Autopilot vs SharpSpring: Complete Comparison (2026)

Updated: March 12, 20268 min read

Choosing between Autopilot and SharpSpring is a common decision for marketing automation buyers in 2026. Both Autopilot and SharpSpring are established players, founded in 2012 and 2012 respectively. Autopilot serves 12K+ orgs users while SharpSpring has 10K+ orgs users globally. Autopilot differentiates with journey builder and email and sms, while SharpSpring leads with email automation and crm. 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.

✈️
Autopilot
Marketing Automation
86
hiltonsoftware.co Score
VS
🌀
SharpSpring
Marketing Automation
86
hiltonsoftware.co Score

Quick Comparison

Autopilot
SharpSpring
Starting Price
$99/mo
$449/mo
Free Plan
No
No
Users
12K+ orgs
10K+ orgs
Founded
2012
2012
Rating
4.3/5
4.3/5
Best For
Marketing teams wanting visual customer journey au...
Agencies wanting white-label marketing automation ...

Feature-by-Feature Comparison

AutopilotSharpSpring
85Ease of Use90
95Features86
81Value for Money79
85Customer Support80
80Integrations80
86Scalability85
82Learning Curve78

Pros & Cons at a Glance

Autopilot
+Visual journey builder is exceptional
+Built-in CDP and analytics
-Expensive for smaller teams
-Rebranding has caused some confusion
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 Autopilot and SharpSpring across features, pricing, and user satisfaction, Autopilot takes the lead with a score of 86/100 versus SharpSpring's 86/100. Autopilot's key advantages include "visual journey builder is exceptional" and "built-in cdp and analytics". That said, SharpSpring has its own strengths — particularly "more affordable than hubspot enterprise" — making it a viable alternative for specific use cases.

Neither Autopilot nor SharpSpring offers a free plan. Autopilot starts at $99/mo and SharpSpring at $449/mo. For the investment, Autopilot delivers journey builder and email and sms, while SharpSpring provides email automation and crm.

Bottom line: Choose Autopilot if you need marketing teams wanting visual customer journey automation with analytics. 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 AUTOPILOT IF:

Marketing teams wanting visual customer journey automation with analytics.

CHOOSE SHARPSPRING IF:

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

Frequently Asked Questions

Is Autopilot better than SharpSpring in 2026?
Autopilot scores 86/100 on hiltonsoftware.co compared to SharpSpring's 86/100. Autopilot stands out for "visual journey builder is exceptional" and is best for Marketing teams wanting visual customer journey automation with analytics. 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 Autopilot and SharpSpring?
Both offer paid-only plans. Autopilot starts at $99/mo and SharpSpring at $449/mo. When comparing value, consider that Autopilot (founded 2012, 12K+ orgs users) includes features like Journey builder, Email and SMS, Analytics. 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 Autopilot and SharpSpring?
The key differences come down to focus and approach. Autopilot excels at Journey builder, Email and SMS, Analytics, while SharpSpring focuses on Email automation, CRM, Landing pages. Autopilot's main advantage is "visual journey builder is exceptional", though some users note "expensive for smaller 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 Autopilot to SharpSpring?
Switching between Autopilot and SharpSpring is possible since both operate in the Marketing Automation space. Before migrating, export your data from Autopilot and check SharpSpring's import capabilities. Key features to verify compatibility: Journey builder, Email and SMS, Analytics (Autopilot) 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: Autopilot or SharpSpring?
Both tools require paid subscriptions (Autopilot: $99/mo, SharpSpring: $449/mo), so evaluate based on features. Autopilot is ideal for Marketing teams wanting visual customer journey automation with analytics, 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.

Explore More Comparisons & Tools