google-site-verification=Zv15o2LHcUJtDE_spIKKHkyfUSL0wV5iAFDwvO0UieE

Ecommerce and Digital Products

Notably, pricing at MailerLite is usage-based rather than feature-gated on paid plans — the Comfort and Power tiers share most of the same tools, with Power adding unlimited feature use, live chat support, and a handful of extras like the custom HTML editor and Facebook sync.


MailerLite Pricing

Plan Price (500 subscribers) Key Limits/Features
Free $0 250 subscribers, 2,500 emails/month, 2 users; feature-use caps from Aug 2026
Comfort From $12/mo Unlimited emails and templates, dynamic content, AI writing assistant, 3 users
Power From $20/mo Unlimited feature use, live chat, custom HTML editor, unlimited users
Enterprise Custom 200K+ subscribers, dedicated IP and account manager

Billing is based on active subscribers — unsubscribed and bounced contacts don’t count, which is a genuine advantage over platforms that bill on total stored contacts. Pricing scales steeply at larger list sizes: the Power plan runs from around $20/month at 500 subscribers up to roughly $1,900/month at 500,000 — a near-100x increase, so MailerLite’s value proposition is strongest for small-to-mid lists rather than large ones.

Is MailerLite good value?
At small list sizes, yes — the $12/month Comfort plan undercuts Mailchimp Essentials and most competitors at the same tier while including unlimited sends. The free plan is now more of a genuine trial than a long-term solution, given the 250-subscriber cap and incoming feature-use limits.

👉 Try MailerLite: https://www.mailerlite.com


MailerLite Ease of Use

This is where MailerLite consistently earns praise — the interface is clean, uncluttered, and genuinely beginner-friendly. New users can build a campaign, set up a signup form, and launch a basic automation within minutes, with minimal onboarding needed.

Learning curve rating: Very Low — one of the easier platforms to pick up, on par with ConvertKit and Brevo.


MailerLite Deliverability

MailerLite’s deliverability is generally solid and well regarded for a platform at this price point, with standard domain authentication tools included. High-volume senders above roughly 50,000 emails/week can access a dedicated sending IP on the Enterprise plan.


MailerLite Pros and Cons

Pros:

Cons:


MailerLite Customer Support


Who Is MailerLite Best For?

MailerLite is an excellent choice for:

MailerLite is less ideal for:


MailerLite vs Competitors

MailerLite Brevo ConvertKit Moosend
Starting price Free / $12/mo Free $25/mo $9/mo
Free plan ⚠️ 250 subscribers ✅ Unlimited contacts ✅ 1,000 subscribers ❌ Trial only
Ease of use ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ ⭐⭐⭐⭐ ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ ⭐⭐⭐⭐
Automation depth ⭐⭐⭐ ⭐⭐⭐ ⭐⭐⭐ ⭐⭐⭐⭐
Value for money ⭐⭐⭐⭐ ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ ⭐⭐⭐⭐ ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐


Frequently Asked Questions

Is MailerLite still free?
Yes, but the free plan now covers only 250 subscribers and 2,500 emails/month, down from 1,000 subscribers previously, with feature-use limits (automations, forms, landing pages) arriving in August 2026.

Why has MailerLite’s free plan gotten smaller?
MailerLite reduced free-plan limits in stages through 2025 and 2026, alongside broader price increases across paid tiers — a similar pattern to several competitors tightening free offerings this year.

Does MailerLite charge for unsubscribed contacts?
No — billing is based on active subscribers only; unsubscribed and bounced contacts don’t count toward your plan limit.

Is MailerLite good for beginners?
Yes — it remains one of the most beginner-friendly platforms available, with a clean interface that requires little onboarding.

What’s a good MailerLite alternative?
Brevo offers unlimited free contacts, and Moosend offers stronger automation depth at a similar budget price point — both reviewed on this site.


Final Verdict

MailerLite remains one of the cleanest, easiest-to-use email platforms available, and the Comfort plan at $12/month is still genuinely good value for small lists. But its once-generous free plan has been trimmed twice in the past year, and it’s now better thought of as an extended trial than a long-term free option.

If you want the easiest possible learning curve at a low price and don’t need a large free tier, MailerLite is still an excellent choice. If unlimited free contacts matter more to you, Brevo is worth comparing first.

Overall rating: 4.2/5 ⭐

👉 Try MailerLite: https://www.mailerlite.com


Last updated: July 2026

Disclosure: Some links in this article are affiliate links. If you click and make a purchase, I may earn a commission. This doesn’t affect my recommendations — I only feature tools I genuinely believe are worth using.

  • Disclosure: This article contains affiliate links. If you purchase through my links, I may earn a commission at no extra cost to you. I only recommend tools I’ve thoroughly researched.

    Finding a genuinely free email marketing tool in 2026 isn’t as straightforward as it sounds. Many platforms advertise free plans but hide the most useful features behind a paywall — leaving you with something too limited to be practical.

    In this guide I’ve cut through the noise and reviewed the best genuinely free email marketing software in 2026 — tools with free plans that are actually useful, not just bait to get you signed up.

    What Makes a Good Free Email Marketing Plan?

    Before diving in, it’s worth being clear about what “genuinely free” actually means:

    • No credit card required to get started
    • Enough contacts or sends to run a real email strategy
    • Core features included — not locked behind paid tiers
    • No expiry date — a permanent free plan, not just a trial

    Quick Comparison: Best Free Email Marketing Tools 2026

    PlatformFree Plan LimitKey Free FeaturesBest For
    ConvertKit1,000 subscribersLanding pages, forms, broadcasts, sell digital productsBloggers & creators
    BrevoUnlimited contacts, 300 emails/dayEmail, SMS, CRM, live chatBusinesses with large lists
    HubSpotUnlimited contactsEmail, CRM, forms, live chat, meeting schedulerBusinesses needing a CRM
    AWeber500 subscribers600+ templates, landing pages, RSS to emailBeginners wanting support
    Mailchimp500 contacts, 1,000 emails/monthEmail builder, basic templatesBrand recognition
    Moosend30-day full trialFull automation, landing pages, e-commerceTesting before committing

    The 6 Best Free Email Marketing Tools in 2026

    1. ConvertKit — Best Free Plan for Bloggers and Creators

    ConvertKit’s free plan is genuinely one of the most useful in the market — particularly for bloggers, content creators, and anyone building an audience online.

    What You Get for Free

    • Up to 1,000 subscribers with no time limit
    • Unlimited landing pages and forms
    • Unlimited email broadcasts
    • Sell digital products — ebooks, courses, and downloads
    • Basic automation — deliver lead magnets and welcome sequences

    Who Is ConvertKit Free Best For?

    ConvertKit’s free plan is ideal for bloggers, YouTubers, newsletter writers, and online coaches just starting to build their email list. The ability to sell digital products on the free plan is a standout feature — most platforms charge for this.

    Pricing When You Outgrow Free

    • Creator: $25/month (1,000 subscribers)
    • Creator Pro: $50/month

    👉 Start ConvertKit for Free

    2. Brevo — Best Free Plan for Unlimited Contacts

    Brevo’s approach to free is unique — rather than limiting you by number of contacts, it limits by emails sent per day. This makes it the most generous free plan available for businesses that have (or expect to build) a large list.

    What You Get for Free

    • Unlimited contacts — store as many subscribers as you want at no cost
    • 300 emails per day — enough for a weekly newsletter to thousands of subscribers
    • Email marketing with drag-and-drop editor
    • SMS marketing — credits purchased separately
    • Built-in CRM — manage contacts and deals
    • Live chat widget
    • Transactional email
    • No credit card required

    Who Is Brevo Free Best For?

    Brevo’s free plan is ideal for businesses with a growing contact list who send emails weekly or less frequently. It’s also excellent for businesses that want SMS and CRM tools bundled in at no cost.

    Pricing When You Outgrow Free

    • Starter: $25/month (20,000 emails/month, no daily limit)
    • Business: $65/month (full automation, A/B testing)

    👉 Try Brevo for Free

    3. HubSpot — Best Free Plan for Businesses Needing a CRM

    HubSpot’s free plan is arguably the most impressive free offering in the entire marketing software industry — combining email marketing with a fully featured CRM, live chat, forms, and meeting scheduling all at zero cost.

    What You Get for Free

    • Unlimited contacts
    • Email marketing — up to 2,000 emails per month
    • Full CRM — contact management, deal pipeline, activity timeline
    • Live chat and chatbot
    • Forms and pop-ups
    • Meeting scheduling tool
    • Basic reporting and analytics
    • No credit card required

    Who Is HubSpot Free Best For?

    HubSpot’s free plan is ideal for growing small businesses and sales-led teams that need a CRM alongside their email marketing. If you’re juggling a separate CRM, email platform, and live chat tool, HubSpot free consolidates all of these at no cost.

    Pricing When You Outgrow Free

    • Starter: $20/month
    • Professional: $890/month (significant jump)

    👉 Get HubSpot Free

    4. AWeber — Best Free Plan for Beginners

    AWeber has been in email marketing since 1998 and its free plan reflects decades of understanding what small businesses and beginners actually need to get started.

    What You Get for Free

    • Up to 500 subscribers
    • 600+ email templates — the largest template library of any free plan
    • Landing page builder
    • Sign-up forms
    • RSS to email — automatically send new blog posts to subscribers
    • AWeber AI writing assistant
    • Basic email analytics
    • No credit card required

    Who Is AWeber Free Best For?

    AWeber’s free plan is ideal for complete beginners who want a simple, well-supported platform to send their first emails. The 600+ templates make it easy to create professional-looking emails without any design experience.

    Pricing When You Outgrow Free

    • Lite: $19.99/month
    • Plus: $49.99/month

    👉 Try AWeber Free

    5. Mailchimp — Best Known Free Email Marketing Tool

    Mailchimp is the most recognisable name in email marketing and its free plan is a reasonable starting point for complete beginners — though it has become more limited in recent years.

