If you’re a Canadian business using Constant Contact, you may be looking for a local alternative that goes beyond email marketing. While Constant Contact is widely used, it doesn’t address the needs of Canadian organizations that require bilingual tools, local data storage, and compliance with privacy laws like PIPEDA and CASL.
In this article, we’ll explore why Activity Messenger is the best Canadian alternative to Constant Contact, offering not only email marketing but also SMS communication, registration forms, digital waivers, and automation tools.
Whether you run a small business, nonprofit, or community organization, Activity Messenger provides everything you need to communicate effectively while keeping your data safe in Canada.
DISCLAIMER: Activity Messenger is our software. We created it after experiencing the various shortcomings of existing email marketing software for years.
Constant Contact is a popular email marketing platform, but it comes with some drawbacks:
📌 Read More: 7 best email marketing tools for Canadian Businesses
| Feature | Activity Messenger | Constant Contact |
| Email Marketing | ✅ Professional templates + Canva integration | ✅ Basic templates |
| SMS Messaging | ✅ Built-in SMS campaigns & reminders | ⚠️ Limited availability |
| Automation | ✅ Email + SMS + event workflows | ✅ Email automations only |
| Event Registration & Ticketing | ✅ Built-in forms & payment collection | ❌ Requires third-party apps |
| Digital Waivers & Forms | ✅ Included | ❌ Not available |
| Marketing & Non-Marketing Emails | ✅ Send reminders & notifications even to unsubscribed users | ❌ Marketing-only |
| Bilingual (English/French) | ✅ Fully bilingual interface & support | ⚠️ English-only |
| Data Hosting Location | 🇨🇦 Canada | 🇺🇸 United States |
| Customer Support | ✅ Unlimited bilingual local support | ⚠️ Limited response availability |
| Pricing Model | ✅ Simple, tiered pricing by usage | ⚠️ Scales up quickly with contacts |
💬 What our customers say:
“We have been working with Activity Messenger for almost two years now and we are so happy we were introduced to their product. We replaced both Mailchimp and Survey Monkey with Activity Messenger as well as continue to find new ways to utilize AM in our daily work. It’s such a robust and easy platform to use.” — Catherine D., Member Services Manager & Finance, Non-Profit Organization Management
“This product allows me to send email and/or SMS messages, saves me money and is significantly easier to use than the competitors. I can create, copy, modify and send newsletters and automated messages in minutes where Constant Contact takes hours. Sending SMS messages opens a whole new world with instant response.” — Duncan M., Manager, Recreational Facilities and Services
Activity Messenger goes beyond traditional email marketing by integrating event registration, waivers, and ticketing features directly into the platform. This eliminates the need for third-party tools like Eventbrite, Jotform, SurveyMonkey or SmartWaiver.
With this built-in functionality, you can:
For Canadian businesses, data residency is a crucial factor due to strict privacy laws such as PIPEDA (Personal Information Protection and Electronic Documents Act). Storing customer data in the U.S., as Constant Contact does, could present compliance risks, especially for organizations handling sensitive data.
Activity Messenger ensures that all data is stored securely in Canada, giving organizations peace of mind and ensuring compliance with national privacy regulations.
Both platforms offer automation, but Activity Messenger takes it to the next level with a wider range of customization options, including:
These capabilities allow businesses to enhance engagement, improve conversion rates, and save time on manual communication tasks.
Both platforms provide businesses with powerful marketing tools, but here are a few key reasons why you might consider an alternative in Canada:
As a U.S.-based company, Constant Contact stores customer data in the United States, making it subject to U.S. privacy laws.
Activity Messenger, on the other hand, stores all user data in Canada, ensuring compliance with Canadian privacy regulations, such as the Personal Information Protection and Electronic Documents Act (PIPEDA) and Canada’s Anti-Spam Legislation (CASL). If data sovereignty is a priority for your organization, choosing a Canadian-hosted provider like Activity Messenger can offer added peace of mind.
A common concern among Constant Contact users is the availability of customer service. While they offer support, many businesses find it to be limited when they require immediate assistance.
Activity Messenger offers unlimited support in both English and French, regardless of your plan. With a team of local experts and a comprehensive help centre, training videos, and monthly webinars, users receive ongoing guidance to ensure success.
