GetResponse vs ActiveCampaign: which should you choose?
Quick answer: GetResponse is built for webinars + email in one tool, while ActiveCampaign suits automation-heavy workflows. For most users ActiveCampaign is the stronger default, but GetResponse can be the better fit depending on your budget and use case. GetResponse has the lower entry price.
GetResponse and ActiveCampaign look similar on the surface; the differences show up in practice. Below we compare them on pricing, strengths and the use cases each one fits, then give a clear verdict.
Side-by-side
| GetResponse | ActiveCampaign | |
|---|---|---|
| Category | All-in-One Marketing | Marketing Automation |
| What it's known for | All-in-one email marketing with automation, webinars, landing pages and AI campaign tools. | Advanced marketing automation and CRM with deep segmentation, conditional logic and predictive features. |
| Pricing | Free plan (limited); Email Marketing from ~$19/mo; Marketing Automation and Ecommerce tiers higher. | No permanent free plan; Starter from ~$15/mo; Plus, Pro and Enterprise tiers scaling with contacts. |
| Best audience | SMBs and course/webinar sellers who want email plus webinars and landing pages in a single subscription. | Automation-heavy SMBs and B2B teams that want email, CRM and sales automation in a single platform. |
| Best for | Webinars + email in one tool, Affiliate-friendly recurring payouts, All-in-one SMB marketing | Automation-heavy workflows, SMBs needing CRM + email, B2B nurture sequences |
| Entry price | Free | from $15/mo |
| Biggest strength | Rare built-in webinar hosting bundled with email. | Among the most powerful automation logic in the SMB price range. |
| Main caveat | Webinars and marketing automation require the Marketer tier or higher, not Starter. | Steep learning curve; overkill for simple newsletters. |
Features compared
Where they really diverge is in the day-to-day feature set:
GetResponse key features
- Email marketing with drag-and-drop editor, A/B testing and autoresponders
- Marketing automation workflows (Marketer plan and above)
- Built-in webinar hosting (up to 100 attendees on Marketer)
- Unlimited landing pages and website builder
ActiveCampaign key features
- Visual automation builder with unlimited actions (Plus+) and conditional/branching logic
- Built-in CRM with deal pipelines and sales automation
- Advanced segmentation and site/event tracking
- Predictive sending and predictive content (Pro tier)
Pricing tiers side by side
GetResponse plans
| Plan | Price | What's included |
|---|---|---|
| Free | $0 | limited; up to 500 contacts, basic email + one landing page |
| Starter (Email Marketing) | from ~$19/mo (1,000 contacts) | no automation workflows or webinars, single user |
| Marketer | from ~$59/mo | marketing automation, webinars up to 100, segmentation, 3 users |
| Creator / Enterprise | from ~$69/mo / custom | courses, paid newsletters, ecommerce; Enterprise adds advanced tools |
ActiveCampaign plans
| Plan | Price | What's included |
|---|---|---|
| Starter | from $15/mo | basic automations limited to 5 actions, contact-based |
| Plus | from $49/mo | unlimited automation actions, landing pages, AI content |
| Pro | from $79/mo | predictive sending, conditional content, advanced reporting |
| Enterprise | from $145/mo | premium CRM, custom reporting, dedicated support |
Tiers compiled from the vendors' published plans and independent reviews; prices are approximate and change often, so confirm current figures (and your region's taxes) on each vendor's site.
Strengths compared
Where GetResponse wins
One of the few platforms that bundles webinar hosting directly with email marketing and automation.
- Rare built-in webinar hosting bundled with email.
- All-in-one breadth (email, landing pages, webinars, automation, ecommerce).
That makes it the stronger pick for sMBs and course/webinar sellers who want email plus webinars and landing pages in a single subscription.
Where ActiveCampaign wins
The go-to when you need genuinely advanced marketing automation plus a built-in CRM without enterprise pricing.
- Among the most powerful automation logic in the SMB price range.
- Email + CRM in one tool, good for B2B nurture and sales handoff.
That makes it the stronger pick for automation-heavy SMBs and B2B teams that want email, CRM and sales automation in a single platform.
Verdict: choose by fit
There is no single winner; it depends on where you sit.
- Choose GetResponse if you fit its core audience — sMBs and course/webinar sellers who want email plus webinars and landing pages in a single subscription.
- Choose ActiveCampaign if you fit its core audience — automation-heavy SMBs and B2B teams that want email, CRM and sales automation in a single platform.
FAQ
Is GetResponse better than ActiveCampaign?
ActiveCampaign is the stronger default for most users, but GetResponse can be the better fit depending on your budget and use case.
What is the main difference between GetResponse and ActiveCampaign?
GetResponse is one of the few platforms that bundles webinar hosting directly with email marketing and automation. ActiveCampaign is the go-to when you need genuinely advanced marketing automation plus a built-in CRM without enterprise pricing.
Which is cheaper, GetResponse or ActiveCampaign?
Entry pricing differs: GetResponse offers a free tier, while ActiveCampaign starts at from $15/mo. Compare the tiers above against your usage.
Sources
Facts above are drawn from these independent reviews and the vendors' own pages for GetResponse and ActiveCampaign: