Best email marketing platforms in 2026
This list compares email marketing tools for small businesses, creators and online stores. We weigh the free plan and pricing as your list grows, automation depth, ease of use and how well each platform connects to the rest of your stack.
7 brands scored6 weighted criteriaRegion: GlobalReviewed
Quick picks
Best email marketing platforms by need
Best free plan for large lists
Brevo
Free plan stores unlimited contacts and caps daily sends instead.
Best for creators
Kit (formerly ConvertKit)
Built around newsletters, landing pages and selling digital products.
Best for advanced automation
ActiveCampaign
Mature workflow builder with CRM features on higher tiers.
Ranking
All 7 email marketing platforms, ranked
Showing 7 of 7 email marketing platforms.
- 1
Brevo$
Best for businesses with large lists but modest sending
Formerly Sendinblue, Brevo combines email, SMS, WhatsApp, a basic CRM and transactional email, with pricing based mainly on email volume.
7.9/10, Very good
- 2
MailerLite$
Best for small businesses and bloggers on a budget
A lightweight, affordable platform with a clean drag-and-drop editor, automations, landing pages and a simple website builder.
7.8/10, Very good
- 3
ActiveCampaign$$$
Best for B2B and service businesses using detailed automations
An automation-first platform combining email marketing, a sales CRM and lead scoring, aimed at businesses with complex customer journeys.
7.7/10, Very good
- 4
Klaviyo$$$
Best for online stores, especially on Shopify
An ecommerce-focused email and SMS platform that pulls store data into segments, predictive metrics and revenue-tracked flows.
7.7/10, Very good
- 5
Kit (formerly ConvertKit)$$
Best for newsletter writers and online creators
ConvertKit rebranded as Kit in 2024. It focuses on creators, with newsletters, tagging-based segmentation, landing pages and selling digital products.
7.6/10, Very good
- 6
Mailchimp$$
Best for small businesses wanting a familiar all-rounder
One of the best-known email platforms, now part of Intuit, with a free tier, templates, automations and a large integration list.
7.4/10, Good
- 7
Constant Contact$$
Best for small businesses and non-profits wanting phone help
A veteran platform aimed at small businesses and non-profits, combining email with event tools, social posting and phone support.
7.2/10, Good
Method
What the score is made of
- 25%Free plan & valueA usable free plan or trial and pricing that scales fairly with contacts.
- 20%AutomationVisual workflows, triggers, segmentation and conditional logic.
- 15%Ease of use & templatesClear editor, good templates and quick set-up for a first campaign.
- 15%Integrations & ecommerceNative connections to stores, CRMs, forms and website builders.
- 15%Support & compliance toolsHelp channels on all plans plus sign-up forms, consent and authentication tools.
- 10%ScalabilityHandles growing lists and teams without a sudden price cliff.
Published facts
Side-by-side table
| Brand | Score | Free plan | Free trial on paid plans | Free plan limits | Priced by | SMS built in | Support channels | Company base / data region |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Brevo | 7.9 | Yes | No | Unlimited contacts, 300 emails per day | Emails sent | Yes | Email; phone on higher plans | EU-based company |
| MailerLite | 7.8 | Yes | Yes | Not published | Subscribers | No | Email and chat on paid plans | EU-based company |
| ActiveCampaign | 7.7 | No | Yes | No free plan | Contacts | Not published | Email and chat; phone on higher tiers | United States |
| Klaviyo | 7.7 | Yes | No | Not published | Active profiles | Yes | Email; chat on paid plans | United States |
| Kit (formerly ConvertKit) | 7.6 | Yes | Yes | Not published | Subscribers | No | Email; chat on paid plans | United States |
| Mailchimp | 7.4 | Yes | Yes | Not published | Contacts | Yes | Email and chat on paid plans; phone on top tier | United States |
| Constant Contact | 7.2 | No | Yes | No free plan | Contacts | Yes | Phone and chat | United States |
Head to head
Popular comparisons
Before you pay
Buying checklist
- Count your current contacts and estimate growth over the next year.
- Check whether pricing is by contacts, emails sent or both.
- Confirm the free plan's sending limit and whether it adds branding.
- Make sure your store, website builder or CRM has a native integration.
- Set up SPF, DKIM and DMARC for your sending domain.
- Check which support channels the plan you will buy includes.
- Look for double opt-in and consent tools if you have EU or UK subscribers.
Questions
Email marketing platforms: common questions
Which email marketing platform has the best free plan?
It depends on whether your limit is contacts or sends. Brevo's free plan stores unlimited contacts but caps how many emails you send per day, while others cap the number of subscribers. Compare both limits against your list size.
How are email marketing tools priced?
Most charge by the number of contacts on your list, and some by the number of emails you send each month. Prices rise in steps as your list grows, so check the tier above the one you need today.
Do I need SPF, DKIM and DMARC?
Yes, for reliable delivery. Major mailbox providers now expect bulk senders to authenticate their domain. Most platforms guide you through adding the DNS records.
Is Klaviyo only for ecommerce?
Klaviyo is designed mainly for online stores and works best when connected to a store platform. Other businesses can use it, but tools like MailerLite or Brevo may be simpler for non-retail needs.
Can I move my list to another platform?
Generally yes. Platforms let you export contacts as a CSV file. Automations, templates and engagement history usually do not transfer, so plan time to rebuild them.
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