ActiveCampaign Review: How to Make Money as an Affiliate

Disclosure: some links in this post are affiliate links. If you buy through them, I may earn a commission at no extra cost to you.

What Is ActiveCampaign?

ActiveCampaign is email marketing and automation software with a built-in CRM. You collect contacts, send them emails, and set up automations that react to what each person does.

It's been around since 2003. The company says it serves over 180,000 customers and connects with more than 1,000 apps.

It isn't the simplest tool on the market. It's one of the most capable. That's the trade.

Here's what you get:

• Email campaigns with 250+ templates
• Multi-step automations, plus an AI builder that helps you set them up
• A CRM for tracking leads and deals
• Landing pages and site messages (on Plus and higher)
• Advanced segmentation, predictive sending, and conversion tracking (on Pro and higher)
• SMS and WhatsApp messaging options
• Integrations with over 1,000 apps

How Does ActiveCampaign Work?

For Users

1. Start the 14-day free trial. No credit card is needed.
2. Import your contacts or add a signup form to your site.
3. Build an email campaign from a template.
4. Set up an automation, like a welcome series that runs on its own.
5. Watch the reports, then adjust your emails and segments.

For Affiliates

1. Apply through ActiveCampaign's affiliate page. The program runs on PartnerStack.
2. Once approved, grab your unique referral link from the dashboard.
3. Write content that helps people choose an email tool.
4. Send readers to ActiveCampaign's free trial with your link.
5. Earn a percentage of what your referrals pay, tracked inside PartnerStack.

You don't need to be a customer to join. That makes it easy to start.

ActiveCampaign Pricing

ActiveCampaign prices by the number of contacts you have. The more contacts, the higher the bill. Here's how the plans compare at the 1,000 contact level.

ActiveCampaign's FAQ says pricing starts at $15 a month for accounts under 1,000 contacts. Exact prices for each plan change with your contact count and billing period, so check their site for your number.

There's a 14-day free trial, and nonprofits can get a 20% discount.

Always check ActiveCampaign's pricing page for current numbers. Plans change.

Who Should Use ActiveCampaign?

ActiveCampaign fits people who want their email to do more than send newsletters.

• Course creators and coaches who want different emails for buyers and non-buyers
• Small businesses that want a CRM and email in one place
• Ecommerce stores that need behavior-based automations
• Agencies managing campaigns for clients

Who shouldn't use it? Someone who sends one simple newsletter a week and nothing else. They'll pay for power they never touch.

Pros and Cons of ActiveCampaign

Pros

• Automations are deep and flexible
• CRM is built in, so sales and marketing live together
• Over 1,000 integrations
• Free trial with no credit card
• Strong segmentation on higher plans

Cons

• There's a real learning curve for beginners
• No permanent free plan, only a trial
• Costs climb as your list grows
• Landing pages and many advanced features are locked to higher plans
• The trial is limited to 100 contacts and 100 emails, so it's hard to test at full scale

ActiveCampaign vs Alternatives

Email tools rarely work alone. If you're building a full funnel, see my Heyflow review for interactive forms, my ThriveCart review for checkout pages, and my Opensend review for growing your list from site visitors.

How to Make Money with ActiveCampaign as an Affiliate

ActiveCampaign's affiliate page advertises up to 30% recurring commission. Rates start at 20% and can climb to 30% based on new business and retention.

There's a catch. The same page says you earn that commission for up to 12 months per paying customer. So it's recurring, but not for life.

The program runs on PartnerStack. If you're new to that network, my PartnerStack review walks through how it works. Cookie length and payout minimums aren't listed on the affiliate page, so check their site or the PartnerStack dashboard after you join.

Is 12 months enough? For a tool people pay for monthly, it adds up. A handful of steady referrals each month stacks up fast.

Angle 1: Comparison Posts

Comparison and "vs" posts tend to convert well, because the reader is already deciding. "ActiveCampaign vs Mailchimp" is a classic. The reader has narrowed it down. You help them finish.

Angle 2: Use-Case Tutorials

Show one specific automation. A welcome sequence for a course creator. An abandoned cart flow for a small store. People search for the result, not the tool.

Angle 3: Pair It with Traffic Tools

New list owners need subscribers before automations matter. Write about getting the first 1,000 contacts, then recommend ActiveCampaign to nurture them. My Udimi review covers one way to get early list traffic.

Content Ideas That Rank

• ActiveCampaign review
• ActiveCampaign vs Mailchimp
• ActiveCampaign vs Kit
• ActiveCampaign pricing explained
• Best email marketing software for coaches
• Best email automation tools for small business
• How to set up a welcome sequence in ActiveCampaign

Common Questions About ActiveCampaign

Does ActiveCampaign have a free plan?
No. It offers a 14-day free trial with up to 100 contacts and 100 emails. No credit card is needed.

How much does the ActiveCampaign affiliate program pay?
The affiliate page says 20% to 30% of the subscription value, for up to 12 months per paying customer.

Where do I apply?
Through the affiliate page on ActiveCampaign's site. The application and dashboard run on PartnerStack.

Do I need to be a customer to become an affiliate?
No. ActiveCampaign says you don't need to be a customer to join.

Is ActiveCampaign good for beginners?
It can be, but expect a learning curve. The AI automation builder helps, but there's more to learn than with simpler tools.

Final Thoughts

ActiveCampaign isn't flashy. It doesn't need to be. It's a serious automation tool for people who want their email list to work while they sleep.

For affiliates, the math is simple. A solid commission, a well-known brand, and readers who are actively shopping for email software. Write honest comparisons, show real use cases, and let the tool speak for itself.

Try ActiveCampaign free here.

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