ActiveCampaign vs Campaign Monitor
Detailed comparison between ActiveCampaign and Campaign Monitor. Which one to choose for your project?
A
ActiveCampaign
4.5/5 · 17.2k
C
Campaign Monitor
4.3/5 · 1.2k
Our verdict is revealed after the rounds. Scroll for the analysis →
Head to Head
Our recommendation
ActiveCampaign
AI-powered marketing automation platform
4.5/5 (17,176 reviews)
Price
Starting from $15/mo Key features
- Email campaigns with AI-optimized content and timing
- Advanced visual workflows
- Sales pipeline with AI scoring
- Sending at the optimal time for each contact
Campaign Monitor
Email marketing with AI, automation and polished design
4.3/5 (1,200 reviews)
Price
Starting from $12/mo Key features
- Elegant visual builder to create responsive emails without coding
- Visual workflows triggered by behavior, date or lifecycle stage
- Dynamic segments based on engagement, purchases and contact data
- Generates emails, subject lines and CTAs in your brand voice
ActiveCampaign vs Campaign Monitor — Specs at a glance
| Criteria | ActiveCampaign | Campaign Monitor |
|---|---|---|
| Rating | 4.5/5 · 17,176 reviews | 4.3/5 · 1,200 reviews |
| Pricing model | paid | free trial |
| Starting price | From $15/mo | From $12/mo |
| Free plan | No | No |
| Best for | SMBs and agencies wanting powerful marketing automation with built-in AI | Design-conscious brands and agencies wanting elegant emails with automation and AI assistance, without managing code |
ActiveCampaign — Pros and Cons
Pros
- Most powerful automations on the market
- Truly effective predictive AI
- Competitive pricing for the depth of features
- 900+ integrations
Cons
- No free plan
- Complex interface for beginners
- CRM less complete than dedicated CRMs
Campaign Monitor — Pros and Cons
Pros
- One of the most polished drag-and-drop builders on the market
- Professionally designed templates suited to any brand
- AI assistant for writing and subject line optimization
- Subject line optimizer based on your real open-rate data
- Solid deliverability and reliable sending infrastructure
Cons
- Priced by contact count, becomes expensive at scale
- Notable price increases since the 2025 Marigold rebrand
- No permanent free plan, only a 30-day trial
- CRM and SMS features less developed than competitors
Frequently asked questions
Which one is cheaper: ActiveCampaign or Campaign Monitor?
Campaign Monitor is cheaper to start with — From $12/mo. ActiveCampaign starts at From $15/mo.
Does ActiveCampaign or Campaign Monitor offer a free plan?
Neither ActiveCampaign nor Campaign Monitor has a free plan. ActiveCampaign starts at From $15/mo, Campaign Monitor at From $12/mo.
Which has the higher user rating, ActiveCampaign or Campaign Monitor?
ActiveCampaign has a higher user rating: 4.5/5 (17,176 reviews) versus 4.3/5 (1,200 reviews) for Campaign Monitor.
What is ActiveCampaign best for compared to Campaign Monitor?
ActiveCampaign is best for smbs and agencies wanting powerful marketing automation with built-in ai. Campaign Monitor is best for design-conscious brands and agencies wanting elegant emails with automation and ai assistance, without managing code. Choose based on which use case matches your needs.
Should I choose ActiveCampaign or Campaign Monitor?
Pick ActiveCampaign if you need smbs and agencies wanting powerful marketing automation with built-in ai, and Campaign Monitor for design-conscious brands and agencies wanting elegant emails with automation and ai assistance, without managing code. Campaign Monitor has the lower entry price (From $12/mo), while ActiveCampaign edges ahead on user ratings at 4.5/5. Try any free plan before you commit.
