SoftwareDuel

OnPay vs ActiveCampaign

A head-to-head comparison to help you pick the right tool

OnPay

OnPay is a full-service payroll and HR platform designed for small and mid-size businesses. It offers unlimited payroll runs, automatic tax filing, and built-in HR tools at an affordable flat rate. OnPay is consistently rated as one of the best value payroll solutions for small businesses and supports a wide range of industries including restaurants, farms, and nonprofits.

Paid pricing · Get Pricing →

ActiveCampaign

ActiveCampaign is a customer experience automation platform that combines email marketing, marketing automation, and CRM in one powerful tool. It is known for having the most advanced email automation capabilities in its price range. ActiveCampaign is used by over 180,000 businesses that want to deliver personalized customer experiences at scale.

Paid pricing · Get Pricing →

Pros

  • Excellent value — flat monthly pricing with no per-run fees
  • Supports multiple pay schedules and unlimited payroll runs
  • Strong industry-specific features for restaurants, farms, and nonprofits
  • US-based customer support included on all plans

Cons

  • US-only — no international payroll support
  • Mobile app is less polished than competitors
  • Limited advanced HR features compared to full HRIS platforms

Pros

  • Best-in-class email marketing automation at an affordable price
  • Powerful segmentation and personalization capabilities
  • Strong CRM features integrated with marketing tools
  • Excellent deliverability rates

Cons

  • Can be complex to set up advanced automations
  • CRM features are less robust than dedicated CRM tools
  • Interface has a learning curve for new users

Our Take

Choose OnPay if small businesses wanting affordable, full-service payroll with no hidden fees. Choose ActiveCampaign if smbs wanting powerful email marketing automation combined with a crm.

Best For

Small businesses wanting affordable, full-service payroll with no hidden fees

Best For

SMBs wanting powerful email marketing automation combined with a CRM