18 tools to consider instead of Mailchimp, with who each one suits, where it falls short and a source for every price. No scores or star ratings.
Updated 27 Sep 2026 · Next review 26 Dec 202618 tools · 25 min read
Disclosure: We make startbuddi, so we've put it first and been upfront about where it falls short. There are no scores or star ratings here. Every price and feature below comes from the tool's own website or our own test account, and each one links to its source.
TL;DRThe short answer
Small businesses that want email campaigns built from their own customer list?startbuddi.
Small businesses sending email campaigns with SMS and WhatsApp on the side?Brevo.
Creators building a newsletter and selling digital products?Kit.
Small businesses sending newsletters and simple automations on a tight budget?MailerLite.
Small businesses that want email campaigns driven by automation?ActiveCampaign.
Small businesses that want email and social posting with live support?Constant Contact.
Find your fit · 2 questions
Which alternative suits you?
1. Do you need a free plan?
2. Which sounds most like you?
Answer both to see a suggestion. It only uses the facts on this page.
Growing teams that want CRM, marketing, sales and service tools from one vendor
$20 USD, per seat per month (Starter Customer Platform, regular price)
Yes
Prices are list prices as each company publishes them, never converted. startbuddi's price is shown in your currency where we can.
The alternatives
01
startbuddi
Our productBest for small businesses that want email campaigns built from their own customer list
Best for
Small businesses that want email campaigns built from their own customer list
Starting price
Free plan. Paid from $29 a month Starter plan, our pricing
Free plan
Yes
Platforms
Web
Email marketing sends campaigns to lists and segments drawn from the customer record, with templates, a drag-and-drop builder and your own sending domain. It is part of the Marketing hub with WhatsApp, SMS and social.
Strengths
Audiences built from your customers and forms
Drag-and-drop and HTML email builders
Your own sending domain
Limitations
The Marketing hub is not on the Free plan
No send-in-each-recipient's-time-zone
A/B winners are picked by opens or clicks, not conversions
Best for small businesses sending email campaigns with SMS and WhatsApp on the side
Best for
Small businesses sending email campaigns with SMS and WhatsApp on the side
Starting price
$9 USD, per month (Starter, billed monthly; $96.96 per year billed annually)
Free plan
Yes
Platforms
Web
Brevo is a marketing platform covering email, SMS, WhatsApp and a sales CRM. Its free plan lets you send up to 300 emails a day once your account is approved, and paid plans are priced by email volume. Automation, A/B testing and landing pages start on the Standard plan.
Strengths
Free plan with up to 300 emails per day
Starter includes a drag-and-drop editor, templates, segmentation and forms
Standard adds unlimited automated workflows, A/B testing and landing pages
Sales Essentials CRM features such as sales automation and deal pipelines are listed
Limitations
Marketing automation is not in Starter; it starts on Standard
SMS credits are sold separately
WhatsApp, pop-ups and push channels are listed on the Professional plan, which starts at $499 per month
Best for creators building a newsletter and selling digital products
Best for
Creators building a newsletter and selling digital products
Starting price
$33 USD, per month for 1,000 subscribers, billed monthly ($390 per year billed annually)
Free plan
Yes
Platforms
Web
Kit is email marketing for creators, with forms, landing pages, broadcasts and digital product sales. The free plan covers up to 10,000 subscribers, while automations and sequences need a paid plan.
Strengths
Free plan for up to 10,000 subscribers with unlimited landing pages, forms and broadcasts
Sell digital products on the free plan
Visual automations, email sequences and A/B testing on Creator
14-day free trial of paid plans with no credit card
Limitations
Free plan has no automations or email sequences and is limited to 1 user
Unlimited users and deliverability reporting need the Pro plan ($66 per month at 1,000 subscribers)
Best for small businesses sending newsletters and simple automations on a tight budget
Best for
Small businesses sending newsletters and simple automations on a tight budget
Starting price
$12 USD, per month, billed monthly (Comfort, entry subscriber tier)
Free plan
Yes
Platforms
Web
MailerLite is an email marketing tool that also includes websites, landing pages, signup forms, automations and digital products. The free plan covers up to 250 active subscribers and 2,500 emails a month.
