ClickFunnels vs ActiveCampaign ( Which Should You Use?)
ClickFunnels vs ActiveCampaign ( Which Should You Use?)
Riley Walz
Riley Walz
Riley Walz
Jan 18, 2025
Jan 18, 2025
Jan 18, 2025
In a world where rapid changes in technology and consumer preferences can shift the effectiveness of our marketing strategies overnight, it’s critical to find the right tools to help you adapt and succeed. A good marketing automation platform is one of the first tools many businesses invest in to help them achieve their marketing goals.
Marketing automation tools can help take the manual labor out of marketing so you can focus your time and energy on more high-level tasks that will grow your business. When looking for the right marketing automation guide tool for your business, there are a lot of choices. This guide explores ClickFunnels vs. ActiveCampaign to help you know which tool might be best for your business.
Numerous offer a solution to help you navigate the decision-making process. Our spreadsheet AI tool can help you set up an easy-to-read comparison chart to help you identify the similarities and differences between ClickFunnels and ActiveCampaign so you can choose the right platform for your business’s goals.
Table Of Contents
What is ClickFunnels?
ClickFunnels is a powerful, comprehensive sales funnel builder that simplifies converting prospects into paying customers. Unlike traditional website builders, ClickFunnels focuses entirely on creating optimized pathways—or funnels—that guide potential customers through the buyer’s journey, from initial interest to final purchase.
It’s a go-to platform for entrepreneurs, small businesses, eCommerce stores, and marketers who want to create high-converting sales processes without needing technical expertise or relying on multiple tools. By integrating tools like landing page creation, payment processing, and email follow-ups into a single platform, ClickFunnels eliminates the need for businesses to juggle multiple software systems.
What Makes ClickFunnels Stand Out from Other Sales Funnel Software?
All-in-One Solution
ClickFunnels provides every tool necessary for building and optimizing sales funnels, including landing pages, order forms, upsell/downsell features, and email automation.
User-Friendly Interface
Designed for beginners and experts alike, its drag-and-drop functionality allows users to build professional funnels quickly.
High-Converting Templates
ClickFunnels provides pre-designed templates for various funnel types, ensuring businesses can start quickly and with proven results.
ClickFunnels’ Key Features: What Can You Do with the Software?
1. Drag-and-Drop Funnel Builder
ClickFunnels transforms how businesses design sales processes by offering a visual drag-and-drop funnel builder.
Ease of Use: Users can create professional funnels without coding or design experience.
Customizable Elements: Add text, images, videos, and forms to pages effortlessly.
Real-Time Editing: Make adjustments and instantly preview how your funnel looks and functions.
This feature is ideal for entrepreneurs focusing on conversions rather than technical intricacies.
2. Pre-Built Funnel Templates
ClickFunnels eliminates the guesswork in funnel creation by providing high-converting templates tailored for specific purposes.
Template Variety: Choose from templates for lead generation, webinar registrations, product launches, and membership sites.
Proven Effectiveness: These templates are designed with conversion principles in mind, ensuring users achieve maximum results.
Quick Start: Save time by customizing templates instead of building funnels from scratch.
For example, if you’re launching a new course, you can select a pre-built template optimized for webinar sign-ups and product sales.
3. Upsell and Downsell Automation
One of the standout features of ClickFunnels is its ability to maximize revenue through upselling and downselling techniques.
Upsells: Offer customers a premium version or complementary product after their initial purchase.
Downsells: Provide a lower-cost alternative if a customer declines an upsell.
Customizable Flow: Easily add upsell/downsell steps to any funnel, increasing customer lifetime value without complicating the buying process.
For example, if a customer buys a fitness program, you could upsell them on personalized coaching sessions or a premium nutrition plan.
4. Membership Site Builder
ClickFunnels allows businesses to create and manage exclusive membership sites.
Secure Access: Give members gated access to content such as courses, eBooks, or premium services.
Automated Management: Easily manage subscriptions, cancellations, and member communications.
Customization: Design membership portals to reflect your brand and offer a smooth user experience.
This is especially beneficial for online educators, fitness trainers, or coaches looking to build a loyal community.
5. Payment Gateway Integration
Simplify transactions by integrating ClickFunnels with popular payment gateways like PayPal, Stripe, or Authorize.net.
Smooth Checkout Experience: Customers can complete purchases directly within the funnel.
Multi-Currency Support: Sell products and services globally by accepting multiple currencies.
Secure Transactions: Ensure customer data is protected with industry-standard encryption.
ClickFunnels Pricing Plans
ClickFunnels offers two main pricing tiers to cater to different business needs:
1. Startup Plan: $81/month
Target Audience: Ideal for solopreneurs or small businesses starting their sales funnel journey.
Key Features: 3 Brand Workspaces. 3 Team Members. Unlimited Funnels, Courses, Members, and Contacts. Unlimited Pages and Domains.
Billing Options: $81/month when billed annually, saving users $194/year.
2. Pro Plan: $248/month
Target Audience: Designed for larger teams or businesses scaling their sales processes.
Key Features: 10 Brand Workspaces. 10 Team Members. Unlimited Funnels, Courses, Members, Contacts, Pages, and Domains.
Billing Options: $248/month when billed annually, saving users $594/year.
Who Should Use ClickFunnels?
ClickFunnels is best suited for
Entrepreneurs: Individuals looking to build automated sales funnels to maximize conversions.
Ecommerce Businesses: Stores aiming to increase average order value through upsells and downsells.
Coaches and Course Creators: Professionals selling memberships or digital courses who need streamlined funnel management.
Marketers: Agencies and freelancers managing campaigns for multiple clients.
ClickFunnels Advantages and Disadvantages
Advantages of ClickFunnels
Comprehensive Platform: All the essential tools for creating a sales funnel in one place.
Ease of Use: Beginner-friendly interface with drag-and-drop functionality.
Proven Templates: Templates designed to drive results without needing marketing expertise.
Automation: Includes tools for follow-ups, upselling, and customer management.
Disadvantages of ClickFunnels
Limited Email Capabilities: Requires integration with external email marketing tools for advanced campaigns.
Pricing: Higher cost compared to standalone funnel or email tools.
Related Reading
• Marketing Automation Tools
• Benefits of Marketing Automation
• Marketing Automation for Small Businesses
• Marketing Tasks
What is ActiveCampaign?
ActiveCampaign: The Customer Experience Automation Platform
ActiveCampaign is a comprehensive customer experience automation (CXA) platform designed to help businesses connect with their audiences through personalized marketing and sales automation.
Unlike tools focused solely on email marketing or CRM, ActiveCampaign integrates these functionalities into a single platform, allowing businesses to deliver targeted campaigns, nurture customer relationships, and drive conversions.
With its emphasis on data-driven strategies, ActiveCampaign is ideal for companies aiming to engage customers across multiple channels, including email, SMS, and social media. Its advanced segmentation and automation capabilities make it particularly powerful for scaling customer experiences.
What are the key features of ActiveCampaign?
ActiveCampaign has features to help organize, automate, and improve your marketing efforts. Its most notable tools include:
Email Marketing and Automation
ActiveCampaign’s email marketing capabilities are exceptionally robust. You can create email campaigns tailored to user behavior, demographics, or preferences. Set up multi-step email sequences triggered by specific actions, such as signing up for a newsletter or abandoning a cart. To optimize campaign performance, you can even A/B test subject lines, email content, or call-to-action buttons. For example, you can automatically send a follow-up email offering a discount when a lead hasn’t converted within seven days.
Customer Relationship Management (CRM)
ActiveCampaign includes a built-in CRM to manage sales pipelines and track customer interactions. Users can monitor how prospects engage with your brand across various touchpoints. Visualize the sales process, assign tasks, and efficiently move leads through the funnel. You can automate follow-ups or updates based on deal stage changes. For instance, a lead who downloads a whitepaper is automatically assigned to a salesperson for follow-up based on their engagement score.
Advanced Segmentation and Personalization
ActiveCampaign enables businesses to segment their audience precisely, ensuring highly targeted marketing efforts. Create segments based on purchase history, website visits, email engagement, or location. Personalize email content dynamically to reflect user preferences or behaviors. Monitor how users interact with your website or app and tailor campaigns accordingly. For example, a SaaS company can send one email to users still in their free trial and a different one to paid subscribers, all within the same campaign.
