Free ActiveCampaign Alternative – Bitrix24

Introduction

If you've been using or researching ActiveCampaign, you already know it's a powerful email marketing and automation platform. But for many businesses – especially startups and small-to-medium teams – its pricing, complexity, and lack of a free plan can be dealbreakers. That's why thousands of users search for an ActiveCampaign alternative every month.

Enter Bitrix24, an all-in-one online workspace trusted by over 15 million businesses worldwide. Unlike single-purpose tools, Bitrix24 combines CRM, marketing automation, email campaigns, SMS marketing, task and project management, video calls, HR tools, landing page builder, and file storage – all within a single, integrated platform.

Better yet, Bitrix24 offers a Free Forever plan – making it a cost-effective and scalable ActiveCampaign alternative.

Why Look for an ActiveCampaign Alternative?

ActiveCampaign has built a strong reputation for its advanced marketing automation capabilities, but even loyal users admit it's not without challenges.

As the marketing automation software, many businesses – especially small and medium-sized ones – are looking for an ActiveCampaign alternative that offers more flexibility, simplicity, and value for money.

Let's break down the most common reasons companies decide to switch.

1. Expensive Compared to Peers

ActiveCampaign's pricing is one of the top concerns for users. The entry-level “Plus” plan starts at $49/month, but this cost can balloon rapidly depending on how many contacts you manage. For example, a company with 10,000 contacts may end up paying several hundred dollars per month once automation, CRM, and reporting tools are added.

Moreover, certain key features such as SMS marketing, advanced reporting, and split automations are only available in higher-tier plans, which pushes users toward more expensive subscriptions.

By contrast, other platforms – including Bitrix24 – are taking a more accessible approach. Bitrix24 offers a Free Forever plan, and even its paid tiers remain affordable for small businesses. You get CRM, automation, and marketing tools in one package, without worrying about escalating costs every time your contact list grows.

For many small businesses or startups operating on lean budgets, this cost difference can mean the ability to invest in growth elsewhere – like paid ads, content creation, or product development – instead of high monthly software fees.

2. No Free Plan

Unlike many competitors, ActiveCampaign doesn't offer a permanent free plan – only a 14-day trial. While two weeks may be enough to test a few campaigns, it's rarely enough to evaluate a tool's automation depth, CRM functionality, or overall fit for a business.

Email marketing and automation platforms are inherently long-term investments. It takes time to import contacts, design workflows, build segments, and fine-tune content. Cutting off access after two weeks leaves many users hesitant to commit before seeing real-world results.

Bitrix24, on the other hand, solves this problem with its Free Forever plan. This means users can set up real automations, connect integrations, and grow their contact base at their own pace – without the pressure of a countdown timer or payment wall. For startups and freelancers, that alone is a massive advantage.

3. Steep Learning Curve

ActiveCampaign is feature-rich – but that's both its strength and weakness. While advanced marketers can build intricate automation flows, beginners often struggle with its complex interface, scattered menu structure, and jargon-heavy setup.

For example, configuring event triggers, managing lists, and setting up CRM pipelines requires multiple steps and cross-navigation between modules. This can slow down onboarding and create friction for teams who just want to send campaigns or automate follow-ups without becoming experts in marketing logic.

Many new users report needing extensive training or tutorials before feeling comfortable. For small teams without dedicated marketing specialists, that's time they can't afford to lose.

In contrast, Bitrix24 emphasizes simplicity and usability. Its drag-and-drop automation builder is visual and intuitive, allowing even non-technical users to set up campaigns quickly. Combined with built-in CRM and templates, teams can get started the same day – not after weeks of learning.

4. Limited CRM and Integrations

ActiveCampaign does offer a CRM system, but it's relatively lightweight and best suited for marketing-driven workflows rather than end-to-end sales processes. For example, invoice management, inventory tracking, or product catalog features are missing. This forces businesses to rely on multiple external tools – each with its own cost, data silos, and integration challenges.

