Campaign Monitor has established itself as a solid contender in the email marketing landscape, offering a range of features aimed at businesses of various sizes. Let’s delve into its offerings to see if it stacks up as a valuable tool for your email marketing needs.

Campaign Monitor Email Marketing Functionality

Campaign Monitor structures its offerings into several tiers, each unlocking increasing levels of features and functionality. Here’s a breakdown:

Basic

This entry-level tier provides the essentials for getting started with email marketing. Key features include:

• Drag-and-drop email builder: An intuitive interface for creating visually appealing emails without needing coding knowledge. You can easily add text, images, buttons, and other elements.
• List management: Tools for importing, segmenting, and managing your subscriber lists. Segmentation allows you to target specific groups based on criteria like demographics or engagement.
• Personalisation: The ability to address subscribers by name and use dynamic content to tailor emails. For example, you could show different product recommendations to different customer segments.
• Reporting and analytics: Basic insights into email performance, such as open rates, click-through rates, and bounce rates. This helps you understand what’s working and what isn’t.
• Automation basics: Simple automated workflows, such as welcome emails for new subscribers.

Unlimited

Stepping up to the Unlimited tier unlocks more advanced features for growing businesses:

• Unlimited email sends: Send as many emails as you need without worrying about quotas (subject to fair usage policies).
• Advanced segmentation: Create more sophisticated subscriber segments based on a wider range of criteria, including past purchase behaviour and website activity.
• Automation journeys: Build complex, multi-step automation workflows to nurture leads, onboard customers, and re-engage inactive subscribers. For instance, you could set up a series of emails triggered by a specific action on your website.
• Priority support: Access to faster and more responsive customer support.

Premier

The top-tier offering is designed for sophisticated marketers with demanding needs:

• Advanced reporting: In-depth analytics, including engagement heatmaps and deliverability insights.
• Premier support: The highest level of support with dedicated account management for larger clients.
• Send-time optimisation: Campaign Monitor analyses past engagement data to automatically send emails at the optimal time for each subscriber, maximising open rates.
• Transactional emails: The ability to send automated, triggered emails for actions like order confirmations and password resets via their Transact add-on.
• Email previews: See how your emails will render across various email clients (e.g., Outlook, Gmail, Apple Mail) and devices before sending.

Take a look at our analysis and comparison of the features of the top ten email marketing platforms.

How Much Does Campaign Monitor Cost (And Is It Worth It?)

Campaign Monitor’s pricing is primarily based on the number of subscribers you have and the chosen tier. 

• Basic: Plans start from around £7 per month for up to 500 subscribers with a limited number of sends. Prices increase as your subscriber list grows.
• Unlimited: Prices for the Unlimited tier typically begin at approximately £23 per month for up to 500 subscribers, offering unlimited sends.
• Premier: The Premier tier starts at roughly £199 per month for up to 500 subscribers, including all features and premium support.

It’s important to note that these are starting prices and will scale upwards as your subscriber count increases. They also offer a pay-as-you-go option for users who send infrequently.

Campaign Monitor offers a robust set of features, particularly at the Unlimited and Premier tiers. The drag-and-drop builder is user-friendly, and the automation capabilities are powerful. However, the pricing, especially as your list size grows, can become relatively expensive compared to some other email marketing platforms.

For smaller businesses with basic needs, the Basic plan might offer reasonable value initially. However, as your marketing efforts become more sophisticated and your list expands, the cost can be a significant consideration. The Unlimited tier provides excellent features for the price, offering a good balance for growing businesses that need more advanced automation and unlimited sending. The Premier tier, while feature-rich, is likely only justifiable for larger organisations with complex needs and a higher marketing budget.

Take a look at where Campaign Monitor sits on our ranking of the most cost-effective email marketing platforms.

