The best email marketing software, tested and ranked
We built the same welcome series, newsletter and abandoned-cart flow in nine email marketing tools and sent them to the same test inboxes. Here's which got the most mail into the inbox and what each costs to start.
About this list
Email marketing software lets you collect subscribers, design emails, send campaigns and automated sequences, and see who opened, clicked and bought. Most tools now add landing pages, forms, SMS and simple CRM features, and more and more add AI help with writing. You'll find more in our email marketing software section and our email marketing hub.
These tools differ most in whether your mail reaches the inbox, how long a campaign takes to build, how deep automation goes on the plan you'd buy, and how the price grows. Some charge by contacts, others by emails sent.
To compare them fairly, we built the same campaign in every tool between October 19 and October 25, 2026: a welcome email, a newsletter and an abandoned-cart email for a made-up online store. Each went to the same 80 test inboxes at Gmail, Outlook, Yahoo and iCloud, so every tool had 240 chances to land in the inbox.
Compare at a glance
| # | Tool | Best for | Cheapest way to start | Score |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | MailerLite | Best overall | $19 a month (Comfort) | 5.0 |
| 2 | Mailchimp | Best for integrations | $13 a month (Essentials) | 4.5 |
| 3 | Constant Contact | Best for phone support | $12 a month (Lite) | 4.0 |
| 4 | Brevo | Best for large lists | $9 a month (Starter) | 4.0 |
| 5 | Campaign Monitor | Best for agencies | $13 a month (Lite) | 3.0 |
| 6 | Flodesk | Best for design-led creators | $25 a month (Lite) | 2.5 |
| 7 | Mailmeteor | Best for Gmail mail merge | $5.99 a month (Starter) | 2.5 |
| 8 | Moosend | Best for unlimited sends on a budget | $16 a month (Pro) | 2.0 |
| 9 | GetResponse | Best for email plus webinars | 16 EUR a month (Starter (1,000 contacts)) | 2.0 |
Features and terms compared
These facts come from each company's own pages and our research, checked on November 3, 2026; prices follow the cheapest way to start.
| Tool | Starting price | Free plan or trial | Priced by | Trustpilot rating |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| MailerLite | $19 a month (Comfort) | Free to 250 subscribers; 14-day trial, no card | Subscribers | 4.1 (3,394 reviews) |
| Mailchimp | $13 a month (Essentials, 500 contacts) | Free to 250 contacts and 500 sends a month | Contacts | 2.5 (1,556 reviews) |
| Constant Contact | $12 a month (Lite, 500 contacts) | No free plan; free trial, no card | Contacts | 4.0 (2,119 reviews) |
| Brevo | $9 a month (Starter) | Free to 100,000 contacts, 300 emails a day | Emails sent | 3.8 (7,251 reviews) |
| Campaign Monitor | $13 a month (Lite, 500 contacts) | No free plan; 30-day trial | Contacts | 2.2 (200 reviews) |
| Flodesk | $25 a month (Lite, 1,000 subscribers) | Free plan, limits not listed | Subscribers | 4.8 (323 reviews) |
| Mailmeteor | $5.99 a user a month (Starter) | Free: 500 emails a month | Emails sent | 4.3 (113 reviews) |
| Moosend | $9 a month at 500 contacts (Pro) | No free plan; 30-day trial, no card | Contacts | 2.9 (85 reviews) |
| GetResponse | 16 EUR a month (Starter, 1,000 contacts) | Free account; 14-day trial, no card | Contacts | 4.2 (1,045 reviews) |
Test results side by side
MailerLite was the clear winner and the only tool to score a full 5 out of 5. Of its 240 emails, 233 reached the main inbox, only 3 went to spam, and it passed all 8 of our sending and authentication checks. Mailchimp, Constant Contact and Brevo followed with between 204 and 215 emails in the inbox, and Mailchimp was the quickest to build, at 38 minutes per campaign.
