GetResponse vs. ActiveCampaign: Which Should You Pick?

Selecting the correct advertising automation software program for your small business is exhausting.

And in case you’re studying this, it’s in all probability since you’re attempting to make a tricky resolution proper now about which software is greatest between GetResponse and ActiveCampaign.

After all, we’re somewhat biased since we constructed the previous. 

We expect GetResponse is #1 as a result of we constructed it with nice e mail advertising capabilities, varieties, internet push notifications, SMS, and different inbuilt options

However we wish you to be the decide right here. So on this publish, we’ll be evaluating ActiveCampaign and GetReponse’s options so you’ll be able to select which is greatest for your small business.

To offer you one of the best insights, we’ll be going over every key characteristic one after the other. However in case you’re in a rush, right here’s a fast desk that sums up which options are included in every platform.

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1. Which one has higher e mail advertising options?

GetResponse:

GetResponse email marketing is the bread and butter of our platform. 

With GetResponse you’ll be able to appeal to new subscribers with signup varieties and pop-ups, goal your viewers utilizing superior segmentation, and ship stunning e mail campaigns utilizing prebuilt email templates and superior drag-and-drop Email Creator.

Thanks to those instruments, in minutes you’ll be able to launch:

• Newsletters 
• Autoresponders 
• E-mail sequences 
• Segmented campaigns
• Automated RSS feeds (weblog posts)

When you have an current contact checklist, you’ll be able to simply import them in bulk utilizing a CSV file or integrating with exterior providers.

So, what makes it good for small or medium companies?

Not solely is it tremendous simple to make use of (the drag-and-drop builder helps you to rapidly construct a professional-looking e mail with your personal copy and pictures in minutes), but it surely additionally nurtures leads and clients for you.

For example, when an e mail lands in your contact’s inbox, GetResponse tracks what number of occasions it will get opened and if the lead clicks any hyperlinks. From there, you’ll be able to see which contacts in your checklist are extra engaged and sure to purchase your merchandise and run A/B testing to make future campaigns extra profitable.

It gained’t take up a lot of your time, both. The “fast actions” menu makes it fast and straightforward to construct skilled e mail advertising campaigns, or in case you want extra enter, the principle navigation menu is provided with all of the instruments you should construct a marketing campaign that’ll develop your checklist:

The most effective half is that, not like a whole lot of the opposite instruments in the marketplace, GetResponse comes absolutely outfitted with different options like touchdown pages, conversion funnels, webinars, and chats which give your e mail campaigns a greater shot at being profitable. 

ActiveCampaign:

ActiveCampaign’s e mail advertising suite additionally packs a punch. 

You need to use the software program to construct numerous forms of e mail advertising campaigns, like triggered and focused emails in addition to autoresponders. It additionally has prebuilt e mail funnels, that are useful if you should arrange a marketing campaign rapidly, or you’re a beginner in terms of e mail advertising.

Like GetResponse, ActiveCampaign additionally has a drag-and-drop software, which makes it simpler to construct professional-looking e mail campaigns with none coding expertise. There may be additionally an in depth library of mobile-friendly templates you need to use to begin sending out profitable e mail campaigns. 

Verdict:

The most important distinction between the 2 platforms is the variety of options every of them presents. GetResponse has a full-suite platform, however ActiveCampaign doesn’t have options like conversion funnels, webinars, and social media instruments that make it simpler to launch profitable e mail advertising campaigns.

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2. Deliverability is an enormous challenge, so which software does it higher?

GetResponse:

An e mail advertising software is solely helpful if these emails truly land in your contacts’ inboxes. 

At GetResponse, one in all our bragging factors is that the deliverability charge for our clients collectively sits at 99%!

So why and the way is our deliverability charge quantity so excessive? 

Lots of our success comes right down to components like message content material and the belief we’ve constructed with Web Service Suppliers (ISPs) world wide.