Multi-Channel Marketing
ActiveCampaign supports outreach across multiple platforms, ensuring businesses can engage customers wherever they are. Send timely text messages to drive engagement or remind users of upcoming events. Use personalized pop-ups or messages on your website to entertain visitors. With ActiveCampaign, you can even automate audience engagement on social media platforms like Facebook or Twitter. For example, send an SMS reminder about an abandoned cart and follow up with an email offering a discount code.
Analytics and Reporting
Detailed insights and metrics allow businesses to measure campaign success and identify areas for improvement: track open rates, click-through rates, and conversion rates. Analyze the performance of automation workflows to identify bottlenecks. Measure the return on investment for specific campaigns—for instance, view which emails drive the most sales and adjust campaigns accordingly.
What are the ActiveCampaign pricing plans?
ActiveCampaign offers four pricing tiers to cater to different business sizes and needs.
1. Starter Plan: Starts at $15/month
Target Audience
Small businesses or startups new to email marketing and automation.
Features Included
Basic email marketing capabilities.
Simple automation workflows.
Contact and lead management.
Ideal For
Businesses that want to get started with personalized campaigns without a large budget.
2. Plus Plan: Starts at $49/month
Target Audience
Growing businesses requiring advanced automation and customer insights.
Features Included
Enhanced automation workflows with triggers and conditions.
Advanced email segmentation.
Sales pipeline and CRM integration.
Ideal For
Businesses looking to expand their customer engagement strategies.
3. Pro Plan: Starts at $79/month
Target Audience
Businesses are scaling their marketing automation across multiple channels.
Features Included
Full omnichannel marketing automation (email, SMS, social media).
Advanced behavioral tracking and predictive segmentation.
Custom reporting and ROI tracking.
Ideal For
Companies aiming for robust marketing strategies and multi-channel outreach.
4. Enterprise Plan: Starts at $145/month
Target Audience
Large-scale businesses managing high-volume campaigns.
Features Included
Enterprise-level support, including a dedicated account manager.
Custom API integrations and unlimited team members.
Advanced customization options for marketing and CRM workflows.
Ideal For
Enterprises require scalability and dedicated resources to manage campaigns.
Who should use ActiveCampaign?
ActiveCampaign is best suited for
Small to Medium Businesses (SMBs): Businesses need advanced automation tools to engage with customers effectively.
SaaS Companies: Ideal for managing customer lifecycles, from lead generation to subscription renewal.
Ecommerce Businesses: Leverages behavioral tracking and segmentation to deliver personalized recommendations and boost sales.
Agencies: Marketing agencies managing multiple campaigns for various clients.
What are the advantages and disadvantages of ActiveCampaign?
Advantages of ActiveCampaign
Powerful Automation: Enables complex workflows with minimal manual effort.
Scalable: Grows with your business, offering solutions for both small startups and large enterprises.
Comprehensive Features: Combines CRM, email marketing, and multi-channel engagement in one platform.
Disadvantages of ActiveCampaign
Learning Curve: More complex than more straightforward tools like Mailchimp or ConvertKit.
Pricing: While affordable for small businesses, advanced features can become costly for more extensive campaigns.
Numerous is an AI-Powered tool that enables content marketers, Ecommerce businesses, and more to do tasks many times over through AI, like writing SEO blog posts, generating hashtags, mass categorizing products with sentiment analysis and classification, and many more things by simply dragging down a cell in a spreadsheet.
With a simple prompt, Numerous returns any spreadsheet function, simple or complex, within seconds. The capabilities of Numerous are endless. It is versatile and can be used with Microsoft Excel and Google Sheets. Get started today with Numerous.ai so that you can make business decisions at scale using AI in both Google Sheets and Microsoft Excel. Learn more about how you can 10x your marketing efforts with Numerous’s ChatGPT for spreadsheets tool.
Related Reading
• Marketing Automation for Agencies
• Marketing Automation Tools for Small Businesses
• Marketing Automation Process Flow
• SEO Marketing Automation
• Marketing Automation as a Service
ClickFunnels vs. ActiveCampaign
Feature Comparison: ClickFunnels vs ActiveCampaign
Funnel and Landing Page Building
ClickFunnels stands out as a funnel-building platform, allowing users to create landing pages and sales funnels to optimize the sales process. The software comes with a drag-and-drop editor for easy page creation, pre-built templates optimized for conversions, and upsell and downsell features for maximizing revenue. ActiveCampaign also provides landing page functionality but with limited customization compared to ClickFunnels. The tool is designed more for supporting marketing campaigns than dedicated funnel creation and is best suited for forms and basic landing pages tied to email campaigns.
Email Marketing and Automation
ClickFunnels includes basic email marketing capabilities as part of its funnel workflows. The software focuses on transactional emails tied to specific funnel events, such as cart abandonment or lead follow-ups. This makes ClickFunnels suitable for straightforward email sequences. ActiveCampaign, on the other hand, is known for its advanced email marketing and automation capabilities. The platform offers robust personalization, A/B testing, segmentation, and visual automation workflows that allow businesses to map out complex customer journeys.
CRM and Lead Management
ClickFunnels includes a built-in CRM focused on tracking leads within funnels. While this helps businesses manage leads and their activities, ClickFunnels lacks advanced lead scoring and segmentation capabilities. This makes the software best for businesses prioritizing funnel-centric lead management. ActiveCampaign features a fully integrated CRM system with advanced lead scoring and segmentation. The tool allows for detailed pipeline management, deal tracking, and task automation, making it ideal for businesses with complex customer management needs.
Multi-Channel Marketing
ClickFunnels primarily focuses on sales funnels and landing pages, so it doesn’t include native SMS or social media marketing features. In contrast, ActiveCampaign supports multi-channel engagement through email, SMS, and social media. The software enables businesses to automate interactions across different platforms for cohesive marketing strategies.
Analytics and Reporting
ClickFunnels includes funnel-specific metrics such as conversion rates and revenue tracking. The software focuses on measuring the performance of individual funnel steps. ActiveCampaign provides detailed analytics for email campaigns, customer engagement, and automation workflows. The tool offers advanced ROI tracking and predictive analytics for marketing strategies.
G2 Ratings for ClickFunnels and ActiveCampaign
Funnel and Landing Page Building
ClickFunnels: 8.9 for landing pages and forms.
ActiveCampaign: 7.4 for landing page functionality.
Email Marketing and Automation
ClickFunnels: 8.2 for automated email responses.
ActiveCampaign: 8.9, reflecting superior email marketing capabilities.
CRM and Lead Management
ClickFunnels: Scores 7.6 for lead nurturing and 6.8 for segmentation.
ActiveCampaign: Outperforms with 8.6 in both lead nurturing and segmentation.
Ease of Use
ClickFunnels: 9.0 for drag-and-drop customization, highlighting its beginner-friendly interface.
ActiveCampaign: 8.2, slightly less intuitive due to its advanced features.
Customer Support
Both platforms: Score 8.6, indicating strong customer service and support capabilities.
Conclusion of Comparison
Both ClickFunnels and ActiveCampaign excel in different areas. ClickFunnels is perfect for businesses prioritizing funnel creation and quick conversions. ActiveCampaign is ideal for long-term customer engagement and detailed marketing automation.
Release Your Marketing Potential With AI-Powered Numerous
Numerous is an AI-powered tool that helps marketers and business owners make decisions at scale using artificial intelligence. Numerous can help you optimize your marketing efforts by writing SEO blog posts or mass categorizing products. Get started today with Numerous.ai and learn how to 10x your marketing efforts with Numerous’s ChatGPT for spreadsheets tool.
Which Should You Use?
What to Think About When Choosing Between ClickFunnels and ActiveCampaign
ClickFunnels and ActiveCampaign have different strengths, weaknesses, and use cases. Consider the following factors to determine which marketing automation platform fits your business needs best.
Your Business Goals
Before choosing between ClickFunnels and ActiveCampaign, it's vital to consider your primary business goals. ClickFunnels is best if your main objective is to create high-converting sales funnels and landing pages to drive direct sales or leads. ActiveCampaign is ideal if you aim to build long-term customer relationships through email marketing, automation, and CRM strategies.
