The American platform ActiveCampaign is becoming a real game-changer, offering a powerful system for marketing automation. Founded in 2003 in Chicago, the company — as described on ActiveCampaign.com,— helps over 180,000 customers in 170 countries turn ideas into revenue. But what makes ActiveCampaign such a standout player, and why is it called a “unicorn” in the tech world?
ActiveCampaign began as a consulting firm but shifted to a SaaS model in the 2010s, focusing on email marketing, sales automation, and CRM. Today, it’s a comprehensive solution that allows small and mid-sized businesses to compete with giants. The platform offers 900+ integrations with services like Shopify, Salesforce, and Slack, and over 250 pre-built templates for email campaigns. Its AI assistant helps create personalized campaigns that boost open rates by 20%, while automation enables complex workflows — from welcome emails to abandoned cart recovery.
The results are impressive: one client reportedly earned $76,000 from two email campaigns thanks to precise segmentation and automation. Another, Iconosquare, shared that after switching to ActiveCampaign, their sales and marketing teams worked more efficiently, and trial-to-paid conversions increased from 10% to 20%. The platform also saves time: task automation and the built-in CRM allow teams to focus on sales instead of manual work.
ActiveCampaign is not just about tech — it’s a success story. Since 2016, the company has raised $360 million, including $240 million in a Series C round in 2021, making it a unicorn valued at over $1 billion. In 2022, it acquired Postmark and DMARC Digests, strengthening its position in email delivery.
But there are caveats. Some users note that the platform can be complex for beginners, and pricing — starting at $19/month — can grow quickly with contact volume. Competitors like Mailchimp offer simpler solutions for basic tasks. Nevertheless, for those ready to invest in automation, ActiveCampaign remains a leader — proving that even small businesses and startups can play big.
