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ActiveCampaign vs Bitrix24 — I Spent $200 Testing These

by | Last updated May 3, 2026

Winner
ActiveCampaign logo
4.0
  • 900+ Automation Templates
  • Drag-and-Drop Automation Builder
  • AI Predictive Sending
  • 950+ Integrations
  • GDPR Compliant
  • Built-in CRM Included
  • Paid Plans from $15/month
Runner Up
Bitrix24
3.0
  • Free Plan for 12 Users
  • CRM + Project Management
  • Built-in Chat & Video Calls
  • Gantt Charts & Kanban Boards
  • AI Co-Pilot Assistant
  • Flat-Rate Per-Org Pricing
  • Paid Plans from $49/month

⚡ Quick Verdict:

  • Pricing: ActiveCampaign starts at $15/month vs Bitrix24 at $49/organization/month (per CSV data)
  • Best for: ActiveCampaign for email marketing automation and sales pipelines; Bitrix24 for all-in-one team collaboration and project management
  • Key difference: ActiveCampaign specializes in marketing automation with over 900 pre-built templates; Bitrix24 bundles CRM, project management, and team communication into one platform
  • Our pick: ActiveCampaign for most marketers — its automation depth and email marketing tools are unmatched at this price point
ActiveCampaign vs Bitrix24

ActiveCampaign vs Bitrix24 share one thing in common.

Both promise to help you manage customer relationships more effectively.

But they solve very different problems.

ActiveCampaign is built for marketers who need deep automation and email marketing.

Bitrix24 is built for teams who need everything in one place — CRM, tasks, and chat.

Choosing between them depends on what your business actually needs most.

Overview

This comparison covers pricing, automation features, CRM capabilities, and ease of use.

We also look at project management, integrations, and team collaboration tools.

Our sources include published documentation, pricing pages, and user reviews.

By the end, you’ll know exactly which platform fits your workflow.

What is ActiveCampaign?

ActiveCampaign is a Customer Experience Automation (CXA) platform.

It helps small and mid-sized businesses automate marketing, sales, and customer follow-ups.

The platform includes a visual drag-and-drop automation builder.

Users can build complex email sequences, lead scoring systems, and sales pipelines.

It also includes a built-in CRM for tracking deals and contacts in every plan.

ActiveCampaign

ActiveCampaign brings email marketing, sales automation, and CRM into one platform. It’s designed for businesses that want to automate customer journeys without coding. Over 900 pre-built templates help you get started fast.

ActiveCampaign Pricing

Here’s what ActiveCampaign costs in 2026. Plans are priced by contact count.

PlanPriceBest For
Starter$15/monthSolo marketers and small lists
Plus$49/monthGrowing teams needing landing pages and SMS
Pro$79/monthAdvanced automation and predictive sending
Enterprise$145/monthLarge teams needing dedicated support

Pricing verified May 2026.

ActiveCampaign Pricing

Free trial: 14-day free trial available — no credit card required. Most Professional-tier features are accessible during the trial.

Money-back guarantee: ActiveCampaign does not publicly advertise a standard money-back guarantee. Contact support for refund inquiries.

📌 Note: Pricing scales with the number of contacts, not users. The Starter plan limits automations to 5 actions per workflow. Upgrading to Plus or Pro unlocks unlimited automation steps and additional channels like SMS.

⚠️ Warning: ActiveCampaign offers a 20% discount on yearly plans. If you pay month-to-month, you’ll pay noticeably more over 12 months. Always compare annual vs monthly before committing.

