How Much Does Email Marketing Software Cost in 2026?
Short answer
Paid email marketing plans start from $8.08 a month (Brevo) among the tools we rank, and the price rises with your list size. On Oct 26, 2026: ActiveCampaign Starter $15 a month and MailerLite Comfort $17.10 (both billed yearly), Mailchimp Essentials $26.50, Klaviyo Email $30, and Kit Creator $33 billed yearly. Most tools also have a free plan for small lists.
Entry prices by tool
The cheapest paid plan for each tool in our ranking, at the smallest list size the vendor shows:
| Tool | Entry price | Plan and billing | Free plan / trial |
|---|---|---|---|
| MailerLite | $10.80/mo | Comfort, 500 subscribers, billed yearly ($12 monthly); $17.10 at 1,000 | Free plan (250 subscribers); 14-day trial |
| Klaviyo | $20/mo | Email, 500 active profiles, 5,000 emails a month; $30 at 1,000 | Free plan (250 profiles, 500 emails a month) |
| ActiveCampaign | $15/mo | Starter, 1,000 contacts, billed yearly; Plus $49, Pro $79 | 14-day trial, no card needed |
| Brevo | $8.08/mo | Starter, 5,000 emails a month, billed yearly ($9 monthly); Standard $16.17 | Free plan (300 emails a day) |
| Mailchimp | $13/mo | Essentials, up to 500 contacts; $26.50 up to 1,500; Standard from $20 | Free plan (250 contacts); 14-day trial |
| Kit | $33/mo | Creator, 1,000 subscribers, billed yearly ($390 a year) | Free plan (up to 10,000 subscribers); 14-day trial |
Starting prices are the cheapest paid plan on each vendor's pricing page on Oct 26, 2026, at the smallest list size shown, billed yearly where available. Prices rise with list size. Mailchimp and Klaviyo bill monthly; Brevo prices by monthly email volume rather than contacts.
Three ways vendors charge
- By contacts or subscribers. The most common model: the price steps up as your list grows, usually with a monthly send limit tied to list size. Mailchimp, MailerLite, ActiveCampaign and Kit work this way.
- By active profiles. Similar, but counted on profiles you can message. Klaviyo prices email this way.
- By emails sent. You pay for monthly volume rather than list size, which suits big lists that send a few campaigns a month. Brevo prices this way.
Because the models differ, compare tools at your own list size and sending frequency, not at the headline price.
What the higher tiers add
Entry plans usually cover campaigns and basic forms. The next tier is where multi-step automation, A/B testing, landing pages and removal of the vendor's logo tend to appear, and the top tier adds things like phone support, more seats and advanced segmentation. Our shortlist notes which plan first includes each of these for every tool.
Free plans
Kit's free plan covers up to 10,000 subscribers, Brevo's free plan sends 300 emails a day, and MailerLite's free plan includes 250 subscribers, 2,500 emails a month and 3 automations.
Free plans cap contacts or sends and often lock automation, so they suit a new list or a simple newsletter.
FAQ
How much does email marketing cost for 1,000 contacts?
On Oct 26, 2026: ActiveCampaign Starter $15 a month and MailerLite Comfort $17.10 (both billed yearly), Mailchimp Essentials $26.50, Klaviyo Email $30, and Kit Creator $33 billed yearly.
What is the cheapest email marketing software?
Among the tools we rank, the lowest entry price is $8.08 a month (Brevo). Compare at your own list size, since prices step up as the list grows.
Is there free email marketing software?
Kit's free plan covers up to 10,000 subscribers, Brevo's free plan sends 300 emails a day, and MailerLite's free plan includes 250 subscribers, 2,500 emails a month and 3 automations.
Why do prices go up when my list grows?
Most vendors price by the number of contacts, subscribers or active profiles, so each step in list size moves you to a higher price band. Vendors that price by emails sent are the exception.