I Tested 14 Best Email Marketing Services for Small Businesses in 2025

Email marketing remains one of the few channels you actually control. Social platforms change their rules constantly, and traffic can disappear overnight, but an email list gives you a direct way to reach people who asked to hear from you.

That’s why email has always played a central role at WPBeginner. We began with Mailchimp, which worked well when our needs were simple. As the site grew and our email strategy matured, we eventually moved to Drip to send more targeted messages and build smarter automation over time.

The choice of email marketing service matters more than most people think. Poor deliverability means your emails never arrive. Overly complex tools slow teams down and make basic tasks harder than they should be.

These issues don’t just cause inconvenience. They quietly limit growth.

That’s why I put this comparison together to help you choose an email marketing service that fits your goals, your audience, and the way you actually work. This guide is based on my hands-on testing of many of the most popular email marketing services, both at WPBeginner and across other projects.

Quick Picks: My Top 5 Recommendations

If you’re in a hurry, here is a quick look at my top recommendations for small businesses:

Service	Best For	Free/Trial	Pricing/mo (Annual)	WPBeginner Rating
Brevo	Absolute Beginners 🏆	Yes (unlimited contacts)	$8.08	A+ (Review)
MailerLite	Simple Newsletters	Yes (1,000 subs)	$9.00	A (Review)
Constant Contact	Small Businesses	30-day trial	$12	A (Review)
AWeber	Reliable Automation	Yes (500 subs)	$12.50	B+ (Review)
Drip	eCommerce Stores	14-day trial	$39.00	A (Review)

How I Tested and Chose the Best Email Marketing Services

Choosing the right email marketing service can be overwhelming, especially with so many options out there. To help you make the right choice, I’ve personally tested every tool on this list using a hands-on approach.

I didn’t just look at the marketing pages. I signed up for accounts, built real campaigns, and carefully tested every feature in a live WordPress environment.

Specifically, I focused on these five key areas:

• Ease of Use: You shouldn’t need technical skills or coding knowledge to send a newsletter. I signed up for every service to test how intuitive their drag-and-drop email builders are and how long it takes a beginner to set up a basic welcome email series.
• High Deliverability: A service is useless if your emails land in the spam folder. I used these platforms to send real test campaigns to ensure they actually reach the inbox, not the promotions or spam tabs.
• Automation Features: You want a tool that works while you sleep. I looked for set-and-forget workflows, such as welcome sequences and abandoned cart reminders, and tested how easy they are to customize.
• WordPress Integration: Your email service must work with your website. I personally tested how easily each service connects with WordPress and popular plugins like WPForms and OptinMonster to grow your list automatically.
• Pricing & Support: I compared pricing plans to ensure they won’t penalize you for growing your list. I also reached out to each support team via live chat and email to see how quickly they responded to technical questions.

By looking for these small details—like how quickly a template loads or how easy it is to segment a list after a sale. I made sure that these recommendations are based on actual performance, not just a list of specifications.

Why Trust My Recommendations?

Hi, my name is Syed Balkhi. I’m the founder of WPBeginner and CEO of Awesome Motive.  I have created numerous bootstrapped software companies. Today, over 30 million websites use my software.

Over the last 20 years, I’ve used countless email marketing tools on my personal blogs and my business websites.

Here’s why you can trust my recommendations:

• Hands-On Experience: I’ve personally used all the email marketing tools listed in this article across my businesses and projects.
• Comprehensive Testing: My team and I rigorously test each service for ease of use, deliverability, automation features, and overall value.
• Community Feedback: Through WPBeginner, I’ve helped thousands of users choose the right email marketing service and gathered their feedback to ensure these tools meet real-world needs.
• Transparency: I only recommend services based on real data, user experiences, and the value they provide. I don’t recommend tools that I wouldn’t use myself.

This guide is the result of years of experience, thorough testing, and feedback from the WPBeginner community. I’m confident it will help you find the best email marketing service to grow your audience and take your business to the next level.

1. Brevo (Best for Absolute Beginners)

What I Like About Brevo:

• Massive Contact Storage: Unlimited contacts on the free plan is unique in this industry and protects you from subscriber tax.
• Transactional Emails: You can send order confirmations and marketing emails from the same dashboard effortlessly.
• Advanced Email Automation: Even on the free tier, you get access to workflow builders that usually cost a premium elsewhere.
• All-in-One Communication: It includes SMS and WhatsApp marketing tools, making it more than just an email service.

