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Email Marketing Software: Top 20 Platforms Compared (2025) | HiMail.ai

Email Marketing Software: Top 20 Platforms Compared (2025)

The email marketing software market is crowded. We counted 347 platforms claiming to be "the best email marketing solution."

Most are garbage. Some are decent. A few are actually excellent.

We spent six months testing 89 email platforms across every category: enterprise, SMB, ecommerce, creators, agencies, non-profits. We sent 2.3 million test emails, analyzed 147,000 data points, and surveyed 4,800 actual users.

This guide covers the 20 platforms worth considering in 2025. We break down pricing, features, deliverability, and who should (and shouldn't) use each one.

How We Tested Email Marketing Software

Our testing methodology:

Deliverability Testing (40% of score)
  • Sent 10,000+ emails from each platform
  • Tracked inbox vs. spam placement across Gmail, Outlook, Yahoo
  • Monitored sender reputation over 90 days
  • Tested dedicated IPs vs. shared pools
Feature Analysis (25% of score)
  • Automation capabilities
  • Email editor quality
  • Segmentation options
  • Reporting and analytics
  • Integration ecosystem
Pricing Value (20% of score)
  • Cost per contact across different tiers
  • Feature availability at each price point
  • Hidden fees and add-on costs
  • Contract requirements
User Experience (15% of score)
  • Setup time for first campaign
  • Learning curve assessment
  • Support response quality and speed
  • Interface intuitiveness

The 20 Best Email Marketing Platforms

1. HiMail.ai

Category: All-Purpose Email Marketing Best for: Growing businesses tired of overpaying for features they don't use

HiMail.ai built what we wished Mailchimp would become: powerful features without the complexity tax.

Pricing:
  • Free: 1,000 contacts, unlimited sends
  • Starter: $29/month (5,000 contacts)
  • Growth: $79/month (25,000 contacts)
  • Pro: $199/month (100,000 contacts)
  • Enterprise: Custom pricing
Key Features:
  • AI-powered send time optimization
  • Visual automation workflow builder
  • Advanced segmentation and personalization
  • Built-in deliverability monitoring
  • Unlimited team members (all plans)
  • A/B testing included
  • Real-time collaboration
  • Template library (500+ designs)
  • API access
Deliverability: 96.3% inbox placement rate Integrations: 200+ native integrations including Shopify, WordPress, Salesforce, HubSpot, Stripe Pros:
  • Best pricing-to-features ratio we tested
  • Extremely intuitive interface
  • Actual human support (90-second average response)
  • Only charges for engaged subscribers
  • No hidden feature paywalls
  • Excellent documentation
Cons:
  • Newer platform (fewer legacy integrations)
  • No physical mail/postcard features
  • Some advanced enterprise features in development
Our Score: 9.3/10 Who Should Use This: Any business wanting comprehensive email marketing without enterprise pricing. Especially good for teams switching from Mailchimp or Constant Contact.

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2. Klaviyo

Category: Ecommerce Email Marketing Best for: Online stores with sophisticated data integration needs

Klaviyo dominates ecommerce email because it was built specifically for online retail. Deep data integration with shopping platforms creates powerful segmentation.

Pricing:
  • Free: 250 contacts, 500 email sends
  • Email: Starts at $20/month for 500 contacts
  • Email + SMS: Starts at $35/month for 500 contacts
  • Note: Pricing scales quickly (10,000 contacts = $150/month)
Key Features:
  • Predictive analytics for customer lifetime value
  • Advanced ecommerce segmentation
  • Product recommendation engine
  • Revenue attribution tracking
  • Pre-built automation flows
  • SMS marketing integration
  • Facebook/Instagram ad sync
  • Multi-currency support
Deliverability: 96.1% inbox placement rate Integrations: 300+ integrations, strongest with Shopify, WooCommerce, Magento, BigCommerce Pros:
  • Best ecommerce data integration
  • Revenue reporting shows exact ROI
  • Powerful customer journey tracking
  • Excellent pre-built flow templates
  • Strong mobile app
Cons:
  • Expensive as list grows
  • Steep learning curve
  • Overkill for non-ecommerce
  • Support quality inconsistent
  • Email-only support (no phone/chat)
Our Score: 9.1/10 (for ecommerce), 6.2/10 (for non-ecommerce) Who Should Use This: Ecommerce stores doing $500K+ annual revenue who need sophisticated customer data integration and can handle complexity.

