DisclosureMailFit compares email marketing tools using their official pricing and feature data, updated automatically. We may earn a commission from links on this page, which doesn't affect how tools are ranked.
MailFit
MailFit/ Small businesses

Best email marketing software for Small businesses2026

Last updated

Small businesses usually want one affordable tool that handles email, basic automation, and sometimes SMS — without enterprise complexity. We compared platforms on starting price, free tiers, automation, and how billing scales (by contacts versus by emails sent).

Top of the list

Brevo

from $9/mo · free tier

Stands out for volume-based pricing (charged by emails sent, not contacts). Best for small-business, ecommerce, large-lists-low-volume.

Read the full review →

The shortlist

  1. 01Brevofrom $9/mo
  2. 02MailerLitefrom $12/mo
  3. 03AWeberfrom $15/mo
  4. 04ActiveCampaignfrom $19/mo
  5. 05Moosendfrom $20/mo
  6. 06GetResponsefrom $19/mo

Side-by-side comparison

ToolStarting priceFree tierKey featuresBest for
Brevo$9/moYes
  • Volume-based pricing (charged by emails sent, not contacts)
  • Email + SMS + WhatsApp campaigns
  • Marketing automation (Business plan)
small-business, ecommerce, large-lists-low-volumeVisit
MailerLite$12/moYes
  • Drag-and-drop & visual automation builder
  • Website and landing page builder
  • Digital product sales
creators, small-business, ecommerceVisit
AWeber$15/moYes
  • Drag-and-drop email builder with AI subject-line help
  • Unlimited email lists and segments (Plus)
  • Landing pages and sign-up forms
small-business, bloggers, creatorsVisit
ActiveCampaign$19/moNo
  • Marketing automation with unlimited actions (Plus+)
  • Active Intelligence AI
  • Drag-and-drop email designer
small-business, ecommerce, agenciesVisit
Moosend$20/moNo
  • Unlimited email campaigns and sends
  • Marketing automation workflows
  • Landing pages and subscription forms
small-business, ecommerce, newslettersVisit
GetResponse$19/moYes
  • Email marketing with unlimited monthly sends
  • Marketing automation workflows
  • Website & landing page builder
small-business, course-sellers, ecommerceVisit

Scroll the table sideways on small screens. Prices are starting list prices and scale with list size.

How each tool fits small businesses

Brevo

Full review →
Best for
Small businesses with large contact lists but low send frequency, because pricing is based on emails sent rather than contacts stored, and a CRM is included at no extra cost.
Not ideal for
Businesses that need advanced marketing automation from the start, as that feature is locked behind the Business plan, whose price is not publicly listed.

MailerLite

Full review →
Best for
Small businesses that also sell digital products or need a landing page builder, as both are included along with a free tier for up to 250 subscribers.
Not ideal for
Teams needing more than two seats on the free plan or unlimited seats on a budget, as unlimited seats only become available at $25 per month on the Power plan.

AWeber

Full review →
Best for
Small business owners who want hands-off setup, as AWeber offers a 'Done For You' plan where their team builds the email system, with a one-time $79 setup fee.
Not ideal for
Businesses on a tight budget seeking a clearly priced entry point, as the free tier limits and current pricing tiers require verification directly on AWeber's site.

ActiveCampaign

Full review →
Best for
Small businesses that need a CRM alongside email marketing and access to over 1,000 integrations, available starting at $19 per month for 1,000 contacts.
Not ideal for
Businesses that want a free tier to test before paying, as ActiveCampaign has no permanent free plan, only a free trial and a 30-day money-back guarantee.

Moosend

Full review →
Best for
Small businesses that send frequently and want unlimited email sends plus automation and landing pages from the entry-level Pro plan at $20 per month for 500 contacts.
Not ideal for
Businesses that need a permanent free tier to manage costs long-term, as Moosend offers only a 30-day free trial with no ongoing free plan.

GetResponse

Full review →
Best for
Small businesses that also sell online courses, as the Creator plan at $69 per month includes a course builder with capacity for up to 500 students alongside email marketing tools.
Not ideal for
Businesses that need more than one automation workflow on a starter budget, as the $19 per month Starter plan limits users to a single automation workflow.

Data sources

methodology →

Pricing for each tool is taken from its official pricing page and refreshed automatically. Always confirm the current price on the vendor's site before signing up — pricing changes often.