    What You Get for Free

    • Up to 500 contacts
    • 1,000 emails per month
    • Email builder with basic templates
    • Single-step automation
    • Landing pages (one audience only)
    • Basic reports

    Pricing When You Outgrow Free

    • Essentials: $13/month
    • Standard: $20/month
    • Premium: $350/month

    6. Moosend — Best Free Trial for Testing Full Features

    Moosend doesn’t offer a permanent free plan — but its 30-day free trial gives you full unrestricted access to every feature, including advanced automation and e-commerce tools that most platforms hide behind expensive plans.

    What You Get on the Free Trial

    • Full access to all features for 30 days — no restrictions
    • Advanced automation builder
    • E-commerce tools including abandoned cart and product recommendations
    • Landing page builder
    • Heatmap reporting
    • Up to 1,000 subscribers during the trial
    • No credit card required

    Pricing After Trial

    • Pro: $9/month (500 subscribers) — one of the most affordable paid plans available

    👉 Start Your Moosend Free Trial

    Which Free Plan Is Right for You?

    • Blogger or creator just starting out? → ConvertKit — free up to 1,000 subscribers
    • Building a large list but emailing infrequently? → Brevo — unlimited contacts free, 300 emails per day
    • Need a CRM alongside email marketing? → HubSpot — unlimited contacts, full CRM, live chat all free
    • Complete beginner wanting the most templates? → AWeber — 600+ templates and the most beginner-friendly experience
    • Want to test a powerful platform properly? → Moosend — 30-day full feature trial with no credit card needed
    • Want the most recognisable name? → Mailchimp — though competitors offer more on their free plans

    Free Plan Comparison: Features Side by Side

    FeatureConvertKitBrevoHubSpotAWeberMailchimp
    Contact limit1,000UnlimitedUnlimited500500
    Email sendsUnlimited300/day2,000/monthUnlimited1,000/month
    Landing pages✅❌❌✅✅ limited
    Automation✅ Basic❌❌❌✅ Basic
    CRM❌✅ Basic✅ Full❌❌
    Digital products✅❌❌❌❌
    Live chat❌✅✅❌❌
    SMS marketing❌✅❌❌❌
    TemplatesMinimal40+Dozens600+Basic
    Credit card needed❌❌❌❌❌

    Tips for Getting the Most From a Free Email Marketing Plan

    1. Start collecting emails immediately — Don’t wait until you have more content or traffic. Start building your list on day one.

    2. Create a lead magnet — A free checklist, guide, or template gives people a compelling reason to subscribe.

    3. Set up a welcome sequence — A simple three-email welcome sequence runs automatically and makes a strong first impression on every new subscriber.

    4. Upgrade only when you need to — Don’t feel pressured to upgrade until the free plan becomes a genuine limitation.

    5. Check GDPR compliance — All platforms listed are GDPR compliant, but make sure you’re collecting consent properly. This is a legal requirement for UK and EU businesses, in compliance with ASA guidelines and CPRs.

    Frequently Asked Questions

    Is there a completely free email marketing tool with no limitations?

    No email marketing tool is completely unlimited on its free plan — but Brevo comes closest for contact storage and HubSpot comes closest for features. ConvertKit offers the best balance of generous limits and useful features for most users.

    Which free email marketing tool is best for small businesses?

    For most small businesses HubSpot’s free plan offers the best overall value — unlimited contacts, a full CRM, email marketing, live chat, and meeting scheduling all at zero cost. For businesses that primarily need email marketing rather than CRM, ConvertKit or Brevo are stronger choices.

    Can I really use a free email marketing plan for my business?

    Absolutely — many successful businesses run their email marketing on free plans for months or years. The platforms listed here are all genuinely free with no expiry date (except Moosend’s trial), and their free features are more than enough to run a professional email marketing strategy at the early stages.

    Which free plan has the best automation?

    ConvertKit offers the best automation on a free plan — including automated lead magnet delivery and basic welcome sequences. Brevo and HubSpot require paid plans to access their full automation builders.

    Final Verdict

    • Best overall free plan: ConvertKit — generous subscriber limit, landing pages, and digital product selling all included free
    • Best for unlimited contacts: Brevo — the only platform that lets you store unlimited contacts completely free
    • Best free CRM + email combo: HubSpot — full CRM, live chat, and email marketing bundled at zero cost
    • Best for beginners: AWeber — 600+ templates and the most accessible experience
    • Best for testing full features: Moosend — 30 days of unrestricted access to one of the most powerful platforms available

    The good news is that every platform listed here lets you get started without a credit card — so there’s nothing stopping you from trying the one that looks most relevant to your situation today.

    👉 Start ConvertKit for Free
    👉 Try Brevo for Free
    👉 Get HubSpot Free
    👉 Try AWeber Free
    👉 Start Your Moosend Free Trial

    Last updated: July 2026

    Disclosure: Some links in this article are affiliate links. If you click and make a purchase, I may earn a commission. This doesn’t affect my recommendations — I only feature tools I genuinely believe are worth using.

  • Disclosure: This article contains affiliate links. If you purchase through my links, I may earn a commission at no extra cost to you. I only recommend tools I’ve thoroughly researched.


    Klaviyo is the name most ecommerce brands hear first when they start looking for email marketing software — particularly if they’re on Shopify. It’s built specifically around online stores, with deep native integrations and revenue-focused automation that general-purpose tools like Mailchimp or Brevo don’t match.

    But Klaviyo also has a reputation for getting expensive fast. This review breaks down what you actually get, what it costs in 2026, and who it’s genuinely worth the premium for.


    Klaviyo at a Glance

    Best forEcommerce and Shopify stores wanting revenue-focused automation
    Starting priceFree / $20 per month (500 active profiles)
    Free planYes — 250 active profiles, 500 emails/month, 150 SMS credits
    Standout featureNative Shopify integration and predictive customer lifetime value
    Ease of use⭐⭐⭐
    Value for money⭐⭐⭐
    Overall rating⭐ 4.3/5

    What is Klaviyo?

    Klaviyo is an ecommerce-first email and SMS marketing platform, deeply integrated with Shopify — roughly three-quarters of its revenue comes from stores on that platform. Unlike general email tools, Klaviyo pulls in your store’s purchase history, browsing behaviour, and customer data automatically, letting you build automations around actual buying behaviour rather than just email engagement.

    In February 2025, Klaviyo shifted its billing model from charging by emails sent to charging by active profiles — anyone in your account you could message, whether or not you’ve emailed them recently. This changed the economics for stores with large, only partially engaged lists, and it’s worth understanding before you commit.


    Klaviyo Features

    Ecommerce Automation

    • Abandoned cart and browse abandonment flows
    • Post-purchase and win-back sequences
    • Product recommendation blocks pulled directly from store data
    • Predictive customer lifetime value and churn risk scoring
    • Next-order-date forecasting

    This is where Klaviyo genuinely pulls ahead of general email tools — flows built on real purchase and browsing data convert meaningfully better than time- or engagement-based sequences, and it’s the main reason ecommerce brands pay the premium.

    Email and SMS

    • SMS and MMS marketing, plus WhatsApp on higher tiers
    • SMS credit system, restricted to around 24 countries

    Segmentation and Data

    • Unified customer profiles combining email, SMS, and store activity
    • 350+ native integrations
    • Advanced segmentation based on purchase and browsing behaviour

    Deeper reporting (RFM analysis, cohort analysis, funnel analysis) sits behind the separate Marketing Analytics add-on, and full customer data infrastructure sits behind the Klaviyo Data Platform — both priced on top of your base plan.


    Klaviyo Pricing

    Active ProfilesEmail PlanEmail + SMS
    250 (Free)$0—
    500$20/mo$35/mo
    1,000$30/mo—
    10,000$150/mo—
    50,000$720/mo—
    250,000~$2,300/mo—

    Every paid tier includes the same feature set — you’re not unlocking new functionality as you pay more, just more sending capacity and profile headroom. Notable cost factors:

    • Unsubscribed and inactive profiles still count toward your billed total unless manually suppressed
    • Every Shopify checkout creates a billable profile, including guest checkouts, whether or not they opted in
    • Marketing Analytics add-on starts at $100/month (1,001+ profiles required)
    • Auto-upgrades happen automatically when you cross a threshold; auto-downgrade must be manually enabled in Settings

    Existing customers affected by the 2025 billing shift get a 25% cap on any single price increase — but that cushion shrinks permanently each time you downgrade.

    Is Klaviyo good value?
    At small-to-mid list sizes, and for stores actually using the ecommerce-specific flows, yes — the revenue lift from behavioural automation tends to outweigh the cost. Past roughly 25,000–50,000 contacts, ecommerce-native competitors like Omnisend typically undercut Klaviyo at similar functionality, and general tools like Brevo or Moosend are far cheaper if you don’t need deep store integration.

    👉 Try Klaviyo: https://www.klaviyo.com


    Klaviyo Ease of Use

    Klaviyo is more complex than general email tools — the flow builder is powerful but has a real learning curve, particularly around segmentation logic and the data model behind profiles and events. Shopify store owners moving from Mailchimp or a basic ESP should expect a few weeks to get comfortable.

    Learning curve rating: Medium to High — the ecommerce depth that makes Klaviyo powerful is the same thing that makes it harder to pick up than Brevo or ConvertKit.


    Klaviyo Deliverability

    Klaviyo’s deliverability is generally strong and well regarded among ecommerce senders, with built-in domain authentication, engagement-based sending recommendations, and tools to help manage list health as your active profile count (and therefore your bill) scales.


    Klaviyo Pros and Cons

    Pros:

    • Best-in-class native Shopify integration
    • Predictive analytics (CLV, churn risk) built into every paid tier
    • Combines email, SMS, and WhatsApp with genuine ecommerce-native flows
    • 350+ integrations
    • No feature gating between paid tiers — small stores get the same tools as large ones

    Cons:

    • Pricier than general-purpose tools and most ecommerce-native competitors at scale
    • Bills on total active profiles, not engaged ones — inactive contacts still cost you
    • Guest checkouts create billable profiles automatically
    • Steeper learning curve than most competitors
    • Free-plan support limited to the first 60 days
    • Deeper analytics and data tools are separate paid add-ons

    Klaviyo Customer Support

    • Email and live chat support — paid plans
    • Free plan: support only for the first 60 days, then community and help centre only
    • Extensive help centre and Klaviyo Academy training resources

    Who Is Klaviyo Best For?