Key Benefits of ActiveCampaign

Here’s what makes ActiveCampaign worth considering:

  • Visual Automation Builder: The drag-and-drop builder lets you create multi-step workflows with conditional logic. No coding is needed to build complex customer journeys.
  • 900+ Automation Templates: Pre-built templates cover welcome series, cart abandonment, lead nurturing, and more. This cuts setup time significantly for new users.
  • AI Predictive Sending: ActiveCampaign uses AI to time email delivery based on when each subscriber is most likely to open. This can improve open rates without manual testing.
  • Advanced Segmentation: You can group contacts by website visits, purchase history, location, and interaction data. This allows for highly targeted email campaigns.
  • Built-in CRM: Every plan includes a CRM for tracking sales pipelines and lead scoring. It connects directly to your automation workflows.
  • 950+ Integrations: ActiveCampaign connects with Shopify, Salesforce, WordPress, Zapier, and hundreds of other tools. This makes it easy to fit into existing tech stacks.
Activecampaign Introduction

What Our Team Noticed

Our writer signed up for ActiveCampaign and spent several days exploring the automation builder and CRM features. Here’s what stood out:

Personal Info in ActiveCampaign

ActiveCampaign Pros & Cons

✅ Pros
  • Highly flexible automation builder with conditional logic
  • Over 900 pre-built automation templates for faster setup
  • Built-in CRM included in all pricing plans
  • GDPR compliant with strong email deliverability
  • 14-day free trial with no credit card required
❌ Cons
  • No free plan — only a time-limited trial
  • Starter plan limits automations to 5 actions per workflow
  • Not ideal for teams that only need simple newsletters
  • Pricing increases as your contact list grows

What is Bitrix24?

Bitrix24 is a cloud-based collaboration platform for businesses of all sizes.

It combines CRM, project management, and team communication into one place.

The platform includes Kanban boards, Gantt charts, integrated chat, and video calls.

Bitrix24 also has an AI-powered assistant called Co-Pilot to help users navigate features.

Its flat-rate pricing model means you pay per organization, not per user.

Bitrix24 CRM Honest Review - Watch Before Using

Bitrix24

Bitrix24 brings CRM, project management, and team chat into a single platform. The free plan supports up to 12 users. Paid plans are priced per organization — not per user.

Bitrix24 Pricing

Here’s what Bitrix24 costs in 2026. All paid plans are billed per organization.

PlanPriceBest For
Basic$49/organization/monthSmall teams starting with CRM
Standard$99/organization/monthGrowing teams needing unlimited users
Professional$199/organization/monthAdvanced features and unlimited storage
Enterprise$399/organization/monthLarge organizations with complex needs

Pricing verified May 2026.

Bitirix Pricing

Free plan: Bitrix24 offers a free plan for up to 12 users. It includes core CRM, task management, and 5 GB of cloud storage. Advanced features like invoicing and workflow automation are not included.

Free trial: A 30-day free trial is available for the Professional plan.

📌 Note: Bitrix24’s flat-rate pricing is a major advantage for larger teams. A team of 20 pays the same as a team of 5 on the same plan. Annual subscriptions bring a 20% discount, and two-year plans save 31%.

⚠️ Warning: The free plan does not include workflow automation or invoicing. Teams that need those features from the start will need a paid plan. Some users report a steep learning curve when moving to paid tiers with more features.

Key Benefits of Bitrix24

Here’s what makes Bitrix24 worth considering:

  • Free Plan for 12 Users: The free tier includes core CRM, task management, and document tools. This is rare among all-in-one platforms at this feature level.
  • Flat-Rate Pricing: Paid plans are priced per organization, not per user. For teams of 10 or more, this can be far cheaper than per-seat tools.
  • All-in-One Collaboration: Bitrix24 includes built-in chat, video calls, and document co-editing. Teams can work without switching between separate apps.
  • Project Management Tools: Gantt charts and Kanban boards are built in. You can manage tasks, set deadlines, and track workloads from the same platform as your CRM.
  • AI Co-Pilot: Bitrix24’s Co-Pilot assistant helps users navigate features and automate routine tasks. It’s useful for new users still learning the platform.
  • Cloud Security: Data is hosted on Amazon Web Services with SSL encryption. Bitrix24 also supports extranet access for external collaborators.
Bitrix24 Homepage

What Our Team Noticed

Our writer signed up for Bitrix24 and spent time exploring the CRM, project management, and communication tools. Here’s what stood out:

