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ActiveCampaign vs Groove vs AroundDeal vs CrankWheel Comparison

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ActiveCampaign

4.5(12,031 reviews)

Starting at $29 /User/Month

  • Free Trial
  • Freelancers / Consultants
  • Large Enterprises

ActiveCampaign is the most powerful marketing automation tool designed to help you nail your next digital campaign. From nurture campaigns that convert new subscribers into long-term customers, to smart lead scoring that…

Groove

4.7(4,260 reviews)

Starting at Contact for pricing

  • Large Enterprises
  • Medium Business

Groove is a sales engagement platform that makes communication and collaboration easy. Feature rich, the system is used by thousands of companies to connect sales teams, track deals from lead to close, and drive revenue.…

AroundDeal

3.5(73 reviews)

Starting at Contact for pricing

  • Large Enterprises
  • Medium Business

AroundDeal is the ultimate tool for B2B marketing initiatives. Our extension helps you quickly and accurately identify leads necessary to close deals faster. We provide you with a list of high-quality, high-value prospec…

CrankWheel

5.0(30 reviews)

Starting at $89 /Month

  • Large Enterprises
  • Medium Business

CrankWheel provides instant screen-sharing and helps you to quickly reduce your sales cycle by half. It can broadcast your visual presentation from your phone in just 10 seconds, simplifying the process of responding to…

Groove leads on user satisfaction with a 4.7-star rating across 4,260 reviews.

ActiveCampaign vs Groove vs AroundDeal vs CrankWheel — at a glance

FeatureActiveCampaignGrooveAroundDealCrankWheel
Rating4.5 / 54.7 / 53.5 / 55.0 / 5
Reviews12,0314,2607330
Starting price$29 /User/MonthContact for pricingContact for pricing$89 /Month
Free trial Yes No No No
Free version No No No No
Best forFreelancers / Consultants, Large Enterprises, Medium BusinessLarge Enterprises, Medium Business, Small BusinessLarge Enterprises, Medium Business, Small BusinessLarge Enterprises, Medium Business, Small Business
CategoryMarketing Automation SoftwareSales Engagement SoftwareSales Intelligence SoftwareSales Engagement Software
PlatformsSaaS/Web/Cloud, Mobile - Android, Mobile - iOSSaaS/Web/CloudSaaS/Web/CloudSaaS/Web/Cloud, Installed - Windows, Installed - Mac
APIAvailableAvailable
Support modesBusiness Hours, OnlineBusiness Hours, OnlineOnline24/7 (Live rep), Business Hours, Online
CertificationsSOC 2, HIPAA, GDPRSOC 2, GDPR
Data residencyGlobalGlobalUS

Key differences between ActiveCampaign and Groove

  • Pricing: ActiveCampaign starts at $29 /User/Month. Groove pricing is not publicly listed.
  • Free trial: ActiveCampaign offers a free trial; Groove does not.
  • Target audience: ActiveCampaign is built for Freelancers / Consultants and Large Enterprises, while Groove targets Large Enterprises and Medium Business.
  • User satisfaction: Groove scores higher with a 4.7-star average.
  • Deployment: ActiveCampaign supports SaaS/Web/Cloud, Mobile - Android, Mobile - iOS; Groove supports SaaS/Web/Cloud.

Compare ActiveCampaign vs Groove vs AroundDeal vs CrankWheel — and walk away knowing which one fits.

01

Which tool fits your team best

02

Which is actually cheaper for your team size

03

Where each product wins, per real buyers

Most Marketing Automation Software tools look identical on paper. This comparison cuts to the differences that matter — pricing structure, team fit, and what real buyers found after signing up.

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Free PDF comparison

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Biggest differences

Start here before you go deeper into features.

ActiveCampaign

Best for SMBs needing powerful, flexible marketing automation with integrated CRM.

Choose if
  • You want robust automation workflows with a visual builder for complex campaigns.
  • You need strong segmentation and targeting for personalized marketing efforts.
  • You value responsive, knowledgeable customer support to help navigate the platform.
Consider alternatives if
  • You require highly advanced, flexible email design customization beyond platform limits.
  • You prefer very simple, minimal automation tools with little to no learning curve.