The Nature of Your Business
It’s also essential to think about the nature of your business. ClickFunnels is suited for entrepreneurs, eCommerce stores, and coaches who want a fast and efficient way to guide prospects through the buyer’s journey. ActiveCampaign, on the other hand, is designed for SaaS companies, SMBs, and service-based businesses that prioritize nurturing leads and engaging with customers across multiple touchpoints.
Budget and Resources
Pricing is a crucial consideration when selecting between ClickFunnels and ActiveCampaign. ClickFunnels starts at $81/month, with more advanced features at $248/month. This is a higher starting cost but includes unlimited funnels and courses. ActiveCampaign, in comparison, starts at $15/month, scaling up to $145/month for enterprise-level features. It offers a more budget-friendly entry point, especially for businesses focused on email marketing.
Technical Expertise
Technical expertise is another key factor in determining whether ClickFunnels or ActiveCampaign is better for your business. ClickFunnels is known for its intuitive drag-and-drop editor, making it easy for beginners to create professional-looking funnels and pages. ActiveCampaign, while powerful, has a steeper learning curve due to its advanced features like CRM integration and multi-channel automation.
When to Choose ClickFunnels
Use ClickFunnels if:
Your Business Prioritizes Quick Conversions
ClickFunnels is built to drive sales with optimized funnels that guide users smoothly from awareness to purchase.
You Need Simplified Funnel Building
Its drag-and-drop builder and pre-designed templates eliminate the need for coding or design expertise.
You Focus on Direct Sales or Lead Generation
Whether launching a product, hosting a webinar, or building a membership site, ClickFunnels simplifies the process.
You Want Built-In Upsell and Downsell Capabilities
These features are essential for businesses looking to maximize customer lifetime value.
Drawbacks to Consider
ClickFunnels has limited CRM and email marketing capabilities. The pricing is also higher compared to other tools with similar features.
When to Choose ActiveCampaign
Use ActiveCampaign if:
Your Business Focuses on Long-Term Customer Relationships
ActiveCampaign excels in nurturing leads through personalized email campaigns and detailed customer journeys.
You Need Advanced Automation and Segmentation
It allows businesses to create intricate workflows and segment audiences based on behavior, demographics, and preferences.
You Require Multi-Channel Engagement
ActiveCampaign supports email, SMS, and social media outreach, providing a comprehensive marketing solution.
You Want Integrated CRM Tools
Its CRM capabilities are ideal for tracking leads, managing pipelines, and automating follow-ups.
Drawbacks to Consider
ActiveCampaign has limited landing page and funnel creation tools. It can also be slightly more complex to set up and use than ClickFunnels.
What Users Have to Say
Strengths of ClickFunnels (Based on G2 Reviews)
Drag-and-Drop Customization: Scored 9.0, making it one of the most user-friendly platforms for designing pages and funnels.
Landing Page Creation: Scores 8.9, excelling in building visually appealing and conversion-optimized pages.
Strengths of ActiveCampaign (Based on G2 Reviews)
Email Marketing: Scores 8.9 in automated email responses, outperforming ClickFunnels’ 8.2.
Lead Nurturing: With a score of 8.6, it’s the preferred choice for businesses focusing on detailed lead management strategies.
What Other Alternatives Can I Use?
Why Look for Marketing Automation Alternatives?
ClickFunnels and ActiveCampaign are powerful platforms that help marketers accomplish different work components. ClickFunnels focuses on funnel building and boosting sales, while ActiveCampaign gives users the tools to streamline their email marketing and marketing automation tasks.
You aren't alone if you’re looking for an alternative to one of these platforms. Many marketers seek alternatives to these platforms to avoid paying for features they won’t use. Others simply prefer the interface of different tools. Still, others want to find a solution that integrates with their existing tech stack to enhance their current processes instead of replacing them. If you’re looking for an alternative to ClickFunnels or ActiveCampaign, you may find that Numerous can help you achieve your marketing goals.
How Can Numerous Help Marketers and eCommerce Businesses?
Numerous is an innovative tool that is a unique alternative for marketers and eCommerce businesses. It doesn’t replace ClickFunnels or ActiveCampaign directly but complements them by automating complex tasks and simplifying data management at scale.
What Makes Numerous Unique?
AI-Powered Automation
Numerous uses of artificial intelligence to automate spreadsheet-based tasks such as generating hashtags, categorizing products, and performing sentiment analysis.
Smooth Integration
It is compatible with Microsoft Excel and Google Sheets, and Numerous acts as a bridge between data-heavy processes and actionable insights.
Versatility
From writing SEO blog posts to classifying products, Numerous enables businesses to perform repetitive tasks with just a drag of a cell.
Make Decisions At Scale Through AI With Numerous AI’s Spreadsheet AI Tool
Numerous.ai is an AI-powered tool that allows eCommerce businesses and content marketers to automate countless mundane tasks that bog down the marketing process, like writing SEO blog posts, generating hashtags, mass categorizing products with sentiment analysis and classification, and more. Using Numerous.ai is as simple as entering a prompt and letting the tool return the desired results within seconds.
The capabilities of Numerous.ai are endless. For instance, you can use it to write spreadsheet functions, simple or complex, to help you get organized. The best part? Numerous.ai works within Microsoft Excel and Google Sheets to help you make business decisions at scale.
Related Reading
• Funnel Marketing Automation
• Marketing Automation Challenges
• Best Marketing Automation Systems
• Marketing Automation Capabilities
• Marketing Automation Metrics
• Click Funnel
• Marketing Functions
• Marketing Process
• B2B Marketing Automation
• Tools of Marketing
In a world where rapid changes in technology and consumer preferences can shift the effectiveness of our marketing strategies overnight, it’s critical to find the right tools to help you adapt and succeed. A good marketing automation platform is one of the first tools many businesses invest in to help them achieve their marketing goals.
Marketing automation tools can help take the manual labor out of marketing so you can focus your time and energy on more high-level tasks that will grow your business. When looking for the right marketing automation guide tool for your business, there are a lot of choices. This guide explores ClickFunnels vs. ActiveCampaign to help you know which tool might be best for your business.
Numerous offer a solution to help you navigate the decision-making process. Our spreadsheet AI tool can help you set up an easy-to-read comparison chart to help you identify the similarities and differences between ClickFunnels and ActiveCampaign so you can choose the right platform for your business’s goals.
Table Of Contents
What is ClickFunnels?
ClickFunnels is a powerful, comprehensive sales funnel builder that simplifies converting prospects into paying customers. Unlike traditional website builders, ClickFunnels focuses entirely on creating optimized pathways—or funnels—that guide potential customers through the buyer’s journey, from initial interest to final purchase.
It’s a go-to platform for entrepreneurs, small businesses, eCommerce stores, and marketers who want to create high-converting sales processes without needing technical expertise or relying on multiple tools. By integrating tools like landing page creation, payment processing, and email follow-ups into a single platform, ClickFunnels eliminates the need for businesses to juggle multiple software systems.
What Makes ClickFunnels Stand Out from Other Sales Funnel Software?
All-in-One Solution
ClickFunnels provides every tool necessary for building and optimizing sales funnels, including landing pages, order forms, upsell/downsell features, and email automation.
User-Friendly Interface
Designed for beginners and experts alike, its drag-and-drop functionality allows users to build professional funnels quickly.
High-Converting Templates
ClickFunnels provides pre-designed templates for various funnel types, ensuring businesses can start quickly and with proven results.
ClickFunnels’ Key Features: What Can You Do with the Software?
1. Drag-and-Drop Funnel Builder
ClickFunnels transforms how businesses design sales processes by offering a visual drag-and-drop funnel builder.
Ease of Use: Users can create professional funnels without coding or design experience.
Customizable Elements: Add text, images, videos, and forms to pages effortlessly.
Real-Time Editing: Make adjustments and instantly preview how your funnel looks and functions.
This feature is ideal for entrepreneurs focusing on conversions rather than technical intricacies.
2. Pre-Built Funnel Templates
ClickFunnels eliminates the guesswork in funnel creation by providing high-converting templates tailored for specific purposes.
Template Variety: Choose from templates for lead generation, webinar registrations, product launches, and membership sites.