They belief us as a result of we not solely have a zero-tolerance coverage in direction of SPAM, however we additionally make it simple to maintain lists clear with our administration instruments and observe undeliverable e mail addresses to verify they’re filtered out.

We’ve additionally constructed an in-house in-house anti-abuse system known as Hydra, that helps determine and assess potential threats posed to our clients’ popularity and deliverability.

One other factor that units us aside is that we’ve got two full-time Groups dedicated to E-mail Deliverability & Compliance – and we’ve been on this enterprise for over 20 years.

In different phrases, in case you’re sending your emails with us, you’re in good palms.

ActiveCampaign:

ActiveCampaign additionally has a excessive deliverability charge for his or her emails. 

A examine by Email Tool Tester tracked the software’s inbox charge (barely totally different from deliverability however associated) and located that in September 2020 it sat at 73%. In the identical month, GetResponse scored 86%.

However do take these outcomes with a grain of salt. They typically fluctuate and even prime performers like GetResponse and ActiveCampaign expertise ups and downs. Plus, deliverability is tightly associated to the content material of your communication – not simply the platform you’re utilizing to ship your emails.

Verdict:

Each of those instruments are prone to get your emails to their vacation spot.

3. Do they each supply touchdown pages?

GetResponse:

Sure — GetResponse has a software the place you’ll be able to construct {custom} pages or use over 180 totally different templates to create the proper touchdown web page.

Like the e-mail drag-and-drop software, GetResponse landing page builder is all about ease of use. You possibly can create touchdown pages which are mobile-responsive {and professional} with none coding expertise. 

And if you wish to add code? Utilizing the editor, you’ll be able to add {custom} code utilizing HTML, CSS, or Javascript. If you wish to add or embed any exterior components, all you should do is a fast minimize and paste. 

And to make the web page pop, the software has a built-in picture editor that permits you to add your personal photographs. It’s also possible to import images straight from Shutterstock and even add participating GIFs from Giphy to your touchdown web page.

When you’re proud of how the touchdown web page seems to be, you’ll be able to launch it instantly and begin gathering leads that’ll be filtered straight into your e mail lists.

With the touchdown web page creator, you’ll be able to:

• construction your touchdown pages utilizing sections
• add content material blocks for photographs, video, textual content, and buttons
• add static and pop-up varieties
• add webinar registration varieties
• add a way of urgency with countdown timers
• accumulate funds due to PayPal integration
• add social sharing icons
• add custom-code components utilizing HTML, CSS, or Javascript
• preview your touchdown web page to see what it seems to be like on a desktop or a cell system

ActiveCampaign:

ActiveCampaign additionally not too long ago launched an inbuilt touchdown web page builder. 

Like GetResponse, it has a drag-and-drop designer software that was created with ease of use in thoughts. You possibly can construct skilled wanting touchdown pages with a few clicks:

There may be additionally a library of templates you’ll be able to select from, and you may swap out components of the template so as to add in your personal photographs, movies, and calls to motion.

Verdict:

Each instruments supply nice, value-for-money touchdown web page builders.

4. What about conversion funnels? 

GetResponse:

Conversion funnels could be daunting to construct, however GetResponse has simplified this as soon as difficult course of. 

The Conversion Funnel characteristic in GetResponse makes it tremendous simple so that you can construct profitable conversion funnels, even in case you’ve by no means performed it earlier than. The funnels are pre-designed situations of how a typical conversion would possibly look. 

For instance, in case you’re attempting to promote a course, the conversion path could appear like this:

With the Conversion Funnel characteristic, each step of this conversion is routinely organized into steps you’ll be able to visualize: 

Not solely are you able to see how profitable every step of your conversion path is, however you can even observe how worthwhile your efforts are. You possibly can see what number of leads enter your funnel, and in the end, what number of become paying clients.

Better of all? All of the instruments wanted to construct your conversion funnel are already a part of GetResponse.

