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ActiveCampaign vs GetResponse: cost and features compared (2026)
Last verified against official pricing pages · USD, monthly billing, excluding tax
Prices change often. Every price here was checked against the platform's official pricing page on the date shown, but plans, promos and taxes vary. Always confirm on the official site before you buy or switch. Not financial advice.
Quick answer
- Basic newsletter: GetResponse is cheaper at 5,000, 10,000 and 25,000 subscribers; they cost the same at 1,000 subscribers.
- With automations: GetResponse is cheaper at 5,000, 10,000 and 25,000 subscribers; they cost the same at 1,000 subscribers.
- Paid newsletter: only GetResponse has a verified option at every size we checked.
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Cost at 1k, 5k, 10k and 25k subscribers
Basic newsletter (no automations)
| Subscribers | ActiveCampaign | GetResponse | Cheaper |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1,000 | $19 (Starter) | $19 (Starter) | Same |
| 5,000 | $99 (Starter) | $54 (Starter) | GetResponse by $45/mo |
| 10,000 | $189 (Starter) | $79 (Starter) | GetResponse by $110/mo |
| 25,000 | $489 (Starter) | $174 (Starter) | GetResponse by $315/mo |
With automations (welcome sequences, drips)
| Subscribers | ActiveCampaign | GetResponse | Cheaper |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1,000 | $19 (Starter) | $19 (Starter, limited) | Same |
| 5,000 | $99 (Starter) | $54 (Starter, limited) | GetResponse by $45/mo |
| 10,000 | $189 (Starter) | $79 (Starter, limited) | GetResponse by $110/mo |
| 25,000 | $489 (Starter) | $174 (Starter, limited) | GetResponse by $315/mo |
Paid newsletter (5% of subscribers pay $8/mo)
| Subscribers | ActiveCampaign | GetResponse | Cheaper |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1,000 | n/a | $95.60 (Creator) | GetResponse (only option in our verified data) |
| 5,000 | n/a | $242 (Creator) | GetResponse (only option in our verified data) |
| 10,000 | n/a | $400 (Creator) | GetResponse (only option in our verified data) |
| 25,000 | n/a | $914 (Creator) | GetResponse (only option in our verified data) |
Switching? ActiveCampaign → GetResponse cost · GetResponse → ActiveCampaign cost · Best platform for your needs
Cheapest plan on each platform that covers the list size and required features. Paid-newsletter totals include the plan, any platform cut and estimated card processing (Stripe 2.9% + $0.30 per payment; Kit's all-in fee instead). "limited" = feature is capped on that plan. Run your exact numbers →
Key differences
| ActiveCampaign | GetResponse | |
|---|---|---|
| Free plan | no free plan | free up to 500 subscribers |
| Fee on paid subscriptions | not verified (not listed on the official pricing pages) | 0% platform cut + Stripe fees |
| Cheapest plan with automations | Starter (from $19/mo) | Marketer (from $59/mo) |
| Cheapest plan with own domain | Plus (from $59/mo) | Starter (from $19/mo) |
| Cheapest plan without platform branding | Plus (from $59/mo) | Starter (from $19/mo) |
| Plans | Starter, Plus, Pro, Enterprise | Free, Starter, Marketer, Creator |
| Prices verified | 2026-10-20 | 2026-10-20 |
Who each is best for
ActiveCampaign is best for
Businesses that live on automation (multi-step journeys, scoring, CRM-style follow-up) and are happy to pay more per contact than newsletter-first tools.
- Priced by contact count in bands (1,000, 2,500, 5,000, 7,500, 10,000, 15,000 ... 50,000); above 50,000 you request a quote. No free plan, only a 14-day trial. source
- The pricing page shows yearly billing; monthly billing costs more (e.g. Starter at 1,000 contacts: $19/mo monthly vs $180/yr), as shown on the official checkout page. source
- Monthly sends = 10× contacts on Starter and Plus, 12× on Pro, 15× on Enterprise; extra sends cost $0.005 each. source
- Multi-step automation on every plan. Landing pages on your own domain and turning off ActiveCampaign branding start at Plus. source
GetResponse is best for
Senders who email often (sends are unlimited), want automation, landing pages and webinars in one tool, or want paid newsletters without a revenue cut.
- Priced by list size (1k, 2.5k, 5k, 10k, 25k, 50k, 100k) with unlimited email sends on every paid plan; 12-month prepay saves 18%. source
- Free plan: up to 500 contacts and 2,500 newsletters a month; automations only during the first 14 days; GetResponse badge on emails. source
- Starter allows only 1 custom automation workflow; Marketer and Creator are unlimited. source
- Paid newsletters only on Creator: 0% GetResponse fee, Stripe fees apply. source
- Going over your list size adds a monthly "List extension fee" (the price difference to the next size) until you drop back below it. source
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FAQ
Is ActiveCampaign cheaper than GetResponse?
It depends on your list and needs. In our data (monthly billing, 1,000 / 5,000 / 10,000 / 25,000 subscribers): basic newsletter — GetResponse is cheaper at 5,000, 10,000 and 25,000 subscribers; they cost the same at 1,000 subscribers. With automations — GetResponse is cheaper at 5,000, 10,000 and 25,000 subscribers; they cost the same at 1,000 subscribers. Paid newsletter — only GetResponse has a verified option at every size we checked. Prices verified 2026-10-20.
Which has the bigger free plan, ActiveCampaign or GetResponse?
ActiveCampaign: no free plan. GetResponse: free up to 500 subscribers. Free plans have feature limits — see the comparison table.
Do ActiveCampaign and GetResponse take a cut of paid subscriptions?
ActiveCampaign: not verified (not listed on the official pricing pages). GetResponse: 0% platform cut + Stripe fees.
What do ActiveCampaign and GetResponse cost at 10,000 subscribers?
On monthly billing, a basic newsletter costs $189/mo on ActiveCampaign Starter and $79/mo on GetResponse Starter. With automations: $189/mo (ActiveCampaign Starter) vs $79/mo (GetResponse Starter).
Sources
- ActiveCampaign pricing (checked 2026-10-20)
- ActiveCampaign: activecampaign.com/signup/?code=ac&tier=starter&contacts=1000¤cy=USD
- ActiveCampaign: help.activecampaign.com/hc/en-us/articles/10918125380764-About-email-send-limits-and-overage-fees
- ActiveCampaign: help.activecampaign.com/hc/en-us/articles/206775170-How-to-turn-off-ActiveCampaign-branding-in-your-account
- GetResponse pricing (checked 2026-10-20)
- GetResponse: paid subscriptions
- GetResponse: getresponse.com/help/can-i-try-getresponse-before-i-buy.html
- GetResponse: getresponse.com/help/what-happens-when-i-go-over-my-list-size-limit.html
- Stripe pricing (card-fee estimate)
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