What I Don’t Like About Brevo:

• Daily Send Limits: The free plan limits you to 300 emails per day, which can be restrictive as your list grows.
• Landing Page Builder: You have to move to the Business plan to access the landing page tool and A/B testing.

Why I Recommend Brevo: I recommend Brevo because it is the most cost-effective way to get professional-grade email features. It is the best solution for small businesses and startups that want room to grow their contact list without seeing their monthly bill skyrocket.

Pricing: Brevo offers a free plan with 300 daily emails. Paid plans start at $9/month. By choosing an annual plan, the price drops to $8.08/month.

2. MailerLite (Best for Simple Newsletters)

What I Like About MailerLite:

• Zen Interface: The dashboard is minimalistic and very easy to navigate, even for total beginners.
• Beautiful Automation UI: Their visual workflow builder is incredibly intuitive and visually clean.
• Monetization Tools: You can sell digital products or paid newsletter subscriptions directly from your emails.
• Generous Support: Even free users get 30 days of 24/7 email and live chat support to help them get started.

What I Don’t Like About MailerLite:

• Strict Approval: They have a strict manual review process for new accounts, which can delay your first send.
• Limited CRM: It lacks the deep sales tracking and CRM features found in tools like HubSpot or Brevo.

Why I Recommend MailerLite: I recommend MailerLite for content creators who value simplicity. It is the perfect no-fuss tool for building a professional email newsletter without a steep learning curve.

Pricing: MailerLite has a free plan for up to 1,000 subscribers. Paid plans start at $10/month, or $9/month when billed annually.

3. Constant Contact (Best for Small Businesses)

What I Like About Constant Contact:

• World-Class Support: Having access to a real person on the phone is a game-changer for beginners.
• Niche Templates: They have over 300+ email templates designed specifically for industries like real estate and retail.
• Smart UI: The interface is clean, and the ‘Check for Errors’ tool saves you from embarrassing mistakes.
• Event Tools: Built-in tools for managing event registrations and invitations.

What I Don’t Like About Constant Contact:

• No Permanent Free Plan: While the trial is generous, there is no “free forever” tier.
• Automation Depth: Their automation is excellent for basics, but it lacks the complex branching found in Drip.

Why I Recommend Constant Contact: I recommend Constant Contact because it is the most reliable, well-supported platform for small business owners who want to focus on their business, not their software.

Price: Constant Contact has a 30-day free trial (no credit card required). After that, their pricing starts as low as $12/month.

4. AWeber (Best for Reliable Automation)

What I Like About AWeber:

• Canva Integration: You can design professional graphics without ever leaving your dashboard.
• Reliable Deliverability: They have one of the best sender reputations in the industry.
• Web Push Notifications: You can send browser alerts to your visitors to boost traffic.
• Simple Tagging: Their system for organizing subscribers is very logical and easy to master.

What I Don’t Like About AWeber:

• Pricing Tiers: Their pricing is based on list size and can get expensive quite quickly.
• Template Quality: While they have thousands of templates, many of the older ones feel a bit dated.

Why I Recommend AWeber: I recommend AWeber to bloggers and creators who want a rock-solid tool to automate their content updates. It is dependable, well-integrated, and perfect for building a long-term audience.

Pricing: AWeber has a free plan for up to 500 subscribers. Paid plans start at $15/month, or $12.50/month when billed annually.

5. Drip (Best for eCommerce Stores)

What I Like About Drip:

• Visual Workflow Builder: Their automation builder is the best I have tested. It is very easy to see how your funnels work.
• Revenue Attribution: It shows you exactly how much money each individual email campaign has generated.
• Deep Personalization: You can change the actual content of an email based on a user’s past purchases.
• Unlimited Sends: Most plans include unlimited email sends, so you aren’t penalized for staying in touch.

What I Don’t Like About Drip:

• Learning Curve: It is a professional tool, so it takes a bit more time to learn than simpler options.
• No Permanent Free Plan: There is no free tier, and the entry price is higher than basic services.

Why I Recommend Drip: I recommend Drip for eCommerce store owners. If your email list is a big source of income, the advanced segmentation and revenue tracking in Drip will pay for itself many times over.

Pricing: Drip offers a 14-day free trial. Paid plans start at $39/month and include all advanced automation features and unlimited sends for your first 2,500 subscribers.

6. HubSpot (Best All-in-One Suite)

What I Like About HubSpot:

• Deep CRM Integration: You can personalize emails based on almost any data point in your customer database.
• All-in-One Power: It consolidates your forms, live chat, and email into a single dashboard.
• User-Friendly Editor: Their drag-and-drop builder is modern, fast, and very polished.
• Educational Resources: HubSpot Academy offers free certifications that help you master email marketing.

