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ActiveCampaign vs Pipedrive vs IXACT Contact 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

4.5(5,199 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…

IXACT Contact

4.4(406 reviews)

Starting at $38 /Month

  • Free Trial
  • Freelancers / Consultants
  • Large Enterprises

IXACT Contact CRM software is designed to help you sell more of your products and services. Its powerful sales pipeline management, convenient email marketing tool, versatile multi-user management, mobile-friendly suppor…

Bigin by Zoho CRM

4.3(119 reviews)

Starting at $7 /User/Month

  • Free Trial
  • Small Business

Bigin by Zoho CRM is a solution for managing business contacts, creating sales opportunities, monitoring the pipeline and recording activities. The solution integrates email, calendar, tasks and more. It can be accessed…

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

FeatureActiveCampaignPipedriveIXACT ContactBigin by Zoho CRM
Rating4.5 / 54.5 / 54.4 / 54.3 / 5
Reviews12,0315,199406119
Starting price$29 /User/Month$14 /user/month$38 /Month$7 /User/Month
Free trial Yes Yes Yes Yes
Free version No No No No
Best forFreelancers / Consultants, Large Enterprises, Medium BusinessLarge Enterprises, Medium Business, Small BusinessFreelancers / Consultants, Large Enterprises, Medium BusinessSmall Business
CategoryMarketing Automation SoftwareCRM SoftwareCRM SoftwareCRM Software
Integrations10+ apps
PlatformsSaaS/Web/Cloud, Mobile - Android, Mobile - iOSSaaS/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 HoursBusiness Hours, Online
CertificationsSOC 2, HIPAA, GDPRSOC 2, GDPR
Data residencyGlobalUSUSGlobal

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.
  • Deployment: ActiveCampaign supports SaaS/Web/Cloud, Mobile - Android, Mobile - iOS; Pipedrive supports SaaS/Web/Cloud, Mobile - Android, Mobile - iOS.

Compare ActiveCampaign vs Pipedrive vs IXACT Contact 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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Free PDF comparison

Download this ActiveCampaign vs Pipedrive vs IXACT Contact vs Bigin by Zoho CRM 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.

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.

IXACT Contact

Best for

Freelancers / Consultants, Large Enterprises, Medium Business

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

IXACT Contact CRM software is designed to help you sell more of your products and services. Its powerful sales pipeline management, convenient email marketing tool, versatile multi-user ... Read More about IXACT Contact

Bigin by Zoho CRM is a solution for managing business contacts, creating sales opportunities, monitoring the pipeline and recording activities. The solution integrates email, calendar, ... Read More about Bigin by Zoho CRM

Entry Level Pricing

  • Starts from $29
  • Starts from $14 , monthly
  • Starts from $38 , Billed Yearly
  • Starts from $7 , Billed Yearly

Free Trial Availability

  • Free Trial available
  • Free Trial available

Spotsaas Score

What's this? ↗

9.8/10

9.6/10

8.9/10

9.0/10

User Ratings

Based on verified Spotsaas reviews

Best Company Size

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

  • Seamless Automation: ActiveCampaign empowers your marketing team to create highly personalized customer experiences through robust automation workflows. Imagine setting 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 enables precise audience segmentation, making it easier for you to tailor messages based on user behavior and preferences. By doing so, you can significantly increase engagement rates and conversions.

Pipedrive

  • Streamlined Sales Processes: Pipedrive helps teams like yours to visualize and manage the entire sales pipeline effortlessly, allowing you to focus on closing deals rather than getting lost in administrative tasks.
  • Intuitive User Interface: Users often appreciate Pipedrive’s clean and user-friendly design. This means your team can hit the ground running without extensive training, saving valuable time and resources.
  • Robust Reporting and Analytics: With Pipedrive’s advanced reporting tools, you can gain real-time insights into your sales performance. This empowers executives like yourself to make data-driven decisions that can elevate 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

  • Users may seek alternatives due to budget constraints, as ActiveCampaign can be relatively expensive for small businesses or startups looking for cost-effective marketing automation solutions.
  • Some users might find the learning curve steep, prompting them to explore more intuitive platforms that offer user-friendly interfaces and easier onboarding processes.
  • Businesses with specific needs, such as e-commerce integration or advanced CRM features, may look for alternatives that provide tailored functionalities better suited to their unique operational requirements.

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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  • Independent advice — matched to your business
  • Understand the tradeoffs before you talk to vendors
  • Free 15-min call with a software advisor.

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

Total Features

30 Features

10 Features

33 Features

10 Features

Unique Features

No unique features

No unique features

No unique features

No unique features

Get Quote
Get Quote

Compare ActiveCampaign, Pipedrive, IXACT Contact 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
          • $38 , Billed Yearly
          • $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
          • IXACT Contact

            • Robust CRM

            • Powerful Email Marketing

            • Automated Monthly e-Newsletter

            Show more +

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

          API Support

          • Available
          • 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
          ✗ 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
          🇺🇸 US

          ActiveCampaign vs Pipedrive vs IXACT Contact User Reviews & Rating Comparison

          User Ratings

          Rating Distribution

          1535

          287

          32

          12

          21

          2339

          495

          70

          17

          45

          127

          53

          9

          1

          4

          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 positive across 194 reviews, with strong overall satisfaction.

          What buyers like

          • Highly user-friendly and intuitive interface, making it accessible even for individuals without technical expertise.
          • Automates tasks like email campaigns, newsletters, and reminders, ensuring users stay top of mind with clients and prospects.
          • Offers robust contact management and keeps data organized in one centralized database for easy access.

          Common complaints

          • Limited search capabilities and filtering options, especially for specific fields like zip codes or group exclusions.
          • Mobile application is reportedly clunky, outdated, and lacks full functionality compared to the desktop version.
          • Integration with social media and lead capture could be improved, limiting options for modern networking.

          Buyer sentiment

          Buyer sentiment is positive across 279 reviews, with strong overall satisfaction.

          What buyers like

          • Simple, intuitive design with a short learning curve, making it easy to use and implement, even for non-technical users.
          • Affordable pricing tailored for startups and small businesses, offering great value for core CRM functionalities.
          • Effective pipeline management and workflow automation, enabling businesses to streamline sales processes.

          Common complaints

          • Limited integrations with third-party tools (e.g., social media apps, direct LinkedIn or Facebook ad imports), making data syncing challenging.
          • Lack of advanced features and scalability, restricting use for larger enterprises or complex workflows.
          • Inconsistent customer support with restricted availability, affecting issue resolution during critical times.

          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

          • Comprehensive sales tools streamline processes.

          • User-friendly interface enhances team collaboration.

          • May require training for new users.

          • Limited integrations with other software.

          • 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

          No reviews available for the product

          Integrations

          Integration with other apps

          No Integration information available.

          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

          Remax

          Remax

          GreaterTampa

          GreaterTampa

          Tucker

          Tucker

          Antech Microsystem Pvt.Ltd

          Antech Microsystem Pvt.Ltd

          Investacc

          Investacc

          Hire

          Hire

          Media and Screenshots

          Screenshots

          All essential actions

          7 Screenshots

          Dashboard

          5 Screenshots

          Dashboard

          2 Screenshots

          Videos

          video-0

          2 Videos

          video-0

          3 Videos

          video-0

          1 Videos

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          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?
          ActiveCampaign and Pipedrive are closely matched with equal user ratings of 4.5. The right choice depends on your team size, budget, and specific CRM Software needs.
          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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