ActiveCampaign vs AWeber
ActiveCampaign is a all-in-one marketing platform while AWeber is a email marketing platform. AWeber has been around since 1998, giving it a 5-year head start over ActiveCampaign (founded 2003). ActiveCampaign starts at $15/mo billed annually, while AWeber starts at $15/mo. Their pricing is not measured the same way, so we don't rank them on price. AWeber offers a free plan (500 subscribers, 3,000 emails/month), while ActiveCampaign does not. ActiveCampaign has the edge with SMS marketing.
Quick Verdict
ActiveCampaign wins on rating, integrations.
AWeber wins on deliverability, free tier.
It's a close call — your choice depends on your specific needs.
ActiveCampaign
Marketing automation that drives growth
ActiveCampaign is widely regarded as having the best marketing automation capabilities in the email marketing space. It combines email marketing with a built-in CRM, making it ideal for businesses that need sophisticated automation workflows and sales pipeline management.
AWeber
Powerfully simple email marketing
AWeber is one of the original email marketing platforms, serving small businesses since 1998. It offers the largest template library (600+) and an impressive integration ecosystem. While its automation isn't as advanced as newer competitors, its reliability and excellent affiliate program make it a solid choice.
Feature Comparison
| Feature | ActiveCampaign | AWeber |
|---|---|---|
| Rating | 4.5/5 | 4.2/5 |
| Starting Price | $15/mo billed annually | $15/mo |
| Free Plan | No free plan | 500 subscribers, 3,000 emails/month |
| Founded | 2003 | 1998 |
| Email Templates | 250 | 600 |
| Integrations | 900 | 750 |
| Deliverability Rate | 97.5% | 97.8% |
| Marketing Automation | Yes | Yes |
| A/B Testing | Yes | Yes |
| Landing Pages | Yes | Yes |
| Segmentation | Yes | Yes |
| Drag & Drop Editor | Yes | Yes |
| SMS Marketing | Yes | No |
| Ecommerce Features | Yes | Yes |
| API Access | Yes | Yes |
| Multi-Language | Yes | No |
| Web Push Notifications | No | Yes |
| Live Chat | Yes | Yes |
| Advanced Analytics | Yes | Yes |
ActiveCampaign: Pros & Cons
Pros
- + Industry-leading automation builder
- + Built-in CRM for sales teams
- + 900+ integrations (largest ecosystem)
- + Excellent deliverability
- + Powerful segmentation and contact scoring
Cons
- − No free plan available
- − Steep learning curve for beginners
- − Gets expensive with higher-tier features
- − Reporting could be more intuitive
- − Landing page builder is basic compared to dedicated tools
AWeber: Pros & Cons
Pros
- + 600+ email templates (largest library)
- + 750+ integrations
- + Established and reliable (since 1998)
- + Free plan available
- + Excellent affiliate program (up to 50% recurring)
Cons
- − Interface feels dated compared to newer tools
- − Automation capabilities lag behind competitors
- − Free plan is limited
- − Lite plan restricts automations to 3
- − No SMS marketing
The Verdict
ActiveCampaign edges ahead with a 4.5/5 rating compared to AWeber's 4.2/5. The gap comes mainly from support (4.7 vs 4.2) and deliverability (4.4 vs 4). On deliverability, AWeber reports 97.8% compared to 97.5% for ActiveCampaign — a meaningful difference if inbox placement is critical for your campaigns.
| Criterion | Weight | ActiveCampaign | AWeber |
|---|---|---|---|
| Starting Price | 30% | $15/mo billed annually | $15/mo |
| Deliverability | 25% | 97.5% | 97.8% Winner |
| Rating | 25% | 4.5/5 Winner | 4.2/5 |
| Integrations | 10% | 900 Winner | 750 |
| Free Tier | 10% | No | Yes Winner |
Weights determine how much each criterion counts toward the final score. See full methodology
Choose ActiveCampaign if…
- + You need SMS marketing
- + You're a ecommerce
- + You're a agencies
Choose AWeber if…
- + You need a free plan to get started
- + You're a small businesses
- + You're a solopreneurs