Active Campaign
Brevo
Campaign Monitor
1. User sentiment: ActiveCampaign leads with decent customization capabilities
| Feature | Active Campaign | Brevo | Campaign Monitor |
|---|---|---|---|
| Average Rating | 4.5/5 (13K+ reviews) | 4.5/5 (2,000+ reviews) | 4.7/5 (1000+ reviews) |
| Ease of Use Sentiment | Valued for powerful customization, but has a steeper learning curve as noted in online reviews | User-friendly | Consistently praised as intuitive and user-friendly |
| Customer Support Satisfaction | Well-regarded | Well-regarded | Fast support time is consistently praised in online reviews |
| User Loyalty | High retention among growth-focused businesses | Popular among small businesses | Many users report 10+ years of usage |
| Best for → | Growing businesses needing advanced features | SMBs with simpler marketing needs | Marketers prioritizing usability and design |
ActiveCampaign receives strong reviews for its comprehensive feature set, though some users note a steeper learning curve. The platform is popular among businesses that need decent automation and CRM capabilities. Meanwhile, Brevo is popular among small businesses and marketers with simpler email marketing needs.
Campaign Monitor strikes an ideal balance, with users consistently praising its intuitive interface and standout customer support.
"LOVE Campaign Monitor... it's very user friendly. The support is exceptional. It helps us reach a large audience in a personal way and a format which drives results above industry benchmarks.”
2. Design & user experience: Both platforms excel with different strengths
| Feature | Active Campaign | Brevo | Campaign Monitor |
|---|---|---|---|
| Email Editor | Drag-and-drop builder | Drag-and-drop with mobile-responsive templates | Intuitive drag-and-drop email builder with visual design focus |
| Template Library | A wide range of email templates | A wide range of email templates | A great variety of mobile-optimized templates with auto-branded options |
| Brand Consistency | AI Brand Kit for instant branding application | Doesn't offer auto-branding; users can save brand assets in the brand library | Auto-branded templates from website URL |
| Customization Level | Deep, HTML customization with conditional content | HTML editor | Balance of simplicity and customization with HTML tools and auto-branding |
| Best for → | Multi-industry businesses | Beginners needing decent designing capability | Marketers who value high-quality, professional design |
ActiveCampaign offers deeper customization options with extensive HTML capabilities, while Brevo provides a decent template variety. However, Brevo doesn't offer auto-branding; users can save brand assets in the brand library so new email designs automatically inherit your brand settings.
Campaign Monitor by Marigold provides the best of both approaches—professional templates that automatically pull your brand elements, combined with an intuitive interface that doesn't require technical expertise. Users consistently describe Campaign Monitor templates as "THE BEST looking.”
"Role Models used Campaign Monitor's drag-and-drop email builder to maintain a consistent brand presence across communications, helping them achieve a 23.5% open rate and 12.6% click-through rate, driving a 24% increase in bookings."
3. Automation & journeys: ActiveCampaign wins with advanced workflow capabilities
| Feature | Active Campaign | Brevo | Campaign Monitor |
|---|---|---|---|
| Trigger Options | Behavior, purchase, web/app activity, custom events | Time-based, behavior-based, and event-based triggers | Time-based, behavior-based, and event-based triggers |
| Workflow Complexity | Multi-channel journeys with split testing and branching | Multi-channel journeys i/then branching | Focused on email-centric journeys with if/then branching |
| Prebuilt Journeys | 950+ automation recipes | Welcome series, abandoned cart, product announcements, birthdays, anniversaries | Welcome series, abandoned cart, anniversaries, events |
| Advanced Features | Advanced conditional splits, lead scoring | Send-time optimization, time zone scheduling | Send time optimization and time zone sending |
| Best for → | Complex lifecycle marketing campaigns | Businesses with simpler automation needs | Marketers needing sophisticated automation workflows |
ActiveCampaign offers 950+ pre-built automation recipes and AI-powered workflow generation. Users can input goals and generate complete automated sequences. Brevo offers prebuilt journeys (welcome series, abandoned cart, product announcements, birthdays, anniversaries), time-based, behavior-based, and event-based triggers, and send time optimization features.
Campaign Monitor also offers advanced yet straightforward automation capabilities. With simple branching and prebuilt journeys (welcome series, abandoned cart, anniversaries), the platform makes advanced automation easier to implement without sacrificing capability.
And while ActiveCampaign and Brevo offer multi-channel support, Campaign Monitor has perfected email for over two decades, focusing on delivering maximum success in this powerhouse channel.
"Wonderful Union saved 40 hours weekly using Campaign Monitor's automated email campaigns and saw a 13% increase in CTR on automated sequences, generating a 700% ROI from email marketing campaigns."