ActiveCampaign:

ActiveCampaign doesn’t supply conversion funnels presently.

Verdict:

In the event you’re on the lookout for an answer that mixes a number of channels (e mail, touchdown pages, gross sales pages, Fb advertisements, Fb Pixel, and so on.) in a single easy dashboard, then GetResponse is the correct decide.

5. You would possibly want webinars, which one presents this characteristic?

GetResponse:

You possibly can launch an interactive webinar proper from the GetResponse dashboard. 

The webinar software’s performance helps you to create webinars which have a {custom} webinar URL, sign-up varieties, and inbuilt polls and surveys:

As a result of the webinars hyperlink again to GetResponse, each lead you accumulate might be routinely added to your e mail lists and nurtured. In the event you launch a webinar utilizing GetResponse, you’ll have entry to key options like: 

• Design instruments and interactive whiteboard
• Display screen sharing/interactive chat room
• Recording (so you’ll be able to remarket the webinar as soon as it’s over)
• Q&A session
• Moderated chat
• A number of hosts

Nevertheless, what makes GetResponse’s webinar software stand out is that it has a prebuilt promotion machine you need to use to promote stuff from inside your webinars. The machine has options like: 

• Predesigned registration pages
• Superior subscription settings
• Fee gateways

Utilizing these options, you’ll be able to promote merchandise, providers, and programs immediately out of your webinars. 

ActiveCampaign:

ActiveCampaign doesn’t have its personal webinar software. However you’ll be able to combine with instruments like GoToWebinar, StealthSeminat, and WebinarNinja to host webinars straight from the software program.

Verdict:

GetResponse comes with a built-in webinar software program that you just don’t have to pay further for. And in case you’d like to make use of an exterior software to run your webinar campaigns with, each platforms will combine with them seamlessly.

6. Any provisions for Fb or Google advertisements?

GetResponse:

GetResponse has a collection of instruments that have been created particularly to permit small companies and freelancers to create profitable Facebook and Google ads campaigns with out taking on a great deal of time. 

Let’s check out the Fb advert software first, which lets you simply create and publish advertisements from the software’s dashboard straight to social media. 

First, you’ll be able to construct a listing for the advert to focus on by choosing from classes like web site guests, related audiences, or current contacts.

Then, you need to use the Social Ads Creator app to create skilled, placing Fb advertisements that appear like they’ve come straight from a designer. Like different GetResponse options, the advert creator is a straightforward drag-and-drop software that anyone can grasp:

When you’re proud of how the advert seems to be, all that’s left to do is submit it — and you’re performed. 

We additionally not too long ago launched a tool that lets you build Google Ads from the dashboard. All you should do is add your Google Adverts account, add content material to your advert, create a target market, and set your finances: 

Straightforward!

ActiveCampaign:

You possibly can’t launch Fb or Google Adverts from ActiveCampaign, however you’ll be able to nonetheless sync your Fb Adverts account and add/take away contacts from Fb Customized Audiences.

Verdict:

In the event you’re on the lookout for simplicity in your paid advertisements campaigns, GetResponse has obtained you lined.

7. On the subject of segmentation, which software does it higher?

GetResponse:

We expect our suite of lead generation tools makes it simple to nurture contacts and convert them into paying clients. 

How? By utilizing segmentation to create extremely focused, personalised emails that make contacts really feel such as you’re speaking to them 1-to-1. 

This all begins with our varieties, which we created to gather probably the most helpful knowledge from contacts after they join via a e-newsletter or touchdown web page. 

As soon as they land in your contact checklist, you’ll be able to then assign tags to them primarily based on their conduct, and ship out focused emails to particular teams. 

What units GetResponse aside is that it routinely picks probably the most engaged contacts out of your checklist so you’ll be able to goal them. 

