Act-On vs SharpSpring: Complete Comparison (2026)

Updated: March 12, 20268 min read

Choosing between Act-On and SharpSpring is a common decision for marketing automation buyers in 2026. Both Act-On and SharpSpring are established players, founded in 2008 and 2012 respectively. Act-On serves 4K+ orgs users while SharpSpring has 10K+ orgs users globally. Act-On differentiates with lead nurturing and email marketing, while SharpSpring leads with email automation and crm. In this head-to-head comparison, SharpSpring 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
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SharpSpring
Marketing Automation
86
hiltonsoftware.co Score
RECOMMENDED

Quick Comparison

Act-On
SharpSpring
Starting Price
$900/mo
$449/mo
Free Plan
No
No
Users
4K+ orgs
10K+ orgs
Founded
2008
2012
Rating
4.2/5
4.3/5
Best For
Mid-market B2B companies wanting dedicated marketi...
Agencies wanting white-label marketing automation ...

Feature-by-Feature Comparison

Act-OnSharpSpring
87Ease of Use90
86Features86
87Value for Money79
85Customer Support80
79Integrations80
91Scalability85
81Learning Curve78

Pros & Cons at a Glance

Act-On
+Good for mid-market B2B
+Solid lead scoring
-Expensive for small teams
-Interface needs modernization
SharpSpring
+More affordable than HubSpot enterprise
+Good for agencies with re-brandable platform
-Interface less polished than HubSpot
-Fewer native integrations
AI Verdict

After comparing Act-On and SharpSpring across features, pricing, and user satisfaction, SharpSpring takes the lead with a score of 86/100 versus Act-On's 84/100. SharpSpring's key advantages include "more affordable than hubspot enterprise" and "good for agencies with re-brandable platform". 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 SharpSpring offers a free plan. Act-On starts at $900/mo and SharpSpring at $449/mo. For the investment, Act-On delivers lead nurturing and email marketing, while SharpSpring provides email automation and crm.

Bottom line: Choose Act-On if you need mid-market b2b companies wanting dedicated marketing automation beyond email. Go with SharpSpring if your priority is agencies wanting white-label marketing automation at a lower cost than hubspot. 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 SHARPSPRING IF:

Agencies wanting white-label marketing automation at a lower cost than HubSpot.

Frequently Asked Questions

Is Act-On better than SharpSpring in 2026?
SharpSpring 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. SharpSpring is known for "more affordable than hubspot enterprise" and suits Agencies wanting white-label marketing automation at a lower cost than HubSpot. Your specific workflow and team size should guide the decision.
What is the pricing difference between Act-On and SharpSpring?
Both offer paid-only plans. Act-On starts at $900/mo and SharpSpring at $449/mo. When comparing value, consider that Act-On (founded 2008, 4K+ orgs users) includes features like Lead nurturing, Email marketing, Landing pages. SharpSpring (founded 2012, 10K+ orgs users) offers Email automation, CRM, Landing pages. The right choice depends on which features matter most to your team.
What are the main differences between Act-On and SharpSpring?
The key differences come down to focus and approach. Act-On excels at Lead nurturing, Email marketing, Landing pages, while SharpSpring focuses on Email automation, CRM, Landing pages. Act-On's main advantage is "good for mid-market b2b", though some users note "expensive for small teams". SharpSpring's strength is "more affordable than hubspot enterprise", but "interface less polished than hubspot" can be a drawback. Both serve the Marketing Automation market but target different user profiles.
Can I switch from Act-On to SharpSpring?
Switching between Act-On and SharpSpring is possible since both operate in the Marketing Automation space. Before migrating, export your data from Act-On and check SharpSpring's import capabilities. Key features to verify compatibility: Lead nurturing, Email marketing, Landing pages (Act-On) vs Email automation, CRM, Landing pages (SharpSpring). Consider running both tools in parallel during a trial period to ensure a smooth transition.
Which is better for small teams: Act-On or SharpSpring?
Both tools require paid subscriptions (Act-On: $900/mo, SharpSpring: $449/mo), so evaluate based on features. Act-On is ideal for Mid-market B2B companies wanting dedicated marketing automation beyond email, while SharpSpring fits Agencies wanting white-label marketing automation at a lower cost than HubSpot. Try both during their trial periods to see which fits your team's workflow.

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