Proven Effectiveness: These templates are designed with conversion principles in mind, ensuring users achieve maximum results.
Quick Start: Save time by customizing templates instead of building funnels from scratch.
For example, if you’re launching a new course, you can select a pre-built template optimized for webinar sign-ups and product sales.
3. Upsell and Downsell Automation
One of the standout features of ClickFunnels is its ability to maximize revenue through upselling and downselling techniques.
Upsells: Offer customers a premium version or complementary product after their initial purchase.
Downsells: Provide a lower-cost alternative if a customer declines an upsell.
Customizable Flow: Easily add upsell/downsell steps to any funnel, increasing customer lifetime value without complicating the buying process.
For example, if a customer buys a fitness program, you could upsell them on personalized coaching sessions or a premium nutrition plan.
4. Membership Site Builder
ClickFunnels allows businesses to create and manage exclusive membership sites.
Secure Access: Give members gated access to content such as courses, eBooks, or premium services.
Automated Management: Easily manage subscriptions, cancellations, and member communications.
Customization: Design membership portals to reflect your brand and offer a smooth user experience.
This is especially beneficial for online educators, fitness trainers, or coaches looking to build a loyal community.
5. Payment Gateway Integration
Simplify transactions by integrating ClickFunnels with popular payment gateways like PayPal, Stripe, or Authorize.net.
Smooth Checkout Experience: Customers can complete purchases directly within the funnel.
Multi-Currency Support: Sell products and services globally by accepting multiple currencies.
Secure Transactions: Ensure customer data is protected with industry-standard encryption.
ClickFunnels Pricing Plans
ClickFunnels offers two main pricing tiers to cater to different business needs:
1. Startup Plan: $81/month
Target Audience: Ideal for solopreneurs or small businesses starting their sales funnel journey.
Key Features: 3 Brand Workspaces. 3 Team Members. Unlimited Funnels, Courses, Members, and Contacts. Unlimited Pages and Domains.
Billing Options: $81/month when billed annually, saving users $194/year.
2. Pro Plan: $248/month
Target Audience: Designed for larger teams or businesses scaling their sales processes.
Key Features: 10 Brand Workspaces. 10 Team Members. Unlimited Funnels, Courses, Members, Contacts, Pages, and Domains.
Billing Options: $248/month when billed annually, saving users $594/year.
Who Should Use ClickFunnels?
ClickFunnels is best suited for
Entrepreneurs: Individuals looking to build automated sales funnels to maximize conversions.
Ecommerce Businesses: Stores aiming to increase average order value through upsells and downsells.
Coaches and Course Creators: Professionals selling memberships or digital courses who need streamlined funnel management.
Marketers: Agencies and freelancers managing campaigns for multiple clients.
ClickFunnels Advantages and Disadvantages
Advantages of ClickFunnels
Comprehensive Platform: All the essential tools for creating a sales funnel in one place.
Ease of Use: Beginner-friendly interface with drag-and-drop functionality.
Proven Templates: Templates designed to drive results without needing marketing expertise.
Automation: Includes tools for follow-ups, upselling, and customer management.
Disadvantages of ClickFunnels
Limited Email Capabilities: Requires integration with external email marketing tools for advanced campaigns.
Pricing: Higher cost compared to standalone funnel or email tools.
Related Reading
• Marketing Automation Tools
• Benefits of Marketing Automation
• Marketing Automation for Small Businesses
• Marketing Tasks
What is ActiveCampaign?
ActiveCampaign: The Customer Experience Automation Platform
ActiveCampaign is a comprehensive customer experience automation (CXA) platform designed to help businesses connect with their audiences through personalized marketing and sales automation.
Unlike tools focused solely on email marketing or CRM, ActiveCampaign integrates these functionalities into a single platform, allowing businesses to deliver targeted campaigns, nurture customer relationships, and drive conversions.
With its emphasis on data-driven strategies, ActiveCampaign is ideal for companies aiming to engage customers across multiple channels, including email, SMS, and social media. Its advanced segmentation and automation capabilities make it particularly powerful for scaling customer experiences.
What are the key features of ActiveCampaign?
ActiveCampaign has features to help organize, automate, and improve your marketing efforts. Its most notable tools include:
Email Marketing and Automation
ActiveCampaign’s email marketing capabilities are exceptionally robust. You can create email campaigns tailored to user behavior, demographics, or preferences. Set up multi-step email sequences triggered by specific actions, such as signing up for a newsletter or abandoning a cart. To optimize campaign performance, you can even A/B test subject lines, email content, or call-to-action buttons. For example, you can automatically send a follow-up email offering a discount when a lead hasn’t converted within seven days.
Customer Relationship Management (CRM)
ActiveCampaign includes a built-in CRM to manage sales pipelines and track customer interactions. Users can monitor how prospects engage with your brand across various touchpoints. Visualize the sales process, assign tasks, and efficiently move leads through the funnel. You can automate follow-ups or updates based on deal stage changes. For instance, a lead who downloads a whitepaper is automatically assigned to a salesperson for follow-up based on their engagement score.
Advanced Segmentation and Personalization
ActiveCampaign enables businesses to segment their audience precisely, ensuring highly targeted marketing efforts. Create segments based on purchase history, website visits, email engagement, or location. Personalize email content dynamically to reflect user preferences or behaviors. Monitor how users interact with your website or app and tailor campaigns accordingly. For example, a SaaS company can send one email to users still in their free trial and a different one to paid subscribers, all within the same campaign.
Multi-Channel Marketing
ActiveCampaign supports outreach across multiple platforms, ensuring businesses can engage customers wherever they are. Send timely text messages to drive engagement or remind users of upcoming events. Use personalized pop-ups or messages on your website to entertain visitors. With ActiveCampaign, you can even automate audience engagement on social media platforms like Facebook or Twitter. For example, send an SMS reminder about an abandoned cart and follow up with an email offering a discount code.
Analytics and Reporting
Detailed insights and metrics allow businesses to measure campaign success and identify areas for improvement: track open rates, click-through rates, and conversion rates. Analyze the performance of automation workflows to identify bottlenecks. Measure the return on investment for specific campaigns—for instance, view which emails drive the most sales and adjust campaigns accordingly.
What are the ActiveCampaign pricing plans?
ActiveCampaign offers four pricing tiers to cater to different business sizes and needs.
1. Starter Plan: Starts at $15/month
Target Audience
Small businesses or startups new to email marketing and automation.
Features Included
Basic email marketing capabilities.
Simple automation workflows.
Contact and lead management.
Ideal For
Businesses that want to get started with personalized campaigns without a large budget.
2. Plus Plan: Starts at $49/month
Target Audience
Growing businesses requiring advanced automation and customer insights.
Features Included
Enhanced automation workflows with triggers and conditions.
Advanced email segmentation.
Sales pipeline and CRM integration.
Ideal For
Businesses looking to expand their customer engagement strategies.
3. Pro Plan: Starts at $79/month
Target Audience
Businesses are scaling their marketing automation across multiple channels.
Features Included
Full omnichannel marketing automation (email, SMS, social media).
Advanced behavioral tracking and predictive segmentation.
Custom reporting and ROI tracking.
Ideal For
Companies aiming for robust marketing strategies and multi-channel outreach.
4. Enterprise Plan: Starts at $145/month
Target Audience
Large-scale businesses managing high-volume campaigns.
Features Included
Enterprise-level support, including a dedicated account manager.
Custom API integrations and unlimited team members.
Advanced customization options for marketing and CRM workflows.
Ideal For
Enterprises require scalability and dedicated resources to manage campaigns.
Who should use ActiveCampaign?
ActiveCampaign is best suited for
Small to Medium Businesses (SMBs): Businesses need advanced automation tools to engage with customers effectively.
SaaS Companies: Ideal for managing customer lifecycles, from lead generation to subscription renewal.
Ecommerce Businesses: Leverages behavioral tracking and segmentation to deliver personalized recommendations and boost sales.
Agencies: Marketing agencies managing multiple campaigns for various clients.
What are the advantages and disadvantages of ActiveCampaign?
Advantages of ActiveCampaign
Powerful Automation: Enables complex workflows with minimal manual effort.
