I've managed email lists ranging from 500 to 50,000+ subscribers. After sending over 100K emails across five different platforms in the past year, I have strong opinions about which email marketing tools actually deliver.
Here's my honest comparison based on real deliverability data, not marketing fluff.
Quick Comparison
| Tool | Best For | Starting Price | Free Plan | Deliverability | Rating |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| ConvertKit | Creators & bloggers | $29/mo | Yes (1K subs) | 98.2% | 9.4/10 |
| GetResponse | All-in-one marketing | $19/mo | Yes (500 subs) | 97.8% | 9.0/10 |
| ActiveCampaign | Advanced automation | $29/mo | No | 98.5% | 9.2/10 |
| Mailchimp | Beginners | $13/mo | Yes (500 subs) | 96.1% | 8.3/10 |
| Brevo | Transactional + marketing | $25/mo | Yes (300/day) | 97.5% | 8.7/10 |
1. ConvertKit — Best for Creators
ConvertKit was built specifically for creators — bloggers, YouTubers, podcasters, and course sellers. The visual automation builder is the most intuitive I've used. I set up a 7-email welcome sequence in under 20 minutes.
What I loved:
- Visual automation builder that actually makes sense
- Landing pages and forms included on all plans
- Tag-based subscriber management (no duplicate contacts)
- Creator Network feature helps you grow your list through cross-promotion
- Commerce features let you sell digital products directly
What I didn't love:
- Email template designs are minimal — not great for visual brands
- A/B testing is limited to subject lines only
- Reporting could be more detailed
- No phone support
Deliverability test: 98.2% inbox placement across Gmail, Outlook, and Yahoo. Consistently among the highest in my tests.
Pricing: Free up to 1,000 subscribers. Creator plan at $29/mo (1K subs). Creator Pro at $59/mo adds advanced features.
2. GetResponse — Best All-in-One
GetResponse has evolved from a simple email tool to a full marketing platform. Email, landing pages, webinars, sales funnels, and even a website builder — all in one subscription.
What I loved:
- Webinar hosting built right in (unique in this space)
- Conversion funnel builder is surprisingly powerful
- AI email generator saves time on first drafts
- Solid automation workflows with pre-built templates
- Good ecommerce integrations
Deliverability test: 97.8% inbox placement. Solid and consistent.
Pricing: Free (500 subs, basic). Email Marketing at $19/mo. Marketing Automation at $59/mo. Ecommerce Marketing at $119/mo.
3. ActiveCampaign — Best for Automation
If you need complex, behavior-driven email automation, ActiveCampaign is king. The automation builder is the most powerful I've tested — you can create workflows that rival enterprise marketing platforms.
What I loved:
- Most powerful automation builder in this price range
- CRM built in — track deals alongside email campaigns
- Site tracking shows what subscribers do on your website
- Predictive sending optimizes send times per subscriber
- Split actions in automations for A/B testing workflows
Deliverability test: 98.5% inbox placement — highest in my tests.
Pricing: Lite at $29/mo (1K subs). Plus at $49/mo. Professional at $149/mo.
4. Mailchimp — Best for Beginners
Mailchimp is the most recognized name in email marketing for a reason. It's easy to start with, has a generous-ish free plan, and the email builder is polished.
What I didn't love:
- Gets expensive fast as your list grows
- Charges for unsubscribed contacts (seriously)
- Removed the free automation features from the free plan
- Support has declined significantly
Deliverability test: 96.1% — lowest in my tests. Gmail promotions tab was a frequent destination.
Pricing: Free (500 subs). Essentials at $13/mo. Standard at $20/mo. Premium at $350/mo.
5. Brevo (formerly Sendinblue) — Best for Transactional Email
Brevo is unique because it handles both marketing AND transactional emails. If you need to send order confirmations, password resets, AND newsletters from one platform, Brevo is your answer.
What I loved:
- Pricing based on emails sent, not contacts (huge savings for large lists)
- Transactional + marketing in one platform
- Built-in CRM and chat
- SMS marketing included
Deliverability test: 97.5% — very solid, especially for transactional emails.
Pricing: Free (300 emails/day). Starter at $25/mo. Business at $65/mo.
My Verdict
- Creators & bloggers: ConvertKit — purpose-built for you
- All-in-one marketing: GetResponse — best feature-to-price ratio
- Complex automations: ActiveCampaign — unmatched workflow power
- Just starting out: Mailchimp — familiar and easy
- Transactional + marketing: Brevo — best of both worlds
The tool I personally use? ConvertKit for my creator businesses, ActiveCampaign for my SaaS projects.
Disclosure: Some links in this article are affiliate links. I only recommend tools I've personally tested.
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