ActiveCampaign vs Nutshell CRM: Which CRM Tool Wins in 2025?

by | Last updated Jun 3, 2025

Winner
ActiveCampaign logo
9.0
  • Marketing automation
  • Content creation
  • Dynamic content
  • Email marketing
  • Integrated AI
  • Free plan available
  • Paid Plan Starts at $15/month
Runner Up
Nutshell CRM
7.0
  • Email & Calendar Sync
  • Pipeline Management
  • Team Collaboration
  • Sales Automation
  • Marketing Automation
  • Free plan available
  • Paid Plans from $13/month
Fahim AI 4 2 21

Picking the right CRM is tough, right?

You need to keep track of customers, emails, and deals. But, which one?

ActiveCampaign vs Nutshell- it’s a real head-scratcher.

Good news!

We’re breaking down ActiveCampaign vs Nutshell CRM to see which CRM wins in 2025.

We’ll look at what each one does, how easy they are to use, and which might be best for you. Let’s find the CRM that helps you win!

Overview

To give you the best comparison, we dove deep.

We used ActiveCampaign and Nutshell CRM for weeks, testing their features, ease of use, and ability to handle real-world sales and marketing tasks. 

This hands-on experience led to our detailed analysis.

ActiveCampaign

Ready to explore the power of ActiveCampaign? Sign up for free now!

9out of 10

Pricing: It has a free plan. The premium plan starts at $15/month.

Key Features:

  • Automation
  • Email Marketing
  • CRM
Nutshell CRM CTA

Ready to simplify your sales process? Nutshell CRM, known for its ease of use.

7out of 10

Pricing: It has a free plan. The premium plan starts at $13/month.

Key Features:

  • Sales Reporting
  • Lead Tracking
  • Pipeline Management

What is ActiveCampaign?

ActiveCampaign? It’s a powerhouse.

Think marketing automation, email, and CRM all in one spot.

Do you want to automate your sales?

This tool can help. It also lets you track customers and makes your marketing smarter.

Also, explore our favorite ActiveCampaign alternatives

ActiveCampaign
ActiveCampaign
9.0

Ready to explore the power of ActiveCampaign? Sign up for free and see how it could transform your marketing and sales efforts!

Key Benefits

  • Visual automation builder: No coding needed! Design complex workflows with easy drag-and-drop tools.
  • Advanced segmentation: Go beyond basic lists—target contacts based on behavior, interests, and more.
  • Built-in CRM: Organize your contacts, track interactions, and score leads for better follow-up.
  • Over 850+ integrations: Connect with your favorite tools and streamline your workflow.
  • Personalized email marketing: Send emails that feel like a one-on-one conversation.

Pricing

ActiveCampaign offers you a tiered pricing based on the number of contacts and features you need.

  • Starter: $15/month.
  • Plus: $49/month.
  • Pro: $79/month.
  • Enterprise: $145/month.
ActiveCampaign Pricing

Pros

  • Easy to use interface.
  • Powerful automation features.
  • Robust CRM capabilities.
  • Excellent deliverability rates.
  • Helpful support resources.

Cons

  • Steeper Learning Curve
  • Can be pricey.
  • Limited design options.

What is Nutshell CRM?

Nutshell CRM? It’s all about keeping your sales pipeline organized.

It’s designed for teams that love detailed reporting.

Its focus on clarity and simplicity makes it easy to track leads and deals.

Also, explore our favorite Nutshell CRM alternatives

Nutshell CRM CTA
Nutshell
7.0

Ready to boost your sales? Nutshell users report seeing a 20% increase in closed deals on average.

Key Benefits

  • Streamlined Sales Process: Nutshell emphasizes clear pipeline visualization. It helps you move deals forward.
  • Team Collaboration: Built-in tools support team selling. Everyone stays on the same page.
  • Reporting & Analytics: Gain insights into sales performance. Track key metrics easily.
  • Integration Options: Connect with other business tools. Extend Nutshell’s functionality.
  • Automation Features: Automate repetitive tasks. Save time and boost productivity.

Pricing

Nutshell offers several different pricing tiers. The plans vary based on the features you need and the number of users.

  • Foundation: $13/user/month.
  • Growth: $25/user/month.
  • Pro: $42/user/month.
  • Business: $59/user/month.
  • Enterprise: $79/user/month.
Nutshell CRM Pricing

Pros

  • Easy to use interface.
  • Excellent pipeline management.
  • Strong team collaboration tools.
  • Helpful sales reporting features.
  • Good integration options..

Cons

  • Can be expensive for small teams.
  • Limited customization options.
  • Mobile app could be improved.
  • Some features require higher tiers.

Feature Comparison

Let’s break down the key features of these two CRMs.

Compare them side by side so you can see where each shines and which might best suit your needs.

1. CRM Functionality

ActiveCampaign and Nutshell offer solid crm functionality but cater to different needs.

Nutshell focuses primarily on contact management and sales tracking, offering a straightforward approach.

