ConvertKit vs ActiveCampaign

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Are you starting email marketing for your business? You should!

You may feel overwhelmed by existing email marketing solutions. Most of them use very similar selling solutions for marketing, and you are likely to feel a little confused.

You are not the first!

This is a common situation, and it is important to get the right product for your business and goals from the beginning, not to spend time and money to install the product and then realize after a few months that it is not a good tool for you and it is not doing what you need.

Email marketing tools allow you to control communication with existing customers and help you make new customers. You can create beautiful email templates and send emails to the right people at the right time.

These services can not only do the hard work for you but also improve the quality of your campaigns by segmenting your audience and building beautiful email templates. You can even use A/B testing and reports to track the results of your campaign. The conversion rate of people who use automation has increased by 50%.

But which tool should you choose? In 2020, the debate usually is around ActiveCampain and ConvertKit.

You ask why?

Both are popular platforms, very suitable for email marketing and visual list building.

What Features Do They Share

First, let’s get the most important, both AC and CK will integrate with almost every website, service, or tool that you use.

Secondly, unlike some other email marketing automation tools, both services only count a subscriber on multiple lists as one subscriber. This matters a lot.

ActiveCampaign and ConvertKit are very similar tools. They can both help you manage and build email lists with segments and tags.

On both platforms, you can design immersive automation strategies based on drag-and-drop triggers and events. In addition, each option comes with a registration form and a login page template for acquiring potential customers.

Automation – Both services allow you to create sophisticated email marketing channels based on various triggers.

Tagging – Both allow you to tag email subscribers.

WebForms – You don’t need third-party services like OptinMonster to start using registration forms on your blog.

Schedule a broadcast – Create your broadcast (a single email, as opposed to a campaign made up of several in a sequence) and schedule it to be sent at the right time.

Segmentation – Both ConvertKit and ActiveCampaign allow you to segment your audience based on tags and other metrics.

RSS Feeds – They both allow you to automatically email the latest WordPress blog posts to your audience, but, ActiveCampaign’s settings can be more customized.

How Are They Different?

In my opinion, ActiveCampaign provides a more comprehensive overall experience, with more powerful reporting and A/B testing options, and nicer email templates.

On the other hand, ConvertKit prioritizes simple and basic tools and functions that are great for beginners. More support for segmentation and integration with ConvertKit is also provided.

Although both tools cover the basic elements of automation tools, there are some key differences in their feature sets. Let’s learn more about Convertkit vs ActiveCampaign.

Some differences between ActiveCampaign and ConvertKit:

ActiveCampaign is definitely a business-oriented product. This can be clearly seen from several aspects of its introduction.

It’s great for new users with nothing frightening during startup and operation. That being said, I do think it is best suited for people with digital marketing knowledge, especially email users.

The instructions provided about the settings are not super friendly, but they are instant. Whether it appeals to you, it really depends on your own personality, but compared to other email marketing solutions, it does set a more professional tone.

It is similar to other marketing platforms in terms of the core function of putting the email together for public use. If you wish to use HTML and further customize the content, you can choose a template and insert your own content, of course.

One of my favorite features that not every email marketing solution offers is the ability to export a list of recipients who clicked on a specific link and their email addresses.

The unique selling point where ConvertKit really stands out is its WordPress blogging platform plugin. WordPress is one of the most popular blog sites in the world, thanks in large part to the custom features provided by its open-source development.

For users without technical coding abilities, one of the best features of WordPress is the ability to use plugins to process everything from data collection to aesthetic elements.

For ConvertKit, this is wise for them, especially focusing on bloggers. You can focus on writing content while growing your email list without getting bogged down in the technicalities of it.

They provide a form function that allows you to create embeddable optional forms (ConvertKit has a default dual-selection and single-selection). You can paste it anywhere, or use a dedicated landing page builder to collect subscribers. There are also integrations available, such as Landing Lion, a landing page automation builder that can be integrated with ConvertKit.

ConvertKit seems to be proud of their “sequence” function. This is their automatic email marketing feature. It allows you to set up an IFTT (If This Then That) method, through which you can set an email to be triggered so that the email is sent when the visitor performs a specific action.

ConvertKit actually utilizes the drag-and-drop function throughout its use. This makes it very easy to use-very friendly to users with low technical content.

