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# Campaign vs Automation: What's the difference?

The difference between a **Campaign** and an **Automation** is mainly based on how and when emails are sent. Use **campaigns** when you want to communicate a specific message at a specific time. Use **automations** when you want to create personalized, ongoing communication without manually sending each email. 

You’ll find a side-by-side comparison between Campaigns and Automations here.


|  | Campaign | Automation |
| ---- |
| **Purpose** | Send a planned email to a group of contacts | Send emails automatically based on triggers or subscriber actions |
| **When it runs** | You choose when to send it (immediately or scheduled) | Runs automatically when a condition is met |
| **Audience** | Usually a selected list or segment | Individual contacts enter the flow when they meet the trigger |
| **Best for** | Newsletters, announcements, promotions, product updates | Welcome emails, follow-ups, lead nurturing, customer journeys |
| **Example** | Send our Black Friday offer to all subscribers on Friday | When someone subscribes, send a welcome email, then follow up 3 days later |

**In short:**

* Campaign - A planned, one-time message sent to an audience.
* Automation  - A continuous process that sends messages automatically based on subscriber actions or conditions.