The avalanche of digital transformation has changed the conventional business model. Previously, marketers didn’t know who their customers were, what their expectations were, or how to expand and reach new leads.
But, now the times have changed, and marketers can target the right people at the right time and send them information that is narrowed down to their requirements.
How do they achieve this? The answer is through email marketing software. It is a marketing technique in which emails are automatically sent to existing and prospective customers to capture their attention.
However, the “one size fits all” approach is not applicable in this scenario; you cannot send the same email to everyone in your database. You need to filter your emails depending on the type of customer you are targeting.
Here is a rundown on some of the best email marketing software for small businesses:
1. Constant Contact
Constant Contact doesn’t offer anything out of the ordinary, but it is not underwhelming in performance or deliverability. It offers two plans: email and email plus, each with a 60-day free trial.
Benefits of constant contact:
- Constant Contact is easy to learn, as they have several online classes that train users to master their email marketing automation software
- Constant Contact is affordable for businesses of all sizes, charging based on the number of contacts in your list.
- The delivery system of Constant Connect is good, so there is a 97% chance that your email will land in the recipient’s inbox. In case the email bounces, you immediately know the reason.
- Constant Contact automatically manages the unsubscribe list, so your email never reaches a mailbox if the user has unsubscribed.
- It is compliant with all the email laws and affordable for small businesses.
Pricing
Lite starts at $12/mo, Standard at $35/mo, and Premium at $80/mo (based on 500 contacts).
Both plans allow you to send emails, with features including contact management, list-building tools, pop-up forms, reporting, email templates, social media tools, and more.
What's new
In 2026, Constant Contact has evolved into an AI-driven "multi-channel hub" with these major updates:
- Expanded AI Suite: Features an AI Content Generator for emails, social posts, and SMS, plus new AI-powered reporting hubs for deeper contact and campaign insights.
- Enhanced SMS & Social: Now includes SMS marketing registration for nonprofits and advanced social tools, like adding music to TikTok image posts directly from the platform.
- Advanced Integrations: Deepened synchronization with Microsoft Dynamics 365, Xero, and Blackbaud RENXT to automate constituent data mapping and engagement tracking.
- Dynamic Customization: Introduced enhanced footer and social block controls, allowing for highly specific branding, padding, and layout adjustments.
2. DirectIQ
DirectIQ offers an easy-to-use email marketing interface that delivers results.
DirectIQ lets marketers build stunning email campaigns automatically. It is connected to popular websites and services such as Shopify and WordPress. You can quickly transfer all your contacts and start sending emails easily.
Oh, and did we mention for FREE? Yes, DirectIQ offers a Forever Free Plan, so marketers can start small and scale with DirectIQ.
Benefits of DirectIQ
- Take advantage of their A/B campaign setup page. Choose the best template, select a few criteria, add some segmentation, and they’re good to go!
- Track email open rates, click-through rates, geo-tracking, and even spam complaints from a centralized dashboard. DirectIQ puts it all together in beautiful charts, graphs, and visuals.
- Automate email marketing. Get beautifully designed emails, segmented campaigns, social media tools, and free use of the best smartphone and tablet-compatible email templates.
Features
- Drag-and-drop email designer to build your custom campaign
- A wide selection of responsive email templates
- WordPress email marketing integrations to create powerful sign-up forms that are highly customizable and easy to add to your site
- API gives you the ability to connect your email platform to other software in your tech stack
Pricing
Free for 250 contacts; Essential starts at $15/mo; Unlimited starts at $25/mo (prices based on 2,500 contacts; annual billing saves 20%).
What's new
In 2026, DirectIQ has solidified its reputation for deliverability and simplicity with several core updates:
- AI Writing & Analytics: Introduced an AI assistant for drafting subject lines and email content, alongside a revamped dashboard that provides real-time "bird’s eye" insights into campaign ROI and engagement.
- Expansion of "Spam Doctor": Their signature deliverability tool has been upgraded to provide deeper analysis of inbox placement across more devices (including 2026 iPhone and Android models) before you send.
- Shopify & CRM Synergies: Deeper automation flows for e-commerce, such as "Back in Stock" and "Order Confirmation" triggers, plus native integrations with platforms like Salesforce and Microsoft Dynamics 365.
- Enhanced Automation: A new visual workflow builder that allows for complex, multi-step customer journeys based on behavioral triggers like clicks, sign-ups, and purchases.
