ActiveCampaign vs Constant Contact
ActiveCampaign and Constant Contact are both popular choices in the all-in-one marketing platform space. Constant Contact has been around since 1995, giving it a 8-year head start over ActiveCampaign (founded 2003). ActiveCampaign starts at $15/mo billed annually, while Constant Contact starts at $12/mo. Their pricing is not measured the same way, so we don't rank them on price.
Quick Verdict
ActiveCampaign wins on deliverability, rating, integrations.
Best for most users: ActiveCampaign (ecommerce).
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.
Constant Contact
Small business marketing made easy
Constant Contact is one of the most established email marketing platforms, particularly strong for small businesses and nonprofits. Its event marketing capabilities and social media integration set it apart, though its automation features lag behind newer competitors.
Feature Comparison
| Feature | ActiveCampaign | Constant Contact |
|---|---|---|
| Rating | 4.5/5 | 4.1/5 |
| Starting Price | $15/mo billed annually | $12/mo |
| Free Plan | No free plan | No free plan |
| Founded | 2003 | 1995 |
| Email Templates | 250 | 300 |
| Integrations | 900 | 300 |
| Deliverability Rate | 97.5% | 97% |
| Marketing Automation | Yes | Yes |
| A/B Testing | Yes | Yes |
| Landing Pages | Yes | Yes |
| Segmentation | Yes | Yes |
| Drag & Drop Editor | Yes | Yes |
| SMS Marketing | Yes | Yes |
| Ecommerce Features | Yes | Yes |
| API Access | Yes | Yes |
| Multi-Language | Yes | No |
| Web Push Notifications | No | No |
| 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
Constant Contact: Pros & Cons
Pros
- + Longest 60-day free trial in the industry
- + Excellent event marketing features
- + 300+ templates and integrations
- + Strong brand recognition and trust
- + Social media posting included
Cons
- − No free plan
- − Automation is basic on lower tiers
- − Gets expensive with larger lists
- − Interface feels outdated in places
- − Limited advanced features
The Verdict
ActiveCampaign edges ahead with a 4.5/5 rating compared to Constant Contact's 4.1/5. The gap comes mainly from deliverability (4.4 vs 3.9) and feature depth (4.7 vs 4.2). On deliverability, ActiveCampaign reports 97.5% compared to 97% for Constant Contact — a meaningful difference if inbox placement is critical for your campaigns.
| Criterion | Weight | ActiveCampaign | Constant Contact |
|---|---|---|---|
| Starting Price | 30% | $15/mo billed annually | $12/mo |
| Deliverability | 25% | 97.5% Winner | 97% |
| Rating | 25% | 4.5/5 Winner | 4.1/5 |
| Integrations | 10% | 900 Winner | 300 |
| Free Tier | 10% | No | No |
Weights determine how much each criterion counts toward the final score. See full methodology
Choose ActiveCampaign if…
- + You're a ecommerce
- + You're a agencies
- + Industry-leading automation builder
Choose Constant Contact if…
- + You're a small businesses
- + You're a nonprofits
- + Longest 60-day free trial in the industry