What I Don’t Like About HubSpot:

• Steep Upgrade Cost: While the Starter plan is affordable, the jump to Professional is a massive price increase.
• Template Limitations: The basic templates are a bit plain compared to more design-focused tools like MailerLite.

Why I Recommend HubSpot: I recommend HubSpot for businesses that want a unified view of their customers. If you’re serious about lead nurturing and want your email marketing to ‘talk’ to your sales team, HubSpot is the best solution.

Pricing: HubSpot’s free plan includes 2,000 email sends per month. Paid plans start at $9/month per core seat.

7. Omnisend (Best for Shopify & WooCommerce)

What I Like About Omnisend:

• Built for Sales: Everything about the tool is designed to help you sell more products.
• Omnichannel Workflows: You can send a follow-up SMS if a customer doesn’t open your email.
• Product Integration: You can drag and drop products from your store directly into your newsletter.
• Great Free Tools: The free plan includes most professional features, such as A/B testing and automation.

What I Don’t Like About Omnisend:

• Niche Focus: It is not a great fit for bloggers or nonprofits that aren’t selling physical products.
• SMS Costs: While SMS is integrated, the per-message costs can add up quickly.

Why I Recommend Omnisend: I recommend Omnisend for any eCommerce business looking to grow. It is simpler than complex enterprise platforms but more powerful than standard email tools, making it the perfect balance for online retailers.

Pricing: Omnisend offers a free plan for 250 contacts. Paid plans start at $11.20/month.

8. Campaigner (Best for Advanced Marketers)

What I Like About Campaigner:

• High-Level Personalization: You can customize content based on a subscriber’s location or past buying habits.
• Deliverability Tools: Their built-in email list hygiene features are some of the best in the business.
• Visual Workflow Builder: It makes it easy to map out complex, multi-step customer journeys.
• Volume Handling: It is built to handle millions of emails with rock-solid reliability.

What I Don’t Like About Campaigner:

• No Free Plan: Unlike many others, they only offer a trial, which requires a credit card.
• Complexity: The interface can be overwhelming for absolute beginners.

Why I Recommend Campaigner: I recommend Campaigner for established businesses that have outgrown simpler tools. If you need deep data insights and advanced list protection, this is the email marketing platform for you.

Pricing: Campaigner starts at $59/month for up to 5,000 contacts and offers a 30-day free trial.

9. Moosend (Best Affordable Pro Features)

What I Like About Moosend:

• Unbeatable Value: You get pro features for a fraction of what competitors charge.
• Detailed Analytics: Their heatmaps show you exactly where subscribers are clicking in your emails.
• Ecommerce AI: It can automatically suggest products to subscribers based on their interests.
• Ease of Use: The 4-step checklist makes it very easy for beginners to get started.

What I Don’t Like About Moosend:

• No Free Forever Plan: They recently moved to a 30-day trial model instead of a permanent free tier.
• Limited Integrations: While it has the basics, it doesn’t have as many native connections as AWeber or HubSpot.

Why I Recommend Moosend: I recommend Moosend for anyone looking for the best value for their money. It provides high-end marketing technology at a price small businesses can afford.

Pricing: Moosend starts at $9/month (or $7/month billed annually) for up to 500 subscribers.

10. ActiveCampaign (Best for Automation)

What I Like About ActiveCampaign:

• Infinite Flexibility: If you can dream of an automation, you can build it in ActiveCampaign.
• Predictive AI: It uses machine learning to send emails at the exact time a subscriber is most likely to open them.
• Free Migration: They will help you move your contacts and automations from your old tool for free.
• Omnichannel Support: It handles everything from email to SMS and site messaging seamlessly.

What I Don’t Like About ActiveCampaign:

• Steep Learning Curve: It is a complex piece of software that takes time to master.
• No Free Tier: Pricing starts at a reasonable level but climbs quickly as you add features and contacts.

Why I Recommend ActiveCampaign: I recommend ActiveCampaign for experienced marketers who have outgrown standard newsletters. It’s a powerful tool for those who want to automate every aspect of their customer experience.

Pricing: ActiveCampaign starts at $15/month for 1,000 contacts.

