ActiveCampaign vs GetResponse

Choosing the right email marketing software for your business is difficult.

And if you're reading this, it's probably because you're trying to make a tough decision right now about the best tool between ActiveCampaign and GetResponse

Of course we've been a bit biased since we built the first one.

We believe GetResponse is No. 1 because we have built it with great email marketing opportunities, drag and drop builder, funnel and other built-in features.

But we want you to be a judge here. In this article, we will therefore compare the features of ActiveCampaign and GetReponse so that you can choose the one that best suits your business.

GetResponse vs ActiveCampaign: Quick Comparison

If you're short on time, here's a quick table to compare the key features of each platform. We'll dive into the details next!

Let's read my complete comparison if you have time to read my complete article here for each feature and pricing plan:

1. Which one has better email marketing features?

GetResponse:

GetResponse email marketing software is the bread and butter of our platform. 

With our email marketing platform, you can use templates or create emails from scratch and build a complete email marketing campaign from scratch. This makes it perfect for sending:

• Newsletters

• Autoresponders 

• Email sequences 

• Segmented campaigns

• Automated RSS feeds (blog posts)

If you have an existing contact list, you can easily bulk import them using a CSV file or by integrating them with external services.

So what makes it good for small businesses?

Not only is it super easy to use (the drag-and-drop builder lets you quickly create a professional email with your own copy and photos in minutes), but it also provides leads and customers.

For example, when an email arrives in your contact's inbox, GetResponse tracks the number of times it's opened and whether potential customers click on any links. From there, you can see which contacts on your list are most engaged and likely to buy your products and run A / B tests to improve the success of your future campaigns.

It won't take you a long time either. The "Quick Actions" menu makes it quick and easy to create professional email marketing campaigns, or if you need more information the main navigation menu is equipped with all the tools you need to create a campaign that will grow your list:

The best part is that unlike a lot of other tools on the market, GetResponse comes fully equipped with other features like landing pages, funnels, webinars, and chats that give your e-campaigns. mail a better chance of success.

ActiveCampaign:

ActiveCampaign's Email Marketing Package is also a hit.

You can use the software to create different types of email marketing campaigns such as triggered and targeted emails as well as autoresponders. It also has predefined email funnels, which are useful if you need to set up a campaign quickly or are new to email marketing.

Like GetResponse, ActiveCampaign also has a drag-and-drop tool, which makes it easy to create professional email campaigns without the code experience. There is also a large library of mobile-friendly templates that you can use to start sending successful email campaigns.

Verdict:

The biggest difference between the two platforms is the number of features each of them offers. GetResponse has a full platform, but ActiveCampaign lacks features like funnels, webinars, and social media tools that make it easy to launch successful email marketing campaigns.

Want to try it for yourself? You can test GetResponse completely free for 30 days. No credit card needed.

2. If you need to run surveys, do these tools allow it?

GetResponse:

GetResponse has a survey builder that you can use to create custom surveys and add them directly to your email campaigns. With a drag and drop builder, you can create custom surveys using:

• multiple choice answers

• text answers

• subscription forms

Once you've created the survey, all you need to do is add the link to it when you create your email - and you're done. You can also use these GetResponse webinar surveys to collect attendee data

The drag-and-drop editor also makes it easy to customize your surveys by adding: 

• your logo/branding.

• multiple-choice questions.

• subscription forms.

• up to 50 pages (useful for in-depth feedback).

• adjustments to a survey that is already published.

And if you want to use an external survey platform to survey your audience, GetResponse syncs with most of them, either through their pre-built integrations or through Zapier.

ActiveCampaign:

Currently, ActiveCampaign does not have its own survey tool. But it integrates with third-party tools such as SurveyMonkey, Survicate and Typeform.

You can therefore link surveys to email and automation campaigns, and the answers will be sent directly to your ActiveCampaign account.

Verdict:

If you don't want to use an external platform to run simple surveys, GetResponse is the right choice.

But if you want to use an outside platform and don't care about integration, ActiveCampaign and will work just as well.

3. Deliverability is a big issue, so which tool does it better?

GetResponse:

An email marketing tool is only useful if those emails actually end up in your contacts.

At GetResponse, one of our bragging rights is that the delivery rate for our customers is 99% in total!

So why and how is our delivery level so high?

Much of our success is due to factors such as message content and the trust we have built with ISPs around the world.