We name this an Engagement Rating. Utilizing real-time knowledge, GetResponse offers each contact in your checklist a rating primarily based on a 5-step scale:

• Not engaged (when someone is just not within the content material you ship them… in any respect)
• At-risk
• Impartial
• Engaged
• Extremely engaged (when someone loves the content material you ship and is actively opening emails and clicking the hyperlinks)

The Engagement Rating will then be proven in your contact checklist, so you’ll be able to goal your most engaged contacts and enhance your possibilities of turning them into paying clients.

An instance of contacts with various engagement scores

ActiveCampaign:

ActiveCampaign has a complete segmentation software that lets you seize and use contact knowledge like names, actions, and geography to phase contacts. 

Not solely are you able to observe this knowledge, however you can even use it to phase your contacts. In ActiveCampaign, you need to use segmentation to focus on your contacts primarily based on their conduct, utilizing knowledge like if a contact has opened an e mail or clicked a hyperlink:

Verdict:

The most important distinction between the 2 platforms is how intuitive GetResponse’s segmentation is.

Whereas each platforms allow you to phase your e mail checklist into classes like merchandise bought, web site visits, or trade, GetResponse additionally breaks down the lists into how engaged contacts are (routinely).

And that may be highly effective if you’re concentrating on contacts and attempting to shut offers.

8. Do they each supply e mail templates?

GetResponse:

We provide 100+ responsive e mail templates constructed particularly for the GetResponse New Email Creator & to be opened on any system.

Every template is top quality and professionally designed so you’ll be able to ship out campaigns to welcome, educate, promote, and promote without having any coding expertise. To make issues even simpler, the library is cut up into sections, from on-line advertising to ecommerce, journey, notifications, and plenty of others.

Like a whole lot of different instruments in our toolkit, our e mail templates are simple to customise utilizing a drag-and-drop builder.

ActiveCampaign:

ActiveCampaign additionally presents a bunch of templates you need to use to ship to your subscribers.

Like GetResponse, all of ActiveCampaign’s templates are mobile-friendly and straightforward to customise utilizing the drag-and-drop builder. Nevertheless, the library is barely smaller and the aesthetics appear a bit outdated.

9. Advertising automation? Anybody?

GetResponse:

Among the finest components a couple of advertising suite is that automation options can put on a regular basis duties on autopilot. 

GetResponse Marketing Automation builder is likely one of the most complete instruments obtainable for entrepreneurs who wish to create easy and superior automation. 

The drag-and-drop marketing automation builder helps you to create visible workflows to see the automation and customise every step as you go. You possibly can create automation occasions primarily based in your contacts’ conduct after which set off actions to happen primarily based on chosen circumstances. 

For instance, in order for you a sure e mail to solely be despatched if a contact clicks a hyperlink inside an e mail, all it’s a must to do is create that sequence and situation utilizing the visible automation builder: 

With the workflow, you can even add a “set off” into the workflow for occasions like: 

• new subscribers
• e mail opens
• clicks on hyperlinks
• deserted carts
• product purchases
• product upgrades
• URLs visited (i.e. pricing pages)

ActiveCampaign:

ActiveCampaign additionally has a visible automation builder that lets you see & assemble the phases in your automation sequence. 

All it’s a must to do is add in your chosen circumstances and emails, and ActiveCampaign will ship out the marketing campaign you design: 

It additionally comes with 500+ ready-made automation templates (or recipes as ActiveCampaign calls it), which is able to allow you to stand up to hurry with their software quick.

Verdict:

Each platforms supply strong Advertising Automation instruments that you need to use to run each easy & advanced communication sequences.

10. Do they each supply an autoresponder characteristic?

GetResponse:

Like a whole lot of different options that include GetResponse, autoresponders come packaged and able to use out of the field. 

Utilizing the autoresponder, you’ll be able to nurture and preserve relationships with contacts with out spending all of your time caught in your inbox.

