# ActiveCampaign vs GetResponse (2026) - Verdict

**Verdict:** both live and price-verified as of Jul 21, 2026. Choose ActiveCampaign if it starts cheaper, at $15/mo against $19/mo. Choose GetResponse if you want a permanent free tier, not just a trial.

Category: Marketing Automation with AI · Verified: Jul 21, 2026

## Choose ActiveCampaign if

- it starts cheaper, at $15/mo against $19/mo.
- you lean toward the more recent build, from 2003.

Link: https://verdict.tools/go/activecampaign (rel="sponsored nofollow")

## Choose GetResponse if

- you want a permanent free tier, not just a trial.
- a longer track record matters to you; it has run since 1998.

Link: https://verdict.tools/go/getresponse (rel="sponsored nofollow")

## What each one is

**ActiveCampaign.** Built around email and cross-channel marketing automation paired with a CRM, ActiveCampaign lets users assemble multi-step customer journeys in a visual workflow builder with conditional logic, segmentation, and lead scoring. Its Active Intelligence layer adds task-specific AI agents that draft content, tune send timing, and generate campaigns from a plain-language goal, and a Model Context Protocol connection lets outside assistants such as Claude or ChatGPT read the account, update contacts, and trigger automations. Pricing is contact-based, opening at $15 per month for 1,000 contacts on the Starter tier with no free plan, only a 14-day trial. The product is aimed at solo operators and small-to-midsize businesses.
Sources: ActiveCampaign - homepage (platform overview: email/SMS/cross-channel automation, CRM, integrations) (https://www.activecampaign.com/) · ActiveCampaign - Pricing (https://www.activecampaign.com/pricing) · ActiveCampaign - Active Intelligence (https://www.activecampaign.com/platform/active-intelligence) · ActiveCampaign - AI Agents (use cases) (https://www.activecampaign.com/use-cases/ai-agents)

**GetResponse.** Founded in Poland in 1998, GetResponse runs email campaigns and automation workflows alongside landing pages, sales funnels, and built-in webinar hosting in a single subscription. The native webinar feature, which supports both live and automated sessions, sets it apart from most email tools that stop at campaigns and contact lists. Pricing starts with a free tier capped at 500 contacts and rises to paid plans from about $19 per month that scale with list size, with webinar hosting reserved for a higher tier. It suits solo operators, small businesses, and course creators who prefer to run email, automation, and webinars through one vendor.
Sources: GetResponse - Pricing and Service Plans (vendor) (https://www.getresponse.com/pricing) · GetResponse - Wikipedia (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/GetResponse) · GetResponse Celebrates 25 Years of Innovation in Email Marketing - PR Newswire (https://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/getresponse-celebrates-25-years-of-innovation-in-email-marketing-301978648.html) · GetResponse Email Marketing Review - TechRadar (https://www.techradar.com/reviews/getresponse)

## Side by side

| Metric | ActiveCampaign | GetResponse |
|---|---|---|
| From $/mo | $15 | $19 |
| Free tier | No | Yes |
| Founded | 2003 | 1998 |
| Best for | solo & SMB | solo & SMB |
| Status | Live | Live |

All figures = lowest paid monthly plan · verified Jul 21, 2026.

## Where they differ

**Price.** ActiveCampaign is the cheaper entry at $15/mo, versus $19/mo for GetResponse.

**Free access.** GetResponse offers a permanent free tier; ActiveCampaign is trial-only.

**Track record.** GetResponse has been operating since 1998; ActiveCampaign since 2003. A longer survival record matters.

## FAQ

### ActiveCampaign or GetResponse - which is better in 2026?
Both are live and price-verified as of Jul 21, 2026. Choose ActiveCampaign if it starts cheaper, at $15/mo against $19/mo. Choose GetResponse if you want a permanent free tier, not just a trial.

### Is ActiveCampaign cheaper than GetResponse?
ActiveCampaign has the lower entry price - from $15/mo vs $19/mo (verified Jul 21, 2026).

### Does ActiveCampaign or GetResponse have a free tier?
GetResponse offers a permanent free tier; ActiveCampaign is trial-only.

### Are ActiveCampaign and GetResponse still maintained?
Yes - both are live as of Jul 21, 2026, with no official sunset announced for either.

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