ActiveCampaign vs GetResponse (2026)
A head-to-head on price, free access, and staying power. Both live and price-verified as of Jul 21, 2026.
The verdict, first
ActiveCampaign
- if it starts cheaper, at $15/mo against $19/mo.
- if you lean toward the more recent build, from 2003.
GetResponse
- if you want a permanent free tier, not just a trial.
- if a longer track record matters to you; it has run since 1998.
What each one is
ActiveCampaign
What sets it apart The Active Intelligence layer with task-specific AI agents that build campaigns, automations, and segments from a plain-language goal, plus a Model Context Protocol integration that lets external AI assistants (Claude, ChatGPT) act directly on the account.
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) · ActiveCampaign - Pricing · ActiveCampaign - Active Intelligence · ActiveCampaign - AI Agents (use cases)
GetResponse
What sets it apart Built-in webinar hosting (live and automated) integrated into the email and automation platform, which most email marketing tools do not offer natively.
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) · GetResponse - Wikipedia · GetResponse Celebrates 25 Years of Innovation in Email Marketing - PR Newswire · GetResponse Email Marketing Review - TechRadar
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 · STATUS & PRICE VERIFIED JUL 21, 2026
Where they differ
Price
ActiveCampaign is the cheaper entry at $15/mo, versus $19/mo for GetResponse. Both prices are the lowest paid monthly plan, verified Jul 21, 2026.
Free access
GetResponse offers a permanent free tier; ActiveCampaign is trial-only. A permanent free tier lowers the risk of committing before you have validated the fit.
Track record
GetResponse has been operating since 1998; ActiveCampaign since 2003. For a tool you build a business process on, a longer survival record matters.
Questions of record
ActiveCampaign or GetResponse - which is better in 2026?
Is ActiveCampaign cheaper than GetResponse?
Does ActiveCampaign or GetResponse have a free tier?
Are ActiveCampaign and GetResponse still maintained?
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