The gap between the top four and the rest was large. Campaign Monitor, Flodesk and Mailmeteor got between 153 and 166 emails into the inbox and sent 30 to 35 to spam. Moosend and GetResponse did worst, with 139 in the inbox and 40 in spam each, and both took more than 100 minutes to build a campaign.
Every tool got the same test, between October 19, 2026 to October 25, 2026.
| Tool | Score | Inbox placement: inbox, promotions or spam per provider | Time to build the campaign and automation | Template and editor quality on desktop and phone | Deliverability features (authentication setup, warm-up, list cleaning) | Price at 1,000 and 10,000 contacts or messages |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| MailerLite | 5/5 | Inbox 233/240; promo 4; spam 3 | 45 min/campaign build | Desktop/mobile checks 19/20 | Delivery/auth/control checks 8/8 | – |
| Mailchimp | 4.5/5 | Inbox 211/240; promo 17; spam 12 | 38 min/campaign build | Desktop/mobile checks 18/20 | Delivery/auth/control checks 7/8 | – |
| Constant Contact | 4/5 | Inbox 215/240; promo 15; spam 10 | 59 min/campaign build | Desktop/mobile checks 19/20 | Delivery/auth/control checks 7/8 | – |
| Brevo | 4/5 | Inbox 204/240; promo 22; spam 14 | 62 min/campaign build | Desktop/mobile checks 17/20 | Delivery/auth/control checks 7/8 | – |
| Campaign Monitor | 3/5 | Inbox 164/240; promo 46; spam 30 | 83 min/campaign build | Desktop/mobile checks 13/20 | Delivery/auth/control checks 5/8 | – |
| Flodesk | 2.5/5 | Inbox 166/240; promo 44; spam 30 | 87 min/campaign build | Desktop/mobile checks 11/20 | Delivery/auth/control checks 5/8 | – |
| Mailmeteor | 2.5/5 | Inbox 153/240; promo 52; spam 35 | 94 min/campaign build | Desktop/mobile checks 12/20 | Delivery/auth/control checks 5/8 | – |
| Moosend | 2/5 | Inbox 139/240; promo 61; spam 40 | 101 min/campaign build | Desktop/mobile checks 11/20 | Delivery/auth/control checks 5/8 | – |
| GetResponse | 2/5 | Inbox 139/240; promo 61; spam 40 | 102 min/campaign build | Desktop/mobile checks 11/20 | Delivery/auth/control checks 5/8 | – |
MailerLite
Best overallMailerLite came first of nine with a perfect 5 out of 5. It put 233 of 240 emails in the main inbox, with 4 in promotions and 3 in spam, the best result by a wide margin. It passed all 8 sending and authentication checks, all 15 automation checks and 19 of 20 desktop and phone checks, and a campaign took 45 minutes to build.
MailerLite covers email campaigns, automations, landing pages and simple websites. The free plan allows up to 250 subscribers, 2,500 emails a month and 3 automations, and paid plans are Comfort and Power. It holds ISO 27001:2022 and keeps data in EU data centres.
The downsides are on the account side: some users report accounts closed for alleged terms breaches, refunds are narrow, and a January 2024 security incident affected 70 accounts. It has 4.1 out of 5 on Trustpilot from 3,394 reviews (checked November 2026).
Who it's for
Beginners and small businesses who want simple, reliable email at a low price, with room to grow.
Skip it if
You need hundreds of app connections. Mailchimp lists more than 300 integrations.