4. Deliverability & performance: Both platforms maintain excellent standards
| Feature | Active Campaign | Brevo | Campaign Monitor |
|---|---|---|---|
| Delivery Rate | Industry-standard delivery rates (the exact number isn’t mentioned on the website) | High delivery rates (the exact number isn’t mentioned on the site) | 99% delivery rate with strong reputation |
| Inbox Placement | Dedicated deliverability control | Consistent inbox placement | Strong reputation with email providers |
| Performance Monitoring | Omnichannel reporting with attribution models | Real-time dashboards | Real-time performance dashboards with bot click filtering |
| Deliverability Tools | Deliverability insights and BotSense filtering | Spam trap detection, automated blocklisting of hard bounces | Inbox previews, spam testing, and deliverability experts |
| Best for → | Teams needing detailed attribution and insights | Teams looking for reliable delivery | Businesses prioritizing reliable delivery with expert support |
Both platforms maintain excellent deliverability standards. ActiveCampaign offers performance monitoring across multiple channels and BotSense filtering, while Brevo supports strong deliverability with built-in spam trap detection, automatic blocklisting of hard bounces, and real-time segmentation tools to maintain sender reputation.
Campaign Monitor offers access to deliverability experts, real-time tracking, inbox previews, spam testing, and non-human click filtering that removes bot (non-human) activity from reports. This combination of reliable infrastructure and expert support makes it ideal for businesses that want excellent deliverability without technical complexity.
"We use Campaign Monitor because it is quite easy to use. It is also very reasonably priced. We haven't had any problems with deliverability or in creating the emails."
5. Segmentation & personalization: ActiveCampaign leads with predictive capabilities
| Feature | Active Campaign | Brevo | Campaign Monitor |
|---|---|---|---|
| Segmentation Capabilities | Behavior-based and AI-powered segmentation (e.g., web visits, purchase data, CRM activity) | Dynamic segments using behavioral filters, conditions, and 50+ custom fields | Custom fields and advanced segmentation using demographic and behavioral data |
| Dynamic Content | Conditional and dynamic content blocks | Dynamic content blocks using if/else logic | Dynamic content blocks using if/else logic and custom fields |
| Personalization Options | Automatically generated personalization tags | Personalization using contact attributes (e.g., name, birthday, location) | Supports default tags (name, email) and up to 50 custom fields (birthday, country) |
| Predictive Analytics | Customer lifetime value, purchase likelihood | Send time optimization and time zone sending | Send time optimization and time zone sending feature |
| Targeting Precision | AI-assisted audience segmentation using detailed behavioral and profile data | Targeting via segments, filters, and contact behavior | Strong targeting by engagement, behavior, demographics, and preferences |
| Best for → | Complex audience targeting needs | Businesses wanting AI-assisted personalization | Marketer-friendly personalization without complexity |
ActiveCampaign offers predictive analytics capabilities including win probability scoring and customer lifetime value calculations. The platform's advanced segmentation allows for highly targeted campaigns based on complex behavioral patterns.
Brevo supports dynamic segmentation using saved filters (e.g., engagement activity, contact ownership, email opens), and personalization via contact attributes (e.g., name, birthday). Campaign Monitor also offers these capabilities through a structured and user-friendly platform built for marketers.
Campaign Monitor excels with powerful segmentation tools, including custom fields and behavioral data (location, purchase history, etc), dynamic content, and a fully customizable preference center (frequency, topics). It supports up to 50 custom fields and personalization tags (name, birthday, country).
The Australian Red Cross used Campaign Monitor's preference center and smart segmentation to achieve a 68% increase in open rates, a 201% increase in click-through rates, and a 75% increase in conversions from a single personalized email campaign.
6. Integration ecosystem: ActiveCampaign offers broader connectivity
| Feature | Active Campaign | Brevo | Campaign Monitor |
|---|---|---|---|
| Number of Integrations | 950+ available integrations | 150+ integrations | 250+ integrations with focus on quality |
| E-commerce Platforms | Shopify, WooCommerce, BigCommerce, Magento | Shopify, WooCommerce, BigCommerce | Shopify, WooCommerce, MailSync |
| CRM Integrations | Salesforce, Pipedrive, Zoho CRM | Salesforce, HubSpot, Pipedrive | Integrations with various CRM platforms (Salesforce, Zoho, Zapier) |
| API Access | API access for bi-directional sync | Open API with documentation | Robust API for custom integrations |
| Best for → | Complex tech stacks requiring extensive connectivity | Teams needing access to major tools | Marketers working with major platforms seeking quality |
ActiveCampaign offers integrations spread over different industries like ecommerce, reporting and analytics, etc, while Brevo’s integration ecosystem covers marketing tools that SMBs commonly use, spread around different categories
Campaign Monitor delivers a focused, marketer-friendly experience through its integration ecosystem—ideal for teams that want dependable, easy-to-deploy email marketing tools. Campaign Monitor offers integrations with strong native integrations to platforms like Salesforce, Shopify, WooCommerce, HubSpot, etc. It also provides flexible API access (RESTful API v3.3) to support custom workflows and third-party apps.
