Intro — Who Each Tool Is For
Comparing ActiveCampaign vs Drip comes down to your email marketing automation and ecommerce needs. ActiveCampaign is widely used for broad automation—email, CRM, sales automation, and advanced workflow management across industries. Drip focuses tightly on ecommerce businesses and creators, offering hands-on tools for Shopify and WooCommerce users seeking personalized automation tailored to selling online.
If you want more than ecommerce, ActiveCampaign’s CRM and sales tools stand out. If you’re scaling an online shop and want deep store sync and buyer journeys, Drip is built with you in mind.
Key Takeaways
- ActiveCampaign targets broad automation across industries, while Drip is focused on ecommerce automation.
- Both platforms offer tiered pricing based on contact count, but features and starting prices may differ by plan.
- Drip offers native Shopify and WooCommerce integrations; ActiveCampaign lists both in its integrations marketplace.
- ActiveCampaign includes built-in CRM and sales automation features beyond email marketing.
Summary Comparison Table
| Feature | How ActiveCampaign handles it | How Drip handles it | Best for |
|---|---|---|---|
| Pricing by contacts | Tiered by contacts; multiple plans; free trial (source) | Scales by contacts; plans include ecommerce automation; free trial (source) | Depends on list size and feature needs |
| Automation builder & workflow depth | Advanced visual workflow builder with branching and CRM actions (source) | Visual journey builder focused on ecommerce triggers (source) | ActiveCampaign: broader use, Drip: ecommerce |
| Shopify/WooCommerce integrations | Marketplace apps for Shopify and WooCommerce (source) | Native Shopify integration, official WooCommerce plugin (source, source) | Drip: ecommerce-first users |
| CRM & sales automation | Built-in CRM, deals tracking, sales pipelines (source) | Not publicly specified | ActiveCampaign: sales + marketing teams |
| Segmentation & personalization | Advanced list segmentation and dynamic content (source) | Personalized ecommerce journeys and segmentation (source) | Both strong; Drip for shopper behavior, ActiveCampaign for broader rules |
| SMS marketing | Not publicly specified | Not publicly specified | Check current docs for updates |
| API & webhook support | API and webhooks available (source) | API and webhook documentation (source) | Both allow custom workflows |
| Security/SSO | Not publicly specified | Not publicly specified | See support docs for details |
What ActiveCampaign Is
ActiveCampaign is a versatile marketing automation platform used by businesses of all sizes. It covers advanced email marketing automation, a visual workflow builder, built-in CRM and sales automation, and list segmentation. Its app marketplace includes integrations for Shopify, WooCommerce, Slack, and many more. ActiveCampaign’s strength lies in powerful cross-channel automation that connects marketing and sales activities in one platform.
What Drip Is
Drip is an email automation platform specializing in ecommerce. Its core is a visual workflow builder designed for online sellers who want to create personalized paths based on shopper data from Shopify or WooCommerce. Drip offers event-based triggers, product tracking, and tools tailored to maximizing customer value for stores scaling beyond entry-level email software.
Feature-by-Feature Comparison
Automation Builder & Workflows
ActiveCampaign delivers a robust visual workflow builder supporting complex branches, multi-channel triggers, CRM tasks, and sales pipeline automation. You can build granular, multi-step journeys beyond just email.
Drip’s builder is streamlined for ecommerce workflows—it excels at automating post-purchase sequences, abandoned cart flows, and product-specific emails based on real-time store data. Both platforms provide visual editors, but ActiveCampaign enables more general-use (not just ecommerce) workflow automation.
Ecommerce Features (Shopify/WooCommerce, Onsite Popups)
Drip offers native Shopify integration to sync store data for rich automations (Shopify integration) and a direct WooCommerce plugin (WooCommerce plugin). This allows for precise targeting, like messaging customers who viewed but didn’t purchase certain products.
ActiveCampaign integrates with Shopify and WooCommerce via its app marketplace, enabling automations based on store events (source). While both platforms support on-site popups, Drip’s focus is on ecommerce-specific popups tied to shopper data. ActiveCampaign’s popups are more generalized.
