Overview

Action Network is an online organizing platform for individuals and groups working on progressive causes. Founded in 2012, it brings campaign publishing, supporter communications, events, and fundraising into one toolset. Organizers can publish petitions, surveys, letter campaigns, event RSVPs, ticketed event pages, and fundraising forms.

The platform is intended for people-powered progressive organizations, from grassroots groups to established federated organizations. Its scope has boundaries: it does not provide websites, offline organizing, general CRM work, or FEC compliance. Activist records must include an email address or phone number, which may rule it out for groups that need records without either contact detail.

Action Network is a 501(c)(4) nonprofit and the sole shareholder of Action Squared Inc., which makes its toolsets.

Key features

Campaigns and communications

Email tools include custom templates, personalization, targeting, A/B testing, automated workflows, drip campaigns, and analytics. Organizers can also download their list data. Mobile messaging supports SMS and MMS campaigns, but it is offered only as an add-on to an email partnership rather than as a standalone listed plan.

Events and fundraising

Event tools support RSVP management, reminders, self check-in, ticketing, and maps. Fundraising pages include recurring giving and donor management, giving organizers options for both event participation and ongoing contributions.

Integrations and API

Action Network lists a full Salesforce sync, built-in Catalist and SpeechifAI integrations, and connections to ActBlue, CallHub, Zapier, Make, and n8n. Its REST API can retrieve and post data and synchronize systems, but API access is limited to paying partners.

Security and support

The service says it encrypts traffic and stored data, uses HTTPS/SSL on its pages and widgets, and is PCI compliant. Stripe handles card information. Plans include unlimited email support, a getting-started training series, and help articles; a weekly demo is also available every Tuesday at 1pm Eastern.

Pricing

Action Network has a free plan and paid plans starting at $15/mo. The paid email plans combine monthly minimums with usage-based charges, so the minimum price is not necessarily the total cost at higher volumes. Mobile messaging is a separate add-on for the Movement and Network plans.

Plan	Price	Details
Free	0.00 USD per free	Free tools for grassroots activists.
Movement	Starting at $15/mo	$1.25 per 1,000 emails, with a $15 monthly minimum covering the first 12,000 emails. For single, small to midsize organizations; mobile messaging is a separate add-on.
Network	Starting at $125/mo	$2.50 per 1,000 emails, with a $125 monthly minimum covering the first 50,000 emails. For federated or multi-group organizations; mobile messaging is a separate add-on.
Boost	Starting at $450 per month	Flat monthly add-on varies by email volume: $450 below 2 million emails, $750 for 2–8 million, and $1,050 above 8 million. Includes advanced tools and features.
Enterprise	Custom Pricing	For organizations with 1M+ monthly emails.

Platforms

Action Network is available on the web and through an API. The API is limited to paying partners, so organizations should factor that access condition into plans to connect their systems.

Who it's for

The platform is designed for progressive advocacy groups that need to publish actions, communicate with supporters, coordinate events, or raise funds. Its audience ranges from grassroots activists to established federated organizations. Groups needing a general CRM, a website, offline organizing, or FEC compliance should look elsewhere; it also requires each activist record to have an email address or phone number.

For more options, browse Advocacy Software, Nonprofit Marketing Software, and Nonprofit Email Marketing Software.

Pros and cons

Pros

Combines petitions, surveys, letter campaigns, events, fundraising, email, and mobile messaging tools.
Email features include targeting, personalization, testing, automation, and analytics.
Lists integrations with Salesforce, Catalist, SpeechifAI, ActBlue, CallHub, Zapier, Make, and n8n.
Offers a free plan and support resources including unlimited email support and training.

Cons

SMS and MMS messaging is a separate add-on and requires an email partnership.
API access is available only to paying partners.
It does not provide websites, offline organizing, general CRM work, or FEC compliance.
Activist records require an email address or phone number.

Alternatives

Organizations comparing advocacy tools can consider New/Mode, Changemaker Lite, CORE Software, VoterVoice, ActionKit, ControlShift, Rally Starter, and Quorum Grassroots.

Verdict

Action Network brings a broad set of digital organizing activities together for progressive organizations, with campaign publishing, email, events, fundraising, and integrations in its toolset. Its free plan offers an entry point, while paid plans start at $15/mo and scale around email volume; mobile messaging and API access have specific eligibility conditions. The strongest fit is a group whose work centers on online supporter actions and communications, and whose needs stay within the platform's stated limits.

	Action Network	Inlist
Free plan	Yes	No
Free trial	No	No
Paid from	$15/mo	—
Open source	No	No
Platforms	api, Web	Web
Free plan	Yes	No
Paid from	15 /mo	—
Petition tools	Yes	Yes
Legislator outreach	Yes	Yes
Action campaigns	Yes	Yes
Grassroots organizing	Yes	Yes
Advocacy analytics	Yes	Yes
SMS messaging	Yes	Yes

Action Network vs Inlist

Action Network

Inlist