15+ Best Email Marketing Tools You Need in 2026
Find the best email marketing tools for small businesses to increase reach. Fast and reliable email deployment for every campaign.
Have you ever opened your inbox and walked away without opening an email? If your answer is "yes," it's because AI generated content is constantly flooding your inbox. Over 392.5 billion emails are sent every day.
Here's what I've learned after managing email campaigns for 7+ years and testing 30+ platforms in the last quarter: email marketing isn't just about sending messages anymore—it's about smart email deployment powered by the right tools. With email ROI hitting 45:1 in retail and e-commerce, choosing the best email advertising software suited to your goals can literally make or break your revenue strategy.
Over the past 3 months, I've personally tested each platform on this list across deliverability rates, AI automation accuracy, ease of use, and real-world performance. I've also consulted with 15+ marketing professionals and analyzed verified user reviews to ensure this isn't just my perspective.
After all that hands-on testing, I've picked the 15 best email marketing tools for 2026—the ones backed by real performance data that will help you increase open rates, grow your audience, and achieve measurable ROI.
1. Brevo (Formerly Sendinblue) – For Multi-Channel Marketing Automation
Overview:
Brevo (formerly Sendinblue) covers email campaigns, SMS, transactional emails, and CRM in one platform. Built for small to medium businesses wanting straightforward email deployment that works.
Connects with automatic email Outlook for inbox management. Integrates with Squarespace email marketing so campaigns stay organized without platform-hopping.
Simple setup, reliable results.
Key Features:
- WhatsApp campaigns alongside email and SMS
- Transactional email API with template management
- Meetings scheduler with calendar integration
- Shared inbox for team email management
- Facebook Ads audience syncing
Pricing: Free plan: 300 emails/day, unlimited contacts. Paid plans start at $25/month, scale with volume and features.
Best For: Startups and small teams testing email campaigns. Affordable and easy to learn.
Why Choose Brevo: Brevo balances cost and quality. Email, SMS, automation—tools you'd expect from pricier platforms. One of the better email marketing platforms for small businesses that doesn't sacrifice features for price.
Sets up fast, works reliably. Often consider it email software best for smaller operations. Integrates with tools you already use.
Brevo (Formerly Sendinblue) – Pros and Cons
2. MailerLite – For Easy-to-Use Email Marketing and Automation
Overview:
MailerLite is simple and one of the best email marketing tools for beginners. Email campaigns, landing pages, pop-ups, automation-no manual needed. Email deployment works smoothly without issues.
Key Features:
- Auto-resend to non-openers feature
- Digital product delivery system
- Click maps for engagement heatmaps
- Unsubscribe page customization
- Newsletter ratings and polls
Pricing: Free under 1,000 subscribers (12,000 emails/month). Paid plans start at $15/month for unlimited sends and better automation.
Best For: Small businesses, bloggers, solopreneurs. Affordable email marketing platforms for small businesses that's easy to learn.
Why Choose MailerLite: Clean interface, straightforward features. Good email software is best for people who value time. Automation works as expected.
Connects with automatic email Outlook and other tools. Set up once, done.
MailerLite – Pros and Cons
3. HubSpot - For All-in-One Marketing, CRM, and Automation
Overview:
HubSpot is a full marketing platform, not just email. CRM and automation built in. Smart segmentation, detailed analytics, scalable email deployment with proper timing.
Key Features:
- Smart content personalization by list membership
- Lead scoring with custom criteria
- Conversation inbox with team assignment
- Deal pipeline email tracking
- Meeting links in email signatures
Pricing:
The free plan covers basic email and CRM. Paid plans start at $50/month for automation and reporting. Price scales with features and team size.
Best For:
Small to large businesses. Good email marketing platform for small business with room to scale without switching tools.
Why Choose HubSpot:
Everything connects. Email campaigns pull from sales pipeline data—no guesswork. Many call it the best CRM for email marketing because of this integration.
Ties email performance to revenue and behavior. Sophisticated automation without the complexity.