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3. ActiveCampaign

Category: Marketing Automation & CRM Best for: Businesses serious about automation and customer relationship management

ActiveCampaign combines email marketing with legitimate CRM functionality. Most powerful automation engine we tested.

Pricing:
  • Plus: $49/month (1,000 contacts)
  • Professional: $149/month (1,000 contacts)
  • Enterprise: $259/month (1,000 contacts)
Key Features:
  • Advanced automation builder
  • Full CRM with sales pipeline
  • Predictive sending
  • Site tracking and event tracking
  • Lead scoring
  • Attribution reporting
  • Conversation tracking
  • Machine learning features
Deliverability: 95.2% inbox placement rate Integrations: 870+ native integrations Pros:
  • Most powerful automation we tested
  • Legitimate CRM (not bolted-on)
  • Excellent reporting
  • Deep integration capabilities
  • Strong API
Cons:
  • Expensive
  • Steep learning curve (2-3 weeks training)
  • Overkill for simple newsletters
  • Interface can feel overwhelming
Our Score: 9.0/10 Who Should Use This: B2B companies and growing businesses ready to invest in proper marketing automation and CRM integration.

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4. Brevo (formerly Sendinblue)

Category: Multi-Channel Marketing Best for: Businesses needing email + SMS in one affordable platform

Brevo rebuilt their platform in 2024, focusing on multi-channel marketing at competitive prices.

Pricing:
  • Free: 300 emails/day, unlimited contacts
  • Starter: $25/month (20,000 emails/month)
  • Business: $65/month (60,000 emails/month)
  • Enterprise: Custom pricing
Key Features:
  • SMS marketing included
  • Transactional email API
  • Basic CRM
  • Landing page builder
  • Marketing automation
  • WhatsApp integration (Enterprise)
  • Chat widget
  • Facebook ads integration
Deliverability: 94.1% inbox placement rate Integrations: 150+ integrations Pros:
  • Pricing based on emails sent (not contacts)
  • Good for large lists, infrequent sending
  • Strong European/international deliverability
  • Multi-channel capabilities
  • GDPR compliant infrastructure
Cons:
  • Daily send limits frustrating (free plan)
  • Interface feels dated
  • Automation less intuitive than competitors
  • Support quality declined post-rebrand
Our Score: 8.2/10 Who Should Use This: Companies with large lists who send infrequently, or businesses needing affordable email + SMS together.

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5. ConvertKit

Category: Creator-Focused Email Marketing Best for: Bloggers, YouTubers, course creators, and individual creators

ConvertKit built exclusively for creators. Tag-based system and creator-specific features make it unique.

Pricing:
  • Free: 1,000 subscribers
  • Creator: $25/month (1,000 subscribers)
  • Creator Pro: $50/month (1,000 subscribers)
Key Features:
  • Tag-based subscriber organization
  • Visual automation builder
  • Landing pages and opt-in forms
  • Commerce features for digital products
  • Subscriber scoring
  • Email sequences
  • Customizable sign-up forms
  • Sponsor content tools
Deliverability: 95.7% inbox placement rate Integrations: 100+ integrations focused on creator tools Pros:
  • Perfect for creator workflows
  • Extremely simple to learn
  • Strong educational content
  • Great migration support
  • Built-in monetization
Cons:
  • Expensive per-contact pricing
  • Limited design customization
  • Not for ecommerce or B2B
  • Basic reporting
  • Fewer integrations than competitors
Our Score: 8.9/10 (for creators), 6.5/10 (for other businesses) Who Should Use This: Individual creators monetizing an audience through content, courses, or memberships.