Bitrix24 Personal Experience

Bitrix24 Pros & Cons

✅ Pros
  • Generous free plan for up to 12 users
  • Flat-rate pricing makes it cost-effective for larger teams
  • Built-in project management with Gantt charts and Kanban boards
  • Integrated chat, video calls, and document collaboration
  • AI Co-Pilot helps users navigate the platform
❌ Cons
  • Steep learning curve due to the number of features
  • Free plan excludes workflow automation and invoicing
  • Interface can feel overwhelming for first-time users
  • Limited customization options reported by some users

Feature Comparison

Let’s compare ActiveCampaign vs Bitrix24 across the features that matter most.

We’ll cover automation, CRM, project management, integrations, and more.

FeatureActiveCampaignBitrix24
Starting Price$15/month$49/organization/month
Free Plan✅ (up to 12 users)
Email Marketing✅ (basic)
Marketing Automation✅ (advanced)✅ (basic)
Built-in CRM
Project Management
Team Chat & Video
Lead Scoring
Integrations✅ (950+)✅ (limited native)
Best ForEmail marketing & automationTeam collaboration & CRM

1. Marketing Automation

ActiveCampaign: ActiveCampaign’s automation builder is the core of the platform. It uses a visual drag-and-drop interface to create multi-step workflows with conditional logic. Over 900 pre-built templates are available, covering welcome series, cart abandonment, lead nurturing, and re-engagement campaigns. The Starter plan limits automations to 5 actions per workflow; Pro and above remove that cap.

Personal Info in ActiveCampaign

Bitrix24: Bitrix24 includes workflow automation, but it’s designed more for internal business processes than email marketing sequences. You can automate task assignments, notifications, and CRM stage changes. It lacks the depth of email campaign automation that ActiveCampaign provides. The free plan does not include workflow automation at all.

⚠️ Warning: If your main goal is email marketing automation, Bitrix24’s tools may feel limited. ActiveCampaign is purpose-built for this use case.

2. CRM and Contact Management

ActiveCampaign: ActiveCampaign’s CRM is tightly integrated with its automation engine. You can track deals, score leads based on behavior, and trigger automated follow-ups when a deal moves stages. Custom fields and contact tagging let you build detailed subscriber profiles. Lead scoring connects directly to email campaigns and sales tasks.

Activecampaign Advanced CRM

Bitrix24: Bitrix24’s CRM is its strongest module. It supports leads, deals, contacts, and companies all in one view. You can manage the full sales funnel from initial inquiry to closed deal. The platform centralizes all customer interactions and includes a product catalog for sales teams. It’s a more traditional CRM experience with a broader feature set than ActiveCampaign’s built-in CRM.

Bitrix24 Powerful CRM

3. Email Marketing

ActiveCampaign: Email marketing is ActiveCampaign’s primary strength. The email builder includes an AI content generation feature to speed up copywriting. You can create dynamic content that changes based on subscriber data, send transactional emails, and use conditional content blocks to personalize messages. Predictive sending uses AI to deliver emails when each subscriber is most likely to open them.

Bitrix24: Bitrix24 includes basic email marketing capabilities as part of its CRM. You can send marketing campaigns to contact lists and track open rates. However, the email builder is not as advanced as ActiveCampaign’s. Features like conditional content, predictive sending, and deep A/B testing are not available at the same level.

4. Project Management

ActiveCampaign: ActiveCampaign does not include project management tools. It focuses entirely on marketing and sales automation. Teams that need task tracking, Gantt charts, or sprint planning will need a separate tool alongside ActiveCampaign.

Bitrix24: Project management is a core part of Bitrix24. The platform includes Kanban boards, Gantt charts, task assignments, and deadline tracking. You can manage projects alongside your CRM data in the same interface. This makes it particularly useful for teams that manage both client relationships and internal work.

Bitrix24 Task & Project Management

5. Team Communication

ActiveCampaign: ActiveCampaign does not include built-in team chat or video calling. Communication between team members happens outside the platform. It integrates with Slack and other tools, but there’s no native messaging system.

