ActiveCampaign Marketing Starter vs ConvertKit — Pricing, Plans, and Verified Costs (2026)
ActiveCampaign Marketing Starter starts at $19/mo. ConvertKit starts at $39/mo. ActiveCampaign Marketing Starter is $20/mo cheaper on the entry tier than ConvertKit.
See price history: ActiveCampaign Marketing Starter · ConvertKit
How pricing works
These two tools don't price the same way, so the headline numbers below aren't directly comparable until you plug in your own volume.
- ActiveCampaign Marketing Starter (Per Usage) — ActiveCampaign Marketing Starter bills on usage — contacts on top of a paid plan starting at $19/mo. The plan includes an allowance; anything beyond it is metered.
- ConvertKit (Per Usage) — ConvertKit bills on usage — Subscribers on top of a paid plan starting at $39/mo. The plan includes an allowance; anything beyond it is metered.
Per-minute, per-credit and per-token rates exclude any downstream model, speech or telephony costs unless the vendor states otherwise.
ActiveCampaign Marketing Starter is ActiveCampaign's entry marketing automation product — email marketing, drip campaigns, segmentation, and basic automation at 1,000 contacts baseline for $19/mo monthly ($15/mo annual). Price scales with contact list size: 10K contacts ≈ $149/mo Plus. ActiveCampaign sells 2 additional products with independent pricing not tracked here: ActiveCampaign Sales (standalone CRM), ActiveCampaign Bundle (Marketing + Sales combined at a discount, Bundle Plus at $93/mo is the sweet spot for many customers). All three products scale with contact count. Popular with SMBs and solopreneurs graduating from Mailchimp.
Email platform built specifically for creators and course sellers, rebranded from ConvertKit to Kit in 2024. Distinctive for tag-based (not list-based) subscriber management, which fits how creators segment audiences. Popular with newsletter operators, course creators, and one-person media businesses. Free plan up to 10K subscribers, paid plans add automation and commerce features. Facing pressure from Beehiiv (creator-native) and Substack (built-in monetization).
All plans compared
| Tier role | Plan | ActiveCampaign Marketing Starter monthly | ActiveCampaign Marketing Starter annual | ConvertKit monthly | ConvertKit annual |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Free / starter | — / Free | — | — | Free | Free |
| Entry paid | Starter / Creator | $19 | $15 | $39 | $33 |
| Mid tier | Plus / — | $59 | $49 | — | — |
| Pro / power | Pro / Creator Pro | $99 | $79 | $79 | $66 |
| Enterprise | Enterprise / — | $179 | $145 | — | — |
Tier names differ across vendors. Rows are aligned by tier role, not name. Full tier structures on each tool's page.
What each is best for
ActiveCampaign Marketing Starter is worth it if… SMBs (500-5,000 contacts) that need email + basic automation + CRM in one tool without HubSpot's price tag. Starter covers most basic email flows; Plus adds sales automation and SMS.
ConvertKit is worth it if… ConvertKit (now Kit) is worth it for creators — authors, coaches, course sellers, newsletter operators — who need subscriber-first email marketing with strong tagging, landing pages, and one-click resends. Free covers up to 10K subscribers; Creator adds automations; Creator Pro adds Facebook custom audiences and referral tracking.
Bottom line: Similar positioning, closer to a preference call than a strategic one.
Choose ActiveCampaign Marketing Starter over ConvertKit if…
Choose ActiveCampaign Marketing Starter if…
- You want to pay only for actual usage (per usage, from $19/mo).
- You match the profile ActiveCampaign Marketing Starter is built for: SMBs (500-5,000 contacts) that need email + basic automation + CRM in one tool without HubSpot's price tag.
- You need a general-purpose marketing & email option rather than a vertical-specific one.
Choose ConvertKit if…
- You want to pay only for actual usage (per usage, from $39/mo).
- You match the profile ConvertKit is built for: ConvertKit (now Kit) is worth it for creators — authors, coaches, course sellers, newsletter operators — who need subscriber-first email marketing with strong tagging, landing pages, and one-click resends.
- You need a general-purpose marketing & email option rather than a vertical-specific one.
At a glance
| ActiveCampaign Marketing Starter | ConvertKit | |
|---|---|---|
| Free plan | No | Yes |
| Entry price | $19/mo | $39/mo |
| Enterprise available | Yes | Yes |
| Pricing model | Per Usage | Per Usage |
| Verification | Checked October 3, 2026 | Pricing under review |
| Full pricing | View full pricing | View full pricing |
Pricing last verified October 3, 2026. Tracked daily.
Frequently asked questions
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Common questions about ActiveCampaign Marketing Starter and ConvertKit
- How much does ActiveCampaign Marketing Starter cost in 2026?
- Does ActiveCampaign Marketing Starter have a free plan?
- How often does ActiveCampaign Marketing Starter change prices?
- What are the best ActiveCampaign Marketing Starter alternatives in 2026?
- How much does ConvertKit cost in 2026?
- Does ConvertKit have a free plan?
- How often does ConvertKit change prices?
- What are the best ConvertKit alternatives in 2026?