Alternatives
ActiveCampaign Alternatives for Sales Teams
Quick answer: Close is the best ActiveCampaign alternative for teams that want a CRM built purely around closing deals, Pipedrive wins on pipeline simplicity, and HubSpot is the pick if you still want marketing automation connected to sales.
Why sales teams look past ActiveCampaign
ActiveCampaign is a marketing automation platform first, with a CRM layer added on top of it — that ordering shows up in daily use. Deal and pipeline management feel like a secondary module compared to the email and automation builder, native calling isn't part of the product, and sales-specific reporting is thinner than what dedicated sales CRMs offer. Teams whose priority is closing deals rather than running nurture campaigns are the ones most likely to feel that gap.
ActiveCampaign alternatives for sales at a glance
| CRM | Best for | Learning curve | Starting price tier |
|---|---|---|---|
| Close | Calling and email sequences built for sales | Medium | Mid |
| Pipedrive | Simple, visual sales pipeline | Low | Budget |
| HubSpot | Sales tools plus marketing automation in one platform | Low–Medium | Free tier available |
| Zoho CRM | Budget pricing with a broad app ecosystem | Medium | Budget |
| EngageBay | Budget all-in-one alternative | Low–Medium | Budget |
1. Close — best for a sales-first pipeline
Close is built entirely around closing deals rather than nurturing leads through campaigns — calling, SMS, and email sequences are core sales tools, not marketing features repurposed for sales. For a team that wants pipeline and outreach in one screen without a campaign builder in the way, that focus is the point.
Pros
- Native dialer and sequencing designed for sales reps
- Fast, sales-specific reporting and pipeline views
- No marketing-automation complexity to configure around
Cons
- No marketing email/campaign builder — it's sales-only by design
- No free tier
2. Pipedrive — best for pipeline simplicity
Pipedrive gives up ActiveCampaign's automation depth entirely in exchange for a pipeline view that's immediately readable — every deal, its stage, and its next action, with nothing else competing for attention on the screen.
Pros
- Clean, visual pipeline with minimal setup
- Fast onboarding for new reps
- Reasonably priced entry tiers
Cons
- No built-in marketing automation to replace what ActiveCampaign offered
- Advanced reporting sits behind higher tiers
3. HubSpot — best for keeping marketing and sales connected
Teams that don't want to lose marketing automation entirely, just rebalance toward sales, can get both from HubSpot's connected hubs — a genuine sales pipeline alongside marketing tools, without needing two separate subscriptions from two separate vendors.
Pros
- Free CRM tier plus paid marketing automation if you want it
- Sales and marketing data live in the same system
- Large integration ecosystem
Cons
- Costs climb quickly once you add hubs and contacts
- More setup surface area than a single-purpose sales CRM
Other solid options
Zoho CRM is a reasonable budget pick if you want a sales-capable CRM with a large connected app ecosystem beyond marketing. EngageBay is worth a look if you still want marketing automation bundled with your CRM but at a lower price point than ActiveCampaign or HubSpot.
Pricing (entry-level plans)
| CRM | Starting price | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Close | Solo $9 · Essentials $35 · Growth $99 · Scale $139 | Per user/month. Free 14-day trial, no credit card required. |
| HubSpot | Free $0 · Starter from ~$15–20 · Professional/Enterprise Suite bundles from ~$1,000+/mo | HubSpot prices per "Hub" (Marketing/Sales/Service/etc.) and by contact tier, so the total varies a lot by what you bundle. |
| Pipedrive | Lite $14 · Growth $39 · Premium $59 · Ultimate $79 | Per seat/month, billed annually (monthly billing costs more). 14-day free trial. |
| Zoho CRM | Standard €14 · Professional €23 · Enterprise €40 · Ultimate €52 | Per user/month (EUR pricing shown; check your region for local currency). |
Prices above are current as of writing and shown for the entry-level tiers — always confirm the latest numbers on each provider's pricing page before buying, since SaaS pricing changes often.
“The reason HubSpot felt expensive and complex is that it's the only tool trying to be all three, and you're paying for that.”
How to choose
The real question is how much marketing automation your sales team still needs day to day. If the answer is "not much, we just need to close deals," Close or Pipedrive will feel dramatically simpler. If marketing and sales genuinely need to share data and workflows, HubSpot keeps that connection without forcing a full split between two vendors.
Frequently asked questions
What is the best CRM overall for this use case?
Close is our top overall pick for this use case, based on ease of setup, pricing, and fit for typical workflows — though the right choice depends on team size and budget, covered in the sections above.
Do I need a paid CRM, or is a free plan enough?
A free plan is usually enough for a single user or a very small team just getting started. Growing teams typically outgrow free tiers once they need automation, reporting, or more than a couple of users.
How long does it take to set up a CRM?
Simple CRMs can be set up in under an hour. More full-featured platforms with custom pipelines, automations, and integrations typically take a few days to a few weeks to configure properly.