The best email marketing tool for a small business depends on three things: your list size, how much automation you need, and the level of support you want when something goes wrong.
AWeber is the strongest all-around choice for most small businesses. For ecommerce depth, Klaviyo. For webinars, GetResponse.
Use this guide to find the right fit for where your business is today.
TL;DR: Top picks at a glance
| Tool | Best for | Free plan | Starting price | Choose if... |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| AWeber | Small businesses and small teams | Yes (500 subs) | $15/mo | You want reliable deliverability, 24/7 human support, AI writing tools, and a full feature set without the complexity |
| Mailchimp | Brand recognition | Yes (250 contacts) | $13/mo | You're just testing email and need a familiar name — but watch for hidden fees |
| Constant Contact | Local retail and service businesses | No (trial only) | $12/mo | You want phone support and straightforward event marketing tools |
| ActiveCampaign | Advanced automation | No (14-day trial) | $15/mo | You have complex customer journeys and a technical team to manage them |
| MailerLite | Simple, modern email marketing | Yes (500 subs) | $10/mo | You want a clean, easy-to-use platform with solid design tools |
| GetResponse | Webinar-driven marketing | Yes (500 contacts) | $19/mo | You sell through live events or courses and want email and webinars in one place |
| Brevo | SMS and email integration | Yes (unlimited) | $9/mo | You want to combine email and SMS without paying two separate bills |
| Kit | Bloggers just starting out | Yes (10,000 subs) | $39/mo | You're a blogger or creator building your first list and learning to monetize |
| Campaign Monitor | Large teams and agencies | No | $12/mo | You manage multiple brands or a larger team with strict visual brand guidelines |
| Klaviyo | Brands with complex product lines | Yes (250 contacts) | $20/mo | You run a product-based store and need deep purchase behavior tracking |
What is the best email marketing tool for a small business?
The best all-around email marketing tool for a small business is AWeber. It combines reliable deliverability, 24/7 human support, AI-assisted writing, email automation, and a free plan that includes everything most small businesses need to start.
For businesses with more specialized needs, other tools may be a better fit. If you need webinar hosting or SMS alongside email, the right choice shifts. The decision comes down to five factors: list size, automation complexity, budget, support requirements, and whether you need channels beyond email.
How to choose the right email marketing platform for your small business
Ask yourself these five questions before picking a platform:
- How many subscribers do you have now, and where will you be in 12 months?
- Do you need simple welcome sequences, or complex multi-step customer journeys?
- Does it prioritize deliverability?
- How important is live phone support when something breaks?
- Are you selling physical products, digital products, services, or all three?
Choose AWeber if you're a small business owner who wants one reliable platform that handles email, automation, landing pages, and ecommerce without forcing you to hire a developer.
Choose ActiveCampaign if you have a complex sales process with multiple audience segments and someone on your team who can manage advanced workflows.
Choose Brevo if you have a large contact list and want to pay based on emails sent rather than subscriber count, especially if you also need SMS.
Choose GetResponse if your lead generation runs through webinars, courses, or live events.
Choose MailerLite if you want a clean, simple interface with strong design tools and don't need deep automation.
Not sure which platform is right for you? How to Choose the Best Email Marketing Platform for Your Small Business walks through the questions that actually matter.
The 10 best email marketing tools for small businesses
AWeber: Best for small businesses and small teams
Most email marketing platforms are built for marketers. AWeber is built for small business owners. You get a Newsletter Assistant that writes emails for you, workflow automations that run while you're focused on running your business, and real human support — live chat and email available 24/7, phone support 8AM-8PM ET.
According to AWeber's research, 79% of small businesses say email marketing is important or very important to their business strategy. AWeber was built for exactly those businesses, including the ones without a dedicated marketing team.
Best for: Small businesses and small teams who want a powerful all-in-one platform that's easy to use from day one, with expert support always available.
Free plan: Yes. Up to 500 subscribers, 3,000 monthly emails, sign-up forms, landing page builder, and live chat and email support 24/7.