Strengths
Free plan with 250 subscribers, 2,500 emails a month and 3 automations
Comfort adds 50 automations, an AI writing assistant and 24/7 email support
Websites, landing pages and signup forms in the same account
Power plan has unlimited emails and users
Limitations
Free plan is limited to 250 subscribers and community support only
Free plan has no API or MCP email sending
Comfort allows 3 user seats and 10 websites or landing pages; unlimited needs Power ($25 a month)
Best for small businesses that want email campaigns driven by automation
Best for
Small businesses that want email campaigns driven by automation
Starting price
$15 USD, per month, billed annually (Starter, 1,000 contacts)
Free plan
Trial only
Platforms
Web
ActiveCampaign is an email marketing and automation platform priced by contact count. Plans run from Starter to Enterprise, with more users, segmentation and automation as you move up. A 14-day free trial needs no card, and there is a 30-day money-back guarantee.
Strengths
Multi-step marketing automation on every email plan
Separate WhatsApp plans and an Email + WhatsApp bundle
14-day free trial with no credit card
More than 1,000 integrations listed, including Shopify, WordPress and Stripe
Limitations
No free plan
Starter is limited to 1 user, limited segmentation and 15 active goals
Deal pipelines are a CRM add-on rather than part of the email plans
Best for small businesses that want email and social posting with live support
Best for
Small businesses that want email and social posting with live support
Starting price
$10.20 USD, per month, billed annually (Lite)
Free plan
Trial only
Platforms
Web
Constant Contact is an email marketing platform for small businesses that also schedules social posts and handles events and SMS. Every plan includes live 1:1 onboarding and phone and chat support. There is a 14-day free trial and a 30-day money-back guarantee.
Strengths
Live phone and chat support on every plan
Drag-and-drop email editor with AI copy help
Social posting to Facebook, Instagram and LinkedIn
14-day free trial
Limitations
No free plan
Lite includes only 1 automation template and 1 custom segment
Overage fees may apply above your contact or send limit
Best for creators and small businesses sending newsletters and simple automations
Best for
Creators and small businesses sending newsletters and simple automations
Starting price
$12.49 USD, per month, billed annually (Lite)
Free plan
Trial only
Platforms
Web
AWeber is an email marketing tool with a drag-and-drop editor, automations, landing pages, sign-up forms and ecommerce features for selling products. Paid plans start with Lite, and Plus removes the limits on lists, landing pages, automations and users.
Strengths
14-day trial on Lite and Plus
Drag-and-drop email builder, RSS to email, AMP emails and an AI subject line assistant
Landing pages, sign-up forms and a WordPress plugin for list building
Sell products and subscriptions through AWeber Ecommerce with sales tracking
Limitations
No free plan is listed on the pricing page, only a 14-day trial
Lite allows 1 email list, 3 landing pages, 3 automations, 3 users and 1 custom segment
Removing AWeber branding needs Plus; Lite pays a 1.0% ecommerce transaction fee against 0.6% on Plus
Best for small businesses sending newsletters with landing pages and simple automation
Best for
Small businesses sending newsletters with landing pages and simple automation
Starting price
€16 per month for 1,000 contacts (Starter, billed monthly; €13.12 per month billed annually)
Free plan
Yes
Platforms
Web
GetResponse is an email marketing platform that also includes landing pages, forms, webinars and a website builder on higher plans. There is a free-forever plan and a 14-day trial of premium features. Paid plans are priced by contact count.
Strengths
Free plan sends up to 2,500 newsletters a month
Landing pages are included on all plans
Marketer plan adds unlimited automation and ecommerce tools
Creator plan adds a website builder, course creator and webinars for up to 100 attendees
Limitations
Starter includes only 1 automation workflow; unlimited automation starts on Marketer (€54 per month for 1,000 contacts)
Free plan adds a GetResponse badge to every message and caps landing pages at 1,000 unique visits
SMS marketing is listed only on the Enterprise plan
Best for small ecommerce and content businesses that want low-cost email automation
Best for
Small ecommerce and content businesses that want low-cost email automation
Starting price
$7 USD, per month, billed annually (Pro, 500 contacts)
Free plan
Trial only
Platforms
Web
Moosend is an email marketing tool with a newsletter builder, automation workflows, landing pages and forms. Pro is priced by contact count with unlimited sends, and a 30-day trial covers up to 1,000 contacts.
Strengths
Unlimited email campaigns and sends on Pro
Automation workflow builder with pre-built recipes
Landing pages, subscription forms and an SMTP server
Pay-as-you-go email credits that never expire
Limitations
No free plan after the 30-day trial
Transactional emails, dedicated IPs and SSO are Moosend+ add-ons
Best for newsletters and small lists that need a generous free plan
Best for
Newsletters and small lists that need a generous free plan
Starting price
$9 USD, per month, billed yearly (Pro, 500 subscribers)
Free plan
Yes
Platforms
Web
EmailOctopus is an email marketing tool with a drag-and-drop editor, templates, automations, landing pages and forms. The free Starter plan covers up to 2,500 subscribers and 10,000 emails a month.
