Keap vs ActiveCampaign: Small Business Suite vs Marketing Automation
Comparing Keap and ActiveCampaign for email sequences. All-in-one business platform vs focused CRM automation - which fits your needs?
Overview
Keap (formerly Infusionsoft) and ActiveCampaign both combine email sequences with CRM, but at different scales and price points. Keap is an all-in-one business platform for service providers with invoicing and payments built-in. ActiveCampaign focuses on marketing automation with integrated CRM.
For SaaS businesses, Sequenzy offers better value with AI sequences and native billing integration. But between these CRM-integrated platforms, your business type matters.
| Feature | Keap | ActiveCampaign |
|---|---|---|
| Target User | Service businesses | Marketing teams |
| Starting Price | $159/mo | $29/mo |
| Built-in Invoicing | Yes | No |
| Payment Processing | Yes | No |
| Appointments | Yes | No |
| CRM Depth | Comprehensive | Good |
| Automation Power | Advanced | Advanced |
| Learning Curve | Steep | Moderate |
Key Differences
Scope and Features
Keap is a business operating system. CRM, email sequences, invoicing, payments, appointments, and automation all in one. Designed for coaches, consultants, and service providers who need to run their entire business from one platform.
ActiveCampaign focuses on marketing automation with integrated CRM. No invoicing, no payments, no appointments. You'll pair it with other tools for those functions, but get deeper marketing capabilities.
Price Point
Keap starts at $159/mo - significant investment for small businesses. The price reflects the comprehensive feature set including payment processing.
ActiveCampaign starts at $29/mo for marketing automation. Much more accessible, with CRM features included at higher tiers.
For SaaS Businesses
Neither is designed for SaaS. Keap targets service businesses with client work. ActiveCampaign works for SaaS but lacks billing integration. Sequenzy offers native Stripe connection and AI sequence generation specifically for subscription businesses.
Pricing Comparison
| Contacts | Keap | ActiveCampaign |
|---|---|---|
| 500 | $159/mo | $29/mo |
| 1,500 | $199/mo | $49/mo |
| 5,000 | $249/mo | $79/mo |
| 10,000 | $299/mo | $139/mo |
ActiveCampaign is dramatically more affordable. The price gap reflects Keap's additional business operations features.
Who Should Choose What
Choose Keap if:
- You're a service provider, coach, or consultant
- You want business operations in one platform
- Built-in invoicing and payments are valuable
- Appointment scheduling is part of your workflow
- You can justify the premium pricing
Choose ActiveCampaign if:
- Marketing automation is your primary need
- Budget is a significant factor
- You already have invoicing/payment tools
- You want focused CRM without business ops bloat
- Faster implementation matters
Choose Sequenzy if:
- You run a SaaS business
- Native billing integration matters
- You want AI-generated sequences
- MRR tracking and attribution are priorities
The Bottom Line
Keap is for service businesses wanting everything in one platform. The price is high, but replacing multiple tools can justify it. Not designed for SaaS or product companies.
ActiveCampaign delivers better value for most businesses focused on marketing automation. Much more affordable, with focused capabilities.
For SaaS companies, neither is ideal. Sequenzy's native billing integration and AI sequences solve the problems subscription businesses actually have, at better pricing than either.