They trust us because not only do we have zero tolerance for spam, but we also make it easy to keep lists clean with our management tools and track email addresses that cannot be delivered to ensure they are filtered out.

We have also built an internal anti-abuse system called Hydra, which helps identify and assess potential threats to customers' reputation and delivery.

Another thing that sets us apart is that we have two full-time teams that handle delivery and compliance via e-mail - and we have worked for more than 20 years.

In other words, if you send your emails with us, you are in good hands.

ActiveCampaign:

ActiveCampaign also has a high delivery rate for its emails.

A study by Email Tool Tester tracked the tool's inbox rate (slightly different from deliverability but related) and found that as of September 2020, it was 73%. In the same month, GetResponse got a score of 86%.

But take these results with a grain of salt. They often swing and even top athletes like ActiveCampaign and GetResponse experience ups and downs. In addition, the delivery is closely linked to the content of your communication - not just the platform you use to send your emails.

Verdict:

These two tools are likely to get your emails to their destination. 

You May Want to Read More:

• AWeber vs GetResponse – which one offers a better deal

• Best email marketing service – thorough comparison

• GetResponse vs ConvertKit – what you need to know

4. Do they both offer landing pages?

GetResponse:

Yes - GetResponse has a tool where you can create custom pages or use over 180 different templates to create the perfect landing page.

Like the email drag and drop tool, the GetResponse landing page builder is all about ease of use. You can create mobile-friendly and business-friendly landing pages without any coding experience.

What if you want to add code? Using the editor, you can add custom code using HTML, CSS or Javascript. If you want to add or incorporate external elements, all you need to do is make a quick cut and paste.

And to make your page stand out, the tool has a built-in image editing program that lets you add your own images. You can also import photos directly from Shutterstock or even add eye-catching GIFs from Giphy to your landing page.

Once you are happy with how the landing page looks, you can launch it immediately and start collecting leads that will be filtered straight into your mailing lists.

With the landing page builder, you can:

• structure your landing pages using sections

• add content blocks for images, video, text and buttons

• add static and contextual forms

• add webinar registration forms

• add a sense of urgency with countdowns

• collect payments through PayPal integration

• add social sharing icons

• add custom code elements using HTML, CSS or Javascript

• preview your landing page to see what it looks like on a desktop or mobile device

ActiveCampaign:

ActiveCampaign also recently launched an integrated landing page builder. Like GetResponse, it has a drag-and-drop design tool that was created for ease of use. You can create professional landing pages with just a few clicks:

You can also choose a template library, and you can change parts of the template to add your own images, videos, and calls to action.

Verdict:

Both tools offer great value for money landing page builders.

5. What about conversion funnels?

GetResponse:

Funnels can be daunting to build, but GetResponse has made this once complicated process easy.

The conversion funnel feature makes it very easy for you to create efficient funnels, even if you have never done it before. Funnels are biased scenarios for what a typical conversion would look like.

For example, if you are trying to sell a course, the conversion path might look like this:

With the Trakt function, each step of this conversion is automatically organized into steps that you can visualize:

Not only can you see the success of each step in the conversion path, but you can also track the profitability of your efforts. You can see how many potential customers come into your funnel and finally how many have become paying customers.

Best of all? All the tools you need to build your funnel are already part of GetResponse.

ActiveCampaign:

ActiveCampaign does not currently offer conversion funnels.

Verdict:

If you are looking for a solution that combines multiple channels (emails, landing pages, sales pages, Facebook ads, Facebook Pixel, etc.) into one dashboard, GetResponse is the right choice.

6. You may need webinars, which one offers this feature?

GetResponse:

You can launch an interactive webinar directly from the GetResponse dashboard.

The functionality of the webinar software allows you to create webinars with a custom webinar URL, registration forms and built-in polls and surveys:

Since webinars link to GetResponse, every lead you gather will automatically be added to your email lists and nurtured. If you start a webinar with GetResponse, you have access to important features such as:

• Design tools and interactive whiteboard

• Screen sharing / interactive chat room

• Recording (so you can re-market the webinar once it's completed)

• Question and answer session

• Moderate chat

• Several hosts

However, what sets the webinar tool apart from GetResponse is that it has a predefined promotion machine that you can use to sell content from your webinars. The machine has features such as:

• Pre-defined registration pages

• Advanced subscription settings

• Payment gateways

With these features, you can sell products, services, and courses directly from your webinars.