Campaign Monitor: Strengths and Weaknesses

Strengths	Weaknesses
User-friendly drag-and-drop email builder	Can become expensive as subscriber list grows
Powerful automation capabilities (Unlimited+)	Basic reporting in the entry-level tier
Excellent segmentation options (Unlimited+)	Transactional emails require a separate add-on
Good deliverability rates	Some competitors offer more generous free plans
Strong focus on design and aesthetics	Limited built-in CRM functionality
Reliable customer support	Price structure might not suit very small businesses

Our Analysis: What Type of Business is Campaign Monitor Best Suited For?

Campaign Monitor is particularly well suited for:

• Small to medium-sized businesses (SMBs): Especially those looking for a user-friendly platform with robust automation and segmentation capabilities as they scale. The Unlimited tier often hits a sweet spot for these businesses.
• Marketing agencies: The platform’s client management features and design focus make it a good choice for agencies managing email campaigns for multiple clients.
• Businesses that prioritise design and branding: The platform offers excellent tools for creating visually appealing and on-brand emails.
• E-commerce businesses: The advanced segmentation and automation features can be leveraged for targeted product recommendations, abandoned cart recovery, and post-purchase follow-ups.

While smaller businesses with very tight budgets might find the entry-level Basic plan sufficient initially, they may outgrow it quickly or find more cost-effective options elsewhere for basic needs. Large enterprises with highly complex CRM requirements might find Campaign Monitor lacks some of the integrated functionality offered by more enterprise-focused platforms.

Conclusion

Campaign Monitor is a capable and well-designed email marketing platform that offers a strong feature set, particularly in its Unlimited and Premier tiers. Its user-friendly interface and powerful automation tools make it a compelling option for businesses looking to elevate their email marketing efforts. However, the cost can be a significant factor, especially as subscriber numbers increase.

Ultimately, the decision of whether Campaign Monitor is the right choice for you will depend on your specific needs, budget, and the scale of your email marketing activities. If you value ease of use, sophisticated automation, and visually appealing emails, and your budget allows for it, Campaign Monitor is certainly a platform worth considering. However, it’s wise to compare its pricing and features against other providers to ensure it aligns perfectly with your business requirements

Campaign Monitor Competitors

• Omnisend
• ActiveCampaign
• GetResponse
• Brevo
• HubSpot Marketing Hub
• Mailchimp
• Constant Contact
• Klaviyo
• MailerLite

Check out our comparison of the best email marketing software, and see where Campaign Monitor sits in the top ten.

Brevo, formerly known as Sendinblue, has positioned itself as an all-in-one marketing platform, with email marketing being a core component of its offering. They aim to cater to a wide range of businesses with various tiers and functionalities.

Brevo Email Marketing Functionality

Brevo offers several pricing tiers, each unlocking a different set of features and sending allowances. Let’s break them down:

Free Plan

This is their entry-level offering, typically allowing a limited number of contacts and email sends per month. Functionality is understandably basic but includes:

• Contact management and segmentation.
• Drag-and-drop email builder.
• Basic email templates.
• Transactional email capabilities.
• SMS marketing (pay-as-you-go).
• Marketing automation for up to 2,000 contacts.
• Limited reporting.

Starter Plan (typically around £19 per month, price may vary based on sending volume)

This tier builds upon the free plan by increasing sending limits and removing the Brevo logo from emails. Key additions often include:

• Higher sending volumes.
• No-code automation workflows.
• More advanced reporting and statistics.
• Email support.

Business Plan (typically around £49 per month, price may vary based on sending volume and features)

This plan targets businesses with more sophisticated needs. Features often include:

• Advanced segmentation.
• Landing page builder.
• Marketing automation with more advanced workflows.
• Multivariate A/B testing.
• Access for multiple users.
• Priority support.
• Phone support.

BrevoPlus (custom pricing)

This enterprise-level plan offers tailored solutions with advanced features, higher sending limits, and dedicated support. Features often include:

• SLA (Service Level Agreement).
• Custom integrations.
• Advanced reporting and analytics.
• Dedicated account manager.