    Klaviyo is an excellent choice for:

    • Shopify stores that want deep, native store data driving their email and SMS
    • Ecommerce brands that will actually use predictive CLV, churn modelling, and behavioural flows
    • Growing stores with clean, actively managed lists who suppress cold contacts regularly

    Klaviyo is less ideal for:

    • Bloggers and content creators without a store — ConvertKit or Brevo fit better
    • Large lists with low engagement — the active-profile billing model penalises this heavily
    • Budget-conscious ecommerce brands — Omnisend or Moosend offer similar automation at a lower price

    Klaviyo vs Competitors

    KlaviyoBrevoMoosendActiveCampaign
    Starting priceFree / $20/moFree$9/mo$15/mo
    Free plan⚠️ 250 profiles, limited sends✅ Unlimited contacts❌ Trial only❌
    Ecommerce automation⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
    Shopify integration⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ Native⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
    Ease of use⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
    Value for money⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐

    Frequently Asked Questions

    Is Klaviyo free?
    Yes, up to 250 active profiles with 500 emails/month and 150 SMS credits — but support is only available for your first 60 days on the platform.

    Why is Klaviyo so expensive?
    Klaviyo bills by total active profiles rather than engagement, and stores with large or unmanaged lists — especially those with many guest checkouts — often pay for far more profiles than they’re actively emailing.

    Does Klaviyo charge for unsubscribed contacts?
    Unsubscribed profiles don’t count, but inactive or unengaged subscribed profiles do, unless you manually suppress them.

    Is Klaviyo better than Mailchimp for ecommerce?
    For stores that will use predictive analytics and behavioural flows, generally yes — but Mailchimp may work out cheaper for simple newsletter-style sending at smaller list sizes.

    What’s a cheaper Klaviyo alternative?
    Omnisend offers similar ecommerce-native automation at a lower price point, and Moosend and Brevo are strong budget options for smaller stores — all reviewed on this site.


    Final Verdict

    Klaviyo earns its reputation as the ecommerce email platform of choice for a reason — the native Shopify integration and revenue-focused automation genuinely outperform general tools for stores that lean into them. But the 2025 shift to active-profile billing means the cost now closely tracks your total list size, not just how engaged it is, which makes list hygiene more financially important than ever.

    If you run a Shopify store and will actually use the predictive and behavioural features, Klaviyo is worth the premium. If you’re running a simpler content-driven list or watching your budget closely, Brevo, Moosend, or Omnisend are worth comparing first.

    Overall rating: 4.3/5 ⭐

    👉 Try Klaviyo: https://www.klaviyo.com


    Last updated: July 2026

    Disclosure: Some links in this article are affiliate links. If you click and make a purchase, I may earn a commission. This doesn’t affect my recommendations — I only feature tools I genuinely believe are worth using.

  • Disclosure: This article contains affiliate links. If you purchase through my links, I may earn a commission at no extra cost to you. I only recommend tools I’ve thoroughly researched.


    Mailchimp is still the most recognisable name in email marketing — but 2026 has been a rough year for anyone who chose it for the free plan or budget pricing. The free tier was cut twice this year alone, automation was pulled from lower tiers, and legacy account holders got hit with a further price increase in April.

    So is Mailchimp still worth choosing in 2026, or has its brand name outlived its value? This review covers features, pricing, ease of use, deliverability, and exactly who Mailchimp still makes sense for — so you can decide with your eyes open.


    Mailchimp at a Glance

    Best forBrand-recognition seekers, teams already in the Mailchimp/Intuit ecosystem
    Starting priceFree / $13 per month (Essentials)
    Free planYes — but limited to 250 contacts, 500 sends/month, no automation
    Standout featureHuge integration library and household-name trust
    Ease of use⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
    Value for money⭐⭐⭐
    Overall rating⭐ 3.8/5

    What is Mailchimp?

    Mailchimp launched in 2001 and became the default starting point for small business email marketing for two decades. Since Intuit acquired it for $12 billion in 2021, the platform has raised prices or cut free-plan limits nearly every year — most recently reducing the free tier from 500 to 250 contacts in January 2026, then raising prices 11–13% for legacy users in April 2026.

    It remains one of the most feature-complete platforms on the market, now spanning email marketing, SMS, a website builder, and transactional email — but the “generous free tool for beginners” reputation it built its brand on no longer reflects the current product.


    Mailchimp Features

    Email Marketing

    • Drag-and-drop email builder
    • Large template library
    • Content Optimizer and generative AI writing assistance
    • A/B and multivariate testing
    • Predictive segmentation (Standard plan and above)
    • Behavioural targeting

    Marketing Automation

    • Multi-step “Customer Journeys” builder — now Standard plan and above only, after the Classic Automation Builder was deprecated in June 2025
    • Welcome series, abandoned cart, re-engagement templates
    • Trigger-based automation on purchases, site visits, and email engagement

    This is the area to pay closest attention to: automation was fully stripped from the free plan and Essentials tier now only offers basic single-email automations. If multi-step automation matters to you, budget for Standard at minimum.

    Audience Management

    • Unified customer profiles
    • Tags and segments
    • Predictive demographics (age, gender likelihood)
    • Behavioural data from connected e-commerce stores

    Landing Pages and Forms

    • Landing page builder with A/B testing
    • Pop-up and embedded sign-up forms
    • Facebook and Instagram ad integration for list growth

    Reporting

    • Campaign performance dashboards
    • Comparative reporting
    • E-commerce revenue tracking for connected stores
    • Google Analytics integration

    Other Products

    • Websites & Commerce (a basic free site builder, paid Core tier at $10/month)
    • Transactional Email (priced separately in blocks of 25,000 emails at $20/block)
    • SMS marketing (add-on, available in select countries)

    Mailchimp Pricing

    PlanPrice (500 contacts)AutomationNotes
    Free$0❌ None250 contacts, 500 sends/month, Mailchimp branding, 30 days of support only
    Essentials$13/mo⚠️ Basic onlyNo multi-step journeys
    Standard$20/mo✅ FullPredictive segmentation, dynamic content
    Premium$350/mo✅ FullUnlimited users, phone support, 10,000+ contacts

    Pricing scales fast with list size — Essentials runs roughly $75/month at 5,000 contacts, and Standard around $100/month at the same size. A few things push real costs higher than the advertised “starting at” price:

    • Unsubscribed and non-subscribed contacts still count toward your plan limit unless manually archived
    • Duplicate contacts across audiences are billed separately
    • SMS and transactional email are paid add-ons, not included

    Is Mailchimp good value?
    Compared to Brevo (unlimited free contacts) or Moosend (full automation from $9/month), Mailchimp is one of the pricier options at equivalent list sizes in 2026 — independent pricing analyses put it 20–40% above list price once hidden costs are factored in.

    👉 Try Mailchimp: https://mailchimp.com/pricing/marketing/


    Mailchimp Ease of Use

    This remains Mailchimp’s strongest card. The interface is polished, well documented, and genuinely beginner-friendly — a large part of why it built such a loyal following originally. The Customer Journeys automation builder is visual and intuitive once you’re on a plan that includes it.

    Learning curve rating: Very Low — still one of the easiest platforms to pick up cold.


    Mailchimp Deliverability

    Mailchimp’s deliverability is solid and broadly comparable to GetResponse and ActiveCampaign, with good domain authentication tools and spam testing built in. It isn’t a differentiator either way in 2026 — most established platforms, including the ones reviewed on this site, perform similarly here.


    Mailchimp Pros and Cons

    Pros:

    • Extremely polished, beginner-friendly interface
    • Large integration ecosystem (Shopify, WooCommerce, Squarespace, and hundreds more)
    • Strong brand trust and huge community of tutorials/resources
    • All-in-one product suite (email, SMS, website, transactional)
    • Generative AI content tools built in

    Cons:

    • Free plan cut to 250 contacts / 500 sends with zero automation
    • Automation locked behind Standard tier ($20+/month)
    • Bills for unsubscribed and duplicate contacts
    • Meaningfully pricier than Brevo, Moosend, or ActiveCampaign at equivalent list sizes
    • Multiple price increases and limit cuts since the 2021 Intuit acquisition — unpredictable long-term costs
    • Free-plan support only available for 30 days after signup

    Mailchimp Customer Support

    • Email support — paid plans
    • Live chat — paid plans
    • Phone support — Premium plan only
    • Extensive help centre and community resources
    • Free plan: support limited to the first 30 days

    Who Is Mailchimp Best For?

    Mailchimp is an excellent choice for:

    • Brand-conscious teams who value name recognition and a huge integration library over lowest cost
    • Businesses already embedded in the Intuit/QuickBooks ecosystem
    • Larger teams who can justify Standard or Premium and want the polish and AI tools that come with it

    Mailchimp is less ideal for:

    • Budget-conscious small businesses or bloggers — Brevo, Moosend, and AWeber all undercut it meaningfully
    • Anyone who wants automation on a genuinely free plan — that no longer exists on Mailchimp
    • Businesses with large, list-heavy audiences — costs scale steeply

    Mailchimp vs Competitors

    MailchimpBrevoActiveCampaignConvertKit
    Starting priceFree / $13/moFree$15/mo$25/mo
    Free plan⚠️ 250 contacts, no automation✅ Unlimited contacts❌✅ 1,000 subscribers
    Automation⚠️ Standard plan+⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
    Ease of use⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
    Value for money⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐

    Frequently Asked Questions

    Is Mailchimp still free in 2026?
    Yes, but the free plan was cut to 250 contacts and 500 monthly sends in February 2026, down from 500/1,000 previously, with no automation included.

    Why did Mailchimp get more expensive?
    Since Intuit’s 2021 acquisition, Mailchimp has raised prices or reduced free-plan limits nearly every year, including an 11–13% increase for legacy accounts in April 2026.

