Salesforce Marketing Cloud vs ActiveCampaign

Brevo

Mailchimp

Brevo is a CRM and email marketing solution that helps businesses run multi-channel marketing campaigns across email, WhatsApp, SMS, web push, and Facebook ads. Teams can trigger transactional emails, SMS, and WhatsApp notifications over Brevo SMTP and APIs.

Mailchimp is an email and SMS marketing platform that combines artificial intelligence with marketing automation capabilities. The platform features a drag-and-drop builder, content creation tools, and audience management functions to help businesses design and distribute marketing campaigns across multiple channels.

ActiveCampaign

ActiveCampaign is the AI-first marketing platform built to transform how marketers, agencies, and entrepreneurs work. Use Active Intelligence to power goal-aware automations and orchestrate personalized experiences across email, SMS, and WhatsApp. 

VP of Operations

Hard to pick what was worst - terrible customer service, despite paying for Premiere Support it often took days to get problems solved (and updates were constantly causing new problems), or the fact that the answer to every question was either no or an upsell.

Salesforce Marketing Cloud combines a number of features to execute basic or complex email marketing campaigns. Create targeted, timely emails & track campaigns

A/B Testing

Access Controls/Permissions

Activity Dashboard

Activity Tracking

Ad hoc Reporting

Ad Network Integration

AI Copilot

AI/Machine Learning

Alerts/Notifications

Analytics

Archiving & Retention

Asset Lifecycle Management

Audience Targeting

Audio File Management

Automated Publishing

Autoresponders

Behavioral Analytics

Behavior Tracking

Brand Management

Brand Tracking

Calendar Management

Campaign Analytics

Campaign Management

Campaign Planning

Campaign Scheduling

Campaign Segmentation

Campaign Tracking

Canned Responses

CAN-SPAM Compliance

Categorization/Grouping

Channel Management

Click Tracking

Collaboration Tools

Commenting/Notes

Communication Management

Competitive Analysis

Configurable Workflow

Contact Management

Content Library

Content Management

Content Publishing Options

Conversion Rate Optimization

Conversion Tracking

Customer Engagement

Customer Experience Management

Customer History

Customer Journey Mapping

Customer Profiles

Customer Segmentation

Customer Surveys

Customizable Branding

Customizable CTAs

Customizable Fields

Customizable Forms

Customizable Reports

Customizable Templates

Customization

Dashboard

Dashboard Creation

Data Capture and Transfer

Data Connectors

Data Import/Export

Data Recovery

Data Security

Data Visualization

Document Classification

Document Management

Document Storage

Drag & Drop

Drip Campaigns

Dynamic Content

eCommerce Management

Electronic Forms

Email Campaign Management

Email Distribution

Email Management

Email Marketing

Email Monitoring

Email Templates

Email Tracking

Engagement Tracking

Event Triggered Actions

File Management

Filtering

For iPad Devices

For Marketing and Advertising

Forms Management

For Startups

Full Text Search

Generative AI

Image Editing

Image Library

Inbox Management

Interaction Tracking

Keyword Filtering

KPI Monitoring

Landing Pages/Web Forms

Lead Capture

Some reviewers feel Salesforce Marketing Cloud is expensive, especially for small businesses or those not using all features, and they report extra costs for setup, maintenance, and support. Some users appreciate occasional discounts and find value when fully leveraging the platform.

Value for money

The Salesforce Marketing Cloud integration most frequently cited by reviewers is Salesforce Sales Cloud, a CRM product rated 4.7 out of 5 for its integration with Salesforce Marketing Cloud.

Integrations

Reviews for Salesforce Marketing Cloud come from a wide variety of industries, including computer software (9% of reviewers), marketing and advertising (9%), and information technology and services (7%). The most frequent use case for Salesforce Marketing Cloud cited by reviewers is email marketing (50% of reviewers).

Salesforce Marketing Cloud

Web-based

Android

iPhone

iPad

HubSpot Marketing Hub

Zoho CRM

SendGrid

Veeva CRM

Outreach

Oracle Responsys

Total Expert

Starter Suite

 Marketing Cloud Growth Edition

 Marketing Cloud Advanced Edition

Sluggish performance and delays

Project Manager and L&D Specialist 

The platform can be buggy sometimes and loading times are below average.

