Home » Which Email Platform Do I Choose – ConvertKit vs. ActiveCampaign

Which Email Platform Do I Choose – ConvertKit vs. ActiveCampaign

Sezmi Sezmi

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Aren’t you having trouble choosing between ConvertKit and ActiveCampaign when looking for an email marketing service provider for your business?

This article compares ConvertKit and ActiveCampaign to help you decide which one to choose.

ConvertKit vs. ActiveCampaign – Introduction

I’ve used and tested many of the best email service providers (ESPs), including ActiveCampaign, ConvertKit, and Mailchimp.

We require an email automation service. Our sales funnel needs to be automated, then manual emails will need to be sent to Our audience.

ConvertKit ActiveCampaign, ConvertKit, and ConvertKit are the most compatible. ConvertKit and ActiveCampaign both target bloggers but share many similarities.

Let’s see how ConvertKit compares to ActiveCampaign.

ConvertKit

Our Take

ConvertKit is a great platform for bloggers. ConvertKit gives a free plan to your first 1,000 customers. The price for the service will go up as more subscribers sign up.

ConvertKit is a relatively new entrant in the ESP market. ConvertKit employs around 40 people and has over 14,000 clients.

ConvertKit targets blogs, especially personal brands. ConvertKit was not created to work with ecommerce websites.

ActiveCampaign

Our Take

ActiveCampaign is our favorite email marketing service.

Jason VandeBoom started ActiveCampaign in 2003. ActiveCampaign was originally software you could buy and install locally. ActiveCampaign now employs over 500 people and has more than 80,000 customers.

The Essential Features

Let’s take a closer look at ActiveCampaign & ConvertKit.

ConvertKit vs. ActiveCampaign: Similarities

• Automations — These tools allow you to create complex email marketing funnels by using various triggers.
• Web Forms — You don’t need an OptinMonster service to get you started with signup forms on your blog.
• Tagging — Both platforms let you tag your email subscribers.
• Schedule Broadcasts: Create your broadcast and choose the time it should go out.
• Segmentation – ConvertKit and ActiveCampaign allow you to segment your audience based on tags or other metrics.
• RSS Feed – These allow you automatically email your WordPress blog posts. Activecampaign allows you to modify the setup.
• WordPress plugins – These plugins let you integrate your web forms with WordPress.
• Two-Factor authentication — These allow you to use two-factor authentication (2FA) for extra security.
• Facebook Custom Audiences — This feature is available from both Facebook and Google.
• Free Migrations – These will let you move your setup to another ESP without incurring any fees.
• ConvertKit provides landing pages — ConvertKit lets users create landing pages as part of their service.

ConvertKit vs. ActiveCampaign: Differences

ConvertKit might seem very similar to ActiveCampaign on the surface.

• APwe Function — ConvertKit’s API (application programming interface) is lacking. ConvertKit will provide the data but it won’t be able to access it if you have a third-party tool linked to it. While it is possible to create workarounds, it can be hard to do so.
• Integrations of third-party service — ConvertKit has fewer integration options than the standards. Many third-party services should be possible to connect to.

How Is ConvertKit Unique?

• Link Redirect – What happens if an email campaign is sent and the link has been misplaced? ConvertKit can redirect the link to the correct URL.

How Is ActiveCampaign Unique?

• Custom Email Links — Your email links can include a subdomain (i.e., click.larryludwig.com). Links from the sender’s domain have been more likely to open in the past. This option is available for those who have the “Plus” plan and higher.
• SMS Messaging — ActiveCampaign allows users to sign up via SMS for your list. You can also send out updates or invitations about events such as webinars.
• ActiveCampaign lets you create multiple email lists. ConvertKit tags are also available to replicate the effect. However, ActiveCampaign makes it easier for you to identify your audience.
• ActiveCampaign Lead Scoring — ActiveCampaign is more focused on e-commerce. It can assign subscribers scores based on their actions. ConvertKit currently does not have this feature.
• Google Chrome Extension – ActiveCampaign provides a Google Chrome extension to integrate with your email as a CRM.
• Live chat and automated messaging — The higher-level ActiveCampaign plans come with Conversations. This feature allows you to communicate more effectively with your audience via ActiveCampaign.

Email Automation

Automations are why ActiveCampaign and ConvertKit are preferred over other email service providers.

Visual Flowchart

Both provide beautiful flowchart representations of your email automation. ActiveCampaign management is more complicated.

