Email Marketing Platform Pricing: Compare Every Major Platform (2026)
Complete pricing comparison of every major email marketing platform. See what you'll actually pay at every list size for Mailchimp, Brevo, Klaviyo, and more.
email marketing pricing comparison
Email Marketing Platform Pricing?
Choosing the right email marketing platform starts with understanding what you’ll actually pay — not just at signup, but as your list grows. Here’s a comprehensive pricing comparison.
Pricing at a Glance (Monthly Cost by Contact Count)
1,000 Contacts
| Platform | Monthly Cost | Free Option |
|---|---|---|
| Brevo | Free | ✓ (300 emails/day) |
| MailerLite | Free | ✓ (12K emails/mo) |
| Mailchimp | $13 | ✓ (500 contacts only) |
| ConvertKit | Free | ✓ (broadcasts only) |
| ActiveCampaign | $29 | ✗ |
| Klaviyo | $30 | ✓ (250 contacts) |
10,000 Contacts
| Platform | Monthly Cost |
|---|---|
| Brevo | $18 |
| MailerLite | $73 |
| Mailchimp | $100 |
| ConvertKit | $100 |
| ActiveCampaign | $149 |
| Klaviyo | $150 |
| Constant Contact | $110 |
50,000 Contacts
| Platform | Monthly Cost |
|---|---|
| Brevo | $39 |
| MailerLite | Custom |
| Mailchimp | $350 |
| ConvertKit | $329 |
| ActiveCampaign | $459 |
| Klaviyo | $720 |
100,000 Contacts
| Platform | Monthly Cost |
|---|---|
| Brevo | $65 |
| Mailchimp | $800+ |
| Klaviyo | $1,150+ |
| ActiveCampaign | $700+ |
Why Brevo Is Cheapest: Per-Email vs Per-Contact
Per-contact pricing (Mailchimp, Klaviyo, ActiveCampaign):
- Charges for every contact in your database
- Cost rises as your list grows — even for inactive contacts
- Punishes you for building a large list
Per-email pricing (Brevo):
- Charges only for emails you actually send
- Unlimited contacts on every plan
- Cost stays low regardless of list size
Platform-by-Platform Pricing
Brevo
- Free: 300/day, unlimited contacts, CRM
- Starter: $9/mo for 5,000 emails
- Business: $18/mo for 5,000 emails + advanced features
- Enterprise: Custom
Mailchimp
- Free: 500 contacts, 1,000 emails/mo
- Essentials: $13/mo for 500 contacts
- Standard: $20/mo for 500 contacts
- Premium: $350/mo for 10,000 contacts
Klaviyo
- Free: 250 contacts, 500 emails/mo
- Email: From $20/mo for 500 contacts
- Email+SMS: From $35/mo
ActiveCampaign
- No free plan
- Lite: $29/mo for 1,000 contacts
- Plus: $49/mo for 1,000 contacts
- Professional: $149/mo for 1,000 contacts
MailerLite
- Free: 1,000 subscribers, 12,000 emails/mo
- Growing Business: From $10/mo
- Advanced: From $21/mo
ConvertKit
- Free: 1,000 subscribers, broadcasts only
- Creator: $29/mo for 1,000 subscribers
- Creator Pro: $59/mo for 1,000 subscribers
SendGrid
- Free: 100/day
- Essentials: $19.95/mo for 50K emails
- Pro: $89.95/mo for 100K emails
Mailgun
- Free: Trial only (100 emails/day)
- Foundation: $35/mo for 50K emails
- Scale: $90/mo for 100K emails
Other Platforms
- GetResponse: From $19/mo for 1,000 contacts
- Campaign Monitor: From $11/mo for 500 contacts
- Constant Contact: From $12/mo for 500 contacts
- Benchmark Email: From $13/mo for 500 contacts
Hidden Costs to Watch
- Overage charges — Some platforms charge premium rates for exceeding limits
- Feature gates — Advanced automation, A/B testing, or removing branding costs extra
- SMS add-ons — Most platforms charge separately for SMS
- CRM — Usually a separate paid tool (except Brevo)
- Migration costs — Time spent switching platforms
Our Recommendation
For any budget and any list size, Brevo offers the best value:
- Unlimited contacts (even on free)
- Per-email pricing that stays affordable
- Built-in CRM, SMS, WhatsApp (no add-ons)
- Shopify integration via Tajo
See also:
Frequently Asked Questions
Which email marketing platform is cheapest?
Brevo is cheapest at every list size due to its per-email pricing model. Free: 300/day unlimited contacts. At 50K contacts: ~$39/month vs Mailchimp $350+ or Klaviyo $700+.
How much does email marketing cost per month?
Email marketing costs $0-300/month for most small businesses. Free plans cover basic needs (Brevo: 300/day). Paid plans range from $9/month (Brevo Starter) to $300+/month (Klaviyo, HubSpot at scale).
Why is Klaviyo so expensive?
Klaviyo charges per profile (contact), which becomes expensive as your list grows. At 10,000 contacts, Klaviyo costs $150+/month vs Brevo's $18/month. Klaviyo's advanced ecommerce features don't justify the 8x price difference for most stores.