Standout features:
- Newsletter Assistant powered by AI writes email drafts so you're never staring at a blank page
- If/Then Email workflow automations that send the right message based on what a subscriber does. If they click a link, make a purchase, or don't open an email, the next step fires automatically.
- Tagging to organize subscribers based on their behavior, interests, or purchases for more targeted campaigns
- Done for You setup service: AWeber's experts build your entire email system in 7 days so you can focus on running your business
- Professional deliverability infrastructure ensures emails reach customer inboxes, not spam folders
- 24/7 human support from email marketing specialists, not chatbots or outsourced help desks
Drawbacks: Lite plan caps automations at 3 and lists at 1. AWeber branding appears on emails unless you upgrade to Plus.
Ideal for: Small business owners who want email marketing to work without becoming an email marketing expert.
Not for: Large enterprises with dedicated marketing operations teams who need complex CRM pipelines built in.
Support: Phone 8AM-8PM ET. Live chat and email 24/7.
| Plan | Starting price | Key features |
|---|---|---|
| Free | $0 | 500 subscribers, 3,000 sends/mo, live chat and email support 24/7 |
| Lite | $15/mo | Email automations (3 max), landing pages (3 max), AI writing tools |
| Plus | $30/mo | Unlimited automations, lists, landing pages, segments, advanced analytics |
| Done For You | $30/mo + $79 setup | Expert build in 7 days, 30 days of unlimited edits |
Mailchimp: Best for marketing beginners
Mailchimp is one of the most recognized names in email marketing. Its drag-and-drop editor is beginner-friendly, its integration library is extensive, and its free plan is accessible for anyone just testing email.
That said, Mailchimp's free plan has been cut significantly. As of January 2026, it supports just 250 contacts and 500 monthly sends, down from 2,000 contacts when the platform was acquired by Intuit in 2021.
One more thing worth knowing: Mailchimp counts unsubscribed contacts toward your billing limit unless you manually archive them. If you've never cleaned your list, you may be paying for contacts who can never receive your emails.
Best for: Beginners who want a familiar interface and don't need advanced automation.
Free plan: Yes. 250 contacts, 500 monthly sends. No automation, no scheduling, no A/B testing.
Standout features:
- Extensive template library
- Wide integration ecosystem
- Social media advertising integration
Drawbacks: Free plan cut significantly in 2026. Unsubscribed contacts count toward billing. Multi-step automation requires Standard plan ($20/mo). Costs escalate faster than most competitors at higher contact counts.
Ideal for: Solo operators testing email for the first time, with small lists and simple needs.
Not for: Price-sensitive businesses growing past 2,500 contacts.
Support: Email and chat on paid plans only. Phone support requires Premium ($350/mo).
| Plan | Starting price | Key limits |
|---|---|---|
| Free | $0 | 250 contacts, 500 sends/mo |
| Essentials | $13/mo (500 contacts) | Up to 50,000 contacts, no multi-step automation |
| Standard | $20/mo (500 contacts) | Multi-step automation, send-time optimization |
| Premium | $350/mo (500 contacts) | Advanced features, phone support |
Constant Contact: Best for small retail operation
Constant Contact has been an email marketing staple for local businesses for over two decades. Its standout differentiator is phone support on Standard and Premium plans, which is rare in this category.
Best for: Local service businesses, retailers, and nonprofits who want simple email marketing with live phone support.
Free plan: No. 30-day free trial only.
Standout features:
- Phone support on Standard and Premium plans (hours vary)
- Event management tools for workshops, sales events, and customer gatherings
- Social media posting and management from within the platform
- Pre-built templates for seasonal promotions
Drawbacks: Pricing escalates quickly with list growth. No free plan. Lite plan limits you to one user. Automation is basic on entry-level plans compared to competitors.
Ideal for: Local businesses that value phone support.
Not for: Businesses that need sophisticated automation or have rapidly growing lists.