92% of reviewers feel negative about Performance and Speed. Users think the platform often suffers from slow loading times, clunky navigation, and inconsistent responsiveness. Reviewers indicate that the heavy interface can make daily tasks frustrating, especially when managing large campaigns or using advanced features. They say the user experience feels outdated and that slow performance can hinder productivity. Some users report frequent bugs and system lags, which disrupt workflows and make it difficult to complete tasks efficiently.

Frequent email functionality problems

Sales Engineer

We have encountered errors due to incomplete integration from other applications and issues when adding calendar links to addressed emails for clients.

UX Designer

I don't like that the UI of the entire website is very hard to use. If you click on something, you lose your work. And there's no way to preview my emails for multiple devices to troubleshoot.

77% of reviewers feel negative about Email Issues. Users report recurring problems with email delivery, duplicate sends, and technical glitches in campaign execution. Reviewers mention difficulties managing opt-out lists, integration errors affecting email content, and challenges with email formatting—especially with certain clients like Outlook. They say these issues can lead to spam problems, lost work, and campaign errors. Some users find troubleshooting difficult due to limited preview options and lack of clear error messaging, impacting their ability to ensure successful email campaigns.

Persistent bugs and glitches

Marketing Auxiliar

Sometimes the software stop in the middle of work, and I need to reset

65% of reviewers feel negative about Bugs and Issues. Users report frequent technical problems, including glitches in the user interface, difficulties with importing/exporting files, and issues with search and navigation. Reviewers say these bugs can disrupt workflows and require IT intervention to resolve. They mention that troubleshooting is time-consuming and that some problems take a long time to fix. Some users find that recurring issues impact their ability to rely on the platform for critical business processes.

High and complex pricing

Digital Marketing Manager

It is capable of things that were way beyond the scope of my organization's needs. And it was just too expensive to justify renewing our contract when we only used a quarter of its functionality.

76% of reviewers feel negative about Pricing. Users think the platform is expensive compared to alternatives, with high upfront and ongoing costs. Reviewers say the pricing structure can be confusing, with additional fees for support, consultants, or extra features. They report that the cost is difficult to justify for smaller companies or those not using the full range of capabilities. Some users mention that onboarding and maintenance require significant investment, making the platform less accessible for organizations with limited budgets.

Unresponsive customer support

Marketing Automation and Website Manager

The customer service and sales team was probably the worst I've seen from an enterprise product.

40% of reviewers feel negative about Customer Support. Users indicate that support is often slow, difficult to reach, and unhelpful in resolving issues. Reviewers say responses are vague, and escalation is frequently required to get answers. They report that documentation is inadequate and that support teams sometimes lack product knowledge. Some users feel that customer service is more focused on sales or renewals than on solving problems, leading to frustration and delays in getting assistance.

Streamlined lead tracking tools

91% of reviewers feel positive about Lead Management. Reviewers appreciate the variety of tools for capturing, tracking, and nurturing leads within a single platform. Users say the system keeps lead information organized and secure, making it easier to manage the sales pipeline and develop customer relationships. They find features like drip campaigns and lead nurturing valuable for moving prospects through the funnel. Some users report that customizable options and integration with other systems help teams collaborate and monitor lead status efficiently, supporting both marketing and sales strategies.

Comprehensive automation capabilities

digital marketer

Salesforce Marketing Cloud is an excellent marketing automation software that provides a comprehensive solution for managing and automating marketing campaigns across multiple channels.

Senior Account Executive 

Journey builder looks easy and very visual -Robust and comprehensive marketing automation features-Extensive integrations with other Salesforce products-Customizable dashboards and reporting for personalized insights-Multi-channel communication capabilities for seamless customer engagement

94% of reviewers feel positive about Marketing Automation. Users think the platform’s automation features are robust, enabling them to manage campaigns across multiple channels and automate customer interactions efficiently. Reviewers appreciate the seamless integration with Salesforce CRM, which allows for advanced segmentation, personalized journeys, and multi-channel communication. They say automation helps scale their marketing efforts, streamline workflows, and deliver targeted content based on customer data. Some users report that the visual tools, like Journey Builder, make complex automations easier to design and monitor, enhancing their ability to engage customers at every stage.