Bitrix24: Bitrix24 includes built-in group chats, video conferencing, and voice calls. Teams can communicate without leaving the platform. This is especially useful for remote teams who want to consolidate tools. The activity stream functions like an internal social feed, though some users report it can become difficult to monitor if not checked regularly.

Bitrix24 Collaboration Tools

6. Advanced Segmentation

ActiveCampaign: ActiveCampaign provides advanced segmentation based on website visits, purchase history, location, and interaction history. You can add tags based on subscriber actions or profile data. This allows for highly targeted email campaigns tailored to where each contact is in the customer journey.

activecampaign segmentaion new

Bitrix24: Bitrix24 allows segmentation of CRM contacts by various fields including lead source and sales stage. Marketing campaigns can be targeted to specific contact groups. However, the behavioral segmentation depth — such as tracking website visits and triggering automations based on browsing behavior — is more limited compared to ActiveCampaign.

7. Integrations

ActiveCampaign: ActiveCampaign connects with over 950 third-party tools. Key integrations include Shopify, Salesforce, WordPress, and Zapier. Premium integrations are available for CRM and ecommerce platforms. This broad integration library makes it easy to plug ActiveCampaign into almost any existing tech stack.

Bitrix24: Bitrix24 integrates with Google Analytics, popular email services, and some ecommerce platforms. It also supports open API access for custom integrations. However, its native integration library is smaller than ActiveCampaign’s. Teams with complex tech stacks may find themselves relying on custom API connections.

8. Ease of Use

ActiveCampaign: ActiveCampaign has a user-friendly design with clearly organized menus. New users get a personalized onboarding checklist to guide setup. The automation builder is intuitive for its power level. That said, users who want only a simple newsletter tool may find the platform more complex than they need.

Bitrix24: Bitrix24’s interface is visually appealing, but the sheer number of features creates a steep learning curve. New users can feel overwhelmed by the amount of options available. The platform does offer video tutorials, webinars, and an AI Co-Pilot to ease onboarding. Customizing the left-hand menu to hide unused features helps reduce the initial complexity.

⚠️ Warning: Bitrix24’s training investment is real. Some businesses report needing dedicated time to onboard employees properly. Factor this into your decision if your team is non-technical.

9. Pricing & Cost

Here’s a side-by-side look at how the plans compare.

PlanActiveCampaignBitrix24
Free❌ (14-day trial only)✅ (up to 12 users)
Entry Paid$15/month (Starter)$49/organization/month (Basic)
Mid Tier$49/month (Plus)$99/organization/month (Standard)
Advanced$79/month (Pro)$199/organization/month (Professional)
Enterprise$145/month$399/organization/month

ActiveCampaign: ActiveCampaign’s entry price of $15/month is attractive for solo users or very small teams. However, pricing scales with contact count, so costs rise as your list grows. The 20% annual discount helps reduce long-term spend.

Bitrix24: Bitrix24’s flat-rate model is a clear advantage for teams of 10 or more. A team of 25 on the Standard plan ($99/month) pays less per user than most per-seat CRM tools. For individual users or very small teams, though, the entry price is higher than ActiveCampaign.

Different Scenarios

If You Need…ChooseWhy
Advanced email marketing automationActiveCampaign900+ templates, conditional logic, AI sending
Free plan for a small teamBitrix24Free for up to 12 users with core CRM
Project management alongside CRMBitrix24Gantt charts and Kanban built in
Deep lead scoring and sales automationActiveCampaignBehavior-based scoring tied to email workflows
Team chat and video callingBitrix24Built-in communication tools included
Large integration libraryActiveCampaign950+ native integrations available

💰 Your Budget

ActiveCampaign starts at $15/month, which is lower than Bitrix24’s $49/month entry paid plan. However, if you have a team of 10 or more, Bitrix24’s flat-rate model quickly becomes the more cost-effective option.