Scalable: Grows with your business, offering solutions for both small startups and large enterprises.
Comprehensive Features: Combines CRM, email marketing, and multi-channel engagement in one platform.
Disadvantages of ActiveCampaign
Learning Curve: More complex than more straightforward tools like Mailchimp or ConvertKit.
Pricing: While affordable for small businesses, advanced features can become costly for more extensive campaigns.
Numerous is an AI-Powered tool that enables content marketers, Ecommerce businesses, and more to do tasks many times over through AI, like writing SEO blog posts, generating hashtags, mass categorizing products with sentiment analysis and classification, and many more things by simply dragging down a cell in a spreadsheet.
With a simple prompt, Numerous returns any spreadsheet function, simple or complex, within seconds. The capabilities of Numerous are endless. It is versatile and can be used with Microsoft Excel and Google Sheets. Get started today with Numerous.ai so that you can make business decisions at scale using AI in both Google Sheets and Microsoft Excel. Learn more about how you can 10x your marketing efforts with Numerous’s ChatGPT for spreadsheets tool.
Related Reading
• Marketing Automation for Agencies
• Marketing Automation Tools for Small Businesses
• Marketing Automation Process Flow
• SEO Marketing Automation
• Marketing Automation as a Service
ClickFunnels vs. ActiveCampaign
Feature Comparison: ClickFunnels vs ActiveCampaign
Funnel and Landing Page Building
ClickFunnels stands out as a funnel-building platform, allowing users to create landing pages and sales funnels to optimize the sales process. The software comes with a drag-and-drop editor for easy page creation, pre-built templates optimized for conversions, and upsell and downsell features for maximizing revenue. ActiveCampaign also provides landing page functionality but with limited customization compared to ClickFunnels. The tool is designed more for supporting marketing campaigns than dedicated funnel creation and is best suited for forms and basic landing pages tied to email campaigns.
Email Marketing and Automation
ClickFunnels includes basic email marketing capabilities as part of its funnel workflows. The software focuses on transactional emails tied to specific funnel events, such as cart abandonment or lead follow-ups. This makes ClickFunnels suitable for straightforward email sequences. ActiveCampaign, on the other hand, is known for its advanced email marketing and automation capabilities. The platform offers robust personalization, A/B testing, segmentation, and visual automation workflows that allow businesses to map out complex customer journeys.
CRM and Lead Management
ClickFunnels includes a built-in CRM focused on tracking leads within funnels. While this helps businesses manage leads and their activities, ClickFunnels lacks advanced lead scoring and segmentation capabilities. This makes the software best for businesses prioritizing funnel-centric lead management. ActiveCampaign features a fully integrated CRM system with advanced lead scoring and segmentation. The tool allows for detailed pipeline management, deal tracking, and task automation, making it ideal for businesses with complex customer management needs.
Multi-Channel Marketing
ClickFunnels primarily focuses on sales funnels and landing pages, so it doesn’t include native SMS or social media marketing features. In contrast, ActiveCampaign supports multi-channel engagement through email, SMS, and social media. The software enables businesses to automate interactions across different platforms for cohesive marketing strategies.
Analytics and Reporting
ClickFunnels includes funnel-specific metrics such as conversion rates and revenue tracking. The software focuses on measuring the performance of individual funnel steps. ActiveCampaign provides detailed analytics for email campaigns, customer engagement, and automation workflows. The tool offers advanced ROI tracking and predictive analytics for marketing strategies.
G2 Ratings for ClickFunnels and ActiveCampaign
Funnel and Landing Page Building
ClickFunnels: 8.9 for landing pages and forms.
ActiveCampaign: 7.4 for landing page functionality.
Email Marketing and Automation
ClickFunnels: 8.2 for automated email responses.
ActiveCampaign: 8.9, reflecting superior email marketing capabilities.
CRM and Lead Management
ClickFunnels: Scores 7.6 for lead nurturing and 6.8 for segmentation.
ActiveCampaign: Outperforms with 8.6 in both lead nurturing and segmentation.
Ease of Use
ClickFunnels: 9.0 for drag-and-drop customization, highlighting its beginner-friendly interface.
ActiveCampaign: 8.2, slightly less intuitive due to its advanced features.
Customer Support
Both platforms: Score 8.6, indicating strong customer service and support capabilities.
Conclusion of Comparison
Both ClickFunnels and ActiveCampaign excel in different areas. ClickFunnels is perfect for businesses prioritizing funnel creation and quick conversions. ActiveCampaign is ideal for long-term customer engagement and detailed marketing automation.
Release Your Marketing Potential With AI-Powered Numerous
Numerous is an AI-powered tool that helps marketers and business owners make decisions at scale using artificial intelligence. Numerous can help you optimize your marketing efforts by writing SEO blog posts or mass categorizing products. Get started today with Numerous.ai and learn how to 10x your marketing efforts with Numerous’s ChatGPT for spreadsheets tool.
Which Should You Use?
What to Think About When Choosing Between ClickFunnels and ActiveCampaign
ClickFunnels and ActiveCampaign have different strengths, weaknesses, and use cases. Consider the following factors to determine which marketing automation platform fits your business needs best.
Your Business Goals
Before choosing between ClickFunnels and ActiveCampaign, it's vital to consider your primary business goals. ClickFunnels is best if your main objective is to create high-converting sales funnels and landing pages to drive direct sales or leads. ActiveCampaign is ideal if you aim to build long-term customer relationships through email marketing, automation, and CRM strategies.
The Nature of Your Business
It’s also essential to think about the nature of your business. ClickFunnels is suited for entrepreneurs, eCommerce stores, and coaches who want a fast and efficient way to guide prospects through the buyer’s journey. ActiveCampaign, on the other hand, is designed for SaaS companies, SMBs, and service-based businesses that prioritize nurturing leads and engaging with customers across multiple touchpoints.
Budget and Resources
Pricing is a crucial consideration when selecting between ClickFunnels and ActiveCampaign. ClickFunnels starts at $81/month, with more advanced features at $248/month. This is a higher starting cost but includes unlimited funnels and courses. ActiveCampaign, in comparison, starts at $15/month, scaling up to $145/month for enterprise-level features. It offers a more budget-friendly entry point, especially for businesses focused on email marketing.
Technical Expertise
Technical expertise is another key factor in determining whether ClickFunnels or ActiveCampaign is better for your business. ClickFunnels is known for its intuitive drag-and-drop editor, making it easy for beginners to create professional-looking funnels and pages. ActiveCampaign, while powerful, has a steeper learning curve due to its advanced features like CRM integration and multi-channel automation.
When to Choose ClickFunnels
Use ClickFunnels if:
Your Business Prioritizes Quick Conversions
ClickFunnels is built to drive sales with optimized funnels that guide users smoothly from awareness to purchase.
You Need Simplified Funnel Building
Its drag-and-drop builder and pre-designed templates eliminate the need for coding or design expertise.
You Focus on Direct Sales or Lead Generation
Whether launching a product, hosting a webinar, or building a membership site, ClickFunnels simplifies the process.
You Want Built-In Upsell and Downsell Capabilities
These features are essential for businesses looking to maximize customer lifetime value.
Drawbacks to Consider
ClickFunnels has limited CRM and email marketing capabilities. The pricing is also higher compared to other tools with similar features.
When to Choose ActiveCampaign
Use ActiveCampaign if:
Your Business Focuses on Long-Term Customer Relationships
ActiveCampaign excels in nurturing leads through personalized email campaigns and detailed customer journeys.
You Need Advanced Automation and Segmentation
It allows businesses to create intricate workflows and segment audiences based on behavior, demographics, and preferences.
You Require Multi-Channel Engagement
ActiveCampaign supports email, SMS, and social media outreach, providing a comprehensive marketing solution.
You Want Integrated CRM Tools
Its CRM capabilities are ideal for tracking leads, managing pipelines, and automating follow-ups.
Drawbacks to Consider
ActiveCampaign has limited landing page and funnel creation tools. It can also be slightly more complex to set up and use than ClickFunnels.
What Users Have to Say
Strengths of ClickFunnels (Based on G2 Reviews)
Drag-and-Drop Customization: Scored 9.0, making it one of the most user-friendly platforms for designing pages and funnels.