Take a look at our analysis and comparison of the features of the top ten email marketing platforms.

How Much Does Brevo Cost (And Is It Worth It?)

The pricing structure of Brevo appears competitive, particularly at the lower tiers. 

The Free Plan is a decent starting point for very small businesses or individuals just dipping their toes into email marketing. It allows for list building and basic campaign execution without upfront costs.

The Starter Plan (typically around £19 per month) offers good value for growing businesses that need to send more emails and benefit from basic automation. The removal of branding is a significant plus for presenting a professional image.

The Business Plan (typically around £49 per month) represents a step up in cost but unlocks powerful features like landing pages and advanced automation, making it suitable for businesses serious about their marketing efforts. Whether it represents good value depends on the extent to which a business utilises these advanced functionalities. If you’re not leveraging the landing page builder or sophisticated A/B testing, you might find other platforms offer similar core email marketing features at a lower price point.

BrevoPlus (custom pricing) is aimed at enterprises with specific needs and the budget to match. The custom pricing reflects the tailored nature of the offering.

Overall, Brevo offers reasonable value for money, especially at the lower tiers. The Free and Starter plans provide a good balance of features for their respective price points. The Business plan’s value is more dependent on a business’s specific requirements for advanced marketing tools.

Take a look at where Brevo sits on our ranking of the most cost-effective email marketing platforms.

Brevo: Strengths and Weaknesses

Strengths	Weaknesses
Comprehensive platform with multiple marketing tools	The sheer number of features can be overwhelming for beginners
Competitive pricing, especially for lower tiers	The user interface, while improving, can sometimes feel a bit cluttered
Robust automation capabilities	Reporting may lack the depth of some specialist platforms
Decent email deliverability rates	Customer support responsiveness can be inconsistent according to some users
Good range of templates available	Some advanced features might require a steeper learning curve
Transactional email and SMS capabilities integrated	Pricing can escalate significantly with higher sending volumes and tiers
Landing page builder in higher tiers

Our Analysis: What Type of Business is Brevo Best Suited For?

Brevo’s tiered structure makes it suitable for a wide range of businesses.

Small Businesses and Startups: The Free and Starter plans are excellent for those on a tight budget who need essential email marketing tools and basic automation. The integrated SMS functionality can also be a bonus for direct communication.

Growing Businesses: The Business plan is well-suited for companies looking to scale their marketing efforts with advanced segmentation, automation, and the ability to build landing pages. The multi-user access is also beneficial for teams.

E-commerce Businesses: The platform’s transactional email capabilities are crucial for order confirmations, shipping updates, and password resets. The segmentation features can be used to target customers based on purchase history.

Marketing Agencies: The multi-user access and the range of features in the Business and BrevoPlus plans can be attractive for agencies managing multiple clients.

Businesses Seeking an Integrated Platform: For companies that want to consolidate their marketing tools (email, SMS, chat, CRM, landing pages) into a single platform, Brevo offers a compelling solution.

Conclusion

Brevo presents a solid and versatile option for email marketing, particularly for small to medium-sized businesses. Its tiered pricing structure allows businesses to start at a comfortable level and scale as their needs grow. The integration of multiple marketing channels within one platform is a significant advantage for efficiency.

However, potential users should be mindful of the platform’s complexity, which might be daunting for absolute beginners. While the pricing is competitive at lower levels, it’s essential to carefully assess the features needed in the higher tiers to ensure value for money. Overall, if you’re looking for a comprehensive marketing platform with a strong focus on email and the ability to expand into other channels, Brevo is certainly worth considering. Just be sure to have a good poke around the interface and perhaps take advantage of their free plan or a trial to see if it truly fits your business.

Brevo Competitors

• Omnisend
• ActiveCampaign
• GetResponse
• HubSpot Marketing Hub
• Mailchimp
• Constant Contact
• Klaviyo
• MailerLite
• Campaign Monitor

Check out our comparison of the best email marketing software, and see where Brevo sits in the top ten.

