Best Email Marketing Platforms for Small Business 2025
We compared the top email marketing platforms for small businesses. Here are our picks based on pricing, ease of use, automation, and deliverability.
Quick Summary
✅ What We Liked
- + Email marketing has the highest ROI of any marketing channel ($36-42 per $1 spent)
- + Most platforms offer free plans for small lists
- + Automation can run 24/7 without your involvement
- + You own your email list (unlike social media followers)
- + AI features are making email marketing easier than ever
❌ What Could Be Better
- − Deliverability varies between platforms
- − Pricing scales up fast as your list grows
- − Migration between platforms can be painful
- − Learning automation features takes time
Why Email Marketing Still Matters in 2025
Social media algorithms change. SEO rankings fluctuate. Ad costs keep rising.
But your email list? You own it. No algorithm can take it away. And with an average ROI of $36-42 for every $1 spent, email remains the highest-performing marketing channel. Period.
The question isn’t whether you need email marketing — it’s which platform to use.
We tested the top platforms to help you decide.
Quick Comparison
| Platform | Best For | Free Plan | Starting Price | Our Rating |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| ConvertKit | Creators & newsletters | ✅ Up to 10K subs | $29/mo | ⭐ 4.5/5 |
| Beehiiv | Newsletter businesses | ✅ Up to 2,500 subs | $49/mo | ⭐ 4.4/5 |
| Mailchimp | Small businesses | ✅ Up to 500 contacts | $13/mo | ⭐ 4.0/5 |
| MailerLite | Budget-friendly simplicity | ✅ Up to 1,000 subs | $10/mo | ⭐ 4.3/5 |
| GetResponse | All-in-one marketing | ✅ Up to 500 contacts | $19/mo | ⭐ 4.1/5 |
| Brevo (Sendinblue) | Transactional + marketing | ✅ 300 emails/day | $9/mo | ⭐ 3.9/5 |
| ActiveCampaign | Advanced automation | ❌ 14-day trial | $29/mo | ⭐ 4.2/5 |
1. ConvertKit — Best for Creators & Newsletters
Price: Free up to 10,000 subscribers | Creator $29/mo | Creator Pro $59/mo Best for: Bloggers, content creators, course sellers, newsletter writers Rating: ⭐ 4.5/5
ConvertKit was built specifically for creators, and it shows. The interface is clean, the automation is powerful but approachable, and the free plan is the most generous on this list.
What We Liked
- Free plan covers up to 10,000 subscribers — the best free tier available
- Visual automation builder is intuitive and powerful
- Landing pages and forms included (no extra tools needed)
- Creator-focused features: digital product sales, tip jars, paid newsletters
- Excellent deliverability — consistently among the highest
- Tag-based system (vs. list-based) keeps your audience organized
What Could Be Better
- Email templates are minimal — design options are limited by choice (plain text converts better, but some want pretty emails)
- Reporting is basic compared to Mailchimp
- A/B testing only available on higher plans
- No built-in CRM features
Who Should Use It
If you’re a creator — blogger, YouTuber, course seller, newsletter writer — ConvertKit is purpose-built for you. The free plan for up to 10K subscribers is unbeatable.
2. Beehiiv — Best for Newsletter Businesses
Price: Free up to 2,500 subscribers | Scale $49/mo | Max $99/mo Best for: Newsletter operators, media companies, monetized newsletters Rating: ⭐ 4.4/5
Beehiiv is the new kid that’s taking the newsletter world by storm. Built by early Morning Brew employees, it’s designed specifically for newsletters as a business.
What We Liked
- Built-in monetization: ad network, paid subscriptions, boosts
- Referral program builder included (grow via word-of-mouth)
- Website/blog included — your newsletter gets a public archive
- Advanced analytics including open rates, click maps, revenue tracking
- Growth tools: recommendations network, magic links, SEO
- Up to 60% affiliate commission if you refer others
What Could Be Better
- Free plan limited to 2,500 subscribers
- Fewer automation features than ConvertKit or ActiveCampaign
- Relatively new — smaller ecosystem and fewer integrations
- Best features locked behind $49+/mo plans
Who Should Use It
If your newsletter IS your business (or you want it to be), beehiiv is built exactly for that. The monetization tools alone set it apart.
3. MailerLite — Best Budget Option
Price: Free up to 1,000 subscribers | Growing Business $10/mo Best for: Small businesses on a budget, simple email needs Rating: ⭐ 4.3/5
MailerLite proves you don’t need to spend a fortune on email marketing. It’s clean, simple, and does everything most small businesses need.