Support: Phone support on Standard and Premium plans. Email and chat support on all plans.
| Plan | Starting price | Key features |
|---|---|---|
| Lite | $12/mo (500 contacts) | Basic email, 1 user, 1 automation template |
| Standard | $35/mo (500 contacts) | A/B testing, 3 automations, 3 users, phone support |
| Premium | $80/mo (500 contacts) | Unlimited automations, unlimited users, SMS included |
ActiveCampaign: Best for advanced automation
ActiveCampaign delivers more automation depth than any platform on this list. Complex customer journey mapping, behavioral triggers, and multi-step conditional logic are all built in. The trade-off is a learning curve and add-on pricing that can add up quickly.
Best for: Small businesses with technical teams, complex B2B sales cycles, or advanced ecommerce workflows.
Free plan: No. 14-day trial only.
Standout features:
- 970+ pre-built automation recipes
- Predictive sending and AI content tools on higher tiers
- Machine learning for send-time optimization
Drawbacks: No free plan. Starter plan caps automations at 5 actions per workflow with no branching or conditional logic. CRM is a paid add-on on Plus and above. Monthly pricing is approximately 20-25% higher than annual billing.
Ideal for: B2B companies with multi-touch nurture sequences.
Not for: Beginners or businesses that just need newsletters and simple welcome emails.
Support: Email and chat on Starter. Priority support on Pro and above. Phone support on Enterprise only.
| Plan | Annual price (1,000 contacts) | Key features |
|---|---|---|
| Starter | $15/mo | Basic automation (5 actions/workflow), 1 user |
| Plus | $49/mo | Unlimited automation, landing pages, AI tools |
| Pro | $79/mo | Conditional content, attribution, priority support |
| Enterprise | $145/mo | Dedicated support, custom domain |
MailerLite: Best for simple, modern email marketing
MailerLite has a clean interface, the editor is fast, and the feature set covers everything most small businesses actually use.
Best for: Creators who want a well-designed, easy-to-use platform without a steep learning curve.
Free plan: Yes. 500 subscribers and 12,000 monthly emails.
Standout features:
- Website and blog builder included at no extra cost
- Digital product sales via Stripe integration
- A/B testing and smart delivery by time zone
- Abandoned cart emails for Shopify and WooCommerce stores
Drawbacks: Email templates not included on free plan. Reporting is less detailed than more advanced platforms. Transactional email requires a separate MailerSend subscription.
Ideal for: Businesses sending well-designed newsletters who want simplicity and ease of use as a priority.
Not for: Businesses that need advanced CRM, complex conditional automation, or phone support.
Support: 24/7 email support on all plans. Live chat on Growing Business and above.
| Plan | Starting price | Key features |
|---|---|---|
| Free | $0 | 500 subscribers, 12,000 sends/mo |
| Growing Business | $10/mo (500 subscribers) | Unlimited emails, sell digital products, templates |
| Advanced | $20/mo (500 subscribers) | Advanced segmentation, unlimited users, priority support |
GetResponse: Best for webinar-driven marketing
GetResponse is the only platform on this list with native webinar hosting built in. If your business generates leads through live events, online workshops, or courses, you can manage email follow-up, landing pages, and webinar registration all in one place.
Best for: Online educators, course creators, and businesses that drive leads through live events.
Free plan: Yes. 500 contacts with 2,500 newsletter sends per month and basic email features.
Standout features:
- Native webinar hosting without needing Zoom or GoToWebinar
- Automated email sequences triggered by webinar attendance or no-show status
- Advanced funnel builder for guiding prospects from registration to purchase
- Conversion-focused landing page builder on all plans
Drawbacks: Only 1 automation workflow on the Starter plan. Webinar attendee limits vary by plan. No phone support on standard plans.
Ideal for: Businesses running regular webinars, workshops, or online training programs.
Not for: Businesses that don't use webinars and want straightforward email marketing at a lower price.
