ActiveCampaign vs GetResponse for Drip Emails (2026)
Compare ActiveCampaign and GetResponse drip email capabilities, automation builders, pricing, and deliverability. Find the right platform for your drip campaigns.
TL;DR verdict
ActiveCampaign has the deeper automation builder and better deliverability, but GetResponse is a strong mid-tier contender that bundles webinars, landing pages, and decent drip automation at a lower price. For teams that want marketing automation plus webinar hosting in one platform, GetResponse is compelling. For pure drip email power, ActiveCampaign wins.
ActiveCampaign
8.6/80
Advanced drip automation with CRM and lead scoring.
GetResponse
7.4/80
Solid all-in-one platform with webinars and decent drip tools.
Sequenzy · also consider
7.8/80
SaaS-native drip platform with Stripe/Paddle/Lemon Squeezy billing triggers.
Sequenzy email automation for SaaS → · from $19/month
GetResponse webinar feature is genuinely unique among email marketing tools. If webinar-driven drip sequences are central to your strategy, this alone may tip the decision.
Quick comparison
| Feature | ActiveCampaign | GetResponse | Sequenzy | Winner |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Automation builder | Advanced flowchart with branching, goals, splits | Visual workflow builder with conditions and filters | Step-based builder with conditions | ActiveCampaign |
| Webinar hosting | Not included (via integrations) | Built-in webinar platform | Not included | GetResponse |
| Landing pages | Available on Plus plan | Included on all paid plans | Not included | GetResponse |
| Autoresponders | Part of the automation builder | Dedicated autoresponder feature plus automation | Built into drip sequences | Tie |
| CRM included | Full sales CRM with deal tracking | Basic CRM on higher plans | Subscriber profiles with billing data | ActiveCampaign |
| Conversion funnels | Via automation plus landing pages | Built-in conversion funnel builder | Trial conversion tracking | GetResponse |
| A/B testing in drips | Split actions inside automations | Subject line and content A/B testing | Subject and content A/B per step | ActiveCampaign |
| Billing/payment triggers | Via Shopify or Zapier | Via Shopify or Zapier | Native Stripe, Paddle, and Lemon Squeezy triggers | Sequenzy |
Score breakdown
| Category | ActiveCampaign | GetResponse | Sequenzy | Max |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Drip Sequence Builder | 9 | 7 | 8 | 10 |
| Trigger Variety | 9 | 7 | 8 | 10 |
| Personalization | 8 | 7 | 7 | 10 |
| Analytics and Reporting | 8 | 7 | 7 | 10 |
| Ease of Use | 7 | 8 | 8 | 10 |
| Pricing Value | 7 | 8 | 9 | 10 |
| Deliverability | 9 | 8 | 8 | 10 |
| Integration Ecosystem | 9 | 7 | 6 | 10 |
| Total | 66 | 59 | 61 | 80 |
Drip feature deep-dive
Sequence Building
| Capability | ActiveCampaign | GetResponse | Sequenzy |
|---|---|---|---|
| Multi-step sequences | 9/10 — Unlimited steps with complex branching | 7/10 — Multi-step workflows with filters and actions | 8/10 — Unlimited steps with conditional logic |
| Conditional branching | 9/10 — If/else, split actions, wait conditions | 7/10 — Conditions based on tags, fields, engagement | 7/10 — If/else based on tags, events, billing status |
| Goal tracking | 9/10 — Built-in goal steps that advance contacts | 5/10 — Basic goal tracking in workflows | 7/10 — Conversion goals per sequence |
| Time delays | 9/10 — Wait for time, date, condition, or day of week | 8/10 — Wait for time, specific date, or day of week | 8/10 — Wait for duration, date, or business hours |
Targeting and Segmentation
| Capability | ActiveCampaign | GetResponse | Sequenzy |
|---|---|---|---|
| List segmentation | 9/10 — Tags, custom fields, lead scoring, engagement data | 7/10 — Segments based on tags, fields, engagement | 7/10 — Tags, custom fields, billing segments |
| Dynamic content | 8/10 — Conditional content blocks in emails | 7/10 — Dynamic content based on segments | 7/10 — Conditional blocks based on subscriber data |
| Lead scoring | 9/10 — Contact and deal scoring with custom rules | 6/10 — Basic scoring in automation workflows | 5/10 — Engagement scoring for opens and clicks |
Marketing Tools
| Capability | ActiveCampaign | GetResponse | Sequenzy |
|---|---|---|---|
| Webinar integration | 5/10 — Via Zoom and third-party integrations | 9/10 — Built-in webinar hosting with registration | 2/10 — Not available |
| Landing pages | 6/10 — Available on Plus plan | 8/10 — Built-in builder with templates | 2/10 — Not available |
| Conversion funnels | 5/10 — Build manually with automations | 8/10 — Pre-built funnel templates | 5/10 — Trial conversion funnel tracking |
Pricing
GetResponse is slightly cheaper than ActiveCampaign and bundles more features (webinars, landing pages, funnels) at each tier. ActiveCampaign delivers more automation depth at a higher price.