Strengths
Free plan for up to 2,500 subscribers and 10,000 emails a month
Pro from $9 a month billed yearly for 500 subscribers
Pro adds unlimited landing pages, forms and users
20% lifetime discount for nonprofits
Limitations
Free plan adds EmailOctopus branding to emails
Free plan keeps reports for 30 days and allows 1 user, 1 landing page and 1 form
Best for creators and writers running a newsletter they want to grow and earn from
Best for
Creators and writers running a newsletter they want to grow and earn from
Starting price
$43 USD, per month (Scale plan, billed monthly; $517 per year billed annually)
Free plan
Yes
Platforms
Web
beehiiv is a newsletter platform that includes a website, podcast hosting and monetisation tools. The free Launch plan covers up to 2,500 subscribers with unlimited sends, and paid plans add automations, ad network access and paid subscriptions. It suits people whose main channel is a newsletter.
Strengths
Free Launch plan: up to 2,500 subscribers, unlimited sends and custom domains
Scale plan includes the beehiiv Ad Network and 0% take on paid subscriptions
Email automations, surveys and polls from the Scale plan
Max plan supports up to 10 publications and unlimited team seats
Limitations
Email automations start on the paid Scale plan
Removing beehiiv branding needs the Max plan ($96 per month billed monthly)
Best for online stores that want email and SMS driven by customer and order data
Best for
Online stores that want email and SMS driven by customer and order data
Starting price
$20 USD, per month (Email plan, 500 profiles)
Free plan
Yes
Platforms
Web
Klaviyo is a B2C CRM for email, SMS and push marketing, with segmentation and automated flows built on customer behaviour. It connects to Shopify, WooCommerce, Wix and 350+ other integrations.
Strengths
Free plan: up to 250 profiles and 500 emails a month
Email, SMS and push flows triggered by customer actions
Segments built on hundreds of data points
350+ integrations including Shopify and WooCommerce
Limitations
Free accounts get email support only for the first 60 days
Free plan shows Klaviyo branding in emails and sign-up forms
Price rises with active profiles, so costs grow with the list
Best for online stores running email, SMS and push campaigns with ecommerce automations
Best for
Online stores running email, SMS and push campaigns with ecommerce automations
Starting price
$16 USD, per month, billed monthly (Standard, up to 500 contacts)
Free plan
Yes
Platforms
Web; integrates with Shopify, WooCommerce, BigCommerce, Wix and others
Omnisend is an email and SMS marketing platform built for ecommerce, with pre-built workflows for abandoned carts, welcome series and post-purchase messages. It connects to stores on Shopify, WooCommerce, BigCommerce and other platforms. A free plan covers 250 contacts and 500 emails a month.
Strengths
Free plan with 250 contacts, 500 emails and 500 web push notifications a month
Pre-built ecommerce workflows for cart abandonment, welcome and post-purchase
SMS from $0.007 per message (high-volume US rate), with SMS inside automated workflows
Free migration of contacts, data and segments, and 24/7 support on every plan including Free
Limitations
Free plan emails carry a 'Powered by Omnisend' badge
SMS credits are added to the Pro plan; the Standard plan card does not list SMS
Standard caps email sends at 12 times your list size per month; SMS pricing varies by country and volume
Best for small teams and agencies sending designed newsletters and drip campaigns
Best for
Small teams and agencies sending designed newsletters and drip campaigns
Starting price
$13 USD, per month (Lite plan, 0 to 500 contacts)
Free plan
Trial only
Platforms
Web
Campaign Monitor is an email marketing tool with a drag-and-drop builder, over 100 templates, segmentation, signup forms and automated journeys. Plans are priced by contact count, with Lite, Essentials and Premier tiers. It also has agency features such as sub-accounts, private labelling and client billing.
