ActiveCampaign
Marketing automation for growing businesses
Substack
Start a newsletter. Build your community.
ActiveCampaign vs Substack Comparison
Compare ActiveCampaign and Substack side-by-side — pricing, features, scores, and which one is right for you.
The bottom line
ActiveCampaign and Substack are both strong contenders in the email marketing space, but they serve different needs. ActiveCampaign edges ahead with an overall score of 85/100 compared to Substack's 58/100. Substack is easier to get started with (10/10 for ease of use vs 7/10). On pricing, Substack offers a free tier while ActiveCampaign requires a paid plan from $29/mo. ActiveCampaign rates higher for value for money (8/10 vs 7/10), making it a better pick if budget is a concern.
At a glance
| ActiveCampaign | Substack | |
|---|---|---|
| Our score | 85/100 | 58/100 |
| Starting price | $29/mo | Free |
| Free tier | No | Yes |
| Best for | Marketing automation for growing businesses | Start a newsletter. Build your community. |
Pricing comparison
ActiveCampaign
No free tier
Starter$29/mo
Plus$49/mo
Pro$149/mo
Pricing verified 2026-03-16
Substack
Free tier available
FreeFree
Pricing verified 2026-03-16
Feature comparison
core
| Feature | ActiveCampaign | Substack |
|---|---|---|
| Email builder | Yes | Basic |
| Automation | Yes | No |
| A/B testing | Yes | No |
| Landing pages | Yes | Yes |
| Signup forms | Yes | Yes |
advanced
| Feature | ActiveCampaign | Substack |
|---|---|---|
| SMS marketing | Yes | No |
| Social posting | No | No |
| CRM | Yes | No |
| Predictive analytics | Yes | No |
integrations
| Feature | ActiveCampaign | Substack |
|---|---|---|
| Shopify | Yes | No |
| WordPress | Yes | No |
| Zapier | Yes | No |
| Salesforce | Yes | No |
Ratings breakdown
ActiveCampaign
Ease of use7/10
Value for money8/10
Features9/10
Support8/10
Substack
Ease of use10/10
Value for money7/10
Features3/10
Support4/10
Choose ActiveCampaign if...
- You're ready to invest from $29/mo
- You value powerful features over simplicity
- Getting strong value for money is a priority
Choose Substack if...
- You want a free tier to get started
- You value an intuitive, easy-to-use interface
- You need enterprise-grade capabilities
