ActiveCampaign vs Mailchimp: Advanced Drips vs Approachable Marketing
Comparing ActiveCampaign and Mailchimp for drip email campaigns. Powerful CRM automation vs user-friendly all-in-one marketing - which platform fits your drip strategy?
Overview
ActiveCampaign and Mailchimp are two of the most popular email marketing platforms, but they serve different needs. ActiveCampaign offers advanced drip automation with built-in CRM for businesses ready to invest in sophisticated campaigns. Mailchimp provides approachable email marketing with drip capabilities alongside broader tools for businesses wanting simplicity.
| Feature | ActiveCampaign | Mailchimp |
|---|---|---|
| Drip Builder Power | Very advanced | Good |
| Starting Price | $29/mo | $13/mo |
| Built-in CRM | Yes | Basic |
| Lead Scoring | Advanced | Basic |
| Sales Automation | Extensive | Limited |
| Learning Curve | Steep | Gentle |
| Website/Landing Pages | Basic | Good |
Key Differences
Drip Automation Power
ActiveCampaign has one of the most powerful drip builders available. Complex multi-branch workflows, conditional splits, goals, machine learning optimization - if you can imagine a drip scenario, ActiveCampaign can handle it.
Mailchimp's Customer Journey builder is improving but doesn't match ActiveCampaign's sophistication. It's good for standard drip scenarios but limits complex conditional logic.
CRM and Sales Integration
ActiveCampaign includes a real CRM with deal pipelines and sales automation. Your drip campaigns can interact with sales workflows, update deals, and coordinate with sales teams.
Mailchimp's CRM functionality is basic contact management. It's not designed for sales team coordination or deal pipeline management.
Who Should Choose What
Choose ActiveCampaign if:
- You need sophisticated drip workflows with complex logic
- CRM integration with drip campaigns matters
- You have a sales team to coordinate with
- Lead scoring and qualification are priorities
- You're willing to invest time learning the platform
Choose Mailchimp if:
- You want approachable drip campaigns without complexity
- Budget is a primary consideration
- You value familiarity and quick setup
- You need broader marketing tools (website, social)
- Your drip needs are straightforward
For SaaS: Consider Sequenzy
Neither ActiveCampaign nor Mailchimp has native SaaS billing integration. For subscription businesses, Sequenzy offers AI-generated drip sequences with Stripe integration and MRR tracking at $19/mo - purpose-built for SaaS.
The Bottom Line
ActiveCampaign is worth the investment for businesses ready to leverage advanced drip automation with sales coordination. Mailchimp serves businesses wanting solid drip capabilities without the complexity or cost.