Act-On vs Braze: Complete Comparison (2026)

Updated: March 12, 20268 min read

Choosing between Act-On and Braze is a common decision for marketing automation buyers in 2026. Both Act-On and Braze are established players, founded in 2008 and 2011 respectively. Act-On serves 4K+ orgs users while Braze has 1.5K+ orgs users globally. Act-On differentiates with lead nurturing and email marketing, while Braze leads with push notifications and in-app messaging. In this head-to-head comparison, Braze earns a higher hiltonsoftware.co score of 90/100 — but the right choice depends on your specific needs, budget, and team size.

🎯
Act-On
Marketing Automation
84
hiltonsoftware.co Score
VS
🔥
Braze
Marketing Automation
90
hiltonsoftware.co Score
RECOMMENDED

Quick Comparison

Act-On
Braze
Starting Price
$900/mo
Custom pricing
Free Plan
No
No
Users
4K+ orgs
1.5K+ orgs
Founded
2008
2011
Rating
4.2/5
4.5/5
Best For
Mid-market B2B companies wanting dedicated marketi...
Consumer apps wanting sophisticated multi-channel ...

Feature-by-Feature Comparison

Act-OnBraze
87Ease of Use95
86Features98
87Value for Money86
85Customer Support82
79Integrations86
91Scalability92
81Learning Curve88

Pros & Cons at a Glance

Act-On
+Good for mid-market B2B
+Solid lead scoring
-Expensive for small teams
-Interface needs modernization
Braze
+Best-in-class mobile push notifications
+Powerful cross-channel Canvas
-Enterprise pricing only
-Complex to implement
AI Verdict

After comparing Act-On and Braze across features, pricing, and user satisfaction, Braze takes the lead with a score of 90/100 versus Act-On's 84/100. Braze's key advantages include "best-in-class mobile push notifications" and "powerful cross-channel canvas". 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 Braze offers a free plan. Act-On starts at $900/mo and Braze at Custom pricing. For the investment, Act-On delivers lead nurturing and email marketing, while Braze provides push notifications and in-app messaging.

Bottom line: Choose Act-On if you need mid-market b2b companies wanting dedicated marketing automation beyond email. Go with Braze if your priority is consumer apps wanting sophisticated multi-channel customer engagement. 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 BRAZE IF:

Consumer apps wanting sophisticated multi-channel customer engagement.

Frequently Asked Questions

Is Act-On better than Braze in 2026?
Braze scores 90/100 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. Braze is known for "best-in-class mobile push notifications" and suits Consumer apps wanting sophisticated multi-channel customer engagement. Your specific workflow and team size should guide the decision.
What is the pricing difference between Act-On and Braze?
Both offer paid-only plans. Act-On starts at $900/mo and Braze at Custom pricing. When comparing value, consider that Act-On (founded 2008, 4K+ orgs users) includes features like Lead nurturing, Email marketing, Landing pages. Braze (founded 2011, 1.5K+ orgs users) offers Push notifications, In-app messaging, Email. The right choice depends on which features matter most to your team.
What are the main differences between Act-On and Braze?
The key differences come down to focus and approach. Act-On excels at Lead nurturing, Email marketing, Landing pages, while Braze focuses on Push notifications, In-app messaging, Email. Act-On's main advantage is "good for mid-market b2b", though some users note "expensive for small teams". Braze's strength is "best-in-class mobile push notifications", but "enterprise pricing only" can be a drawback. Both serve the Marketing Automation market but target different user profiles.
Can I switch from Act-On to Braze?
Switching between Act-On and Braze is possible since both operate in the Marketing Automation space. Before migrating, export your data from Act-On and check Braze's import capabilities. Key features to verify compatibility: Lead nurturing, Email marketing, Landing pages (Act-On) vs Push notifications, In-app messaging, Email (Braze). Consider running both tools in parallel during a trial period to ensure a smooth transition.
Which is better for small teams: Act-On or Braze?
Both tools require paid subscriptions (Act-On: $900/mo, Braze: Custom pricing), so evaluate based on features. Act-On is ideal for Mid-market B2B companies wanting dedicated marketing automation beyond email, while Braze fits Consumer apps wanting sophisticated multi-channel customer engagement. Try both during their trial periods to see which fits your team's workflow.

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