    Does Mailchimp charge for unsubscribed contacts?
    Yes — subscribed, unsubscribed, and non-subscribed contacts all count toward your billed contact total unless manually archived.

    Is Mailchimp good for beginners?
    Yes — it remains one of the easiest platforms to learn, even if it’s no longer the cheapest.

    What’s a good Mailchimp alternative?
    Brevo offers unlimited free contacts, and Moosend offers stronger automation at a much lower starting price — both reviewed on this site.


    Final Verdict

    Mailchimp is still a genuinely well-built, easy-to-use platform — but 2026 has made clear it’s no longer the budget-friendly default it once was. Two rounds of price and limit cuts this year alone have pushed cost-conscious users toward alternatives like Brevo and Moosend.

    If brand trust, integrations, and interface polish matter most to you, Mailchimp still delivers. If you’re watching your budget, it’s worth comparing against the alternatives reviewed on this site before committing.

    Overall rating: 3.8/5 ⭐

    👉 Try Mailchimp: https://mailchimp.com/pricing/marketing/


    Last updated: July 2026

    Disclosure: Some links in this article are affiliate links. If you click and make a purchase, I may earn a commission. This doesn’t affect my recommendations — I only feature tools I genuinely believe are worth using.

  • Disclosure: This article contains affiliate links. If you purchase through my links, I may earn a commission at no extra cost to you. I only recommend tools I’ve thoroughly researched.


    HubSpot is one of the most recognised names in marketing software — but is its email marketing tool actually worth using for small businesses in 2026?

    In this review I’ll cover everything you need to know — features, pricing, ease of use, deliverability, and who HubSpot is genuinely best for — so you can decide with confidence before signing up.


    HubSpot at a Glance

    Best forGrowing businesses wanting marketing, sales and CRM in one place
    Starting priceFree / $20 per month
    Free planYes — unlimited contacts, basic email marketing
    Standout featureBest-in-class free CRM bundled with email marketing
    Ease of use⭐⭐⭐⭐
    Value for money⭐⭐⭐⭐
    Overall rating⭐ 4.6/5

    What is HubSpot?

    HubSpot is an all-in-one marketing, sales, and customer service platform founded in 2006. It serves over 200,000 businesses across 135 countries and has built a reputation as one of the most comprehensive business platforms available — covering everything from email marketing and CRM to social media management, live chat, and customer support tools.

    What makes HubSpot genuinely different from every other platform reviewed on this blog is its breadth. While tools like GetResponse or ActiveCampaign focus primarily on email marketing and automation, HubSpot is a full business operating system — with email marketing as one component of a much larger ecosystem.

    For small businesses that want to consolidate their marketing, sales, and customer relationships into a single platform, HubSpot is one of the most compelling options available. And the fact that its CRM and basic email marketing tools are completely free makes it an unusually accessible starting point.


    HubSpot Features

    Email Marketing

    HubSpot’s email marketing tools are solid and comprehensive:

    • Drag-and-drop email editor
    • Dozens of professionally designed email templates
    • Personalisation tokens (insert contact name, company, and other details automatically)
    • A/B split testing
    • Smart content (show different content to different segments within the same email)
    • Send time optimisation
    • Detailed open rate, click rate, and engagement analytics
    • Email health dashboard (monitor deliverability and list quality)

    The email editor is intuitive and beginner-friendly — most users can create professional-looking emails within minutes. HubSpot’s personalisation capabilities are particularly strong, allowing you to tailor every email to individual contacts based on their data and behaviour.

    CRM

    This is HubSpot’s crown jewel — and what truly sets it apart from every other email marketing platform.

    HubSpot’s CRM is free, unlimited in contacts, and genuinely best-in-class:

    • Complete contact and company management
    • Visual deal pipeline
    • Activity timeline for every contact (emails, calls, meetings, notes)
    • Task management and reminders
    • Meeting scheduling tool
    • Document tracking
    • Live chat and chatbot builder
    • Gmail and Outlook integration
    • Mobile app for managing contacts on the go

    For small businesses managing both marketing and sales, having this level of CRM capability bundled with your email marketing — at no cost — is an extraordinary value proposition.

    Marketing Automation

    HubSpot includes marketing automation on its paid plans:

    • Visual workflow builder
    • Trigger-based automation (form submissions, email opens, page visits, deal stage changes)
    • Lead nurturing sequences
    • Internal notification workflows
    • Contact lifecycle stage automation
    • Integration with CRM data for sophisticated personalisation

    The automation on HubSpot’s free plan is limited — you get basic email sequences but not the full workflow builder. The full automation capability unlocks on the Starter plan and above.

    Landing Pages and Forms

    HubSpot includes landing page and form building tools:

    • Drag-and-drop landing page editor
    • Mobile responsive templates
    • Smart forms (show different questions based on what you already know about a contact)
    • Pop-up forms and embedded forms
    • A/B testing for landing pages (higher plans)

    Landing pages are available on paid plans — the free plan gives you access to forms only.

    Analytics and Reporting

    HubSpot’s reporting tools are among the strongest in the market:

    • Detailed email performance analytics
    • Contact and deal reporting
    • Revenue attribution reporting (higher plans)
    • Custom dashboards
    • Website traffic analytics
    • Social media reporting

    Other Features

    • Social media management and scheduling
    • Ads management (Google, Facebook, LinkedIn)
    • Live chat and shared inbox
    • Knowledge base builder
    • Customer support ticketing
    • SEO recommendations tool
    • Blog and content management system
    • 1,000+ integrations via native connections and HubSpot’s App Marketplace

    HubSpot Pricing

    PlanPriceKey Features
    Free$0/monthUnlimited contacts, basic email, CRM, forms, live chat
    Starter$20/monthEmail automation, landing pages, ad management
    Professional$890/monthFull automation, A/B testing, custom reporting
    Enterprise$3,600/monthAdvanced features, custom objects, dedicated support

    The jump from Starter ($20/month) to Professional ($890/month) is dramatic and one of the most significant criticisms of HubSpot. For small businesses the free and Starter plans cover most needs comfortably.

    👉 Get HubSpot Free: https://hubspot.com


    HubSpot Ease of Use

    HubSpot is well designed and generally intuitive — but the sheer breadth of features means there is a learning curve, particularly for users who haven’t used a CRM before.

    HubSpot Academy offers free courses and certifications on everything from email marketing to CRM management — these resources are genuinely useful and significantly reduce the time it takes to get up to speed.

    Learning curve rating: Medium — the email tools are accessible to beginners, but getting full value from the CRM and automation requires more time investment than simpler platforms like ConvertKit or Brevo.


    HubSpot Deliverability

    HubSpot performs strongly on deliverability, consistently achieving inbox placement rates above 99% in independent testing — placing it among the top performers in the email marketing industry.

    Key deliverability features:

    • Domain authentication (DKIM, SPF, DMARC)
    • Email health dashboard monitoring
    • Spam testing tools
    • List hygiene recommendations
    • Bounce and unsubscribe management
    • Dedicated IP addresses (Enterprise plan)

    HubSpot Pros and Cons

    Pros:

    • Best-in-class CRM included completely free — unlimited contacts
    • Free plan is genuinely impressive and useful
    • All-in-one platform reduces tool sprawl significantly
    • Excellent analytics and reporting
    • 1,000+ integrations covering virtually every business tool
    • HubSpot Academy provides outstanding free training resources
    • Strong deliverability
    • Ideal for businesses that want to grow without switching platforms

    Cons:

    • Dramatic price jump from Starter to Professional ($20/month to $890/month)
    • Full marketing automation only on Professional plan and above
    • Landing pages not included on the free plan
    • Can feel overwhelming for very small businesses
    • Professional and Enterprise plans priced for larger businesses

    HubSpot Customer Support

    • Email and live chat support — Starter plan and above
    • Phone support — Professional plan and above
    • HubSpot Academy — free training courses and certifications for all users
    • Community forum — large and active user community
    • Help centre — comprehensive documentation

    Note that the free plan does not include direct customer support — free users are directed to the community forum and help centre.


    Who Is HubSpot Best For?

    HubSpot is an excellent choice for:

    • Growing small businesses wanting marketing, sales, and customer service in one platform
    • Sales-led businesses that need a powerful CRM alongside email marketing
    • Businesses consolidating multiple tools into one platform
    • Those wanting to start free and upgrade as needs grow
    • Teams where marketing and sales work from the same contact data

    HubSpot is less ideal for:

    • Bloggers and creators — ConvertKit is better suited
    • Businesses needing advanced automation on a budget — the Professional plan jump is too expensive
    • E-commerce businesses needing product-specific automation — Moosend or ActiveCampaign are stronger
    • Solo business owners who just need simple email marketing — Brevo or ConvertKit are simpler

    HubSpot vs Competitors

    HubSpotGetResponseActiveCampaignBrevo
    Starting priceFree$19/mo$15/moFree
    Free plan✅ Unlimited contacts✅ 500 contacts❌✅ Unlimited contacts
    CRM✅ Best-in-class⚠️ Basic✅ Good⚠️ Basic
    Automation⭐⭐⭐ (free)⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
    Ease of use⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
    Reporting⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
    Value for money⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐

    Frequently Asked Questions

    Is HubSpot really free?
    Yes. HubSpot’s free plan includes unlimited contacts, a full CRM, basic email marketing, live chat, forms, and meeting scheduling — with no credit card required.

    Is HubSpot good for small businesses?
    Yes — particularly for small businesses that want a CRM alongside email marketing, or that plan to grow and want a platform that scales with them.

    Why is HubSpot Professional so expensive?
    HubSpot’s Professional plan is priced for mid-market businesses. The jump from $20/month to $890/month is one of the most common criticisms of HubSpot’s pricing model. For most small businesses the free or Starter plan covers their needs comfortably.

    Does HubSpot integrate with Shopify?
    Yes. HubSpot integrates natively with Shopify, WooCommerce, and most other major e-commerce platforms.

    Is HubSpot GDPR compliant?
    Yes. HubSpot is fully GDPR compliant and includes built-in tools to help UK and European businesses manage consent and data preferences.