ActiveCampaign:

ActiveCampaign does not have its own webinar tool. But you can integrate tools like GoToWebinar, StealthSeminat, and WebinarNinja to host webinars right from the software.

Verdict:

GetResponse comes with built-in webinar software for which you don't need to pay extra. And if you want to use an external tool to run your webinar campaigns with, both platforms will integrate seamlessly with them.

7. Any provisions for Facebook or Google ads?

GetResponse:

GetResponse has a suite of tools specially created to enable small businesses and freelancers to create successful Facebook and Google ad campaigns without taking a lot of time.

Let's take a look at the Facebook ad tool first, which allows you to easily create and post ads from the tool's dashboard directly to social media.

First, you can create a list for the ad to target by choosing from categories such as website visitors, similar audiences, or existing contacts.

Then you can use the Social Ads Creator app to create professional, effective Facebook ads that seem to come directly from a designer. Like the other features of GetResponse, Ad Builder is a simple drag-and-drop tool that anyone can master.:

Once you're happy with how the ad looks, all that's left to do is submit it - and you're done.

We also recently launched a tool that lets you create Google Ads from the dashboard. Just add your Google Ads account, add content to your ad, create a target audience, and set your budget.:  

Easy!

ActiveCampaign:

You can not start Facebook or Google Ads from ActiveCampaign, but you can still sync your Facebook Ads account and add / remove contacts from Facebook Custom Audiences.

Verdict:

If you're looking for simplicity in your paid ad campaigns, GetResponse is here for you.

8. In terms of segmentation, which tool does it better?

GetResponse:

We believe our lead generation suite of tools makes it easy to nurture contacts and convert them into paying customers.

How? 'Or' What? Using segmentation to create personalized, highly targeted emails that make contacts feel like you're talking to them one-on-one.

It all starts with our forms, which we have created to collect the most useful data from contacts when they sign up via a newsletter or landing page.

When they reach your contact list, you can tag them based on their behavior and send targeted emails to specific groups.

What sets GetResponse apart is that it automatically selects the most engaged contacts from the list so you can target them.

We call this an engagement score. Using real-time data, GetResponse assigns each contact on your list a score based on a 5-point scale:

• Not engaged (when somebody is not interested in the content you send them… at all)

• At-risk

• Neutral

• Engaged

• Highly engaged (when somebody loves the content you send and is actively opening emails and clicking the links)

The engagement result will then be displayed on your contact list, so you can target your most engaged contacts and increase the chances of making them paying customers.

An example of contacts with varying engagement scores

ActiveCampaign:

ActiveCampaign has a comprehensive segmentation tool that allows you to capture and use contact data such as names, actions, and geography to segment contacts.

Not only can you track this data, but you can also use it to segment your contacts. In ActiveCampaign, you can use segmentation to target your contacts based on their behavior, using data as if a contact opened an email or clicked on a link:

Verdict:

The biggest difference between the two platforms is the intuitiveness of GetResponse's segmentation.

While both platforms allow you to segment your email list into categories such as purchased products, website visits or industry, GetResponse also breaks down lists based on contact engagement (automatically).

And it can be powerful when you target contacts and try to make deals.

9. Do they both offer email templates?

GetResponse

We have over 100 responsive email templates specially designed for the New GetResponse Email Creator and open on any device.

Each template is high quality and professionally designed so you can submit campaigns to host, educate, market and sell without the need for coding skills. To make things even easier, the library is divided into sections, from online marketing and e-commerce, travel, alerts and many more.

Like many other tools in our toolbox, our email templates are easy to customize using a drag and drop builder.

ActiveCampaign:

ActiveCampaign also offers a set of templates that you can use to send to your subscribers. Like GetResponse, all ActiveCampaign templates are mobile-friendly and easy to customize using the drag-and-drop builder. However, the bookshelf is a bit smaller and the aesthetic looks a bit dated.

10. Marketing automation? Anyone?

GetResponse:

One of the best parts of a marketing suite is that the automation features can put everyday tasks on autopilot.

GetResponse Marketing Automation Builder is one of the most comprehensive tools available for marketers who want to create simple and advanced automation.

The drag-and-drop automation builder lets you create visual workflows to see the automation and customize each step as you go. You can create automation events based on the behavior of the contacts, and then trigger actions based on the conditions you choose.