3. Brevo (formally known as Sendinblue)
Brevo is an all-in-one marketing tool used by more than 80000 SMBs and enterprise clients worldwide. As an open platform, it works alongside other solutions to power people's websites and funnels. Main features include email & SMS marketing, marketing automation, signup forms, landing page builder, Chat, CRM, Facebook advertising, and retargeting.
Benefits of Sendinblue:
- Customer service is available in six different languages (English, French, German, Spanish, Italian, and Portuguese)
- Free Sendinblue WordPress plugin to build signup forms, send emails, and set marketing automation.
- A free user can store as many contacts as they want
- Advanced user segmentation
- Marketing automation workflows
- Possibility to build 2-way sync with any CRM & ESP on the market.
Plus, a rich catalog of native 2-way integrations with Mailchimp, Hubspot, ActiveCampaign, Constant Contact, Salesforce, Pipedrive, and Typeform.
Pricing
Free ($0 for 300 emails/day), Starter starts at $9/mo, Business starts at $18/mo, and Brevo+ (Enterprise) starts at $10,000/year.
What's new
In 2026, Brevo (formerly Sendinblue) has expanded into an AI-powered "multichannel command center" with several major platform updates:
- Aura AI Agents: Launched a suite of AI agents that can draft complete email campaigns, summarize chat conversations, and automatically optimize send times and audience segments based on predicted intent.
- Expanded Channels: The platform now supports advanced WhatsApp Business API integrations, web and mobile push notifications, and a new "Mobile Wallet" feature for digital loyalty cards and coupons.
- Brevo Data Platform: A new centralized hub that unifies customer data from over 150 integrations (like Shopify and CRM tools) to provide real-time lead scoring and hyper-personalized product recommendations.
- Loyalty & Meetings: Introduced a fully integrated Rewards Program builder and a professional Meeting Scheduler to handle everything from lead capture to post-sale retention in one interface.
4. Drip
Drip is a great email marketing tool widely used by bloggers, marketers, and e-commerce businesses. It is a good option for small companies because it offers a range of add-ons that integrate with popular website-building tools, provides smart segmentation and intelligent marketing tools, and is easy to learn and get started with, including WooCommerce and WordPress.
They offer smart segmentation options and intelligent marketing tools, and are easy to learn and get started with. Drip offers live chat support, webinars, and tutorials to help users get started with their email marketing software.
Benefits of Drip marketing tools:
- Good integration option with multiple applications that extends the usability of this software.
- It can help create targeted campaigns, i.e., you send emails to users of a specific profile.
- Automated workflows of Drip have a set of assorted triggers and corresponding responses. So, you do not have to manage those manually.
Pricing
It offers a free trial for up to 100 users, and the premium plan starts at $39/mo for up to 2,500 contacts (includes unlimited email sends and a 14-day free trial).
What's new
In 2026, Drip has reinforced its position as a "behavioral engine" for e-commerce with several AI-driven updates:
- Drip AI Strategy: A new generative engine that builds entire multi-channel workflows (Email, SMS, and On-site) from a single goal-oriented prompt.
- Dynamic On-site Personalization: Advanced "Forms & Popups" that change content in real-time based on a visitor's specific shopping history and predicted lifetime value.
- Enhanced Shopify/Klaviyo Migration: Improved one-click data mapping and automated "warming" of your sender reputation to make platform switching seamless.
- Predictive Analytics: New "Churn Risk" and "Purchase Probability" scores that allow you to target customers with specific discounts before they stop shopping.
5. Aweber
Aweber is another excellent option to consider for its attractive pricing list. One of the main competitors to MailChimp is touted as one of the most popular bulk email marketing software.
Some of its features include:
- Newsletter templates
- Drag and drop editing
- Integrated signup forms.
Benefits of using Aweber:
- Aweber has an insanely good customer service
- Advanced options for integration with applications like Zendesk, PayPal, WordPress, Leadpages, and Salesforce, to name a few.
- Access to 6000 of the stock photo library
- Provides a detailed overview of each customer, such as the source of customers and whether they have purchased anything or have subscribed for service.
Pricing
Free ($0 up to 500 contacts), Lite starts at $12.50/mo, Plus starts at $20/mo, and Unlimited is $899/mo (all billed annually). They offer excellent customer service via live chat, email support, and live webinars, so your issue is resolved within minutes.