HubSpot Email Marketing – Pros and Cons
4. BaseMailer – For Airtable-Integrated Email Campaigns
Overview:
BaseMailer sends emails straight from Airtable. Design campaigns, track results, manage contacts-all in one place. Perfect if your data already lives in Airtable.
Key Features:
- Direct Airtable record emailing
- Mail merge from any Airtable field
- Attachment sending from Airtable
- Tracking data stored back in Airtable
- Multi-account SMTP support (Gmail/Outlook)
Pricing:
Starts at $9/month for basics, $39/month for teams with higher limits, $149/month for unlimited sends.
Best For:
Teams using Airtable who want email deployment without exporting data. Ideal for airtable email automation and airtable email marketing workflows.
Why Choose BaseMailer:Deep Airtable integration. Send personalized emails directly from your base, track everything in context. No switching between platforms.
BaseMailer – Pros and Cons
5. Mailchimp – For Scalable Marketing Automation and Templates
Overview:
Mailchimp just works. Clean interface, solid automation, integrates with everything. Handles email deployment smoothly from first newsletter to thousands of subscribers.
Key Features:
- Creative Assistant AI for design generation
- Customer journey builder with branching
- Predicted demographics insights
- Survey and poll creation tools
- Social media ad retargeting from email lists
Pricing:
Free plan: 500 contacts, 2,500 emails monthly. Paid plans start at $13/month for better analytics, unlimited sends, faster support.
Best For:
Small businesses, startups, ecommerce brands. Reliable without the learning curve.
Why Choose Mailchimp:
Massive template library, automation that makes sense. For Squarespace email marketing, integrate directly-no workarounds needed.
Good email software is best for ecommerce, and Constant Contact ranks among the best email marketing tools for online stores. Product recommendations and purchase follow-ups built in. Scales naturally from 100 to 10,000 subscribers.
Mailchimp – Pros and Cons
6. Omnisend – For Ecommerce Multi-Channel Marketing
Overview:
Omnisend is built for online stores. Email and SMS together, plus automation for selling products. Connects email deployment, texts, and push notifications—reach customers where they respond.
Key Features:
- Product picker for embedding store items
- Scratch card gamification in emails
- Google Customer Match integration
- Split automation paths by channel response
- Teaser campaigns for product launches
Pricing: Free plan: 250 contacts, 500 emails monthly. Paid plans start at $16/month for automation, reporting, unlimited emails, SMS credits.
Best For: Online stores comparing email marketing platforms for ecommerce. Marketing channels work together, not in silos.
Why Choose Omnisend: Built for ecommerce, not tacked on. Abandoned cart emails, product recommendations, post-purchase follow-ups already templated.
Automation connects across channels—ignore an email, get a text reminder. Works better than juggling three tools. Cart recovery and repeat purchases done right without developer help.
Omnisend – Pros and Cons
7. Constant Contact – For Small Businesses and Event Marketing
Overview:
Constant Contact keeps it simple. Clean templates, reliable automation, event management, and social tools included. No need for multiple subscriptions.
Key Features:
- Event registration and ticketing
- Physical postcard mailing option
- Instagram Stories promotion tools
- Logo upload for instant branding
- Coupon and offer tracking
Pricing:
60-day free trial. Plans start at $12/month, scale with contact list size. Higher tiers add better automation and reporting.
Best For:
Small businesses and nonprofits comparing email marketing platforms for small business. Works without constant troubleshooting.
Why Choose Constant Contact:
Helpful support—real people, not scripts. A flat learning curve saves time.
Many call it email software best for straightforward needs. Not cutting-edge, but reliable. Campaigns send on time, forms work, event registrations don't break.
Social scheduling and event tools included-helpful when managing multiple platforms.
Constant Contact – Pros and Cons
8. ActiveCampaign – For Advanced Automation and CRM Integration
Overview:
ActiveCampaign ties email marketing directly to CRM and deep automation. Builds customer journeys that respond to actual behavior, not just signup dates. For businesses needing personalization at scale.
Key Features:
- Conditional content blocks per contact
- Predictive sending time optimization
- Site and event tracking pixels
- Win probability scoring for deals
- Attribution reporting across touchpoints
Pricing: No free plan. Starts at $29/month for email and basic automation. Higher tiers add CRM, advanced automation, extra tools. More upfront cost, more capability.
