Google tells us that ActiveCampaign will get, on common, double the hits when in comparison with ConvertKit.
However does that imply it’s truly a greater e mail advertising and marketing service? I’m going to make use of this ConvertKit vs ActiveCampaign assessment to dissect every thing from ease of use and worth all the best way to deliverability.
Desk of Contents
ConvertKit vs ActiveCampaign: Abstract
Are you able to delve into this face to face? Let’s get caught in!
Ease of Use & Editor
You’d be shocked how a lot time you possibly can waste attending to grips with a brand new e mail advertising and marketing device. That’s why we have a look at ease of use earlier than anything. In case you’re new to e mail advertising and marketing, you’ll little question recognize a shallow studying curve and a simple to navigate interface.
Although each of those instruments have a well-designed backend, it’s barely simpler to find what you want in ConvertKit’s menu. It’s not that ActiveCampaign’s interface is badly designed, it simply has fairly just a few extra choices than ConvertKit. In case you’re simply beginning out or not going to make use of all of the options, this is usually a little overwhelming.
When it comes to the editor, ActiveCampaign beats ConvertKit fingers down; the drag & drop editor takes no time to grasp, and for those who want any assist then you’ve got some useful tooltips that pop-up once you hover over a selected component.
With ActiveCampaign, you’ve got the power to avoid wasting customized ‘blocks’ to reuse subsequent time, and you may as well see adjustments different individuals have made, Google Docs-style. The one factor that’s barely annoying is that it autosaves each little change, so if it is advisable to undo one thing you probably did a couple of minutes in the past, you’ll end up clicking again via tons of adjustments.
ActiveCampaign e mail editor
The enjoyment of utilizing a drag & drop e mail editor is that it makes it tremendous straightforward to create a handsome e mail with out having to jot down a single line of code, and this may be very interesting for small companies with few assets.
ConvertKit e mail editor
ConvertKit takes a barely completely different strategy, with its overly simplified editor. In truth, it truly has two editors: a plain-text editor and a newly up to date one with just a few extra content material choices. Nonetheless, neither of those facilitate the creation of visible emails on account of an absence of formatting choices and interactivity (i.e. it lacks a drag & drop editor).
The few templates which might be out there (that are extra like design themes than templates) are very hidden. It’s fairly probably that you just’ll have to mess around with the code with a view to get the e-mail trying the way you’d like.
After all, if all you wish to do is ship out plain-text emails, then it’s very easy.
Winner: Contemplating ConvertKit’s shortcomings on the subject of the interface and editor, I’m going to begin off this comparability by awarding a degree to ActiveCamapign 1-0.
Design & Flexibility
As I discussed above, ConvertKit has simply 3 templates and they’re actually very fundamental, in truth, one in all them is ‘textual content solely’ in order that leaves simply 2 templates.
Picture grouping and column-based layouts are merely not potential, which enormously limits what you are able to do with reference to creating visible content material. That is ironic as a result of ConvertKit closely markets its product in the direction of younger creatives.
ConvertKit templates
What you are able to do is code your e mail template within the HTML editor – it is a good characteristic to have for extra superior entrepreneurs and tech-savvy creatives however actually wants to enhance a extra beginner-friendly possibility, in my view.
ActiveCampaign, alternatively, has round 125+ fashionable, responsive templates to select from and also you even have the choice to code sections or your whole e mail in HTML. The designs aren’t unhealthy and it’s pretty straightforward to adapt them to your organization’s branding.
ActiveCampaign e mail templates
Plus plans and above have entry to ActiveCampaign’s free e mail design service, that means that somebody will create a branded e mail template so that you can use.
Winner: Resulting from ConvertKit’s limitations, and ActiveCampaigns big selection of well-designed templates, that is one other clear win for ActiveCampaign! 2-0.
Electronic mail Automations
We give ActiveCampaign 5 stars for automation. It actually does supply some of the highly effective options and makes it fairly straightforward for the person by providing loads of templates and a visible flow-chart-style editor.
ActiveCampaign’s automation workflow editor
Arrange follow-up campaigns, deserted cart emails, robotically tag subscribers once they carry out a selected motion – there are not any limits to what you are able to do with ActiveCampaign! Having so many choices may all sound a bit overwhelming nevertheless it’s truly very straightforward to arrange and handle.
ConvertKit’s versatile tagging and segmentation system imply you can run extremely centered automated campaigns to very particular teams of contacts, for instance, once they click on on a hyperlink or join through a kind. You may as well use easy if/then conditional guidelines and date-based triggers.
ConvertKit automation workflow editor
The automation workflow editor can also be very straightforward to make use of, as every thing is completed contained in the automation editor itself, for instance, once you add an e mail or kind to your workflow you possibly can edit it inline, fairly than having to go away the editor.
Winner: Although ConvertKit’s automations are respectable, they’re nonetheless no match for ActiveCampaign’s superior automation choices. 3-0 to ActiveCampaign.
Registration Varieties
Each ActiveCampaign and ConvertKit supply 4 kind varieties to select from, although keep in mind that ActiveCampaign’s Lite plan consists of solely the inline kind show.
ConvertKit kind templates
ConvertKit has quite a few fashionable templates to select from, whereas ActiveCampaign doesn’t supply templates, as an alternative, you’ll have to type the shape utilizing the formatting opinions.
The plus of getting ready-made templates is that there’s much less give you the results you want, nonetheless, you’ll discover that you’ve got fewer customization choices with ConvertKit, and a few may discover this inhibits them.
In truth, if you wish to add a customized subject, you’ll have to return out of the editor and go right into a buyer profile – not the only method of doing issues in my view. ActiveCampaign, alternatively, presents an entire host of customized fields.