Simplicity is the key point that all email marketing service providers emphasize when promoting their products, but I think I have never seen such a simple thing before!

So yes, it’s almost impossible for ConvertKit to go wrong in terms of creating your email and related triggers for sending related emails.

That being said, it does seem like a little trick. In addition to sending emails and marketing automation tools, its functions are still limited. If you use it with other software to track things, such as Google Analytics and its custom URL builder, then it may be useful to you, and it is highly recommended.

At the same time, however, this is not what ConvertKit intends or is trying to do. It is very focused on attracting subscribers and sending subscribers via email, and it works very well.

ConvertKit does say it can be used for other business goals, I can see that, but if you have a retail company as an example, and the company relies heavily on sales, then I can imagine they want more The data is available for them to use to optimize and improve their email marketing efforts.

The fact that you need a list of existing subscriber list can be hideous, and it does make those who have been professional bloggers for some time.

Convertkit vs ActiveCampaign Email Automations

Without automation, there can be no high-quality email marketing services. This is the main juice of these two different solutions. This is a function that both tools share quite a bit. More importantly, they also have other excellent features.

Now let’s have a look at the most valuable feature of ActiveCampaign and ConvertKit – the automation. More than half of email revenue is generated by triggered activities.

In ConvertKit, your sequence is called “automation”, often known as a “drip campaign”. You can automatically email subscribers immediately after joining the list.

Even if you are new to the email automation, ConvertKit makes it very easy to build templates. The visual interface is easy to use, and you can choose any way to build your campaign. For example, you can develop a funnel to send subscribers customized content and then pull them back to your website. When the same subscriber shops on your website, they may receive another email thanking them and offering some upsell opportunities which can be very beneficial.

There is no doubt that automation is one of the most important functions of email marketing tools. Estimates indicate that more than 75% of email revenue is generated by automated advertising campaigns.

Let’s see which of ConvertKit or ActiveCampaign provides better automation.

ConvertKit provides impressive automation features, which have only been enhanced after the recent introduction of a ready-made visual automation editor.

In ConvertKit, you can choose from forms, labels, custom fields, or purchases to make visual automation suitable for your subscribers. These are called entry points and trigger users to enter automation.

After selecting the entry point, you can set up a series of automatic emails based on events, actions or conditions. In addition, you can add automated rules that allow you to set triggers, such as clicking a link or making a purchase.

On the other hand, ActiveCampaign provides comprehensive automation capabilities, which is tricky to get started, but once you master it, it is easy to use. Like ConvertKit, ActiveCampaign also provides a visual workflow automation builder. Using the drag-and-drop editor, you can create automated sequences in minutes to help you automatically send useful emails to your contacts on time.

Overall, ConvertKit is much easier to use in terms of automation, but ActiveCampaign provides amazing and comprehensive features. Although the learning curve may be steeper, it also has great value.

Convertkit vs ActiveCampaign Triggers

Through the automation of these two services, email subscribers will trigger events that email service providers can respond to. It is clear that ActiveCampaign has more options available.

Currently, in ConvertKit, automation cannot be created without triggers. However, services like ThriveCart can choose to trigger automation in ActiveCampaign. Therefore, this is a useful feature currently lacking in ConvertKit. One possible solution is to create an unused registration form.

Convertkit vs ActiveCampaign Conditions

When adding someone to automation, ConvertKit only has the following possible conditions:

  • Tag added
  • Custom field

ActiveCampaign provides your visitors with more advanced options, including:

  • Creation date
  • Tag added
  • Tag deleted
  • Clicked the link
  • Geolocation based on IP address
  • Visited the page
  • Total site visits
  • The time zone of the visitor

For advanced users this is a good thing. But for beginner users, it can also be overwhelming.

Templates

Both ConvertKit and ActiveCampaign have built-in templates to help you create automation.

The pre-made templates of ConvertKit revolve around bloggers. On the other hand, ActiveCampaign has more pre-built templates by itself and third parties. For example, although ConvertKit has no abandoned shopping cart sequences, ActiveCampaign has several available shopping cart sequences.

With ActiveCampaign, you can use its drag and drop feature to create beautiful interactive emails for marketing campaigns and channels. Moreover, they provide a wide selection of email templates for you to choose from, so there is no need to start from scratch. In addition, you can also A/B test your campaign to see which headline is more appropriate.