Groove

Best for medium-sized sales teams needing seamless Salesforce and Gmail integration.

Choose if
  • You want a simple, streamlined sales engagement platform with medium setup complexity.
  • Your team relies heavily on Salesforce and Gmail for sales communication and tracking.
  • You need effective email management and client interaction tracking via built-in Flows.
Consider alternatives if
  • Your organization requires highly customizable or complex sales workflows beyond Groove's scope.
  • You need transparent, fixed pricing without engaging sales for quotes.

AroundDeal

Best for

Large Enterprises, Medium Business, Small Business

CrankWheel

Best for

Large Enterprises, Medium Business, Small Business

ActiveCampaign: Best for SMBs needing powerful, flexible marketing automation with integrated CRM. Groove: Best for medium-sized sales teams needing seamless Salesforce and Gmail integration.

Description

ActiveCampaign is the most powerful marketing automation tool designed to help you nail your next digital campaign. From nurture campaigns that convert new subscribers into long-term ... Read More about ActiveCampaign

Groove is a sales engagement platform that makes communication and collaboration easy. Feature rich, the system is used by thousands of companies to connect sales teams, track deals from ... Read More about Groove

AroundDeal is the ultimate tool for B2B marketing initiatives. Our extension helps you quickly and accurately identify leads necessary to close deals faster. We provide you with a list of ... Read More about AroundDeal

CrankWheel provides instant screen-sharing and helps you to quickly reduce your sales cycle by half. It can broadcast your visual presentation from your phone in just 10 seconds, ... Read More about CrankWheel

Entry Level Pricing

  • Starts from $29
  • Not Available
  • Not Available
  • Starts from $89

Free Trial Availability

  • Free Trial available
  • No free trial
  • No free trial
  • No free trial

SpotScore

What's this? ↗

9.8/10

9.4/10

Not Available

Not Available

User Ratings

Based on verified Spotsaas reviews

3.5

(73)

Best Company Size

10-500 employeesSmall to medium businesses
100 to 1,000 employeesMedium Business
Get pricing help
Get pricing help

Where each option fits best

See where each product is strongest, which teams it fits, and what causes buyers to keep looking — before you commit.

Based on buyer reviews and verified product data collected by Spotsaas.

Strengths

Key strengths

ActiveCampaign

  • Smooth Automation: ActiveCampaign lets your marketing team create highly personalized customer experiences through reliable automation workflows. Set up a campaign that runs itself, engaging customers at the right moments without manual intervention.
  • Advanced CRM Functionality: With its integrated CRM, ActiveCampaign helps you manage customer relationships efficiently. You'll gain insights into your sales pipeline and customer interactions, allowing you to make informed decisions that drive growth.
  • Segmentation and Targeting: This platform lets you segment audiences precisely, making it easier to design messages based on user behavior and preferences. By doing so, you can significantly increase engagement rates and conversions.

Groove

  • Smooth Collaboration: Groove improves team communication by integrating various tools into one platform. Managers will appreciate the ease of collaboration, while team members can easily share updates and feedback in real time.
  • Increased Productivity: With Groove's intuitive interface and automation features, teams can focus on their core tasks rather than getting bogged down by administrative duties. Executives will find that this boost in productivity leads to faster decision-making and improved outcomes.
  • Data-Driven Insights: Groove provides reliable analytics and reporting capabilities, allowing administrators to track performance metrics effectively. This data lets leaders make informed decisions that drive growth and efficiency across the organization.
Best fit

Best fit

ActiveCampaign

  • 10 to 500 employees
  • Martech, SaaS, E-commerce, Consulting, and Nonprofits
  • Marketing Managers, Sales Managers, Customer Success Representatives, and CRM Administrators

Groove

  • 100 to 1,000 employees
  • Sales Automation, SaaS, Consulting, and Revtech
  • Sales Managers, Account Executives, Business Development Representatives, and CRM Administrators
Watchouts

Reasons buyers look elsewhere

ActiveCampaign

  • Pricing starts at $15/month for basic automation but scales to $300+/month for enterprise features — teams under 10 people often switch to Mailchimp or ConvertKit for lower entry costs
  • Interface requires 2–3 weeks of training for non-technical users; competitors like HubSpot and Klaviyo offer faster setup paths
  • E-commerce sellers need Shopify or WooCommerce native connectors that ActiveCampaign doesn't provide natively — integration requires custom API work

Groove

  • Users may seek alternatives to Groove if they find the platform's pricing model to be restrictive, especially for small businesses or startups with limited budgets that require cost-effective solutions.
  • Some users might consider alternatives due to specific feature gaps in Groove, such as advanced reporting capabilities or integrations with niche tools that better suit their unique business needs.
  • A need for improved customer support could drive users to explore other options, especially if they experience delays or inadequate assistance from Groove’s support team during critical times.

