helps over 100,000 different small businesses to get to the next level. They also have over 600 employees who are dedicated to improving the ActiveCampaign experience.
All in all, the team at ActiveCampaign has created an excellent product that focuses on helping businesses grow by improving their relationships with customers by combining personalization and automation seamlessly.
Related: My in-depth review of ActiveCampaign
Pricing
Pricing plays a huge part when it comes to choosing an email marketing tool.
Having an email marketing tool that provides all the features and functionality that you need at a great price is a gem!
Let’s take a look at the pricing at GetResponse and ActiveCampaign.
GetResponse Pricing
When it comes to pricing GetResponse has a very straight-forward and simple structure.
You can choose from 4 different pricing plans at GetResponse. These are the Basic plan, the Plus plan, the Professional plan, and the Max plan.
The pricing also depends on the number of contacts that you have, the prices below are dependent on if you have a contact list of 1000.
The Basic plan starts at $15 per month and includes:
- Email Marketing
- Autoresponders
- Unlimited landing pages
- Unlimited automation templates
- Sales funnels
- Unlimited lead funnels
- Facebook Ads
- The ability to sell e-products
The Plus plan starts at $49 per month and includes everything in the Basic plan as well as:
- Automation Builder (5 workflows)
- Webinars (up to 100 attendees)
- Contact scoring and tagging
- Sales Funnel (5 funnels)
- Collaboration for up to 3 users
- Webinar Funnels (5 funnels)
The Professional plan starts at $99 per month and includes everything in the Plus plan as well as:
- Unlimited Automation Builder
- Paid Webinars
- Webinars (up to 300 attendees)
- Unlimited Sales Funnels
- Unlimited Webinar Funnels
- Collaboration for up to 5 users
- On-demand webinars
The Max plan varies in price depending on the size of your list and it includes everything in the Professional plan as well as:
- Transaction emails
- Dedicated support
- Dedicated IP address
- Deliverability consulting
- Single sign-on
- Webinars (up to 500 attendees)
- Email campaign consulting
In order to get an accurate quote on the Max plan, you have to contact customer support. (More on the effectiveness of the customer support later down in this article).
If you choose to pay for any of the plans annually you will save 18% and if you choose to pay for 2 years in advance you will save 30%.
Moreover, they also offer a 50% discount for all non-profit organizations.
GetResponse also equips you with a 30-day free trial.
Try GetResponse For Free For 30 Days!!
ActiveCampaign Pricing
The pricing structure at ActiveCampaign is also very straight forward.
There are 4 different plans that you can choose from, they are the Lite plan, the Plus plan, the Professional plan, and the Enterprise plan.
The Lite plan starts at $29 per month and includes:
- Unlimited sending
- Email marketing
- Newsletters
- Subscription forms
- Marketing Automation
- Chat & Email Support
- Up to 3 Users
The Plus plan starts at $70 per month and includes everything in the Lite plan as well as:
- Facebook Custom Audiences
- Lead & Contact Scoring
- Integrations
- SMS Marketing
- Dynamic Content
- Custom User Permissions
- Up to 25 Users
The Professional plan starts at $159 per month and includes everything in the Plus plan as well as:
- Predictive Sending
- Predictive Content
- Customer Attribution & Path to Purchase
- Win Probability
- Conversion Attribution Reporting
- Up to 50 Users
- And MUCH MORE!
The Enterprise plan starts at $297 per month and includes everything in the Professional plan as well as:
- Custom Reporting
- Custom Mailserver Domain
- Custom Domain
- Dedicated Account Representative
- Free Design Services
- Phone support
- Unlimited users
If you choose to pay for any of these plans annually you will receive a discount.
They also offer a 20% discount for all non-profit organizations.
Who has the better price?
GetResponse no doubt has a better price.
On the cheapest plan with 1000 contacts, you will pay $15 per month with GetResponse. On the other hand, you will pay $29 per month with ActiveCampaign for 1000 contacts.