However, using ConvertKit, no email template is provided. You need to integrate third-party email templates. Similarly, ConvertKit does not provide A/B testing capabilities. Obviously, ActiveCampaign has an advantage here because it not only provides beautiful email templates but also provides A/B testing capabilities.

ActiveCampaign Vs CovertKit Segmentation

Segmentation means meeting the specific needs of the customers by creating more personalized emails. It can help you increase the open rate, click rate, and conversion rate, and reduce unsubscribes.

ConvertKit’s approach method is very simple and clear. After uploading your contacts, you can use tags and subscriber actions (for example, which links they clicked or which products they bought) to segment your audience.

ConvertKit as well allows you to create segments using filters such as name, subscription date, gender, location, and more. You can use “and”, “or” and “not” to include and exclude these filters. For example, you can create a segment of male subscribers who live in the United States and made a purchase in the last month.

In terms of segmentation, ActiveCampaign is more comprehensive than ConvertKit.

With ActiveCampaign, you can create details based on tags, custom fields, data collected through registration forms (age, interest, gender, etc.), and subscriber activities (such as who visits your website, who clicks on your email), or activities, who opened your email, who bought the product, etc.

Convertkit vs ActiveCampaign Analytics

ActiveCampaign has many more reporting features than ConvertKit. Unfortunately, you can’t extend the reporting functions that ConvertKit does offer – even with third-party tools but also because of the service’s lackluster API features.

Tracking and analyzing emails is the best way to ensure you get the maximum return on investment (ROI) from your campaign.

I found that many people are talking about how ConvertKit can provide you with a large number of analysis and reporting tools. However, when I use the service for myself, I can’t find anything.

After setting the sequence, you can understand basic knowledge such as click-through rate, unsubscribe, open rate and subscribers, and nothing more.

In terms of A/B testing, if you want to check the performance of two different emails, you need to enter the “Broadcast” tab, and then turn on the A/B option next to the subject line.

This is the only support you get for split testing, but at least enough to test your subject line. I’m not sure if you can test other content in your content-but if it exists, I can’t find it.

Regarding A/B testing and analysis, ActiveCampaign is more comprehensive.

Starting with split testing, you have two options. You can test form information and email subject lines, or you can test the performance of the entire automated sequence.

ActiveCampaign gives you good control over how standards are implemented-this is very helpful. This feature can bring a lot of value to your business.

In terms of reporting and analysis, ActiveCampaign also provides many features, including the option to track your website visitor engagement and create actionable items. This ensures that you can send the most relevant personal email to the subscriber.

ActiveCampaign eliminates the difficulty of guessing, thus clarifying the needs and needs of the audience. Ultimately, this is all about email analysis.

Convertkit vs ActiveCampaign Integrations

Let’s see which one of ConvertKit or ActiveCampaign provides you with more options in terms of integration.

ConvertKit provides more than 90 integration options, including well-known brands such as Shopify, WordPress, Unbounce, Outgrow, and Wix.

In contrast, ActiveCampaign provides about 300 integrations, far more than ConvertKit.

Using ActiveCampaign, you can connect to almost all popular CRM and e-commerce tools, including Shopify, Facebook, WordPress, Salesforce, Google Analytics, ClickFunnels, Unbounce, WooCommerce, Pipedrive, etc.

Both ConvertKit and ActiveCampaign provideintegration with Zapier, which you can use to connect email marketing software with hundreds of exciting applications and services.

Convertkit vs ActiveCampaign Pricing

I’m talking about the price last because I think the price should be the least important factor when choosing an email service provider. More importantly, you have the functions suitable for your email marketing strategy and the interactions suitable for your workflow.

The pricing of ConvertKit is very simple. And I like how you get all the features, regardless of the pricing plan. Almost all other email marketing tools cannot do this. This means that no matter how much you pay, the experience of using the tool will not change. You only need to pay based on the number of subscribers you have, not for the features you want.

The premium plan has all the features of the free version, as well as reporting options, visualized automated funnels, automated email sequences, integration, APIs, advanced support, and free migration from other tools.

Another advantage is that the pricing of ConvertKit is very easy to understand. Essentially, it has a single plan whose price varies according to the number of subscribers. This means that regardless of the number of users, you will get the same functionality.

