Act-On vs Lemlist: Complete Comparison (2026)

Updated: March 12, 20268 min read

Choosing between Act-On and Lemlist is a common decision for marketing automation buyers in 2026. Act-On has been in the market since 2008, giving it a 10-year head start over Lemlist (founded 2018). Act-On serves 4K+ orgs users while Lemlist has 37K+ users globally. Act-On differentiates with lead nurturing and email marketing, while Lemlist leads with personalized images and multi-channel sequences. In this head-to-head comparison, Lemlist 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
🍋
Lemlist
Marketing Automation
90
hiltonsoftware.co Score
RECOMMENDED

Quick Comparison

Act-On
Lemlist
Starting Price
$900/mo
$32/user/mo
Free Plan
No
No
Users
4K+ orgs
37K+
Founded
2008
2018
Rating
4.2/5
4.5/5
Best For
Mid-market B2B companies wanting dedicated marketi...
Sales teams wanting highly personalized cold outre...

Feature-by-Feature Comparison

Act-OnLemlist
87Ease of Use85
86Features97
87Value for Money86
85Customer Support89
79Integrations94
91Scalability85
81Learning Curve86

Pros & Cons at a Glance

Act-On
+Good for mid-market B2B
+Solid lead scoring
-Expensive for small teams
-Interface needs modernization
Lemlist
+Unique personalized image feature
+Good deliverability tools
-Learning curve for personalization
-No free plan
AI Verdict

After comparing Act-On and Lemlist across features, pricing, and user satisfaction, Lemlist takes the lead with a score of 90/100 versus Act-On's 84/100. Lemlist's key advantages include "unique personalized image feature" and "good deliverability tools". 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 Lemlist offers a free plan. Act-On starts at $900/mo and Lemlist at $32/user/mo. For the investment, Act-On delivers lead nurturing and email marketing, while Lemlist provides personalized images and multi-channel sequences.

Bottom line: Choose Act-On if you need mid-market b2b companies wanting dedicated marketing automation beyond email. Go with Lemlist if your priority is sales teams wanting highly personalized cold outreach with custom images. 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 LEMLIST IF:

Sales teams wanting highly personalized cold outreach with custom images.

Frequently Asked Questions

Is Act-On better than Lemlist in 2026?
Lemlist 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. Lemlist is known for "unique personalized image feature" and suits Sales teams wanting highly personalized cold outreach with custom images. Your specific workflow and team size should guide the decision.
What is the pricing difference between Act-On and Lemlist?
Both offer paid-only plans. Act-On starts at $900/mo and Lemlist at $32/user/mo. When comparing value, consider that Act-On (founded 2008, 4K+ orgs users) includes features like Lead nurturing, Email marketing, Landing pages. Lemlist (founded 2018, 37K+ users) offers Personalized images, Multi-channel sequences, Email warm-up. The right choice depends on which features matter most to your team.
What are the main differences between Act-On and Lemlist?
The key differences come down to focus and approach. Act-On excels at Lead nurturing, Email marketing, Landing pages, while Lemlist focuses on Personalized images, Multi-channel sequences, Email warm-up. Act-On's main advantage is "good for mid-market b2b", though some users note "expensive for small teams". Lemlist's strength is "unique personalized image feature", but "learning curve for personalization" can be a drawback. Both serve the Marketing Automation market but target different user profiles.
Can I switch from Act-On to Lemlist?
Switching between Act-On and Lemlist is possible since both operate in the Marketing Automation space. Before migrating, export your data from Act-On and check Lemlist's import capabilities. Key features to verify compatibility: Lead nurturing, Email marketing, Landing pages (Act-On) vs Personalized images, Multi-channel sequences, Email warm-up (Lemlist). Consider running both tools in parallel during a trial period to ensure a smooth transition.
Which is better for small teams: Act-On or Lemlist?
Both tools require paid subscriptions (Act-On: $900/mo, Lemlist: $32/user/mo), so evaluate based on features. Act-On is ideal for Mid-market B2B companies wanting dedicated marketing automation beyond email, while Lemlist fits Sales teams wanting highly personalized cold outreach with custom images. Try both during their trial periods to see which fits your team's workflow.

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