What we liked
- 233 of 240 emails reached the inbox
- Passed all 8 sending and authentication checks
- Free plan for up to 250 subscribers
What we didn't
- Free plan locks campaigns above 250 subscribers
- Narrow refund terms
- Users report sudden account closures
Key features
- Automations: 3 on Free, 50 on Comfort, unlimited on Power
- Websites and landing pages
- Forms, digital products and bookings
- API and MCP access
Plans and prices
| Free 2,500 emails; 3 automations. | Free |
| Comfort 50 automations; 10 websites. | $19 a month, or $17.10 a month billed yearly |
| Power Unlimited automations; Unlimited seats. | $39 a month, or $35.10 a month billed yearly |
| Enterprise Priority support; Onboarding. | Custom contact sales |
Mailchimp
Best for integrationsMailchimp came second with 4.5 out of 5, and ease of use earned a full 5. It was the fastest tool to build in, at 38 minutes per campaign, and passed all 15 automation checks. It put 211 of 240 emails in the inbox, with 12 in spam, and passed 7 of 8 sending checks and 18 of 20 desktop and phone checks. Read our Mailchimp review.
Mailchimp is the best-known name here, with more than 300 integrations, including Shopify and WooCommerce, plus landing pages, forms and Analytics AI on Standard and Premium. It holds SOC 2 and ISO 27001.
Price is the sore point. The free plan covers just 250 contacts with no automation, Premium starts at $350 a month and refunds are generally not given. Users split: 2.5 out of 5 on Trustpilot from 1,556 reviews, but 4.5 on Capterra from 17,673 (both checked November 2026).
Who it's for
Small shops and online sellers who want an easy tool that connects to almost everything.
Skip it if
You have a big list on a tight budget. Brevo's free plan covers up to 100,000 contacts.
What we liked
- Fastest build at 38 minutes per campaign
- All 15 automation checks passed
- More than 300 integrations
What we didn't
- Free plan cut to 250 contacts with no automation
- Premium starts at $350 a month
- Generally no refunds
Key features
- Email builder and templates
- Multi-step automation on Standard and up
- A/B and multivariate testing
- Analytics AI and ChatGPT and Claude apps on Standard and Premium
Plans and prices
| Free 500 sends a month; 1 seat and audience. | Free |
| Essentials 10x contacts sends; 3 seats and audiences. | $13 a month |
| Standard 12x contacts sends; 5 seats and audiences. | $20 a month |
| Premium 15x contacts sends; Unlimited seats and audiences. | $350 a month, or $297.50 a month billed yearly |
Constant Contact
Best for phone supportConstant Contact came third with 4 out of 5, with deliverability and automation both at 4.5. It actually put more emails in the inbox than Mailchimp, 215 of 240, with 10 in spam, and passed 19 of 20 desktop and phone checks and 7 of 8 sending checks. It was slower to build, at 59 minutes, and passed 13 of 15 automation checks. See our Constant Contact review.
It is aimed at small businesses, nonprofits and local groups, with social posting, events, surveys and SMS on top of email. Phone and chat support come with every plan, and automated emails don't count toward your send allowance.
There's no free plan, only a trial. Users rate it 4.0 out of 5 on Trustpilot from 2,119 reviews (checked November 2026), with complaints about sudden account blocks and billing changes.
Who it's for
Small businesses and nonprofits that want to call someone when they get stuck.
Skip it if
You want a free plan or the best inbox placement. MailerLite has both.
What we liked
- 215 of 240 emails reached the inbox
- Phone and chat support on every plan
- 19 of 20 desktop and phone checks passed
What we didn't
- No free plan
- 59 minutes to build a campaign
- Users report sudden account blocks
Key features
- Automation on every plan, deeper on higher tiers
- Segmentation and A/B tests on Standard and up
- Social and ads tools on Standard and up
- SMS on Premium or as an add-on
Plans and prices
| Lite 1 seat; 10x contacts sends. | $12 a month, or $10.20 a month billed yearly |
| Standard 3 seats; 12x contacts sends. | $35 a month, or $29.75 a month billed yearly |
| Premium Unlimited seats; 24x contacts sends. | $80 a month, or $68 a month billed yearly |
Brevo
Best for large listsBrevo came fourth with 4 out of 5, scoring 4 on every part. It put 204 of 240 emails in the inbox, with 14 in spam, passed 7 of 8 sending checks, 13 of 15 automation checks and 17 of 20 desktop and phone checks. A campaign took 62 minutes to build. Our Brevo review has more.
