9 Best Email Marketing Software for Small Business of 2026

1. 1

   Brevo

   Email, SMS and WhatsApp marketing platform priced by email volume rather than contact count.

   8.9overall

   Email, SMS and WhatsApp marketing platform priced by email volume rather than contact count.

   Best forSmall businesses with large contact lists and modest send volumes

   Adoption data

   600KBrevo's About page reports 600,000 customers globally.

   Brevo, About Brevo (2026): “600K Customers globally”

   Brevo prices on email volume, which makes it unusual among newsletter tools. Its help center lists five plans: Free at $0, Starter from $9 per month, Standard from $18, Professional from $499 and a custom Enterprise tier. The Free plan includes 300 daily email sends and storage for up to 100,000 contacts, with no credit card and no time limit, so a small business with a large customer file but a monthly newsletter can stay on low tiers for a long time. Brevo's About page reports 600,000 customers globally and a founding year of 2012. Standard adds A/B testing, send time optimization and advanced reports. The trade-offs are the daily send cap on the free plan, the Brevo logo on Starter emails unless you buy the add-on, and the large step from Standard to Professional. We compared documented features and published prices and did not run hands-on tests.

   Strengths

   • +Cheapest verified paid plan on this list at $9 per month
   • +Pricing follows sends, so large lists stay cheap
   • +No credit card or time limit on the Free plan

   Limitations

   • −Free plan caps sending at 300 emails per day
   • −Brevo logo removal is an add-on on Starter
   • −Professional plan jumps to $499 per month

   SummaryBrevo is the best choice for small businesses with big contact lists because its Free plan stores up to 100,000 contacts and Starter costs $9 per month. Pick another tool if you need to send more than 300 emails a day for free.

2. 2

   Mailchimp

   Intuit's email marketing platform with a free tier and Essentials, Standard and Premium plans priced by contact count.

   8.9overall

   Intuit's email marketing platform with a free tier and Essentials, Standard and Premium plans priced by contact count.

   Best forSmall businesses that want the most widely used newsletter tool

   Adoption data

   11 millionMailchimp's homepage says 11 million businesses choose the platform, the largest business count published by any tool on this list.

   Mailchimp, Mailchimp homepage (2026): “Discover why 11 million businesses choose Mailchimp.”

   Mailchimp is the default starting point for many small business newsletters, and its own homepage puts the user base at 11 million businesses. The free plan covers audiences under 250 contacts, with sends capped at 500 per month or 250 per day, which is enough to test a first newsletter but not to run one for long. Essentials starts at $13 per month in US dollars and adds testing and scheduling, and Standard adds the automations and generative AI tools that Mailchimp promotes on its pricing page. Mailchimp's pricing page also lists monthly send limits of 10, 12 and 15 times the contact count on paid plans, so a list of 1,000 contacts gets at least 10,000 sends. The weakness is price growth: each contact tier raises the bill, and the free plan is limited to a single seat. We compared documented features and published prices and did not run hands-on tests.

   Strengths

   • +11 million businesses on the platform, per Mailchimp
   • +Free tier lets a new newsletter start at $0
   • +14-day trial on Essentials and Standard

   Limitations

   • −Free plan stops at 250 contacts
   • −Free plan allows 1 seat
   • −Prices rise with every contact tier

   SummaryMailchimp is the best choice for small businesses that want the most widely adopted tool because 11 million businesses use it and Essentials starts at $13 per month. Budget for higher tiers once the list passes a few thousand contacts.

3. 3

   MailerLite

   Email marketing platform with a website builder, landing pages and automations on every plan.

   8.8overall

   Email marketing platform with a website builder, landing pages and automations on every plan.

   Best forSolopreneurs and small teams that want a full toolset at a low price

   Adoption data

   1 millionMailerLite's homepage says more than 1 million creators and businesses use the product.

   MailerLite, MailerLite homepage (2026): “Join 1M+ creators and businesses using MailerLite to grow.”

   MailerLite packs more into its free tier than most rivals. The free plan covers up to 250 subscribers and 2,500 monthly emails and still includes campaigns, automations, a website, a landing page and signup forms, plus all three email editors. Comfort, which starts at $12 per month, adds unlimited templates, dynamic emails, campaign auto-resend and multivariate testing, and MailerLite describes it as sized for solopreneurs and small teams. The homepage says more than 1 million creators and businesses use the product, which puts it in the top tier of adoption on this list. The limits are clear: free accounts lose sending ability once active subscribers exceed 250, and Comfort includes 3 seats. A small business planning a weekly newsletter to a few hundred readers can run on Comfort at a fraction of Mailchimp Standard's price. We compared documented features and published prices and did not run hands-on tests.

   Strengths

   • +Free plan includes automations and a website
   • +1 million creators and businesses, per MailerLite
   • +No credit card needed for the 14-day trial

   Limitations

   • −Free plan sending locks above 250 active subscribers
   • −Free plan capped at 2,500 emails per month
   • −Comfort allows 3 seats

   SummaryMailerLite is the best choice for budget-minded small businesses because Comfort costs $12 per month and the free plan already includes automations and a website. Teams that need many seats should compare the Power plan first.