ConvertKit Sample AutomationsActiveCampaign Sample Automations

Triggers

Both services offer automations that enable subscribers to trigger events for ESPs. ActiveCampaign provides more options than just the ones listed above.

ConvertKit doesn’t currently allow automations to be created without using a trigger. ThriveCart is a similar service to ConvertKit and can set up automations within ActiveCampaign. ConvertKit does not have this feature.

Take Action

What actions can be taken after an event occurs? ConvertKit works in the same way as ActiveCampaign.

ConvertKit doesn’t allow webhooks to be created through its API. ConvertKit does allow webhooks to be created via its API.

Conditions

ConvertKit provides these conditions for adding people to an automated system:

• Tag added
• Custom field

ActiveCampaign gives you more options for your visitor:

• Date created
• Tag added
• Tag removed
• Click on a link
• An email was sent to
• Geometry Based on IP Addresses
• A page was visited
• Total sites visited
• Visitor’s time zone

It is possible to do so, but For many, it can prove overwhelming.

Automatization Templates

ConvertKit and ActiveCampaign both have templates that you can use to create automations.

ConvertKit’s prebuilt templates can be used by bloggers. ActiveCampaign has more third-party templates and proprietary templates. ConvertKit doesn’t have an abandoned cart sequence. ActiveCampaign has many.

WINNER: ActiveCampaign

Integrations

• ConvertKit — 90+
• ActiveCampaign – 870+

ActiveCampaign can integrate with many services. Both services have APwe options and can be integrated with Zapier.

ConvertKit’s APwe lacks some functionality. ConvertKit does not currently support APwe information. ConvertKit doesn’t allow email links clicks or email open. It can however provide them via the API.

WINNER: ActiveCampaign

Email Deliverability

Your subscribers won’t get your email.

Which service delivers emails faster? They both use third-party email delivery service providers How many spammers each service allows to access its network?

ActiveCampaign has been the best email provider in the past few years.

ConvertKit emails have a more personal touch than other email services. ConvertKit emails can be used to promote personal brands like mine.

ActiveCampaign makes email that doesn’t look like it’s coming from a postal address nearly impossible.

Mass emails must contain an unsubscribe option. This requirement is mandated by law under the CAN-SPAM Act. ActiveCampaign or ConvertKit lets you personalize your email footer. This allows you elegantly to do this.

I have found that ESPs tend to push emails into the “Promotional” and “Updates tabs. Our experience and Google both showed me this.

WINNER: ConvertKit, ActiveCampaign

Pricing

Three plan levels are part of ConvertKit’s pricing strategy:

• Free — Unlimited number of subscribers. These newsletters cannot be automated, have premium support, or be integrated.
• Creator — This plan does not include features that are included in the “Free” plan.
• Creator Pro — Includes Facebook custom audiences, deliverability reporting, and more. Redirect links are also included in email broadcasts.

ActiveCampaign has four plans.

• Convertkit’s cheapest package is Lite. However, this plan includes automation and integrations.
• Plus — Adds Facebook custom audiences, landing pages, and contact scoring to your marketing campaign.
• Professional — Includes website personalization and predictive emailing.
• Enterprise — Unlimited email design and testing, unlimited reporting, custom domains custom mail servers, and custom reporting

ActiveCampaign has a reputation for moving features around, combining them in various plans at different times and different prices. This option is currently only available to higher-priced plans.

ActiveCampaign is more expensive for more subscribers. You can still get more subscribers by paying more, but there are more-featured plans.

The Pricing comparison below uses ActiveCampain’s “Lite” monthly plan. A yearly membership to either service will get you a discount.

The cheapest plan from ActiveCampaign is. However, if you want to use ActiveCampaign’s most popular features, the Plus or Professional plans are the best choices.

We recommend ActiveCampaign’s “Plus” plan.

WINNER: ActiveCampaign

Email Analytics & Reporting

ConvertKit is far less flexible than ActiveCampaign in terms of reporting options. We need reporting.

We use Woopra Analytics software to track visitors. ActiveCampaign can integrate with Woopra and report on clicks and opens to Woopra.

ConvertKit on the other hand doesn’t integrate with Woopra. It cannot also send email opens and link clicks to third-party services.

WINNER: ActiveCampaign

Which one is better? ConvertKit or ActiveCampaign

BEST OVERALL: ActiveCampaign

ActiveCampaign has been our favorite. It is what we use on this website.

ActiveCampaign is the best value and offers more growth opportunities.

ConvertKit can be a good choice. ConvertKit has a user-friendly interface. Emails feel as if they were written by the author.