ActiveCampaign vs GetResponse: The Complete 2026 Comparison
Choosing between ActiveCampaign and GetResponse for email marketing? This in-depth comparison breaks down pricing, features, user ratings, integrations, and real-world use cases to help you make the right decision. Both tools serve the email marketing category, but they take distinctly different approaches to helping teams get work done.
Founded in 2003, ActiveCampaign is a customer experience automation platform combining email marketing, marketing automation, CRM, and sales automation. Meanwhile, GetResponse was founded in 1998. GetResponse is an all-in-one marketing platform that combines email marketing, automation, webinars, and landing pages. Let us dive into how they stack up across every dimension that matters.
Quick Verdict
ActiveCampaign edges ahead with a G2 rating of 4.5/5 (based on 13,500 reviews) versus GetResponse's 4.2/5 (700 reviews). However, GetResponse holds its own with 12 key features and competitive pricing starting at Free (up to 500 contacts). If budget is your top priority, GetResponse ($15.60/month (Email Marketing) at the pro tier) is the more affordable option.
At-a-Glance: ActiveCampaign vs GetResponse
Before we dive into the details, here is a high-level overview of how ActiveCampaign and GetResponse compare across the key criteria most teams care about when evaluating email marketing software.
| Criteria | ActiveCampaign | GetResponse |
|---|---|---|
| G2 Rating | 4.5/5 (13,500 reviews) | 4.2/5 (700 reviews) |
| Free Plan | $15/month (Lite) | Free (up to 500 contacts) |
| Pro Pricing | $49/month (Plus) | $15.60/month (Email Marketing) |
| Enterprise | $149/month (Professional) | $97.60/month (Ecommerce Marketing) |
| Founded | 2003 | 1998 |
| Key Features | 12 features | 12 features |
| Integrations | 10+ integrations | 10+ integrations |
| Category | Email Marketing | Email Marketing |
| Website | www.activecampaign.com | www.getresponse.com |
About ActiveCampaign
ActiveCampaign is a customer experience automation platform combining email marketing, marketing automation, CRM, and sales automation. Its powerful automation builder and machine learning capabilities make it a top choice for mid-market businesses. Founded in 2003, ActiveCampaign has built a reputation in the email marketing space, earning a 4.5/5 rating on G2 from 13,500 verified user reviews. The platform offers 12 distinct features and integrates with 10+ third-party tools.
ActiveCampaign's core strengths include Email marketing, Marketing automation, CRM, Sales automation, Landing pages. Teams that choose ActiveCampaign typically value its approach to Email marketing and Marketing automation, which sets it apart in the crowded email marketing landscape.
About GetResponse
GetResponse is an all-in-one marketing platform that combines email marketing, automation, webinars, and landing pages. Its built-in webinar hosting and conversion funnel tools set it apart from pure email marketing platforms. Since its founding in 1998, GetResponse has grown to serve teams worldwide, achieving a 4.2/5 G2 rating from 700 reviews. The platform provides 12 key features and supports 10+ integrations.
GetResponse's standout capabilities include Email marketing, Marketing automation, Webinars, Landing pages, Conversion funnels. Teams gravitating toward GetResponse often prioritize Email marketing and Marketing automation, making it a strong fit for organizations that need these specific capabilities.
Pricing Breakdown: ActiveCampaign vs GetResponse
Pricing is often the deciding factor when choosing email marketing software. Here is how ActiveCampaign and GetResponse stack up across their pricing tiers. Note that both tools may offer annual billing discounts, and prices shown are for monthly billing as of 2026.
| Plan | ActiveCampaign | GetResponse |
|---|---|---|
| Starter / Free | $15/month (Lite) | Free (up to 500 contacts) |
| Pro / Business | $49/month (Plus) | $15.60/month (Email Marketing) |
| Enterprise | $149/month (Professional) | $97.60/month (Ecommerce Marketing) |
Pricing verdict: GetResponse is the more budget-friendly option at the pro tier, costing $15.60/month (Email Marketing) compared to $49/month (Plus) for ActiveCampaign. However, pricing alone should not drive your decision -- consider the total value each platform delivers relative to its cost. A tool that costs more but saves your team hours each week may actually be the more economical choice in the long run.
Keep in mind that both tools offer free plans or trials, so you can test each platform before committing. For teams of 10 or fewer, both ActiveCampaign and GetResponse provide functional free tiers that let you evaluate the core experience without spending anything.