4. 4

   Constant Contact

   Email, social and SMS marketing platform built for small businesses, nonprofits and franchises.

   8.2overall

   Email, social and SMS marketing platform built for small businesses, nonprofits and franchises.

   Best forSmall businesses that want live onboarding and phone support

   Adoption data

   460KConstant Contact's homepage says more than 460,000 small businesses, nonprofits and franchises trust it with their marketing.

   Constant Contact, Constant Contact homepage (2026): “Join the 460K+ small businesses, nonprofits, and franchises who trust Constant Contact with their marketing.”

   Constant Contact aims squarely at small organizations, and its homepage says more than 460,000 small businesses, nonprofits and franchises use it. The Lite plan starts at $10.20 per month billed annually and includes email and social media tools, easy contact management, web signup forms and 1 custom segment. Standard starts at $29.75 per month billed annually and raises the segment limit to 10, while Premium adds unlimited segments, Google Ad Manager and SEO recommendations. Every plan includes live 1:1 onboarding and live phone and chat support, which is rare at this price. SMS costs extra on Lite and Standard, starting at $10 per month for 1 to 500 messages, and Premium includes 500 messages. The main drawbacks are the lack of a permanent free plan and pricing that depends on both contacts and sends, with possible overage fees. We compared documented features and published prices and did not run hands-on tests.

   Strengths

   • +460,000+ small businesses, nonprofits and franchises, per the vendor
   • +Live phone and chat support from Lite upward
   • +Nonprofits can save up to 30% by prepaying

   Limitations

   • −No permanent free plan
   • −Lite includes only 1 custom segment
   • −Overage fees may apply above plan limits

   SummaryConstant Contact is the best choice for owners who want a person to help them set up because live 1:1 onboarding and phone support come with every plan. Skip it if you need a free tier to start.

5. 5

   GetResponse

   Email marketing and automation platform with unlimited sends on list-size pricing.

   8.2overall

   Email marketing and automation platform with unlimited sends on list-size pricing.

   Best forSmall businesses that send often to a mid-sized list

   Adoption data

   350,000GetResponse's About page reports more than 350,000 customers in 183 countries.

   GetResponse, About GetResponse (2026): “350,000+ customers worldwide”

   GetResponse sells plans by list size and does not cap sends. Its pricing FAQ says monthly plans start at $19 per month for unlimited messages to 1,000 subscribers, and a 12-month plan saves 18%. Starter accounts allow 3 users and include ecommerce integrations, which suits a small store or service business that emails several times a week. The About page reports more than 350,000 customers worldwide in 183 countries, 25+ years on the market and email support in 7 languages. Higher plans add more automation, and the Enterprise tier adds SMS marketing, AI product recommendations and mobile push notifications. The absence of a free plan makes it less attractive for a newsletter that is still finding readers, and like most rivals the bill rises as the list grows. We compared documented features and published prices and did not run hands-on tests.

   Strengths

   • +Unlimited sends at $19 per month for 1,000 subscribers
   • +350,000+ customers in 183 countries
   • +14-day trial without a credit card

   Limitations

   • −No permanent free plan
   • −Price climbs with list size
   • −SMS and push notifications sit in higher tiers

   SummaryGetResponse is the best choice for small businesses that email often because Starter includes unlimited sends for $19 per month at 1,000 subscribers. Newsletters that send once a month will find cheaper options above.

6. 6

   ActiveCampaign

   Marketing automation platform with email campaigns, AI features and an optional CRM add-on.

   8.1overall

   Marketing automation platform with email campaigns, AI features and an optional CRM add-on.

   Best forSmall businesses that want multi-step automations from day one

   Adoption data

   180,000ActiveCampaign says its platform helps more than 180,000 customers.

   ActiveCampaign, About ActiveCampaign (2026): “ActiveCampaign’s intelligent marketing automation platform helps over 180,000 customers get more out of their marketing and sales campaigns.”

   ActiveCampaign is an automation tool first and a newsletter tool second. Starter costs $15 per month billed yearly for 1,000 contacts and includes multi-step marketing automation, AI-powered automation and campaign builders, more than 250 pre-built email templates and 10,000 email sends per month for one user seat. Plus adds cross-channel marketing, generative AI for content and images, landing pages and access to the Enhanced CRM add-on, while Pro adds predictive sending and conditional content. The company says its platform helps more than 180,000 customers. For a small business that wants timed welcome series and lead nurturing sequences, ActiveCampaign covers more ground than the newsletter-focused tools on this list. For a simple monthly update, the lack of a free plan and the single seat on Starter make it a costly choice. We compared documented features and published prices and did not run hands-on tests.