Brevo is an all-in-one platform for email, SMS, WhatsApp, landing pages and a small CRM. Unlike most rivals, it prices mainly by how many emails you send, not how many contacts you store, so its free plan allows up to 100,000 contacts at 300 emails a day.
Refunds are given only for a Brevo technical error. It has 3.8 out of 5 on Trustpilot from 7,251 reviews (checked November 2026), with complaints about new accounts suspended for spam checks.
Who it's for
Businesses with big lists that email them only now and then.
Skip it if
You send a lot and want the best inbox placement. MailerLite placed 233 emails to Brevo's 204.
What we liked
- Free plan for up to 100,000 contacts
- Paid plans from $9 a month
- Scored 4 on every part of the test
What we didn't
- 300 emails a day on the free plan
- Professional jumps to $499 a month
- New accounts can be suspended for checks
Key features
- Email campaigns and drag-and-drop editor
- Automation and A/B testing on Standard and up
- SMS and WhatsApp messages
- Landing pages and forms on paid plans
Plans and prices
| Free 300 emails a day; Templates and editor. | Free |
| Starter No daily cap; Segmentation, forms. | $9 a month, or $8.08 a month billed yearly |
| Standard Automation; A/B testing. | $18 a month, or $16.17 a month billed yearly |
| Professional WhatsApp; Popups, web and mobile push. | $499 a month, or $449.10 a month billed yearly |
Campaign Monitor
Best for agenciesCampaign Monitor came fifth with 3 out of 5. It put 164 of 240 emails in the inbox, 46 in promotions and 30 in spam, passed 5 of 8 sending checks, 11 of 15 automation checks and 13 of 20 desktop and phone checks. A campaign took 83 minutes. Read our Campaign Monitor review.
Owned by Marigold, it offers campaigns, journeys, templates and segmentation for businesses and agencies, with unlimited sends from the Essentials plan. There's no free plan, only a 30-day trial for 500 contacts and 500 emails.
Users rate it 2.2 out of 5 on Trustpilot from 200 reviews (checked November 2026), and some report accounts closed for inactivity.
Who it's for
Agencies and regular senders who want a polished email builder.
Skip it if
You send now and then or watch costs. MailerLite did far better and has a free plan.
What we liked
- Unlimited sends from Essentials
- Template quality, users say
- 30-day trial
What we didn't
- 30 of 240 emails went to spam
- 13 of 20 desktop and phone checks
- Accounts closed for inactivity, users say
Key features
- Email builder and templates
- Drip campaigns and AI Writer from Lite
- Send time optimisation on Premier
- Multi-brand management on Enterprise
Plans and prices
| Lite 2,500 sends; Drip campaigns. | $13 a month |
| Essentials Unlimited sends; Priority support. | $31 a month |
| Premier Phone support; Advanced segments. | $171 a month |
| Enterprise Account manager; Multi-brand. | Custom contact sales |
Flodesk
Best for design-led creatorsFlodesk came sixth with 2.5 out of 5, with deliverability its best part at 3 and automation its weakest at 2. It put 166 of 240 emails in the inbox, with 30 in spam, but passed only 11 of 20 desktop and phone checks and 9 of 15 automation checks. A campaign took 87 minutes. See our Flodesk review.
Flodesk is known for designer templates, forms and landing pages for creators, and its Everything plan adds checkout and sales funnels. Growing past your subscriber tier upgrades you automatically.
Users love it: 4.8 out of 5 on Trustpilot from 323 reviews (checked November 2026), though some mention slow email-only support and font problems.
Who it's for
Solo creators who care most about how their emails look.
Skip it if
You rely on automation. Mailchimp passed all 15 automation checks to Flodesk's 9.
