kitio.aiSalesforce Marketing Cloud vs ActiveCampaign
A side-by-side look at pricing plans, free tiers, features, pros and cons, updated for 2026. Salesforce Marketing Cloud starts at See pricing page and ActiveCampaign starts at $19/mo. Check both pricing pages for current plans.
At a glance
Best for
Pricing model
Starting price
Free plan
Made by
Based in
Rating
Key features
- Cross-channel journeys
- Email and mobile messaging
- Agentforce marketing agents
- Audience segmentation
- Personalization
- CRM data integration
- Automation builder
- AI email writing
- Predictive sending
- Sales CRM
- 900+ integrations
| Feature | Salesforce Marketing Cloud | ActiveCampaign |
|---|---|---|
| Best for | Salesforce's marketing suite with Agentforce AI and customer data | Email marketing and automation with Active Intelligence AI |
| Category | Marketing | Marketing |
| Pricing model | Paid | Free trial |
| Starting price | See pricing page | $19/mo |
| Free plan | No | No, 14-day trial |
| Made by | Salesforce | ActiveCampaign |
| Based in | United States | United States |
| Rating | No ratings yet | No ratings yet |
| Key features |
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Pricing compared
Salesforce Marketing Cloud starts at See pricing page and ActiveCampaign starts at $19/mo. Check both pricing pages for current plans.
Free plan
Cheapest paid plan
Top plan
Free trial
4 plans
Starter
$19/mo
- From 1,000 contacts
- Email marketing and automations
Plus
$59/mo
- From 1,000 contacts
- Landing pages and forms
- CRM integrations
Pro
$99/mo
- From 1,000 contacts
- Predictive sending and attribution
- Split automations
Enterprise
$174/mo
- From 1,000 contacts
- Custom reporting and objects
- Dedicated support
Prices in USD, checked Oct 28, 2026 or later. Plans change often, so confirm on each tool's site before you buy.
Pros and cons
Salesforce Marketing Cloud
- Deep link with Salesforce CRM data
- Covers many channels in one suite
- AI agents built into the platform
- Expensive and quote-based
- Complex setup, often needs partners
- Best value only inside the Salesforce stack
ActiveCampaign
- Powerful automations
- AI builds workflows from prompts
- Large integration library
- Steep price at higher contact counts
- Learning curve for complex flows
Which one should you choose?
Choose Salesforce Marketing Cloud if you want:
- Deep link with Salesforce CRM data
- Covers many channels in one suite
- AI agents built into the platform
Watch out: expensive and quote-based.
Choose ActiveCampaign if you want:
- Powerful automations
- AI builds workflows from prompts
- Large integration library
Watch out: steep price at higher contact counts.
Salesforce Marketing Cloud vs ActiveCampaign FAQ
What is the difference between Salesforce Marketing Cloud and ActiveCampaign?
Salesforce Marketing Cloud: Salesforce's marketing suite with Agentforce AI and customer data. ActiveCampaign: Email marketing and automation with Active Intelligence AI. Both are marketing tools.
Is Salesforce Marketing Cloud or ActiveCampaign cheaper?
Salesforce Marketing Cloud starts at See pricing page and ActiveCampaign starts at $19/mo. Check both pricing pages for current plans.
Do Salesforce Marketing Cloud and ActiveCampaign have free plans?
Salesforce Marketing Cloud: No. ActiveCampaign: No, 14-day trial.
Who makes Salesforce Marketing Cloud?
Salesforce Marketing Cloud is made by Salesforce, based in United States.
Who makes ActiveCampaign?
ActiveCampaign is made by ActiveCampaign, based in United States.
Which should I choose, Salesforce Marketing Cloud or ActiveCampaign?
Choose Salesforce Marketing Cloud if you value deep link with salesforce crm data and covers many channels in one suite. Choose ActiveCampaign if you value powerful automations and ai builds workflows from prompts.