ActiveCampaign stands out in the crowded email marketing landscape by offering a comprehensive suite of features that extend well beyond basic broadcasting. It aims to be a central hub for customer communication and automation.

ActiveCampaign Email Marketing Functionality

ActiveCampaign has aimed for a comprehensive approach, trying to be more than just an email marketing platform. They offer a genuine marketing automation and CRM hybrid in their higher tiers, which is a significant differentiator and contributes to the breadth of their functionality.

Here’s a summary of ActiveCampaign’s features and functionality across its tiers:

Lite:

• Email Marketing: Broadcasts, autoresponders, triggered emails for basic campaign management.
• Marketing Automation: Basic automation builder for simple workflows (e.g., welcome series).
• Segmentation: Allows grouping contacts based on various criteria for targeted emails.
• Forms: Tools to create signup forms for website integration.
• Landing Pages: Basic builder for creating dedicated campaign pages.
• Chat: Live chat functionality to engage with website visitors.

Plus (includes Lite features, plus):

• CRM: Contact management, lead scoring to prioritise prospects, and sales automation tools.
• Deeper Integrations: Enhanced connectivity with platforms like Shopify and Salesforce.
• Custom Branding: Ability to apply your brand to emails and landing pages.
• SMS Marketing: Send text messages to contacts (additional cost may apply).
• Conditional Content: Personalise email content based on contact data.
• Advanced Automation: Split testing within automations, visual automation maps for complex workflows.

Professional (includes Plus features, plus):

• Site Tracking: Monitor contact activity on your website.
• Attribution: Understand which marketing efforts are driving results.
• Predictive Sending: Optimise email send times for better engagement.
• Predictive Content: AI-powered content recommendations for personalisation.
• Win Probability: Predict the likelihood of a lead converting.
• Automation Health: Monitor the performance of your automations.
• In-depth Reporting: Detailed analytics on campaign performance and contact behaviour.

Enterprise (includes Professional features, plus):

• Custom Reporting: Tailored reports to meet specific business needs.
• Custom Mailserver Domain: Enhanced control over email sending reputation.
• Unlimited Users: Allows access for your entire team.
• Dedicated Support: Priority support and account management.
• Enhanced Security and Compliance: Advanced features for data protection.

ActiveCampaign offers a remarkably broad range of functionality, especially when you look beyond the entry-level Lite plan.

What strikes us is how they’ve managed to integrate email marketing so tightly with sales-focused features like the CRM and lead scoring in the higher tiers. This isn’t just about sending emails; it’s about managing the entire customer lifecycle, from initial contact to potential sale and beyond.

The inclusion of features like landing page builders, forms, and even chat in the lower tiers provides a solid toolkit for lead generation and engagement right from the start. As you move up the pricing ladder, the depth of the automation capabilities truly shines. The ability to create complex, branching workflows based on a wide array of triggers and conditions is impressive. Features like split testing within automations and automation maps offer a level of sophistication that many other platforms reserve for their top-tier offerings.

Then you layer on the more advanced analytics in the Professional plan – site tracking, attribution, and predictive features – and you’re looking at a platform that allows for highly data-driven marketing. This moves beyond simply sending emails and delves into understanding customer behaviour and optimising campaigns for better results.

While the sheer volume of features can feel a bit overwhelming initially, particularly for newcomers, it ultimately provides a powerful and scalable solution. Businesses can start with the essentials and gradually unlock more advanced functionality as their needs and expertise grow.Take a look at our analysis and comparison of the features of the top ten email marketing platforms.

Take a look at our analysis and comparison of the features of the top ten email marketing platforms.

How Much Does ActiveCampaign Cost (And Is It Worth It?)