Pricing starts at $29 per month (up to 1,000 subscribers), and then increases from there, as follows:

  • $49 per month (up to 3,000 subscribers)
  • At $79 per month, it can accommodate up to 5,000 subscribers.
  • $119 per month for up to 10,000 subscribers
  • $379 per month (up to 55,000 subscribers)
  • $1,279 per month, up to 205,000 subscribers
  • $3,999/month, up to 900,000 subscribers

If you run a large business and have more than 900,000 users, you can contact ConvertKit and get a quote.

Now, let’s compare the features provided by ActiveCampaign.

ActiveCampaign has four pricing plans based on the number of features provided. Of course, as you add more and more subscribers, the price of each package will increase.

  • The following are the starting prices for each plan:
  • Lite plan-$15 per month for 500 contacts
  • Add-on plan-1,000 contacts per month cost $70
  • Professional plan-159 per month, 2500 contacts per month
  • Enterprise plan-279 monthly, 2500 contacts per month

Compared with the previous layer, each layer has some new and advanced functions.

The Lite plan provides unlimited sending, subscription forms, automation, chat, and email support, and supports up to 3 users.

The Plus plan includes not only Lite, but also Facebook custom audiences, lead and contact ratings, integration, SMS marketing, dynamic content, custom user permissions, and supports up to 25 users.

The professional plan provides you with all the functions except Plus, including predictive delivery (gives you the option to email users at the right time), predicted content (send the correct content to the right customers), customer attribution and purchase pathways, winning probability, conversion attribution, reporting, split automation, in-depth onboarding consultation, automated strategy consultation, and support up to 50 users.

Then there is the enterprise plan, which offers all from the professional version, custom reports, custom mail server domains, custom domains, dedicated account representatives, free design services, free social data, phone support, uptime service level agreement (SLA), and all functions including unlimited users.

Undeniably, the starting price of ConvertKit is much higher than the ActiveCampaign. For example, you can start using ActiveCampaign for as low as $9/month (500 contacts per month and billed annually), while ConvertKit’s cheapest plan costs at least $24 per month (1,000 contacts, and Annual payment).

However, as the number of subscribers increases, ConvertKit becomes more economical. For example, ConvertKit charges a monthly fee of $64 for 5,000 subscribers. In comparison, the ActiveCampaign Lite plan costs US$69 per month, the Plus version is US$135/month, the Professional version is US$199/month, and the Enterprise version is US$359/month. Similarly, as the number of subscribers increases, the price difference becomes more obvious.

Another thing worth noting is that ConvertKit’s only paid plan includes almost all the advanced features offered by the company. Cannot be compared with ActiveCampaign’s entry-level plan.

Second, ConvertKit has a pricing plan for 900,000 subscribers on its website. In contrast, if the number of users exceeds 25,000, you need to contact ActiveCampaign to get a quote (the only exception is the company’s Lite package, whose price shows up to 100,000 subscribers on the website).

ActiveCampaign Vs CovertKit – Our Choice

ConvertKit and ActiveCampaign are excellent email marketing tools, but each has its pros and cons. Both provide useful features and have reasonable price plans.

If you are looking for a simple email marketing solution that is easy to use and very suitable for beginners, choose ConvertKit.

ConvertKit promotes itself as the ultimate platform for professional bloggers, YouTube channel owners, and people opening Shopify stores. This tool helps you easily manage subscribers, set up email automation, and manage triggers.

ActiveCampaign currently provides a more powerful and very easy-to-use automation builder, which can be of huge help when you are preparing to create a big campaign even.

The pricing is very transparent and easy to understand, and there are many support options, including DIY guides and articles.

On the other hand, ActiveCampaign is a more powerful tool and provides simple automation features and convenient A/B testing options.

It provides a more comprehensive overall experience and provides more powerful reporting and A/B testing options, as well as an extensive dashboard.

Overall, ActiveCampaign has an advantage over its competitors. It is slightly more expensive than ConvertKit, but its comprehensive feature set can meet a wide range of customer needs.

From the user’s point of view, the heated debate between ConvertKit and ActiveCampaign does go hand in hand. As long as you know what you want, and are willing to pay for it, the decision should be easy!

If your email list is small and you need some basic, simplified automation features in your email marketing platform, then ConvertKit is a good choice. Although it does not have the “resilience” of ActiveCampaign, depending on your needs, you may not even notice the difference.

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