Even if you choose to pay the annual plan at ActiveCampaign, which is $17 per month it will still be cheaper to go with GetResponse.
GetResponse also goes a step further by giving a 30% discount if you purchase a 2-year plan.
They also offer a 50% discount for all non-profit organizations as compared to ActiveCampaign that only offers a 20% discount.
GetResponse also offers a full 30-day free trial while ActiveCampaign only offers a 14-day free trial.
Ease of Use
What good is any software if it isn’t easy to use?
It can have ALL the features and functionality and be priced at $1 per month but if it isn’t easy to use then it isn’t worth it.
Let’s check out how easy ActiveCampaign and GetResponse are to use.
GetResponse Ease of Use
GetResponse isn’t that easy to grasp but trust me when I say once you get the hang of it you will be flying through your email creation.
Thanks to the step-by-step guides and the drag-and-drop email editor understanding how to navigate the platform and create your first email aren’t as hard as it may seem.
Thankfully, you get a 30-day free trial to determine if the platform is easy for you to navigate!
Try GetResponse For Free For 30 Days!!
ActiveCampaign Ease of Use
ActiveCampaign isn’t SUPER easy to use like other email marketing tools like Mailchimp and it may be a bit harder to get used to like GetResponse.
In fact, when you first sign up the entire dashboard can be a bit overwhelming especially for a beginner. I must admit that it does take some getting used to.
Despite the fact that you may face some challenges operating the platform they offer excellent customer support that will guide you through navigating and getting accustomed to the platform.
With ActiveCampaign you get a 14-day free trial to see if the platform is to your liking.
Which tool is easier to use?
Honestly, I have to say that these email marketing tools are both on the same level of difficulty when it comes to using them.
They both aren’t entirely beginner-friendly but once you get used to either one of them it’s a walk in the park!
That being said, GetResponse provides some peace of mind by offering a 30-day free trial which is adequate time for you to know if the platform will be easy enough for you to grasp.
Email Design & Templates
The email design & templates determine if your website visitor will follow through with the call-to-action in your emails.
It goes without saying that the design and template of your emails go a long way so it would make sense to have an email marketing tool that does a good job at ensuring that wouldn’t it?
Let’s take a look at the Email Design & Templates offered at GetResponse and ActiveCampaign.
GetResponse Email Design & Templates
GetResponse offers over 700 different templates that you can take advantage of when designing your emails.
You also have a full creative expression when it comes to customizing these templates. You are also equipped with over 5,000 licensed images from Shutterstock!
ActiveCampaign Email Design & Templates
ActiveCampaign on the other hand doesn’t offer as many templates as GetResponse, in fact, they just offer 30 different templates to choose from.
This wasn’t a huge disappointment to me as all of their templates seem adequate and get the job done.
Who has better email design & templates?
If you want a huge variety of choices then GetResponse would definitely be perfect for you. However, despite having tons of choices to choose from, GetResponses’ templates still get the job done at the end of the day.
On the other hand, ActiveCampaign provides fewer templates but they are still well designed and if you ask me they don’t need to add any more.
The winner?
GetResponse but only by a hair.
Automation
Marketing automation is one of the most important areas of any online business.
It allows you to automate the areas of your business you don’t like to do so you can focus on the things that you actually like to do in your business.
GetResponse Automation
GetResponse takes its automation process to another level!
When I first came across the marketing automation features offered by GetResponse my jaw dropped. I was in complete awe.
Not only does the pre-built automation workflow save you time but thanks to the intuitive drag and drop editor setting up these workflows have never been easier.
Here’s an example of one of the automation workflows in GetResponse.
It doesn’t just stop there.
The marketing automation was designed to help your customers through their customer journey by making it more personal.
You can get a birds-eye view of this entire customer journey by setting up different conditions, actions, and filters.
Not only does email marketing automation improve your customer’s experience but it also boosts your conversion rate. For example, you can run a sequence of abandoned cart emails through your marketing automation workflow to follow up with abandoners immediately.