Feature Comparison: ActiveCampaign vs GetResponse
Feature availability can make or break your team's productivity. Below is a detailed comparison of every feature offered by either ActiveCampaign or GetResponse. This checklist covers 21 features across both platforms, giving you a comprehensive view of what each tool brings to the table.
| Feature | ActiveCampaign | GetResponse |
|---|---|---|
| A/B testing | No | Yes |
| Autoresponders | No | Yes |
| CRM | Yes | No |
| Conditional content | Yes | No |
| Conversion funnels | No | Yes |
| Email marketing | Yes | Yes |
| Event tracking | Yes | No |
| Forms | Yes | No |
| Landing pages | Yes | Yes |
| Lead scoring | Yes | No |
| Live chat | No | Yes |
| Marketing automation | Yes | Yes |
| Predictive sending | Yes | No |
| SMS marketing | No | Yes |
| Sales automation | Yes | No |
| Site tracking | Yes | No |
| Split automations | Yes | No |
| Transactional emails | No | Yes |
| Web push notifications | No | Yes |
| Webinars | No | Yes |
| Website builder | No | Yes |
ActiveCampaign offers 12 features while GetResponse provides 12. The features unique to ActiveCampaign include CRM, Sales automation, Forms. GetResponse's unique features include Webinars, Conversion funnels, Website builder.
Integrations: ActiveCampaign vs GetResponse
In today's software landscape, no tool exists in isolation. The integrations a email marketing tool supports determine how well it fits into your existing tech stack. Here is how ActiveCampaign and GetResponse compare in terms of third-party integrations.
Shared integrations (8): Shopify, WordPress, Salesforce, WooCommerce, Zapier, Facebook, Google Analytics, Stripe. Both tools connect to these popular platforms, so if these are your critical integrations, neither tool has an advantage.
Unique to ActiveCampaign: Slack, Typeform.
Unique to GetResponse: PayPal, Magento.
Both platforms support Zapier or similar automation tools, which means you can build custom integrations even if a native connection is not available. When evaluating integrations, focus on the ones your team uses daily rather than the total count.
User Ratings and Community Sentiment
Real user reviews provide invaluable insight beyond feature lists. Here is how the community has rated ActiveCampaign and GetResponse on G2, one of the most trusted software review platforms.
| Metric | ActiveCampaign | GetResponse |
|---|---|---|
| G2 Rating | 4.5/5 | 4.2/5 |
| Total Reviews | 13,500 | 700 |
| Years on Market | 23 years (since 2003) | 28 years (since 1998) |
ActiveCampaign leads with a 4.5/5 G2 rating compared to GetResponse's 4.2/5. The 0.3-point gap is meaningful given that both tools have thousands of reviews. ActiveCampaign's rating is based on 13,500 reviews, providing strong statistical confidence in the score.
Which Tool Should You Pick? Use-Case Verdicts
The best email marketing tool is not universal -- it depends on your team size, budget, workflow requirements, and existing tech stack. Here are our recommendations for three common scenarios that cover most teams evaluating ActiveCampaign and GetResponse.
Scenario 1: Small Teams and Startups (Under 20 People)
For small teams on a budget, GetResponse offers a more affordable entry point with its Free (up to 500 contacts) free tier. GetResponse may be easier to adopt quickly due to its more focused feature set, reducing onboarding time. However, ActiveCampaign offers more room to grow as your team scales, with 12 features compared to 12.
Our pick: GetResponse -- Faster setup and lower complexity for small teams.
Scenario 2: Mid-Size Companies (20-200 People)
Mid-size teams need robust email marketing with good reporting and integrations. ActiveCampaign offers integrations with Shopify, WordPress, Salesforce, WooCommerce, while GetResponse connects to Shopify, WordPress, WooCommerce, Salesforce. For cross-functional teams, GetResponse provides stronger customization options. Both tools handle enterprise-grade workloads, but the ActiveCampaign's higher G2 rating (4.5/5 from 13,500 reviews) suggests better overall satisfaction at scale.
Our pick: ActiveCampaign -- Higher G2 rating (4.5/5) and stronger user satisfaction.