Landing Page Creation: Scores 8.9, excelling in building visually appealing and conversion-optimized pages.
Strengths of ActiveCampaign (Based on G2 Reviews)
Email Marketing: Scores 8.9 in automated email responses, outperforming ClickFunnels’ 8.2.
Lead Nurturing: With a score of 8.6, it’s the preferred choice for businesses focusing on detailed lead management strategies.
What Other Alternatives Can I Use?
Why Look for Marketing Automation Alternatives?
ClickFunnels and ActiveCampaign are powerful platforms that help marketers accomplish different work components. ClickFunnels focuses on funnel building and boosting sales, while ActiveCampaign gives users the tools to streamline their email marketing and marketing automation tasks.
You aren't alone if you’re looking for an alternative to one of these platforms. Many marketers seek alternatives to these platforms to avoid paying for features they won’t use. Others simply prefer the interface of different tools. Still, others want to find a solution that integrates with their existing tech stack to enhance their current processes instead of replacing them. If you’re looking for an alternative to ClickFunnels or ActiveCampaign, you may find that Numerous can help you achieve your marketing goals.
How Can Numerous Help Marketers and eCommerce Businesses?
Numerous is an innovative tool that is a unique alternative for marketers and eCommerce businesses. It doesn’t replace ClickFunnels or ActiveCampaign directly but complements them by automating complex tasks and simplifying data management at scale.
What Makes Numerous Unique?
AI-Powered Automation
Numerous uses of artificial intelligence to automate spreadsheet-based tasks such as generating hashtags, categorizing products, and performing sentiment analysis.
Smooth Integration
It is compatible with Microsoft Excel and Google Sheets, and Numerous acts as a bridge between data-heavy processes and actionable insights.
Versatility
From writing SEO blog posts to classifying products, Numerous enables businesses to perform repetitive tasks with just a drag of a cell.
Make Decisions At Scale Through AI With Numerous AI’s Spreadsheet AI Tool
Numerous.ai is an AI-powered tool that allows eCommerce businesses and content marketers to automate countless mundane tasks that bog down the marketing process, like writing SEO blog posts, generating hashtags, mass categorizing products with sentiment analysis and classification, and more. Using Numerous.ai is as simple as entering a prompt and letting the tool return the desired results within seconds.
The capabilities of Numerous.ai are endless. For instance, you can use it to write spreadsheet functions, simple or complex, to help you get organized. The best part? Numerous.ai works within Microsoft Excel and Google Sheets to help you make business decisions at scale.
Related Reading
• Funnel Marketing Automation
• Marketing Automation Challenges
• Best Marketing Automation Systems
• Marketing Automation Capabilities
• Marketing Automation Metrics
• Click Funnel
• Marketing Functions
• Marketing Process
• B2B Marketing Automation
• Tools of Marketing
In a world where rapid changes in technology and consumer preferences can shift the effectiveness of our marketing strategies overnight, it’s critical to find the right tools to help you adapt and succeed. A good marketing automation platform is one of the first tools many businesses invest in to help them achieve their marketing goals.
Marketing automation tools can help take the manual labor out of marketing so you can focus your time and energy on more high-level tasks that will grow your business. When looking for the right marketing automation guide tool for your business, there are a lot of choices. This guide explores ClickFunnels vs. ActiveCampaign to help you know which tool might be best for your business.
Numerous offer a solution to help you navigate the decision-making process. Our spreadsheet AI tool can help you set up an easy-to-read comparison chart to help you identify the similarities and differences between ClickFunnels and ActiveCampaign so you can choose the right platform for your business’s goals.
Table Of Contents
What is ClickFunnels?
ClickFunnels is a powerful, comprehensive sales funnel builder that simplifies converting prospects into paying customers. Unlike traditional website builders, ClickFunnels focuses entirely on creating optimized pathways—or funnels—that guide potential customers through the buyer’s journey, from initial interest to final purchase.
It’s a go-to platform for entrepreneurs, small businesses, eCommerce stores, and marketers who want to create high-converting sales processes without needing technical expertise or relying on multiple tools. By integrating tools like landing page creation, payment processing, and email follow-ups into a single platform, ClickFunnels eliminates the need for businesses to juggle multiple software systems.
What Makes ClickFunnels Stand Out from Other Sales Funnel Software?
All-in-One Solution
ClickFunnels provides every tool necessary for building and optimizing sales funnels, including landing pages, order forms, upsell/downsell features, and email automation.
User-Friendly Interface
Designed for beginners and experts alike, its drag-and-drop functionality allows users to build professional funnels quickly.
High-Converting Templates
ClickFunnels provides pre-designed templates for various funnel types, ensuring businesses can start quickly and with proven results.
ClickFunnels’ Key Features: What Can You Do with the Software?
1. Drag-and-Drop Funnel Builder
ClickFunnels transforms how businesses design sales processes by offering a visual drag-and-drop funnel builder.
Ease of Use: Users can create professional funnels without coding or design experience.
Customizable Elements: Add text, images, videos, and forms to pages effortlessly.
Real-Time Editing: Make adjustments and instantly preview how your funnel looks and functions.
This feature is ideal for entrepreneurs focusing on conversions rather than technical intricacies.
2. Pre-Built Funnel Templates
ClickFunnels eliminates the guesswork in funnel creation by providing high-converting templates tailored for specific purposes.
Template Variety: Choose from templates for lead generation, webinar registrations, product launches, and membership sites.
Proven Effectiveness: These templates are designed with conversion principles in mind, ensuring users achieve maximum results.
Quick Start: Save time by customizing templates instead of building funnels from scratch.
For example, if you’re launching a new course, you can select a pre-built template optimized for webinar sign-ups and product sales.
3. Upsell and Downsell Automation
One of the standout features of ClickFunnels is its ability to maximize revenue through upselling and downselling techniques.
Upsells: Offer customers a premium version or complementary product after their initial purchase.
Downsells: Provide a lower-cost alternative if a customer declines an upsell.
Customizable Flow: Easily add upsell/downsell steps to any funnel, increasing customer lifetime value without complicating the buying process.
For example, if a customer buys a fitness program, you could upsell them on personalized coaching sessions or a premium nutrition plan.
4. Membership Site Builder
ClickFunnels allows businesses to create and manage exclusive membership sites.
Secure Access: Give members gated access to content such as courses, eBooks, or premium services.
Automated Management: Easily manage subscriptions, cancellations, and member communications.
Customization: Design membership portals to reflect your brand and offer a smooth user experience.
This is especially beneficial for online educators, fitness trainers, or coaches looking to build a loyal community.
5. Payment Gateway Integration
Simplify transactions by integrating ClickFunnels with popular payment gateways like PayPal, Stripe, or Authorize.net.
Smooth Checkout Experience: Customers can complete purchases directly within the funnel.
Multi-Currency Support: Sell products and services globally by accepting multiple currencies.
Secure Transactions: Ensure customer data is protected with industry-standard encryption.
ClickFunnels Pricing Plans
ClickFunnels offers two main pricing tiers to cater to different business needs:
1. Startup Plan: $81/month
Target Audience: Ideal for solopreneurs or small businesses starting their sales funnel journey.
Key Features: 3 Brand Workspaces. 3 Team Members. Unlimited Funnels, Courses, Members, and Contacts. Unlimited Pages and Domains.
Billing Options: $81/month when billed annually, saving users $194/year.
2. Pro Plan: $248/month
Target Audience: Designed for larger teams or businesses scaling their sales processes.
Key Features: 10 Brand Workspaces. 10 Team Members. Unlimited Funnels, Courses, Members, Contacts, Pages, and Domains.
Billing Options: $248/month when billed annually, saving users $594/year.
Who Should Use ClickFunnels?
ClickFunnels is best suited for
Entrepreneurs: Individuals looking to build automated sales funnels to maximize conversions.
Ecommerce Businesses: Stores aiming to increase average order value through upsells and downsells.
Coaches and Course Creators: Professionals selling memberships or digital courses who need streamlined funnel management.
Marketers: Agencies and freelancers managing campaigns for multiple clients.
ClickFunnels Advantages and Disadvantages
Advantages of ClickFunnels
Comprehensive Platform: All the essential tools for creating a sales funnel in one place.
