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Short answer: In ActiveCampaign vs AWeber, ActiveCampaign is the better tool for advanced automation, lead scoring and growing businesses that need a CRM-style setup. AWeber is better for beginners who want a free plan, simple newsletters and 24/7 phone support.
Last updated: October 2026 · How we researched this: we checked the official ActiveCampaign and AWeber pricing and features pages, read recent third-party pricing trackers and user reviews, and compared plan limits side by side.
Key takeaways
- Free option: AWeber has a free plan for up to 500 subscribers. ActiveCampaign has no free plan, only a 14-day trial.
- Entry price: AWeber Lite starts at about $15/month. ActiveCampaign Starter starts at about $15–$19/month for 1,000 contacts, depending on billing.
- Automation: ActiveCampaign is far more powerful, but its Starter plan limits each automation to 5 actions.
- Ease of use: AWeber is easier to learn. ActiveCampaign takes more time to set up well.
- Users: ActiveCampaign Starter and Plus include 1 user. AWeber Plus includes unlimited users.
ActiveCampaign vs AWeber at a glance
| Feature | ActiveCampaign | AWeber |
|---|---|---|
| Free plan | No (14-day trial) | Yes, up to 500 subscribers |
| Plans | Starter, Plus, Pro, Enterprise | Free, Lite, Plus, Done For You |
| Automation | Advanced: branching, conditions, lead scoring | Simple: tag, sign-up and click triggers |
| Automation limits | 5 actions per automation on Starter; unlimited on Plus and up | 3 automations on Lite; unlimited on Plus |
| Monthly sends | 10x contacts (Starter, Plus), 12x (Pro), 15x (Enterprise) | 10x list (Lite), 12x (Plus) |
| Users | 1 (Starter, Plus), 3 (Pro), 5 (Enterprise) | 3 (Lite), unlimited (Plus) |
| Landing pages | Plus and above | All plans (limited on Free and Lite) |
| Support | Chat and email; dedicated team on Enterprise | 24/7, including phone |
Plan details come from the ActiveCampaign pricing page and the AWeber pricing page, checked October 2026.
Pricing: ActiveCampaign vs AWeber costs
ActiveCampaign does not publish simple fixed prices; the price depends on contacts and billing period. Third-party trackers that checked in August 2026 listed these prices for 1,000 contacts.
| ActiveCampaign plan (1,000 contacts) | Billed yearly (per month) | Billed monthly |
|---|---|---|
| Starter | about $15 | about $19 |
| Plus | about $49 | about $59 |
| Pro | about $79 | about $99 |
| Enterprise | about $145 | about $179 |
AWeber is cheaper at the start. Lite costs about $15/month and Plus about $30/month for 500 subscribers (monthly billing), and AWeber Plus was about $55/month at 2,500 subscribers.
The real cost question
If you only need a newsletter and a welcome series, ActiveCampaign Plus is hard to justify. If automation will drive your sales, the extra cost can pay for itself. Price the plan with the features you will actually use, not the cheapest plan.
Automation: where ActiveCampaign wins
ActiveCampaign is built around automation. You can branch by behavior, wait for a goal, score leads and update contact fields. Pro and Enterprise add predictive and conditional content.
AWeber’s automations cover the common jobs: a welcome series, tag-based follow-ups and simple behavior triggers. They are quicker to build, but you cannot create complex if/then journeys.
Watch the Starter limit
ActiveCampaign Starter allows only 5 actions per automation. A welcome series with waits and emails can hit that fast. Most users who choose ActiveCampaign for automation end up on Plus or Pro.
Ease of use and learning curve
AWeber is one of the simplest tools in this market. Beginners can send a first newsletter on day one, with help from the AI Writing Assistant and built-in Canva.
ActiveCampaign has more menus and settings. Many reviewers on G2 and Capterra praise its power but mention a learning curve. Plan a few hours to set it up properly.
Integrations and CRM features
ActiveCampaign connects with hundreds of apps, including Shopify, WooCommerce, Salesforce and Zapier. It also has its own sales features, such as deal pipelines, on higher plans.
AWeber lists 750+ integrations, including Shopify, WordPress, WooCommerce, PayPal and Zapier. It has no built-in CRM, so you would connect a separate one if you need sales pipelines.
Support and deliverability
AWeber offers 24/7 support on all plans, including a toll-free phone line. ActiveCampaign provides chat and email support, with a dedicated account team on Enterprise.
Both tools deliver email well. Your results depend more on list quality, consent and domain authentication. Gmail and Yahoo now require authentication for bulk senders, as Google explains in its sender guidelines.
Decision checklist: which one fits you?
- Choose AWeber if you are new to email marketing and want to start free.
- Choose AWeber if your plan is a weekly newsletter plus a welcome series.
- Choose ActiveCampaign if you need lead scoring, branching journeys or sales pipelines.
- Choose ActiveCampaign if you sell online and want behavior-based flows across email and your store.
- Do not choose ActiveCampaign Starter for complex automation. The 5-action limit will frustrate you.
- Do not choose AWeber if you need a sales team working leads inside the same tool.
Pros and cons
| Pros | Cons | |
|---|---|---|
| ActiveCampaign | Best-in-class automation, lead scoring, CRM features | No free plan, learning curve, 1 user on lower plans |
| AWeber | Free plan, very easy to use, 24/7 phone support | Basic automation, no CRM, send caps |
Related guides
- AWeber vs Mailchimp: pricing, features and verdict
- AWeber vs ConvertKit (Kit): which email tool to pick
- How to use AWeber: step-by-step guide for beginners
FAQ: ActiveCampaign vs AWeber
Is ActiveCampaign better than AWeber?
ActiveCampaign is better for advanced automation and businesses that need CRM features. AWeber is better for beginners and small lists that want simple, affordable email marketing.
Does ActiveCampaign have a free plan?
No. ActiveCampaign offers a 14-day free trial with no credit card required, but no forever-free plan. AWeber has a free plan for up to 500 subscribers.
Which is cheaper, ActiveCampaign or AWeber?
AWeber is cheaper, especially at the start. AWeber Lite costs about $15/month, while ActiveCampaign plans with full automation start at about $49 to $59/month for 1,000 contacts.
Can I switch from AWeber to ActiveCampaign later?
Yes. Export your subscribers from AWeber as a CSV file and import them into ActiveCampaign. You will need to rebuild your forms and automations in the new tool.
Conclusion
ActiveCampaign vs AWeber is a choice between power and simplicity. Pick ActiveCampaign when automation is central to how you sell. Pick AWeber when you want an easy, low-cost way to grow and email your list.
For more options, see our AWeber vs GetResponse comparison or our full AWeber review.
