Take ActiveCampaign if you want email and automation as the core and running CRM, email and sales from one subscription. Take GoHighLevel if you want running CRM, email and sales from one subscription, one price for the whole team and email and automation as the core. ActiveCampaign is cheaper at a small contact count and GoHighLevel is cheaper by 25,000 contacts, so the answer changes with your size.
What each one actually costs
The real monthly figure at four team sizes with the add-ons each platform forces on you included, from the same engine the shortlist quiz uses. The cheaper of the two is marked on every row.
| ActiveCampaign | GoHighLevel | Difference | |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1,000 contacts | $15 | $97 | $82 |
| 5,000 contacts | $79 | $97 | $18 |
| 25,000 contacts | $389 | $97 | $292 |
| 100,000 contacts | $1,169 | $97 | $1,072 |
What is actually different
- GoHighLevel lists a meeting scheduler, built-in calling, two-way email sync and quotes, proposals and invoices where ActiveCampaign does not, which is their own wording rather than something we verified.
What I found
Condensed from my own reviews. Every line links to the second I said it, so you can check any of it. Prices in the table above are from this week; the videos are older and the figures in them are not.
ActiveCampaign
I have not used ActiveCampaign, so there is no verdict from me on this one. Everything else on this page still applies.
GoHighLevel
★ My PickI use thisA capable all-in-one platform with a steep learning curve and weak support, but solid value if you need multiple marketing tools in one place.
- It's a genuine all-in-one platform that can replace ClickFunnels, Active Campaign, Mailchimp, and Teachable. 8:05
- You can create unlimited communities, courses, sites, and funnels within a single subscription. 8:29
- The automation tools are robust and most of my business is automated inside of here. 8:42
- There's a very steep learning curve with a lot of features to get your head around. 10:11
- The interface can feel a little cluttered and quite overwhelming when you first come in. 11:09
- There are occasional glitches and bugs because it's such a beast and they're doing things all the time. 11:24
- The support has never been great and I struggle to get the answers I'm looking for. 12:23
From my review, August 2025. Watch it
Before you sign up to either
| ActiveCampaign | GoHighLevel | |
|---|---|---|
| Free trial | 14 days | 14 days |
| Free plan | None | None |
| Contract | Annual billing is the published price | Month to month, cancel any time |
| Payment fee | None on top | None on top |
Reading further
The full price ladder, every plan and the add-ons charged on top are on each platform's own page. If neither of these two is quite it, each page also has the alternatives ranked against it.
People search for this comparison as: activecampaign vs go high level.
Questions people ask about these two
Is ActiveCampaign or GoHighLevel cheaper?
ActiveCampaign is cheaper at a small contact count and GoHighLevel is cheaper by 25,000 contacts, so the answer changes with your size.
How much does ActiveCampaign cost a month?
ActiveCampaign is $15 a month at 1,000 contacts and $1,169 at 100,000 contacts, read off their own pricing page and re-checked every week.
How much does GoHighLevel cost a month?
GoHighLevel is $97 a month at every size we price, from 1,000 to 100,000 contacts, read off their own pricing page and re-checked every week.
Does ActiveCampaign or GoHighLevel have a free trial?
ActiveCampaign publishes a 14-day free trial. GoHighLevel publishes a 14-day free trial.
Make a third option? If you make CRMs for small service businesses and it is missing from this list, ask to be shortlisted. Listings are free and cannot be bought.
Neither, or not sure?
A head to head only helps once you have picked the two. The shortlist asks 7 questions about what you need it for and how many people need a login, and gives you four picks priced at your own team size, from all 22.
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