    Final Verdict

    HubSpot is one of the most impressive free tools in business software — the combination of unlimited contacts, a best-in-class CRM, and basic email marketing at zero cost is genuinely hard to match.

    For small businesses that want to consolidate marketing and sales into one platform and plan to grow, HubSpot’s free plan is an outstanding starting point. The Starter plan at $20/month adds meaningful capability at an affordable price.

    The significant caveat is the pricing cliff — businesses that outgrow Starter face a jump to $890/month which puts advanced automation out of reach for most small businesses. If automation depth is your priority, ActiveCampaign or GetResponse deliver more at a more accessible price point.

    Overall rating: 4.6/5 ⭐

    👉 Get HubSpot Free: https://hubspot.com


    Last updated: July 2026

    Disclosure: Some links in this article are affiliate links. If you click and make a purchase, I may earn a commission. This doesn’t affect my recommendations — I only feature tools I genuinely believe are worth using.

  • Disclosure: This article contains affiliate links. If you purchase through my links, I may earn a commission at no extra cost to you. I only recommend tools I’ve thoroughly researched.


    Brevo has quietly become one of the most talked-about email marketing platforms in recent years — and for good reason. Its combination of unlimited free contacts, affordable paid plans, and multi-channel marketing tools makes it a genuinely compelling option for small businesses and bloggers alike.

    But is Brevo actually the best free email marketing tool available in 2026 — or are there hidden limitations that make it less appealing in practice?

    In this review I’ll cover everything you need to know — features, pricing, ease of use, deliverability, and who Brevo is genuinely best for — so you can decide with confidence.


    Brevo at a Glance

    Best forBudget-conscious businesses and unlimited contact storage
    Starting priceFree / $25 per month
    Free planYes — unlimited contacts, 300 emails per day
    Standout featureUnlimited contacts on the free plan
    Ease of use⭐⭐⭐⭐
    Value for money⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
    Overall rating⭐ 4.5/5

    What is Brevo?

    Brevo — formerly known as Sendinblue — is a French email marketing and multi-channel communication platform founded in 2012. It serves over 500,000 businesses worldwide and has built a strong reputation as one of the most affordable and feature-rich platforms available, particularly for businesses on a tight budget.

    What makes Brevo genuinely different from most competitors is its approach to pricing. While most email marketing tools limit their free plans by number of contacts, Brevo limits by emails sent per day — meaning you can store unlimited contacts for free, regardless of list size. For growing businesses with large lists who don’t send daily emails, this is a significant advantage.

    In recent years Brevo has expanded well beyond email — adding SMS marketing, WhatsApp campaigns, live chat, a CRM, and transactional email tools — making it one of the most versatile platforms at its price point.


    Brevo Features

    Email Marketing

    Brevo’s core email marketing tools are solid and comprehensive:

    • Drag-and-drop email editor
    • 40+ responsive email templates
    • Personalisation and dynamic content
    • A/B split testing
    • Send time optimisation
    • Detailed open rate, click rate, and engagement tracking
    • List segmentation and targeting

    The email builder is clean and intuitive — most users can create professional-looking emails within minutes without any design experience. The template library is smaller than GetResponse or ActiveCampaign, but the quality is good and the editor makes customisation straightforward.

    Marketing Automation

    Brevo includes a visual automation builder that covers the most common workflows small businesses need:

    • Welcome sequences
    • Lead nurturing flows
    • Abandoned cart sequences (e-commerce)
    • Birthday and anniversary emails
    • Behaviour-based triggers (email opens, link clicks, page visits)
    • Contact scoring

    While Brevo’s automation is not as deep or flexible as ActiveCampaign’s, it handles the needs of most small businesses and bloggers comfortably — and does so at a fraction of the cost.

    SMS and WhatsApp Marketing

    One of Brevo’s standout differentiators is its multi-channel capabilities. Beyond email, Brevo allows you to send:

    • SMS marketing campaigns — text message promotions and transactional alerts
    • WhatsApp campaigns — send promotional messages directly via WhatsApp
    • Transactional SMS — automated order confirmations, shipping updates, and appointment reminders

    These channels are available on all plans including the free tier — making Brevo one of the few platforms that genuinely goes beyond email at no extra cost.

    CRM

    Brevo includes a built-in CRM that allows you to:

    • Store and manage contact information
    • Track deals and sales pipeline
    • Log notes and activity for each contact
    • Assign contacts to team members
    • View a complete history of interactions per contact

    It is not as sophisticated as ActiveCampaign or HubSpot’s CRM, but for small businesses managing a straightforward sales process it provides everything needed without requiring a separate tool.

    Transactional Email

    Brevo has particularly strong transactional email capabilities — making it an excellent choice for e-commerce businesses and app developers who need to send automated order confirmations, password resets, shipping notifications, and receipts reliably and at scale.

    This is an area where Brevo genuinely outperforms most email marketing competitors, many of whom treat transactional email as an afterthought.

    Landing Pages and Sign-Up Forms

    Brevo includes a landing page builder and sign-up form creator on paid plans:

    • Drag-and-drop landing page editor
    • Mobile responsive designs
    • Customisable sign-up forms
    • Direct integration with email lists and automation workflows

    Note that landing pages are not included on the free plan — this is one of the more meaningful limitations of the free tier.

    Live Chat

    Brevo includes a live chat widget you can add to your website — allowing visitors to message you directly in real time. This is included on all plans and adds genuine value for businesses that want to convert website visitors into leads or customers through direct conversation.

    Other Features

    • Web push notifications
    • Facebook Ads integration
    • Google Ads retargeting
    • 150+ integrations via native connections and Zapier
    • Detailed analytics and reporting dashboard

    Brevo Pricing

    PlanPriceKey Features
    Free$0/monthUnlimited contacts, 300 emails/day, basic templates, SMS credits
    Starter$25/month20,000 emails/month, no daily limit, no Brevo logo, basic reporting
    Business$65/month20,000 emails/month, automation, A/B testing, advanced reporting
    EnterpriseCustomDedicated IP, custom volume, priority support

    Is Brevo good value?
    Brevo is exceptional value — particularly on the free and Starter plans. The free plan’s unlimited contact storage is unique in the industry and makes it the most generous free offering for businesses with large lists. The Starter plan at $25/month removing the Brevo logo and daily sending limit represents a meaningful upgrade at an affordable price.

    👉 Try Brevo for Free: https://get.brevo.com/943m12izdnt9


    Brevo Ease of Use

    Brevo strikes a good balance between features and usability. The dashboard is clean and well organised, and the email builder is intuitive enough for complete beginners while offering enough flexibility for more experienced users.

    The automation builder is straightforward for standard workflows — welcome sequences and basic nurturing flows can be set up in minutes. More complex multi-branch automations take a little more time to learn but are well documented in Brevo’s help centre.

    The multi-channel features (SMS, WhatsApp, live chat) are well integrated into the main dashboard rather than feeling bolted on — which is not always the case with platforms that have expanded beyond their original focus.

    Learning curve rating: Low — Brevo is accessible to beginners while offering enough depth for growing businesses.


    Brevo Deliverability

    Brevo’s deliverability is generally good but has historically lagged slightly behind premium platforms like ActiveCampaign and GetResponse in independent benchmarks. Inbox placement rates are typically in the 95 to 98% range — strong performance that will meet the needs of most businesses.

    Key deliverability features:

    • Dedicated IP addresses (Enterprise plan)
    • Domain authentication (DKIM, SPF, DMARC)
    • Spam score checker before sending
    • List cleaning and management tools
    • Real-time sending statistics

    For most small businesses and bloggers, Brevo’s deliverability is more than adequate. Businesses with very large lists or high-volume sending requirements may want to consider a platform with a stronger deliverability track record such as GetResponse or ActiveCampaign.


    Brevo Pros and Cons

    Pros:

    • Best free plan for contact storage — unlimited contacts at no cost
    • Very affordable paid plans compared to most competitors
    • Multi-channel marketing — email, SMS, WhatsApp, and live chat in one platform
    • Built-in CRM included on all plans
    • Strong transactional email capabilities
    • Good automation for standard use cases
    • Clean, beginner-friendly interface
    • 150+ integrations

    Cons:

    • Landing pages not included on the free plan
    • Brevo logo displayed on free plan emails
    • Automation is less sophisticated than ActiveCampaign or GetResponse
    • Template library is smaller than most competitors
    • Deliverability occasionally lags behind premium platforms
    • Daily sending limit of 300 emails on the free plan can be restrictive for active senders
    • Some advanced features only available on Business plan and above

    Brevo Customer Support

    Brevo offers customer support via:

    • Email support — available on all plans including free
    • Phone support — Business plan and above
    • Live chat support — Business plan and above
    • Help centre — comprehensive knowledge base with guides and tutorials
    • Community forum — active user community

    One notable limitation is that live chat and phone support are not available on the free or Starter plans — meaning free users are limited to email support, which can be slower. That said, Brevo’s help centre is thorough and answers most common questions without needing to contact support directly.


    Who Is Brevo Best For?

    Brevo is an excellent choice for:

    • Budget-conscious small businesses who need unlimited contact storage without paying premium prices
    • Businesses with large lists who send emails weekly or less frequently — the free plan’s 300 emails per day limit is less of a concern
    • E-commerce businesses needing strong transactional email alongside marketing campaigns
    • Businesses wanting multi-channel marketing — email, SMS, and WhatsApp in one platform
    • Startups and new businesses who want to get started for free and scale affordably

    Brevo is less ideal for:

    • Bloggers and creators who want purpose-built creator tools — ConvertKit is a better fit
    • Businesses needing advanced automation — ActiveCampaign is significantly more powerful
    • High-volume daily senders — the 300 email per day free plan limit is restrictive
    • Those needing the best deliverability — GetResponse or ActiveCampaign edge ahead

    Brevo vs Competitors

    BrevoGetResponseConvertKitActiveCampaign
    Starting priceFree$19/mo$25/mo$15/mo
    Free plan✅ Unlimited contacts✅ 500 contacts✅ 1,000 subscribers❌
    Automation⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
    SMS marketing✅✅❌✅
    WhatsApp✅❌❌❌
    CRM✅ Basic⚠️ Basic❌✅ Full
    Ease of use⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
    Value for money⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐

    Frequently Asked Questions

    Is Brevo really free?
    Yes. Brevo’s free plan is genuinely free with no credit card required. You can store unlimited contacts and send up to 300 emails per day at no cost. The main limitations are the daily sending cap, the Brevo logo on emails, and the absence of landing pages — all of which are removed on paid plans.