Strengths
Drag-and-drop builder with over 100 customisable responsive templates
Unlimited users with role permissions on every plan
Agency tools: tiered sub-accounts, private labelling and client markup billing
Nonprofits get a 15% discount
Limitations
No free plan; the free option is a 30-day trial limited to 500 contacts and 500 emails
Lite caps sends at 5x your subscriber count per month (2,500 for 500 contacts)
The drag-and-drop website builder is a $10 per month add-on below Premier
Best for small businesses wanting low-cost email campaigns, especially if already using Zoho
Best for
Small businesses wanting low-cost email campaigns, especially if already using Zoho
Starting price
$3 USD, per month, billed annually (Standard, 500 contacts)
Free plan
Yes
Platforms
Web, iOS, Android
Zoho Campaigns is Zoho's email marketing tool, with a drag-and-drop editor, templates, segmentation, A/B testing and workflows. A forever-free plan covers up to 2,000 contacts and 6,000 emails a month. Paid plans are priced by contact tier with unlimited emails, and WhatsApp and SMS marketing are add-ons.
Strengths
Forever-free plan: up to 2,000 contacts, 6,000 emails a month and 5 users
Paid plans send unlimited emails, with no daily sending limit
Standard adds A/B testing, attachments, 120+ templates and basic workflows
25% discount for annual billing and a 14-day free trial
Limitations
Advanced segmentation, contact scoring, send-time optimisation and abandoned-cart workflows need Professional
Best for solo creators selling courses and products through funnels on a small budget
Best for
Solo creators selling courses and products through funnels on a small budget
Starting price
$17 USD, per month (Startup; 2 months free on annual billing)
Free plan
Yes
Platforms
Web
Systeme.io is an all-in-one platform for sales funnels, email marketing, online courses, blogs and affiliate programmes. Its free plan has no time limit and covers 2,000 contacts and 3 funnels. It takes no transaction fees on sales made through Stripe or PayPal.
Strengths
Free plan with 2,000 contacts, 3 funnels, 1 course and a custom domain
Unlimited emailing on all plans
0% transaction fees with Stripe or PayPal
Affiliate programme management included
Limitations
Startup plan is limited to 5,000 contacts and 5 courses
Automated webinar funnels start on the Webinar plan ($47 per month)
Best for small businesses wanting CRM, email marketing and helpdesk in one tool
Best for
Small businesses wanting CRM, email marketing and helpdesk in one tool
Starting price
$14.99 USD, per user per month, billed monthly ($13.79 billed annually, $12.74 billed every two years)
Free plan
Yes
Platforms
Web
EngageBay is an all-in-one suite with CRM, email marketing, landing pages, live chat and a helpdesk. A free plan covers teams of up to 15 members with 250 contacts, and paid plans raise contact and email limits.
Strengths
Free plan for up to 15 members with CRM, email, live chat and helpdesk
Basic plan adds SMS marketing, web pop-ups and a social suite
Email and chat support plus onboarding sessions on the free plan
Monthly, annual and two-year billing
Limitations
Free plan is capped at 250 contacts and 1,000 branded emails
Marketing automation starts on Growth ($64.99 per user per month)
Basic plan allows 500 contacts and 10 landing pages
Best for growing teams that want CRM, marketing, sales and service tools from one vendor
Best for
Growing teams that want CRM, marketing, sales and service tools from one vendor
Starting price
$20 USD, per seat per month (Starter Customer Platform, regular price)
Free plan
Yes
Platforms
Web
HubSpot offers a free CRM and paid hubs for marketing, sales, service, content and data. Free tools cover up to 2 users and 1,000 contacts; Starter plans add automation and remove HubSpot branding.
Strengths
Free tools with no time limit
Starter Customer Platform bundles marketing, sales, service, content and data hubs
Sales Starter includes up to 15 pipelines and 1,000 meeting links
Landing pages and website pages in Content Hub
Limitations
Free tools are limited to 2 users and 1,000 contacts
Paid tiers are priced per seat
Professional plans are a large step up: Sales Hub Professional is $90 per seat per month billed annually plus a required $1,500 onboarding fee
Built for or usable by small businesses and small teams
A published product page and pricing page we could check
Actively maintained, with a working sign-up or trial
Covers the core job this list is about, not just a feature of it
A mix of free, low-cost and established options
About this list
Where the facts come from
Every price, plan and feature comes from the tool's own website, pricing page or docs, or from our own test account. Each tool links to its sources and shows the date we checked them.
What we leave out
No scores, star ratings or review counts. If we can't confirm a fact from an official source, we leave it out and mark it "not published".
When it's reviewed
Last updated 27 Sep 2026. Next review due 26 Dec 2026. We review every list at least every 90 days.
Spotted something out of date?
Prices and plans change. Tell us and we'll check it again.
Try startbuddi free.
Start on the free plan with a copy of your contacts and see if it fits how you work.