ActiveCampaign offers four main pricing tiers, each unlocking increasing levels of features and functionality. It’s worth noting that the pricing itself scales based on the number of contacts you have. The prices mentioned below are indicative for 1,000 contacts and are based on monthly billing. Annual billing typically offers a discount.

Lite:

• Price: Starting from approximately £23 per month.
• Features: Email marketing (broadcasts, autoresponders, triggered emails), marketing automation (basic automation builder, goal tracking), segmentation, forms, landing pages, chat (live chat).
• Functionality: This tier provides a solid foundation for businesses looking to move beyond simple email blasts. The basic automation allows for welcome series and simple follow-ups. Segmentation enables more targeted messaging. The inclusion of landing pages and chat is a nice touch for lead generation and engagement.
• Value for Money: For smaller businesses or those just starting with automation, the Lite plan offers good value, providing essential tools at a reasonable entry point.

Plus:

• Price: Starting from approximately £46 per month.
• Features (in addition to Lite): CRM (contact management, lead scoring, sales automation), deeper integrations (including Shopify, Salesforce), custom branding, SMS marketing, conditional content, advanced automation (split testing, automation maps).
• Functionality: The Plus tier significantly expands the capabilities, particularly with the integrated CRM. This allows for a more holistic view of customer interactions and enables sales-driven automation. Features like lead scoring and SMS marketing can be very valuable for nurturing leads and driving conversions. Advanced automation features offer more sophisticated customer journeys.
• Value for Money: For businesses that need CRM functionality integrated with their email marketing and want more advanced automation capabilities, the Plus plan offers strong value for money.

Professional:

• Price: Starting from approximately £115 per month.
• Features (in addition to Plus): Site tracking, attribution, predictive sending, predictive content, win probability, automation health, in-depth reporting.
• Functionality: This tier focuses on providing deeper insights into customer behaviour and optimising marketing efforts based on data. Site tracking allows you to see how contacts interact with your website, while predictive features aim to improve engagement and conversion rates.
• Value for Money: This plan is best suited for established businesses with a significant volume of contacts and a strong focus on data-driven marketing and sales alignment. The price jump is considerable, so it’s only worthwhile if you can fully leverage the advanced analytics and predictive features.

Enterprise:

• Price: Custom pricing (typically significantly higher than Professional).
• Features (in addition to Professional): Custom reporting, custom mailserver domain, unlimited users, dedicated support, enhanced security and compliance features.
• Functionality: The Enterprise tier is designed for large organisations with complex needs, requiring scalability, dedicated support, and enhanced security.
• Value for Money: The value proposition here depends entirely on the specific needs of the enterprise. The custom pricing reflects the tailored nature of the plan.

Take a look at where ActiveCampaign sits on our ranking of the most cost-effective email marketing platforms.

ActiveCampaign: Strengths and Weaknesses

Strengths	Weaknesses
Powerful Automation: Highly customisable automation builder for complex workflows.	Price: Can become expensive as your contact list grows, especially for higher tiers.
Integrated CRM: Seamlessly combines email marketing with sales CRM features in higher tiers.	Complexity: The sheer number of features can be overwhelming for beginners.
Strong Segmentation: Offers granular segmentation options based on various data points.	Learning Curve: Mastering the advanced automation and CRM features takes time and effort.
Good Deliverability: Generally regarded as having strong email deliverability rates.	Tiered Features: Some essential features are locked behind higher-priced tiers.
Extensive Integrations: Connects with a wide range of other business tools.	Customer Support: While generally helpful, response times can vary for lower-tier users.
Landing Page Builder & Forms: Useful tools for lead generation.
SMS Marketing: Available in higher tiers for multi-channel communication.

Our Analysis: What Type of Business is ActiveCampaign Best Suited For?