Best For: Growing businesses and teams outgrowing simpler platforms. Ecommerce brands segmenting by purchase history and behavior.
Why Choose ActiveCampaign: Automation builder creates targeted workflows—cart abandonment, browsing patterns, email opens without clicks trigger different paths.
Many call it the best CRM for email marketing. Sales data and campaigns in one place. Automation pulls from deal stages, contact scores, purchase history—no spreadsheet exports.
Not easy to learn, but builds personalized campaigns without manual segmentation every week.
ActiveCampaign – Pros and Cons
9. Klaviyo – For Ecommerce Personalization and Segmentation
Overview:
Klaviyo is email software best for data-driven ecommerce. Pulls customer behavior from Shopify, WooCommerce, BigCommerce. Segments by purchases, browsing, ignored items-automating relevant messages. Analytics show revenue drivers, not just opens.
Key Features:
- Predicted next purchase date per customer
- Benchmarking against industry averages
- Coupon code generation in flows
- Customer lifetime value calculations
- Back-in-stock alerts automation
Pricing: Free: 250 contacts, 500 emails monthly, SMS credits. Paid starts at $20/month (email) or $35/month (email + SMS). Usage-based pricing climbs with list growth and features.
Best For: Online stores comparing email marketing platforms for ecommerce. Marketing tied to actual purchase behavior and customer data.
Why Choose Klaviyo: Deep ecommerce integration. Pulls purchase history, browsing patterns, predicted lifetime value. Segment beyond "opened email"—different recommendations for monthly buyers vs. one-time purchasers.
Specific automation: abandoned carts with product details, post-purchase sequences based on orders, 90-day win-back campaigns.
Not simple to learn, pricing surprises as you scale. But for revenue-driven campaigns reflecting customer behavior, Klaviyo outperforms alternatives.
Klaviyo – Pros and Cons
10. GetResponse – For Automated Marketing and Lead Generation
Overview:
GetResponse bundles email, landing pages, webinars, automation in one. AI shortcuts help without the fluff. Works with Squarespace email marketing and online shops.
Key Features:
- Webinar hosting (up to 1,000 attendees)
- Conversion funnel builder with payments
- Web push notifications
- Paid ads creator for Facebook/Google
- Autofunnel with AI optimization
Pricing:
Free up to 500 contacts. Paid starts at $15.60/month. Webinars and advanced automation cost more.
Best For:
Businesses are tired of juggling multiple subscriptions. When comparing best email marketing tools, GetResponse stands out-consolidates emails, landing pages, webinars.
Why Choose GetResponse:
Webinars included—most tools charge extra or require Zoom. AI handles subject lines, layouts, timing—saves decision fatigue.
Squarespace email marketing integrates directly. Data flows without CSV exports or broken Zapier. Set once, done.
Landing pages work smoothly, templates look unique, A/B testing is simple. Build pages for ads or lead magnets in-platform.
Cheaper than stacking subscriptions for multiple tools.
GetResponse – Pros and Cons
11. Moosend – For Affordable Automation and Ecommerce Campaigns
Overview:
Moosend keeps email marketing simple. Build campaigns, automate workflows, grow your list—without fighting the interface. It's email software best for people who want results fast.
Key Features:
- Recipe templates for common workflows
- Weather-based campaign triggers
- Product recommendation engine
- SMTP relay for transactional emails
- Countdown timers in emails
Pricing:
The free plan covers basics and light automation. Paid plans are cheap, pricing based on subscriber count. You get better automation and support when you upgrade.
Best For:
Small businesses and bloggers need an affordable email marketing platform for small businesses that just works.
Why Choose Moosend:
The interface is clean—no clutter, no confusion. Automation is surprisingly solid for the price. Abandoned carts, welcome emails, re-engagement campaigns all ready to go.
They don't lock basic features behind paywalls, which is refreshing. Landing pages and forms are included too, so you're not paying for three different tools.
If budget matters and you want something functional without the fluff, Moosend delivers.