What We Liked
- $10/mo for the paid plan — one of the cheapest options
- Drag-and-drop editor is genuinely easy to use
- Automation is straightforward and covers common workflows
- Website builder and landing pages included
- E-commerce integrations work well for small shops
- Awarded “Easiest to Use” in 2025 by G2
What Could Be Better
- Free plan limited to 1,000 subscribers and 12,000 emails/month
- Advanced automation is less powerful than ConvertKit/ActiveCampaign
- Template variety is smaller
- Approval process for new accounts can be slow
Who Should Use It
If you’re a small business that needs solid email marketing without complexity or high costs, MailerLite is the sweet spot.
4. Mailchimp — Most Well-Known (But Is It Still Worth It?)
Price: Free up to 500 contacts | Essentials $13/mo | Standard $20/mo Best for: Small businesses wanting an all-in-one marketing hub Rating: ⭐ 4.0/5
Mailchimp is the name everyone knows. It’s evolved from a simple email tool into an all-in-one marketing platform. But that expansion has come with complexity and rising prices.
What We Liked
- Brand recognition — clients and partners already know it
- All-in-one platform: email, social media, ads, landing pages, CRM
- AI-powered features for subject lines and content optimization
- Robust analytics and reporting
- Huge integration ecosystem — connects to almost everything
What Could Be Better
- Free plan gutted — now limited to 500 contacts (was 2,000)
- Pricing escalates quickly as your list grows
- Interface has gotten cluttered with too many features
- Automation is less intuitive than ConvertKit or ActiveCampaign
- Charges for unsubscribed contacts on some plans
Who Should Use It
Mailchimp works if you want one platform for everything and don’t mind paying a premium. But for pure email marketing, ConvertKit or MailerLite offer better value.
5. GetResponse — Best All-in-One Marketing Suite
Price: Free up to 500 contacts | Email Marketing $19/mo | Marketing Automation $59/mo Best for: Businesses wanting email + webinars + funnels in one tool Rating: ⭐ 4.1/5
GetResponse bundles email marketing with webinar hosting, funnel building, and e-commerce tools. If you need all of these, it’s cheaper than buying them separately.
What We Liked
- Webinar hosting included — unique among email platforms
- Conversion funnel builder for lead generation and sales
- AI-powered email generator and subject line optimization
- Good automation with visual workflow builder
- 33% recurring affiliate commission
What Could Be Better
- Free plan is very limited (500 contacts, basic features only)
- Interface feels dated compared to newer platforms
- Template designs aren’t as modern
- Webinar quality is decent but not Zoom-level
Who Should Use It
If you run webinars and want to integrate them with your email marketing, GetResponse eliminates the need for a separate webinar tool. Good all-in-one value.
6. ActiveCampaign — Best Advanced Automation
Price: Starter $29/mo | Plus $49/mo | Pro $79/mo Best for: Businesses that need sophisticated automation and CRM Rating: ⭐ 4.2/5
ActiveCampaign has the most powerful automation engine of any email platform. If you need complex workflows with conditional logic, scoring, and multi-channel triggers, this is it.
What We Liked
- Automation is unmatched — the most powerful visual automation builder available
- Built-in CRM with sales pipeline management
- Site tracking shows what contacts do on your website
- Lead scoring automatically prioritizes hot leads
- Machine learning predicts best send times and win probability
What Could Be Better
- No free plan — only a 14-day trial
- Starting at $29/mo it’s pricier than alternatives
- Learning curve is steep for the full automation suite
- Overkill for simple newsletters — you’re paying for features you may not use
Who Should Use It
ActiveCampaign is for businesses that have outgrown basic email marketing and need serious automation. If you’re doing lead nurturing, e-commerce sequences, or complex multi-step campaigns, it’s worth the investment.
How to Choose
Just starting out? → ConvertKit (free up to 10K subs) or MailerLite (simplest setup)
Building a newsletter business? → Beehiiv (built-in monetization)
Small business, budget matters? → MailerLite ($10/mo) or Brevo ($9/mo)
Need advanced automation? → ActiveCampaign (best automation engine)
Want all-in-one (email + webinars)? → GetResponse
Already using Mailchimp? → Consider switching to ConvertKit or MailerLite for better value
The Bottom Line
For most small businesses and creators in 2025, ConvertKit is the best starting point. The free plan is incredibly generous, the platform is purpose-built for creators, and you won’t outgrow it quickly.
If budget is your top priority, MailerLite at $10/mo is hard to beat.
And if you’re building a newsletter as a business, beehiiv is the clear choice with its built-in monetization tools.
Whichever platform you choose, the most important thing is to start building your email list today. It’s the one marketing asset you truly own.