The verdict
On the data we hold, it's close: neither pulls ahead on features, a free plan or AI access. The choice comes down to how you work.
What the data says
- iContact starts lower, at $7.67/mo against $15/mo.
- Both have an API and an MCP server, so either works with AI employees.
- In our Marketing automation ranking, ActiveCampaign places 3 and iContact 10 of 13.
Side by side
| At a glance | ICiContact | |
|---|---|---|
| Starts at | $15/mo | $7.67/mo |
| Free plan | No | No |
| API | Yes | Yes |
| MCP server | Yes | Yes |
| Links |
Plans and pricing
ActiveCampaign
- StarterEmail marketing plan with multi-step automation; price is for 1,000 contacts and rises with contact count.$15/mo
- PlusAdds more automation, CRM add-on option and landing-page design service; price is for 1,000 contacts.$49/mo
- ProMid-tier plan with 3 users; price is for 1,000 contacts and rises with contact count.$79/mo
- EnterpriseFive users and 15x monthly email sends per contact; price is for 1,000 contacts and rises with contact count.$145/mo
IC
iContact
- Standardsolo marketers under 2,500 contacts$9/mo
- Premiumteams needing A/B testing and social posting$16/mo
Prices as the vendors list them. They change often; the final price is on their sites.
Who each is for
Choose ActiveCampaign if…
Small and B2B teams that want behaviour-triggered email, SMS and a built-in CRM in one tool, and accept that the CRM side can be outgrown.
Other options worth a look
- Tool·Client acquisitionSMS, RCS and email retention marketing for Shopify stores, with flows, opt-in tools and per-message pricing.
Marketing automation
From $100/moFree plan - METool·Client acquisitionAdobe's enterprise marketing automation for lead nurturing, scoring and campaign reporting, tied into your CRM.
Marketing automation
Tool·Client acquisitionConsolidates customer management, email marketing, sales pipelines and invoicing into one system for small businesses.Marketing automation
From $249/mo yearlyAffiliate link- Tool·Client acquisitionEmail, SMS and web push marketing for online stores, with ready-made automations and a free plan to start.
Marketing automation
From $16/moFree planAffiliate link - P(Tool·Client acquisitionSalesforce's B2B marketing automation for lead generation, scoring, nurture and sales alignment on top of the CRM.
Marketing automation
From €1,250/mo yearly - GITool·Client acquisitionCombines AI-powered email marketing with landing pages, webinars, and ecommerce tools to automate customer journeys and nurture leads.
Marketing automation
From $15.58/mo yearlyFree plan