Ease of Use: Beginner-friendly interface with drag-and-drop functionality.
Proven Templates: Templates designed to drive results without needing marketing expertise.
Automation: Includes tools for follow-ups, upselling, and customer management.
Disadvantages of ClickFunnels
Limited Email Capabilities: Requires integration with external email marketing tools for advanced campaigns.
Pricing: Higher cost compared to standalone funnel or email tools.
Related Reading
• Marketing Automation Tools
• Benefits of Marketing Automation
• Marketing Automation for Small Businesses
• Marketing Tasks
What is ActiveCampaign?
ActiveCampaign: The Customer Experience Automation Platform
ActiveCampaign is a comprehensive customer experience automation (CXA) platform designed to help businesses connect with their audiences through personalized marketing and sales automation.
Unlike tools focused solely on email marketing or CRM, ActiveCampaign integrates these functionalities into a single platform, allowing businesses to deliver targeted campaigns, nurture customer relationships, and drive conversions.
With its emphasis on data-driven strategies, ActiveCampaign is ideal for companies aiming to engage customers across multiple channels, including email, SMS, and social media. Its advanced segmentation and automation capabilities make it particularly powerful for scaling customer experiences.
What are the key features of ActiveCampaign?
ActiveCampaign has features to help organize, automate, and improve your marketing efforts. Its most notable tools include:
Email Marketing and Automation
ActiveCampaign’s email marketing capabilities are exceptionally robust. You can create email campaigns tailored to user behavior, demographics, or preferences. Set up multi-step email sequences triggered by specific actions, such as signing up for a newsletter or abandoning a cart. To optimize campaign performance, you can even A/B test subject lines, email content, or call-to-action buttons. For example, you can automatically send a follow-up email offering a discount when a lead hasn’t converted within seven days.
Customer Relationship Management (CRM)
ActiveCampaign includes a built-in CRM to manage sales pipelines and track customer interactions. Users can monitor how prospects engage with your brand across various touchpoints. Visualize the sales process, assign tasks, and efficiently move leads through the funnel. You can automate follow-ups or updates based on deal stage changes. For instance, a lead who downloads a whitepaper is automatically assigned to a salesperson for follow-up based on their engagement score.
Advanced Segmentation and Personalization
ActiveCampaign enables businesses to segment their audience precisely, ensuring highly targeted marketing efforts. Create segments based on purchase history, website visits, email engagement, or location. Personalize email content dynamically to reflect user preferences or behaviors. Monitor how users interact with your website or app and tailor campaigns accordingly. For example, a SaaS company can send one email to users still in their free trial and a different one to paid subscribers, all within the same campaign.
Multi-Channel Marketing
ActiveCampaign supports outreach across multiple platforms, ensuring businesses can engage customers wherever they are. Send timely text messages to drive engagement or remind users of upcoming events. Use personalized pop-ups or messages on your website to entertain visitors. With ActiveCampaign, you can even automate audience engagement on social media platforms like Facebook or Twitter. For example, send an SMS reminder about an abandoned cart and follow up with an email offering a discount code.
Analytics and Reporting
Detailed insights and metrics allow businesses to measure campaign success and identify areas for improvement: track open rates, click-through rates, and conversion rates. Analyze the performance of automation workflows to identify bottlenecks. Measure the return on investment for specific campaigns—for instance, view which emails drive the most sales and adjust campaigns accordingly.
What are the ActiveCampaign pricing plans?
ActiveCampaign offers four pricing tiers to cater to different business sizes and needs.
1. Starter Plan: Starts at $15/month
Target Audience
Small businesses or startups new to email marketing and automation.
Features Included
Basic email marketing capabilities.
Simple automation workflows.
Contact and lead management.
Ideal For
Businesses that want to get started with personalized campaigns without a large budget.
2. Plus Plan: Starts at $49/month
Target Audience
Growing businesses requiring advanced automation and customer insights.
Features Included
Enhanced automation workflows with triggers and conditions.
Advanced email segmentation.
Sales pipeline and CRM integration.
Ideal For
Businesses looking to expand their customer engagement strategies.
3. Pro Plan: Starts at $79/month
Target Audience
Businesses are scaling their marketing automation across multiple channels.
Features Included
Full omnichannel marketing automation (email, SMS, social media).
Advanced behavioral tracking and predictive segmentation.
Custom reporting and ROI tracking.
Ideal For
Companies aiming for robust marketing strategies and multi-channel outreach.
4. Enterprise Plan: Starts at $145/month
Target Audience
Large-scale businesses managing high-volume campaigns.
Features Included
Enterprise-level support, including a dedicated account manager.
Custom API integrations and unlimited team members.
Advanced customization options for marketing and CRM workflows.
Ideal For
Enterprises require scalability and dedicated resources to manage campaigns.
Who should use ActiveCampaign?
ActiveCampaign is best suited for
Small to Medium Businesses (SMBs): Businesses need advanced automation tools to engage with customers effectively.
SaaS Companies: Ideal for managing customer lifecycles, from lead generation to subscription renewal.
Ecommerce Businesses: Leverages behavioral tracking and segmentation to deliver personalized recommendations and boost sales.
Agencies: Marketing agencies managing multiple campaigns for various clients.
What are the advantages and disadvantages of ActiveCampaign?
Advantages of ActiveCampaign
Powerful Automation: Enables complex workflows with minimal manual effort.
Scalable: Grows with your business, offering solutions for both small startups and large enterprises.
Comprehensive Features: Combines CRM, email marketing, and multi-channel engagement in one platform.
Disadvantages of ActiveCampaign
Learning Curve: More complex than more straightforward tools like Mailchimp or ConvertKit.
Pricing: While affordable for small businesses, advanced features can become costly for more extensive campaigns.
Numerous is an AI-Powered tool that enables content marketers, Ecommerce businesses, and more to do tasks many times over through AI, like writing SEO blog posts, generating hashtags, mass categorizing products with sentiment analysis and classification, and many more things by simply dragging down a cell in a spreadsheet.
With a simple prompt, Numerous returns any spreadsheet function, simple or complex, within seconds. The capabilities of Numerous are endless. It is versatile and can be used with Microsoft Excel and Google Sheets. Get started today with Numerous.ai so that you can make business decisions at scale using AI in both Google Sheets and Microsoft Excel. Learn more about how you can 10x your marketing efforts with Numerous’s ChatGPT for spreadsheets tool.
Related Reading
• Marketing Automation for Agencies
• Marketing Automation Tools for Small Businesses
• Marketing Automation Process Flow
• SEO Marketing Automation
• Marketing Automation as a Service
ClickFunnels vs. ActiveCampaign
Feature Comparison: ClickFunnels vs ActiveCampaign
Funnel and Landing Page Building
ClickFunnels stands out as a funnel-building platform, allowing users to create landing pages and sales funnels to optimize the sales process. The software comes with a drag-and-drop editor for easy page creation, pre-built templates optimized for conversions, and upsell and downsell features for maximizing revenue. ActiveCampaign also provides landing page functionality but with limited customization compared to ClickFunnels. The tool is designed more for supporting marketing campaigns than dedicated funnel creation and is best suited for forms and basic landing pages tied to email campaigns.
Email Marketing and Automation
ClickFunnels includes basic email marketing capabilities as part of its funnel workflows. The software focuses on transactional emails tied to specific funnel events, such as cart abandonment or lead follow-ups. This makes ClickFunnels suitable for straightforward email sequences. ActiveCampaign, on the other hand, is known for its advanced email marketing and automation capabilities. The platform offers robust personalization, A/B testing, segmentation, and visual automation workflows that allow businesses to map out complex customer journeys.
CRM and Lead Management
ClickFunnels includes a built-in CRM focused on tracking leads within funnels. While this helps businesses manage leads and their activities, ClickFunnels lacks advanced lead scoring and segmentation capabilities. This makes the software best for businesses prioritizing funnel-centric lead management. ActiveCampaign features a fully integrated CRM system with advanced lead scoring and segmentation. The tool allows for detailed pipeline management, deal tracking, and task automation, making it ideal for businesses with complex customer management needs.