My favorite part about GetResponse automation has to be the lead scoring which allows you to build individual contact profiles based on behavior. This is perfect as this shows how likely these customers will convert!
Want to try out these automation features for completely free? Click here to get your 30-day free GetResponse trial.
Try GetResponse For Free For 30 Days!!
ActiveCampaign Automation
Honestly, ActiveCampaign’s marketing automation features are truly a breath of fresh air. Thanks to the drag-and-drop editor you can set up your marketing automation workflows in a few simple clicks of your mouse.
The entire goal of the marketing automation at ActiveCampaign is to guarantee that the right people see the right message at the same time.
For example, you may want to send a different email to someone who opened your email vs someone who is now receiving your email for the first time.
(Keep reading to see exactly how this can be done through segmentation).
Just like GetResponse the visual representation of your workflows in ActiveCampaign are extremely appealing and eye-catching which makes setting up your automation a breeze.
Here’s what Dawn M. who gave a 5-star review on ActiveCampaign through G2 Crowd Review had to say about the automation:
“I love that I can see exactly how my automations look, and how easy it is to update them down the road if I make some changes to my marketing strategies.”
Fun Fact: The pre-made engagement automation take just 66 seconds to set up!
Click here to try the automation features at ActiveCampaign for free for 14-days.
Who has better marketing automation?
Both ActiveCampaign and GetResponse provide you with AMAZING automation features that not only look great but most importantly get the job done.
If you are extremely detail-oriented and you love that little extra piece of data that helps you in your decision-making process then you should check out ActiveCampaign.
However, GetResponse gives ActiveCampaign a run for their money by providing one of the most appealing visual representations of automation workflows I have ever seen.
That being said, in my opinion, this round is a tie and there is no clear winner.
Segmentation
Personalized email marketing generates a median ROI of 122%.(Instapage)
That statistic alone should show you that if you aren’t taking advantage of personalization then you are leaving a lot of money on the table.
Let’s take a look at the Segmentation offered at GetResponse and ActiveCampaign.
GetResponse Segmentation
GetResponse helps you manage and segment your email list through advanced search and segmentation.
How does this work?
GetResponse equips you with advanced search tools that were designed to help you organize your contacts into subgroups and segments.
You can group these contacts into different segments such as:
- Geolocation – Group contacts based on where they are opening your emails.
- Last Message Date
- Custom tags and scores
- AND MUCH MORE
To see the full list of combinations you can use to segment click here.
After these contacts are segmented you can then view them from one central dashboard and then develop your strategy to target them with email campaigns.
This gives you to see which contacts unsubscribed so you can start developing your messaging to suit.
Try GetResponse For Free For 30 Days!!
ActiveCampaign Segmentation
ActiveCampaign takes segmentation extremely seriously as they know that segmentation can be the single factor that boosts your conversion rates.
At ActiveCampaign they don’t use the term “segmentation” they use the term “tag”.
Once you “tag” a particular part of your audience you can then target that contact forever! That means if you tagged Jane, your local grocer, ten years ago you can still target her with that email on “The best tips for growing your grocery business”.
You can also “tag” people automatically, so whenever someone visits your website and completes a certain action so you can send them certain content based on their actions.
For example, if they visit a particular handbag page but don’t purchase you can target them with emails about discounts on that particular handbag.
Here are just a few ways that you can segment your audience:
- Visits to your website
- Products purchased
- Geographic location
- Time since last purchase
Who has better segmentation?
ActiveCampaign barely edges the competition in this round due to the wide range of ways that you can segment your audience.
ActiveCampaign also goes the extra way to ensure that the segmentation is executed efficiently and effectively.
That being said, GetResponse also has some really cool features that allow you to segment your contacts easily.
Deliverability
The deliverability rate determines the percentage of emails that are delivered right to your contacts’ inbox.
Having a high deliverability rate means that the chances of your email actually reaching your subscribers is extremely high!