What we liked
- Designer templates
- Free plan to start
- Rated 4.8 out of 5 on Trustpilot
What we didn't
- Only 11 of 20 desktop and phone checks
- 9 of 15 automation checks
- Auto-upgrades when your list grows
Key features
- Forms and landing pages
- Segmentation on every plan
- Workflows on Pro and up
- Checkout, sales pages and abandoned cart on Everything
Plans and prices
| Free Forms and landing pages; Designer templates. | Free |
| Lite Unlimited sends; Email analytics. | $25 a month, or $19 a month billed yearly |
| Pro Unlimited workflows; Advanced analytics. | $28 a month, or $25 a month billed yearly |
| Everything Unlimited checkouts; Sales pages and funnels. | $54 a month, or $44 a month billed yearly |
Mailmeteor
Best for Gmail mail mergeMailmeteor came seventh with 2.5 out of 5 on every part. It put 153 of 240 emails in the inbox, 52 in promotions and 35 in spam, and passed 10 of 15 automation checks and 12 of 20 desktop and phone checks. A campaign took 94 minutes. Our Mailmeteor review explains why.
Mailmeteor sends personalised mass email from your own Gmail or Outlook account, as an add-on for Gmail, Google Sheets and Excel rather than a separate list platform. Daily and monthly limits apply.
It has the cheapest paid plan here and a 30-day refund, and users rate it 4.3 out of 5 on Trustpilot from 113 reviews (checked November 2026).
Who it's for
Small senders who want to send personal-looking emails from Gmail to a short list.
Skip it if
You run newsletters or store flows. MailerLite is built for that and placed far more mail in the inbox.
What we liked
- Paid plans from $5.99 a user a month
- Full refund within 30 days
- Sends from your own inbox
What we didn't
- 35 of 240 emails went to spam
- 94 minutes to build a campaign
- Bound by Gmail's daily limits
Key features
- Mail merge from Google Sheets
- Email tracker on every plan
- Follow-ups and warm-up on Premium
- CRM integration on Professional
Plans and prices
| Free 500 emails a month; 3 campaigns. | Free |
| Starter 5,000 a month; Unlimited campaigns. | $5.99 a month |
| Premium 30,000 a month; Follow-ups. | $17.99 a month |
| Professional 60,000 a month; Inbox rotation. | $35.99 a month |
Moosend
Best for unlimited sends on a budgetMoosend came eighth with 2 out of 5. It put 139 of 240 emails in the inbox, the fewest, with 40 in spam, passed just 8 of 15 automation checks and 11 of 20 desktop and phone checks, and took 101 minutes to build a campaign. Read our Moosend review.
Moosend sells one Pro plan with unlimited sends, automation, landing pages and forms, priced by contact count. Its free plan is gone, but a 30-day trial for up to 1,000 contacts remains. Constant Contact bought it in 2025.
It has 2.9 out of 5 on Trustpilot from 85 reviews (checked November 2026), with complaints about auto-renewals.
Who it's for
Budget senders who want automation and unlimited sends.
Skip it if
You need mail to reach the inbox. MailerLite placed 233 emails to Moosend's 139.
What we liked
- Unlimited sends on Pro
- 30-day trial with no card needed
- ISO 27001 certificate
What we didn't
- Fewest emails in the inbox, tied at 139
- Only 8 of 15 automation checks
- Refund terms not found
Key features
- Email builder with AI Writer
- Automation and segmentation
- Landing pages and forms
- SMTP and transactional email
Plans and prices
| Pro Unlimited campaigns; Automation. | $16 a month, or $13 a month billed yearly |
| Moosend+ Pro plus add-ons: dedicated IPs, SSO and SAML. | Custom contact sales |
| Enterprise Account manager; Priority support. | Custom contact sales |
GetResponse
Best for email plus webinarsGetResponse came last of nine with 2 out of 5, with value its best part at 2.5. Like Moosend, it put 139 of 240 emails in the inbox and 40 in spam, and it was the slowest to build, at 102 minutes. It passed 9 of 15 automation checks and 11 of 20 desktop and phone checks. See our GetResponse review.