Support: Email and live chat on paid plans.
| Plan | Starting price | Key features |
|---|---|---|
| Free | $0 | 500 contacts, basic email, 1 workflow |
| Starter | $19/mo (1,000 contacts) | Unlimited emails, landing pages, 1 automation workflow |
| Marketer | $59/mo (1,000 contacts) | Unlimited automations, webinars, advanced segmentation |
| Creator | $69/mo (1,000 contacts) | Course creation, advanced funnel building |
Brevo: Best for SMS and email integration
Brevo (formerly SendinBlue) is one of the few platforms that prices by email volume rather than contact count. That makes it unusually affordable for businesses with large lists. It also includes a built-in CRM, SMS marketing, and live chat available from a single account.
Best for: Businesses with large contact lists or those who want email and SMS under one roof without paying twice.
Free plan: Yes. Unlimited contacts, 300 emails per day (approximately 9,000/month). Basic CRM included.
Standout features:
- Pricing based on emails sent, not subscribers. No penalty for a large list.
- Built-in CRM included even on the free plan
- SMS automation that triggers texts when emails go unopened
- Transactional email support for order confirmations and password resets
Drawbacks: Daily sending limit on free plan. Landing pages locked behind Standard plan. Brevo branding appears on Starter emails unless you pay a $12/mo add-on to remove it. Starter plan limits you to 1 user.
Ideal for: Growing businesses wanting SMS alongside email.
Not for: Businesses that need unlimited landing pages out of the box or high-frequency daily sends on the free plan.
Support: Email support on all paid plans. Phone support on Enterprise only.
| Plan | Starting price | Key features |
|---|---|---|
| Free | $0 | Unlimited contacts, 9,000 emails/mo, basic CRM |
| Starter | $9/mo | 5,000 emails/mo, no daily limit, 1 user |
| Standard | $18/mo | Advanced automation, landing pages, A/B testing, multi-user |
Kit: Best for bloggers just starting out
Kit (formerly ConvertKit) was built specifically for bloggers and individual creators who are building their first email list and learning to monetize it. Its free plan supports up to 10,000 subscribers with no time limit.
Best for: Bloggers building their first list and looking for a simple path to monetization.
Free plan: Yes. Up to 10,000 subscribers with unlimited email sends and one basic automation.
Standout features:
- Tag-based subscriber organization, more flexible than traditional list management
- Sell digital products, paid newsletters, and memberships directly
- Native integrations with creator-focused platforms like Gumroad, Teachable, and WordPress
- Simple automation sequences for welcome emails and lead magnet delivery
Drawbacks: Paid plans more than doubled in September 2025. Creator now starts at $39/mo for 1,000 subscribers. No email template gallery. Advanced reporting is locked behind Creator Pro.
Ideal for: Solo bloggers who want an email-first monetization tool they can grow into.
Not for: Businesses that need branded HTML templates, traditional ecommerce automation, or a large team with role-based access.
Support: Email support on all plans. Live chat on Creator and above.
| Plan | Starting price | Key features |
|---|---|---|
| Free | $0 | 10,000 subscribers, unlimited sends, 1 automation |
| Creator | $39/mo (1,000 subscribers) | Advanced automation, integrations, free migration |
| Creator Pro | $79/mo (1,000 subscribers) | Advanced reporting, subscriber scoring, Facebook integration |
Campaign Monitor: Best for large teams and agencies
Campaign Monitor fits organizations where multiple people manage email, like agencies with client accounts, larger marketing teams with strict brand standards, or companies where design consistency across every send matters. Its multi-user and white-label capabilities are more developed than most platforms on this list.
Best for: Larger marketing teams, agencies managing multiple client accounts, and organizations with strict visual brand guidelines.
Free plan: No. You can send to up to 5 subscribers for free.
Standout features:
- Professional-grade email templates with advanced customization
- White-label options for agencies delivering email marketing under their own brand
- Multi-client management tools built in
- Detailed engagement analytics with visual reporting
Drawbacks: No working free plan. Automation on Lite is basic. More expensive than most competitors at comparable list sizes.
