Bottom Line (August 2026)
GetResponse wins for most SMBs and solo marketers. It scores 8.4/10 vs Campaign Monitor's 7.8/10. GetResponse offers a genuine free plan (500 contacts), built-in webinars, landing page builder, and visual automation, all at $15/mo. Campaign Monitor (from $9/mo, no free tier) edges ahead on email design quality and agency multi-client tools, but can't match GetResponse's all-in-one feature set at the same price.
Our Pick
Best Overall
GetResponse
All-in-one: email, webinars, landing pages, automation. Free plan available.
Score: 8.4/10 · From $0/mo
Best for Design
Campaign Monitor
Premium templates, agency multi-client, Shopify & Salesforce integrations.
Score: 7.8/10 · From $9/mo
Budget Alternative
Mailchimp
Free tier (500 contacts), huge template library, beginner-friendly.
Score: 8.5/10 · From $0/mo
Overview: GetResponse vs Campaign Monitor
GetResponse
Founded 1998 · Poland-based
GetResponse started as a pure email tool and evolved into a full marketing platform. It now includes webinar hosting, landing page builder, paid ads integration, and visual marketing automation, all in one subscription. The free plan (500 contacts, basic email) is genuinely usable for small lists.
Campaign Monitor
Founded 2004 · Sydney, Australia
Campaign Monitor has always prioritised design quality and deliverability. It's popular with agencies because of multi-client account management and branded reporting. The drag-and-drop email builder produces some of the cleanest rendering across email clients, but it lacks a free-forever plan and webinar features.
Who Should Pick GetResponse?
- You want email + webinars + landing pages in one tool without Zoom add-ons
- You need a visual automation builder at a mid-tier price ($49/mo)
- You're starting out and want a free plan (500 contacts) before committing
- You sell online courses, coaching, or digital products via email funnels
Who Should Pick Campaign Monitor?
- You're an agency managing email campaigns for multiple clients
- Pixel-perfect, premium-designed emails matter more than automation depth
- You need deep Shopify, Salesforce, or Magento integrations
- Your team values world-class deliverability tools and inbox preview testing
Pricing Comparison (August 2026)
| Plan | GetResponse | Campaign Monitor |
|---|
| Free tier | Free (500 contacts) | Trial only (5 emails to 5 subscribers) |
| Entry paid | $15/mo (1,000 contacts) | $9/mo (500 contacts, Basic) |
| Mid-tier | $49/mo (automation) | $29/mo (Unlimited) |
| Advanced | $97/mo (ecommerce) | $149/mo (Premier) |
| Enterprise | GetResponse MAX (custom) | Custom |
| Annual discount | 18% off | 15% off |
| Per-contact pricing | Scales with contacts | Scales with contacts |
Key pricing insight: Campaign Monitor's $9/mo Basic plan looks cheaper upfront, but it caps automation to basic autoresponders. GetResponse's $15/mo plan includes more list-building tools. Once you need visual automation, Campaign Monitor jumps to $29/mo (Unlimited) while GetResponse is $49/mo, but GetResponse includes more in that tier.
Feature Comparison
| Feature | GetResponse | Campaign Monitor |
|---|
| Email templates | 200+ | Premium (better design quality) |
| Drag-and-drop builder | Yes (more customisable) | Yes (cleaner output) |
| Marketing automation | Visual workflow builder ($49/mo) | Journey builder ($29/mo+) |
| Landing page builder | Yes (included) | No (third-party required) |
| Webinars | Yes (up to 1,000 attendees) | No |
| A/B testing | Subject, content, send time | Subject & content |
| Deliverability tools | Good | Industry-leading inbox preview |
| Multi-client agency | Basic | Built-in, branded dashboards |
| Shopify integration | Yes | Native (deeper) |
| Salesforce integration | Via Zapier | Native |
| Free plan | Yes (500 contacts) | No |
| Overall score | 8.4/10 | 7.8/10 |
Our Final Verdict
GetResponse is our recommendation for most users, SMBs, solo marketers, coaches, and course creators who want an all-in-one tool at a reasonable price. The free plan is a genuine starting point, and the $15/mo tier includes list-building features that Campaign Monitor reserves for paid plans.
- Choose GetResponse if you need email + webinars + landing pages + automation in one subscription, or if you want to start free and upgrade later. From $0/mo (500 contacts), $15/mo paid.
- Choose Campaign Monitor if you're an agency managing multiple client accounts, need premium email design and Salesforce/Shopify native integrations, and are willing to pay $29–149/mo for those extras. No free-forever tier.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is GetResponse better than Campaign Monitor?
GetResponse scores 8.4/10 vs Campaign Monitor's 7.8/10. GetResponse wins for automation, webinars, landing pages, and pricing. Campaign Monitor wins for premium email design quality and agency multi-client tools.
How much does GetResponse cost vs Campaign Monitor?
GetResponse: free plan (500 contacts) then $15/mo for Email Marketing, $49/mo for Marketing Automation. Campaign Monitor: Basic from $9/mo (500 contacts), Unlimited from $29/mo, Premier from $149/mo. Campaign Monitor has no free-forever tier.
Which has better email automation, GetResponse or Campaign Monitor?
GetResponse wins on automation depth. GetResponse includes visual workflow automation on the $49/mo Marketing Automation plan. Campaign Monitor's Journey automation is available on Unlimited ($29/mo) and above, but has fewer trigger types.
Does Campaign Monitor have a free plan?
No. Campaign Monitor does not offer a free-forever plan. There is a limited free trial (up to 5 emails to 5 subscribers). Paid plans start at $9/mo for 500 contacts. GetResponse offers a genuine free plan for up to 500 contacts with no time limit.
Who should use Campaign Monitor instead of GetResponse?
Campaign Monitor suits agencies managing multiple client accounts, teams who prioritise premium email design quality and inbox rendering, and businesses needing native Salesforce or Shopify integration. For solo marketers and SMBs needing automation plus webinars, GetResponse is the better value.