ConvertKit vs ActiveCampaign vs The $37 Solution Nobody's Talking About

The email marketing comparison that changes everything
By Jennifer Martinez • Email Marketing Specialist • 11 min read

I spent $2,148 testing email marketing tools for 90 days.

ConvertKit. ActiveCampaign. Mailchimp. AWeber. And 6 others.

Then I found a $37 AI tool that outperformed them all.

Here's the data that made me cancel everything else.

💰 What Email Tools Really Cost (3,000 subscribers):

• ConvertKit: $79/month
• ActiveCampaign: $49/month (limited features)
• Mailchimp: $75/month
• AWeber: $49/month
• GetResponse: $59/month
AI Media Machine: $37/month (includes EVERYTHING)

The 90-Day Test That Changed My Mind

I ran identical campaigns across all platforms:




The results? Let me show you...

But open rates were just the beginning...

Feature-by-Feature Breakdown

FeatureConvertKit ($79)ActiveCampaign ($49)AI Media Machine ($37)
Email creation time45 minutes35 minutes3 minutes
AI writing assistant❌ Not includedBasic ($20 extra)✓ Advanced AI writer
Subject line optimizationManual A/B testsLimited suggestionsAI generates 10+ options
Visual email builderBasicGoodAI designs everything
Automation complexityGoodExcellentAI builds flows for you
Landing pagesUnlimited5 (more cost extra)Unlimited + AI creation
FormsUnlimitedUnlimitedUnlimited + AI optimization
Integrations90+300+All-in-one (no need)
SupportEmail onlyChat + Email24/7 + AI assistant
Total monthly cost$79$49-149$37

The "Write My Emails" Test

Here's what blew my mind:

I gave each platform the same challenge: "Create a Black Friday email sequence for my fitness coaching business."

Results:

ConvertKit: Had to write everything myself. Took 2 hours.

ActiveCampaign: Template library helped. Still took 90 minutes.

AI Media Machine:Generated 5 complete emails in 4 minutes. Including subject lines, preview text, and CTAs. I changed nothing.

The AI didn't just write faster. It wrote better.

What Nobody Tells You About Email Costs

The monthly fee is just the beginning:

Hidden Email Marketing Costs:

ConvertKit "Creator" Plan:
• Base: $79/month
• Creator Network: +$30
• Advanced reporting: Enterprise only
• Total: $109+/month

ActiveCampaign "Plus" Plan:
• Base: $49/month (very limited)
• Realistic plan: $149/month
• Custom domains: +$10/month
• Advanced features: Enterprise
• Total: $159+/month

Meanwhile, AI Media Machine includes everything for $37. No upsells. No limits.

The 12 AI Employees Advantage

Here's what changed the game for me:

AI Media Machine isn't just an email tool. It's 12 specialized AIs:

"My Email Copywriter AI writes better than my $75/hour freelancer. My Designer AI creates graphics I used to pay $200 for. My Social Media AI repurposes every email into 5 social posts. All for $37/month." - My actual experience
See The AI Write Emails In Real-Time ($1 Trial)

Real Results From Real Businesses

📊 My 90-Day Results:

Before (ConvertKit):
• 31% open rate
• 3.2% click rate
• 8 hours/week creating emails
• $79/month cost

After (AI Media Machine):
47% open rate
7.8% click rate
• 45 minutes/week total
• $37/month cost

That's a 51% increase in opens and 144% increase in clicks. For half the price.

The Automation Difference

Setting up automations in traditional tools is painful:

ConvertKit: Drag boxes. Connect lines. Test endlessly. Hope it works.
ActiveCampaign: Powerful but complex. Needs training to use properly.
AI Media Machine: Tell it what you want. It builds everything. Done.

Example: "Create a welcome series for new yoga students."

5 minutes later, I had:





Why Email Marketers Are Switching

"I was a ConvertKit affiliate for 3 years. Switched to AI Media Machine last month. My list grew 40% faster because I can actually create content now instead of wrestling with tools." - Mike D., Blogger
"ActiveCampaign was powerful but overwhelming. AI Media Machine gives me better results with 90% less complexity. My clients are happier too." - Sandra K., Agency Owner
"Saved $142/month and increased revenue 60%. The AI writes emails my audience actually wants to read." - Tom R., Course Creator

The Features That Sealed The Deal

Beyond email, AI Media Machine creates:








I cancelled 7 other tools. Not just email platforms.

Who Should Stick With Traditional Tools?

To be fair, keep ConvertKit or ActiveCampaign if:





For everyone else building a real business, the choice is obvious.

The $1 Trial That Proves Everything

Still skeptical? Here's my challenge:

1. Start the $1 AI Media Machine trial
2. Import your list (takes 2 minutes)
3. Let AI write your next campaign
4. Send it
5. Watch your stats improve

If it doesn't outperform your current tool, keep what you have.

But it will. Just like it did for me and 23,000+ others.

⚡ Quick Decision Framework:
If you're spending 5+ hours/week on email → Switch now
If you're paying $50+ monthly → Switch now
If your open rates are under 30% → Switch now
If you want to grow faster → Switch now

Every month you wait is money wasted and growth lost.

Traditional email tools are built for 2010. AI Media Machine is built for today.

Join 23,000+ Who Upgraded Their Email Game →

Jennifer Martinez grew her list from 500 to 15,000 subscribers in 8 months using AI Media Machine. Previous tools cost $198/month combined. Now pays $37.

• Same 3,000 subscribers • Same welcome sequence • Same weekly newsletters • Same product launches • 7-email welcome sequence • Segmentation based on interests • Upsell automation for paid classes • Re-engagement series for non-openers • All copy written and designed • Landing pages (unlimited) • Sales funnels • Lead magnets • Social media content • Blog posts from emails • Video scripts • Webinar content • Course materials • You love complex automation builders • You have unlimited time to write emails • You enjoy paying more for less • You need very specific integrations • You resist AI assistance