    Is Brevo good for beginners?
    Yes — Brevo is one of the more beginner-friendly platforms available. The clean dashboard, intuitive email builder, and straightforward automation setup make it accessible to users with no prior email marketing experience.

    What happened to Sendinblue?
    Sendinblue rebranded as Brevo in 2023. The product, features, and pricing remained largely unchanged — only the name and branding were updated. If you used Sendinblue previously, Brevo is the same platform under a new name.

    Does Brevo have a mobile app?
    Yes. Brevo offers a mobile app for iOS and Android that allows you to manage contacts, view campaign statistics, and monitor your account on the go.

    Can I send transactional emails with Brevo?
    Yes — and this is one of Brevo’s strongest features. It is particularly well suited to e-commerce businesses needing reliable transactional email delivery for order confirmations, shipping updates, and receipts.

    Is Brevo GDPR compliant?
    Yes. Brevo is headquartered in France and is fully GDPR compliant — an important consideration for UK and European businesses. All data is stored on European servers.


    Final Verdict

    Brevo is one of the best value email marketing platforms available in 2026 — and its free plan is genuinely the most generous in the industry for businesses that need unlimited contact storage.

    The combination of unlimited free contacts, SMS and WhatsApp marketing, a built-in CRM, live chat, and transactional email tools at an affordable price point makes it hard to beat for small businesses looking to consolidate their communication tools without overspending.

    It isn’t the most powerful platform for advanced automation — ActiveCampaign leads there — and it lacks the creator-specific tools that make ConvertKit special. But for budget-conscious small businesses, startups, and e-commerce sellers who want multi-channel marketing without the premium price tag, Brevo is an excellent choice.

    Overall rating: 4.5/5 ⭐

    👉 Try Brevo for Free: https://get.brevo.com/943m12izdnt9


    Last updated: May 2026

    Disclosure: Some links in this article are affiliate links. If you click and make a purchase, I may earn a commission. This doesn’t affect my recommendations — I only feature tools I genuinely believe are worth using.

  • Disclosure: This article contains affiliate links. If you purchase through my links, I may earn a commission at no extra cost to you. I only recommend tools I’ve thoroughly researched.

    ⚡ July 2026 Update: Moosend is now part of the Constant Contact family. Constant Contact has spent decades helping millions of small businesses succeed, and this acquisition adds the backing of one of the most established names in email marketing — great news for long-term platform reliability. Your experience as a Moosend user remains unchanged.

    Moosend might not be the most well-known name in email marketing — but it’s quietly become one of the most respected platforms among small businesses and e-commerce sellers who want powerful features without the premium price tag.

    But is Moosend actually worth using in 2026 — or does its lower price reflect lower quality?

    In this review I’ll cover everything you need to know — features, pricing, ease of use, deliverability, and who Moosend is genuinely best for — so you can make a confident decision.

    Moosend at a Glance

    Best forSmall businesses and e-commerce wanting affordable automation
    Starting price$9/month
    Free plan30-day free trial (no credit card required)
    Standout featurePowerful automation at an unbeatable price
    Ease of use⭐⭐⭐⭐
    Value for money⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
    Overall rating⭐ 4.4/5

    What is Moosend?

    Moosend is a cloud-based email marketing and automation platform founded in 2011. Originally built for e-commerce businesses, it has grown into a versatile platform serving over 100,000 businesses worldwide across industries including retail, hospitality, publishing, and professional services. In 2025, Moosend joined the Constant Contact family, adding the stability and resources of one of the most established names in email marketing behind the product.

    What makes Moosend stand out is its value proposition — it delivers automation capabilities that rival platforms costing two to three times as much, at a starting price of just $9/month. For small businesses watching their budget without wanting to sacrifice functionality, that’s a compelling offer.

    Unlike most email marketing platforms that charge premium prices for advanced automation, Moosend includes sophisticated workflow building, e-commerce features like abandoned cart sequences and product recommendations, and heatmap reporting — all from its entry-level Pro plan.

    Moosend Features

    Email Marketing

    Moosend’s core email marketing tools are solid and comprehensive:

    • Drag-and-drop email editor with 70+ responsive templates
    • Personalisation and dynamic content blocks
    • A/B split testing on subject lines and content
    • Send time optimisation
    • Real-time analytics and reporting
    • Countdown timers within emails — creates genuine urgency for promotions without third-party tools
    • Weather-based content — show different content based on a subscriber’s local weather
    • Auto-resend to non-openers

    Marketing Automation

    This is where Moosend genuinely impresses. The visual automation builder is powerful and flexible — covering everything from simple welcome sequences to sophisticated multi-step customer journeys:

    • Visual drag-and-drop automation builder
    • Pre-built automation templates for common workflows
    • Behaviour-based triggers (email opens, link clicks, website visits, purchases)
    • Conditional logic and branching paths
    • Lead scoring
    • Abandoned cart sequences
    • Product recommendation workflows
    • Weather-based triggers

    The automation depth Moosend offers at $9/month is remarkable. Comparable functionality on ActiveCampaign starts at $49/month (Plus plan) — making Moosend roughly five times cheaper for similar core automation capability.

    E-commerce Features

    • Product recommendation blocks — automatically pull personalised product suggestions for each subscriber based on browsing and purchase history
    • Abandoned cart sequences — automatically follow up with customers who added items but didn’t complete purchase
    • Purchase tracking — monitor exactly which emails drive sales and revenue
    • Cross-sell and upsell automation — automatically suggest complementary products after a purchase
    • E-commerce integrations — native connections with Shopify, WooCommerce, Magento, and more

    Landing Pages and Forms

    • Drag-and-drop landing page editor with 40+ templates
    • Mobile responsive designs
    • Custom domain support
    • A/B testing for landing pages
    • Pop-up, inline, floating bar, and full-page forms
    • Exit intent triggers
    • Multi-step forms

    Reporting and Analytics

    • Real-time campaign performance
    • Revenue tracking for e-commerce campaigns
    • Subscriber growth over time
    • Heatmaps — see exactly where subscribers click within emails
    • Comparative reporting across campaigns
    • Bounce, unsubscribe, and engagement tracking

    Moosend Pricing

    PlanPriceSubscribersKey Features
    Free Trial$0Up to 1,000Full access to all features for 30 days — no credit card required
    Pro$9/month500Unlimited emails, automation, landing pages, forms, heatmaps
    EnterpriseCustomCustomDedicated account manager, custom reporting, SSO, priority support

    Prices increase as your subscriber count grows:

    • $9/month — up to 500 subscribers
    • $16/month — up to 1,000 subscribers
    • $32/month — up to 2,500 subscribers
    • $64/month — up to 5,000 subscribers
    • $144/month — up to 25,000 subscribers

    👉 Start Your Moosend Free Trial: https://trymoo.moosend.com/parekekwi2ha

    Moosend vs Competitors

    FeatureMoosendActiveCampaignGetResponseBrevoMailchimp
    Starting price$9/mo$15/mo$19/moFreeFree
    Free plan⚠️ Trial only❌✅✅✅
    Automation⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
    E-commerce⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
    Heatmaps✅❌❌❌❌
    Countdown timers✅❌❌❌❌
    Landing pages✅ All plans⚠️ Higher plans✅ All plans⚠️ Paid only✅
    CRM❌✅ Full⚠️ Basic⚠️ Basic❌
    Value for money⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐

    Is Moosend Right for You?

    Do you run an e-commerce store?
    If yes — Moosend is one of the strongest choices available at any price point.

    Is your budget under $20/month?
    If yes — Moosend is the most capable paid platform available at this price.

    Do you need a permanent free plan rather than a trial?
    If yes — Moosend isn’t the right fit. Consider Brevo (unlimited free contacts) instead.

    Do you need a built-in CRM?
    If yes — Moosend doesn’t offer one. ActiveCampaign or HubSpot are better suited.

    Are you a blogger or content creator?
    If yes — ConvertKit is purpose-built for your needs.

    Moosend Ease of Use

    Moosend is notably user-friendly for a platform with this level of automation capability. The dashboard is clean and logically organised, the email builder is intuitive, and the automation builder uses a clear visual format that makes building workflows straightforward even for beginners.

    Learning curve rating: Low to Medium — Moosend is accessible to beginners while offering enough depth to satisfy more advanced users. Notably easier than ActiveCampaign, comparable to GetResponse.

    Moosend Deliverability

    Moosend performs well on deliverability, consistently achieving inbox placement rates above 98% in independent testing — placing it comfortably alongside more established and more expensive platforms like GetResponse and Brevo.

    Moosend Pros and Cons

    Pros:

    • Outstanding value — advanced automation at an entry-level price starting at $9/month
    • Now backed by Constant Contact — added stability and long-term development confidence
    • Strong e-commerce features including product recommendations, abandoned cart, and purchase tracking
    • Heatmap reporting included as standard
    • Countdown timers within emails — no third-party tool needed
    • Clean, beginner-friendly interface
    • Excellent deliverability for the price point
    • Generous 30-day free trial with full feature access and no credit card required

    Cons:

    • No permanent free plan — only a 30-day trial
    • Fewer native integrations than ActiveCampaign
    • No built-in CRM
    • No webinar hosting
    • Email marketing only — no SMS or WhatsApp (consider Brevo or Constant Contact if multi-channel is a priority)

    Moosend Customer Support

    • Live chat — available on all paid plans
    • Email support — available on all plans including the free trial
    • Phone support — Enterprise plan only
    • Help centre — well organised knowledge base

    Frequently Asked Questions

    Does Moosend have a free plan?