As a Canadian company using our own software for our newsletter, we understand the realities of the Canadian market.
Activity Messenger is fully bilingual, with all templates and platform features available in both English and French – eliminating the need for manual translation.
By choosing a platform like Activity Messenger, you’re also supporting local innovation while benefiting from an email marketing tool specifically designed for the needs of Canadian businesses.
📌 Read More:How to create a fully bilingual form
Activity Messenger is a great fit for:
Activity Messenger also integrates with ChatGPT, simplifying newsletter creation with:
✅ Automated text refinement
✅ Grammar and spelling corrections
✅ Content improvement for clarity and readability
✅ Seamless English-to-French (and vice versa) translation
✅ AI-generated newsletter inspiration and ideas
Most email platforms, including Constant Contact, are designed primarily for marketing emails. But what about important administrative or transactional emails?
For example, imagine you need to send an event reminder to registered participants a few days before the event. Sending this manually through Gmail or Outlook is time-consuming. Constant Contact and similar platforms will not send it to recipients who have unsubscribed from your marketing list—even if they signed up for the event.
With Activity Messenger, you can send both marketing and non-marketing emails (such as event reminders, schedule updates, or administrative notifications). Even those who have unsubscribed from marketing emails will still receive essential, non-promotional communications.
Constant Contact pricing is based on the total number of contacts you have, which increases quickly. Activity Messenger has only three categories: up to 2,000, 5000, and 10,000. You’ll save money by switching to Activity Messenger, regardless of the plan you choose.
No, Constant Contact is based in the United States. It was founded in 1995 and operates primarily out of Waltham, Massachusetts.
It depends on your specific needs. While Constant Contact is a well-known email marketing platform, Canadian alternatives like Activity Messenger offer unique features tailored to local businesses, including bilingual support, data storage in Canada, and additional tools like SMS messaging, online registrations, and waivers.
No, Constant Contact stores its data on U.S.-based servers, which may raise concerns among Canadian users about data sovereignty and compliance with local privacy laws.
Platforms like Activity Messenger and Cyberimpact ensure data privacy under Canadian regulations, provide bilingual support, and offer features specifically designed for Canadian businesses, including compliance with CASL (Canadian Anti-Spam Legislation).
Yes, some Canadian alternatives offer free plans, making them a cost-effective solution for startups and small businesses. For example, Cyberimpact offers a free plan, but it is limited: 30-day customer support, 30-day micro surveys, one landing page, and 0 custom fields.
Consider key factors such as:
✅ Data privacy & security – Hosting within Canada ensures compliance with local laws.
✅ Ease of use – An intuitive platform for designing and sending emails.
✅ Integrations – Compatibility with CRMs, analytics tools, and social media.
✅ Bilingual support – Full access to customer service in both English and French.
✅ Marketing & non-marketing emails – Ability to send both promotional and administrative emails.
✅ Pricing – Transparent, competitive pricing with no hidden fees.
CASL requires businesses to obtain explicit consent before sending commercial emails. Choosing a CASL-compliant platform, such as Activity Messenger, makes it easier to manage consent, track opt-ins, and stay compliant with Canadian regulations.
Yes, most alternatives, including Activity Messenger, provide easy import tools to migrate your contacts and email lists from Constant Contact or other platforms.
Yes! Activity Messenger and Cyberimpact offer fully bilingual support, ensuring a smooth experience for businesses operating in both official languages.
Yes, many Canadian platforms offer integrations with popular tools such as CRM software, analytics platforms, and social media, helping you streamline your marketing efforts.
While Constant Contact is a well-known email marketing tool, Activity Messenger offers more features tailored to Canadian businesses—including non-marketing emails, surveys, event registration, and compliance with Canadian data privacy laws. Plus, with a more flexible pricing structure, it’s a cost-effective choice for organizations of all sizes.
If you’re looking for a Canadian alternative to Constant Contact, Activity Messenger delivers the tools, compliance, and support you need to grow confidently.
💡 Ready to switch to a Canadian email marketing platform that ensures compliance and supports your growth? Book a demo with Activity Messenger to see how we can streamline your marketing while keeping your data secure.