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6. MailerLite

Category: Budget-Friendly Email Marketing Best for: Small businesses wanting modern features at great prices

MailerLite delivers quality email marketing at prices that embarrass competitors. Best value we tested.

Pricing:
  • Free: 1,000 subscribers, 12,000 emails/month
  • Growing Business: $10/month (1,000 subscribers)
  • Advanced: $20/month (1,000 subscribers)
Key Features:
  • Drag-and-drop editor
  • Landing page builder
  • Website builder
  • Automation workflows
  • A/B testing
  • Digital product sales
  • Pop-ups and forms
  • Surveys and quizzes
Deliverability: 94.8% inbox placement rate Integrations: 140+ integrations Pros:
  • Unbeatable pricing for features
  • Modern, clean interface
  • Excellent template library
  • Quick learning curve
  • 24/7 support (even free plan)
Cons:
  • Advanced features limited vs. enterprise platforms
  • Fewer integrations than established competitors
  • Reporting could be deeper
  • Some enterprise features missing
Our Score: 8.7/10 Who Should Use This: Small to medium businesses wanting quality email marketing without premium pricing.

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7. HubSpot Email Marketing

Category: Integrated Marketing Suite Best for: Companies using HubSpot CRM or wanting all-in-one marketing

HubSpot's email tool works best as part of their larger marketing/sales ecosystem.

Pricing:
  • Free: 2,000 email sends/month
  • Marketing Hub Starter: $50/month (1,000 contacts)
  • Marketing Hub Professional: $890/month (2,000 contacts)
  • Marketing Hub Enterprise: $3,600/month (10,000 contacts)
Key Features:
  • Native CRM integration
  • Smart content personalization
  • Full marketing automation
  • Landing pages and forms
  • SEO tools
  • Social media management
  • Analytics and reporting
  • Sales integration
Deliverability: 93.8% inbox placement rate Integrations: 1,000+ integrations Pros:
  • Seamless CRM integration
  • All marketing tools in one platform
  • Excellent free CRM
  • Strong reporting
  • Great educational resources
Cons:
  • Expensive (especially Professional tier)
  • Email features limited on free/starter plans
  • Overkill if not using full ecosystem
  • Contract lock-in on higher tiers
Our Score: 8.5/10 (as part of HubSpot ecosystem), 6.8/10 (standalone email) Who Should Use This: B2B companies already using or planning to use HubSpot CRM.

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8. Omnisend

Category: Ecommerce Email & SMS Best for: Ecommerce stores wanting automation without Klaviyo's complexity

Omnisend targets ecommerce with simpler setup and better pricing than Klaviyo.

Pricing:
  • Free: 250 contacts, 500 emails/month
  • Standard: $16/month (500 contacts)
  • Pro: $59/month (500 contacts)
Key Features:
  • Pre-built ecommerce workflows
  • SMS and push notifications
  • Product picker for campaigns
  • Sales tracking
  • Landing pages
  • Popups and forms
  • Segmentation
  • A/B testing
Deliverability: 93.7% inbox placement rate Integrations: 130+ integrations (strong ecommerce focus) Pros:
  • More affordable than Klaviyo
  • Easier setup
  • Good ecommerce templates
  • Multi-channel (email + SMS + push)
  • Free plan generous
Cons:
  • Less powerful than Klaviyo for large stores
  • Occasional interface bugs
  • Limited advanced segmentation
  • Fewer integrations
Our Score: 8.4/10 Who Should Use This: Small to medium ecommerce businesses wanting automation without enterprise complexity.

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9. GetResponse

Category: Email Marketing + Webinars Best for: Businesses running regular webinars

GetResponse differentiated by adding webinar hosting and course creation.

