Act-On vs Mailshake (Outreach): Complete Comparison (2026)

Updated: March 12, 20268 min read

Choosing between Act-On and Mailshake (Outreach) is a common decision for marketing automation buyers in 2026. Act-On has been in the market since 2008, giving it a 7-year head start over Mailshake (Outreach) (founded 2015). Act-On serves 4K+ orgs users while Mailshake (Outreach) has 75K+ users globally. Act-On differentiates with lead nurturing and email marketing, while Mailshake (Outreach) leads with email sequences and email warm-up. In this head-to-head comparison, Mailshake (Outreach) earns a higher hiltonsoftware.co score of 88/100 — but the right choice depends on your specific needs, budget, and team size.

🎯
Act-On
Marketing Automation
84
hiltonsoftware.co Score
VS
🤝
Mailshake (Outreach)
Marketing Automation
88
hiltonsoftware.co Score
RECOMMENDED

Quick Comparison

Act-On
Mailshake (Outreach)
Starting Price
$900/mo
$29/user/mo
Free Plan
No
No
Users
4K+ orgs
75K+
Founded
2008
2015
Rating
4.2/5
4.4/5
Best For
Mid-market B2B companies wanting dedicated marketi...
SDRs and sales teams running high-volume cold outr...

Feature-by-Feature Comparison

Act-OnMailshake (Outreach)
87Ease of Use83
86Features96
87Value for Money84
85Customer Support87
79Integrations87
91Scalability84
81Learning Curve84

Pros & Cons at a Glance

Act-On
+Good for mid-market B2B
+Solid lead scoring
-Expensive for small teams
-Interface needs modernization
Mailshake (Outreach)
+Simple and focused on outreach
+Good deliverability tools
-Narrowly focused feature set
-Limited reporting
AI Verdict

After comparing Act-On and Mailshake (Outreach) across features, pricing, and user satisfaction, Mailshake (Outreach) takes the lead with a score of 88/100 versus Act-On's 84/100. Mailshake (Outreach)'s key advantages include "simple and focused on outreach" 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 Mailshake (Outreach) offers a free plan. Act-On starts at $900/mo and Mailshake (Outreach) at $29/user/mo. For the investment, Act-On delivers lead nurturing and email marketing, while Mailshake (Outreach) provides email sequences and email warm-up.

Bottom line: Choose Act-On if you need mid-market b2b companies wanting dedicated marketing automation beyond email. Go with Mailshake (Outreach) if your priority is sdrs and sales teams running high-volume cold outreach campaigns. 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 MAILSHAKE (OUTREACH) IF:

SDRs and sales teams running high-volume cold outreach campaigns.

Frequently Asked Questions

Is Act-On better than Mailshake (Outreach) in 2026?
Mailshake (Outreach) scores 88/100 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. Mailshake (Outreach) is known for "simple and focused on outreach" and suits SDRs and sales teams running high-volume cold outreach campaigns. Your specific workflow and team size should guide the decision.
What is the pricing difference between Act-On and Mailshake (Outreach)?
Both offer paid-only plans. Act-On starts at $900/mo and Mailshake (Outreach) at $29/user/mo. When comparing value, consider that Act-On (founded 2008, 4K+ orgs users) includes features like Lead nurturing, Email marketing, Landing pages. Mailshake (Outreach) (founded 2015, 75K+ users) offers Email sequences, Email warm-up, Phone dialer. The right choice depends on which features matter most to your team.
What are the main differences between Act-On and Mailshake (Outreach)?
The key differences come down to focus and approach. Act-On excels at Lead nurturing, Email marketing, Landing pages, while Mailshake (Outreach) focuses on Email sequences, Email warm-up, Phone dialer. Act-On's main advantage is "good for mid-market b2b", though some users note "expensive for small teams". Mailshake (Outreach)'s strength is "simple and focused on outreach", but "narrowly focused feature set" can be a drawback. Both serve the Marketing Automation market but target different user profiles.
Can I switch from Act-On to Mailshake (Outreach)?
Switching between Act-On and Mailshake (Outreach) is possible since both operate in the Marketing Automation space. Before migrating, export your data from Act-On and check Mailshake (Outreach)'s import capabilities. Key features to verify compatibility: Lead nurturing, Email marketing, Landing pages (Act-On) vs Email sequences, Email warm-up, Phone dialer (Mailshake (Outreach)). Consider running both tools in parallel during a trial period to ensure a smooth transition.
Which is better for small teams: Act-On or Mailshake (Outreach)?
Both tools require paid subscriptions (Act-On: $900/mo, Mailshake (Outreach): $29/user/mo), so evaluate based on features. Act-On is ideal for Mid-market B2B companies wanting dedicated marketing automation beyond email, while Mailshake (Outreach) fits SDRs and sales teams running high-volume cold outreach campaigns. Try both during their trial periods to see which fits your team's workflow.

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