Additionally, while ActiveCampaign integrates with popular tools like Shopify or WordPress, many business-critical integrations (e.g., accounting, HR, or internal communications) require third-party connectors like Zapier, which can introduce delays and added costs.

Bitrix24 takes a more holistic approach. Its CRM is built directly into the same workspace as email, SMS, telephony, and project management tools. This means your sales, marketing, and operations teams all work from a single platform – no syncing issues or data duplication. Integrations with Facebook, Instagram, WhatsApp, payment gateways, and e-signatures also come standard.

5. Complex for SMBs

Small businesses and startups often need agility, not complexity. ActiveCampaign's depth of customization can feel overwhelming to teams that just want to nurture leads, send campaigns, and close deals efficiently.

Setting up the system properly may require hiring consultants or investing in premium onboarding – both of which add hidden costs. For SMBs without technical expertise, the result is underutilized features and frustration.

Bitrix24's ecosystem, by comparison, is tailor-made for smaller teams. The platform's simplicity and visual workflows allow anyone – from a marketing assistant to a founder – to manage campaigns, track deals, and automate communications in minutes.

Its integrated CRM, messenger, video calls, and advanced marketing automation tools make it ideal for growing companies that need everything to “just work” together.

Bitrix24 as a Free ActiveCampaign Alternative

Bitrix24 isn't just another marketing automation platform – it's a complete online workspace that connects marketing, sales, and operations into one unified system.

While many tools focus narrowly on a single function (like email automation or CRM), Bitrix24 is built for modern teams that want everything – from lead generation to deal management – under one roof.

This makes it the best ActiveCampaign alternative, especially for small and mid-sized businesses seeking simplicity without sacrificing functionality.

Free Forever Plan

Most marketing platforms gate their best features behind paid tiers. Bitrix24 breaks this mold with a Free Forever plan that provides essential CRM, automation, and marketing tools at no cost.

You can create pipelines, send campaigns, and manage customer data without worrying about trial expirations or limited-time access. This approach empowers small teams, freelancers, and startups to grow sustainably – testing and scaling their marketing processes before committing to a paid plan.

Even the paid tiers remain highly affordable, offering advanced capabilities like AI-powered sales suggestions, workflow automation, and deeper analytics – still at a fraction of what ActiveCampaign charges. The result is a flexible growth path that adapts to your business, not the other way around.

Built-in CRM + Marketing Automation

Where ActiveCampaign separates its CRM from its automation tools, Bitrix24 integrates both natively. Every customer interaction – whether from email, web forms, calls, or social media – automatically syncs to your CRM.

You can track leads, deals, and companies, create invoices, manage your product catalog and inventory, and even process online payments or e-signatures – all without leaving your workspace. This means no more switching between apps or losing context between marketing and sales activities.

The tight integration between CRM and automation ensures seamless customer journeys, where leads flow naturally from acquisition to conversion with minimal manual effort.

Email + SMS Campaigns

With Bitrix24, you can manage email and SMS marketing side by side. The platform includes ready-to-use templates, a simple drag-and-drop editor, and advanced segmentation tools that let you send personalized campaigns to the right audience at the right time.

Unlike ActiveCampaign – which may require separate integrations or credits for SMS – Bitrix24 includes both communication channels natively. You can also automate mixed campaigns, such as sending a follow-up SMS after an unopened email, or trigger CRM updates based on engagement.

Comprehensive tracking tools let you monitor open rates, click-throughs, and conversions in real time, helping you refine your strategy with data-driven insights.

Drag-and-Drop Workflow Builder

Automation shouldn't require a degree in coding. Bitrix24's visual workflow builder lets anyone create complex marketing and sales processes in minutes.

Drag triggers, actions, and conditions onto a canvas to automate repetitive tasks – from sending follow-up messages to assigning leads to the right sales reps. You can also use prebuilt templates for common workflows such as welcome sequences, lead nurturing, and abandoned cart recovery.

This approach reduces setup time and makes automation accessible to all team members, not just technical users.

Contact Center and Analytics

Bitrix24 goes beyond marketing automation by including a full contact center inside the platform. Your team can handle calls, emails, and social messages (from Facebook, Instagram, WhatsApp, and more) directly within the workspace.

