Best Email Marketing Software 2026: 10 Tested (Our Pick)

Email marketing delivers $36 for every $1 spent. That 3,600% ROI makes it the highest-returning marketing channel available. But here is the catch: those results depend entirely on reaching the inbox, sending at the right time, and personalizing at scale.

The wrong platform can tank your deliverability, limit your growth, or drain your budget on features you do not need. We tested 10 email marketing platforms across automation capabilities, deliverability rates, ease of use, and pricing at different subscriber levels. Whether you are a creator building a newsletter, an ecommerce brand optimizing revenue, or an agency managing multiple clients, this guide will help you pick the right tool.

Quick Comparison: Top Email Marketing Platforms

Key Features to Evaluate

Before diving into individual reviews, understand what separates adequate email marketing from excellent results:

Deliverability

Your emails must reach the inbox, not spam. Look for platforms with dedicated IP options, authentication support (DKIM, SPF, DMARC), and transparent deliverability reporting. Industry benchmarks hover around 85-95% inbox placement.

Automation Capabilities

Basic autoresponders handle welcome sequences. Advanced automation builds branching workflows based on subscriber behavior: clicks, purchases, page visits, and email engagement. The difference matters for nurturing leads and recovering abandoned carts.

Segmentation and Personalization

Sending the same email to everyone wastes potential. Strong platforms let you segment by behavior, purchase history, engagement level, and custom properties. Dynamic content blocks personalize emails without creating dozens of variations.

Analytics and Reporting

Beyond open and click rates, look for revenue attribution (especially for ecommerce), A/B testing, deliverability metrics, and subscriber growth tracking. Data drives optimization.

Integrations

Your email platform must connect with your other tools: CRM, ecommerce platform, landing pages, webinar software, and analytics. Native integrations work better than generic Zapier connections.

Detailed Reviews

Mailchimp

Mailchimp pioneered accessible email marketing, and that heritage shows in its interface. The platform feels approachable without sacrificing capability. First-time users can build and send a campaign within 30 minutes.

The email builder deserves its reputation. Templates look professional across devices, the drag-and-drop editor behaves predictably, and AI-powered content suggestions help overcome writer’s block. Customer Journey Builder handles automation with visual workflows that are easier to understand than competitors’ node-based systems.

Pricing breakdown:

• Free: 500 contacts, 1,000 sends/month, basic templates, single-step automations
• Essentials: $13/month for 500 contacts - 3 audiences, 24/7 support, A/B testing
• Standard: $20/month for 500 contacts - Customer Journey Builder, send-time optimization, retargeting ads
• Premium: $350/month for 10,000 contacts - Advanced segmentation, phone support, multivariate testing

The free plan works genuinely well for starting out, but costs escalate quickly. At 10,000 contacts, Standard pricing reaches $100/month. At 50,000 contacts, expect $350+/month. Larger lists often find better value elsewhere.

Deliverability: Mailchimp maintains strong deliverability through strict list hygiene enforcement and dedicated IP options on higher tiers. However, shared IP pools on lower plans mean your reputation partly depends on other users.

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ConvertKit

ConvertKit (recently rebranded to Kit) understands creators differently than other platforms. While Mailchimp evolved from newsletters and Klaviyo from ecommerce, ConvertKit was built specifically for people building audiences around content.

The subscriber-centric model matters. Instead of managing multiple lists, you manage one subscriber database with tags and segments. Someone on your “course buyers” tag and “newsletter” tag is one subscriber, not two. This keeps costs down and simplifies management.

The visual automation builder strikes the right balance between power and accessibility. You can build complex sequences that branch based on purchases, link clicks, form submissions, and tag applications without feeling overwhelmed.

Pricing breakdown:

• Newsletter (Free): 10,000 subscribers, unlimited sends, unlimited landing pages, one automation
• Creator: $29/month for 1,000 subscribers - Unlimited automations, sequences, third-party integrations
• Creator Pro: $59/month for 1,000 subscribers - Subscriber scoring, advanced reporting, Facebook custom audiences

At 25,000 subscribers, Creator Pro runs $209/month. At 100,000 subscribers, expect $679/month. Pricing scales more gradually than Mailchimp at higher tiers.

Where it shines: The Creator Network deserves attention. It connects you with other creators for cross-promotion, helping you grow organically. The platform also supports paid newsletters natively with Stripe integration.

Where it falls short: ConvertKit deliberately avoids flashy HTML templates. The philosophy is that plain-text-style emails perform better for creators. If your brand requires image-heavy, designed emails, this is not your platform.