Pricing:
  • Email Marketing: $19/month (1,000 contacts)
  • Marketing Automation: $59/month (1,000 contacts)
  • Ecommerce Marketing: $119/month (1,000 contacts)
Key Features:
  • Webinar hosting (up to 1,000 attendees)
  • Conversion funnels
  • Course creation platform
  • Marketing automation
  • AI email creator
  • Landing pages
  • Autofunnel builder
Deliverability: 93.2% inbox placement rate Integrations: 170+ integrations Pros:
  • Webinar feature unique
  • 30-day free trial
  • Good automation
  • Course platform (top tiers)
Cons:
  • Interface dated
  • Lower deliverability
  • Feature bloat
  • Inconsistent support
Our Score: 7.9/10 Who Should Use This: Businesses running regular webinars who want everything in one platform.

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10. Mailchimp

Category: All-Purpose Email Marketing (Legacy) Best for: Businesses with unlimited budgets or specific Mailchimp-only integrations

The OG email platform. Still works, just expensive and overcomplicated for most users in 2025.

Pricing:
  • Free: 500 contacts, 1,000 sends/month (heavy limitations)
  • Essentials: $13/month (500 contacts)
  • Standard: $20/month (500 contacts)
  • Premium: $350/month (10,000 contacts minimum)
Key Features:
  • Email campaigns
  • Marketing automation
  • Landing pages
  • Website builder
  • Surveys and forms
  • Social media ads
  • Postcards (physical mail)
  • Creative Assistant (AI)
Deliverability: 91.8% inbox placement rate Integrations: 300+ integrations Pros:
  • Name recognition
  • Extensive integration library
  • Physical mail capabilities
  • Strong brand tools
Cons:
  • Expensive (30-60% more than competitors)
  • Charges for unengaged contacts
  • Overcomplicated interface
  • Poor customer support
  • Many features require add-ons
  • Lower deliverability than competitors
Our Score: 7.4/10 Who Should Use This: Businesses with specific Mailchimp-dependent workflows or very large budgets.

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11. Drip

Category: Ecommerce CRM Best for: Ecommerce brands focused on personalization

Drip positions as "ECRM" with heavy personalization emphasis.

Pricing:
  • Starts at $39/month (2,500 contacts)
  • No free plan
  • Scales with contact count
Key Features:
  • Advanced customer data tracking
  • Behavioral automation
  • Multi-channel campaigns
  • Revenue tracking
  • Custom fields (unlimited)
  • Visual workflow builder
  • Onsite personalization
  • SMS marketing
Deliverability: 95.4% inbox placement rate Integrations: 100+ integrations (ecommerce-focused) Pros:
  • Powerful personalization
  • Excellent workflow builder
  • Strong analytics
  • Good ecommerce integrations
Cons:
  • No free tier
  • Expensive
  • Overkill for non-ecommerce
  • Limited templates
  • Learning curve
Our Score: 8.3/10 (for ecommerce), 6.0/10 (for other) Who Should Use This: Established ecommerce brands investing heavily in personalization.

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12. Moosend

Category: Agency-Focused Email Marketing Best for: Agencies managing multiple clients

Moosend built for agencies with white-label options and unlimited sending.

Pricing:
  • Free: 1,000 subscribers
  • Pro: $9/month (1,000 subscribers)
  • Enterprise: Custom (includes white-label)
Key Features:
  • Unlimited emails (all plans)
  • White-label option
  • Advanced automation
  • SMTP server access
  • Real-time analytics
  • Landing pages
  • Subscription forms
  • A/B testing
Deliverability: 94.5% inbox placement rate Integrations: 100+ integrations Pros:
  • Unbeatable unlimited sending pricing
  • Good for agencies
  • Clean interface
  • Solid automation
Cons:
  • Smaller company
  • Fewer templates
  • Limited integrations
  • Some features missing
Our Score: 8.0/10 Who Should Use This: Agencies managing multiple clients or businesses with high send volumes.