ActiveCampaign, on the other hand, is a more robust platform, offering marketing automation and advanced funnel management in addition to core CRM features.

activecampaign integrated ai new

2. Email Deliverability

Email deliverability is crucial for any business.

ActiveCampaign is known for its strong email marketing capabilities, including advanced segmentation and automation, significantly impacting deliverability. 

While offering email integration, it doesn’t provide the same level of granular control and automation.

3. Template and Landing Page

ActiveCampaign offers various template options for emails and landing page creation, allowing for highly customized marketing campaigns.

Nutshell provides basic email templates, but its landing page features are more limited.

If design flexibility is important, ActiveCampaign has the edge.

4. Contact Management

Both crms offer robust contact management features.

Nutshell’s strength lies in its simplicity and ease of use, making it ideal for smaller teams focused on sales. 

ActiveCampaign, while offering strong contact management, integrates it with its marketing automation, providing a more comprehensive view of customer interactions.

Nutshell CRM Top Benefits

5. Salesforce Integration

Neither platform offers direct, seamless integration if you need to integrate with Salesforce.

However, both platforms offer API access and other integrations that might facilitate data transfer.

6. Newsletter and Marketing Automation

ActiveCampaign excels in newsletter creation and marketing automation.

Its advanced features allow for highly targeted campaigns and personalized customer journeys.

Nutshell’s email marketing is more basic, suitable for simple newsletters and follow-ups, but lacks the advanced automation of ActiveCampaign.

7. Free Trial and Customer Support

Both platforms offer a free trial, allowing you to test their features before committing.

Customer support is also a key consideration. 

ActiveCampaign provides various support channels, including live chat, email, and phone support.

Nutshell also offers responsive support, primarily through email and chat, focusing on providing quick, personalized assistance.

What to Look For When Choosing a CRM Tool?

  • Consider your budget and the features you need. Don’t pay for features you won’t use.
  • Think about your team’s technical skills. Choose a platform that matches their comfort level.
  • Read online reviews from other users. This can give you valuable insights into real-world experiences.
  • Take advantage of free trials. Test out both Keap and Insightly to see which one you prefer.
  • Don’t be afraid to ask for help. Both companies offer excellent customer support.
  • Evaluate the mobile experience. If you need to access your CRM on the go, ensure the mobile app meets your needs.
  • Check out the vendor’s track record. How long has it been in business? What is its reputation like?
  • Consider future growth. Choose the Best CRM that can scale with your business as it expands.

Final Verdict

After thorough testing, we lean toward ActiveCampaign for businesses seeking a comprehensive CRM and marketing automation solution.

While Nutshell excels in simplicity and sales-focused contact management.

ActiveCampaign’s robust features offer greater scalability and include advanced email deliverability.

If your priority is streamlined sales and basic contact management, Nutshell is a solid choice.

But if you want a tool that grows with your marketing needs, ActiveCampaign is our pick.

We spent weeks testing to give you this information so you can make the best choice.

More of ActiveCampaign

Here’s a comparison of ActiveCampaign with its alternatives:

  • ActiveCampaign vs GoHighLevel: ActiveCampaign focuses on advanced email marketing and customer journey automation. In contrast, GoHighLevel provides an all-in-one suite for agencies, including funnels, websites, and extensive sales/marketing tools.
  • ActiveCampaign vs Pipedrive: ActiveCampaign excels in marketing automation and lead nurturing with integrated CRM. Pipedrive, however, is a sales-centric CRM that emphasizes visual pipeline management and efficient deal tracking.
  • ActiveCampaign vs Keap: ActiveCampaign offers robust marketing automation and email capabilities. Keap is tailored for small businesses, blending CRM with sales and email for an integrated approach.
  • ActiveCampaign vs HubSpot: ActiveCampaign is a leader in email marketing automation and customer engagement. HubSpot provides a more comprehensive, all-in-one platform covering marketing, sales, service, and content management.
  • ActiveCampaign vs ClickFunnels: ActiveCampaign is ideal for email marketing automation and lead nurturing within a CRM context. ClickFunnels specializes in building sales funnels and landing pages for direct conversions.
  • ActiveCampaign vs Folk: ActiveCampaign is known for sophisticated marketing automation and detailed customer segmentation. Folk offers a simpler, collaborative CRM for contact management, email campaigns, and basic sales pipelines.
  • ActiveCampaign vs Instantly: ActiveCampaign delivers advanced marketing automation and a comprehensive CRM. Instantly focuses more on cold email outreach and lead finding with basic CRM features for simplified sales.
  • ActiveCampaign vs ClickUp: ActiveCampaign excels in marketing-specific automation and customer relationship management. ClickUp is a versatile work management platform that can be customized for CRM and emphasizes project management.
  • ActiveCampaign vs Monday CRM: ActiveCampaign provides powerful marketing automation and email campaigns with strong CRM integration. Monday CRM emphasizes visual collaboration and customizable boards for lead and deal management.
  • ActiveCampaign vs Capsule: ActiveCampaign offers robust email marketing and advanced automation for sales and customer journeys. Capsule CRM provides straightforward contact management and sales pipeline features, ideal for basic CRM needs.
  • ActiveCampaign vs Insightly: ActiveCampaign focuses on deep marketing and sales automation with lead scoring and tracking. Insightly combines CRM with project management, suiting teams needing both sales and project delivery.
  • ActiveCampaign vs Freshsales CRM: ActiveCampaign provides comprehensive marketing automation and email with integrated CRM functionalities. Freshsales CRM focuses on sales management and streamlining sales processes with AI-powered insights.
  • ActiveCampaign vs Salesforce: ActiveCampaign specializes in marketing automation and email engagement for small to medium businesses. Salesforce is an extensive, scalable CRM platform for large enterprises, covering sales, service, and marketing.

