Which Tier Unlocks Automations?
| Platform | Free Tier Automations? | Tier for Sequences | Price |
|---|---|---|---|
| Kit (ConvertKit) | No — Newsletter (free) has limited automations | Creator ($39/mo at 1K subs) | $39/mo |
| ActiveCampaign | No free tier | Starter ($15/mo at 1K contacts) | $15/mo |
| Mailchimp | Limited — single-step only on Free | Standard ($20/mo at 500 contacts) | $20/mo |
| beehiiv | Limited automation on Launch (free) | Scale ($49/mo) | $49/mo |
Cheapest option for a welcome sequence: ActiveCampaign Starter at $15/mo. It includes basic automations from the lowest tier. Kit and beehiiv both require higher-tier plans for full automation access.
Kit (ConvertKit): Visual Automation Builder
Go to Automations → Create Automation → choose “Welcome Sequence” template.
Kit's visual builder lets you drag-and-drop email steps with delays between them. Requires Creator plan ($39/mo at 1,000 subscribers).
Set trigger to “Subscribes to a form” and add 3–5 email steps with 1–2 day delays.
Kit counts by subscribers, not sends. 10,000 subscribers on Newsletter (free) send unlimited emails but without automation. Creator at 1K subscribers = $39/mo; at 5K = $79/mo; at 10K = $119/mo.
ActiveCampaign: Most Powerful Automation
Go to Automations → Create → Start from scratch or use a recipe.
ActiveCampaign has the deepest automation builder in this comparison. Starter ($15/mo) includes basic automations. Plus ($49/mo) unlocks CRM, lead scoring, and split paths.
Add conditional splits based on subscriber behavior.
If subscriber opens email 1, send a follow-up in 1 day. If not, wait 3 days and re-send with different subject. This level of branching is available on Starter — no upgrade needed.
Mailchimp: Customer Journey Builder
Go to Automations → Customer Journeys → Start from scratch.
Free plan allows single-step automations only. Multi-step welcome sequences require Standard ($20/mo at 500 contacts). Essentials ($13/mo) unlocks basic automations but not the full journey builder.
Set starting point to “Signs up” and add email + delay steps.
Mailchimp's journey builder is visual but less intuitive than Kit's. Contact counting is aggressive — unsubscribed contacts still count toward your limit until archived.
beehiiv: Newsletter-First Automation
Go to Automations → Create Automation → set trigger to “New Subscriber.”
beehiiv Launch (free) includes basic automations. Scale ($49/mo) unlocks the full automation builder with conditional branching and A/B testing. Launch supports unlimited subscribers up to 2,500.
Build 3–5 step sequence with email + delay actions.
beehiiv's automation builder is newer and simpler than ActiveCampaign's. For a basic welcome sequence, Launch (free) may be sufficient. Scale adds unlimited subscribers + full automation for $49/mo.
Frequently Asked Questions
Which is cheapest for a welcome sequence?
ActiveCampaign Starter at $15/mo is the cheapest paid option with full automation. beehiiv Launch (free) offers basic automation at $0 if you have under 2,500 subscribers. Mailchimp Free allows single-step only.
How many emails should a welcome sequence have?
3–5 emails over 7–14 days is the standard. Email 1: immediate welcome and value delivery. Emails 2–4: your best content or key information. Email 5: soft ask or CTA. More than 7 emails risks fatigue.
Can I use Zapier instead of a native automation builder?
Not recommended for email sequences. Zapier can trigger a single email, but sequences with delays, branching, and open tracking require a dedicated email platform's automation builder. Zapier is better for connecting tools, not building email flows.