Activecampaign Vs Tinyemail | The Fee Gap That Stings

This vs That / By

For email marketing, choose ActiveCampaign if you want deep automations; pick tinyEmail if you prefer simple flows and a fixed monthly send cap.

Email platforms shape how you capture leads, sell, and keep customers coming back. ActiveCampaign leans into rich automations and analytics, while tinyEmail keeps the toolset light with volume‑based sending. This guide gives you the fast verdict and the trade‑offs that push a buyer one way or the other.

In A Nutshell

Pick ActiveCampaign if automation depth, conditional splits, and CRM‑level data matter to your workflows. It scales from simple welcome series to multi‑branch funnels with goals and revenue tracking. Choose tinyEmail if you want straightforward workflows, a predictable send allowance, and quick setup for a store‑first stack. Both cover forms, templates, and basic segmentation; the difference is how far you can push the logic.

Side‑By‑Side Specs

Feature ActiveCampaign tinyEmail
Cost $15 / mo (billed annually) $65 / mo (15k emails)
Send Allowance Up to 10× contacts / month* 15,000 emails / month on base plan
Free Plan No permanent free tier Free tier with 15k monthly sends
Seats Included (entry plan) 1 included; add seats on higher tiers Account‑based; no per‑seat pricing listed
Automation & Flows Visual builder, goals, split testing, branches Ready‑made flows (welcome, cart, win‑back)
Segmentation Lists, tags, custom fields, behavior filters Lists, basic conditions, shop triggers
Templates & Editor Drag‑and‑drop + HTML, dynamic content Drag‑and‑drop templates, brand kits
Ecommerce Triggers Abandoned cart, purchase, product views* Abandoned cart, thank‑you, browse, win‑back
Integrations & APIs Large app directory, webhooks, REST API Zapier/Pabbly routes + documented API
Deliverability Tools DKIM/SPF/DMARC wizard; domain checks DNS setup guidance; sender identity controls
Reporting Campaign + automation stats, revenue views Campaign basics; ecommerce outcomes

The table shows where each platform aims: one is built for complex paths; the other keeps setup light. Use the Decision Guide below to match the fit.

ActiveCampaign — What We Like / What We Don’t Like

✅ What We Like

  • Visual flows with split tests, goals, and re‑entry make complex journeys manageable.
  • Contact, deal, and custom fields give you granular segments for the right send.
  • Large integration catalog and webhooks tie email to your stack without duct tape.
  • Starter entry price stays friendly, with sends tied to your contact tier.
  • Built‑in DKIM/SPF/DMARC guidance keeps authentication on track for Gmail/Yahoo rules.

⚠️ What We Don’t Like

  • Learning curve rises once you add branches, goals, and deal logic.
  • Seat counts on lower tiers are tight; extra users add cost.
  • Analytics depth can feel busy if you only need campaign basics.

tinyEmail — What We Like / What We Don’t Like

✅ What We Like

  • Fast start with ready‑made flows for welcome, cart, and win‑back.
  • Templates and brand kits keep messages consistent with minimal work.
  • Fixed monthly send allowance removes billing guesswork.
  • Zapier/Pabbly routes and an API cover common integrations.
  • A free tier exists for light sending while you build a list.

⚠️ What We Don’t Like

  • Automation depth is light; complex branching and testing are limited.
  • Shop connections often run through Zapier or Pabbly, which adds moving parts.
  • Volume caps can force plan changes during big promos.

ℹ️ Good To Know: Gmail and Yahoo require authenticated sends (DKIM + DMARC) for bulk mail. Both tools provide guides, but you still need to add DNS records with your domain host.

ActiveCampaign Or tinyEmail: Which Fits You Better

Automation & Flows

ActiveCampaign’s canvas supports branches, goal steps, wait conditions, and split tests inside automations. That lets you build paths that react to clicks, purchases, or field changes without creating separate flows. It’s ideal when timing and message variants drive revenue, not just a one‑size sequence.

tinyEmail takes a templated route. You can enable popular flows—welcome series, cart recovery, browse abandonment, win‑backs—and tweak emails and delays. It’s quick, with fewer dials to turn. If your store needs standard touchpoints, this gets you there with minimal setup.

Segmentation & Personalization

ActiveCampaign segments by lists, tags, custom fields, and behavioral events. You can trigger automations on field changes and use conditions to route contacts down different branches, including split tests for content variants.

tinyEmail segments around audience lists and e‑commerce behavior. The focus sits on simple filters and shop events rather than a large schema of objects and cross‑object rules.