Every conversation is automatically logged in the CRM, giving you a 360° view of each customer's history. Built-in analytics dashboards display real-time performance metrics – from campaign effectiveness to sales funnel progress – so you can identify what's working and optimize quickly.

For growing teams, this means smarter decisions, faster response times, and more personalized communication – all powered by a single integrated system.

Bitrix24 vs. ActiveCampaign: Feature Comparison

The table below presents a feature-by-feature comparison of the two products in questions, allowing for a deeper look into their similarities and differences.

Comparison Table

Other ActiveCampaign Alternatives to Consider

While Bitrix24 stands out for its generous free plan and all-in-one approach, the marketing automation landscape is diverse – and depending on your business goals, there are several other tools worth exploring.

Below, we take a deeper look at some of the most popular ActiveCampaign alternatives, outlining who they're best for, their unique advantages, and potential drawbacks.

1. Klaviyo

Best for: eCommerce brands and online retailers

Klaviyo is a favorite among eCommerce businesses, particularly those using Shopify or WooCommerce. It offers advanced audience segmentation, real-time purchase tracking, and predictive analytics to help store owners understand customer behavior and tailor campaigns accordingly.

The platform excels at data-driven personalization – you can automate product recommendations, abandoned cart emails, and follow-ups based on browsing or purchase history. Its deep Shopify integration allows seamless syncing of customer data and sales metrics.

However, Klaviyo's pricing can escalate quickly as your contact list grows, making it less ideal for startups or non-retail businesses. Plans start at $20/month, but scalability comes at a premium.

2. Omnisend

Best for: Online stores and multi-channel marketing

A nice ActiveCampaign alternative, Omnisend focuses on unifying email, SMS, and push notifications into a single marketing workflow. It's built for eCommerce and provides pre-designed automation workflows like cart recovery, re-engagement, and post-purchase sequences.

One of its strengths is the simplicity of its campaign creation tools – even users with minimal experience can set up automated flows in minutes. Omnisend also integrates directly with Shopify, BigCommerce, and Magento, making it easy to manage marketing within your store ecosystem.

The free plan allows for limited campaigns, but paid plans start at $16/month, offering expanded features like advanced segmentation and SMS credits.

3. HubSpot

Best for: Ecommerce businesses seeking a comprehensive CRM + marketing hub

Instead of being just another ActiveCampaign alternative, HubSpot is often considered the “enterprise” cousin in this category. It combines CRM, marketing automation, customer service, and CMS tools in one ecosystem. The free plan includes contact management, email marketing, and forms – perfect for small teams getting started.

Its biggest advantage lies in the depth of integration across sales and service functions. Marketing data automatically feeds into your CRM, giving a unified customer view. The user interface is also clean and intuitive, ideal for teams wanting a professional, scalable solution.

However, HubSpot's paid tiers can become pricey as you scale, with premium marketing features starting at $20/month but rising rapidly once advanced automation and reporting are added.

4. Brevo (formerly Sendinblue)

Best for: Businesses wanting transactional and marketing email under one roof

Brevo offers a forever free plan with unlimited contacts and up to 300 emails/day, making it one of the most generous free options available. Unlike most competitors, Brevo also supports transactional emails, meaning you can send order confirmations and password resets alongside campaigns – something ActiveCampaign doesn't handle natively.

The platform includes SMS marketing, chat widgets, and a simple automation builder. It's user-friendly and integrates with major eCommerce platforms. Paid plans start at $39/month, unlocking advanced automation and higher sending limits.

For small teams or online retailers, Brevo is a reliable, budget-conscious option that balances simplicity with strong deliverability.

5. MailerLite

Best for: Small businesses and freelancers

MailerLite is known for its clean design, user-friendly interface, and ease of use. It provides all essential tools for email marketing, including a drag-and-drop editor, landing pages, and subscriber management.