Seamless integration ecosystem

VP - Marketing

Extensive features, and seamless integration with Salesforce CRM.

89% of reviewers feel positive about Integrations. Users say the platform integrates smoothly with Salesforce CRM and a wide range of third-party tools, making it easier to connect business systems and share data. Reviewers appreciate the flexibility to expand functionality through APIs and native connectors, supporting diverse business needs. They find that integration capabilities help unify workflows across departments and enable comprehensive tracking of customer interactions. Some users report that integration is straightforward, especially within the Salesforce ecosystem, and enhances the overall value of the platform.

Flexible template customization

88% of reviewers feel positive about Template Customization. Users think the platform provides strong flexibility for creating and customizing templates to fit various business requirements. Reviewers appreciate the availability of pre-defined templates, drag-and-drop tools, and the ability to use coding for advanced customization. They say these features help tailor user experiences and streamline the design process, reducing time spent on asset creation. Some users report that the customization options support dynamic content and segmentation, making it easier to deliver personalized communications.

Robust email campaign management

89% of reviewers feel positive about Email Campaigns. Users think the platform offers extensive features for creating, sending, and tracking email campaigns, including segmentation, automation, and A/B testing. Reviewers appreciate the ability to manage large-scale campaigns and analyze performance metrics within the same ecosystem. They say the integration with CRM data enables personalized and targeted communications, while built-in templates and reporting tools help streamline campaign execution. Some users report that campaign management is efficient and supports various marketing goals, from newsletters to upsell campaigns.

Shop Owner

Especially the Marketing Cloud for managing email campaigns on customers, which makes things organised and easy to track at a glance and go through analytics. If you were managing things on your own like myself, Salesforce might be too sophisticated for its own good as a start, but something you can start looking into if you were looking to scale or to sell to various markets.

Enrollment Systems Administrator

We schedule and automate communications, deriving the audience from live Salesforce data.

It is a sophisticated CRM software, and great for managing customer database and workflows, but more feared towards larger enterprises I feel, and not exactly cost-effective for small business owners.

Content Marketing Manager

The platform’s ability to segment audiences and automate marketing workflows is pretty powerful, allowing for precise targeting and engagement across email, social media, and SMS.

Salesforce Marketing Cloud invites users to share their positive experiences, focusing on its features and benefits in managing marketing efforts, such as email campaigns and customer data analysis.

The syncing with Salesforce Sales Cloud also leaves a lot to be desired.

It looks like five or six different tools smashed together with one unifying menu bar (because that is what it is).

Connect Partner

It can become quite technical for some people resulting in creation of multiple duplicates and linking errors.

Marketing Cloud integrates well with Salesforce.  

This makes it hard to learn and greatly hampers ease of use for non-technical employees.

Additionally, some tasks that should be straightforward, like creating email templates or setting up automation workflows, can be a bit cumbersome due to the number of steps involved.

Direct Marketing Lead

You weren't able to track replies, it didn't allow setting up an email that will be able to receive replies.

Senior sales rep

To me it has completely eliminated excel spreadsheets.

The email creator was super old-fashioned comparing to way cheaper alternatives where you can easily build emails using drag-n-drop sections.

Sales Consultant

Sales and marketing teams in my organization connect in one place with the help of Salesforce Marketing Cloud.

CRM Lead

Great marketing automation tech for complex automation and detailed customer footprint tracking

Solution Engineer

I have been a Salesforce Marketing Cloud solution engineer for 3 years where I was demoing it to potential customers in order to sell them the product

Sales Specialist

it's easy to keep track of sales and sales opportunities, it is a very intuitive program that helps with sles and marketing.

Researcher

The high cost and no automatic way of importing multiple emails per contact

Senior Director Of Marketing

Using Marketing Cloud, we can simply keep tabs on all of our social media profiles, Facebook updates, and email automation tools.

multichannel marketing tool (email, SMS, mobile, ads, social)

Manager

What I liked least about Salesforce Marketing Cloud is the complexity of implementation and the steep learning curve

Salesforce Marketing Cloud vs ActiveCampaign Comparison (2026)

Salesforce Marketing Cloud

ActiveCampaign

Overview

Video & Screenshots

Pricing

User reviews

Key features

Integrations

Alternatives