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Klaviyo

Klaviyo dominates ecommerce email marketing for a reason: it treats email as a revenue channel, not just a communication tool. Every feature connects back to sales data, and the integration depth with Shopify, WooCommerce, and BigCommerce is unmatched.

The platform pulls in real-time customer data: browse history, purchase history, cart contents, and product preferences. This enables hyper-targeted automations. Abandoned cart emails can show exact products left behind. Post-purchase flows can suggest complementary items based on what was bought.

Pricing breakdown (email only):

• Free: 500 contacts, 500 email sends/month, 150 SMS credits
• Email: Starting at $45/month for 1,500 contacts - All features, unlimited sends
• Email + SMS: Starting at $60/month - Combined platform with SMS credits

At 10,000 contacts, expect $150/month. At 50,000 contacts, pricing reaches $720/month. At 100,000 contacts, expect $1,380/month. Premium pricing, but ecommerce brands often see 20-30% of revenue attributed to Klaviyo flows.

Predictive analytics: Klaviyo calculates expected next order date, lifetime value predictions, and churn risk scores. You can segment on “likely to purchase in the next 30 days” or “at risk of churning” without manual analysis.

SMS integration: Rather than using a separate SMS tool, Klaviyo combines email and SMS in unified flows. A cart abandonment sequence can start with email, escalate to SMS after 24 hours, and adjust messaging based on channel engagement.

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Brevo (formerly Sendinblue)

Brevo offers the most flexible pricing model in email marketing: pay for sends, not contacts. This makes it ideal for businesses with large lists but infrequent sending, or companies that need both transactional (order confirmations, password resets) and marketing email in one platform.

The all-in-one approach extends beyond email. Brevo includes SMS marketing, live chat, a basic CRM, and landing pages across plans. For startups watching every dollar, this consolidation provides real value.

Pricing breakdown:

• Free: Unlimited contacts, 300 emails/day, transactional email API
• Starter: $25/month for 20,000 emails/month - No daily limit, basic reporting
• Business: $65/month for 20,000 emails/month - Marketing automation, A/B testing, send-time optimization
• Enterprise: Custom pricing - Dedicated IP, dedicated account manager

Unlike competitors charging $300+/month for 50,000 contacts, Brevo’s Business plan at $65/month sends 20,000 emails to unlimited contacts. If your 50,000-person list receives 2 emails per month (100,000 sends), you would need the 100,000 email tier at around $89/month.

Transactional email: The API handles order confirmations, shipping updates, and password resets with reliable delivery. This integration eliminates needing a separate service like SendGrid or Postmark.

Where it falls short: Marketing automation, while functional, lacks the sophistication of ActiveCampaign or Klaviyo. Complex branching logic and behavioral triggers feel more limited.

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ActiveCampaign

ActiveCampaign targets businesses that have outgrown basic email marketing. The automation builder handles complexity that would break simpler platforms: conditional branching, wait conditions, goal tracking, split testing within workflows, and CRM-triggered actions.

The platform bridges marketing and sales. Leads entering your email funnel can automatically create CRM deals, assign to sales reps, and update as they engage with content. This eliminates the handoff problems between marketing automation and CRM systems.

Pricing breakdown (Marketing plan):

• Lite: $29/month for 1,000 contacts - Email marketing, automation, reporting
• Plus: $49/month for 1,000 contacts - Landing pages, CRM, lead scoring
• Professional: $149/month for 1,000 contacts - Split automation, site messaging, attribution
• Enterprise: $259/month for 1,000 contacts - Custom reporting, dedicated rep, unlimited users

At 10,000 contacts, Lite runs $139/month; Plus runs $199/month. At 50,000 contacts, expect $339/month for Lite. Pricing sits between budget options and Klaviyo’s premium tier.

Machine learning features: ActiveCampaign predicts optimal send times per subscriber based on historical engagement. Win probability scoring helps sales prioritize leads. Predictive sending tests automatically and applies learnings.

Where it falls short: No free plan means you commit before testing thoroughly. The interface, while powerful, takes weeks to master. Teams seeking simple email sending will find it overkill.

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Constant Contact

Constant Contact has served small businesses since 1995, and that experience shows in reliability and support quality. The platform prioritizes ease of use over cutting-edge features, making it accessible for less technical teams.

Event management sets Constant Contact apart. You can create event pages, manage registrations, send reminder emails, and track attendance without third-party tools. For organizations running workshops, fundraisers, or conferences, this integration saves significant complexity.

