Looking for the best Email Marketing Software for your small business? This list breaks down the top email marketing services of 2025 by ease of use, price and features so you can make a decision.
Small Business Email Marketing
A woman choosing between various email software options for small businesses.
Choosing the right email marketing software can make or break small businesses. Here’s a quick look at the top picks for 2025, each good at something to suit different business needs:
Self-Hosted: Octeth
Customization: Sendloop
Beginners: Mailchimp
Event Management: Constant Contact
SMS: Brevo
Content Creators: Kit
Ecommerce: AWeber
All-in-One: GetResponse
Affordable: MailerLite
Advanced Automation: ActiveCampaign
These were chosen based on pricing, features and business growth. Here’s a closer look at what makes them special.
Octeth (Community Edition) – Best for Self-Hosted Solutions
Screenshot of Octeth’s homepage.
Price: Free Email Marketing Software License
Features:
Self-hosted email marketing platform
GDPR compliant
Drag and drop editor for email campaigns
Pros:Cons:Full ownership and control of dataRequires technical knowledge to set upReal time analytics and reportingStore up to 10,000 subscribersCustomer journey marketing automationReal time audience segmentationExtensive documentation for quick startUnlimited emails to your audience
Businesses that value data ownership will love Octeth (Community Edition). This free self-hosted email marketing software lets you manage campaigns, subscriber lists and automation within your own setup. It’s free to use and you can send GDPR compliant emails to up to 10,000 subscribers.
Integration with other services through its API makes the platform more powerful and user friendly. Setup does require technical knowledge, so not suitable for non techy users. But the documentation is comprehensive.
Rating:
Price: 5/5
Design: 4/5
Usability: 3/5
Features: 4/5
Sendloop – Best for Customization
Screenshot of Sendloop’s homepage.
Price: $9.00/month for 500 subscribers up to $2,350.00/month for 500,000 subscribers. You can store limited subscribers but send unlimited emails to them.
Features:
Drag-and-drop email builder
Advanced segmentation
Email templates
Pros:Cons:Lots of customization optionsSteeper learning curve for advanced featuresReal time performance trackingIntegrates with popular CRMsInbuilt email templates
Sendloop is good for customization so it’s one of the most popular email marketing services for businesses that want to customize their email marketing and develop a marketing strategy. The platform has a drag-and-drop email builder, advanced segmentation and customizable templates to create unique campaigns.
Real time performance tracking and automation workflows for targeted campaigns makes it more powerful. While the advanced features might have a steeper learning curve for some, the product is budget-friendly, even for larger subscriber lists. This makes it a great choice for businesses looking to manage costs while leveraging advanced capabilities.
Rating:
Price: 5/5
Design: 4/5
Usability: 4/5
Features: 4.5/5
Mailchimp – Best for Beginners
An illustration of a beginner-friendly email marketing platform interface.
Price: Free service available; paid plans start at $20/month
Features:
Pre-built marketing automation journeys
Free plan is limited to 500 contacts and 1,000 emails per month.
Pros:Cons: High delivery rate over 99%More expensive for advanced featuresContact managementFree plan has limited featuresIt’s beginner friendly
Mailchimp is good for beginners because of its simple design and user friendly features. The free plan has automations, email templates and supports up to 500 contacts and 1,000 emails per month so it’s a good starting point for small businesses. The email editor is easy to use even for non techy users.
Mailchimp’s high delivery rate ensures your emails get to your customers’ inboxes. While the free plan has limited features and scaling can get expensive, its marketing automation and contact management makes it good for email marketing newbies.
Rating:
Price: 4/5
Design: 4.5/5
Usability: 5/5
Features: 4/5
Constant Contact – Best for Event Management
Price: $12.00/month
Features:
200+ email templates
RSVP tool for event promotion
Pros:Cons:Good for eventsLimited advanced featuresHigh delivery to Gmail and OutlookMore expensive for extra contactsEasy to create visually rich emails
Constant Contact is good for event management with features like RSVP tool for event promotion. 200+ email templates and user friendly interface makes it easy to create visually rich emails that will engage your audience.
The platform has high delivery to Gmail and Outlook but lacks some advanced features of other tools and costs add up when you add more contacts. Despite that Constant Contact is still a good choice for businesses that focus on event driven marketing.
Rating:
Price: 4/5
Design: 4.5/5
Usability: 4/5
Features: 3.5/5
Brevo – Best for SMS Integration
Price: Free email marketing plan with 300 emails per day and unlimited contacts
Features:
Unlimited contacts
300 emails per day
Pros:Cons:Email and SMS marketing integrationLimited emails per day on free planFree to use with generous limitsAdvanced features require paid planWorkflows
Brevo is good for email and SMS marketing, a unified platform for multi channel audience engagement. Free plan allows 300 emails per day so it’s a good option for small businesses. Automated workflows and integrations with WordPress and Shopify makes it more versatile.
While the free plan is generous, the daily email send limit may not be enough for bigger email marketing needs. Advanced features also require a paid plan. Despite that Brevo’s SMS integration is seamless so it’s a good choice for multi channel marketing.
