Email marketing is still one of the highest ROI marketing channels available—as much as $36 return for every $1 spent. Here’s a breakdown of the best tools available this year, organized by cost-efficiency so you can grow smart from day one.
🆓 1. Mautic (Open Source / Self-Hosted)
Website: https://www.mautic.org
Overview:
A powerful open-source tool for entrepreneurs who want full control of their email marketing with no recurring costs.
Pros:
- 100% free if self-hosted
- Fully customizable
- Advanced automation features
Cons:
- Requires technical knowledge and web hosting
- No customer support unless managed by a third party
Pricing:
- Free (self-hosted)
- Optional costs for hosting or managed Mautic service
🆓 2. Sendy (Self-Hosted with Amazon SES)
Website: https://sendy.co
Overview:
Sendy offers ultra-low-cost email marketing when paired with Amazon SES.
Pros:
- One-time purchase
- Emails cost ~$0.10 per 1,000 via Amazon SES
- Clean, fast, and simple interface
Cons:
- Requires hosting
- No automation without plugins
- Minimal support
Pricing:
- $69 one-time
- Amazon SES: ~$1 per 10,000 emails
🆓 3. MailerLite
Website: https://www.mailerlite.com
Overview:
One of the most generous free email tools for new businesses.
Pros:
- Up to 1,000 subscribers free
- Automation and landing pages included
- Easy drag-and-drop builder
Cons:
- Limited design flexibility
- Fewer third-party integrations
Pricing:
- Free: Up to 1,000 subscribers
- Paid: Starts at $10/month
🆓 4. Brevo (formerly Sendinblue)
Website: https://www.brevo.com
Overview:
A robust platform offering both email and SMS marketing.
Pros:
- CRM, automation, SMS marketing
- 300 free emails/day
- Built-in live chat
Cons:
- UI can be slow
- Template design is basic
Pricing:
- Free: 300 emails/day
- Starter: $25/month
- Business: $65/month+
🆓 5. Benchmark Email
Website: https://www.benchmarkemail.com
Overview:
Simple, multilingual platform great for international users.
Pros:
- Supports many languages
- Easy to use
- Free plan includes basic automation
Cons:
- Fewer advanced automation options
- Basic analytics
Pricing:
- Free: 500 contacts, 3,500 emails/month
- Pro: From $13/month
🆓 6. Zoho Campaigns
Website: https://www.zoho.com/campaigns
Overview:
Part of the Zoho ecosystem—ideal for existing Zoho CRM users.
Pros:
- Deep Zoho CRM integration
- Mobile app available
- Drag-and-drop builder
Cons:
- Less intuitive than Mailchimp or MailerLite
- Smaller template library
Pricing:
- Free: 2,000 emails/month
- Standard: $3/month
- Professional: $4.50/month+
🆓 7. Mailchimp
Website: https://mailchimp.com
Overview:
A popular choice for beginners and small businesses.
Pros:
- Easy to use
- Built-in analytics
- Great branding tools
Cons:
- Free plan is limited
- Pricing scales quickly with subscribers
Pricing:
- Free: 500 contacts
- Essentials: From $13/month
- Standard: $20/month
- Premium: $350/month
💰 8. Moosend
Website: https://www.moosend.com
Overview:
A low-cost alternative for advanced automation.
Pros:
- Affordable
- Includes A/B testing, segmentation
- Great support
Cons:
- No free plan (14-day free trial only)
- Fewer design templates
Pricing:
- Starts at $9/month
- Custom plans for enterprises
💰 9. ConvertKit
Website: https://www.convertkit.com
Overview:
Built with creators in mind—perfect for bloggers, coaches, and solopreneurs.
Pros:
- Visual automations
- Landing pages and form builder
- Creator-focused features
Cons:
- Fewer design options
- Limited testing on lower tiers
Pricing:
- Free: Up to 1,000 subscribers
- Creator: $15/month
- Creator Pro: $29/month+
💰 10. GetResponse
Website: https://www.getresponse.com
Overview:
An all-in-one marketing platform with powerful features.
Pros:
- Webinars, funnels, landing pages
- Advanced automation
- Great deliverability
Cons:
- Slight learning curve
- Premium features locked in higher tiers
Pricing:
- Free: Up to 500 contacts
- Email Marketing: $19/month
- Marketing Automation: $59/month
- E-Commerce Marketing: $119/month
🎯 Conclusion
If you’re on a tight budget or just starting out:
- Start with open-source or free plans like Mautic, MailerLite, or Brevo.
As your business grows:
- Upgrade to tools like ConvertKit, GetResponse, or Moosend for more automation and power.
Remember, most tools offer free trials or plans, so don’t hesitate to test a few before locking one in.