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ActiveCampaign vs Pipedrive vs Bigin by Zoho CRM 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…

Pipedrive

4.7(3,347 reviews)

Starting at $14 /user/month

  • Free Trial
  • Large Enterprises
  • Medium Business

Pipedrive is a user-friendly customer relationship management (CRM) software designed to help sales teams streamline their pipelines, manage leads efficiently, and close deals faster. Ideal for small to mid-sized busines…

Bigin by Zoho CRM

4.6(294 reviews)

Starting at $7 /User/Month

  • Free Trial
  • Small Business

Bigin is Zoho's lightweight CRM designed for small teams under 50 people running straightforward sales cycles. Its drag-and-drop pipeline and email sync with Gmail and Outlook allow reps to get productive within a day wi…

Pipedrive leads on user satisfaction with a 4.7-star rating across 3,347 reviews.

ActiveCampaign vs Pipedrive vs Bigin by Zoho CRM — at a glance

FeatureActiveCampaignPipedriveBigin by Zoho CRM
Rating4.5 / 54.7 / 54.6 / 5
Reviews12,0313,347294
Starting price$29 /User/Month$14 /user/month$7 /User/Month
Free trial Yes Yes Yes
Free version No No No
Best forFreelancers / Consultants, Large Enterprises, Medium BusinessLarge Enterprises, Medium Business, Small BusinessSmall Business
CategoryMarketing Automation SoftwareCRM SoftwareCRM Software
Integrations10+ apps
PlatformsSaaS/Web/Cloud, Mobile - Android, Mobile - iOSSaaS/Web/Cloud, Mobile - Android, Mobile - iOSSaaS/Web/Cloud, Mobile - Android, Mobile - iOS
APIAvailableAvailableAvailable
Support modesBusiness Hours, OnlineBusiness Hours, OnlineBusiness Hours, Online
CertificationsSOC 2, HIPAA, GDPRSOC 2, GDPR
Data residencyGlobalUSGlobal

Key differences between ActiveCampaign and Pipedrive

  • Pricing: ActiveCampaign starts at $29 /User/Month, while Pipedrive starts at $14 /user/month.
  • Target audience: ActiveCampaign is built for Freelancers / Consultants and Large Enterprises, while Pipedrive targets Large Enterprises and Medium Business.
  • User satisfaction: Pipedrive scores higher with a 4.7-star average.
  • Deployment: ActiveCampaign supports SaaS/Web/Cloud, Mobile - Android, Mobile - iOS; Pipedrive supports SaaS/Web/Cloud, Mobile - Android, Mobile - iOS.

Compare ActiveCampaign vs Pipedrive vs Bigin by Zoho CRM — 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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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.

Pipedrive

Best CRM for small to mid-sized sales teams needing streamlined pipeline management.

Choose if
  • You are a small or medium business seeking an intuitive, easy-to-learn CRM.
  • Your sales team needs AI-powered prompts and automated follow-ups to boost productivity.
  • You want cost-effective CRM with strong reporting and real-time sales analytics.
Consider alternatives if
  • Your enterprise requires highly complex CRM customizations and deep third-party integrations.
  • You need extensive relationship linking beyond standard sales contacts.

Bigin by Zoho CRM

Best for

Small Business

ActiveCampaign: Best for SMBs needing powerful, flexible marketing automation with integrated CRM. Pipedrive: Best CRM for small to mid-sized sales teams needing streamlined pipeline management.

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

Pipedrive is a user-friendly customer relationship management (CRM) software designed to help sales teams streamline their pipelines, manage leads efficiently, and close deals faster. Ideal ... Read More about Pipedrive

Bigin is Zoho's lightweight CRM designed for small teams under 50 people running straightforward sales cycles. Its drag-and-drop pipeline and email sync with Gmail and Outlook allow reps to ... Read More about Bigin by Zoho CRM

Entry Level Pricing

  • Starts from $29
  • Starts from $14 , monthly
  • Starts from $7 , Billed Yearly

Free Trial Availability

  • Free Trial available

Spotsaas Score

What's this? ↗

9.8/10

9.6/10

9.0/10

User Ratings

Based on verified Spotsaas reviews

4.67

(3347)

4.57

(294)

Best Company Size

10-500 employeesSmall to medium businesses
1-50 employees51-200 employees
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.

Pipedrive

  • Simplified Sales Processes: Pipedrive helps teams like yours visualize and manage the entire sales pipeline easily, letting you focus on closing deals instead of getting lost in administrative tasks.
  • Intuitive User Interface: Users appreciate Pipedrive's clean and user-friendly design. Your team can start using it immediately without extensive training, saving time and resources.
  • Reporting and Analytics: Pipedrive's reporting tools give you real-time insights into your sales performance. This lets executives make data-driven decisions that improve overall business strategy.
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

Pipedrive

  • 1-200 employees
  • Martech, Revtech, Fintech, Sales Automation, SaaS, Consulting
  • Sales Managers, Account Executives, Business Development Representatives, 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

Pipedrive

  • Users may seek alternatives to Pipedrive if they require more advanced customization options to tailor their CRM experience to specific business processes or unique sales workflows that Pipedrive doesn’t fully support.
  • Businesses with larger teams might look for alternatives that offer better scalability and user management features, ensuring that collaboration remains efficient as their workforce grows beyond Pipedrive’s capabilities.
  • Organizations needing comprehensive reporting and analytics tools may find Pipedrive lacking in depth, prompting them to explore alternatives that provide more robust insights into sales performance and customer behavior.