For example, if you want a particular email to be sent only if a contact clicks on a link in an email, all you have to do is create that sequence and state using the visual automation generator:

Along with the workflow, you can also add a 'trigger' in the workflow for events such as: 

• new subscribers

• email opens

• clicks on links

• abandoned carts

• product purchases

• product upgrades

• URLs visited (i.e. pricing pages)

ActiveCampaign:

ActiveCampaign also has a visual automation builder that lets you see and build the steps in the automation sequence. All you have to do is add the terms and emails you chose, and ActiveCampaign will send the campaign you design:

It also comes with over 500 clear automation templates (or recipes as ActiveCampaign calls it), which will help you quickly familiarize yourself with their tool.

Verdict:

Both platforms offer robust marketing automation tools that you can use to execute simple and complex communication sequences.

Read more:

• GetResponse vs. MailerLite

• GetResponse vs. ClickFunnels

• 10 best email marketing affiliate programs

11. Do they both offer an autoresponder feature?

GetResponse:

Like many other features that come with GetResponse, autoresponders come packaged and ready to use.

By using the auto responder, you can nurture and nurture relationships with your contacts without spending all your time stuck in your inbox.

Here's a quick rundown of everything you can do with GetResponse's autoresponder:

How do I create an autoresponder? – GetResponse Help

You can also see autoresponders in a simple and intuitive calendar view. So if you run a specific campaign or want an auto-reply sent on a specific day, you just need to add it to your calendar:

ActiveCampaign:

ActiveCampaign also has an auto-responder feature that you can enable when you create a campaign or create a marketing sequence using the automation builder.

You can set up autoresponders to send to new subscribers or through drip campaigns depending on where they are in your marketing funnel.

Using Automation Builder, you can also customize the triggers when the autoresponder is sent to a contact, such as delaying them an hour or a day after they sign up for your list:

Another cool feature? ActiveCampaign also has a built-in SMS auto responder, so you can feed contacts outside of their inbox.

Verdict:

Both platforms allow you to create email delivery campaigns using autoresponders.

The functionality of ActiveCampaign also allows you to add SMS to the equation, which can be useful if you are running an e-commerce business.

12. What about pricing?

GetResponse:

GetResponse has four different pricing plans: Basic, Plus, Professional, and a custom one – Max.

The price ultimately depends on the size of your list and how many features you want to access.

For 1000 contacts, the floor plan will cost you $15 per month. This gives you access to GetResponse's email marketing, autoresponders, landing pages, lead funnels, Facebook ads and other important features.

The next step-by-step plan, Plus, costs $49 per month and gives you access to additional solutions such as webinars, sales funnels and the automation builder.

GetResponse offers a 30-day free trial, so you can test your plans and decide which one is best for you. And the best part? If you pay for an annual plan you get an 18% discount, and if you pay for a two-year plan you get a 30% discount! In addition, GetResponse offers an extra deal just for nonprofits.

ActiveCampaign:

ActiveCampaign offers a free 14-day trial and four paid plans: Lite, Plus, Professional, and Enterprise.

For 1,000 contacts, the Lite plan costs $29 per month. It gives you access to their marketing automation, email marketing, web forms and segmentation.

But if you want to use more advanced tools like landing pages, contact rating or Facebook Custom Audiences, you need to upgrade to the subscription More than $ 70 per month.

And if you want to A / B test your automations and use predictive broadcasting, you need to choose their professional plan that costs $159 / month for 1000 contacts.

Verdict:

GetResponse and ActiveCampaign offer unique features and integrations.

Of the two, GetResponse is less expensive for the same list size. It also comes with extra built-in features that essentially eliminate the need to sign up for external tools to run your webinars or create funnels.

So ActiveCampaign vs GetResponse… which one is better?

The answer to this question comes down to what you really need the tool to do.

If you want a tool that goes beyond email marketing and allows you to create professional Facebook ads, create custom funnels and automatically nurture customers, GetResponse is your tool.

However, the easiest way to make a choice is to compare features and prices. Choosing a marketing automation tool is an important step - so make sure you do your homework and that the tool you choose ticks all the boxes on your list before you invest!

And if you have already decided and want to try GetResponse, you can register for free for 30 days using the button below 🙂

Author’s note:

This comparison is accurate as of November 16, 2021. We do our best to keep it as accurate as possible and check it regularly. However, if you want to familiarize yourself with our competitors' offerings, you should check their official site or contact their representatives.

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