    Moosend does not offer a permanent free plan. However it does offer one of the most generous free trials in the industry — 30 days of full access to all features with no credit card required. If you need a permanent free plan, Brevo (unlimited contacts free) is the better option.

    Is Moosend good for beginners?

    Yes — Moosend is notably user-friendly for a platform with its level of automation capability. Most users can send their first campaign within an hour of signing up.

    Has Moosend been acquired by Constant Contact?

    Yes — Moosend joined the Constant Contact family in 2025. Constant Contact is one of the most established email marketing platforms in the world, having helped millions of small businesses for decades. The acquisition adds significant backing and stability to Moosend without changing the product or partner experience.

    How does Moosend compare to Mailchimp?

    Moosend offers stronger automation and e-commerce features than Mailchimp at a significantly lower price point. Moosend’s $9/month Pro plan outperforms Mailchimp’s $20/month Standard plan on automation depth.

    How does Moosend compare to ActiveCampaign?

    ActiveCampaign has deeper automation, a full CRM, and site tracking — but starts at $49/month for the plan that includes these features. Moosend covers the automation needs of most small businesses at $9/month. Read our full ActiveCampaign alternatives guide for a detailed comparison.

    Does Moosend integrate with Shopify?

    Yes. Moosend has a native integration with Shopify as well as WooCommerce, Magento, and most other major e-commerce platforms.

    What happens after Moosend’s free trial ends?

    After the 30-day trial ends you need to upgrade to a paid plan to continue sending emails. The Pro plan starts at $9/month for up to 500 subscribers. If you don’t upgrade, your account moves to a limited view-only mode — your contacts and campaigns are preserved but you can’t send until you choose a plan.

    Final Verdict

    Moosend is one of the best kept secrets in email marketing — a platform that delivers automation and e-commerce capabilities that rival tools costing two to three times as much, at a starting price of just $9/month. Now backed by Constant Contact, it combines affordable pricing with the stability of a much larger organisation behind it.

    For small businesses and e-commerce sellers who need real automation without enterprise pricing, Moosend is an outstanding choice in 2026.

    Overall rating: 4.4/5 ⭐

    👉 Start Your Moosend Free Trial: https://trymoo.moosend.com/parekekwi2ha

    Last updated: July 2026

    Disclosure: Some links in this article are affiliate links. If you click and make a purchase, I may earn a commission. This doesn’t affect my recommendations — I only feature tools I genuinely believe are worth using.

  • Disclosure: This article contains affiliate links. If you purchase through my links, I may earn a commission at no extra cost to you. I only recommend tools I’ve thoroughly researched.

    ActiveCampaign is one of the most powerful email marketing platforms available — but it isn’t right for everyone. Whether you’re finding it too expensive, too complex, or simply more than your business needs right now, there are excellent alternatives worth considering.

    In this guide I’ve reviewed the 6 best ActiveCampaign alternatives in 2026 — covering who each one is best for, how they compare on price and features, and which one is most likely to be the right fit for your specific situation.

    Why People Leave ActiveCampaign

    ActiveCampaign is a genuinely excellent platform — but these are the most common reasons businesses start looking elsewhere:

    • Price — ActiveCampaign gets expensive as your list grows, particularly on higher plans. The Plus plan at $49/month and Professional at $79/month add up quickly for small businesses.
    • Complexity — the platform has a steep learning curve. Many users sign up expecting simplicity and find themselves overwhelmed by the depth of features they don’t need.
    • No free plan — unlike several competitors, ActiveCampaign only offers a 14-day trial. If budget is tight, that’s a meaningful limitation.
    • Overkill for simple needs — if you just need to send a weekly newsletter or a simple welcome sequence, you don’t need enterprise-level automation.
    • CRM not needed — many small businesses don’t need a built-in CRM and would rather pay less for a platform without it.
    • Pricing scales steeply — ActiveCampaign’s cost increases significantly as your list grows, making it harder to justify at larger list sizes.

    Whatever your reason, there’s a strong alternative out there — and this guide will help you find it.

    How We Chose These Alternatives

    Every platform in this guide was evaluated against ActiveCampaign across six key criteria:

    • Pricing — is it meaningfully cheaper at comparable list sizes?
    • Ease of use — does it have a lower learning curve than ActiveCampaign?
    • Core features — does it cover email, automation, and list management to a comparable standard?
    • Free plan or trial — can you test it properly before committing?
    • Deliverability — will your emails actually reach the inbox?
    • Who it’s best for — does it serve a specific audience better than ActiveCampaign does?

    Only platforms that offer a genuine, meaningful advantage over ActiveCampaign for a specific type of user made this list.

    Quick Comparison: Best ActiveCampaign Alternatives

    PlatformBest ForStarting PriceFree PlanRating
    GetResponseAll-in-one value$19/moYes (500 contacts)⭐ 4.8/5
    ConvertKitBloggers & creators$25/moYes (1,000 subscribers)⭐ 4.6/5
    BrevoBudget & unlimited contactsFree/$25/moYes (300/day)⭐ 4.5/5
    MoosendAffordable automation$9/moFree trial⭐ 4.4/5
    HubSpotFree CRM + emailFree/$20/moYes⭐ 4.6/5
    AWeberBeginners & small businesses$19.99/moYes (500 subscribers)⭐ 4.3/5

    Which Alternative Is Right for You?

    Answer these three questions to find your best match:

    Question 1: Why are you leaving ActiveCampaign?

    • Too expensive → Brevo or Moosend
    • Too complex → ConvertKit or AWeber
    • Don’t need CRM or advanced automation → GetResponse or Brevo
    • Need a better free plan → ConvertKit (1,000 subscribers) or Brevo (unlimited contacts)

    Question 2: What type of business do you run?

    • Blog, newsletter, or creator business → ConvertKit
    • E-commerce store → Moosend or GetResponse
    • Service business or agency → GetResponse or HubSpot
    • Small business, just getting started → AWeber or Brevo

    Question 3: What matters most to you?

    • Lowest possible price → Moosend ($9/month) or Brevo (free)
    • Simplest platform → ConvertKit
    • Most features for the money → GetResponse
    • Best CRM → HubSpot
    • Best customer support → AWeber

    The 6 Best ActiveCampaign Alternatives

    1. GetResponse — Best Overall ActiveCampaign Alternative

    GetResponse is the closest like-for-like alternative to ActiveCampaign — offering strong automation, landing pages, and a broad feature set at a more accessible price point.

    Why It’s a Strong Alternative to ActiveCampaign

    • Free plan available — up to 500 contacts, something ActiveCampaign doesn’t offer
    • Built-in webinar hosting — a unique feature ActiveCampaign completely lacks
    • Landing page and funnel builder — included on all plans
    • Easier to use — less steep learning curve than ActiveCampaign
    • AI tools — email generator, subject line generator, and landing page builder included

    GetResponse vs ActiveCampaign at a Glance

    FeatureGetResponseActiveCampaign
    Starting price$19/month$15/month
    Free plan✅ 500 contacts❌
    Automation⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
    Webinars✅ Built in❌
    Landing pages✅ All plans⚠️ Higher plans
    CRM⚠️ Basic✅ Full
    Ease of use⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
    Value for money⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐

    GetResponse Pricing

    • Free: Up to 500 contacts
    • Email Marketing: $19/month
    • Marketing Automation: $59/month
    • E-commerce Marketing: $119/month

    Bottom Line

    If you’re leaving ActiveCampaign because it’s too expensive or complex but still want a powerful, feature-rich platform, GetResponse is the most natural landing spot. You get most of what ActiveCampaign offers — plus webinars and funnels — at a comparable or lower price.

    👉 Try GetResponse Free: https://getresponse.com

    2. ConvertKit — Best ActiveCampaign Alternative for Creators

    ConvertKit is purpose-built for content creators — bloggers, YouTubers, podcasters, and online coaches. If you found ActiveCampaign overwhelming or over-engineered for your needs, ConvertKit is the antidote.

    Why It’s a Strong Alternative to ActiveCampaign

    • Dramatically simpler — one of the easiest email platforms to use, period
    • Generous free plan — up to 1,000 subscribers with landing pages and automation included
    • Built-in digital product selling — sell ebooks, courses, and subscriptions directly
    • Creator Network — grow your list through collaborations with other creators
    • Tag-based subscriber management — more flexible than traditional list systems

    ConvertKit vs ActiveCampaign at a Glance

    FeatureConvertKitActiveCampaign
    Starting price$25/month$15/month
    Free plan✅ 1,000 subscribers❌
    Automation⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
    Ease of use⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
    Digital products✅ Built in❌
    Creator tools⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
    CRM❌✅ Full
    Integrations90+900+

    ConvertKit Pricing

    • Free: Up to 1,000 subscribers
    • Creator: $25/month
    • Creator Pro: $50/month

    Bottom Line

    If you’re a creator who signed up for ActiveCampaign expecting simplicity and found the opposite, ConvertKit is the clear alternative. Everything is designed for people who make content — not enterprise marketing teams.

    👉 Start ConvertKit for Free: https://convertkit.com

    3. Brevo — Best Budget ActiveCampaign Alternative

    Brevo (formerly Sendinblue) is one of the most generous platforms in terms of free features and one of the most affordable when you move to a paid plan. If ActiveCampaign’s pricing is your main concern, Brevo solves that problem immediately.

    Why It’s a Strong Alternative to ActiveCampaign

    • Unlimited contacts on the free plan — store as many subscribers as you want at no cost
    • 300 free emails per day — enough for a regular newsletter to thousands of subscribers
    • SMS and WhatsApp marketing — channels ActiveCampaign doesn’t offer at this price
    • Very affordable paid plans — starts at $25/month
    • Transactional email — excellent for businesses sending order confirmations and receipts

    Brevo vs ActiveCampaign at a Glance

    FeatureBrevoActiveCampaign
    Starting priceFree$15/month
    Free plan✅ Unlimited contacts❌
    Automation⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
    SMS marketing✅✅
    WhatsApp✅❌
    CRM✅ Basic✅ Full
    Ease of use⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
    Value for money⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐

    Brevo Pricing

    • Free: Unlimited contacts, 300 emails/day
    • Starter: $25/month (20,000 emails/month)
    • Business: $65/month

    Bottom Line

    If budget is your primary reason for leaving ActiveCampaign, Brevo is the most compelling alternative. The free plan alone can support a fully functioning email marketing strategy for a small business.

