Email marketing still delivers the highest ROI of any marketing channel — $36 for every $1 spent. But which tool should you use? I tested these with real campaigns over 3 months.
1. ConvertKit (now Kit) — Best for Creators
Rating: 9.4/10
Built specifically for bloggers, YouTubers, and course creators. Visual automations, landing pages, and commerce features.
- Visual automation builder
- Free plan up to 10,000 subscribers
- Built-in commerce (sell digital products)
- Excellent deliverability rates
Price: Free up to 10K subs, then from $25/month
2. Mailchimp — Best All-in-One
Rating: 9.0/10
The industry standard with the most integrations. Great for small businesses that need marketing automation + email in one place.
Price: Free up to 500 contacts, then from $13/month
3. Brevo (formerly Sendinblue) — Best Value
Rating: 8.8/10
Unlimited contacts on all plans. You pay per email sent, not per subscriber. Also includes SMS marketing.
Price: Free (300 emails/day), then from $25/month
4. ActiveCampaign — Best Automation
Rating: 8.7/10
The most powerful automation engine. CRM + email marketing + sales automation in one platform.
Price: From $29/month
5. Beehiiv — Best for Newsletters
Rating: 8.5/10
Purpose-built for newsletter creators. Built-in referral programs, ad network, and monetization tools.
Price: Free up to 2,500 subs, then from $39/month
Quick Comparison
| Tool | Free Tier | Best For | Starting Price |
|---|---|---|---|
| Kit | 10K subs | Creators | $25/mo |
| Mailchimp | 500 contacts | Small biz | $13/mo |
| Brevo | 300 emails/day | Value | $25/mo |
| ActiveCampaign | None | Automation | $29/mo |
| Beehiiv | 2,500 subs | Newsletters | $39/mo |
What I Tested
- Deliverability: Inbox placement rates across Gmail, Outlook, Yahoo
- Automation: Workflow complexity, triggers, conditional logic
- Templates: Quality, responsiveness, customization
- Analytics: Open rates, click rates, revenue tracking
- Integrations: Zapier, WordPress, Shopify, Stripe
Verdict
Kit (ConvertKit) for creators and solopreneurs. Mailchimp if you need an all-in-one solution. Beehiiv if you're building a newsletter business.
Disclosure: Some links are affiliate links. I only recommend tools I've personally used.
Top comments (0)