ActiveCampaign vs HubSpot: Which is Best CRM Tool in 2024?

Choosing the right CRM can feel like navigating a maze.

Do you need something simple or a tool packed with features? And what about the cost?

ActiveCampaign and HubSpot are two popular options, but which one comes out on top?

In this post, we’ll break down ActiveCampaign vs HubSpot & their key differences, pricing, & features to help you make the best decision for your business.

ActiveCampaign vs HubSpot: Overview

To give you the most accurate comparison, we’ve spent weeks testing both ActiveCampaign and HubSpot.

We dove deep into their features, explored their automation capabilities, and even compared their customer support.

Now, let’s see how they stack up!

What is ActiveCampaign?

ActiveCampaign is a powerful tool.

But don't let that scare you. It's actually pretty easy to use. They focus on helping you automate your marketing.

This means less work for you!

You can send the right message to the right people at the right time. Sounds cool, right?

Key Benefits

• Powerful automation: Design complex workflows with 880+ pre-built automations.
• Advanced segmentation: Target the right people with the precise segmentation tools.
• Integrated CRM: Manage contacts, track deals, and nurture relationships.
• Omnichannel marketing: Reach customers across email, SMS, chat, and more.
• Extensive integrations: Connect with over 850 apps you already use.

Pricing

ActiveCampaign offers tiered pricing based on your contact list size and desired features.

• Starter: Starts at $15/month for 10x Email sends, 1 User, Multi-step marketing automation.
• Plus: Starts at $49/month for 10x Email sends 1 User, Multi-step marketing automation, Automation triggers & actions.
• Pro: Starts at $79/month for 12x Email sends, 3 Users, Multi-step marketing automation, and Unlimited actions.
• Enterprise: Starts at $145/month for 15x Email sends, 5 Users, Multi-step marketing automation, Email campaigns & newsletters.

What is HubSpot?

Have you ever wished for a CRM that's actually easy to use?

That's HubSpot. It's designed to be intuitive & user-friendly, even for beginners.

Think of it as your all-in-one marketing and sales machine.

It helps you attract visitors, convert them into leads, and close deals—all in one place.

Key Benefits

HubSpot shines with its all-in-one approach and robust free plan. Here's what makes it stand out:

• Free CRM: Yes, you read that right! HubSpot offers a completely free CRM with unlimited users and up to 1 million contacts.
• Marketing Automation: Automate your marketing tasks, like email campaigns & social media posting, to save time & boost efficiency.
• Sales Pipeline Management: Visualize and track your sales process, making it easier to identify bottlenecks & close deals faster.
• Extensive Integrations: Connect HubSpot with over 1,000 popular business tools to streamline your workflows.

Pricing

HubSpot prefers a variety of pricing plans to suit different needs and budgets:

• Marketing Hub Starter: $20/month
• Starter Customer Platform: Starts at $20/month
• Professional: Starts at $890/month
• Enterprise: Custom Pricing

ActiveCampaign vs HubSpot: Feature Comparison

Both ActiveCampaign and HubSpot offer a wide range of features, but they each have their own strengths.

Let's take a closer look at some key areas to see how they measure up.

Email Marketing

• ActiveCampaign: Known for its powerful and flexible email marketing software, ActiveCampaign provides advanced automation, segmentation, and personalization options. You can easily create targeted marketing campaigns and track their performance.
• HubSpot: HubSpot Marketing Hub offers a more streamlined approach to email marketing. It's user-friendly and includes helpful templates, making it a good choice for beginners. However, it may lack some of the advanced features that ActiveCampaign offers.

Marketing Automation

• ActiveCampaign: ActiveCampaign is a robust marketing automation tool with a highly visual automation builder. You can create complex automation workflows to nurture leads, trigger actions based on behavior, and streamline your marketing efforts.
• HubSpot: HubSpot also offers marketing automation software with visual workflows, but its capabilities are generally considered less robust than ActiveCampaign's. It's a solid choice for basic workflow automation, but if you need complex, multi-step automations, ActiveCampaign might be a better fit.

Sales Automation

• ActiveCampaign: While known for marketing automation, ActiveCampaign also offers tools to automate your sales process. You can automate follow-ups, track deals, and manage your sales and marketing efforts in one place.
• HubSpot: HubSpot provides a dedicated sales hub with features like pipeline management and sales automation. It excels at managing your sales processes and provides a more comprehensive set of sales-focused tools compared to ActiveCampaign.

Landing Pages

• ActiveCampaign: ActiveCampaign offers a drag-and-drop builder to create landing pages. You could choose from templates or design your own.
• HubSpot: HubSpot also provides a landing page builder with a long range of templates & customization options. Both platforms offer solid tools for creating effective landing pages.

Reporting and Analytics

• ActiveCampaign: ActiveCampaign provides built-in reporting to track the performance of your marketing campaigns. However, you need the Enterprise plan to access custom reports.
• HubSpot: HubSpot offers a comprehensive suite of reporting tools. You can track key metrics, analyze your marketing efforts, and create custom reports to gain deeper insights (custom reports are available on Professional and Enterprise plans).

CRM and Contact Management

• ActiveCampaign: ActiveCampaign provides a solid CRM with contact management, lead scoring, and deal tracking features.
• HubSpot: HubSpot offers a free CRM that is widely regarded as one of the best in the industry. It provides robust contact management, detailed customer profiles, and a range of tools to organize your sales and marketing efforts.

Integrations

• ActiveCampaign: ActiveCampaign integrates with a wide range of third-party apps and tools.
• HubSpot: HubSpot also boasts a large app marketplace with numerous integrations to connect with other software you use. Both platforms offer flexibility in connecting with your existing tech stack.

What to Look For When Choosing a CRM Software

• Your budget: CRM pricing can vary significantly. Determine your budget early on to narrow down your options.
• Your team's size: Consider how many users will need access to the CRM. Some platforms have user-based pricing.
• Required features: Identify the essential features you need, such as contact management, sales automation, or marketing tools.
• Integrations: Ensure the CRM integrates with your existing business tools, like email marketing platforms or accounting software.
• Ease of use: Choose a CRM that your team will actually use. Consider the learning curve and user-friendliness.
• Scalability: Think about your future needs. Select a CRM that could grow with your business.
• Support: Evaluate the level of customer support offered. Some platforms offer more comprehensive support than others.
• Mobile access: Do you need access to your CRM on the go? Check for mobile apps and mobile-friendly interfaces.
• Industry-specific features: Some CRMs cater to specific industries, offering tailored features and functionalities.
• Free trial: Take advantages of free trials to test drive the CRM and see if it's the right fit for your business.

Final Verdict (Our Pick)

Choosing between ActiveCampaign and HubSpot ultimately depends on your specific needs and priorities.

If you're looking for a powerful marketing automation solution with advanced features and flexibility, ActiveCampaign emerges as the winner.

Its robust automation builder and in-depth reporting give you fine-grained control over your campaigns.

However, if you prioritize a user-friendly interface and a comprehensive suite of sales tools, HubSpot is the better choice.

Its free CRM and intuitive platform make it ideal for businesses getting started with automation.

We've spent weeks testing these platforms, so you can trust our insights.

Whether you're focused on streamlining your marketing or boosting your sales, this comparison should help you make the right decision for your business.

Frequently Asked Questions