   Strengths

   • +Multi-step automation included even on Starter
   • +180,000+ customers, per ActiveCampaign
   • +500 Active Intelligence credits on every plan

   Limitations

   • −No free plan
   • −Starter allows 1 user seat
   • −Landing pages require Plus or higher

   SummaryActiveCampaign is the best choice for small businesses that need automation beyond a newsletter because even Starter at $15 per month includes multi-step automations. Simple newsletters do not need it.

7. 7

   HubSpot Email Marketing

   Email marketing inside HubSpot Marketing Hub, connected to HubSpot's free CRM.

   8.1overall

   Email marketing inside HubSpot Marketing Hub, connected to HubSpot's free CRM.

   Best forSmall businesses that already keep customer records in HubSpot

   Adoption data

   306,000HubSpot reports 306,000 customers across its whole platform, which covers sales and service as well as marketing.

   HubSpot, HubSpot: Our Story (2026): “306,000 Customers”

   HubSpot sells email marketing as part of Marketing Hub, which sits on top of its CRM. The pricing page lists a free tier for up to 2 users and a Starter tier for up to 10 users, with Professional and Enterprise above for teams that need advanced automation. The main reason to pick HubSpot over a newsletter tool is the shared customer record: email activity sits on the same contact records the sales team uses. HubSpot reports 306,000 customers, although that figure covers all of its hubs and is not specific to email. Our location received euro prices on the pricing page, so the US dollar price is pending and HubSpot's value score is conservative. Small businesses should also check how marketing contacts are billed before importing a large list. We compared documented features and published prices and did not run hands-on tests.

   Strengths

   • +306,000 customers across HubSpot's platform
   • +Free tier for up to 2 users
   • +Contacts, deals and email history in one place

   Limitations

   • −USD price check pending from our location
   • −Professional tier costs much more than Starter
   • −More setup than a newsletter-only tool

   SummaryHubSpot Email Marketing is the best choice for small businesses already running on HubSpot's CRM because email activity lands on the same contact records as deals. Newsletter-only senders will pay less elsewhere.

8. 8

   Kit

   Email platform for creators with a free plan up to 10,000 subscribers.

   8.0overall

   Email platform for creators with a free plan up to 10,000 subscribers.

   Best forCreator-led businesses selling digital products or paid newsletters

   Adoption data

   550,000Kit's homepage says it is trusted by more than 550,000 creator business owners.

   Kit, Kit homepage (2026): “Kit is the email marketing platform trusted by 550,000+ creator business owners”

   Kit is built for creators, but its free plan makes it worth a look for any small business starting a newsletter. The Free plan covers up to 10,000 subscribers and includes unlimited landing pages, forms and email broadcasts, audience tagging and segmentation, and the ability to sell digital products and subscriptions. Creator costs $33 per month billed yearly for 1,000 subscribers, or $390 per year, and adds unlimited visual automations and email sequences. Pro adds features such as Facebook custom audience sync and a newsletter referral system. Kit's homepage says more than 550,000 creator business owners use the platform. The weak point for a typical small business is price: at 1,000 subscribers, Creator costs more than double the entry plans from Brevo, MailerLite or Constant Contact. We compared documented features and published prices and did not run hands-on tests.

   Strengths

   • +Largest free subscriber allowance on this list at 10,000
   • +550,000+ creator business owners, per Kit
   • +Free migrations and a 14-day trial

   Limitations

   • −Creator plan costs $33 per month billed yearly at 1,000 subscribers
   • −Automations require a paid plan
   • −Built for creators more than shops or local services

   SummaryKit is the best choice for creator-led businesses because its Free plan allows up to 10,000 subscribers with unlimited broadcasts. Shops that need automations soon will pay less with MailerLite or Brevo.

9. 9

   AWeber

   Long-running email marketing platform for small businesses with a free plan and Lite and Plus tiers.

   7.4overall

   Long-running email marketing platform for small businesses with a free plan and Lite and Plus tiers.

   Best forVery small lists that want 24/7 support and a free start

   AWeber has sold email marketing to small businesses since 1998 and keeps its offer simple. The free plan covers up to 500 subscribers and 3,000 emails a month with no time limit, one landing page and one automation, though free sends carry AWeber branding. Paid plans start at $15 per month for Lite and $30 per month for Plus, with lower rates when billed annually. Lite includes 1 email list, 3 landing pages, 3 automations, 3 users and 24/7 support, and Plus removes those limits and adds advanced reporting. AWeber lists more than 750 integrations, including Shopify, WordPress, PayPal and Zapier, and offers a free migration service. AWeber does not publish a customer count that we could cite, so its adoption score is conservative. We compared documented features and published prices and did not run hands-on tests.

   Strengths

   • +Free plan allows 500 subscribers, double Mailchimp's free contact cap
   • +Plus includes unlimited users
   • +Free account migration service

   Limitations

   • −No published customer count
   • −Free sends carry AWeber branding
   • −Lite includes 1 email list and 1 custom segment

   SummaryAWeber is the best choice for very small lists that want a free start and 24/7 help because its free plan covers 500 subscribers and paid plans include round-the-clock support. Larger lists get more for the money from Brevo or MailerLite.

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