ActiveCampaign Pricing 2026: Plans, Costs & Hidden Fees
ActiveCampaign pricing starts at $15 per month for 1,000 contacts when you pay yearly. There are four main plans: Starter, Plus, Pro, and Enterprise. Your total bill goes up as your contact list grows. Extra features like SMS, sales CRM, and transactional email also add to the final price. Always check your actual contact list size and feature needs before picking a plan.
Finding the right email marketing tool for your business can feel tricky. When you look up ActiveCampaign pricing, you will quickly see a starting rate of $15 per month. But that headline number does not tell the whole story.
Your final bill depends on how many contacts you have, how you pay, and which features you need. Some extra add-ons can also change your monthly total. This pricing guide breaks down every plan, hidden cost, and contact tier so you can choose the right option for your budget.
How much does ActiveCampaign cost in 2026?
ActiveCampaign pricing starts at $15 per month for the Starter plan at 1,000 contacts when billed annually. Higher tiers start at $49 for Plus, $79 for Pro, and $145 for Enterprise. Prices increase as your contact list grows, so headline rates only show entry points.
ActiveCampaign uses a tier-based system that scales with your business. The table below shows the starting prices for each main plan at the entry level.
| Plan | Starting Price (Billed Annually) | Best Suited To |
| Starter | $15 / month | Basic email marketing and simple automation |
| Plus | $49 / month | Growing automation needs and landing pages |
| Pro | $59 - $79 / month | Advanced marketing, AI tools, and attribution |
| Enterprise | $145 / month | Large teams needing custom support and controls |
Note: Starting prices apply to accounts with up to 1,000 contacts on annual billing plans.
ActiveCampaign pricing by contact count
Your list size changes your monthly price dramatically. A business with 1,000 contacts pays much less than a business with 10,000 contacts on the exact same plan tier.
Paying month-to-month also costs more than paying for a full year upfront. The table below shows estimated month-to-month pricing across different contact levels.
| Contacts | Starter Plan | Plus Plan | Pro Plan | Enterprise Plan |
| 1,000 | $19 / mo | $59 / mo | $89 / mo | $159 / mo |
| 2,500 | $49 / mo | $119 / mo | $169 / mo | $289 / mo |
| 5,000 | $99 / mo | $179 / mo | $235 / mo | $425 / mo |
| 10,000 | $189 / mo | $239 / mo | $419 / mo | $665 / mo |
As you can see, your costs can jump quickly as your list expands. It is always wise to clean out cold or inactive subscribers regularly to keep your tier low.
What does each ActiveCampaign plan include?
The main difference between ActiveCampaign plans is the level of automation, landing pages, AI, and support you receive. Starter covers core email marketing, while Plus, Pro, and Enterprise add advanced tools for growing teams.
Each plan tier opens up new marketing tools. Here is what you get at each level.
Starter
The Starter plan gives you basic tools to build an email list and send messages. It includes:
Core email marketing tools and newsletter builders
Basic automation workflows (limited to five actions per workflow)
Subscription forms and basic contact tracking
Standard integrations with platforms like Shopify or WooCommerce
Plus
The Plus plan is designed for small businesses that need deeper marketing automation. It includes:
Everything in Starter
Unlimited automation actions per workflow
Built-in landing page builders
Standard list segmentation and custom fields
Expanded third-party integrations
Pro
The Pro plan adds advanced intelligence and analytics features for scaling brands. It includes:
Everything in Plus
Advanced list segmentation and predictive sending features
Conditional content inside emails
Conversion tracking and attribution reporting
Support for additional team user seats
Enterprise
The Enterprise plan is built for large organizations requiring top-tier security and dedicated management. It includes:
Everything in Pro
Custom data objects and premium segmentation
Single sign-on (SSO) security controls
Dedicated account management and priority support
Which ActiveCampaign plan should you choose?
Pick Starter for basic email newsletters and simple autoresponders. Choose Plus if you need landing pages and longer automation paths. Select Pro for advanced sales tracking and AI features, or Enterprise for large teams that need strict controls.
Use this simple breakdown to match your current business goals to the right plan.
| Your Situation | Likely Fit | Why It Works |
| Just starting out with simple newsletters | Starter Plan | Keeps your fixed costs low while giving you solid email delivery. |
| Building lead funnels and landing pages | Plus Plan | Removes automation limits and gives you page-building tools. |
| Running complex sales funnels and ads | Pro Plan | Unlocks attribution tracking and predictive sending options. |
| Managing large corporate teams and databases | Enterprise Plan | Provides maximum security, custom objects, and direct phone support. |
What extra costs should you budget for?
The base subscription price might not cover everything you need. Depending on your business goals, you may spend extra on CRM tools, text messaging, transactional emails, custom reports, or extra team user seats.
When planning your budget, keep an eye out for these potential extra costs.
Enhanced CRM
If you want a dedicated sales pipeline inside your account, you may need to add the ActiveCampaign sales CRM features. This gives you deal tracking, lead scoring, and sales automation.
SMS
Text message marketing requires separate SMS add-on packages. You pay for monthly text credits depending on how many messages you plan to send to your customer list.
Transactional email
If your site needs to send order receipts, password resets, or account alerts, you can connect Postmark (which is owned by ActiveCampaign). Transactional emails are billed based on total monthly volume.
Custom reporting
Basic reports come standard, but advanced custom reporting tools are often locked behind higher tiers or sold as an account add-on.
Additional users
Each plan tier includes a set number of user seats. If you have a large team that needs separate logins, you may have to pay a monthly fee for extra user seats.