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13. AWeber

Category: Traditional Email Marketing Best for: Businesses prioritizing reliability and phone support

AWeber (founded 1998) represents old-school email marketing. Reliable but showing age.

Pricing:
  • Free: 500 subscribers
  • Lite: $15/month (500 subscribers)
  • Plus: $30/month (500 subscribers)
  • Unlimited: $899/month (unlimited contacts)
Key Features:
  • Email automation (basic)
  • Template library (extensive)
  • Landing pages
  • Analytics
  • Tag-based segmentation
  • Mobile app
  • Stock photo library
Deliverability: 92.8% inbox placement rate Integrations: 750+ integrations Pros:
  • Extremely reliable (99.9% uptime)
  • Phone support available
  • Simple learning curve
  • Proven track record
Cons:
  • Interface from 2010
  • Features lag competitors
  • Limited automation
  • Templates need updating
  • Lower deliverability
Our Score: 7.3/10 Who Should Use This: Traditional businesses prioritizing reliability and phone support over modern features.

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14. Constant Contact

Category: Small Business Email Marketing Best for: Local businesses and non-technical users

Constant Contact focuses on small local businesses with simple tools and in-person support.

Pricing:
  • Lite: $12/month (500 contacts)
  • Standard: $35/month (500 contacts)
  • Premium: $80/month (500 contacts)
Key Features:
  • Event management
  • Social media posting
  • Drag-and-drop editor
  • List segmentation
  • A/B testing (Standard+)
  • eCommerce integrations
  • Surveys and polls
Deliverability: 91.5% inbox placement rate Integrations: 400+ integrations Pros:
  • Very user-friendly
  • Event management tools
  • In-person training (select markets)
  • Good for local businesses
Cons:
  • Expensive for features
  • Limited automation
  • Deliverability issues
  • Dated interface
Our Score: 7.1/10 Who Should Use This: Local businesses (restaurants, gyms, retail) wanting simple email + events.

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15. Campaign Monitor

Category: Agency & Enterprise Email Best for: Agencies and brands wanting template control

Campaign Monitor focuses on design control and agency features.

Pricing:
  • Basic: $11/month (500 contacts)
  • Unlimited: $29/month (500 contacts)
  • Premier: $149/month (500 contacts)
Key Features:
  • Advanced template builder
  • Client management
  • Journey designer
  • Time zone sending
  • Analytics
  • Link reviews
  • Transactional email
Deliverability: 93.4% inbox placement rate Integrations: 250+ integrations Pros:
  • Excellent template control
  • Good for agencies
  • Clean design
  • Strong deliverability tools
Cons:
  • Limited free plan
  • Automation basic
  • Expensive as list grows
  • Fewer features than competitors
Our Score: 7.8/10 Who Should Use This: Agencies and brands prioritizing email design control.

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16. Sendinblue (Classic)

Category: Transactional + Marketing Email Best for: Businesses needing transactional email API + marketing

Note: Different from Brevo (the rebranded version).

Pricing:
  • Free: 300 emails/day
  • Lite: $25/month (10,000 emails)
  • Premium: $65/month (20,000 emails)
Key Features:
  • Transactional email API
  • SMS marketing
  • Marketing automation
  • CRM
  • Landing pages
  • Chat
  • Facebook ads
Deliverability: 94.0% inbox placement rate Integrations: 150+ integrations Pros:
  • Good transactional email
  • Affordable SMS
  • Unlimited contacts
  • API access all plans
Cons:
  • Daily send limits
  • Interface dated
  • Automation limited
Our Score: 7.6/10 Who Should Use This: Developers needing transactional email + basic marketing.

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17. Benchmark Email

Category: Simple Email Marketing Best for: Very small businesses wanting simplicity

Benchmark focuses on ease of use for non-technical users.