    👉 Try Brevo for Free: https://get.brevo.com/943m12izdnt9

    4. Moosend — Best Affordable Automation Alternative

    Moosend punches well above its price point — offering genuinely capable automation and e-commerce features at a fraction of ActiveCampaign’s cost. If you want automation without the price tag, Moosend is worth serious consideration.

    Why It’s a Strong Alternative to ActiveCampaign

    • Very affordable — starts at just $9/month for 500 subscribers
    • Strong automation builder — visual workflow editor with behaviour-based triggers
    • E-commerce features — product recommendations, abandoned cart sequences, and purchase tracking
    • Good deliverability — consistently strong inbox placement rates
    • 30-day free trial — test everything before committing

    Moosend vs ActiveCampaign at a Glance

    FeatureMoosendActiveCampaign
    Starting price$9/month$15/month
    Free plan⚠️ 30-day trial❌
    Automation⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
    E-commerce features⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
    Landing pages✅ All plans⚠️ Higher plans
    CRM❌✅ Full
    Ease of use⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
    Value for money⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐

    Moosend Pricing

    • Free trial: 30 days
    • Pro: $9/month (500 subscribers)
    • Enterprise: Custom pricing

    Bottom Line

    If you’re an e-commerce business or small business owner who found ActiveCampaign too expensive but still wants solid automation, Moosend offers the best value for money of any platform in this comparison.

    👉 Start Your Moosend Free Trial: https://trymoo.moosend.com/parekekwi2ha

    5. HubSpot — Best Free ActiveCampaign Alternative

    HubSpot is best known as an enterprise CRM — but its free email marketing tools are genuinely impressive, and for businesses that need a CRM alongside their email marketing, it’s a compelling ActiveCampaign alternative.

    Why It’s a Strong Alternative to ActiveCampaign

    • Free CRM with unlimited contacts — more generous than almost any competitor
    • Email marketing included free — basic but functional for getting started
    • All-in-one platform — marketing, sales, and customer service under one roof
    • Best-in-class CRM — if CRM is important to your business, HubSpot does it better than ActiveCampaign
    • Huge integration library — connects with virtually every major business tool

    HubSpot vs ActiveCampaign at a Glance

    FeatureHubSpotActiveCampaign
    Starting priceFree$15/month
    Free plan✅ Unlimited contacts❌
    CRM✅ Best-in-class✅ Good
    Automation⭐⭐⭐ (free) ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ (paid)⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
    Reporting⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
    Ease of use⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
    Professional plan cost$890/month$79/month

    HubSpot Pricing

    • Free: Unlimited contacts, basic email and CRM tools
    • Starter: $20/month
    • Professional: $890/month (significant jump)

    Bottom Line

    HubSpot is the best free alternative to ActiveCampaign for businesses that need a CRM. If you’re leaving ActiveCampaign partly because the CRM wasn’t strong enough — or you want to consolidate your marketing and sales into one platform — HubSpot is worth exploring.

    👉 Get HubSpot Free: https://hubspot.com

    6. AWeber — Best ActiveCampaign Alternative for Beginners

    AWeber is one of the most established names in email marketing — serving small businesses since 1998. If you found ActiveCampaign too complex or too expensive and want something genuinely simple with excellent support, AWeber is a reliable and well-proven alternative.

    Why It’s a Strong Alternative to ActiveCampaign

    • Significantly simpler — much lower learning curve than ActiveCampaign
    • Free plan available — up to 500 subscribers with no credit card required
    • 600+ email templates — far more than most competitors
    • Outstanding customer support — phone, live chat, and email support on all plans
    • RSS to email — automatically deliver new blog posts to subscribers
    • 365-day cookie — the longest affiliate cookie in the email marketing industry

    AWeber vs ActiveCampaign at a Glance

    FeatureAWeberActiveCampaign
    Starting price$19.99/month$15/month
    Free plan✅ 500 subscribers❌
    Email templates600+250+
    Automation⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
    Phone support✅ All plans❌
    Ease of use⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
    CRM❌✅ Full
    RSS to email✅❌

    AWeber Pricing

    • Free: Up to 500 subscribers
    • Lite: $19.99/month
    • Plus: $49.99/month

    Bottom Line

    If you’re leaving ActiveCampaign because it’s too complex or expensive and want something genuinely simple with excellent support, AWeber is a reliable and well-proven alternative — particularly for small businesses and beginners.

    👉 Try AWeber Free: https://www.aweber.com/easy-email.htm?id=561741

    Full Feature Comparison: ActiveCampaign vs All Alternatives

    FeatureActiveCampaignGetResponseConvertKitBrevoMoosendHubSpotAWeber
    Starting price$15/mo$19/mo$25/moFree$9/moFree$19.99/mo
    Free plan❌✅✅✅❌✅✅
    Automation⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
    CRM✅ Full⚠️ Basic❌⚠️ Basic❌✅ Full❌
    Ease of use⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
    Webinars❌✅❌❌❌❌❌
    Landing pages⚠️ Higher plans✅ All plans✅ All plans⚠️ Paid✅ All plans⚠️ Paid✅
    Digital products❌⚠️ Basic✅❌❌❌❌
    SMS marketing✅✅❌✅❌❌❌
    Phone support❌❌❌⚠️ Business plan⚠️ Enterprise⚠️ Professional✅ All plans

    How to Switch From ActiveCampaign

    Switching email platforms is simpler than most people expect. Here’s the process for moving from ActiveCampaign to any of the alternatives above:

    • Step 1 — Export your contacts: In ActiveCampaign go to Contacts → Export. Download your full contact list as a CSV file including all custom fields and tags.
    • Step 2 — Sign up for your new platform: Most platforms on this list have a free plan or trial — sign up and explore before committing.
    • Step 3 — Import your contacts: Upload your CSV file to the new platform. Most import tools map fields automatically — review carefully before confirming.
    • Step 4 — Recreate your key automations: Don’t try to rebuild everything at once. Start with your most important sequences — welcome series, key nurture flows — and rebuild others gradually.
    • Step 5 — Test before switching fully: Send a test campaign to a small segment first. Check links, formatting, and deliverability before migrating your full list.
    • Step 6 — Cancel ActiveCampaign: Once you’re happy with your new platform, cancel your ActiveCampaign subscription before your next billing date.

    Note: GetResponse and HubSpot both offer free migration assistance — worth taking advantage of if you have a large or complex setup to move.

    Frequently Asked Questions

    What is the cheapest alternative to ActiveCampaign?

    Moosend is the most affordable paid alternative at $9/month. Brevo offers the most generous free plan with unlimited contact storage and 300 emails per day at no cost. ConvertKit’s free plan supports up to 1,000 subscribers and is the best free option for creators and bloggers.

    Is GetResponse better than ActiveCampaign?

    It depends on your priorities. ActiveCampaign has stronger automation and CRM capabilities. GetResponse offers better value for money overall, built-in webinar hosting, and a more beginner-friendly experience. For most small businesses, GetResponse delivers more features per pound spent. Read our full GetResponse vs ActiveCampaign comparison for a detailed breakdown.

    What is the easiest alternative to ActiveCampaign?

    ConvertKit is the easiest email marketing platform available — significantly simpler than ActiveCampaign while still offering solid automation, landing pages, and list management. AWeber is a close second for ease of use, with the added benefit of phone support on all plans.

    Can I migrate my contacts from ActiveCampaign to another platform?

    Yes. All the platforms listed in this guide allow you to import contacts via CSV file — meaning you can export your list from ActiveCampaign and import it into your new platform within minutes. GetResponse and HubSpot also offer dedicated migration assistance for larger or more complex setups.

    Is there a free alternative to ActiveCampaign?

    Yes — several. ConvertKit offers a free plan for up to 1,000 subscribers. Brevo offers a free plan with unlimited contacts and 300 emails per day. HubSpot offers a free CRM and basic email marketing with no contact limit. AWeber offers a free plan for up to 500 subscribers.

    Which ActiveCampaign alternative is best for e-commerce?

    Moosend is the strongest e-commerce alternative — offering abandoned cart sequences, product recommendation blocks, and purchase tracking at a starting price of just $9/month. GetResponse is also strong for e-commerce with its Conversion Funnel builder and e-commerce integrations.

    Final Verdict

    ActiveCampaign is a powerful platform — but it’s not the right fit for every business, and the alternatives in 2026 are stronger than ever.

    • Best overall alternative: GetResponse — closest feature match at a better price with added extras like webinars and funnels
    • Best for creators and bloggers: ConvertKit — simpler, more focused, and purpose-built for content creators
    • Best free alternative: Brevo — unlimited contacts and 300 emails per day at zero cost
    • Best budget paid alternative: Moosend — strong automation starting at just $9/month
    • Best for CRM: HubSpot — free CRM with unlimited contacts and solid email tools included
    • Best for beginners: AWeber — simple, reliable, and outstanding customer support on every plan

    Whatever your reason for looking beyond ActiveCampaign, there’s a platform in this list that fits your needs — and most of them let you get started for free so you can test before you commit.

    👉 Try GetResponse Free: https://getresponse.com
    👉 Start ConvertKit for Free: https://convertkit.com
    👉 Try Brevo for Free: https://get.brevo.com/943m12izdnt9
    👉 Start Your Moosend Free Trial: https://trymoo.moosend.com/parekekwi2ha
    👉 Try AWeber Free: https://www.aweber.com/easy-email.htm?id=561741

    Last updated: July 2026

    Disclosure: Some links in this article are affiliate links. If you click and make a purchase, I may earn a commission. This doesn’t affect my recommendations — I only feature tools I genuinely believe are worth using.