Email Marketing Pricing Comparison 2024: Mailchimp vs ActiveCampaign vs Brevo & More

Choosing the right email marketing platform isn’t just about features—pricing plays a huge role, especially as your subscriber list grows. In this detailed email marketing pricing comparison, we’ll break down costs for popular tools like Mailchimp, ActiveCampaign, Brevo (formerly Sendinblue), ConvertKit, GetResponse, and Moosend. We’ll look at starter plans, mid-tier options, and enterprise levels, factoring in subscribers, send limits, and key features. All prices are monthly (billed annually where applicable) and based on official sites as of early 2024—always verify current rates as they can change.

This guide helps businesses from solopreneurs to growing teams evaluate true costs and avoid surprises. Whether you’re on a tight budget or need advanced automation, we’ll show practical ways to calculate your fit.

Key Factors in Email Marketing Pricing

Pricing isn’t one-size-fits-all. Here’s what to consider:

Subscriber Count

Most platforms charge based on active contacts. As your list expands, costs rise exponentially. For example, 1,000 subscribers might cost $10–$30/month, but 10,000 could jump to $100+.

Send Limits and Frequency

Some cap daily/monthly emails (e.g., Brevo’s free tier: 300/day). Others are unlimited but pricier per contact.

Features Included

Basic plans cover sending; premium adds automations, A/B testing, landing pages, and analytics. Automation-heavy users (e.g., e-commerce) need plans like ActiveCampaign’s.

Billing and Discounts

Annual billing saves 15–20%. Free trials (14–30 days) let you test without commitment.

Additional Fees

Watch for add-ons like SMS, extra support, or overage charges for high opens/clicks.

Practical Tip: Estimate your needs: Multiply subscribers by send frequency (e.g., weekly newsletters = 4 sends/month). Use platform calculators for projections.

Detailed Pricing Breakdown by Platform

Mailchimp

Mailchimp’s freemium model appeals to beginners.

Free: Up to 500 contacts, 1,000 sends/month, basic templates.
Essentials: $13/mo (500 contacts), unlimited sends, automation basics.
Standard: $20/mo (500), A/B testing, custom landing pages.
Premium: $350/mo (10,000+), advanced segmentation.

Best For: Small lists under 2,000. Costs scale steeply (e.g., $299/mo for 50,000 contacts). No contracts, easy migration.

Pro Tip: Stick to free if under 500; upgrade only for behavioral automations.

ActiveCampaign

Automation powerhouse with contact-based pricing.

Starter: $29/mo (500 contacts), unlimited sends, basic automation.
Plus: $149/mo (500), site tracking, machine learning.
Professional: $259/mo (500), predictive sending.
Enterprise: Custom.

Best For: E-commerce/marketing teams (10,000+ contacts). Excellent ROI via integrations (Shopify, WordPress).

Pro Tip: Annual billing drops Starter to $9/mo intro—ideal for testing advanced triggers like cart abandonment.

Brevo (Sendinblue)

Generous free tier, transactional focus.

Free: Unlimited contacts, 300 emails/day.
Starter: $25/mo (20,000 emails), no daily cap.
Business: $65/mo (20,000), automations, SMS.
Enterprise: Custom.

Best For: High-volume transactional emails (invoices, confirmations). EU GDPR compliant.

Pro Tip: Use free for cold outreach; upgrade for sales funnels. Emails/month model suits irregular senders.

ConvertKit (Creator Pro)

Creator-focused, simple scaling.

Free: Up to 1,000 subs, unlimited sends? Wait, no—Free: 10,000 subs limit but paid features locked. Actually: Free up to 300 subs; then:
Creator: $29/mo (1,000 subs), unlimited sends, forms.
Creator Pro: $59/mo (1,000), advanced broadcasts, subscriber scoring.

Best For: Bloggers/podcasters. Clean UI, visual automations.

Pro Tip: Unlimited sends mean no send-volume worries; great for daily newsletters.

GetResponse

All-in-one with webinars.

Email Marketing: $19/mo (1,000 contacts), unlimited sends.
Marketing Automation: $59/mo (1,000), funnels.
Ecommerce Marketing: $119/mo (1,000).

Best For: Webinars/e-com. Includes landing pages, conversion funnels free.

Pro Tip: 30-day free trial; compare total value if you need built-in ads.

Moosend

Affordable automation alternative.

Free: Up to 1,000 subs, unlimited emails.
Pro: $9/mo (500 subs), A/B, API.
Enterprise: $499+/mo.

Best For: Startups. Unlimited campaigns/emails.

Pro Tip: Best budget pick for 1,000–5,000 subs under $50/mo.

Side-by-Side Pricing Comparison Table

Platform	Free Tier	Starter (~1,000 subs)	Mid (~10,000 subs)	Key Strength
Mailchimp	500 subs, 1k sends	$20–$50/mo	$100–$300/mo	Ease of use
ActiveCampaign	None	$29/mo	$129–$259/mo	Automations
Brevo	Unlimited, 300/day	$25/mo (20k emails)	$65+/mo	Transactional
ConvertKit	300 subs	$29/mo	$100+/mo	Creators
GetResponse	30-day trial	$19/mo	$99/mo	Webinars
Moosend	1,000 subs	$9/mo	$49/mo	Budget unlimited

Notes: Annual discounts apply; prices exclude tax. Check sites for exact tiers.

Which Platform Fits Your Business Size?

Solopreneurs/Bootstrappers (<1,000 subs)

Go Brevo or Moosend free tiers. Unlimited/low-cost sends without features bloat. Advice: Focus on deliverability—warm up domains gradually to avoid spam filters.

Small Businesses (1,000–5,000 subs)

Mailchimp Essentials or ConvertKit Creator. Budget $20–50/mo. Practical Step: Audit list health first (remove bounces); aim for 20–30% open rates to justify spend.

Growing Teams (5,000–50,000 subs)

ActiveCampaign Plus or GetResponse Automation. Invest in segmentation for 2x ROI. Tip: Calculate LTV: If emails drive $5/sub/year, $0.50/sub pricing pays off.

Enterprises (50,000+ subs)

Custom plans from ActiveCampaign or Brevo Enterprise. Prioritize API/SLA support.

Selection Framework: 1) List size x sends/mo. 2) Must-have features (automation? yes → ActiveCampaign). 3) Trial 2–3 options. 4) Export/import ease for switches.

Hidden Costs and Savings Tips

Overages: Mailchimp charges extra for high engagement.
Add-ons: SMS ($0.01/message), dedicated IPs ($10–100/mo).
Migration: Free tools like Zapier, but time costs $.

Savings Hacks:

Annual prepay.
Clean lists quarterly (tools like ZeroBounce, $0.01/check).
Self-host if tech-savvy (e.g., Mautic free/open-source).
Bundle with hosting (e.g., SiteGround + email).
Monitor ROI: Track revenue per email sent.

Conclusion

Email marketing pricing varies widely, but value trumps cheap plans. For most, Brevo/Moosend win on affordability, ActiveCampaign on power, Mailchimp on simplicity. Start with your subscriber count and growth projections—use the table and tips to shortlist. Test via free trials, prioritize deliverability and automations for long-term wins. The best platform scales with you without breaking the bank. Ready to choose? Head to official pricing pages and run the numbers for your business today.

Word count: 1,248. Prices subject to change; verify directly.