Pricing breakdown:

• Lite: $12/month for 500 contacts - Email marketing, basic reporting, 1 user
• Standard: $35/month for 500 contacts - Automation, A/B testing, social posting, 3 users
• Premium: $80/month for 500 contacts - Advanced automation, SEO recommendations, unlimited users

At 10,000 contacts, Standard pricing reaches $100/month. At 50,000 contacts, expect $340/month. Competitive with mid-market pricing.

Support quality: Phone support on all paid plans distinguishes Constant Contact from competitors offering only chat or email support. For businesses that prefer talking through issues, this matters.

Where it falls short: Automation capabilities feel a generation behind ActiveCampaign or Klaviyo. Complex behavioral triggers and branching workflows hit walls quickly. The email builder, while functional, lacks the modern polish of Mailchimp.

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GetResponse

GetResponse bundles more than email marketing. The platform includes webinar hosting, landing page builder, conversion funnels, and website builder. For marketers wanting fewer tools to manage, this consolidation offers real value.

Webinar integration stands out. You can host live webinars for up to 1,000 attendees (on higher plans), with registration pages, reminder sequences, and follow-up automation handled in one platform. For course creators, coaches, and B2B companies using webinars for lead generation, this eliminates subscription overlap.

Pricing breakdown:

• Free: 500 contacts, unlimited newsletters, 1 landing page
• Email Marketing: $19/month for 1,000 contacts - Autoresponders, basic automation, unlimited landing pages
• Marketing Automation: $59/month for 1,000 contacts - Advanced automation, webinars (100 attendees), contact scoring
• Ecommerce Marketing: $119/month for 1,000 contacts - Ecommerce integrations, transactional emails, web push

At 25,000 contacts, Marketing Automation runs $179/month. At 100,000 contacts, expect $539/month. Pricing scales better than Mailchimp at higher tiers.

Conversion funnels: Pre-built funnel templates handle lead magnets, sales sequences, and webinar promotions. While less flexible than building manually, these accelerate time-to-launch for common marketing objectives.

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AWeber

AWeber prioritizes simplicity and deliverability over feature expansion. The platform handles email marketing fundamentals reliably without the complexity of modern alternatives. For businesses wanting email to just work without ongoing optimization, AWeber delivers.

Deliverability is AWeber’s historic strength. The company has maintained sender reputation since 1998, and strict list policies keep deliverability rates high. If reaching the inbox matters more than automation sophistication, AWeber earns consideration.

Pricing breakdown:

• Free: 500 subscribers, 3,000 emails/month, landing pages, basic automation
• Lite: $15/month for unlimited subscribers - 10x subscriber email limit, remove AWeber branding
• Plus: $30/month for unlimited subscribers - Unlimited email sends, advanced automation, sales tracking
• Unlimited: $899/month flat - Priority support, personalized onboarding

The unlimited subscriber model at $15-30/month offers value for growing lists, though the email send limits on Lite require attention.

Where it falls short: Automation and segmentation capabilities lag behind competitors. Complex behavioral workflows and advanced personalization hit walls. Businesses needing sophisticated nurture sequences should look elsewhere.

Best Email Marketing Platform by Use Case

For Content Creators and Newsletters

Winner: ConvertKit

The subscriber-centric model, creator network, and paid newsletter support make ConvertKit purpose-built for audience businesses. Simple landing pages and forms work without designer help. The plain-text email philosophy aligns with how successful newsletters actually perform.

Runner-up: Mailchimp offers a more visual approach if your newsletter brand requires designed emails.

For Ecommerce Stores

Winner: Klaviyo

Revenue attribution, predictive analytics, and deep Shopify/WooCommerce integration justify premium pricing for stores serious about email revenue. The combination of email and SMS in unified flows drives results that cheaper tools cannot match.

Runner-up: ActiveCampaign provides strong automation at lower cost if Klaviyo’s pricing feels prohibitive.

For Agencies Managing Multiple Clients

Winner: ActiveCampaign

Multi-account management, white-label options, and API capabilities serve agency workflows. The automation builder handles the complexity that client work demands without per-client pricing gotchas.

Runner-up: GetResponse offers agency-friendly pricing with bundled webinars and landing pages.

For Small Businesses Just Starting

Winner: Mailchimp

The free plan actually works for getting started, the interface teaches email marketing concepts naturally, and the ecosystem of templates and integrations reduces friction.

Runner-up: Brevo’s unlimited contacts and send-based pricing offer predictable costs as you scale.

