ActiveCampaign vs Systeme.io
Both are on our shortlist for course creators. They part company on several things that matter more than the monthly price.
ActiveCampaign
Systeme.ioWhich one, for whom
- Starting out with no budgetSysteme.ioSysteme.io 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 Systeme.io
- A list already in the thousandsSysteme.ioSysteme.io stays free to 2,000 subscribers against ActiveCampaign's nothing.
- Worried about being locked inSysteme.ioActiveCampaign's terms cut off access to your contact data when you cancel. Systeme.io does not do that.
- Selling the course from the same toolSysteme.ioSysteme.io can take the payment itself, so you do not need a separate checkout.
Side by side
| ActiveCampaign | Systeme.io | |
|---|---|---|
| Free plan | None | 2,000 subscribers |
| Free sends | 14-day trial only | Unlimited emails |
| Welcome sequence on free | No | Yes |
| Connects to Teachable | Direct | Sells courses itself |
| Connects to Kajabi | Direct | Sells courses itself |
| Connects to Podia | Direct | Sells courses itself |
| Connects to Thinkific | Direct | Sells courses itself |
| Paid from | A$23/mo AUD | $17/mo USD |
| At 5,000 subscribers | Not published | $17 |
| At 25,000 subscribers | Not published | $97 |
| The catch | Starter caps you at 5 actions per automation, which a real welcome sequence will hit. | The free plan holds one course only, and takes 0% on sales, which is rare. |
| G2 score | 4.4 out of 5, from 14,791 reviews | 4.8 out of 5, from 750 reviews |
| Trustpilot score | 2.7 out of 5, from 1,433 reviews | 4.9 out of 5, from 8,448 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, Systeme.io on G2, Systeme.io 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
Systeme.io
You can export contacts to CSV yourself at any time. Cancelling does not take effect immediately: it stops the subscription from renewing, and you keep access until the end of the current billing period, at which point the plan is removed automatically. Their terms and conditions add that subscription plans are non-refundable, and that an account can be banned without notice for a content-policy violation. What happens to stored data after a cancellation takes effect is not stated. Source
ActiveCampaign vs Systeme.io, answered
- Is ActiveCampaign or Systeme.io better for an online course?
- Neither is better outright, and anyone who says so is guessing on your behalf. Systeme.io if you are starting out with no budget. Systeme.io if you are a list already in the thousands. Systeme.io if you are worried about being locked in. Systeme.io if you are selling the course from the same tool.
- Which of ActiveCampaign and Systeme.io has the better free plan?
- Systeme.io allows more free subscribers (2,000 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 Systeme.io 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 breakdownSysteme.ioCourse hosting, funnels and email on one free plan
$17/mo USDpaid plans start here. Free up to 2,000. Read off their pricing page on 9 September 2026.
Start free on Systeme.ioRead the full Systeme.io 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.