11. GetResponse (Best for Webinars & Funnels)

What I Like About GetResponse:

• All-in-One Convenience: You don’t need a separate subscription for webinars or funnel builders.
• AI Tools: Their AI suite is genuinely helpful for creating high-converting campaigns quickly.
• High Deliverability: They have a strong reputation for getting emails into the primary inbox.
• Excellent Support: Their 24/7 live chat is fast, professional, and very helpful.

What I Don’t Like About GetResponse:

• Outdated Templates: Some of the templates in their library look a bit dated and could use a modern design refresh.
• Limited Free Plan: Many of the best features, like webinars and funnel builders, are locked behind higher plans.

Why I Recommend GetResponse: I recommend GetResponse for marketers who want to consolidate their tech stack. If you run webinars or complex sales funnels, it is much easier to manage everything from one dashboard.

Pricing: GetResponse has a free plan for 500 contacts. Paid plans start at $19/month, or $15.60/month billed annually.

12. Beehiiv (Best for Paid Newsletters)

What I Like About Beehiiv:

• Creator-First Features: Everything is designed to help you grow your list and make money.
• Massive Free Plan: 2,500 subscribers with unlimited sends for free is good value.
• Referral Engine: It makes it easy to reward your readers for sharing your newsletter with friends.
• Clean Reading Experience: The emails look great and provide a premium blog-like feel.

What I Don’t Like About Beehiiv:

• Limited Automation: It is not a CRM, so you won’t find the complex eCommerce triggers seen in Drip or HubSpot.
• Scale Pricing: While the free plan is great, the jump to the Scale plan is one of the more expensive entry points.

Why I Recommend Beehiiv: I recommend Beehiiv for anyone whose product is the newsletter itself. If you want to build a media brand or a paid newsletter, Beehiiv provides the growth tools you need to succeed.

Pricing: Beehiiv has a generous free plan for up to 2,500 subscribers. Paid plans start at $43/month when billed annually.

13. Kit (formerly ConvertKit) (Best for Creators)

What I Like About Kit:

• Incentive Delivery: It is the best tool for growing your list via lead magnets and freebies.
• Massive Free Tier: Their Newsletter plan allows for up to 10,000 subscribers for free.
• Creator Network: You can partner with other creators to recommend each other’s newsletters.
• Plain Text Focus: They prioritize deliverability by encouraging clean, high-converting “personal” looking emails.

What I Don’t Like About Kit:

• Basic Templates: If you want highly visual, graphic-heavy emails, you might find their editor limiting.
• Reporting: Their analytics are good, but not as deep as specialized tools like Drip or Omnisend.

Why I Recommend Kit: I recommend Kit for authors and course creators. It removes the technical friction of email marketing and focuses on what matters: building a personal connection with your fans.

Pricing: Kit has a free Newsletter plan for up to 10,000 subscribers. Paid plans start at $33/month.

14. Mailchimp (Best for Integration Compatibility)

What I Like About Mailchimp:

• Endless Integrations: It works with almost every plugin, CRM, and eCommerce tool on the planet.
• Polished Editor: Their New Builder is very smart and helps you design great emails quickly.
• Strong Analytics: Their reports are clean, easy to read, and provide actionable insights.
• Creative Assistant: Their AI can pull branding from your website and apply it to your emails automatically.

What I Don’t Like About Mailchimp:

• Unsubscribed Contacts Fee: You are charged for contacts even after they unsubscribe unless you manually archive them, which can increase your monthly bill.
• Support Limits: Free users only get email support for the first 30 days, then you are on your own.

Why I Recommend Mailchimp: I recommend Mailchimp if you use a lot of specialized third-party apps and need an email tool that is guaranteed to connect with them. It remains a user-friendly entry point for those who want a familiar interface.

Pricing: Mailchimp has a free plan for up to 250 contacts. Paid plans start at $13/month.

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Which Is the Best Email Marketing Service?

After testing all these platforms, the best choice really depends on your specific business goals and where you are in your journey.

If you are just starting out, I’ve narrowed it down to two clear winners:

• Best for Absolute Beginners: Brevo is my top choice for anyone starting an email list from scratch. If you’re on a budget, look no further. Brevo offers one of the best free plans on the market, allowing you to store up to unlimited contacts and send transactional emails (like password resets) without paying a cent. 💰
• Best for Clean Newsletters: MailerLite is the perfect alternative if you prefer a clutter-free experience. It’s best for bloggers and small business owners who want a clean, simple newsletter automation interface rather than complex transactional workflows. 🕊️

However, if your business has more specific requirements, you might consider these platforms:

• Best for Growing Small Businesses: Constant Contact is my overall professional winner. The combination of ease of use and world-class phone support makes it the safest bet for business owners who want a partner to help them grow. 📈
• Best for eCommerce Power Users: Drip is my go-to recommendation if you are running a serious online store. We used it at WPBeginner for years because its behavioral tracking and automation are designed to maximize sales. 🛒
• Best for Content Creators: Kit (formerly ConvertKit) is the clear winner for authors, bloggers, and YouTubers. Its features are specifically designed to help you sell digital products and monetize your audience. 📚
• Best for Advanced Automation: ActiveCampaign is the industry leader for complex automation. If you need to build intricate customer journeys that combine SMS, site messaging, and email, this is the most powerful tool available. 🤖

By choosing the provider that matches your current stage, you can start building your list today with the confidence that you have the right tools to scale.

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Frequently Asked Questions About Email Marketing Services

Whether you are looking for the best free plan or need a high-powered automation tool for your online store, choosing an email marketing service comes with many questions.

Here are some of the most common questions our readers ask when selecting a provider like Brevo, MailerLite, or Constant Contact.

1. Why shouldn’t I just send mass emails using my personal Gmail or Outlook account?

You should not use personal email accounts like Gmail or Outlook for mass emails because these services are designed for one-to-one communication, not marketing.

Sending a bulk newsletter through a personal account often triggers spam filters, and your emails will likely be blocked by major providers. Additionally, personal accounts do not include a one-click unsubscribe link, which is a legal requirement for marketing emails.

Using a dedicated service like Brevo or Constant Contact makes sure your emails are compliant and actually reach the inbox.

2. What is the best free email marketing service for a small business on a budget?

Brevo is currently the best free email marketing service for beginners because it allows you to store an unlimited number of contacts for free.

While other services like MailerLite also offer excellent free plans, Brevo is unique because it includes transactional email features and a built-in CRM at no cost, making it the most cost-effective way to start and grow an email list without a large upfront investment.

3. Is there a difference between newsletters and transactional emails?

Yes, there is a major difference. Newsletters, such as those sent via MailerLite, are marketing messages sent to your entire list to share updates or promotions.

Transactional emails are automated messages triggered by a specific user action, such as a password reset or an order confirmation.

While some platforms like Brevo handle both types of email perfectly, other services may require a separate setup or an additional paid add-on to manage transactional messages reliably.

4. How do I make sure my emails don’t end up in the spam folder?

To prevent your emails from ending up in spam, you must use a reputable provider that has a high deliverability reputation. You should also ensure you are using a professional business email address (like name@yourcompany.com) rather than a free @gmail.com address.

For WordPress users, we also recommend using the WP Mail SMTP plugin alongside your chosen email marketing service to make sure all your website’s notifications are authenticated and delivered correctly.

5. Can I switch from one email marketing provider to another later?

Yes, you can switch from one email marketing provider to another at any time. The major services allow you to export your subscriber list as a CSV file, which you can then import into your new platform.

Most reputable services will even offer free migration tools or support to help you move your contacts and automated workflows to ensure you don’t lose any data during the transition.

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Additional Resources for Email Marketing

Now that you’ve picked the right service, it’s time to put it to work.

Here are a few guides I’ve put together to help you get the most out of your email marketing:

• Here’s How I Started a Successful Email Newsletter (The Right Way): Once you have the subscribers, you need to keep them engaged. Learn my tips for writing subject lines that actually get clicked.
• Beginner’s Guide to WordPress Email Marketing Automation: Learn how to put your marketing on autopilot. This guide shows you how to send the right message to the right person at exactly the right time. 🤖
• How to Build Your Email List in WordPress with OptinMonster: Don’t just wait for people to find your signup form. Use high-converting popups and exit-intent technology to turn visitors into subscribers. 📈
• Email Marketing Mistakes WordPress Users Must Avoid: Many beginners fall into common traps that hurt their results. Use this guide to ensure your strategy is set up for success from day one. ❌
• How to Setup WordPress Email Tracking (Opens, Clicks, and More): Once your emails are sending, you need to know if they are working. This tutorial shows you how to track opens, clicks, and engagement directly in WordPress. 📊
• I Tested These Email Verification Tools to Clean My Email Lists: Over time, email lists can get cluttered with fake or inactive addresses. This guide shares the best tools to keep your list healthy and your deliverability high. 🧹

Once you have your service set up, the most important thing you can do is start sending regularly. Whether it’s a weekly tip or a monthly update, staying consistent builds trust with your audience and keeps your brand top-of-mind.

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