Software Demo

Demo

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How do ActiveCampaign, Pipedrive and Bigin by Zoho CRM Compare on Features?

Total Features

30 Features

10 Features

10 Features

Unique Features

No unique features

No unique features

No unique features

Get Quote

Compare ActiveCampaign, Pipedrive and Bigin by Zoho CRM 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
        • $14 , monthly
        • $7 , Billed Yearly

        Pricing Plans

        • Not Available
        • Lite

          $19

          /user/month

          • Lead, calendar and pipeline management

          • AI-powered report creation

          • Real-time sales feed

          Show more +

        • Growth

          $34

          /user/month

          • Lite plan +

          • Full email sync with tracking

          • Automations and nurturing sequences

          Show more +

        • Premium

          $64

          /user/month

          • Growth plan +

          • Lead generation and routing

          • Custom scoring and company data enrichment

          Show more +

        • Browse all pricing plans
        • Free

          • Single Pipeline

          • 500 Records

          • Instant Workflows (3)

          Show more +

        • Express

          • Includes features of Free plan, plus

          • Team Pipelines (3)

          • 50,000 Records

          Show more +

        • Premier

          • Includes features of Express Edition plan. plus

          • Team Pipelines (5)

          • 100,000 Records

          Show more +

        Pricing Page

        ActiveCampaign pricing
        Pipedrive pricing
        Bigin by Zoho CRM 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

        Platforms Supported

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

        API Support

        • Available
        • Available
        • Available
        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
        ✗ No

        Single Sign-On (SSO)

        ✓ Yes
        ✓ Yes

        Multi-Factor Auth (MFA)

        ✓ Yes
        ✓ Yes

        Data Encryption

        ✓ Yes
        ✓ Yes

        Audit Logs

        ✓ Yes
        ✓ Yes

        Data Residency

        🌐 Global
        🇺🇸 US

        ActiveCampaign vs Pipedrive User Reviews & Rating Comparison

        User Ratings

        Rating Distribution

        1535

        287

        32

        12

        21

        2436

        505

        72

        18

        45

        204

        66

        7

        1

        1

        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 Pipedrive for its ease of use, visual sales pipeline management, and strong customer support, though some note limitations in advanced features and integrations.

        What buyers like

        • Ease of use
        • Visual sales pipeline tracking
        • Customer support quality

        Common complaints

        • Limited integrations
        • Initial learning curve

        Buyer sentiment

        Buyer sentiment is very strong across 279 reviews, with consistently positive feedback.

        What buyers like

        • Simple design with a short learning curve — accessible for non-technical users.
        • Pricing targets startups and small businesses with core CRM features at low cost.
        • Pipeline management and workflow automation reduce manual steps in sales processes.

        Common complaints

        • Limited integrations with social media apps and LinkedIn or Facebook ad platforms.
        • Lacks advanced features needed by larger enterprises or complex workflows.
        • Customer support availability is inconsistent, affecting issue resolution during critical moments.

        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

        • Intuitive and easy-to-use interface with minimal training required

        • Cost-effective alternative to larger CRM platforms like Salesforce

        • Robust reporting and real-time sales analytics

        • Initial complexity requiring onboarding support for efficient use

        • Limited integrations with some third-party tools such as Typeform

        • Real-time updates keep teams informed.

        • Integration with email and calendar enhances productivity.

        • User-friendly interface simplifies navigation.

        • Customization options may not meet all needs.

        • New users may find the interface complex.

        Positive Reviews

        No reviews available for the product

        No reviews available for the product

        No reviews available for the product

        Integrations

        Integration with other apps

        No Integration information available.

        No Integration information available.

        List of Customers

        Customers

        Platinum Skin Care

        Platinum Skin Care

        MOM

        MOM

        Heather Read Photography

        Heather Read Photography

        Festo

        Festo

        Remax

        Remax

        Vimeo

        Vimeo

        Antech Microsystem Pvt.Ltd

        Antech Microsystem Pvt.Ltd

        Investacc

        Investacc

        Hire

        Hire

        Media and Screenshots

        Screenshots

        All essential actions

        7 Screenshots

        Dashboard

        5 Screenshots

        Videos

        video-0

        2 Videos

        video-0

        3 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 Pipedrive?
        Pipedrive 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 Pipedrive offer a free trial?
        Yes, both ActiveCampaign and Pipedrive offer a free trial.
        What is the starting price of ActiveCampaign vs Pipedrive?
        ActiveCampaign starts at $29 /User/Month. Pipedrive starts at $14 /user/month.
        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 Pipedrive?
        Top alternatives to Pipedrive include Bigin by Zoho CRM, Freshsales, Salesforce, HubSpot CRM, Onpipeline.

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