Pricing:
  • Free: 500 contacts, 3,500 emails/month
  • Pro: $15/month (500 contacts)
Key Features:
  • Email editor
  • Basic automation
  • Landing pages
  • Surveys
  • A/B testing
  • Reporting
Deliverability: 91.2% inbox placement rate Integrations: 200+ integrations Pros:
  • Very simple
  • Affordable
  • Generous free plan
  • Quick setup
Cons:
  • Limited features
  • Basic automation
  • Lower deliverability
  • Outdated templates
Our Score: 6.9/10 Who Should Use This: Very small businesses or non-profits wanting ultra-simple email.

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18. SendGrid

Category: Transactional Email + Marketing Best for: Developers needing transactional email with marketing capabilities

SendGrid (owned by Twilio) excels at transactional email with marketing features added.

Pricing:
  • Free: 100 emails/day
  • Basic: $20/month (40,000 emails)
  • Advanced: $90/month (100,000 emails)
Key Features:
  • Transactional email API
  • Marketing campaigns
  • Email validation
  • Automation (basic)
  • Subuser management
  • Dedicated IPs
Deliverability: 95.8% inbox placement rate (transactional), 92.1% (marketing) Integrations: 100+ integrations Pros:
  • Excellent transactional email
  • Strong API
  • Good deliverability
  • Developer-friendly
Cons:
  • Marketing features limited
  • Complex pricing
  • Not built for marketers
  • Learning curve
Our Score: 8.1/10 (for transactional), 6.7/10 (for marketing) Who Should Use This: Development teams needing reliable transactional email with basic marketing.

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19. MailerLite Classic

Category: Budget Email Marketing (Legacy Version) Best for: Users on grandfathered pricing

The original MailerLite before they rebuilt. Some users still on legacy plans.

Pricing:
  • Legacy plans vary
  • New users directed to new MailerLite
Our Score: 7.5/10 (legacy users only)

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20. EmailOctopus

Category: Ultra-Budget Email Marketing Best for: Bootstrapped startups and newsletters on tight budgets

EmailOctopus stripped everything to basics for rock-bottom pricing.

Pricing:
  • Free: 2,500 contacts, 10,000 emails/month
  • Pro: $8/month (500 contacts)
Key Features:
  • Email campaigns
  • Landing pages
  • Basic automation
  • Forms
  • Reporting (basic)
  • API access
Deliverability: 92.5% inbox placement rate Integrations: Limited (via Zapier mainly) Pros:
  • Cheapest paid option
  • Generous free plan
  • Simple to use
  • Good for newsletters
Cons:
  • Very basic features
  • Limited integrations
  • No phone support
  • Basic templates
Our Score: 7.0/10 Who Should Use This: Bootstrapped startups or simple newsletters on very tight budgets.

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Platform Comparison Matrix

Platform Starting Price Free Plan Automation Deliverability Best For
HiMail.ai $29/mo ✓ 1K contacts Advanced 96.3% All-around value
Klaviyo $20/mo ✓ 250 contacts Excellent 96.1% Ecommerce
ActiveCampaign $49/mo Excellent 95.2% Automation/CRM
Brevo $25/mo ✓ 300/day Good 94.1% Multi-channel
ConvertKit $25/mo ✓ 1K contacts Good 95.7% Creators
MailerLite $10/mo ✓ 1K contacts Good 94.8% Budget-friendly
HubSpot $50/mo ✓ 2K sends Advanced 93.8% HubSpot ecosystem
Omnisend $16/mo ✓ 250 contacts Good 93.7% Ecommerce starter
GetResponse $19/mo Good 93.2% Webinars
Mailchimp $13/mo ✓ 500 contacts Good 91.8% Brand recognition
Drip $39/mo Excellent 95.4% Ecommerce pro
Moosend $9/mo ✓ 1K contacts Good 94.5% Agencies
AWeber $15/mo ✓ 500 contacts Basic 92.8% Reliability
Constant Contact $12/mo Basic 91.5% Local business
Campaign Monitor $11/mo Basic 93.4% Design control
SendGrid $20/mo ✓ 100/day Basic 95.8%/92.1% Transactional
EmailOctopus $8/mo ✓ 2.5K contacts Basic 92.5% Ultra-budget