Software Demo

Demo

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Step 1 of 4

How big is your team?

We tailor recommendations to companies your size.

Trusted by teams at

How do ActiveCampaign, Groove, AroundDeal and CrankWheel Compare on Features?

Total Features

30 Features

25 Features

5 Features

6 Features

Unique Features

No unique features

No unique features

No unique features

No unique features

Get Quote
Get Quote

Compare ActiveCampaign, Groove, AroundDeal and CrankWheel on pricing

Review starting price, plan structure, and free-trial access side by side so you can see which option fits your budget and buying process.

Pricing Option

          Starting From

          • $29
          • Not Available
          • Not Available
          • $89

          Pricing Plans

          • Not Available
          • Not Available
          • Not Available
          • Not Available

          Pricing Page

          ActiveCampaign pricing

          Pricing information not available

          Pricing information not available

          CrankWheel pricing

          Other Details

          Organization Types supported

          • Large Enterprises
          • Medium Business
          • Small Business
          • Freelancers
          • Individuals
          • Large Enterprises
          • Medium Business
          • Small Business
          • Freelancers
          • Individuals
          • Large Enterprises
          • Medium Business
          • Small Business
          • Freelancers
          • Individuals
          • Large Enterprises
          • Medium Business
          • Small Business
          • Freelancers
          • Individuals

          Platforms Supported

          • Browser Based (Cloud)
          • Installed - Windows
          • Installed - Mac
          • Mobile - Android
          • Mobile - iOS
          • Browser Based (Cloud)
          • Browser Based (Cloud)
          • Installed - Windows
          • Installed - Mac
          • Mobile - Android
          • Mobile - iOS
          • Browser Based (Cloud)
          • Browser Based (Cloud)
          • Installed - Windows
          • Installed - Mac
          • Mobile - Android
          • Mobile - iOS
          • Browser Based (Cloud)
          • Browser Based (Cloud)
          • Installed - Windows
          • Installed - Mac
          • Mobile - Android
          • Mobile - iOS
          • Browser Based (Cloud)

          Modes of support

          • 24/7 (Live rep)
          • Business Hours
          • Online
          • 24/7 (Live rep)
          • Business Hours
          • Online
          • 24/7 (Live rep)
          • Business Hours
          • Online
          • 24/7 (Live rep)
          • Business Hours
          • Online

          API Support

          • Available
          • Not Available
          • Not Available
          • Available
          Get help choosing
          Get help choosing

          Security & Compliance

          Certifications, data handling, and security controls for IT and compliance evaluators.

          SOC 2

          ✓ Yes
          ✓ Yes

          HIPAA

          ✓ Yes
          ✗ No

          GDPR

          ✓ Yes
          ✓ Yes

          ISO 27001

          ✗ No

          Single Sign-On (SSO)

          ✓ Yes
          ✓ Yes

          Multi-Factor Auth (MFA)

          ✓ Yes
          ✓ Yes

          Data Encryption

          ✓ Yes
          ✓ Yes

          Audit Logs

          ✓ Yes
          ✓ Yes

          Data Residency

          🌐 Global
          🌐 Global

          ActiveCampaign vs Groove vs AroundDeal User Reviews & Rating Comparison

          User Ratings

          5

          (based on 30 reviews)

          Rating Distribution

          1535

          287

          32

          12

          21

          500

          66

          2

          0

          0

          124

          16

          11

          0

          3

          0

          0

          0

          0

          0

          Spotsaas Editor’s POV generated by AI

          Buyer sentiment

          Overall, buyers appreciate ActiveCampaign for its powerful automation, excellent support, and user-friendly interface, though some find the learning curve and email design limitations challenging.