ActiveCampaign free option
14-day free trial. No free plan.
From $29/mo (1,000 contacts)
GetResponse free option
Free plan: 500 contacts, basic email marketing, no automations.
From $19/mo (1,000 contacts)
Sequenzy free option
14-day free trial. Plans from $19/mo for 15,000 emails.
From $19/month
| Tier | ActiveCampaign | GetResponse | Sequenzy |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1,000 contacts | $29/mo — Lite plan, basic automations | $19/mo — Email Marketing plan, autoresponders included | $19/mo (15K emails) — Full drip features, Stripe/Paddle included |
| 5,000 contacts | $99/mo — Plus plan recommended | $59/mo — Marketing Automation plan recommended | $19/mo (15K emails) — Same plan covers this tier |
| 10,000 contacts | $149/mo — Plus plan with CRM | $79/mo — Marketing Automation plan | $49/mo (50K emails) — Growth plan |
| 25,000 contacts | $259/mo — Professional plan | $169/mo — E-commerce Marketing plan | $99/mo (150K emails) — Pro plan |
GetResponse is 30-40% cheaper than ActiveCampaign at most tiers while bundling webinars and landing pages. ActiveCampaign justifies its premium with deeper automation. Sequenzy offers the best per-email value for SaaS drip use cases.
Pricing checked March 2026. GetResponse offers significant savings over ActiveCampaign, especially when you factor in bundled webinar and landing page features.
Drip campaign types
Welcome Series
Winner: SequenzyOnboarding new subscribers
9/10 · ActiveCampaign
Advanced automation with conditional paths
8/10 · GetResponse
Autoresponder series or workflow automation
8/10 · Sequenzy
Pre-built SaaS welcome sequences
Both handle welcome series well. ActiveCampaign offers more branching options.
Webinar Follow-up
Winner: SequenzyNurture sequence after webinar attendance
6/10 · ActiveCampaign
Via Zoom integration plus automation
9/10 · GetResponse
Native webinar platform with built-in follow-up automations
4/10 · Sequenzy
Basic tag-based follow-up
GetResponse built-in webinar platform makes this seamless.
Trial-to-Paid Conversion
Winner: SequenzyConverting trial users to paid customers
7/10 · ActiveCampaign
CRM pipeline plus automation
5/10 · GetResponse
Basic time-based series with tag conditions
9/10 · Sequenzy
Native Stripe/Paddle/Lemon Squeezy trial tracking
Sequenzy is purpose-built for trial conversion.
Lead Nurture with Scoring
Winner: SequenzyScoring-based drip with sales handoff
9/10 · ActiveCampaign
Contact and deal scoring with conditional branching
6/10 · GetResponse
Basic scoring triggers in workflows
5/10 · Sequenzy
Engagement scoring with basic automation
ActiveCampaign lead scoring is far superior for this use case.
Sales Funnel
Winner: SequenzyMulti-step funnel from landing page to purchase
7/10 · ActiveCampaign
Build manually with automations and landing pages
8/10 · GetResponse
Pre-built conversion funnel templates with landing pages
3/10 · Sequenzy
Not focused on sales funnels
GetResponse conversion funnel feature streamlines this process.
Churn Prevention
Winner: SequenzyAutomated emails for cancellation signals
7/10 · ActiveCampaign
Custom triggers with CRM deal stages
4/10 · GetResponse
Basic tag-based triggers
9/10 · Sequenzy
Native subscription cancellation triggers
Sequenzy excels with native billing event triggers.
Neither ActiveCampaign nor GetResponse offers native billing-event triggers. For SaaS businesses needing trial, upgrade, and churn-driven drip sequences, Sequenzy provides native Stripe, Paddle, and Lemon Squeezy integration at $19/mo.