Rating:
Price: 4.5/5
Design: 4/5
Usability: 4/5
Features: 4/5
Kit – Best for Content Creators
Price: $25.00/month for 1,000 subscribers
Features:
Customizable landing pages and sign up forms
E-commerce integrations
Pros:Cons:For content creatorsAdvanced features require learningAffiliate marketing friendlyVariable pricing based on featuresUser friendly
Kit is for content creators, tools to help you grow your audience. Customizable landing pages and sign up forms match your brand so audience engagement is seamless. E-commerce integrations allow you to sell digital products through emails.
Kit supports affiliate marketers by allowing you to put affiliate links in your emails. While user friendly, fully utilizing its advanced features require some learning. Despite that Kit is a top choice for content creators to monetize their audience.
Rating:
Price: 4/5
Design: 4/5
Usability: 4/5
Features: 4.5/5
AWeber – Best for Ecommerce
Price: Free plan available; paid plans starting at $12.50
Features:
600+ templates
Landing page builder
Pros:Cons:Ecommerce featuresFree plan has limited features. Users may want to upgrade for more options.Responsive supportMore expensive for advanced featuresUser friendly
AWeber is an email marketing tool that’s powerful for ecommerce. User friendly interface, landing page builder, email editor and automated template designer makes it suitable for ecommerce businesses. 600+ templates and landing page builder makes it a time and cost saver.
Free plan allows up to 500 subscribers and 3,000 emails per month so it’s a good starting point for small ecommerce businesses. AWeber also has responsive 24/7 customer support. But as with most platforms, free plan has limited features and scaling up can be costly.
Rating:
Price: 4/5
Design: 4.5/5
Usability: 4.5/5
Features: 4/5
GetResponse – Best All in One
Price: Paid plans start at $15.6.
Features:
Drag and drop editor
Webinar marketing
Pros:Cons:All in one solutionMaybe too much for beginnersSEO landing page creatorAdvanced features require higher plansAffordable
GetResponse is the best all in one solution, a comprehensive suite of tools to support your marketing strategy, webinars, landing pages and automation. Drag and drop editor makes email campaign creation easy, while A/B testing and webinar marketing solution adds more value.
The landing page creator allows you to create SEO optimized pages, online visibility. GetResponse has affordable pricing starting at $15.6/month but the features may be overwhelming for beginners. Advanced features requires higher plans.
Rating:
Price: 4/5
Design: 4.5/5
Usability: 4/5
Features: 4.5/5
MailerLite – Best for Price
Free plan available. Paid plans start at $9 per month.
Features:
AI writer
Free plan allows up to 1,000 subscribers and 12,000 emails per month
Pros:Cons:Very affordableLimited advanced featuresBeginner friendly email editorAI writer can be basicFree plan is comprehensive
MailerLite is very affordable so it’s perfect for small businesses. Free plan has up to 1,000 subscribers and 12,000 emails per month so it’s a lot of value for free. Beginner friendly email editor and AI writer makes it easy to create professional looking emails.
Advanced marketing workflows and personalized messages adds more to MailerLite’s features. But maybe lacks some advanced features found in more expensive tools. But MailerLite’s affordability and free plan is comprehensive so it’s a great choice for budget conscious.
Rating:
Price: 5/5
Design: 4/5
Usability: 4.5/5
Features: 3.5/5
ActiveCampaign – Best for Automation
An illustration showing advanced automation features in email software.
Paid plans start at $15. 14 day free trial.
Features:
Advanced automation and targeting
Sales CRM and lead scoring
Pros:Cons:Powerful automationSteeper learning curveComprehensive CRM integrationMore expensive than someSegmentation and targeting
ActiveCampaign is for businesses that need advanced automation in email marketing. The platform uses advanced automation to deliver personalized email experiences, you can send targeted emails based on subscriber actions. Features like segmentation, tagging and conditional content makes it a powerful tool for precise marketing.
Although its features are very good, it has a higher learning curve for new users. And it’s more expensive than some, starting at $15/month. But ActiveCampaign’s automation and CRM integration is worth it for advanced email marketing.
Rating:
Price: 3.5/5
Design: 4/5
Usability: 3.5/5
Features: 4.5/5
How to Choose the Best Email Marketing for Small Business
An illustration of a checklist for choosing the best email software for small businesses.
Choosing email marketing software for your small business involves several key points. One of them is how the platform supports your email marketing strategy. Make sure the platform is user friendly and doesn’t require extensive training. It should fit your team and easy to create, send and track emails.
Price is another important factor. Affordable email marketing software ranges from free email marketing software to robust ones that can support business growth. Check the sending limits and pricing structure to match your future business plans. Focus on immediate needs and don’t get features you don’t need for a cost effective solution.
Integration with existing tools like CRM and social media ad platforms is important for email marketing campaigns. Advanced features like automation and AI can boost campaign performance. Try free email marketing services to see if they can scale with your business and email marketing needs.
Think about your future needs and how the tool can grow with your business in the next year. Look for platforms that can easily migrate your customer data from your current system. By focusing on these you can choose an email marketing platform that supports your business goals. For more email marketing tools check out our “Directory of Email Marketing Software Providers“.