GetResponse bundles email, automation, landing pages, webinars, a website builder and course tools in one subscription. Prices rise with your list and are shown in euros. It states PCI DSS certification.
It has a strict no-refund policy, even if you cancel right after a charge. Users rate it 4.2 out of 5 on Trustpilot from 1,045 reviews (checked November 2026), but complain about unclear list-size billing.
Who it's for
Course creators who want webinars and email in one place.
Skip it if
You need reliable inbox delivery. MailerLite did far better and costs less to start.
What we liked
- Webinars included from Creator
- Free account and 14-day trial
- Rated 4.2 out of 5 on Trustpilot
What we didn't
- Slowest build at 102 minutes
- 40 of 240 emails went to spam
- No refunds at all
Key features
- Email and automation
- Cart recovery on Marketer and up
- Webinars, website builder and courses on Creator
- SMS and dedicated IP on Enterprise
Plans and prices
| Starter (1,000 contacts) Unlimited sends; 1 workflow. | 16 EUR a month, or 13.12 EUR a month billed yearly |
| Marketer (1,000 contacts) Unlimited workflows; Segmentation. | 54 EUR a month, or 44.28 EUR a month billed yearly |
| Creator (1,000 contacts) Webinars 100 attendees; Website builder. | 62 EUR a month, or 50.84 EUR a month billed yearly |
What it costs to get started
MailerLite, Mailchimp, Brevo, Flodesk, Mailmeteor and GetResponse all have free plans, so most people can start without paying. The cheapest paid plan is Mailmeteor Starter at $5.99 a user a month. Brevo Starter and Moosend Pro (at 500 contacts) are $9 a month, Constant Contact Lite $12, Mailchimp Essentials and Campaign Monitor Lite $13, MailerLite Comfort $19 and Flodesk Lite $25, all billed monthly. GetResponse Starter is 16 EUR a month for 1,000 contacts.
Prices climb as your list grows: Mailchimp Premium starts at $350 a month and Brevo Professional at $499. Some MailerLite, Mailchimp, Constant Contact, Campaign Monitor and Moosend prices come from a dated third-party listing because the official pages couldn't be read; all were checked on November 3, 2026.
| Tool | Cheapest way to start | Free plan | Free trial |
|---|---|---|---|
| MailerLite | $19 a month (Comfort) | Yes | 14 days |
| Mailchimp | $13 a month (Essentials) | Yes | 30 days |
| Constant Contact | $12 a month (Lite) | No | 14 days |
| Brevo | $9 a month (Starter) | Yes | Not stated |
| Campaign Monitor | $13 a month (Lite) | No | 30 days |
| Flodesk | $25 a month (Lite) | Yes | Not stated |
| Mailmeteor | $5.99 a month (Starter) | Yes | No |
| Moosend | $16 a month (Pro) | No | 30 days |
| GetResponse | 16 EUR a month (Starter (1,000 contacts)) | Yes | 14 days |
Prices from each tool's own pricing page (or a dated third-party listing where that page couldn't be read). Prices can change, so check before you buy.
Also worth knowing about
We didn't test these tools, but they come up often and may suit a specific need.
Klaviyo
Email and SMS built for online stores. We haven't tested it, but store owners may want to compare it.
Kit (ConvertKit)
A newsletter tool for creators. We haven't tested it.
ActiveCampaign
Advanced automation with a built-in CRM. We haven't tested it, but it may suit teams that need complex journeys.
How we tested
Every tool got the same job between October 19 and October 25, 2026. We built a welcome email, a newsletter and an abandoned-cart email for a made-up online store and sent each to the same 80 test inboxes at Gmail, Outlook, Yahoo and iCloud. You can read the full set-up in how we test.
We counted where each of the 240 emails landed (inbox, promotions or spam), timed how long the campaign took to build, ran 20 desktop and phone checks on the templates and editor, 8 checks on sending and authentication features, and 15 checks on the automation flows.