ActiveCampaign is a versatile platform that can cater to a wide range of businesses, but it particularly shines for:

• Small to Medium-Sized Businesses (SMBs) with Growth Ambitions: Businesses that are looking to move beyond basic email marketing and implement more sophisticated automation and CRM processes will find the Plus and Professional tiers particularly beneficial. The integrated CRM is a significant advantage for sales-focused SMBs.
• E-commerce Businesses: The strong integrations with platforms like Shopify, coupled with features like segmentation based on purchase history and abandoned cart automation, make ActiveCampaign a powerful tool for online retailers.
• Businesses Focused on Lead Nurturing: The advanced automation capabilities and lead scoring features are ideal for businesses with longer sales cycles that require nurturing leads through targeted communication.
• Marketing Agencies: The platform’s flexibility and scalability can accommodate the diverse needs of marketing agencies managing multiple clients.
• Businesses That Value Data-Driven Marketing: The advanced reporting and analytics features in the Professional tier are well-suited for businesses that want to deeply understand their customer behaviour and optimise their campaigns accordingly.

While smaller businesses with very basic needs might find the Lite plan sufficient, they should be prepared for the platform’s inherent complexity compared to simpler email marketing tools. Start-ups with tight budgets might want to carefully consider whether they will fully utilise the more advanced features before committing to a higher tier.

Conclusion

ActiveCampaign is a robust and feature-rich email marketing platform that offers significant power and flexibility. While the pricing can become a consideration as your contact list grows and you move up the tiers, the value for money is generally strong, especially for businesses that actively utilise the automation and CRM capabilities.

The platform’s strengths lie in its powerful automation builder, integrated CRM (in higher tiers), and strong segmentation options. However, its complexity and tiered feature structure mean that it might not be the best fit for absolute beginners or businesses with very basic email marketing needs.

For UK businesses looking to scale their marketing efforts, nurture leads effectively, and integrate their email marketing with sales processes, ActiveCampaign is a compelling option worth serious consideration. Just be prepared to invest the time in learning the platform to unlock its full potential.

ActiveCampaign Competitors

• Omnisend
• GetResponse
• Brevo
• HubSpot Marketing Hub
• Mailchimp
• Constant Contact
• Klaviyo
• MailerLite
• Campaign Monitor

Check out our comparison of the best email marketing software, and see where ActiveCampaign sits in the top ten.

Selecting the right email marketing software is crucial for businesses of all sizes to nurture leads, promote products, and build lasting relationships. With so many options available, navigating the choices can feel overwhelming. Fear not! We’ve ranked ten of the top email marketing software options for pricing and value for money, features and functionality, and our overall impression, to help you to make an informed decision.

1. HubSpot Marketing Hub

Pricing and Value: 3/5 – Premium pricing, excellent value for enterprise users needing deep integration and advanced automation.

Features and Functionality: 5/5 – Extensive features: advanced automation, lead scoring, CRM integration, personalised content, SEO, social media.

Overall Impression: 5/5 – Powerful and high-quality, best for larger organisations with integrated marketing and sales needs.

2. Brevo (formerly Sendinblue)

Pricing and Value: 4.5/5 – Competitive pricing, especially for growing businesses, excellent value with integrated SMS.

Features and Functionality: 4/5 – Robust suite including email builder, automation, segmentation, SMS, landing pages, and CRM.

Overall Impression: 4.5/5 – Comprehensive and scalable, high-quality omnichannel solution.

3. Klaviyo

Pricing and Value: 3/5 – Higher end pricing, but powerful e-commerce features and automation often justify the cost.

Features and Functionality: 4.5/5 – Advanced segmentation based on purchase behavior, personalised automation, SMS, strong e-commerce integrations.

Overall Impression: 4.5/5 – High-quality, purpose-built for e-commerce businesses seeking sophisticated automation and personalisation.

4. ActiveCampaign

Pricing and Value: 3.5/5 – Pricing varies, excellent value for businesses needing sophisticated automation and CRM-like features.

Features and Functionality: 5/5 – Powerful automation, CRM features, lead scoring, deep segmentation, numerous integrations.