When it comes to deliverability GetResponse has done an excellent job in building solid relationships with Internet Service Providers in order to maintain consistent deliverability rates.
GetResponse also proudly states that they offer a spam-free solution with a consistent deliverability rate of over 99%. Oh yeah, I almost forgot to mention that this is the HIGHEST deliverability rate in the industry.
On the other hand, ActiveCampaign has been known for years for its excellent and consistent deliverability.
Moreover, a study conducted by Authority Hacker showed that 65% of emails sent arrived in the user’s inbox.
That being said, deliverability depends on TONS of factors, a lot of which comes down to best practices that you need to follow so I wouldn’t use this as the only reason why you choose a particular email marketing tool.
Reporting & Analytics
Reports and analytics are extremely important as they help you make correct decisions on the direction of your marketing campaigns.
By having amazing reports and a system for analytics you can not only get a birds-eye view of how your campaigns are performing but you will know exactly what to do to increase your conversion rate.
Let’s take a quick look at the reports and analytics at GetResponse and ActiveCampaign.
GetResponse Reports
GetResponse provides you with intuitive and easy to understand email reports and analytics right to your fingertips.
You can track different metrics such as the click-through-rate, the open rate, and the different goals that you may have.
You can even conduct A/B split testing which allows you to compare two emails and determine which one is performing better overall so you have detailed data so you can create better emails in your next campaigns.
GetResponse also equips you with smart reporting which sets up automated reports based on a schedule. For example, you may want a full report of how your emails are performing 5 days after you send out an email message.
Try GetResponse For Free For 30 Days!!
ActiveCampaign Reports
The reporting inside ActiveCampaign is extremely comprehensive. In fact, they offer some of the most comprehensive reporting I have ever seen in any marketing tool on the market.
ActiveCampaigns’ reporting allows you to track all the actions of your website visitors so you can create personalized messages for each subscriber.
My favorite part about ActiveCampaign Reports is the fact that it gives you the option to set campaign goals like signups which allows you to better track your data!
Needless to say, if you want that extra boost when it comes to reports you can easily integrate with one of the many report integrations!
Who has better reports and analytics
I would have to say ActiveCampaign has better reports and analytics.
Why?
Well, I’m a DATA GEEK so I love to see detailed reports that help me create a better experience for my customers.
However, if seeing the data isn’t a huge part of your email marketing campaigns then GetResponse would work perfectly for you.
Integration
Integrations are becoming more and more critical as they help create a smooth connection between all of the other software involved in your customer journey.
ActiveCampaign offers over 290 different integrations with your favorite apps such as Shopify, Salesforce, and Typeform.
On the other hand, GetResponse integrates with 120 different apps. However, they are integrated with nearly all of the platforms that you would need in order to create a successful online business.
Also, both of these tools also integrate with Zapier which gives you access to thousands of other apps.
Related: My Full Review of the Pros and Cons of Zapier
Who has better Integrations?
If integrations aren’t a HUGE part of your online business then you can go with any of the two email marketing tools as they provide the basic integrations that overall just get the job done.
However, if you want a wide range of integrations then ActiveCampaign would definitely be your best bet.
Customer Support
Regardless of if you are a seasoned professional at running email marketing campaigns or if this is your first time sending an email, there will always come the time when you would need assistance.
Let’s take a look at the customer support options offered at GetResponse & ActiveCampaign.
GetResponse customer support
GetResponse offers excellent customer support but doesn’t just take my word for it!
They have a 96% customer satisfaction rate! That’s something most software companies can’t say that they have.
I am personally a huge fan of live support so it was a pleasant surprise when I saw the live chat at GetResponse.
They also provide email support in 8 different languages! YES, I SAID EIGHT!
The best part?
This customer support is available 24/7 so that means you can contact customer support at 3:12 am on a Monday morning because one of your email campaigns isn’t working how it should be.
Unfortunately, they only offer live chat and email support that means no phone support :(.
So if you prefer to hear a human help you step by step when solving any problems you might have then you are out of luck.
