AC
ActiveCampaign4.6/5vsCC
Constant Contact4.2/5ActiveCampaign vs Constant Contact (March 2026)
| ACActiveCampaign | CCConstant Contact | |
|---|---|---|
| Price | $15/mo | $12/mo |
| Rating | 4.6/5 | 4.2/5 |
| Free Tier | ✗ No | ✗ No |
| Best For | Small to mid-market businesses needing integrated marketing automation and CRM, E-commerce companies requiring email marketing with SMS/WhatsApp capabilities | Small businesses starting email campaigns, Nonprofits seeking discounted marketing |
Quick Verdict
ActiveCampaign edges ahead with a 4.6/5 rating versus Constant Contact's 4.2/5, offering stronger value for most teams.
Quick Overview
AC
ActiveCampaign
ActiveCampaign is a cloud-based customer experience automation platform that combines email marketing, marketing automat...
- Best for: Small to mid-market businesses needing integrated marketing automation and CRM, E-commerce companies requiring email marketing with SMS/WhatsApp capabilities
- Starting price: $15/mo
- Category: Email Marketing Software
- Founded: 2003
- Pricing model: subscription
CC
Constant Contact
Constant Contact provides an accessible platform for small businesses to create, send, and track email, SMS, and digital...
- Best for: Small businesses starting email campaigns, Nonprofits seeking discounted marketing
- Starting price: $12/mo
- Category: Email Marketing Software
- Founded: 1996
- Pricing model: subscription
Feature Comparison
| Feature | ActiveCampaign | Constant Contact |
|---|---|---|
| Drag-and-drop email builder | ✓ | ✗ |
| Email automation | ✓ | ✓ |
| Marketing automation | ✓ | ✗ |
| Site tracking | ✓ | ✗ |
| Email segmentation | ✓ | ✗ |
| A/B split testing | ✓ | ✗ |
| Subscription forms | ✓ | ✗ |
| Contact tagging | ✓ | ✗ |
| CRM tools | ✓ | ✗ |
| SMS marketing | ✓ | ✓ |
| WhatsApp messaging | ✓ | ✗ |
| AI-powered automation | ✓ | ✗ |
| Drag-and-drop email editor | ✗ | ✓ |
| AI copy generator | ✗ | ✓ |
| Premade templates | ✗ | ✓ |
| AI-powered branding tools | ✗ | ✓ |
| Contact segmentation | ✗ | ✓ |
| Website builder | ✗ | ✓ |
| GDPR compliance tools | ✗ | ✓ |
| CAN-SPAM compliance | ✗ | ✓ |
| Live 1:1 onboarding | ✗ | ✓ |
| Phone and chat support | ✗ | ✓ |
| Inbox preview | ✗ | ✓ |
| Multi-account management | ✗ | ✓ |
| Mobile-responsive designs | ✗ | ✓ |
Pricing Comparison
Prices last verified: March 16, 2026
ActiveCampaign
$15/mo
Starting price
subscription · 4 plans
Lite
$15/moPlusPopular
$70/moProfessional
$159/moEnterprise
$279/moConstant Contact
$12/mo
Starting price
subscription · 3 plans
Lite
$12/moStandardPopular
$35/moPremium
$80/moPros & Cons
ActiveCampaign
Pros
- Unified platform combining email, marketing automation, CRM, and messaging
- Powerful automation capabilities with site tracking and behavioral triggers
- User-friendly drag-and-drop email builder accessible to non-technical users
- Extensive global reach with 180,000+ customers across 170+ countries
Cons
- Pricing based on contact count can become expensive as database grows
- Limited pricing transparency in public materials
- Complex feature set may have learning curve for beginners
- Enterprise plan requires custom negotiation with sales team
Constant Contact
Pros
- Easy-to-use drag-and-drop editor for quick campaigns
- Award-winning support including phone, onboarding, and tutorials
- Strong templates and AI tools for non-designers
- Mobile-responsive designs and compliance features
Cons
- Pricing scales up with contacts/sends, plus overage fees
- SMS as $10/month add-on (not core included)
- Limited sites/users in Lite plan
- Custom pricing required for enterprises/multi-locations
Which Is Best for You?
AC
Choose ActiveCampaign if:
- Small to mid-market businesses needing integrated marketing automation and CRM
- E-commerce companies requiring email marketing with SMS/WhatsApp capabilities
- Sales teams automating lead nurturing and follow-up workflows
- Companies seeking AI-powered autonomous marketing solutions
- Higher user rating matters to you (4.6 vs 4.2)
CC
Choose Constant Contact if:
- Small businesses starting email campaigns
- Nonprofits seeking discounted marketing
- Agencies/franchises needing multi-account control
- Retailers converting social/website traffic
- Budget is a priority ($12 vs $15)
Our Verdict
🏆
ACActiveCampaign — WinnerCCConstant Contact — Runner-up
After thorough analysis, ActiveCampaign takes the lead in this comparison with a higher rating of 4.6/5 versus Constant Contact's 4.2/5.
ActiveCampaign is best for Small to mid-market businesses needing integrated marketing automation and CRM and E-commerce companies requiring email marketing with SMS/WhatsApp capabilities. Unified platform combining email, marketing automation, CRM, and messaging.
Constant Contact remains a strong alternative, especially for Small businesses starting email campaigns and Nonprofits seeking discounted marketing. Easy-to-use drag-and-drop editor for quick campaigns.
Pricing-wise, Constant Contact is the more affordable starting option. Evaluate free trials of both before committing.
Explore More
ActiveCampaign Alternatives
Constant Contact Alternatives
Frequently Asked Questions
ActiveCampaign edges ahead with a 4.6/5 rating versus Constant Contact's 4.2/5, offering stronger value for most teams.
Constant Contact starts at $12/mo, while ActiveCampaign starts at $15/mo.
Yes. Most users can migrate data between the two. Check both platforms for import/export tools before switching.
ActiveCampaign integrates with Shopify, WooCommerce, Salesforce, WordPress. Constant Contact integrates with Square, Xero, Social Media Platforms, Website Builders. Both offer solid third-party connectivity, though the best choice depends on your existing tech stack.
Both tools are designed for ease of use. ActiveCampaign is best for Small to mid-market businesses needing integrated marketing automation and CRM and E-commerce companies requiring email marketing with SMS/WhatsApp capabilities, while Constant Contact excels for Small businesses starting email campaigns and Nonprofits seeking discounted marketing. Consider trying both free trials to judge which interface suits your workflow.
ActiveCampaign has a 4.6/5 rating from 2,847 reviews, while Constant Contact scores 4.2/5 from 2,847 reviews. Higher review counts generally indicate a more established support ecosystem.
For small businesses, Constant Contact may be more budget-friendly starting at $12/mo. However, ActiveCampaign ($15/mo) could offer better value depending on the features you need most.
For enterprise use, consider which offers more advanced plans. ActiveCampaign has 4 plans while Constant Contact has 3 plans. Evaluate each tool's enterprise features, security compliance, and team management capabilities before committing.
Check each tool's website for the latest mobile app availability. Both ActiveCampaign and Constant Contact offer web-based access, and many modern SaaS tools provide companion mobile apps for iOS and Android.
Choose ActiveCampaign if you prioritize unified platform combining email, marketing automation, crm, and messaging. Choose Constant Contact if you value easy-to-use drag-and-drop editor for quick campaigns.