ActiveCampaign alternatives: 7 free & open-source picks
Curated, verified, and actually free. No trials, no crippled tiers. Star counts and last-activity dates checked by hand, not scraped and forgotten.
El motor de automatización completo sin impuesto por contactos; reemplaza la factura del SaaS con un mantenimiento de servidor serio.
licenseGPL-3.0+
runsyour server
installDownload the production package or install with Composer, then configure PHP, a database, cron, and a mail transport
dataContacts, segments, campaigns, events, and reports live in the configured MySQL or MariaDB database; assets, configuration, logs, and queue files live on the server filesystem.
the catch vs ActiveCampaignMautic can match deep automation, but the user must operate the application, database, cron, upgrades, backups, mail transport, and deliverability stack.
setupThe first wall is not the installer but production operation: PHP and database tuning, several cron jobs, HTTPS, backups, upgrades, SMTP/API sending, and DNS authentication.
facts verified 2026-08-10
Campañas, correo transaccional y flujos de trabajo en un solo contenedor; el proveedor de envío todavía envía la factura.
licenseAGPL-3.0
runsyour machine or their cloud
installHosted signup, or the official Docker Compose stack
dataThe self-hosted stack stores core data in PostgreSQL, jobs and cache in Redis, and objects in MinIO; hosted data is kept in Plunk's EU infrastructure.
the catch vs ActiveCampaignPlunk is developer-first and much thinner in visual audience management, CRM depth, segmentation tooling, and marketer-oriented reporting.
setupHosted use still needs domain authentication; self-hosting adds PostgreSQL, Redis, MinIO, Nginx or another proxy, exposed web and SMTP services, DNS, and ongoing deliverability work.
facts verified 2026-08-10
Campañas visuales y automatizaciones en una pila de composición moderna; PostgreSQL y un proveedor de SMTP siguen teniendo su propio costo.
licenseAGPL-3.0
runsyour machine or their cloud
installHosted signup, or one application container plus PostgreSQL for self-hosting
dataSelf-hosted contacts, campaigns, automations, and events live in PostgreSQL; files can use S3-compatible storage, and the configured email provider receives message payloads. Hosted data lives in Notifuse's cloud.
the catch vs ActiveCampaignNotifuse is newer and narrower, without ActiveCampaign's mature CRM, predictive features, and thousand-plus integration ecosystem.
setupSelf-hosting still needs Docker, PostgreSQL, a public HTTPS endpoint, an SMTP or API sending provider, and correctly authenticated sending domains.
facts verified 2026-08-10
Campañas y automatización para hasta 2,000 contactos en automatizaciones; el límite diario de 300 emails frena el día del lanzamiento.
licenseproprietary, free
runstheir cloud
installHosted signup, sender verification, and optional domain authentication
dataContacts, campaigns, templates, automation events, and reports live in Brevo's cloud; exports are available, but the internal storage format is not disclosed.
the catch vs ActiveCampaignThe 300-email daily limit can split even a small launch across days, and only 2,000 contacts can enter automations on the free plan.
setupThe first meaningful hurdle is verifying the sender and setting SPF/DKIM records for a sending domain; without that, deliverability will disappoint.
facts verified 2026-08-10
Una lista alojada útil más tres automatizaciones de cinco pasos; exactamente la maquinaria necesaria para un ciclo de vida pequeño.
licenseproprietary, free
runstheir cloud
installHosted signup, list import, and sender/domain verification
dataSubscribers, campaigns, forms, automation state, and reports live in EmailOctopus's cloud; CSV import/export is supported, while the internal storage format is not disclosed.
the catch vs ActiveCampaignIts automations are intentionally lightweight and do not approach ActiveCampaign's branching logic, goals, CRM integrations, or sales workflows.
setupA sender address must be verified, and serious sending should use an authenticated domain.
facts verified 2026-08-10
Email de ciclo de vida y marketing para 1,000 contactos con todas las funciones; el contacto número 1,001 requiere tarjeta de crédito.
licenseproprietary, free
runstheir cloud
installHosted signup, domain authentication, and event/API integration for lifecycle email
dataContacts, events, templates, and campaign or loop state live in Loops's cloud; the internal storage format is not disclosed.
the catch vs ActiveCampaignLoops is an email-lifecycle tool rather than a sales-and-marketing CRM, so it does not replace ActiveCampaign's deal, account, and broad automation ecosystem.
setupMarketing broadcasts are easy, but lifecycle automation becomes useful only after a non-expert authenticates a domain and connects product events through an integration or API.
facts verified 2026-08-10
Una lista gratuita real, flujos de trabajo ilimitados y 15,000 envíos mensuales; SMS no entró en la selección.
licenseproprietary, free
runstheir cloud
installHosted signup, list import, and sender/domain verification
dataSubscribers, campaigns, forms, automation state, transactional messages, and analytics live in Sender's cloud; the internal storage format is not disclosed.
the catch vs ActiveCampaignSender covers email automation but not ActiveCampaign's sales CRM, deal records, lead scoring, or broad sales-automation layer.
setupThe first real hurdle is authenticating the sending domain and warming a legitimate list rather than merely creating the account.
facts verified 2026-08-10
last updated 2026-08-10 · no votes, no pay-to-list · just what's real
| tool | license | running it | platforms | stars | active |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Mautic | GPL-3.0+ | self-host, real ops | web, self-hosted | 10,300 | 2026-08 |
| Plunk | AGPL-3.0 | docker to self-host | web, self-hosted | 5,300 | 2026-08 |
| Notifuse | AGPL-3.0 | docker to self-host | web, self-hosted | 2,038 | 2026-08 |
| Brevo Free | proprietary, free | they host it | web | — | — |
| EmailOctopus Free | proprietary, free | they host it | web | — | — |
| Loops Free | proprietary, free | they host it | web | — | — |
| Sender Free | proprietary, free | they host it | web | — | — |
Los usuarios todavía pagan por ActiveCampaign porque los operadores de newsletters pagan por la entrega en la bandeja de entrada, la mecánica de crecimiento y la confianza operativa el día de la publicación. La suscripción cubre autenticación DNS, reputación, rebotes, quejas, cumplimiento de bajas, plantillas, colas, análisis, respaldos y soporte, no solo la interfaz visible. If none of that applies to you, any pick above saves $180 a year.
Is there a free alternative to ActiveCampaign?
Yes: Mautic, Plunk, Notifuse and 4 more. Every tool on this page is either open source or genuinely free to use long-term: no trials, no crippled tiers.
Should I just build my own ActiveCampaign?
Our verdict is NO TANTO. Puedes crear una versión de consuelo, pero el valor decisivo del producto de pago queda fuera de una reconstrucción en solitario. Para ActiveCampaign, gestiona una lista de correo pequeña y algunas automatizaciones transparentes. El límite difícil es la automatización profunda del ciclo de vida, el CRM, la entregabilidad, las integraciones y el historial de datos, además de entregabilidad, red de crecimiento e integraciones. If you'd rather build, the exact one-shot prompt is free at puedovibecodearlo.app/activecampaign.