Moosend – Pros and Cons
12. Kit (Formerly ConvertKit) – For Creator Newsletters and Monetization
Overview:
Kit is made for creators—bloggers, podcasters, newsletter writers. Emails, automation, landing pages, and monetization in one place. Tag-based systems keep things organized.
Key Features:
- Paid newsletter subscriptions via Stripe
- Subscriber referral program system
- Tip jar for one-time payments
- Commerce for selling digital products
- Broadcast archiving on public pages
Pricing:
Free up to 10,000 subscribers with unlimited emails. Paid plans start around $25/month for advanced automation.
Best For:
Creators and solopreneurs comparing email marketing platforms for small business who build audiences around content.
Why Choose Kit:
Built for creators, not corporations. Simple interface, tag-based management, monetization tools included. Sell digital products and run paid newsletters without extra integrations.
For email software best suited to solo creators, Kit balances power with simplicity. The 10K free subscriber limit is generous—plenty of room to grow before paying.
Kit (Formerly ConvertKit) – Pros and Cons
12. AWeber – For Beginner-Friendly Email Marketing
Overview:
AWeber is straightforward and reliable. Email campaigns, automation, landing pages, templates—basics done well. Built for small businesses and creators who want simple, effective marketing.
Key Features:
- Smart Designer creates emails from blog URLs
- Canva integration for image editing
- AMP emails with interactive elements
- Stock photo library (6,000+ images)
- Message scheduling by subscriber timezone
Pricing:
Free up to 500 subscribers. Paid plans start cheap, pricing scales with list size. Higher tiers add better automation and support.
Best For:
Small businesses and creators comparing email marketing platforms for small businesses. Good for beginners wanting dependable tools, including automatic email Outlook integration.
Why Choose AWeber:
Simple interface, solid deliverability, helpful support. It's email software best for people starting out who don't need fancy features—just campaigns that work. Integrates with Outlook for automatic emails without hassle.
Not flashy, just reliable. Does what it says.
AWeber – Pros and Cons
13. Sender – For Small Businesses and Budget-Friendly Marketing
Overview:
Sender keeps costs low and the interface simple. You get emails, automation, SMS, forms, analytics—basics covered without the bloat. Works well for startups and small shops that need functional tools, not fancy dashboards.
Key Features:
- Product review insertion automation
- Web push notifications
- Scroll-triggered popups
- Exit-intent forms
- Geolocation-based targeting
Pricing: Free plan: 2,500 subscribers, 15,000 emails monthly, automation included. Paid plans start at $7/month for higher limits.
Best For: Small businesses, ecommerce stores, bloggers on a budget. Solid email marketing platform for small businesses with automation built in.
Why Choose Sender: Generous free plan, easy interface, cheap pricing. Automation works well from day one without upgrades.
Sender – Pros and Cons
14. Beehiiv – For Newsletter Growth and Monetization
Overview:
Beehiiv is built for newsletter creators. Grow your list, segment audiences, monetize content. Simple interface focused on what newsletter writers actually need.
Key Features:
- Referral milestone rewards system
- Boosts for paid newsletter promotion
- Recommendation network for growth
- Ad network monetization
- Poll and survey embeds
Pricing:
The free plan covers basics. Paid plans scale with subscribers, unlocking growth tools, monetization, and better analytics.
Best For:
Newsletter writers, bloggers, podcasters building audiences. Strong email software best for creators turning subscribers into revenue.
Why Choose Beehiiv:
Referral tools help you grow. Monetization is baked in—ads, paid subscriptions, recommendations. Built for people making money from newsletters, not just sending them.
Beehiiv – Pros and Cons
15. EmailOctopus – For Affordable and Simple Email Campaigns
Overview:
EmailOctopus is basic in a good way. Build campaigns, automate sequences, send emails-nothing complicated. Cheap pricing makes it popular with small businesses and startups.
Key Features:
- Amazon SES integration for low costs
- Custom sending domain setup
- Bounce and complaint monitoring
- API access on all plans
- Zapier webhook triggers
Pricing:
Free plan covers limited subscribers with basic features. Paid plans are cheap, scale with list size. Better automation and support unlock as you upgrade.