What's new
In 2026, AWeber has transformed into an AI-centric platform designed for creators and small businesses with several notable updates:
- AI Newsletter Assistant: Automatically drafts weekly newsletters in your unique brand voice by learning from your website content and past emails.
- AWeber MCP (Beta): A new developer-friendly "Model Context Protocol" that allows you to manage your email marketing directly through AI agents like ChatGPT or Claude.
- Enhanced Automation: Introduced the "Auto Newsletter" engine (replacing Blog Broadcasts) for instant notifications for YouTube, podcasts, and Etsy, plus behavioral split-paths in workflows.
- Smart Design Tools: Upgraded the Canva integration and added an "AI Subject Line Assistant" that analyzes your email content to generate high-converting headers and preview text.
6. MailChimp
MailChimp is one of the best email marketing an easy-to-understand dashboard.
Benefits of MailChimp:
- The integration of MailChimp with platforms such as WordPress and Shopify is seamless
- It is an excellent option for businesses that want to build their lists without the initial investment.
- It is a strong choice for small businesses, as it allows them to reach many customers with minimal investment.
- MailChimp offers two plan types: monthly and pay-as-you-go. The latter is a good fit for people who rarely send emails.
Pricing
MailChimp pricing for all available plans and offers.
Free (up to 250 contacts), Essentials starts at $13/mo, Standard starts at $20/mo, and Premium starts at $350/mo (based on 500 contacts).
Whats new
In 2026, Mailchimp has transitioned into an "AI-driven orchestration" platform with these significant updates:
- Intuit Assist & Generative AI: A powerful new AI assistant that can auto-generate entire email layouts, draft custom-branded copy, and even suggest subject lines based on your historical performance.
- Predictive Analytics: Features like Predictive Segmentation and Purchase Likelihood now help you automatically target users most likely to convert or those at risk of churning.
- Multichannel "Flows": The automation builder (rebranded as "Flows" in mid-2025) now supports deep integrations with TikTok and Snapchat to sync contacts directly into your marketing funnels.
- SMS & A/B Testing: SMS marketing has been expanded with native A/B testing and global reach for multi-country campaigns, all managed from a single unified dashboard.
7. Active Campaign:
Active Campaign is an excellent email marketing automation software if your main concern is email automation. They also offer CRM features that are less sharp than their email automation. You get a beautifully designed dashboard between your campaigns and other services.
Some of its benefits are:
- Active Campaign amalgamates both email and SMS marketing perfectly
- You can monitor your customers' activities and respond accordingly based on their actions on your website.
- CRM platform, as well as marketing automation capabilities
- Zapier and WordPress integration
- Segment contacts by location, actions, behaviors, and social data.
Pricing
Starter starts at $15/mo, Plus at $49/mo, Professional at $79/mo, and Enterprise at $145/mo (based on 1,000 contacts and annual billing). The pricing for the Active campaign may increase over time, but it is worth a try if your primary objective is complex automation.
Whats new
In 2026, ActiveCampaign introduced AI agents that can build entire multi-step campaigns and nurture flows from a single text prompt. The platform now includes an AI Sidebar for real-time recommendations, an official Claude Connector, and a remote MCP Server that lets you manage your marketing data directly via external AI tools. Additionally, they've introduced AI-Suggested Segments and enhanced 2-way SMS messaging with AI-generated reply suggestions and conversation summaries.
8. GetResponse:
A super popular email marketing platform that is easy to use, affordable, and a good option for small businesses and beginners. It has some great features that make your marketing automation super simple.
Features of GetResponse:
- Drag and drop builder with some creative options
- 500 or more templates for newsletters
- 1000+ stock photos to access
- Forms with Social media management
- Enhanced segmentation options
Benefits of GetResponse:
- Lead generation with A/B testing
- Integrates with third-party software such as Optinmaster, SalesForce, GoogleDocs, ZenDesk, etc.
- Track the performance of all your campaigns in one place.
- It is simple to track and view your campaign history with GetResponse.
Pricing
GetResponse's editing features are not on par with those of the others on this list. Free (up to 500 contacts), Email Marketing starts at $19/mo, Marketing Automation starts at $59/mo, and Ecommerce Marketing starts at $119/mo.
Whats new
In 2026, GetResponse has evolved into an AI-driven "growth ecosystem" with these primary updates:
- AI Campaign Generator: A comprehensive tool that builds entire marketing campaigns—including emails, landing pages, and industry-specific copy—from just a few keywords.