Its free tier is generous, supporting up to 1,000 subscribers and 12,000 emails per month – ideal for new marketers testing the waters. Paid plans (starting at $19/month) unlock advanced features like auto-resend campaigns, A/B testing, and custom domains.

MailerLite's main advantage is simplicity. It's not the most feature-heavy ActiveCampaign alternative, but for content creators, nonprofits, and small teams, it delivers reliable performance without complexity.

6. Mailchimp

Best for: Beginners and small businesses

Mailchimp remains one of the most recognizable names in email marketing. It's celebrated for its intuitive interface, prebuilt templates, and high deliverability rates.

The free plan includes up to 500 contacts and basic automation, while paid plans (from $13/month) offer segmentation, advanced analytics, and multichannel marketing.

Where Mailchimp shines is onboarding: it's easy to start, easy to test, and integrates with virtually every tool. However, long-time users note that pricing can increase sharply with list size, and the automation builder, while improved, still lacks the depth of competitors like Bitrix24 or ActiveCampaign.

7. ConvertKit

Best for: Content creators, bloggers, and educators

ConvertKit tailors its platform to individual creators and small content-driven businesses. It focuses on building relationships through automation and offers powerful features like subscriber tagging, email sequences, and creator monetization tools.

You can sell digital products, manage subscriptions, and set up automated funnels – all from one dashboard. The free plan supports up to 1,000 subscribers, and paid plans start around $15/month.

While not built for large-scale CRM or sales pipelines, ConvertKit is ideal for creators who prioritize engagement, audience growth, and personal brand monetization.

8. Drip

Best for: eCommerce brands focused on personalization

Drip excels in behavioral marketing and dynamic automation. It allows marketers to create complex customer journeys based on user actions – like viewed products, abandoned carts, or purchase frequency.

It integrates tightly with Shopify and WooCommerce and supports email, SMS, and dynamic website personalization. Its visual workflow editor is sophisticated yet manageable, making it ideal for marketers who want depth without enterprise-level complexity.

Pricing begins at $39/month, reflecting its focus on established online retailers ready to invest in data-driven automation.

9. GetResponse

Best for: Businesses that need webinars and landing pages built in

GetResponse is a versatile ActiveCampaign alternative that combines email automation, webinars, landing pages, and funnels in one platform. It's great for marketers who want to manage both lead capture and conversion within the same system.

The interface is intuitive, with a visual workflow builder similar to Bitrix24's. You can also set up lead magnets, autoresponders, and transactional emails. Plans start at $19/month, and the platform frequently offers discounts for annual subscriptions.

Its biggest differentiator is the built-in webinar hosting, eliminating the need for third-party tools like Zoom or GoToWebinar.

10. EngageBay

Best for: Startups seeking an affordable all-in-one platform

EngageBay merges customer relationship management, marketing automation, helpdesk, and live chat in one solution. It's particularly popular among small businesses transitioning from spreadsheets to a unified system.

Its user-friendly interface and low-cost entry point – just $12.99/month – make it a serious contender for cost-conscious teams. The free plan covers up to 500 contacts, basic automation, and email templates.

While it doesn't have the deep integrations or advanced AI tools found in Bitrix24, EngageBay offers excellent value and usability for early-stage teams.

11. Moosend

Best for: Growing businesses seeking personalization on a budget

Moosend stands out for its segmentation and personalization capabilities. You can trigger campaigns based on user behavior, location, or even weather conditions.

It also offers a polished drag-and-drop editor, prebuilt templates, and real-time analytics. Paid plans start at around $9/month, making it one of the most affordable tools in this list.

Moosend's lightweight design and flexible pricing make it attractive for businesses that want enterprise-style automation without enterprise costs.

12. Salesmate

Best for: Sales-driven teams and SMBs

Salesmate combines CRM, email marketing automation, pipeline management, and telephony into one cohesive system. It's built for sales-first organizations that want to automate outreach while maintaining a personal touch.

The CRM includes contact scoring, deal tracking, and integrated calling – features that are typically add-ons in ActiveCampaign. You can automate follow-ups, send bulk emails, and even record calls for coaching and analysis.