Email/SMS, Templates, Testing, Deliverability
Both providers support robust email template editors, campaign builder tools, and list segmentation for personalization. A/B testing is a core feature for both, though precise depth and usability are not publicly specified. Deliverability practices are documented in support centers, but comparative success rates are not specified.
Neither platform’s official site currently details built-in SMS marketing as a core feature; consult their support for the latest status. On-site popups are available in Drip (geared for ecommerce) and through ActiveCampaign’s site tracking and forms.
Integrations & Ecosystem
ActiveCampaign houses an extensive integrations marketplace. You can connect Shopify, WooCommerce, Slack, CRMs, and dozens of marketing tools (source). This breadth supports custom automation across departments.
Drip integrates natively with Shopify and WooCommerce and provides an API for further connections (source, source). Its app ecosystem is more focused on ecommerce plugins and lacks the wider non-retail connections of ActiveCampaign.
Pricing & Contact Tiers; Trials; Add‑Ons
Both platforms offer tiered pricing based on contact count and volume. ActiveCampaign pricing varies by plan (Lite, Plus, Professional, Enterprise) and features, with costs growing by contact list size (pricing). Drip also prices by contact count, with each plan including support for email and ecommerce features. Both offer a free trial for testing before subscribing (Drip’s pricing).
Exact costs aren’t publicly listed beyond “starting at” levels. You’ll need to calculate based on your list size and chosen features. Neither platform publicizes significant add-on pricing outside standard scalable plans as of their last check.
Data Control, SSO, and Security Posture
Neither vendor publicly details data security certifications, SSO (single sign-on), or compliance protocols within the available documentation. For advanced security needs, consult vendor support or account management for up-to-date policy details.
When to Choose ActiveCampaign vs Drip (Use‑Case Fit)
Choose ActiveCampaign if you need broad marketing automation covering not just email, but also sales pipelines, deal tracking, and complex segmentation. It’s ideal for teams that need CRM and workflow automation across multiple business processes, including but not limited to ecommerce.
Choose Drip if you are an ecommerce operator using Shopify or WooCommerce and want laser-focused tools designed to capture, nurture, and retain online buyers. Its automation features and integrations are built specifically for shopper engagement at every stage of the buying journey.
Migration Notes & Pitfalls (List Hygiene, Tagging, Automations)
- Carefully audit and clean your contact list before migrating to minimize delivery issues.
- Tagging schemes and automation triggers may differ—map your automations thoughtfully to preserve intended business logic.
- Automation paths and behavior segmentation are structured differently; expect manual review and rebuilding of complex workflows.
- Consult platform-specific migration documentation or onboarding support for optimal transfer of templates and engagement data.
Conclusion
ActiveCampaign vs Drip is a choice between broad workflow automation (ActiveCampaign) and ecommerce marketing depth (Drip). Both offer solid visual workflow builders, pricing tiers based on contacts, and strong support for email automation. Your decision hinges on whether you need CRM/sales features and wide integrations (ActiveCampaign) or want deep, purpose-built ecommerce journeys (Drip). Evaluate your use case and growth direction before choosing a platform.
FAQs
Which is better for ecommerce automation (Shopify/WooCommerce)?
Drip is designed specifically for ecommerce automation with native Shopify and WooCommerce integrations, making it a strong choice for online stores. ActiveCampaign supports both platforms via its marketplace, but with a broader focus beyond ecommerce.
How do pricing and contact tiers compare for growing lists?
Both offer tiered pricing that increases by contact volume. ActiveCampaign’s and Drip’s starting prices and features vary by plan, so review each tool’s pricing calculator to model your actual cost as you grow.
Which has the more flexible visual automation builder?
ActiveCampaign’s visual workflow builder is more flexible for complex, multi-department use cases and includes sales automation. Drip’s builder is optimized for ecommerce-specific automation paths.
Does either provide built‑in SMS and on‑site popups?
On-site popups are available in Drip (with ecommerce focus) and via ActiveCampaign’s forms. Built-in SMS marketing is not publicly specified for either as of the last documentation updates—check support for current capabilities.
How do integrations and app ecosystems differ?
ActiveCampaign supports a wider range of apps across departments via its integrations marketplace. Drip’s integrations are focused on ecommerce platforms (Shopify, WooCommerce) and related tools.