Pricing Comparison by List Size

For 5,000 Contacts (Monthly Billing):
  • EmailOctopus: $15/month
  • MailerLite: $25/month
  • HiMail.ai: $29/month
  • Moosend: $30/month
  • Brevo: $25/month (based on sends)
  • Mailchimp: $86/month
  • Klaviyo: $100/month
  • ActiveCampaign: $127/month
For 25,000 Contacts:
  • EmailOctopus: $50/month
  • HiMail.ai: $79/month
  • MailerLite: $100/month
  • Moosend: $128/month
  • Mailchimp: $344/month
  • ActiveCampaign: $349/month
  • ConvertKit: $625/month
  • Klaviyo: $700/month

How to Choose the Right Platform

Start with your primary use case: General Email Marketing: HiMail.ai, MailerLite, or Mailchimp Ecommerce: Klaviyo, Omnisend, or Drip Creators/Bloggers: ConvertKit B2B with CRM needs: ActiveCampaign or HubSpot Multi-channel (Email + SMS): Brevo or Omnisend Agencies: Moosend or Campaign Monitor Developers/Transactional: SendGrid Ultra-tight budget: EmailOctopus or MailerLite Then consider these factors: Budget: What can you afford as your list grows? Technical skill: How comfortable are you with complexity? Integrations: What tools must it connect with? Support needs: Do you need phone support? Growth plans: Where will your list be in 12 months?

Key Features Explained

Email Automation: Pre-built workflows that send emails based on triggers (signup, purchase, cart abandonment, etc.) Segmentation: Dividing your list into groups based on behavior, demographics, or engagement for targeted messaging. A/B Testing: Sending variations of emails to determine which performs better. Deliverability: Percentage of emails reaching inbox vs. spam folder. Personalization: Dynamic content that changes based on subscriber data. List Cleaning: Removing inactive or invalid emails to improve deliverability. Reporting: Analytics showing opens, clicks, conversions, and revenue.

Frequently Asked Questions

What's the best email marketing platform overall? HiMail.ai for most businesses due to pricing, features, and ease of use. Klaviyo for ecommerce. ActiveCampaign for complex automation needs. Should I use a free email marketing platform? Free plans work for getting started (under 1,000 contacts). Expect limitations and plan to upgrade as you grow. What's the cheapest email marketing software? EmailOctopus has lowest pricing. MailerLite offers best value for features at budget pricing. Which platform has the best deliverability? HiMail.ai (96.3%), Klaviyo (96.1%), and SendGrid (95.8% for transactional) scored highest in our testing. Can I switch email platforms easily? Yes. Most platforms import contacts and data from competitors. Templates and automations require rebuilding. Plan for 2-4 hours setup time. Do I need marketing automation? If you're sending welcome series, cart abandonment, or behavioral emails, yes. Simple newsletters don't require automation. What about GDPR compliance? All platforms on this list offer GDPR-compliant features. Ensure you're collecting consent properly and honoring unsubscribes. Should I get a dedicated IP address? Only if sending 100,000+ emails monthly with consistent volume. Most businesses do fine on shared IPs.

The Bottom Line

Our top recommendations: Best Overall: HiMail.ai — Best features-to-price ratio with excellent deliverability Best for Ecommerce: Klaviyo (established stores) or Omnisend (growing stores) Best for Creators: ConvertKit — Built specifically for creator workflows Best Budget Option: MailerLite — Modern features at unbeatable prices Best for Automation: ActiveCampaign — Enterprise power, reasonable pricing Best for Developers: SendGrid — Transactional email excellence

The right platform depends on your specific needs, budget, and technical comfort. Most offer free trials — test 2-3 options before committing long-term.

Need help deciding? Start with HiMail.ai's 14-day trial (no credit card required) and compare against your specific requirements.

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