Which email marketing tool is cheapest?

Brevo has the most generous free plan — 300 emails/day to unlimited contacts. MailerLite is the cheapest paid option starting at $9/month for up to 500 subscribers.

Is HubSpot email marketing free?

Yes — HubSpot's free CRM includes basic email marketing for up to 2,000 sends/month. Paid Marketing Hub starts at $45/month and adds automation, A/B testing, and higher sending limits.

What email marketing software is best for eCommerce?

Klaviyo is the gold standard for eCommerce email marketing. Deep Shopify/WooCommerce integration, revenue tracking, predictive analytics, and pre-built eCommerce flows make it the top choice for online stores.

Updated 2026-05-30 · 7 Tools Tested

Best Email Marketing Software 2026: Top 7 Tested & Ranked

Q: What is the best email marketing software in 2026?

HubSpot is the best all-in-one email marketing platform for teams that also need CRM. Brevo (formerly Sendinblue) is the best value option — generous free plan and affordable paid tiers. ActiveCampaign leads on marketing automation depth.

We tested every major email marketing platform for deliverability, automation, pricing, and ease of use. No paid placements. Here are the 7 best options in 2026 — with honest verdicts for each use case.

Best All-in-One:
HubSpot Marketing Hub

Best Free Plan:
Brevo (unlimited contacts)

Best Automation:
ActiveCampaign

Best eCommerce:
Klaviyo

Best for Creators:
ConvertKit

The 7 Best Email Marketing Tools in 2026

#1 HubSpot Marketing Hub Best All-in-One 9.3/10

The most complete email marketing + CRM platform. Built-in contact management, deal tracking, live chat, landing pages, and automation workflows — all in one. Best for teams that want to unify marketing and sales.

Best for: B2B teams, agencies, and businesses that want CRM + email + automation in one platform · From: Free / from $45/month

Full review → Pricing →

HubSpot vs Mailchimp HubSpot vs ActiveCampaign HubSpot vs Brevo

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#2 Brevo (Sendinblue) Best Value + Free Plan 9.0/10

The best email marketing platform for budget-conscious teams. Free plan allows 300 emails/day to unlimited contacts — by far the most generous free tier in the category. Transactional email, SMS, chat, and landing pages included.

Best for: Small businesses, startups, and non-profits who need a capable free plan or the most affordable paid option · From: Free / from $9/month

HubSpot vs Brevo

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#3 ActiveCampaign Best Automation 9.1/10

The deepest marketing automation engine in the category. Visual automation builder with 850+ pre-built workflows. CRM, SMS, site tracking, lead scoring, and predictive sending. Best-in-class for complex B2B nurture sequences.

Best for: Marketing teams who need sophisticated behavioral automation and lead scoring · From: From $15/month

HubSpot vs ActiveCampaign

Try ActiveCampaign →

#4 Klaviyo Best for eCommerce 9.0/10

The gold standard for eCommerce email marketing. Deep Shopify/WooCommerce integration, revenue attribution, predictive CLV, abandoned cart flows, and browse abandonment automation. Every email tied to actual revenue.

Best for: Shopify and WooCommerce stores who want revenue-attributed email automation · From: Free / from $20/month

#5 ConvertKit Best for Creators 8.8/10

The favourite email marketing platform for content creators, bloggers, and solopreneurs. Simple automation, landing pages, paid newsletter monetization (Substack alternative), and creator-friendly pricing.

Best for: Individual creators, bloggers, coaches, and newsletter operators · From: Free / from $9/month

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#6 Mailchimp Most Popular 8.5/10

The world's most recognised email marketing brand. Easy to use, 300+ integrations, AI-assisted content generation. Free plan covers 500 contacts and 1,000 sends/month. Better for basic campaigns than advanced automation.

Best for: Small businesses and beginners who need a simple, recognisable tool with good integrations · From: Free / from $13/month

#7 GetResponse Best for Webinars 8.4/10

Unique in the category for including webinar hosting on paid plans. Solid email automation, landing page builder, and conversion funnel templates. Good choice for businesses that use webinars as a lead generation channel.

Best for: Businesses running webinars, online courses, or events alongside email marketing · From: From $15/month

HubSpot vs GetResponse

How We Pick & Test

Deliverability: We tested send reputation, inbox placement, and spam trigger rates using MailTester and GlockApps
Automation depth: We built 10-step nurture sequences in each platform and rated visual builder quality
Pricing transparency: We checked for hidden contacts limits, overage fees, and feature gates
Ease of use: We measured time-to-first-campaign for a non-technical user
Integrations: We verified CRM, Shopify, Zapier, and API connections
Free plan quality: We tested free tiers for real-world usability — not just lead generation tools

How to Choose an Email Marketing Platform

The right tool depends entirely on your use case:

You need CRM + email: HubSpot — best integration between sales and marketing
You need a free plan that scales: Brevo — unlimited contacts even on free
You run complex automation: ActiveCampaign — most powerful visual builder
You run a Shopify store: Klaviyo — revenue-attributed eCommerce automation
You're a creator or blogger: ConvertKit — simplest path to paid newsletter
You want simplicity and brand recognition: Mailchimp — most integrations, easiest onboarding

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the best email marketing software in 2026?

HubSpot is the best all-in-one for teams that need CRM + email together. Brevo is the best value (unlimited contacts on free plan). ActiveCampaign leads on automation depth. Klaviyo is best for eCommerce.

Which email marketing platform has the best free plan?

Brevo: 300 emails/day to unlimited contacts, forever free. HubSpot: 2,000 sends/month on the free CRM plan. ConvertKit: free up to 1,000 subscribers. MailerLite: free up to 1,000 subscribers, 12,000 sends/month.

What's the difference between email marketing and marketing automation?

Email marketing sends one-off campaigns. Marketing automation sends email sequences triggered by user behaviour — page visits, purchases, link clicks, tag changes. ActiveCampaign, HubSpot, and Klaviyo all offer both.

Which platform is best for Shopify email marketing?

Klaviyo — it was built specifically for eCommerce. Deep Shopify integration, revenue attribution, predictive CLV, and 100+ eCommerce-specific automation flows. Brevo is the best budget alternative for Shopify.

Can I switch email marketing platforms without losing my list?

Yes — all major platforms allow CSV contact export. You'll also want to export your automation logic and landing pages separately. Most platforms offer free migration assistance on paid plans.

Related Comparisons

Methodology: All platforms independently tested by SaaSpare. Pricing verified 2026-05-30. We receive commissions on some tools — this does not affect rankings. Full disclosure.