- Aura AI & Bot Detection: New "Bot Detector" filters eliminate fake engagement from security scanners, while "Aura AI" optimizes send times and subject lines for real human interactions.
- Multichannel Content Hub: Includes a new AI Course Creator for monetizing knowledge and an upgraded Webinar block for seamless drag-and-drop event registration in emails.
- Enhanced E-commerce: Features advanced "Preference Centers" for shoppers and dynamic AI product recommendations to recover abandoned carts more effectively.
9. Moosend
Moosend is an email marketing automation tool with many features to help you kickstart your email marketing efforts.
Moosend will provide the platform's drag-and-drop builder, responsive email templates, and advanced automation to save you time.
The platform allows you to segment your audience to send highly targeted emails that increase conversions. You'll have access to online forms to help you generate leads and an intuitive landing page builder.
Additionally, Moosend provides real-time analytics to support data-driven decisions for your email marketing campaigns.
Benefits of Moosend:
- Advanced marketing automation
- Responsive email newsletter templates
- Advanced user segmentation
- Landing page builder to help you increase your conversion rates
- Real-time data and analytics
- Customer support
Pricing
Here's an in-depth analysis of Moosend’s pricing including
Free (30-day trial), Pro starts at $9/mo (500 contacts) or $16/mo (1,000 contacts), and Enterprise features custom pricing (annual plans offer 20% off).
Whats new
In 2026, Moosend has leaned heavily into "Aura AI" and automation to simplify professional marketing for small businesses:
- Moosend AI Writer: A built-in generative tool that crafts subject lines, email body copy, and CTA headlines directly within the editor to eliminate writer's block.
- Audience Discovery: An AI-powered segmentation tool that predicts customer behavior and identifies "lookalike" audiences to help you target high-value leads automatically.
- Mobile Editor Upgrades: The mobile version of the platform now allows for full campaign editing, automation activation, and real-time reporting on the go.
- Interactive Content: New features like "Wheel of Fortune" gamification and countdown timers have been integrated into landing pages and forms to boost engagement.
10. Kit (formally known as ConvertKit)
A robust email marketing tool with some great features and incredible performance. It is super easy to use, which is quite popular among professional bloggers and marketers.
ConvertKit offers many services that are not as comprehensive as their peers. The reason is that ConvertKit is an affordable option that helps build your lists, making it an excellent choice for people who have just kick-started their business.
Benefits of ConvertKit:
- It has a clear and intuitive interface.
- Offers easy content upgrades with signup forms.
- You can create your automation workflows based on various triggers.
- Easy to implement marketing automation.
- Charge-free for duplicate subscribers.
Some of its essential features are:
- Easily segment contacts based on the type of customer, which can be either a purchasing customer or a potential customer.
- Customizable opt-in forms.
- Drip campaigns
Pricing
Newsletter is Free (up to 10k subs), Creator starts at $33/mo, and Creator Pro starts at $66/mo (billed monthly for 1k subscribers).
Whats new
In 2026, Kit (formerly ConvertKit) has completed its rebranding to become the "Operating System for the Creator Economy," introducing a new App Store for third-party tools like SavvyCal and SparkLoop to work directly within its dashboard.
The platform now features a Creator Network for cross-promotions, Kit Studios for high-level production support, and an expanded Newsletter Plan that is now free for up to 10,000 subscribers. Additionally, they've launched advanced AI-driven reporting hubs and a "Public Rebranding" transparency initiative to help creators better monetize their audience via paid recommendations and digital stores.
11. InfusionSoft
InfusionSoft is an older email marketing software that facilitates email campaigns based on automated funnels and landing pages.
Benefits of InfusionSoft:
- Automates sales and marketing efforts, so you maintain a consistent brand reputation while offering a personalized customer experience.
- Centralized contact information helps improve the sales team's efficiency.
- Data is accessible on various devices, including tablets and smartphones.
- It is an all-in-one online solution that integrates CRM, Contact management, e-commerce, and marketing automation.
- This software can send trigger emails even in the rarest of circumstances.
The downside of InfusionSoft is its complex system. When you compare it with other similar tools, you realize that it is super difficult to learn and implement. Even a simple task, such as sending a newsletter, is complicated. InfusionSoft is expensive, so you must decide whether you need its high-performing technical capabilities.
