Buyer’s guide · Marketing
Best Email Marketing Software in 2026: Pricing & Comparison
We compared four email marketing platforms on public pricing, free plan limits, automation depth, and contact-based billing so you can match a tool to your list size and campaign needs.
- Solo or very small lists: Brevo — free plan with daily send limits and Starter from about $8–$9/month.
- Ecommerce teams wanting predictive features: Klaviyo — free for 250 profiles; Email plan from $20/month at 500 profiles.
- Teams already in HubSpot: HubSpot Marketing Hub — free for 2 users; Starter from $7–$9 per seat/month.
Email marketing software lets you build lists, send campaigns, run automations, and measure engagement. It solves the problem of manual sending, poor segmentation, and lack of behavioral triggers for marketers and ecommerce operators.
We evaluated every platform on the same fields: published pricing (free, trial, list, or quote), free plan or trial, core focus (automation, ecommerce, multi-channel), and main limitation. Order is not a quality ranking. We sort public $0 or published price first, then quote-led plans last.
Compared at a glance
| Provider | Published pricing | Best for | Visit → |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1. Brevo | Free; Starter from ~$8–$9/mo | Solo founders and small lists needing multi-channel options | Site → |
| 2. Mailchimp | Free for 250 contacts; Essentials from ~$13/mo | Beginners who want templates and guided setup | Site → |
| 3. Klaviyo | Free for 250 profiles; Email from $20/mo at 500 | Ecommerce brands needing predictive analytics and SMS | Site → |
| 4. HubSpot Marketing Hub | Free for 2 users; Starter from $7–$9/seat/mo | Teams wanting CRM + marketing in one platform | Site → |
Prices are public list prices in USD where available, checked 10 October 2026; they change often — confirm on the vendor’s pricing page. How we evaluated: see methodology below.
Public pricing appears first; higher-tier or custom plans appear later in the table.
The 4 companies in detail
Brevo
Best for solo founders and small lists
Best for: individuals and small businesses that need email plus optional SMS or WhatsApp without a high starting cost.
| Attribute | Brevo |
|---|---|
| Published pricing | Free forever; Starter from $8–$9/mo depending on billing and tier |
| Free plan or trial | Free plan with daily send limits and contact storage |
| Core focus | Email campaigns, automation, multi-channel (SMS, WhatsApp, push) |
| Main limitation | Higher tiers and volume scale pricing; advanced features on Professional/Enterprise |
- Free plan includes email sending with clear daily limits.
- Starter adds higher volume and removes some branding options.
- Contact and send volume determine the exact monthly tier.
Mailchimp
Best for beginners wanting templates
Best for: first-time email marketers who want guided setup, templates, and a familiar interface with a free starting tier.
| Attribute | Mailchimp |
|---|---|
| Published pricing | Free for up to 250 contacts; Essentials from ~$13/mo for 500 contacts |
| Free plan or trial | Free plan with contact and daily send limits; paid trials available |
| Core focus | Campaigns, basic automation, templates, audience management |
| Main limitation | Free tier is limited to 250 contacts and 500 sends/month; pricing scales with contacts |
- Strong template library and onboarding for new users.
- Essentials and Standard add A/B testing and more automation steps.
- Contact-based pricing rises quickly as your list grows.
Klaviyo
Best for ecommerce brands
Best for: online stores that need predictive analytics, product recommendations, and combined email + SMS workflows.
| Attribute | Klaviyo |
|---|---|
| Published pricing | Free for 250 active profiles; Email plan from $20/mo at 500 profiles |
| Free plan or trial | Free plan with 500 emails/month and limited mobile credits |
| Core focus | Ecommerce automation, segmentation, predictive analytics, SMS |
| Main limitation | Pricing is profile-based and rises with active profiles; SMS is metered separately |
- Built-in ecommerce integrations and product recommendation blocks.
- Marketing plan adds social, push, and deeper analytics.
- Active profile count drives cost; suppress inactive profiles to control the bill.
HubSpot Marketing Hub
Best for teams wanting CRM + marketing
Best for: companies that already use or plan to use HubSpot CRM and want marketing automation, forms, and reporting in the same system.
| Attribute | HubSpot Marketing Hub |
|---|---|
| Published pricing | Free for up to 2 users; Starter from $7–$9/seat/mo |
| Free plan or trial | Free plan; paid plans include trials |
| Core focus | Lead generation, automation, forms, reporting tied to CRM |
| Main limitation | Professional and Enterprise require onboarding fees and higher base costs; contact limits apply |
- Free tier includes basic email and forms for small teams.
- Starter adds more contacts and essential automation.
- Higher hubs include mandatory onboarding fees and scale with marketing contacts.
I’m a solo founder with a small listNeed free or low monthly cost
I run an online storeWant product recommendations and SMS
Klaviyo is built for ecommerce with predictive features and profile-based pricing.
I want a familiar free starting pointTemplates and guided setup
Mailchimp free plan covers 250 contacts; paid tiers add automation as you grow.
I need marketing tied to a CRMOne platform for leads and campaigns
HubSpot Marketing Hub free and Starter tiers connect email and forms to the free CRM.
Buying tip
Calculate cost at your expected active contact or profile count, not the entry price. Many platforms bill by contacts or profiles; suppress unengaged contacts before you compare annual totals.
Which email tool has the best free plan?
How does contact-based pricing work?
Mailchimp, Klaviyo, and others charge based on the number of contacts or active profiles. The monthly price rises as your list grows; check the exact band for your count on the vendor page.
Can I use these for transactional email too?
Some platforms support transactional sends; others focus on marketing. Confirm deliverability, volume, and any separate transactional pricing before you rely on one tool for both.
What about SMS or multi-channel?
Brevo and Klaviyo include or meter SMS and other channels. HubSpot and Mailchimp offer add-ons. Check included credits versus overage rates.
Related comparisons
Last updated 10 October 2026 · Pricing checked 10 October 2026.
Disclosure: Kurums is reader-supported. Some links may be affiliate or sponsored links, marked as such; they never affect rankings.
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