More of Nutshell CRM

Here’s a brief comparison of Nutshell CRM with these software solutions:

  • Nutshell CRM vs GoHighLevel: Nutshell CRM is a sales-focused CRM that emphasizes ease of use and pipeline management, while GoHighLevel offers a broader suite of marketing, sales, and agency management tools.
  • Nutshell CRM vs Pipedrive: Nutshell CRM offers user-friendly contact management and sales automation, while Pipedrive is renowned for its highly visual and customizable sales pipeline.
  • Nutshell CRM vs Keap: Nutshell CRM focuses on simplifying sales processes and collaboration; Keap provides advanced marketing automation and lead management features.
  • Nutshell CRM vs ActiveCampaign: Nutshell CRM streamlines sales and contact tracking, while ActiveCampaign excels at sophisticated marketing automation, segmentation, and email campaigns.
  • Nutshell CRM vs Hubspot: Nutshell CRM offers an intuitive interface for sales pipeline management and customer relationships, while HubSpot provides an extensive all-in-one platform for marketing, sales, and service.
  • Nutshell CRM vs Clickfunnels: Nutshell CRM is a dedicated sales-focused CRM; ClickFunnels specializes in building sales funnels and landing pages to drive conversions.
  • Nutshell CRM vs Folk: Nutshell CRM is a sales-focused CRM with robust reporting and pipeline management; Folk emphasizes collaborative contact organization and AI-powered enrichment.
  • Nutshell CRM vs Instantly: Nutshell CRM focuses on managing sales pipelines and customer interactions, while Instantly is geared towards high-volume cold email outreach and lead generation.
  • Nutshell CRM vs ClickUp: Nutshell CRM is a specialized tool for sales and customer relationship management, while ClickUp is a versatile work management platform that includes CRM functionalities.
  • Nutshell CRM vs Monday CRM: Nutshell CRM provides a streamlined sales process with clear pipeline visualization; Monday CRM offers highly customizable visual workflows and strong team collaboration across various functions.
  • Nutshell CRM vs Capsule CRM: Nutshell CRM focuses on intuitive sales pipeline management and automation; Capsule CRM is a simpler contact manager primarily for tracking sales opportunities.
  • Nutshell CRM vs Insightly: Nutshell CRM emphasizes ease of use for small business sales teams; Insightly offers a more comprehensive CRM with additional project management capabilities.
  • Nutshell CRM vs Freshsales CRM: Nutshell CRM provides an easy-to-use sales pipeline and team collaboration; Freshsales CRM includes AI-driven insights and broader sales force automation.
  • Nutshell CRM vs Salesforce: Nutshell CRM offers a straightforward, affordable solution for small to mid-sized businesses; Salesforce is a highly scalable, feature-rich enterprise CRM.

Frequently Asked Questions

Is ActiveCampaign better for email marketing than Nutshell?

Yes, ActiveCampaign is significantly stronger for email marketing. It offers advanced automation, segmentation, and template options, improving email deliverability. Nutshell provides basic email features, but it lacks the depth and sophistication of ActiveCampaign’s marketing tools.

Which CRM is easier to use, ActiveCampaign or Nutshell?

Nutshell is generally considered easier to use, especially for small teams focused on sales. Its interface is straightforward, and its contact management is simple. ActiveCampaign, while powerful, has a steeper learning curve due to its extensive feature set.

Does ActiveCampaign or Nutshell offer a free trial?

ActiveCampaign and Nutshell offer a free trial, allowing you to test their features before committing. This lets you experience their user interfaces and determine which CRM best suits your business needs.

Which CRM is more suitable for a small business?

For small businesses that prioritize sales and simple contact management, Nutshell is a strong choice. However, if a small business also requires robust marketing automation and email capabilities from its CRM, ActiveCampaign is the better option.

Can ActiveCampaign or Nutshell integrate with Salesforce?

Neither ActiveCampaign nor Nutshell offers direct, seamless integration with Salesforce. However, both platforms provide API access, which can be used to build custom integrations or facilitate data transfer between the systems.