Multi-Channel Marketing
ClickFunnels primarily focuses on sales funnels and landing pages, so it doesn’t include native SMS or social media marketing features. In contrast, ActiveCampaign supports multi-channel engagement through email, SMS, and social media. The software enables businesses to automate interactions across different platforms for cohesive marketing strategies.
Analytics and Reporting
ClickFunnels includes funnel-specific metrics such as conversion rates and revenue tracking. The software focuses on measuring the performance of individual funnel steps. ActiveCampaign provides detailed analytics for email campaigns, customer engagement, and automation workflows. The tool offers advanced ROI tracking and predictive analytics for marketing strategies.
G2 Ratings for ClickFunnels and ActiveCampaign
Funnel and Landing Page Building
ClickFunnels: 8.9 for landing pages and forms.
ActiveCampaign: 7.4 for landing page functionality.
Email Marketing and Automation
ClickFunnels: 8.2 for automated email responses.
ActiveCampaign: 8.9, reflecting superior email marketing capabilities.
CRM and Lead Management
ClickFunnels: Scores 7.6 for lead nurturing and 6.8 for segmentation.
ActiveCampaign: Outperforms with 8.6 in both lead nurturing and segmentation.
Ease of Use
ClickFunnels: 9.0 for drag-and-drop customization, highlighting its beginner-friendly interface.
ActiveCampaign: 8.2, slightly less intuitive due to its advanced features.
Customer Support
Both platforms: Score 8.6, indicating strong customer service and support capabilities.
Conclusion of Comparison
Both ClickFunnels and ActiveCampaign excel in different areas. ClickFunnels is perfect for businesses prioritizing funnel creation and quick conversions. ActiveCampaign is ideal for long-term customer engagement and detailed marketing automation.
Release Your Marketing Potential With AI-Powered Numerous
Numerous is an AI-powered tool that helps marketers and business owners make decisions at scale using artificial intelligence. Numerous can help you optimize your marketing efforts by writing SEO blog posts or mass categorizing products. Get started today with Numerous.ai and learn how to 10x your marketing efforts with Numerous’s ChatGPT for spreadsheets tool.
Which Should You Use?
What to Think About When Choosing Between ClickFunnels and ActiveCampaign
ClickFunnels and ActiveCampaign have different strengths, weaknesses, and use cases. Consider the following factors to determine which marketing automation platform fits your business needs best.
Your Business Goals
Before choosing between ClickFunnels and ActiveCampaign, it's vital to consider your primary business goals. ClickFunnels is best if your main objective is to create high-converting sales funnels and landing pages to drive direct sales or leads. ActiveCampaign is ideal if you aim to build long-term customer relationships through email marketing, automation, and CRM strategies.
The Nature of Your Business
It’s also essential to think about the nature of your business. ClickFunnels is suited for entrepreneurs, eCommerce stores, and coaches who want a fast and efficient way to guide prospects through the buyer’s journey. ActiveCampaign, on the other hand, is designed for SaaS companies, SMBs, and service-based businesses that prioritize nurturing leads and engaging with customers across multiple touchpoints.
Budget and Resources
Pricing is a crucial consideration when selecting between ClickFunnels and ActiveCampaign. ClickFunnels starts at $81/month, with more advanced features at $248/month. This is a higher starting cost but includes unlimited funnels and courses. ActiveCampaign, in comparison, starts at $15/month, scaling up to $145/month for enterprise-level features. It offers a more budget-friendly entry point, especially for businesses focused on email marketing.
Technical Expertise
Technical expertise is another key factor in determining whether ClickFunnels or ActiveCampaign is better for your business. ClickFunnels is known for its intuitive drag-and-drop editor, making it easy for beginners to create professional-looking funnels and pages. ActiveCampaign, while powerful, has a steeper learning curve due to its advanced features like CRM integration and multi-channel automation.
When to Choose ClickFunnels
Use ClickFunnels if:
Your Business Prioritizes Quick Conversions
ClickFunnels is built to drive sales with optimized funnels that guide users smoothly from awareness to purchase.
You Need Simplified Funnel Building
Its drag-and-drop builder and pre-designed templates eliminate the need for coding or design expertise.
You Focus on Direct Sales or Lead Generation
Whether launching a product, hosting a webinar, or building a membership site, ClickFunnels simplifies the process.
You Want Built-In Upsell and Downsell Capabilities
These features are essential for businesses looking to maximize customer lifetime value.
Drawbacks to Consider
ClickFunnels has limited CRM and email marketing capabilities. The pricing is also higher compared to other tools with similar features.
When to Choose ActiveCampaign
Use ActiveCampaign if:
Your Business Focuses on Long-Term Customer Relationships
ActiveCampaign excels in nurturing leads through personalized email campaigns and detailed customer journeys.
You Need Advanced Automation and Segmentation
It allows businesses to create intricate workflows and segment audiences based on behavior, demographics, and preferences.
You Require Multi-Channel Engagement
ActiveCampaign supports email, SMS, and social media outreach, providing a comprehensive marketing solution.
You Want Integrated CRM Tools
Its CRM capabilities are ideal for tracking leads, managing pipelines, and automating follow-ups.
Drawbacks to Consider
ActiveCampaign has limited landing page and funnel creation tools. It can also be slightly more complex to set up and use than ClickFunnels.
What Users Have to Say
Strengths of ClickFunnels (Based on G2 Reviews)
Drag-and-Drop Customization: Scored 9.0, making it one of the most user-friendly platforms for designing pages and funnels.
Landing Page Creation: Scores 8.9, excelling in building visually appealing and conversion-optimized pages.
Strengths of ActiveCampaign (Based on G2 Reviews)
Email Marketing: Scores 8.9 in automated email responses, outperforming ClickFunnels’ 8.2.
Lead Nurturing: With a score of 8.6, it’s the preferred choice for businesses focusing on detailed lead management strategies.
What Other Alternatives Can I Use?
Why Look for Marketing Automation Alternatives?
ClickFunnels and ActiveCampaign are powerful platforms that help marketers accomplish different work components. ClickFunnels focuses on funnel building and boosting sales, while ActiveCampaign gives users the tools to streamline their email marketing and marketing automation tasks.
You aren't alone if you’re looking for an alternative to one of these platforms. Many marketers seek alternatives to these platforms to avoid paying for features they won’t use. Others simply prefer the interface of different tools. Still, others want to find a solution that integrates with their existing tech stack to enhance their current processes instead of replacing them. If you’re looking for an alternative to ClickFunnels or ActiveCampaign, you may find that Numerous can help you achieve your marketing goals.
How Can Numerous Help Marketers and eCommerce Businesses?
Numerous is an innovative tool that is a unique alternative for marketers and eCommerce businesses. It doesn’t replace ClickFunnels or ActiveCampaign directly but complements them by automating complex tasks and simplifying data management at scale.
What Makes Numerous Unique?
AI-Powered Automation
Numerous uses of artificial intelligence to automate spreadsheet-based tasks such as generating hashtags, categorizing products, and performing sentiment analysis.
Smooth Integration
It is compatible with Microsoft Excel and Google Sheets, and Numerous acts as a bridge between data-heavy processes and actionable insights.
Versatility
From writing SEO blog posts to classifying products, Numerous enables businesses to perform repetitive tasks with just a drag of a cell.
Make Decisions At Scale Through AI With Numerous AI’s Spreadsheet AI Tool
Numerous.ai is an AI-powered tool that allows eCommerce businesses and content marketers to automate countless mundane tasks that bog down the marketing process, like writing SEO blog posts, generating hashtags, mass categorizing products with sentiment analysis and classification, and more. Using Numerous.ai is as simple as entering a prompt and letting the tool return the desired results within seconds.
The capabilities of Numerous.ai are endless. For instance, you can use it to write spreadsheet functions, simple or complex, to help you get organized. The best part? Numerous.ai works within Microsoft Excel and Google Sheets to help you make business decisions at scale.
Related Reading
• Funnel Marketing Automation
• Marketing Automation Challenges
• Best Marketing Automation Systems
• Marketing Automation Capabilities
• Marketing Automation Metrics
• Click Funnel
• Marketing Functions
• Marketing Process
• B2B Marketing Automation
• Tools of Marketing
© 2025 Numerous. All rights reserved.
© 2025 Numerous. All rights reserved.
© 2025 Numerous. All rights reserved.