Automation builder & editor
Builder features
| Feature | ActiveCampaign | GetResponse | Sequenzy |
|---|---|---|---|
| Visual flow editor | ✓ Advanced drag-and-drop flowchart | ✓ Visual workflow builder with drag-and-drop | ✓ Step-based visual editor |
| If/else branching | ✓ Unlimited nested conditions | ✓ Condition-based branching | ✓ Conditional branches per step |
| Wait conditions | ✓ Wait for time, condition, day, date | ✓ Wait for time, date, or day of week | ✓ Wait for time, date, event |
| Autoresponder mode | — Uses automations instead | ✓ Dedicated autoresponder feature separate from workflows | — Uses sequences |
| Split testing in flows | ✓ Split actions to test paths | — A/B testing in campaigns, not workflows | ✓ A/B testing per step |
| Goal steps | ✓ Skip contacts to goal when met | — Not available as a separate step type | ✓ Conversion goal tracking |
| Webinar triggers | — Via third-party integration | ✓ Native webinar registration and attendance triggers | — Not available |
| E-commerce triggers | ✓ Via Shopify and WooCommerce | ✓ Via Shopify and other integrations | ✓ Via Stripe, Paddle, and Lemon Squeezy |
Template editor
| Aspect | ActiveCampaign | GetResponse | Sequenzy |
|---|---|---|---|
| Editor type | Drag-and-drop plus HTML editor | Drag-and-drop editor with AI assistant | Drag-and-drop with code option |
| Pre-built templates | 125+ email templates | 200+ email templates | 40+ SaaS-focused templates |
| Mobile preview | Built-in mobile and desktop preview | Built-in responsive preview | Responsive preview included |
| AI email generator | AI subject line suggestions | GPT-powered email content generator | Not available |
| Saved blocks | Reusable content blocks | Reusable sections and snippets | Reusable snippet library |
Deliverability
| Factor | ActiveCampaign | GetResponse | Sequenzy |
|---|---|---|---|
| Average inbox placement | 93% (industry tests) | 88% (industry tests) | 91% (internal benchmarks) |
| Dedicated IP | Available on Enterprise plan | Available as add-on on higher plans | Not available |
| DKIM/SPF | Full support with guided setup | Full support with setup guide | Full support with setup wizard |
| Bounce handling | Automatic hard/soft bounce management | Automatic bounce handling with complaints processing | Automatic bounce management |
| List hygiene | Inactive contact cleanup, engagement tagging | Inactive subscriber management | Engagement-based list cleaning |
| Send-time optimization | Predictive sending | Perfect Timing feature | Timezone-based sending |
ActiveCampaign outperforms GetResponse in independent deliverability tests. GetResponse Perfect Timing feature helps optimize individual send times.
Integrations
ActiveCampaign
900+
GetResponse
170+
Sequenzy
35+
Webinar/Events
ActiveCampaign
- ✓ Zoom: Native integration
- ✓ GoToWebinar: Via Zapier
GetResponse
- ✓ Built-in webinars: Native webinar platform
- ✓ Zoom: Via Zapier
Sequenzy
- — Zoom: Not supported
- — GoToWebinar: Not supported
Payment/Billing
ActiveCampaign
- ✓ Stripe: Via Zapier
- ✓ Shopify: Deep native integration
GetResponse
- ✓ Stripe: Via Zapier
- ✓ Shopify: Native integration
Sequenzy
- ✓ Stripe: Native deep integration
- ✓ Paddle: Native deep integration
CRM
ActiveCampaign
- ✓ Salesforce: Native integration
- ✓ HubSpot: Via Zapier
GetResponse
- ✓ Salesforce: Via Zapier
- ✓ HubSpot: Via Zapier
Sequenzy
- — Salesforce: Not supported
- — HubSpot: Not supported
Analytics & reporting
| Metric | ActiveCampaign | GetResponse | Sequenzy |
|---|---|---|---|
| Open rate tracking | Yes, with trends over time | Yes, with time-based analysis | Yes, per step and overall |
| Click rate tracking | Yes, with click maps | Yes, with click tracking | Yes, per link tracking |
| Revenue attribution | Via e-commerce integrations | Via e-commerce integrations | Native Stripe/Paddle/Lemon Squeezy revenue tracking |
| Workflow analytics | Per-step conversion rates | Workflow completion and drop-off stats | Per-step metrics with conversion tracking |
| Webinar analytics | Via integration data | Built-in webinar attendance and engagement stats | Not applicable |
Only in ActiveCampaign
- Contact trending reports
- Deal attribution
- Custom report builder
- Automation map
Only in GetResponse
- Webinar attendance analytics
- Conversion funnel reporting
- Perfect Timing optimization data
Only in Sequenzy
- MRR impact per sequence
- Trial conversion funnel
- Churn prevention metrics
Pros and cons
ActiveCampaign
Pros
- Best-in-class automation builder with deep branching
- Built-in CRM with lead scoring and deal tracking
- Highest deliverability rates
- Largest integration ecosystem (900+)
- Split testing within automation flows
Cons
- More expensive than GetResponse at every tier
- No free plan
- No built-in webinar hosting
- Steeper learning curve
- Landing page builder is limited compared to GetResponse
GetResponse
Pros
- Built-in webinar hosting (unique among email tools)
- Lower pricing than ActiveCampaign
- Conversion funnel builder included
- AI email content generator
- 200+ email templates
Cons
- Automation builder lacks split testing and goal steps
- Lead scoring is basic compared to ActiveCampaign
- Lower deliverability than ActiveCampaign
- CRM only available on higher plans
- Free plan excludes automations
Best for these scenarios
Webinar-driven nurture
Pick: GetResponsePost-webinar follow-up drip sequences
GetResponse built-in webinar platform with native follow-up automations eliminates the need for third-party webinar tools.