Does ActiveCampaign have a free plan?
No, ActiveCampaign does not offer a permanent free plan. It provides a 14-day free trial so you can test features before paying for a subscription.
Unlike competitors like MailerLite or Mailchimp, there is no forever-free tier here. You can sign up for a 14-day free trial without entering a credit card. Once the trial ends, you must pick a paid plan to keep sending emails.
Is ActiveCampaign pricing based on contacts?
Yes, ActiveCampaign charges based on your total contact count. As your list size expands, your plan automatically moves to a higher price bracket.
Your plan price is directly tied to the number of stored contacts in your database. If you cross a threshold (like moving from 2,499 to 2,501 contacts), your monthly bill automatically increases to match the next tier.
Account terms also require you to pay attention to list hygiene. Depending on your setup, unsubscribed or unconfirmed contacts may still count toward your total stored contacts unless you clear them out.
What happens when your contact list grows?
As your business collects more email addresses, your ActiveCampaign bill grows too. A company starting at $19 per month on a monthly Starter plan can see that cost rise to $99 per month once they reach 5,000 contacts.
If you upgrade to the Plus or Pro plan at the same time, your bill can easily reach $200 to $400 every month. Because of this scaling model, it is vital to calculate your projected subscriber growth over the next 12 months rather than looking only at today's cost.
ActiveCampaign monthly vs annual pricing
Paying annually gives you a lower rate per month, while month-to-month billing costs more but offers flexibility. Compare both options before signing up.
Choosing between annual and monthly billing comes down to your cash flow and long-term commitment.
| Billing Method | Advantage | Trade-off |
| Annual Billing | Saves money (up to 15% to 20% off monthly rates) | Requires a large payment upfront for the full year |
| Monthly Billing | Flexible (cancel or change plans anytime) | Costs significantly more per month |
If you are certain that ActiveCampaign is the right tool for your business, annual billing will save you a noticeable amount of money over the year.
Is ActiveCampaign worth the price?
ActiveCampaign is worth the money if you make full use of its advanced automation, tracking, and list segmentation. If you only send basic monthly newsletters, simpler tools offer better value.
Good value for:
E-commerce stores that want automated abandoned cart and post-purchase emails
Businesses that need advanced lead scoring and targeted email pathways
Marketers who want detailed analytics and attribution data
Poorer value for:
Creators who only send simple, occasional text newsletters
Tiny businesses looking for a free or low-cost email tool
Users who find complex automation builders confusing
How does ActiveCampaign pricing compare with alternatives?
ActiveCampaign is generally seen as a premium marketing automation tool. Here is how its pricing stacks up against common competitors:
Mailchimp: Offers a limited free tier and lower entry costs for small lists, but can get expensive quickly as you add contacts and advanced workflows.
Brevo (formerly Sendinblue): Charges based on the number of emails you send per month rather than contact list size. This can be much cheaper if you have a large list that you rarely email.
MailerLite: Known for budget-friendly plans and a simple interface. It is great for basic automation, but lacks the deep tracking tools of ActiveCampaign.
Klaviyo: Heavily focused on e-commerce brands with strong Shopify integrations. Pricing is often comparable to or higher than ActiveCampaign Pro plans.
GetResponse: Offers similar feature tiers and landing page tools, often at slightly lower entry prices for mid-size lists.
How much does ActiveCampaign really cost?
To give you a real picture of potential expenses, let us look at three typical user setups.
Scenario 1: Small list startup
Contacts: 1,000
Plan: Starter (Annual Billing)
Add-ons: None
Real Monthly Cost: $15 / month
Scenario 2: Growing online store
Contacts: 5,000
Plan: Plus (Monthly Billing)
Add-ons: Basic SMS credits
Real Monthly Cost: ~$180 - $200 / month
Scenario 3: Established marketing agency
Contacts: 10,000+
Plan: Pro (Annual Billing)
Add-ons: Sales CRM, transactional emails, extra user seats
Real Monthly Cost: ~$400 - $500+ / month
ActiveCampaign pricing: final verdict
ActiveCampaign is a powerful marketing automation platform, but its headline price is only a starting point. The real cost depends on your contact count, your billing schedule, and any extra tools you need like text messaging or sales CRM features.
Before choosing a plan, take a close look at your current email list size and map out your feature requirements. If you need powerful automation and deep customer insights, the return on investment can easily justify the price. If you just need a quick way to send updates to a few hundred people, a simpler platform may save you money.
Frequently Asked Questions
How much does ActiveCampaign cost?
ActiveCampaign starts at $15 per month for the entry Starter plan at the 1,000-contact level when billed annually. Plus starts at $49, Pro starts at $79, and Enterprise starts at $145. Prices increase as your contact volume grows.
Is ActiveCampaign free?
No. ActiveCampaign does not offer a permanent free plan. It offers a 14-day free trial so you can test features before picking a paid subscription.
What is the cheapest ActiveCampaign plan?
The Starter plan is the cheapest option. It begins at $15 per month on annual billing for up to 1,000 contacts and includes core email marketing and basic automation tools.
Does ActiveCampaign charge based on contacts?
Yes. Pricing increases as the number of contacts in your account grows. Moving past certain contact limits will automatically push your account into a higher price tier.
Is ActiveCampaign worth the price?
It is worth the price if your business relies on advanced automation, detailed segmentation, and custom customer journeys. For basic, occasional newsletter sends, lower-cost alternatives may be a better fit.