That being said GetResponse has an amazing help center that has tons of articles and videos that are designed to help you with any problems or concerns you might have about your journey with GetResponse.
There’s also a live training webinar hosted weekly that guides you on how you can get started with GetResponse.
Here’s what Micheal Simpson Jr. the Residual Entrepreneur had to say about the customer service at GetResponse:
“It was a very close race, I will say, between GetResponse and AWeber.
But in the end, I gave the edge to GetResponse. What really won me over is their Customer support. You guys are pleased to talk to us.”
Try GetResponse For Free For 30 Days!!
ActiveCampaign customer support
ActiveCampaign also has incredible award-winning customer support.
They have a live chat which is a huge bonus as well as phone support (something that GetResponse does not have).
So if you love to have your questions answered over the phone then look no further than ActiveCampaign.
They also have a HUGE support center that has information on every topic that you will come across including contact management, messaging, and reporting.
There are also live Webinars that guide you on how you can start winning on ActiveCampaign.
If you miss a webinar that’s totally fine since replays are uploaded once they’re done.
ActiveCampaign also gives you the option to schedule a 1-on-1 session in case you have any questions about the platform or about how it can help your business grow.
Who has better customer support?
This is actually an extremely tough call, both tools offer exceptional customer service.
So in this round, there is a clear tie!
However, if you are looking for phone support then ActiveCampaign
If customer support is a huge deciding factor for you then you can take a breath knowing that if you choose to go with ActiveCampaign or GetResponse then you will be in good hands.
What I like and don’t like about GetResponse & ActiveCampaign
Like every other email marketing tool out there GetResponse and ActiveCampaign have their fair share of pros and cons.
Let’s take a look at what I like and don’t like about the two software platforms.
What I like about GetResponse
- You don’t have to enter your credit card information in order to get the free trial
- They offer great discounts if you commit to staying longer with them (for example, 30% if you purchase the 2-year plan).
- They offer an amazing 50% discount for Non-profit organizations
- I love the Perfect Timing feature
- Great Customer Support
- You have over 5000 stock images to choose from when creating your emails
- You can build landing pages and webinars
- They offer a 30-day free trial
What I don’t like about GetResponse
- There is no phone support
Try GetResponse For Free For 30 Days!!
What I like about ActiveCampaign
- They offer free migration from any other email marketing tool
- They have a wider range of integrations
- They provide SMS marketing features
- The marketing automation is top class
- They offer comprehensive and detailed reports
What I don’t like about ActiveCampaign
- Not as beginner-friendly as other email marketing tools
- The dashboard can be a bit overwhelming if this is your first time on the platform
- A limited number of email templates
The Verdict: Which one is better?
Both GetResponse and ActiveCampaign are amazing email marketing tools that do an excellent job at making your email marketing journey as smooth as butter.
Moreover, they both are the perfect combination of marketing and CRM capabilities but…
Which one is better?
Well, this was the hardest choice I ever had to make when it came to a comparison article and the answer really depends on what the goals for your business are.
GetResponse is perfect if you run a business that requires webinars and landing pages.
On the other hand, if SMS messaging is a huge part of your business then ActiveCampaign deserves your attention.
If budget is a huge factor in your decision making then GetResponse would definitely be the best option for you.
Who is GetResponse for? I would say that GetResponse works out perfectly for small businesses that are looking for that extra edge over their competitors.
Who is ActiveCampaign for? I would definitely recommend ActiveCampaign to the digital marketer who wants to have a solid system that automates his marketing processes.
Best GetResponse & ActiveCampaign Alternatives
If you are looking for an email marketing tool that is extremely affordable and still offers amazing functionality then check out our review on MailerLite.
If you are looking for an email marketing software that has incredible customer support then I would suggest that you check out our review on Ontraport.
If you are looking for an email marketing tool that was designed for e-commerce then check out our review on Omnisend and our review on Drip.
If you want a beginner-friendly email marketing tool then check out our review on Mailchimp.