Overall Impression: 4.5/5 – High-quality and robust, best for users needing advanced automation and comfortable with a feature-rich interface.

5. MailerLite

Pricing and Value: 5/5 – Affordable pricing, generous free plan, excellent value for money, especially for smaller users.

Features and Functionality: 3.5/5 – Solid features: drag-and-drop editor, automation, segmentation, landing pages, excellent support.

Overall Impression: 4/5 – High-quality experience with simplicity and excellent support at a very competitive price.

6. GetResponse

Pricing and Value: 4/5 – Range of plans, good value for users leveraging its diverse tools beyond email.

Features and Functionality: 4/5 – Comprehensive suite: email marketing, automation, landing pages, webinars, website builder, conversion funnels.

Overall Impression: 4/5 – Solid and high-quality platform offering a broad range of marketing tools.

7. Mailchimp

Pricing and Value: 3.5/5 – Free plan for beginners, paid plans can be pricier for larger lists, good value for ease of use and creative tools.

Features and Functionality: 4/5 – Intuitive interface, strong design tools, robust segmentation, automation, e-commerce integrations.

Overall Impression: 4/5 – Popular and reliable, high-quality for user-friendliness and design, pricing for large lists a consideration.

8. Omnisend

Pricing and Value: 3.5/5 – Tiered pricing, good value for e-commerce businesses needing integrated email, SMS, and other channels.

Features and Functionality: 4/5 – Robust e-commerce features, advanced automation, personalised product recommendations, SMS, push notifications.

Overall Impression: 4/5 – High-quality and increasingly popular for e-commerce businesses seeking omnichannel marketing.

9. Campaign Monitor

Pricing and Value: 4/5 – Cost-effective for smaller lists and lower sending volumes, good value for design focus.

Features and Functionality: 3.5/5 – Excellent email templates, visual journey builder, focus on design, segmentation, personalisation.

Overall Impression: 4/5 – High-quality platform prioritising design and ease of use for potentially lower volume senders.

10. Constant Contact

Pricing and Value: 3.5/5 – Straightforward pricing, good value for event and non-profit specific features and ease of use.

Features and Functionality: 3.5/5 – User-friendly, reliable delivery, good templates, event management tools, social media integration.

Overall Impression: 4/5 – Dependable and high-quality, known for user-friendliness and features tailored to events and non-profits.

Top 10 Email Marketing Software Options: Ranked

Based on our scores above for pricing and value for money, features and functionality, and our overall impression, here’s a ranking of our top 10 email marketing software options for 2025.

1. HubSpot Marketing Hub: While pricier, its unparalleled feature set and seamless integration make it a top contender for businesses needing a comprehensive marketing and sales solution.
2. Brevo: Its strong all-around performance, competitive pricing, and integrated SMS capabilities make it an excellent choice for growing businesses.
3. Klaviyo: Specifically designed for e-commerce, its powerful automation and personalisation features deliver significant value for online stores.
4. ActiveCampaign: A robust platform for users who require advanced automation and CRM-like functionalities.
5. MailerLite: Praised for its affordability, user-friendliness, and excellent support, making it a great value option.
6. GetResponse: A comprehensive platform offering a wide array of marketing tools beyond just email.
7. Mailchimp: A popular and user-friendly choice with strong design capabilities, though pricing for larger lists can be a factor.
8. Omnisend: A strong contender for e-commerce businesses seeking an integrated omnichannel marketing approach.
9. Campaign Monitor: A design-centric platform that’s particularly suitable for lower-volume senders who prioritise aesthetics.
10. Constant Contact: A reliable and user-friendly option, especially well-suited for events and non-profit organisations. 

Keep in mind that the “best” option ultimately depends on your individual needs and priorities. Take a look at our in depth analysis of features and functionality for each of these options. We would also recommend exploring free trials of the platforms that seem like a good fit to experience their features firsthand before making a final decision.

