ActiveCampaign vs Sender
Both are on our shortlist for course creators. They part company on several things that matter more than the monthly price.
ActiveCampaign
SenderWhich one, for whom
- Starting out with no budgetSenderSender can run an automated welcome sequence on its free plan. ActiveCampaign cannot, so a new subscriber hears nothing from you until you pay.Start free on Sender
- A list already in the thousandsSenderSender stays free to 2,500 subscribers against ActiveCampaign's nothing.
- Worried about being locked inSenderActiveCampaign's terms cut off access to your contact data when you cancel. Sender does not do that.
Side by side
| ActiveCampaign | Sender | |
|---|---|---|
| Free plan | None | 2,500 subscribers |
| Free sends | 14-day trial only | 15,000 emails/mo |
| Welcome sequence on free | No | Yes |
| Connects to Teachable | Direct | Not listed |
| Connects to Kajabi | Direct | Not listed |
| Connects to Podia | Direct | Not listed |
| Connects to Thinkific | Direct | Not listed |
| Paid from | A$23/mo AUD | $9/mo USD |
| The catch | Starter caps you at 5 actions per automation, which a real welcome sequence will hit. | A smaller name with a smaller integration list. Check it connects to your course platform before you commit. |
| G2 score | 4.4 out of 5, from 14,791 reviews | 4.7 out of 5, from 278 reviews |
| Trustpilot score | 2.7 out of 5, from 1,433 reviews | 4.9 out of 5, from 1,421 reviews |
Figures read off each vendor's own pricing page on 9 September 2026. Where a row says not published, that vendor does not state a price at that list size and we will not invent one.
The last two rows are other people's scores, not ours, read on 6 September 2026. Check them yourself:ActiveCampaign on G2, ActiveCampaign on Trustpilot, Sender on G2, Sender on Trustpilot.
- ActiveCampaign: Reviewers disagree about this one. It scores 4.4 on G2 and 2.7 on Trustpilot. Read a page of each before you decide, because one of those audiences is having a different experience to the other.
Getting your list back out
ActiveCampaignHard to leave
Read this before you sign up. Their terms say that on cancellation "you will not have access to or be able to restore any Contact Data". Export your list before you cancel, not after. Source
SenderEasy to leave
The friendliest exit terms we found. Cancelling drops you to the free plan instead of deleting anything: their help page says subscribers, campaigns, automations, forms and reports are all retained. Source
ActiveCampaign vs Sender, answered
- Is ActiveCampaign or Sender better for an online course?
- Neither is better outright, and anyone who says so is guessing on your behalf. Sender if you are starting out with no budget. Sender if you are a list already in the thousands. Sender if you are worried about being locked in.
- Which of ActiveCampaign and Sender has the better free plan?
- Sender allows more free subscribers (2,500 against none). A bigger allowance is not automatically the better plan: check the welcome sequence row above, because that is where the two usually part company.
- Can I move from ActiveCampaign to Sender later?
- Yes, and you should assume you will. Export your list before you cancel anything, and keep whatever marks who bought from you. We wrote the whole running order up separately.
Try either one
ActiveCampaignDeepest automation, once the list pays for itself
A$23/mo AUDpaid plans start here. No free plan. Read off their pricing page on 9 September 2026.
See ActiveCampaign pricingRead the full ActiveCampaign breakdownSenderThe most generous free plan we found
$9/mo USDpaid plans start here. Free up to 2,500. Read off their pricing page on 9 September 2026.
Start free on SenderRead the full Sender breakdownMoving between them? Read the switching guide first, or answer 5 questions to check neither of these is the wrong shortlist.
Neither of these? See all 14, including which ones connect straight to Teachable, Kajabi, Podia or Thinkific, or compare what they cost as your list grows.