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The Best Email Marketing Software

Six leading email platforms compared on ease of use, automation, deliverability, and value.

Last updated Jul 2, 2026

We compared six of the most widely used email marketing platforms on the things that actually decide the outcome of your campaigns: how easy each is to use, how far its automation goes, how reliably messages reach the inbox, and what you get for the price. Every product was assessed against the same four weighted criteria. Affiliate links never change where a product ranks.

  1. 1

    ActiveCampaign

    Our pick

    A marketing platform built around deep, flexible automation and a visual workflow builder.

    8.3
    / 10

    Pros

    • + Visual automation builder handles complex, multi-condition workflows that most rivals can't match
    • + Includes a built-in sales CRM and lead scoring on higher tiers
    • + Strong reported deliverability and detailed automation reporting

    Cons

    • − Steeper learning curve than list-first tools like Mailchimp or MailerLite
    • − Pricing climbs quickly as your contact count grows
    • − The email template designer is less polished than the automation side
    From $15.00 /month
    Visit ActiveCampaign
  2. 2

    MailerLite

    Best value

    A clean, affordable email tool with a genuinely usable free plan.

    8.1
    / 10

    Pros

    • + One of the lowest paid entry prices and a free plan up to 1,000 subscribers
    • + Clean drag-and-drop editor that beginners pick up quickly
    • + Bundles landing pages and simple websites at no extra cost

    Cons

    • − Automation logic is more limited than ActiveCampaign or HubSpot
    • − Manual account approval can delay new signups getting started
    • − Reporting and segmentation are more basic than enterprise tools
    From $9.00 /month
    Visit MailerLite
  3. 3

    Brevo

    Best for teams

    A multichannel platform that prices by emails sent rather than contacts stored.

    7.9
    / 10

    Pros

    • + Volume-based pricing is cost-effective for large lists that send occasionally
    • + Includes SMS marketing and a free built-in CRM
    • + Unlimited contacts even on the free plan

    Cons

    • − Template designer and prebuilt themes lag behind Mailchimp and MailerLite
    • − Daily send limits apply on the free and lowest tiers
    • − Interface can feel busy across its many modules
    From $9.00 /month
    Visit Brevo
  4. 4

    Mailchimp

    Best for beginners

    The best-known email brand, with polished design tools and broad integrations.

    7.7
    / 10

    Pros

    • + Large template library and a polished, approachable campaign editor
    • + Huge catalogue of native integrations and add-ons
    • + Well-documented help resources and a familiar brand

    Cons

    • − Prices are high at scale and it counts unsubscribed contacts on some plans
    • − Free plan was cut back and now caps contacts tightly
    • − Automation depth trails ActiveCampaign despite the higher cost
    From $13.00 /month
    Visit Mailchimp
  5. 5

    Kit

    A creator-focused email tool built around tags, sequences, and monetization.

    7.7
    / 10

    Pros

    • + Tag and sequence model is intuitive for creator and newsletter workflows
    • + Built-in paid newsletters, digital-product sales, and creator recommendations
    • + Text-forward emails tend to land well in the inbox

    Cons

    • − Sparse template and visual-design options compared with rivals
    • − Paid plans start higher than most competitors here
    • − Less suited to image-heavy retail or ecommerce campaigns
    From $25.00 /month
    Visit Kit
  6. 6

    HubSpot Marketing Hub

    Email marketing tightly integrated with a full CRM and sales suite.

    7.6
    / 10

    Pros

    • + Email, CRM, sales, and service data unified on one platform
    • + Powerful workflows, segmentation, and reporting across the funnel
    • + Free CRM tier lets you start small and expand

    Cons

    • − Gets expensive fast as contacts and paid seats grow
    • − Marketing contact tiers and add-on costs can be hard to predict
    • − More platform than a team that only needs email typically requires
    From $20.00 /month
    Visit HubSpot Marketing Hub

Side-by-side

The Best Email Marketing Software — score by criterion for each product.
Product Automation & Features Deliverability Ease of Use Value for Money Overall
ActiveCampaign 9.4 8.6 7.2 7.4 8.3
MailerLite 7.0 8.2 9.0 9.1 8.1
Brevo 7.8 7.9 7.6 8.4 7.9
Mailchimp 7.6 7.8 8.5 6.8 7.7
Kit 7.4 8.3 8.2 6.8 7.7
HubSpot Marketing Hub 8.6 7.9 7.4 5.4 7.6
How we scored this

Each product is scored 0-10 on four weighted criteria: Automation & Features (weight 3), Ease of Use (weight 2), Deliverability (weight 2), and Value for Money (weight 1.5). Ranks are editorial and independent of any affiliate payout; a product cannot buy a higher position.