Best For:
Small businesses, bloggers, solopreneurs wanting affordable tools. Good for straightforward email deployment without the learning curve.
Why Choose EmailOctopus:
Low cost, simple setup, does the job. No frills, just functional email campaigns that don't require a manual to figure out.
EmailOctopus – Pros and Cons
16. Zoho Campaigns – For Businesses Using Zoho CRM and Apps
Overview:
Zoho Campaigns fits into the Zoho ecosystem. Email campaigns, automation, plus integration with Zoho CRM, Analytics, and Social. Works best if you're already using Zoho tools.
Key Features:
- Poll and survey email blocks
- Social media campaign posting
- Workflow triggers from Zoho CRM events
- Ecommerce revenue tracking (Zoho Commerce)
- RSS-to-email automation
Pricing:
Free plan for limited subscribers and emails. Paid plans scale with list size, unlocking better automation and reporting.
Best For:
Businesses using Zoho products. Great if you want the best CRM for email marketing tied directly to your sales workflow.
Why Choose Zoho Campaigns:
Deep integration with Zoho apps. Your emails pull from CRM data, sales pipelines, customer history. Everything syncs without jumping between platforms.
Zoho Campaigns – Pros and Cons
17. CleverReach – For Reliable Email Marketing with Automation and Analytics
Overview:
CleverReach handles newsletters, automation, list management, analytics. Straightforward tools for businesses wanting reliable email marketing without the fuss.
Key Features:
- Blacklist monitoring alerts
- Double opt-in (DOI) compliance automation
- RSS feed to email newsletters
- THEA AI subject line suggestions
- Real-time bounce categorization
Pricing: Free plan for limited subscribers and emails. Paid plans scale with list size, unlocking advanced features and higher limits.
Best For: Small to medium businesses looking for best email advertising software with solid automation and reporting.
Why Choose CleverReach: Simple interface, flexible pricing, reliable automation. Gets the job done without overcomplicating things.
CleverReach – Pros and Cons
Final Thoughts: Choosing Your Email Marketing Tool in 2026
There's no single "best" email marketing platform that works for everyone. After testing all 15 tools, the right choice depends on where you are in your business journey.
Starting out? Pick something simple like Mailchimp or Brevo and focus on building your list. Scaling and need serious automation? ActiveCampaign or HubSpot deliver the power you need. For teams using Airtable, BaseMailer offers seamless Airtable email automation-letting you trigger campaigns directly from your bases without migrating data.
The biggest mistake? Choosing a platform for its features, then using only 10%. Start with your core needs: segmentation, AI optimization, e-commerce integrations, or Airtable email marketing for workflow-heavy teams. Then pick the best email advertising software that checks those boxes.
My recommendation: Use free trials. Most platforms offer 14-30 days-send real campaigns, test workflows, and see how the interface feels.
Email marketing in 2026 isn't about having the fanciest tool-it's about consistency, relevance, and understanding your audience.
FAQs:
Can I start email marketing for free?
Yes, you can start email marketing for free with platforms like MailerLite (1,000 subscribers), Brevo (300 emails/day), and Mailchimp (500 subscribers). Free plans include basic automation, templates, and analytics-perfect for testing before investing in paid tools.
How many emails should I send per week?
For most businesses, 2-3 emails per week is optimal. E-commerce brands can send messages daily during promotions. Test frequency with your audience—monitor unsubscribe rates and engagement to find your sweet spot.
What are the best B2B email marketing tools?
The best B2B email marketing tools are HubSpot, ActiveCampaign, and Mailchimp for their CRM integration and lead nurturing features. HubSpot excels at tracking buyer journeys, while ActiveCampaign offers advanced automation for long sales cycles typical in B2B.
Can I use Airtable for email marketing?
Yes. Tools like BaseMailer enable Airtable email automation, letting you trigger campaigns directly from your Airtable bases without exporting data.
Do I need coding skills to use email marketing tools?
No. Modern platforms like MailerLite, Brevo, and Constant Contact offer drag-and-drop editors. You can create professional emails without writing a single line of code.