          What buyers like

          • Ease of use
          • Customer support
          • Automation capabilities

          Common complaints

          • Learning curve
          • Email design limitations

          Buyer sentiment

          Overall, users praise Groove for its ease of use, seamless integrations, and productivity enhancements, though some desire improved organization features and clearer pricing.

          What buyers like

          • Ease of use
          • Integration with Salesforce and Gmail
          • Email management and automation

          Common complaints

          • Pricing transparency
          • Organization features

          Buyer sentiment

          Buyer sentiment is mixed to positive across 154 reviews, with clear strengths and a few common watchouts.

          What buyers like

          • Identifies high-quality leads
          • Access to LinkedIn data
          • Deep insights

          Common complaints

          • Limited to B2B
          • Pricing can be high
          • Data accuracy issues

          Buyer sentiment

          Buyer sentiment is very strong across 30 reviews, with consistently positive feedback.

          What buyers like

          • Instant screen-sharing
          • Reduces sales cycle
          • Easy customer invitations

          Common complaints

          • Limited to screen-sharing
          • May require internet connection
          • Not suitable for large presentations

          Pros and Cons

          • Exceptional customer support with responsive and knowledgeable assistance

          • User-friendly platform with intuitive tools accessible to beginners

          • Robust automation capabilities including a visual workflow builder

          • Steep learning curve requiring time to master features

          • Automation workflows can feel overwhelming without training

          • Seamless integration with Salesforce and Gmail

          • Ease of use with intuitive interface and templates

          • Effective email management and client interaction tracking via Flows feature

          • Lack of transparent, published pricing requiring sales contact

          • Limited customization for complex or enterprise-heavy processes

          • Access to extensive LinkedIn data for lead generation.

          • User-friendly interface for quick navigation.

          • Deep insights help in decision-making.

          • Limited to B2B applications.

          • Pricing may be high for smaller businesses.

          • Quick and easy screen-sharing capabilities

          • Reduces sales cycle time significantly

          • Real-time engagement enhances customer experience

          • Limited features beyond screen-sharing

          • Requires stable internet connection

          Positive Reviews

          No reviews available for the product

          No reviews available for the product

          No reviews available for the product

          No reviews available for the product

          Negative Reviews

          No reviews available for the product

          No reviews available for the product

          No reviews available for the product

          No reviews available for the product

          Used ActiveCampaign, Groove, AroundDeal, or CrankWheel? Tell buyers what actually differs.

          List of Customers

          Customers

          Platinum Skin Care

          Platinum Skin Care

          MOM

          MOM

          Heather Read Photography

          Heather Read Photography

          Uber

          Uber

          BBVA

          BBVA

          Google

          Google

          No Customers information available.

          CrankWheel_customers_0

          CrankWheel_customers_0

          CrankWheel_customers_1

          CrankWheel_customers_1

          CrankWheel_customers_2

          CrankWheel_customers_2

          Media and Screenshots

          Screenshots

          All essential actions

          7 Screenshots

          Account page

          5 Screenshots

          Videos

          video-0

          2 Videos

          video-0

          1 Videos

          Expand your shortlist

          Add another option to compare side by side

          Search by product name to compare pricing, fit, and buyer feedback in one view.

          Disclaimer: This research has been collated from a variety of authoritative sources. We welcome your feedback at [email protected].

          Frequently asked questions

          Which is better, ActiveCampaign or Groove?
          Groove edges out the other on user ratings (4.7 vs 4.5). That said, the best pick depends on your use case — use the comparison tables above to evaluate each dimension.
          Do ActiveCampaign and Groove offer a free trial?
          ActiveCampaign offers a free trial. Groove does not.
          What is the starting price of ActiveCampaign vs Groove?
          ActiveCampaign starts at $29 /User/Month. Groove starts at Contact for pricing.
          What are the top alternatives to ActiveCampaign?
          Top alternatives to ActiveCampaign include Outgrow, CleverTap, Moosend, Omnisend, Hubspot Marketing Hub.
          What are the top alternatives to Groove?
          Top alternatives to Groove include AroundDeal, CrankWheel, ZoomInfo Engage, EngageBay, Captavi.