Scenario 3: Enterprise and Software Development Teams
At the enterprise level, integration depth, security, and workflow customization matter most. ActiveCampaign's enterprise plan ($149/month (Professional)) comes at a premium compared to GetResponse ($97.60/month (Ecommerce Marketing)). For development teams specifically, look at Git integrations: .
Our pick: ActiveCampaign -- More extensive user base providing better community support and proven reliability.
Final Recommendation: ActiveCampaign vs GetResponse
After analyzing pricing, features, ratings, integrations, and real-world use cases, here is our bottom line on the ActiveCampaign vs GetResponse decision.
Choose ActiveCampaign if: You want Email marketing, Marketing automation, CRM, and your team values a focused tool that does fewer things well. ActiveCampaign's $15/month (Lite) entry point makes it accessible to try, and its 10+ integrations ensure it fits into most tech stacks. Despite being newer (founded 2003), ActiveCampaign has proven itself with 13,500 G2 reviews.
Choose GetResponse if: You prioritize Email marketing, Marketing automation, Webinars, and your team needs a streamlined tool without unnecessary complexity. At $15.60/month (Email Marketing) per user per month (pro tier), GetResponse is the more affordable option. GetResponse's 28-year track record speaks to its reliability and staying power.
Whichever tool you choose, we recommend starting with the free plan or trial to evaluate how it works with your specific team's workflow. Run a two-week pilot with a small project before making a company-wide commitment. The right email marketing tool is the one your team will actually use consistently -- and that can only be determined through hands-on experience.
Switching Between ActiveCampaign and GetResponse
If you are currently using one tool and considering switching to the other, here are some tips to make the migration smoother. Most email marketing tools support data export in CSV or JSON formats, and both ActiveCampaign and GetResponse offer import functionality.
Start by exporting your current projects, tasks, and custom fields. Map your existing workflow to the new tool's structure before migrating data. Plan for a 2-4 week transition period where both tools run in parallel, and designate team champions to help with adoption. Consider using a third-party migration service if you have complex data structures or a large number of projects to transfer.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is ActiveCampaign better than GetResponse?
ActiveCampaign has a higher G2 rating (4.5/5 vs 4.2/5 from 13,500 reviews), but the best tool depends on your needs. ActiveCampaign stands out for Email marketing, Marketing automation, CRM, while GetResponse excels at Email marketing, Marketing automation, Webinars.
How much does ActiveCampaign cost compared to GetResponse?
ActiveCampaign's pro plan costs $49/month (Plus) while GetResponse's pro plan costs $15.60/month (Email Marketing). ActiveCampaign starts at $15/month (Lite) and GetResponse starts at Free (up to 500 contacts). Enterprise pricing is $149/month (Professional) for ActiveCampaign and $97.60/month (Ecommerce Marketing) for GetResponse.
Can ActiveCampaign and GetResponse integrate with each other?
While direct integration varies, both ActiveCampaign and GetResponse connect to common platforms including Shopify, WordPress, Salesforce, WooCommerce, Zapier. Third-party tools like Zapier can bridge any gaps between the two.
Which tool is easier to learn, ActiveCampaign or GetResponse?
ActiveCampaign (founded 2003) and GetResponse (founded 1998) take different approaches to usability. ActiveCampaign generally has a simpler learning curve with fewer features to master, while GetResponse offers more features but may take longer to fully adopt.
What are the main differences between ActiveCampaign and GetResponse?
The key differences are: (1) Pricing -- ActiveCampaign starts at $15/month (Lite) vs GetResponse at Free (up to 500 contacts). (2) G2 ratings -- ActiveCampaign has 4.5/5 vs GetResponse at 4.2/5. (3) Features -- ActiveCampaign focuses on Email marketing, Marketing automation, CRM, while GetResponse emphasizes Email marketing, Marketing automation, Webinars. (4) Founded -- ActiveCampaign (2003) vs GetResponse (1998).
How We Compared ActiveCampaign and GetResponse
This comparison is based on publicly available data including G2 user ratings and review counts, official pricing pages, published feature lists, and integration directories. Ratings and pricing data are approximate and were last verified in 2026. We encourage readers to check each tool's official website for the most current information, as pricing and features may change.
Our analysis covers pricing (free, pro, and enterprise tiers), features (21 features compared), integrations (20 total across both tools), user ratings (combined 14,200 G2 reviews), and use-case suitability (small teams, mid-size companies, and enterprises). We aim to provide objective, data-driven comparisons to help you make informed decisions.
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