ActiveCampaign vs Kit (ConvertKit)
ActiveCampaign is a all-in-one marketing platform while Kit (ConvertKit) is a email marketing platform. ActiveCampaign has been around since 2003, giving it a 10-year head start over Kit (ConvertKit) (founded 2013). ActiveCampaign starts at $15/mo billed annually, while Kit (ConvertKit) starts at $39/mo. Their pricing is not measured the same way, so we don't rank them on price. Kit (ConvertKit) offers a free plan (10,000 subscribers), while ActiveCampaign does not. ActiveCampaign has the edge with SMS marketing, a drag-and-drop editor.
Quick Verdict
ActiveCampaign wins on integrations.
Kit (ConvertKit) wins on deliverability, rating, free tier.
Best for most users: Kit (ConvertKit) (bloggers).
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.
Kit (ConvertKit)
Email marketing built for creators
Kit (formerly ConvertKit) is purpose-built for online creators including bloggers, podcasters, YouTubers, and course creators. It emphasizes simplicity and deliverability over complex design features, making it ideal for text-based newsletters and automated sequences.
Feature Comparison
| Feature | ActiveCampaign | Kit (ConvertKit) |
|---|---|---|
| Rating | 4.5/5 | 4.6/5 |
| Starting Price | $15/mo billed annually | $39/mo |
| Free Plan | No free plan | 10,000 subscribers |
| Founded | 2003 | 2013 |
| Email Templates | 250 | 50 |
| Integrations | 900 | 90 |
| Deliverability Rate | 97.5% | 98.2% |
| Marketing Automation | Yes | Yes |
| A/B Testing | Yes | Yes |
| Landing Pages | Yes | Yes |
| Segmentation | Yes | Yes |
| Drag & Drop Editor | Yes | No |
| SMS Marketing | Yes | No |
| Ecommerce Features | Yes | Yes |
| API Access | Yes | Yes |
| Multi-Language | Yes | No |
| Web Push Notifications | No | No |
| Live Chat | Yes | No |
| 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
Kit (ConvertKit): Pros & Cons
Pros
- + Excellent creator ecosystem with built-in monetization
- + Intuitive visual automation builder
- + Generous free plan up to 10,000 subscribers
- + Strong deliverability rates
- + Creator-focused features like tip jars and paid newsletters
Cons
- − Limited email template design options
- − Gets expensive at higher subscriber counts
- − No native SMS; texting needs the third-party SlickText app
- − Basic reporting compared to competitors
- − No drag-and-drop email editor
The Verdict
ActiveCampaign and Kit (ConvertKit) are closely matched — both score within 0.1 points of each other in our overall rating. Your decision should come down to specific needs rather than overall quality. On deliverability, Kit (ConvertKit) reports 98.2% compared to 97.5% for ActiveCampaign — a meaningful difference if inbox placement is critical for your campaigns.
| Criterion | Weight | ActiveCampaign | Kit (ConvertKit) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Starting Price | 30% | $15/mo billed annually | $39/mo |
| Deliverability | 25% | 97.5% | 98.2% Winner |
| Rating | 25% | 4.5/5 | 4.6/5 Winner |
| Integrations | 10% | 900 Winner | 90 |
| 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 Kit (ConvertKit) if…
- + You need a free plan to get started
- + You're a bloggers
- + You're a creators