Complex B2B lead nurture
Pick: ActiveCampaignMulti-step nurture with scoring and CRM handoff
ActiveCampaign CRM, lead scoring, and advanced branching handle complex B2B workflows that GetResponse cannot match.
SaaS trial conversion
Pick: SequenzyConverting free trial to paid subscribers
Sequenzy native Stripe, Paddle, and Lemon Squeezy integration and pre-built conversion sequences are purpose-built for this.
Sales funnel automation
Pick: GetResponseLanding page to email sequence to sale
GetResponse conversion funnel feature combines landing pages, emails, and payment pages in one streamlined flow.
Budget-friendly SaaS drip
Pick: SequenzyEarly-stage startup needing affordable drip with billing triggers
At $19/mo with native billing integration, Sequenzy offers the most value for SaaS drip campaigns.
Migration plans
ActiveCampaign → GetResponse
Difficulty: Moderate
Time: 2 to 3 hours
Warnings
- Goal steps and split testing will not transfer
- CRM deals and advanced scoring logic will be lost
- Automation complexity may need to be simplified
- Site tracking and predictive features have no GetResponse equivalent
GetResponse → ActiveCampaign
Difficulty: Moderate
Time: 2 to 4 hours
Warnings
- Webinar data and settings will not transfer
- Conversion funnels need manual recreation
- Autoresponder sequences map differently to ActiveCampaign automations
| Direction | Step | Success criteria |
|---|---|---|
| ActiveCampaign → GetResponse | Export contacts with tags and custom fields from ActiveCampaign | Moderate |
| ActiveCampaign → GetResponse | Import contacts into GetResponse with field mapping | Moderate |
| ActiveCampaign → GetResponse | Recreate automations as GetResponse workflows | Moderate |
| ActiveCampaign → GetResponse | Set up equivalent autoresponders if needed | Moderate |
| ActiveCampaign → GetResponse | Rebuild landing pages in GetResponse | Moderate |
| ActiveCampaign → GetResponse | Test workflows before activating | Moderate |
| GetResponse → ActiveCampaign | Export contacts from GetResponse with custom fields | Moderate |
| GetResponse → ActiveCampaign | Import contacts into ActiveCampaign | Moderate |
| GetResponse → ActiveCampaign | Recreate autoresponders and workflows as ActiveCampaign automations | Moderate |
| GetResponse → ActiveCampaign | Set up CRM and lead scoring rules | Moderate |
| GetResponse → ActiveCampaign | Rebuild landing pages or connect external pages | Moderate |
| GetResponse → ActiveCampaign | Configure domain authentication | Moderate |
Frequently asked questions
Is GetResponse good for drip emails?
GetResponse handles standard drip campaigns well with its autoresponder and workflow features. However, it lacks the advanced branching, goal tracking, and split testing that ActiveCampaign offers for complex drip sequences.
Can GetResponse replace ActiveCampaign?
For basic to moderate drip campaigns, yes. For advanced automation with CRM, lead scoring, and complex conditional logic, GetResponse falls short of ActiveCampaign capabilities.
Does GetResponse include webinar hosting?
Yes, GetResponse is one of the few email marketing platforms with built-in webinar hosting, including registration pages, live streaming, and automated follow-up sequences.
Which is better for e-commerce drip campaigns?
Both support Shopify and e-commerce automations. ActiveCampaign has deeper product-specific branching. GetResponse conversion funnel feature is useful for simple product funnels.
Is GetResponse cheaper than ActiveCampaign?
Yes. GetResponse is roughly 30-40% cheaper at most contact tiers while including features like webinars and landing pages that ActiveCampaign charges extra for.
Which should you choose?
Choose ActiveCampaign if…
- You need the most advanced drip automation available
- CRM and lead scoring are part of your workflow
- Deliverability is a top priority
- You want split testing inside automation flows
Choose GetResponse if…
- You run webinars and want built-in hosting with follow-up drips
- Budget matters and you want more features per dollar
- You need landing pages and conversion funnels included
- Your drip campaigns are straightforward, not heavily branched
Also consider Sequenzy
SaaS-native drip platform with Stripe/Paddle/Lemon Squeezy billing triggers. From $19/month with native Stripe, Paddle, and Lemon Squeezy billing events for dunning and trial conversion.
Related comparisons
Browse the full comparison library, the 15-tool shortlist, or the drip strategy guides.