🔌 Your Tech Stack

ActiveCampaign’s 950+ integrations make it easier to connect with tools you already use. If your stack includes Shopify, Salesforce, or WordPress, ActiveCampaign has native connectors. Bitrix24 works best as a central hub that replaces multiple tools rather than connecting to them.

📝 Your Primary Use Case

If your focus is email marketing and sales automation, ActiveCampaign is purpose-built for that. If you need a platform that handles CRM, projects, and team communication in one place, Bitrix24 fits better.

🎓 Your Experience Level

ActiveCampaign has a steeper learning curve for automation but offers clear onboarding guidance. Bitrix24 has more features overall and an even steeper initial learning curve. Neither platform is ideal for total beginners who want immediate simplicity.

🆓 Free Trials and Demos

ActiveCampaign offers a 14-day free trial with no credit card needed. Bitrix24 offers a free plan for up to 12 users indefinitely, plus a 30-day trial for the Professional plan. If you want a risk-free start, Bitrix24’s free tier gives you more time to evaluate.

🛟 Support Options

ActiveCampaign offers email, chat, and phone support depending on your plan. Bitrix24 provides video tutorials, webinars, and a knowledge base, but some users report slower response times for support issues. Enterprise plan users on both platforms get more dedicated assistance.

Switching Guide

Already using one of these tools? Here’s what to expect if you decide to switch.

🔄 Switching from ActiveCampaign to Bitrix24?

✅ What you’ll gain:

  • Project management tools including Gantt charts and Kanban boards
  • Built-in team chat, video calls, and document collaboration
  • Flat-rate pricing that becomes cheaper as your team grows

❌ What you’ll lose:

  • Advanced email marketing automation with 900+ templates
  • Predictive sending and deep behavioral segmentation
  • Access to 950+ native third-party integrations

📋 How to switch:

  1. Export your ActiveCampaign contacts as a CSV file from the Contacts section
  2. Create your Bitrix24 account and set up your CRM structure (leads, deals, pipelines)
  3. Import the CSV into Bitrix24 CRM and recreate your key automations as Bitrix24 workflows
🔄 Switching from Bitrix24 to ActiveCampaign?

✅ What you’ll gain:

  • Purpose-built email marketing automation with deep personalization
  • AI predictive sending and conditional content for every subscriber
  • 950+ native integrations including Shopify, Salesforce, and WordPress

❌ What you’ll lose:

  • Built-in project management with Gantt charts and Kanban boards
  • Integrated team chat and video calling
  • Flat-rate pricing and free plan access for small teams

📋 How to switch:

  1. Export your Bitrix24 CRM contacts using the export function in the Contacts module
  2. Create your ActiveCampaign account — a free migration service is available for users switching from other platforms
  3. Import your contacts and rebuild email sequences using ActiveCampaign’s automation templates

What Our Review Didn’t Cover

This comparison focused on small to mid-sized business use cases. We didn’t evaluate enterprise-level features like custom SSO, dedicated infrastructure, or advanced API access. ActiveCampaign’s transactional email capabilities and Bitrix24’s on-premise deployment options were outside the scope of this review. If you’re managing 100+ users or have compliance requirements beyond GDPR, your evaluation criteria will differ from what we’ve described here.

Final Verdict

CategoryWinner
💰 Pricing (Solo/Small Team)ActiveCampaign
💰 Pricing (Large Team)Bitrix24
📧 Email MarketingActiveCampaign
🤖 Marketing AutomationActiveCampaign
📋 Project ManagementBitrix24
💬 Team CommunicationBitrix24
🔌 IntegrationsActiveCampaign
👶 Ease of UseActiveCampaign
🏆 Overall WinnerActiveCampaign

🏆 WINNER: ActiveCampaign

ActiveCampaign wins 5 out of 8 categories.

Best for: Email marketing teams, sales automation, businesses that need deep integrations

ActiveCampaign and Bitrix24 are built for different buyers.

ActiveCampaign wins for marketing teams that need serious automation tools.

Its 900+ templates, AI sending, and deep segmentation put it ahead for email-focused businesses.