Pricing
Keap Pro starts at $159/mo, Max at $229/mo, and Ultimate (Infusionsoft) at $229+/mo (billed annually, includes 1,500–2,500 contacts).
Whats new
In 2026, Infusionsoft is now fully integrated under the Keap brand (specifically the "Ultimate" plan), following its acquisition by Thryv in late 2024. Key updates include:
- AI Business Assistant: New generative AI tools that create custom automation workflows and email sequences from natural language prompts.
- Thryv Ecosystem Integration: Enhanced synchronization with Thryv’s local business tools, offering improved local SEO, listing management, and unified communication.
- Branding & Analytics Center: A revamped hub for maintaining consistent brand assets across all automated touchpoints and deeper lifecycle reporting to track customer ROI.
- Modernized Interface: Continued UI updates that bring the power of the "Classic" Infusionsoft builder into a more user-friendly, high-speed dashboard.
12. Sendhippo
SendHippo is quite a novice player in this market and is worth a try as a marketing tool. It is a great email marketing automation software for small businesses. It is affordable and offers almost all the services you get with other marketing tools.
Here are some impressive features and benefits:
- Drag and drop email template designer
- Several plans to suit the varying requirements of the user
- A broad spectrum of templates to choose from
- Mobile-friendly emails
- Easy creation of segments
- Reach customers’ inboxes when they are most likely to respond.
- Track your report and see your performance in real-time.
- Multichannel marketing
- Integrates with any email client smoothly.
Pricing
Get started with free for up to 250 contacts; Essential starts at $15/mo; Unlimited starts at $25/mo (based on 2,500 contacts).
Whats new
In 2026, SendHippo has focused on enhancing its position in the email tracking and optimization market with these updates:
- AI-Driven Tracking: Improved real-time monitoring that identifies not just when an email is opened, but also provides "bird’s-eye" insights into recipient engagement patterns and ROI.
- Enhanced Deliverability: Upgraded its "Spam Doctor" and reputation monitoring tools to ensure high inbox placement across modern 2026 mobile and desktop devices.
- Workflow Integration: Deeper native synchronization with CRMs like Salesforce and Microsoft Dynamics 365, allowing tracking data to flow automatically into sales pipelines.
- Simplified Interface: A redesigned dashboard aimed at marketers rather than developers, making it easier to manage large-scale automated campaigns and A/B testing.
13. Campaigner:
Campaigner is not a go-to option for most small businesses as it lacks some essential features. It offers some benefits for small businesses.
Here is a list of some of them:
- Mobile-friendly builds
- A/B testing
- Google Analytics and CRM integration
- List segmentation based on triggers and behavioral instincts of customers.
- Email automation and workflows
The segmentation process works well, but it can slow down when you add too many filters. It also has issues with Gmail delivery in some cases.
Pricing
Starter starts at $59/mo (5k contacts), Essential at $179/mo (25k contacts), and Advanced at $649/mo (100k contacts).
Whats new
In 2026, Campaigner has focused on "Conversational AI" and deeper e-commerce intelligence with several major platform updates:
- AI Subject Line Generator: A new tool that analyzes your specific mailing list data to recommend high-converting subject lines tailored to your audience's recent behavior.
- Enhanced eCommerce Workflows: Advanced triggers for "Abandoned Cart" and "Post-Purchase" sequences now include AI-driven product recommendations and dynamic pricing blocks.
- Predictive Analytics: New reporting features use machine learning to predict "Churn Risk" and identify the optimal send-time for each individual subscriber rather than the whole list.
- Reputation Defender: An upgraded deliverability suite that proactively scans your list for "spam traps" and provides real-time alerts if your sender reputation dips.
Conclusion
The question always ends with which email service to choose, given the many options.
The answer depends on your marketing needs, budget constraints, and the stage at which you are implementing the email marketing automation software. Before zeroing in on your option, here are a few things to keep in mind:
- The number of contacts: You need an easy upgrade option to start building the list. If the list is stable, compare prices across the available tools.
- Segmentation: Create a list of the basic requirements to segment your lists. Based on these details, only you should consider your options.
- Budget: Pricing matters, so find a service that meets your basic requirements within your budget.
- Analytics and reporting: Many businesses want to track their performance and strategize their marketing plan accordingly. Please review the sample analytic reports.
- Ease of use: Automation processes should be easy to understand and use. If you are a small business, you cannot afford to hire a dedicated team to manage your software. Choose an option that is not overly complex for your needs.