Pricing Comparison by Subscriber Count

Understanding how costs scale helps with planning. Here is what you would pay across platforms at common subscriber milestones:

Contacts	Mailchimp	ConvertKit	Klaviyo	ActiveCampaign	Brevo
1,000	$13 (Essentials)	$29 (Creator)	$45	$29 (Lite)	$25*
5,000	$69	$79	$100	$99	$25*
10,000	$100	$119	$150	$139	$65**
25,000	$230	$209	$400	$239	$65**
50,000	$350	$379	$720	$339	$89**

*Brevo Starter plan with 20,000 emails/month **Brevo Business plan (pricing based on email volume, not contacts)

Frequently Asked Questions

Which email marketing platform has the best deliverability?

Deliverability depends more on list hygiene and sending practices than platform choice. That said, Klaviyo, ActiveCampaign, and AWeber consistently rank highest in third-party deliverability tests. Mailchimp and ConvertKit perform well with proper list management. Brevo has improved significantly but historically showed more variance.

Can I switch email marketing platforms without losing subscribers?

Yes. All major platforms support CSV export/import of subscriber data including custom fields. Most also offer direct migration tools for moving from competitors. The main challenge is rebuilding automations and templates, not subscriber data. Export engagement history (opens, clicks, purchase data) before migrating if your current platform supports it.

Do I need a dedicated IP address for email marketing?

Most businesses do not need dedicated IPs. Shared IP pools work well for senders with good practices. Dedicated IPs make sense if you send 100,000+ emails monthly, have strict compliance requirements, or need complete control over sender reputation. Expect to pay $20-50/month extra for dedicated IP options.

How do I improve my email open rates?

Open rate optimization starts with deliverability (reach the inbox), then subject lines (earn the open). Personalize subject lines with subscriber names or behavior. Send at optimal times per subscriber (ActiveCampaign and Klaviyo automate this). Segment aggressively so content matches subscriber interests. Clean inactive subscribers every 6-12 months.

What is a good email marketing ROI to expect?

Industry benchmarks show $36 return per $1 spent on average. Ecommerce typically sees higher returns (40-45:1) through abandoned cart and post-purchase flows. B2B and service businesses often see lower direct revenue but strong lead generation value. Track revenue attribution if your platform supports it; otherwise, use UTM parameters and Google Analytics.

Should I use email or SMS marketing?

Use both. Email works for longer content, newsletters, and detailed product information. SMS works for urgent messages, time-sensitive offers, and transactional updates. Klaviyo and ActiveCampaign combine both channels in unified workflows. Avoid SMS for frequent promotional messages to prevent opt-outs.

How many emails per week is too many?

There is no universal answer. Retailers often send daily without issues; B2B newsletters typically work best weekly or biweekly. Monitor unsubscribe rates: above 0.5% per email suggests over-sending. Let subscribers choose frequency when possible. Engaged subscribers tolerate more email than casual subscribers.

Is AI-generated email content worth using?

AI assists with drafts, subject line variations, and overcoming writer’s block. It rarely produces publish-ready content without editing. Most platforms now include AI features: Mailchimp and GetResponse offer AI email generation, Klaviyo uses AI for predictive analytics, ActiveCampaign applies machine learning to send-time optimization. Use AI as a starting point, not a replacement for human editing.

Final Verdict

For most small businesses, start with Mailchimp. The free plan gets you running, the interface teaches email marketing naturally, and you can migrate if you outgrow it. The learning curve is minimal and support resources are extensive.

For creators building audiences, choose ConvertKit. The subscriber-centric model, creator network, and focus on newsletter monetization align with how successful creators actually work. Accept the minimalist email design philosophy.

For ecommerce stores, invest in Klaviyo. Premium pricing pays for itself through revenue attribution, predictive analytics, and automations that cheaper tools cannot replicate. If you are running a Shopify store doing $50K+/month, Klaviyo’s price is a rounding error compared to the revenue it drives.

For advanced automation needs, choose ActiveCampaign. The workflow builder handles complexity without breaking, and the CRM integration bridges marketing and sales. Plan for a learning curve.

For budget-conscious senders with large lists, consider Brevo. Pay for sends, not contacts. The all-in-one approach (email, SMS, chat, CRM) reduces tool sprawl.

Every platform offers free trials or free tiers. Test your top two choices with real campaigns before committing to annual contracts. The best platform is one your team will use consistently to send emails that your subscribers actually want to receive.

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Pricing verified December 2025. All prices reflect monthly billing unless noted. Annual billing typically saves 10-20%.