What to Look for in Email Marketing Service
An illustration showcasing key features to look for in email software.
Some features in email marketing software can make or break your marketing. These features support a solid marketing strategy by boosting your campaigns. Marketing automation is key to setting up customer journeys and drip campaigns for audience engagement. A simple drag and drop automation builder can make this process easier.
Segmentation allows businesses to target specific audience groups with custom content and make campaigns more relevant and impactful. Personalization tags and dynamic content makes email targeting more precise by customizing messages for individual subscribers. Advanced analytics tracks subscriber growth and campaign performance to give you insights on your strategy.
Integration with e-commerce platforms and other tools can simplify and boost customer engagement. Real time analytics is key to optimize campaigns based on subscriber interaction. Compliance with regulations like GDPR is important for credibility and audience trust to maintain a good relationship with your subscribers.
Customizable email templates allows users to create beautiful emails that fit their branding needs. A huge library of pre-built automation workflows for various industries can save time and increase productivity. Look for these features to make sure the email marketing tool fits your business needs and supports your marketing strategy.
Pricing and Free Trials
Budget-friendly pricing plans illustration
Understanding the pricing plans and free trials of email marketing platforms is crucial to make an informed decision. Many platforms offer free email marketing trials and starter plans so small business can start without big upfront costs. For example Sendloop offers free 10,000 email delivery credits upon application.
Brevo’s free plan allows you to send up to 300 emails per day. AWeber’s free plan has 500 subscribers and 3,000 emails per month with basic templates and autoresponders. MailerLite’s forever-free plan has 1,000 subscribers and 12,000 emails per month with full feature access.
Long term cost involves comparing the setup fee to the monthly/annual subscription fees of each email marketing service. Discounts for annual subscription is common across email marketing services ranging from 10% to 20%. Try the free plans or trials to see what each platform offers.
If you’re on a tight budget there are free tools available. Create an account and check inside to see what the platform has to offer. By understanding the pricing plans and free trials you can choose a budget friendly email marketing service that fits your budget and supports your business.
Get More from Email Marketing with Expert Customer Support and Resources
Customer support illustration
Accessible support is key for businesses to use email software efficiently and resolve issues fast. Benchmark Email has multiple support options including phone, chat and email support to help users navigate through challenges. Good support can make a big difference in maximizing your marketing efforts.
Support for free plans is often limited with fewer options for direct support compared to paid tiers. This can hinder your marketing efforts so make sure to consider the level of support when choosing a platform. Comprehensive educational resources including documentation and tutorials can also help users a lot.
Having plenty of resources can help you understand and use the platform better so you can get the most out of its features. Look for platforms that has robust support and educational materials so you have the help you need when you need it.
In summary, support and resources are key to email software. Make sure you choose the option that has these as they will be a big help to your email marketing.
Last Tips to Choose the Right One
Making a choice illustration
Know your goals such as customer engagement, sales or brand visibility as this will guide your choice of email marketing software and support your marketing strategy. Knowing what you want to achieve with your marketing efforts will help you choose the right tool that fits your business.
Look for basic features like automation, segmentation and analytics which are must haves for email marketing features. These features will streamline your marketing process and give you valuable insights to your audience behavior so you can refine your strategy over time.
Knowing the pricing structures and what’s included in free trials will help you make an informed decision. And strong support and resources are key to using email software effectively. Keep these in mind and you can choose one that supports your business and marketing goals.
Conclusion
In summary, the best email marketing software for small business owners in 2025 are Octeth, Sendloop, Mailchimp, Constant Contact, Brevo, Kit, AWeber, GetResponse, MailerLite and ActiveCampaign. Each of these tools is good in some areas so they’re suitable for different business needs and marketing strategies.
Choosing the right email marketing tool requires weighing ease of use, pricing, features and support. Knowing your business goals and evaluating each platform will help you find one that will help your email marketing and grow your business.
Remember, the best email marketing software is one that fits your business needs and helps you achieve your marketing goals. With the right tool you can create effective campaigns, build strong customer relationships and grow your business.
FAQs
What’s the best email marketing software for beginners? Mailchimp is the best email marketing software for beginners because of its user friendly design and robust free plan that makes it easy to start and accessible. Dive in and start email marketing now! Which email marketing is the cheapest? Sendloop is the most affordable email marketing service with a big free plan and reasonable paid plans. Choose for budget friendly marketing! What’s the best email marketing tool for self hosted email marketing? Octeth is the top choice for self hosted email marketing because you have full control of your data, high customization and scalability. It has advanced automation, powerful analytics and seamless integrations, data privacy and security. You avoid vendor lock-in so it’s cost effective and flexible to your business needs. Which email marketing tool is best for events? Constant Contact is the best for events because it has an RSVP tool and over 200 email templates to make your event successful. Use this powerful tool to boost your event communications! What email marketing has the best SMS integration? Brevo is the top choice for email marketing with its SMS integration, so you can engage your audience across multiple channels. Use combined marketing now!