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Head-to-head · Marketing Automation - B2C Software

ActiveCampaign vs Salesforce Marketing Cloud Engagement

  • Updated Oct 2026
  • Both researched from official sources
  • 1 check side by side
Higher score ActiveCampaign #2 in Marketing Automation - B2C Software 9.3/10 14-day trial Free trial✓ 0 of 4 features Visit ActiveCampaign
Salesforce Marketing Cloud Engagement #4 in Marketing Automation - B2C Software 9.1/10 Paid ✓ 0 of 4 features Visit Salesforce

ActiveCampaign leads on 0 checks, Salesforce Marketing Cloud Engagement on 0, and 1 is even. Who comes out ahead on the 1 yes/no, price and count check where we have data for both products. The editor score weighs everything else too.

Our verdict

  • Highest scoreActiveCampaign · 9.3/10
  • Free trialonly ActiveCampaign

ActiveCampaign scores higher on our rubric for marketing automation - b2c software: 9.3 against 9.1 out of 10; our editors rank them #2 and #4.

ActiveCampaign is the better fit for businesses wanting deep automation and CRM. Salesforce Marketing Cloud Engagement is the better fit for large enterprises already using Salesforce.

  • ActiveCampaign fits best

    Businesses wanting deep automation and CRM

  • Salesforce Marketing Cloud Engagement fits best

    Large enterprises already using Salesforce

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Side by side

Feature ActiveCampaign 9.3/10 Visit ↗ Salesforce Marketing Cloud Engagement 9.1/10 Visit ↗
At a glance
Editor score 9.3 9.1
Ranking #2 in Marketing Automation - B2C Software #4 in Marketing Automation - B2C Software
Best for Businesses wanting deep automation and CRM Large enterprises already using Salesforce
Pricing model Paid Paid
Starting price — $2,000/mo
Free plan — —
Free trial 14 days —
Deployment Cloud, Mobile Cloud
Platforms Web, iOS, Android Web
Support Email, Live chat, Community, Docs Community, Docs
Compliance SOC 2, GDPR, HIPAA, SSO/SAML, 2FA SOC 2, ISO 27001
Integrations 1,000+ integrations 4 integrations
Built for Small business, Mid-market, Enterprise Mid-market, Enterprise
Features ActiveCampaign 0/4 · Salesforce Marketing Cloud Engagement 0/4
Automated journeys Not checked yet Not checked yet
Audience segmentation Not checked yet Not checked yet
SMS marketing Not checked yet Not checked yet
Ecommerce integrations Not checked yet Not checked yet
Specs
Contact limit Not checked yet 15000 contacts
Channel scope Not checked yet Not checked yet
Our review
Pros
  • Multi-step automation has unlimited actions from the Plus plan upward.
  • Segmentation, landing pages, testing and CRM support connected campaigns.
  • Connects with 1,000 apps and offers iOS and Android apps.
  • Build multi-channel customer journeys with Journey Builder.
  • Automate workflows and campaigns with Automation Studio.
  • Connect with Salesforce Sales, Service and Commerce Cloud.
Cons
  • Starter limits each automation to 5 actions.
  • Landing pages are included only from Plus upward.
  • There is no permanent free plan.
  • Annual plans start at $2,000 per organization per month.
  • Pro+ includes 15K contacts and 2.5M email messages.
  • Form capability requires Experience Cloud and Marketing Cloud Connect setup.
Our verdict

ActiveCampaign brings email campaigns, automated customer journeys, audience segmentation and CRM functionality together for businesses managing customer communications. Its published plans span small businesses, marketers and agencies…

Read the review →

Salesforce Marketing Cloud Engagement brings email, mobile and web communications into a cloud marketing automation platform. It is aimed at marketing teams managing complex, high-volume campaigns and customer journeys, particularly at…

Read the review →
  1. ActiveCampaignMarketing Automation - B2C Software 9.314-day trial
  2. Salesforce Marketing Cloud EngagementMarketing Automation - B2C Software 9.1Paid

Strengths and trade-offs

  • ActiveCampaign — where it wins

    • Multi-step automation has unlimited actions from the Plus plan upward.
    • Segmentation, landing pages, testing and CRM support connected campaigns.
    • Connects with 1,000 apps and offers iOS and Android apps.

    Where it doesn't

    • Starter limits each automation to 5 actions.
    • Landing pages are included only from Plus upward.
    • There is no permanent free plan.

  • Salesforce Marketing Cloud Engagement — where it wins

    • Build multi-channel customer journeys with Journey Builder.
    • Automate workflows and campaigns with Automation Studio.
    • Connect with Salesforce Sales, Service and Commerce Cloud.

    Where it doesn't

    • Annual plans start at $2,000 per organization per month.
    • Pro+ includes 15K contacts and 2.5M email messages.
    • Form capability requires Experience Cloud and Marketing Cloud Connect setup.

More comparisons

All marketing automation - B2C software comparisons → · Full ranking →

Reviewed by iTechGuides Editors · Editorial team · Updated Oct 2026

Last updated · How we research and update