Girls Who Code leveraged Campaign Monitor's Salesforce integration with custom fields for deeper list precision, helping them achieve a 40% email open rate, 22% click-to-open rate, and a 150% increase in student applications.
7. AI-powered features: Brevo takes the lead with comprehensive AI suite
| Feature | Active Campaign | Brevo | Campaign Monitor |
|---|---|---|---|
| AI Content Creation | Generative AI for emails, subject lines, landing pages | AI Marketing Agent: generates or refines content using AI-powered prompts | Content creation with AI writer |
| Design Intelligence | AI brand kit, creative assistant | AI Conversations Agent: refines tone and expands notes into responses | Personalized copy suggestions (adapt your content for specific audiences), auto-branding |
| Optimization Tools | Predictive sending, content optimization | Send time recommendation and time zone sending feature | A/B testing with insights & goals (increase open-rates, click-through rates, and visits to a URL) |
| Predictive Features | Win probability, lead scoring, CLV | Send time recommendation and product recommendation based on real-time insights | Send time recommendation & time zone sending feature |
| Best for → | Advanced AI-driven automation and predictions | Marketers wanting comprehensive AI assistance | Focused AI assistance for marketers |
ActiveCampaign offers comprehensive automation, predictive analytics, and content generation with tools like AI campaign builder, AI writer, and AI Brand Kit while Brevo offers AI-powered prompts for generating and refining content, tone adjustment tools, send time recommendations, and real-time product suggestions through AI agents.
Campaign Monitor offers focused AI tools for marketers—like the AI writer to create content and refine copy, send time optimization (sending emails when a subscriber is most likely to engage), and a time zone sending feature that adjusts delivery times to match each subscriber’s local time.
While Brevo and ActiveCampaign offer more AI tools, Campaign Monitor's approach provides practical assistance that integrates seamlessly into the workflow without requiring extensive setup or configuration.
8. Pricing & scalability: Both platforms offer flexible pricing
| Feature | Active Campaign | Brevo | Campaign Monitor |
|---|---|---|---|
| Free Plan | 14-day free trial | $0/month (300 emails/day) | $0 (500 contacts) |
| Entry-Level Plan | Starter: Starts at $15 USD/month | Starter: Starts at $9/month | Lite: Starts at $12 USD/month |
| Mid-Tier Plan | Plus: Starts at $49 USD/month Pro: Starts at $79 USD/month | Business: Starts at $18/month | Essentials: Starts at $29 USD/month |
| Premium | Enterprise: Starts at $145 USD/month | Enterprise: Custom pricing | Premier: Starts at $159 USD/month |
| Best for → | High-volume senders | Small businesses and budget-conscious users | Businesses wanting predictable pricing |
ActiveCampaign, Brevo, and Campaign Monitor offer flexible pricing based on your contact and month send needs.
9. Support & resources: ActiveCampaign provides more comprehensive guidance
| Feature | Active Campaign | Brevo | Campaign Monitor |
|---|---|---|---|
| Support Channels | Chat and ticket support available on all plans | Email support on the free and entry-level plans and priority phone support on business and premium plan | 24/5 global support via multiple channels (email support on all tiers, phone support on Premium) |
| Response Quality | Generally well-regarded for helpful support, but some online reviews suggest longer response time | Well-regarded | Fast response times consistently praised |
| Knowledge Resources | Help docs, training & events | Knowledge base, webinars, documentation | Extensive help center, training videos, and email academy (even on free plan) |
| Onboarding Support | Onboarding assistance on higher tiers | Tailored onboarding on Enterprise plan | Professional services team available |
| Best for → | Teams needing strategic guidance and automation expertise | Businesses wanting reliable standard support | Businesses valuing responsive support and expert assistance |
ActiveCampaign offers chat and ticket support, with guidance delivered through its resource center and training tools, while Brevo offers email support on the free and entry-level plans and priority phone support on business and premium plans along with resources like a knowledge base and webinars.
Campaign Monitor, on the other hand, offers 24/5 global support via email and phone (premium plan), access to deliverability experts regardless of plan tier, onboarding assistance, and extensive resources like training videos and an email academy.
"Been working with Campaign Monitor for 10+ years… Not only does the platform make sending highly-customized emails easy and fun, their support team is phenomenal… Highly recommend."