Pricing starts at $15/user/month, making it accessible for smaller teams while still offering enterprise-grade functionality.

Summary

Each ActiveCampaign alternative on this list has its strengths – whether that's eCommerce focus (Klaviyo, Omnisend), creator tools (ConvertKit), or affordability (EngageBay, Moosend). Yet none combine CRM, marketing automation, communication, HR, and workflow management in one platform the way Bitrix24 does.

That integration, plus a Free plan that's free forever, makes Bitrix24 a uniquely comprehensive and cost-effective ActiveCampaign alternative.

Benefits of Using Bitrix24 Over ActiveCampaign

1. Free Forever Plan

Most email marketing automation platforms restrict advanced tools to higher-tier plans, but Bitrix24 breaks that convention with its Free plan. You can access core features like CRM, automation workflows, team collaboration, and communication tools without paying a cent.

This free model isn't just a trial – it's a long-term solution that allows small teams to build, test, and refine their marketing strategies without financial pressure. You can send campaigns, nurture leads, and automate follow-ups indefinitely, making it especially appealing for startups and nonprofits.

When you're ready to grow, upgrading is seamless. Paid plans unlock premium features such as AI-driven sales assistance, sales automation, advanced analytics, and eCommerce tools, still at a fraction of ActiveCampaign's entry cost.

Bitrix24's pricing scales fairly with usage, ensuring that businesses of all sizes can benefit from automation without breaking the bank.

2. Easier Onboarding and Use

ActiveCampaign is powerful but often intimidating for new users. Bitrix24 eliminates that friction through intuitive design and guided onboarding. The interface is organized, clean, and free from unnecessary clutter, letting users find what they need quickly – whether it's setting up a CRM pipeline, launching an email campaign, or creating an automation.

Bitrix24 also provides prebuilt templates and visual workflow editors, so teams can go live faster without technical expertise. Even non-marketers can design sequences, manage customer data, and analyze performance with ease.

This simplicity doesn't mean sacrificing power – it means reducing setup time and minimizing human error. Businesses can focus more on engaging customers and less on managing software.

3. CRM + Marketing + Sales in One Platform

A major challenge with most marketing software, including ActiveCampaign, is the need to integrate multiple external tools for CRM, communication, and collaboration. Each integration introduces extra cost, setup time, and risk of data inconsistency.

Bitrix24 solves this by combining all core business functions in one ecosystem. The CRM, email and SMS campaigns, telephony, task management, file sharing, video meetings, and marketing automation tools are all natively connected.

That means every customer touchpoint – from a web form submission to a closed deal – is automatically logged and visible to your entire team. This unified environment boosts productivity, eliminates app-switching, and helps businesses deliver a truly connected customer experience.

4. Suited for SMBs and Startups

While ActiveCampaign often appeals to mid-market or enterprise users with technical teams, Bitrix24 is specifically crafted for SMBs and growing startups that need quick results without complex onboarding.

Its scalability ensures that you can start small – with basic CRM and marketing tools – and expand effortlessly as your team and operations grow. Bitrix24's modular design means you can add advanced features like HR management, workflow automation, and analytics only when you need them.

For smaller teams, that flexibility translates to lower upfront costs and faster ROI. And because Bitrix24 also includes collaboration tools like messenger, tasks, and video conferencing, it becomes a central hub for both internal teamwork and external customer engagement.

In short, Bitrix24 isn't just an ActiveCampaign alternative – it's a full business growth platform designed to evolve with you at every stage.

Get Started with Bitrix24 – Free ActiveCampaign Alternative

If you're tired of expensive subscriptions, complex workflows, and disconnected tools, it's time to try Bitrix24.

Create your free Bitrix24 account today and experience how effortless it can be to:

• Automate your emails and SMS campaigns.

• Manage leads and deals in one CRM.

• Collaborate with your team via chat and video calls.

• Simplify marketing and sales under one workspace.

Start for free today – and take your marketing, sales, and automation to the next level with Bitrix24, the ultimate ActiveCampaign alternative.