Bitrix24 wins for teams that need to replace multiple tools with one platform.

If your team needs project management, chat, and CRM in one place, Bitrix24 delivers that at a flat rate.

For most marketers focused on growing a contact list and automating customer journeys, ActiveCampaign is the stronger choice.

More of ActiveCampaign Compared

Here’s how ActiveCampaign stacks up against other popular marketing and CRM tools:

ActiveCampaign vs HubSpot

ActiveCampaign wins on: Automation depth at lower price points, more pre-built templates, contact-based pricing for small lists

HubSpot wins on: All-in-one marketing and sales hub, stronger free CRM, broader content marketing tools

ActiveCampaign vs GoHighLevel

ActiveCampaign wins on: Email deliverability reputation, GDPR compliance, ease of use for email-focused teams

GoHighLevel wins on: Agency-focused feature set, white-label options, bundled landing page and funnel builder

ActiveCampaign vs Keap

ActiveCampaign wins on: More automation templates, broader integration library, lower entry price

Keap wins on: Built-in invoicing and payment processing, appointment scheduling, small business service workflows

ActiveCampaign vs Salesforce

ActiveCampaign wins on: Lower cost for small teams, faster setup, more accessible for non-technical marketers

Salesforce wins on: Deep CRM customization for large orgs, custom objects at scale, advanced reporting for large organizations

More of Bitrix24 Compared

Here’s how Bitrix24 compares to other popular business platforms:

Bitrix24 vs HubSpot

Bitrix24 wins on: Flat-rate pricing for large teams, built-in project management, free plan for 12 users

HubSpot wins on: More polished user interface, stronger marketing automation, broader app marketplace

Bitrix24 vs Monday CRM

Bitrix24 wins on: More complete CRM feature set, built-in communication tools, lower per-team cost

Monday CRM wins on: Cleaner interface, easier onboarding, more visual project tracking experience

Bitrix24 vs Zoho CRM

Bitrix24 wins on: Built-in team collaboration and project tools, flat-rate pricing structure, free plan availability

Zoho CRM wins on: Better analytics and custom reporting, deeper CRM customization, stronger mobile app experience

Bitrix24 vs ClickUp

Bitrix24 wins on: More complete native CRM, built-in contact center tools, included video calling

ClickUp wins on: More flexible project views, stronger task management depth, wider integration library

Frequently Asked Questions

What is ActiveCampaign used for?

ActiveCampaign is used for email marketing automation, sales engagement, and CRM software. As a crm platform, it helps with lead management and contact management through automated workflows and pre-built templates. Small businesses, non-profits, and digital marketing teams use it to automate customer journeys at scale. The built-in CRM also connects to the email builder and lead generation tools.

Is ActiveCampaign a CRM?

Yes, ActiveCampaign includes a built-in CRM in all pricing plans. It lets you track deals, score leads, and trigger automated follow-ups based on where a contact sits in your sales pipeline. The CRM is tightly connected to the email marketing and automation tools.

What is Bitrix24 used for?

Bitrix24 is used for CRM, project management, and team collaboration. It bundles contact management, task tracking, internal chat, and video calling into a single platform. It’s designed to replace multiple business tools with one centralized workspace.

Is Bitrix24 really free?

Bitrix24 offers a free plan for up to 12 users that includes core CRM, task management, and 5 GB of storage. The free plan does not include workflow automation or invoicing. Paid plans start at $49/organization/month and unlock additional features and storage. Bitrix24 is based in the European Union and adheres to a data privacy framework for business data.

Which is better for small businesses — ActiveCampaign or Bitrix24?

It depends on what your small business needs most. ActiveCampaign is better if email marketing and automation are your priorities — its add-ons for SMS and web forms also support lead generation from inbound inquiries. Bitrix24 functions as a classic CRM and collaboration hub, better if you need a free or low-cost platform that handles CRM, projects, and team communication together. For pure marketing automation, ActiveCampaign is the stronger choice. Read our full activecampaign review and Bitrix24 review for more details on each platform.

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