ActiveCampaign Marketing Starter vs Hootsuite — Pricing, Plans, and Verified Costs (2026)
ActiveCampaign Marketing Starter starts at $19/mo. Hootsuite starts at $99/mo. ActiveCampaign Marketing Starter is $80/mo cheaper on the entry tier than Hootsuite.
See price history: ActiveCampaign Marketing Starter · Hootsuite
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.
- Hootsuite (Unknown model) — Hootsuite bills on a fixed plan from $99/mo, so the listed price is what you pay regardless of volume.
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.
The category-defining social media management platform, founded 2008 in Vancouver. Positioned as the enterprise-grade alternative to Sprout Social with deeper analytics + governance for regulated industries (banks, government, healthcare). Restructured 2026 into 'Hootsuite Social OS' with 5 modular products (Perch/Nest/Lumen/Wisdom/Parliament) and 4-tier subscription (Standard/Professional/Advanced/Enterprise). Wisdom AI included in every plan. Priced $99-$399/user/mo published, Enterprise custom. Under private equity ownership since 2019 (Vector Capital majority stake since 2024).
All plans compared
| Tier role | Plan | ActiveCampaign Marketing Starter monthly | ActiveCampaign Marketing Starter annual | Hootsuite monthly | Hootsuite annual |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Entry paid | Starter / Standard | $19 | $15 | $99 | $99 |
| Mid tier | Plus / Professional | $59 | $49 | $199 | $199 |
| Pro / power | Pro / Advanced | $99 | $79 | $399 | $399 |
| Enterprise | Enterprise | $179 | $145 | Custom | Custom |
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.
Hootsuite is worth it if… marketing teams (3-100 people) managing 10+ social accounts across multiple brands or regions — particularly if you need approval workflows, compliance controls, or deep listening. Standard covers solo social managers (10 accounts); Professional unlocks unlimited accounts + trend forecasting; Advanced adds team collaboration + approvals; Enterprise adds SSO + compliance.
Bottom line: Similar positioning, closer to a preference call than a strategic one.
Choose ActiveCampaign Marketing Starter over Hootsuite 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 Hootsuite if…
- You're comfortable with Hootsuite's from $99/mo entry point.
- You match the profile Hootsuite is built for: marketing teams (3-100 people) managing 10+ social accounts across multiple brands or regions — particularly if you need approval workflows, compliance controls, or deep listening.
- You're building for healthcare.
At a glance
| ActiveCampaign Marketing Starter | Hootsuite | |
|---|---|---|
| Free plan | No | No |
| Entry price | $19/mo | $99/mo |
| Enterprise available | Yes | Yes |
| Pricing model | 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 Hootsuite
- 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 Hootsuite cost in 2026?
- Does Hootsuite have a free plan?
- How often does Hootsuite change prices?
- What are the best Hootsuite alternatives in 2026?