Deliverability & Compliance

ActiveCampaign walks you through setting a sending domain with DKIM and a basic DMARC record. The platform also exposes a DNS check tool, which helps you verify records before large sends.

tinyEmail’s help center includes DNS setup guidance and sender identity controls. On free plans you’re limited to one sender identity, which keeps branding tighter while you ramp.

For legal requirements in the U.S., review the FTC’s CAN‑SPAM guide and the rule text. Your messages need a physical address and a working one‑click unsubscribe, among other items. CAN‑SPAM compliance guide · 16 CFR Part 316.

Reporting & Attribution

ActiveCampaign offers campaign and automation reports, with options to track revenue from connected stores. Split testing inside flows gives you cleaner readouts on subject lines or content variations over time.

tinyEmail covers campaign‑level basics and commerce triggers. If you’re moving from a newsletter‑only tool, that’s a step up. If you need cohort or funnel views tied to CRM objects, you’ll outgrow it faster.

Integrations & APIs

ActiveCampaign maintains a large app directory and supports webhooks and a REST API. It connects to common e‑commerce, billing, and analytics tools, plus iPaaS bridges when needed.

tinyEmail leans on Zapier or Pabbly for many store and CRM links, and it publishes API docs for direct work. This covers most day‑one needs; it just routes through a third party more often.

Team Roles & Permissions

ActiveCampaign includes one user on Starter with options to add more and expands included seats on higher plans. Admins can add users and set permissions from the Users & Groups area.

tinyEmail does not advertise per‑seat billing on public plan pages. It’s an account‑level license model, which keeps pricing simple when more than one teammate needs access.

Data Model & Objects

ActiveCampaign stores contacts and deals, and it supports custom fields that feed segmentation, scoring, and automation triggers. That’s helpful when email must reflect CRM pipeline changes.

tinyEmail focuses on the audience list and basic behavioral events. The dictionary and workflow docs frame a simpler model tuned to e‑commerce touchpoints.

Pricing & Seats

ActiveCampaign’s entry plan starts at $15/month when billed annually. Sends scale with your contact tier, with guidance that entry plans allow roughly 10× contact sends per month. Starter includes one user seat; higher tiers include more and let you purchase extras.

tinyEmail’s current base plan is $65/month with 15,000 emails included; a free tier exists for light use, also showing a 15,000 monthly send allowance in docs. If you’re testing store flows or warming a list, that can cover a lot of ground.

Price, Value & Ownership

Factor ActiveCampaign tinyEmail
Starting Cost (USD) $15/mo (annual) $65/mo
Free Tier Fit No permanent free plan 15k sends/mo for light use
Extra Seats Buy more; higher tiers include more seats Account license; no per‑seat meter listed
Time To First Campaign Short with templates; longer for complex flows Very short; toggle prebuilt flows
Compliance Setup Built‑in DKIM/DMARC wizard + checks DNS guidance + sender controls
Scaling Path Flows, CRM, attribution, deep segments Templates, shop triggers, API via iPaaS

Want more automation headroom? The left column wins. Want a predictable bill and quick wins? The right column keeps it simple.

Where Each One Wins

Where Each One Wins:
🏆 Deep Automations — ActiveCampaign
🏆 Quick Store Setup — tinyEmail
🏆 List Growth Tools — tinyEmail
🏆 Analytics & Goals — ActiveCampaign
🏆 Predictable Billing — tinyEmail

Decision Guide

✅ Choose ActiveCampaign If…

  • Your funnels need branches, goals, and content tests.
  • You want CRM fields and deal stages to drive messaging.
  • Your stack includes many apps and you prefer native links over iPaaS.

✅ Choose tinyEmail If…

  • You need a fast launch with ready‑made store flows.
  • You prefer a fixed monthly send cap over contact‑based tiers.
  • You’re fine using Zapier/Pabbly for many connections.

Smart Starting Point For Most Teams

If your campaigns will grow past a basic welcome and a cart recovery, start with ActiveCampaign. The price floor is low, the automation canvas stretches a long way, and you can wire email to CRM data without extra tools. If you only need simple store flows and a predictable bill, tinyEmail delivers that cleanly—just watch the monthly send cap during list spikes.

Method note: We compiled plan details, limits, and features from official pricing and help pages, plus U.S. compliance sources linked above. Send allowances and plan names can change; always confirm on the vendor’s pricing page before you buy.