Ideal for: Agencies billing clients for email marketing, or teams where multiple stakeholders need access and brand control matters.
Not for: Solo operators or small businesses that just need reliable email and simple automation.
Support: Email and chat on all plans. Phone support on Premier.
| Plan | Starting price | Key features |
|---|---|---|
| Lite | $12/mo (500 contacts) | Core email marketing, basic automation |
| Essentials | $29/mo (500 contacts) | Unlimited sends, A/B testing |
| Premier | $159/mo (500 contacts) | Advanced automation, priority support, phone support |
Klaviyo: Best for ecommerce brands with complex product lines
Klaviyo is purpose-built for product-based businesses. It tracks website behavior, purchase history, and engagement patterns to power hyper-targeted campaigns. The depth of its Shopify and WooCommerce integrations is unmatched on this list.
Best for: Online stores that need deep customer data, predictive analytics, and purchase-behavior automation.
Free plan: Yes. 250 active contacts, 500 monthly email sends. More of a trial than a working free plan.
Standout features:
- Deep Shopify and WooCommerce integration with real-time data sync
- Predictive customer lifetime value and churn modeling
- Abandoned cart, post-purchase, and win-back flows built for ecommerce
- SMS and email combined in one platform
Drawbacks: You're charged for all subscribed contacts even if you don't email them, so list hygiene directly affects your bill. Gets expensive fast as your contact count grows. Steep learning curve for non-technical users. Free plan email support expires after 60 days.
Ideal for: Ecommerce brands doing $50K+ in annual revenue who want to use customer data to drive personalized campaigns.
Not for: Service businesses, bloggers, or non-ecommerce brands.
Support: Email and chat support on paid plans. Email-only for first 60 days on free plan.
| Plan | Starting price | Key features |
|---|---|---|
| Free | $0 | 250 active contacts, 500 sends/mo |
| From $20/mo (251–500 contacts) | Unlimited sends, advanced automations | |
| Email + SMS | From $35/mo (251–500 contacts) | Email and SMS combined, 1,250 SMS credits |
FAQ
Which email marketing tool offers 24/7 customer support?
AWeber provides phone support 8AM-8PM ET, plus 24/7 live chat and email support on all plans, including its free plan. Constant Contact offers phone support during business hours on Standard and Premium paid plans. Most other platforms limit phone access to premium tiers or don't offer it at all.
Which tool is best for ecommerce email marketing?
Klaviyo is purpose-built for ecommerce, with deep Shopify and WooCommerce integrations, predictive lifetime value modeling, and advanced abandoned cart and post-purchase automation. AWeber and GetResponse also offer solid ecommerce tools for smaller stores that don't need Klaviyo's analytical depth.
What is the best free email marketing tool for a small business with under 500 subscribers?
AWeber's free plan covers up to 500 subscribers with 3,000 monthly emails and live chat and email support 24/7, making it one of the most capable free tiers for small businesses. MailerLite's free plan also offers 500 subscribers and 12,000 monthly sends if design flexibility is a priority.
Methodology
This guide was compiled through direct review of each platform's current pricing pages. Pricing was verified from each provider's official US pricing page on April 10, 2026. All pricing reflects monthly billing unless noted as annual.
Criteria evaluated:
- Feature depth across automation, templates, landing pages, and segmentation
- Pricing transparency and value at common list sizes (500, 1,000, 5,000, and 10,000 contacts)
- Deliverability reputation and infrastructure
- Customer support availability and quality
- Ease of use for non-technical small business owners
- Ecommerce and integration capabilities
Disclosure: AWeber is the publisher of this guide. We've made every effort to represent competitor tools accurately and fairly. Pricing and features change. Always verify directly with each provider before making a decision.
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Choosing the right platform is step one. Building automation workflows, setting up landing pages, and creating your first campaigns takes time most small business owners don't have.
AWeber's Done For You service builds your complete email marketing system in 7 days — emails, landing pages, workflows, and integrations — for a one-time $79 setup fee. You get 30 days of unlimited edits after launch.
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