ActiveCampaign’s kind builder
Winner: ConvertKit is an effective possibility for fundamental sign-up varieties, nonetheless, it’s missing on the subject of customization choices. For that motive, we’re giving ActiveCampaign the purpose right here. 4-0
Spam & Design Testing
ConvertKit doesn’t do spam or design testing. The one factor it presents is a preview device that allows you to view emails as particular person subscribers would.
ActiveCampaign’s spam testing is solely a ‘move’ or ‘fail’ with out a lot rationalization to assist perceive the ruling. You possibly can preview your e mail on numerous purchasers, nonetheless, you’ll be charged $1 per take a look at/consumer.
Winner: Although neither of the suppliers wowed me on this spherical, I’m going to have to offer the purpose to ActiveCampaign on account of ConvertKit’s lack of choices right here. 5-0
Reporting
ActiveCampaign is within the lead with 5 factors to 1, and spoiler alert, ConvertKit shouldn’t be about to convey it again with its reporting options I’m afraid.
With it solely displaying the open, click-through and unsubscribe price, ConvertKit’s reporting is fairly fundamental. What I’d prefer to see are social media and ecommerce conversions, and likewise the bounce-rate!
ConvertKit’s reporting
You received’t be wanting insights with ActiveCampaign; you’ll be capable to delve into opens, click-maps, web page visits, geo-tracking, and extra. If in case you have an internet retailer on a platform resembling Shopify, BigCommerce or WooCommerce, experiences are additionally out there on the Plus plan and better.
ActiveCampaign additionally comes with a CRM, that means that, along with e mail and automation reporting, you’ll have entry to deal reporting and gross sales efficiency metrics, in addition to forecasts.
Winner: You’ve guessed it! ActiveCampaign luggage itself one other level with its wonderful reporting options, taking the scores to 6-0!
Deliverability
It’s crucial that the e-mail device you choose has good deliverability, in any other case all of your efforts main as much as sending your marketing campaign could have been for nothing.
We’ve been monitoring the deliverability of the suppliers we assessment for quite a few years.
Listed here are the typical figures of how they carried out in our final 3 rounds of bi-annual deliverability assessments (Mar 2021 – Apr 2022):
| CONVERTKIT | ACTIVECAMPAIGN | |
|---|---|---|
| Total Deliverability Fee | 93 | 91 |
Total, ActiveCampaign has an excellent monitor report (scoring within the nineties). You’ll see it has a good sender rating and noticed fewer emails find yourself in spam in comparison with ConverKit. That mentioned, ConvertKit has carried out very properly in our current assessments!
Winner: Each instruments clearly make investments assets into sustaining wonderful deliverability charges, a degree every! 7-1.
Integrations & Extras
ConvertKit has near 90 integrations to all kinds of instruments and functions, together with all the large names: Wix, WordPress, Shopify, Stripe and so forth. It additionally connects with Zapier, if it is advisable to combine with a device that isn’t on their listing. This can be the case for these wanting to attach their CRM, as ConvertKit doesn’t actually cowl this space, which is sort of a shock.
If you wish to construct an integration via an API, ConvertKit has loads of documentation on how.
ActiveCampaign gives integrations with over 250 apps, that means you’ll most certainly discover what you’re searching for. It additionally integrates with Zapier and makes constructing an API a easy affair.
Discover out why each ActiveCampaign and ConvertKit are listed as two of the perfect e mail advertising and marketing instruments for Shopify.
Winner: On the finish of the day, it comes all the way down to amount and selection. ActiveCampaign luggage yet one more level, taking the scores to 8-1.
Help
Each ConvertKit and ActiveCampaign have respectable help, which you’ll be able to entry through e mail and reside chat, with data bases and tutorials additionally out there.
ActiveCampaign additionally gives 3 one-on-one coaching classes with its Skilled plan, and there’s a group discussion board the place you may get in contact with different customers.
To be sincere, this spherical is fairly neck and neck as I can’t fault both of them.
Winner: I believe every deserves a degree right here! 9-2.
Costs
ConvertKit and ActiveCampaign are actually on the upper finish of the spectrum, however which comes out cheaper and are the upper worth tags warranted? Let’s check out their lowest-level plans to match:
| ConvertKit | ActiveCampaign | |
|---|---|---|
| Free plan | As much as 1,000 subscribers | No free plan out there |
| 300 subscribers | $15 month-to-month | $15 a month (as much as 500 subscribers) |
| 1,000 subscribers | $29 month-to-month | $29 a month |
| 5,000 subscribers | $79 month-to-month | $99 a month |
| 10,000 subscribers | $119 month-to-month | $155 a month |
| 50,000 subscribers | $379 month-to-month | $345 a month |
| 100,000 subscribers | $679 month-to-month | $505 a month |
As you possibly can see, ActiveCampaign is barely dearer than ConvertKit, nonetheless, when you think about that ConvertKit has did not beat ActiveCampaign in a single spherical, one may say that ConvertKit’s service was overpriced and ActiveCampaign’s pricing was fairly truthful.
Sure, ConvertKit presents a free plan, nonetheless, that is very restricted because it doesn’t embrace automation, autoresponders or experiences.
In case you’re in want of superior options and might afford to pay a little bit extra in your e mail advertising and marketing service then I’d positively suggest utilizing ActiveCampaign. The automations will prevent a ton of time and little question assist to spice up income.
That mentioned, for those who’re searching for a extra inexpensive service or wish to begin off with a free plan, you may wish to have a look at Sendinblue or MailerLite.
Winner: Regardless of ActiveCampaign’s barely greater costs, the truth that it presents a significantly better service implies that it takes the purpose for pricing. ConvertKit’s poor efficiency actually doesn’t warrant its excessive costs.
Remaining rating: 10-2 to ActiveCampaign
