Act-On vs Autopilot: Complete Comparison (2026)

Updated: March 12, 20268 min read

Choosing between Act-On and Autopilot is a common decision for marketing automation buyers in 2026. Both Act-On and Autopilot are established players, founded in 2008 and 2012 respectively. Act-On serves 4K+ orgs users while Autopilot has 12K+ orgs users globally. Act-On differentiates with lead nurturing and email marketing, while Autopilot leads with journey builder and email and sms. In this head-to-head comparison, Autopilot earns a higher hiltonsoftware.co score of 86/100 — but the right choice depends on your specific needs, budget, and team size.

🎯
Act-On
Marketing Automation
84
hiltonsoftware.co Score
VS
✈️
Autopilot
Marketing Automation
86
hiltonsoftware.co Score
RECOMMENDED

Quick Comparison

Act-On
Autopilot
Starting Price
$900/mo
$99/mo
Free Plan
No
No
Users
4K+ orgs
12K+ orgs
Founded
2008
2012
Rating
4.2/5
4.3/5
Best For
Mid-market B2B companies wanting dedicated marketi...
Marketing teams wanting visual customer journey au...

Feature-by-Feature Comparison

Act-OnAutopilot
87Ease of Use85
86Features95
87Value for Money81
85Customer Support85
79Integrations80
91Scalability86
81Learning Curve82

Pros & Cons at a Glance

Act-On
+Good for mid-market B2B
+Solid lead scoring
-Expensive for small teams
-Interface needs modernization
Autopilot
+Visual journey builder is exceptional
+Built-in CDP and analytics
-Expensive for smaller teams
-Rebranding has caused some confusion
AI Verdict

After comparing Act-On and Autopilot across features, pricing, and user satisfaction, Autopilot takes the lead with a score of 86/100 versus Act-On's 84/100. Autopilot's key advantages include "visual journey builder is exceptional" and "built-in cdp and analytics". That said, Act-On has its own strengths — particularly "good for mid-market b2b" — making it a viable alternative for specific use cases.

Neither Act-On nor Autopilot offers a free plan. Act-On starts at $900/mo and Autopilot at $99/mo. For the investment, Act-On delivers lead nurturing and email marketing, while Autopilot provides journey builder and email and sms.

Bottom line: Choose Act-On if you need mid-market b2b companies wanting dedicated marketing automation beyond email. Go with Autopilot if your priority is marketing teams wanting visual customer journey automation with analytics. Both are strong marketing automation tools — we recommend trying a trial of each before committing.

CHOOSE ACT-ON IF:

Mid-market B2B companies wanting dedicated marketing automation beyond email.

CHOOSE AUTOPILOT IF:

Marketing teams wanting visual customer journey automation with analytics.

Frequently Asked Questions

Is Act-On better than Autopilot in 2026?
Autopilot scores 86/100 on hiltonsoftware.co compared to Act-On's 84/100. Act-On stands out for "good for mid-market b2b" and is best for Mid-market B2B companies wanting dedicated marketing automation beyond email. Autopilot is known for "visual journey builder is exceptional" and suits Marketing teams wanting visual customer journey automation with analytics. Your specific workflow and team size should guide the decision.
What is the pricing difference between Act-On and Autopilot?
Both offer paid-only plans. Act-On starts at $900/mo and Autopilot at $99/mo. When comparing value, consider that Act-On (founded 2008, 4K+ orgs users) includes features like Lead nurturing, Email marketing, Landing pages. Autopilot (founded 2012, 12K+ orgs users) offers Journey builder, Email and SMS, Analytics. The right choice depends on which features matter most to your team.
What are the main differences between Act-On and Autopilot?
The key differences come down to focus and approach. Act-On excels at Lead nurturing, Email marketing, Landing pages, while Autopilot focuses on Journey builder, Email and SMS, Analytics. Act-On's main advantage is "good for mid-market b2b", though some users note "expensive for small teams". Autopilot's strength is "visual journey builder is exceptional", but "expensive for smaller teams" can be a drawback. Both serve the Marketing Automation market but target different user profiles.
Can I switch from Act-On to Autopilot?
Switching between Act-On and Autopilot is possible since both operate in the Marketing Automation space. Before migrating, export your data from Act-On and check Autopilot's import capabilities. Key features to verify compatibility: Lead nurturing, Email marketing, Landing pages (Act-On) vs Journey builder, Email and SMS, Analytics (Autopilot). Consider running both tools in parallel during a trial period to ensure a smooth transition.
Which is better for small teams: Act-On or Autopilot?
Both tools require paid subscriptions (Act-On: $900/mo, Autopilot: $99/mo), so evaluate based on features. Act-On is ideal for Mid-market B2B companies wanting dedicated marketing automation beyond email, while Autopilot fits Marketing teams wanting visual customer journey automation with analytics. Try both during their trial periods to see which fits your team's workflow.

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