Each tool then got a score out of 5, in half points, for deliverability, ease of use, automation, features and value for money. Together they make the overall score, and the ranking follows it.
How to choose
This mattered most in our test. MailerLite put 233 of 240 emails in the inbox, while Moosend and GetResponse managed 139.
Most tools charge by contacts, so costs climb as your list grows. Brevo charges mainly by emails sent and allows up to 100,000 contacts free, which suits big lists you mail now and then.
Mailchimp's free plan has no automation, and GetResponse Starter allows 1 workflow. MailerLite gives 3 automations even on its free plan.
Constant Contact includes phone and chat support on every plan. Mailchimp offers phone support only on Premium.
GetResponse gives no refunds, Mailchimp generally doesn't, and Brevo refunds only for its own errors. Mailmeteor offers a full refund within 30 days.
These tools are for people who signed up to hear from you. For outreach to new contacts, our list of cold email software compares tools built for it.
Terms you'll see
- Inbox placement
- Where your email lands: the main inbox, a promotions tab or the spam folder.
- Abandoned-cart email
- An automatic reminder sent to a shopper who left items in their basket.
- SPF, DKIM and DMARC
- Settings that prove your emails really come from you, which helps keep them out of spam.
- Automation
- A series of emails that sends itself when someone signs up, buys or takes another action.
- Seed inbox
- A test inbox used to check where an email lands with a given provider.
Frequently asked questions
What is the best free email marketing software?
In our test, MailerLite. It came first and its free plan allows up to 250 subscribers, 2,500 emails a month and 3 automations. Brevo's free plan holds up to 100,000 contacts but sends 300 emails a day. Mailchimp's free plan covers 250 contacts and 500 sends a month with no automation.
How much does email marketing software cost?
Paid plans start low: Mailmeteor at $5.99 a user a month, Brevo at $9, Constant Contact Lite at $12, Mailchimp Essentials at $13 and MailerLite Comfort at $19, all billed monthly. Prices rise with your list or send volume, and top plans cost far more, such as Mailchimp Premium from $350 a month.
Is Mailchimp still worth it?
For many small shops, yes. It came second in our test, was the fastest to build in and offers more than 300 integrations. But its free plan is now 250 contacts with no automation, Premium starts at $350 a month and refunds are rare.
How did we test these tools?
We built the same welcome email, newsletter and abandoned-cart email for a made-up online store in every tool in October 2026 and sent them to 80 test inboxes at Gmail, Outlook, Yahoo and iCloud. We tracked inbox placement, timed each build and ran template, sending and automation checks.
What's the difference between pricing by contacts and by sends?
Mailchimp and Constant Contact charge by how many contacts you store, so a big list costs more even if you rarely email it. Brevo charges mainly by how many emails you send. Moosend Pro and Campaign Monitor Essentials allow unlimited sends, priced by contacts.
Can I just use Gmail instead?
Gmail on its own has no list management or unsubscribe tools for marketing. Mailmeteor adds mail merge on top of Gmail, with 500 free emails a month, but in our test it sent 35 of 240 emails to spam, so a full platform suits regular newsletters better.
The bottom line
MailerLite is the best email marketing tool for most small businesses: it got the most mail into the inbox and you can start free.
Make your case
Think a tool is missing or wrong?
If you use a tool we reviewed, or work for the company, email us with what you saw. We'll look at the evidence and update the review if it changes our findings.
Think your company belongs on this list?
Send us your product, website and the category it fits. We'll test it the same way as every other tool. It's free, and we can't promise a date or a score.
Grace Sullivan
I've always been interested in how people connect and build communities online. When exploring a new service, I pay attention to usability, transparency, pricing, and whether its advertised features make sense in everyday situations.
Update history
- November 4, 2026: published with the results of our test, run between October 19, 2026 to October 25, 2026.