Right here’s a fast breakdown of all the things you are able to do with GetResponse’s Autoresponder:

How do I create an autoresponder? – GetResponse Help

It’s also possible to view the autoresponders in a easy and intuitive calendar view. So in case you’re working a particular marketing campaign or need autoresponders to be despatched out on a particular day, all it’s a must to do is add it to the calendar: 

ActiveCampaign:

ActiveCampaign additionally has an autoresponder characteristic that you would be able to activate if you’re making a marketing campaign or constructing a advertising sequence utilizing the automation builder. 

You possibly can set autoresponders to be despatched out to new subscribers or via drip campaigns relying on the place they’re at in your advertising funnel. 

Utilizing the automation builder, you can even customise the triggers when the autoresponder might be despatched to a contact, like delaying it for an hour or a day after they signal as much as your checklist:

One other cool characteristic? ActiveCampaign additionally has a built-in SMS autoresponder, so you’ll be able to nurture contacts exterior of their inbox.

Verdict:

Each platforms allow you to create e mail drip campaigns utilizing Autoresponders.

ActiveCampaign’s characteristic additionally helps you to add SMS to the equation, which could be helpful in case you’re working an ecommerce enterprise.

11. What about pricing?

GetResponse:

GetResponse has a number of totally different pricing plans: Free, E-mail Advertising, Advertising Automation, Ecommerce Advertising, and a {custom} one – Max.

Pricing in the end will depend on your checklist measurement & the variety of options you wish to have entry to.

For lists of as much as 500 contacts, strive the Free account. For 1,000 contacts, the E-mail Advertising plan will price you simply over $15 monthly. That may get you entry to GetResponse’s e mail advertising suite, autoresponders, touchdown pages, and different important options.

The following tiered plan, Advertising Automation, prices $49/month and offers you entry to extra options like webinars, gross sales funnels, and the automation builder.

Lastly, there’s the Ecommerce Advertising plan that gives much more multichannel capabilities, like ecommerce automations, fast transactional emails, promo codes, internet push notifications, and extra

With the reductions GetResponse presents, you may get 18% or 30% off for 12- or 24-month plans, respectively. Particular pricing is accessible for registered non-profit organizations (as much as 50% low cost). Customized options can be found for lists with greater than 100,000 subscribers.

ActiveCampaign:

ActiveCampaign presents a free 14-day trial and 4 paid plans: Lite, Plus, Skilled, and Enterprise.

For 1,000 contacts, the Lite plan prices $29 monthly. It offers you entry to their advertising automation, e mail advertising, inline varieties, and some different options ($39 in case you pay month-to-month).

However if you wish to use extra superior instruments like touchdown pages, contact scoring, or Fb Customized Audiences, you’ll have to improve to the $49 monthly Plus plan ($70 in case you pay month-to-month).

And if you wish to A/B check your automations and use predictive sending, you then’ll have to go for his or her Skilled plan that prices $149/mo for two,500 contacts ($187 with out the annual-plan low cost).

Verdict:

Each GetResponse and ActiveCampaign supply some distinctive options and integrations.

Out of the 2, GetResponse is extra reasonably priced for a similar checklist measurement. It additionally comes with extra built-in functionalities that basically eradicate the necessity to enroll in exterior instruments to run your webinars or create conversion funnels.

GetResponse vs ActiveCampaign full characteristic comparability

So, ActiveCampaign vs. GetResponse… which one is best?

The reply to this query comes right down to what you actually need the software to do. 

If you need a software that goes past e mail advertising and lets you construct skilled Fb advertisements, create {custom} conversion funnels, and nurture clients routinely — GetResponse is your software. 

Nevertheless, the simplest manner to select is to match options and pricing. Choosing a advertising automation software is an enormous step — so ensure you do your homework and that the software you decide ticks all of the containers in your checklist earlier than you make investments!

And in case you’ve already made your thoughts – and wish to take GetResponse for a spin, you’ll be able to create a free perpetually account utilizing the button under. No bank card wanted ?