Important Considerations

• Your Specific Needs: This ranking provides a general overview. The ideal software for you will depend on factors like your budget, list size, required features, and technical expertise.
• Feature Prioritisation: If advanced automation is your top priority, ActiveCampaign or HubSpot might rank higher for you. If budget is the primary concern, MailerLite would be a strong contender.
• E-commerce Focus: If you run an online store, Klaviyo and Omnisend are specifically tailored to your needs.
• Ease of Use: For beginners, Mailchimp or Constant Contact might be more appealing due to their user-friendly interfaces.

Making Your Choice

These scores provide a comparative overview to help narrow down your options. Remember to consider your specific requirements and priorities when making your final decision. Factors like your budget, team size, technical skills, and the complexity of your marketing needs will all play a role in determining the best email marketing software for your success. Don’t hesitate to explore free trials to get hands-on experience before committing to a platform.

Email marketing has evolved significantly, from simple newsletters to sophisticated, data-driven campaigns. The tools marketers use have also advanced, with a wide array of software options designed to streamline and enhance email strategies. This article aims to cut through the noise by providing a detailed comparison of ten popular email marketing platforms. We’ll explore the features, functionality, and overall value, empowering you to select the best fit for your business needs.

1. HubSpot Marketing Hub

HubSpot is a proper powerhouse, offering a full suite of marketing, sales, and service tools. Its email marketing functionality is deeply integrated with its CRM, which is a massive plus for businesses already in the HubSpot ecosystem.  

Features and Functionality: HubSpot offers a robust drag-and-drop email builder, personalisation options using CRM data, A/B testing, automation workflows, detailed analytics, and integration with the wider HubSpot platform for lead scoring and management. It’s got all the bells and whistles for sophisticated marketing.  

Rating: 9/10

2. Brevo (formerly Sendinblue)

Brevo is a versatile platform that started with SMS marketing but has grown into a comprehensive marketing communication tool, including email. It’s often seen as a more budget-friendly alternative without skimping too much on features.  

Features and Functionality: Brevo provides a user-friendly email builder, segmentation capabilities, automation features, transactional emails, SMS marketing, and a CRM. Its strength lies in its multi-channel approach and competitive pricing.  

Rating: 8/10

3. Klaviyo

Klaviyo is heavily focused on e-commerce businesses. It offers deep integrations with platforms like Shopify and Magento, allowing for highly personalised email campaigns based on customer behaviour and purchase history.  

Features and Functionality: Klaviyo excels in segmentation based on e-commerce data, automated flows for abandoned carts and post-purchase follow-ups, dynamic content, and detailed analytics specific to online sales.  

Rating: 9/10 (specifically for e-commerce) / 7/10 (for general use)

4. ActiveCampaign

ActiveCampaign is known for its powerful automation capabilities and its focus on providing a personalised customer experience. It’s a favourite among marketers who want intricate and behaviour-driven email sequences.  

Features and Functionality: ActiveCampaign boasts advanced automation builders with branching logic, dynamic content, CRM and sales automation features, segmentation based on various data points, and integrations with numerous other tools.  

Rating: 9/10

5. MailerLite

MailerLite is praised for its simplicity and ease of use, making it a great option for smaller businesses or those new to email marketing. Despite its user-friendly interface, it still packs a decent punch in terms of features.

Features and Functionality: MailerLite offers a drag-and-drop editor, automation workflows, segmentation, landing page builder, pop-up forms, and decent analytics. It balances simplicity with essential functionality.  

Rating: 7/10

6. GetResponse

GetResponse is an all-in-one marketing platform that includes email marketing alongside landing pages, webinars, and conversion funnels. It aims to provide a comprehensive toolkit for online marketing.  

Features and Functionality: GetResponse features an email creator, automation tools, segmentation, landing page builder, webinar hosting, paid ads management, and conversion funnel features. It’s quite a broad offering.  

Rating: 8/10

7. Mailchimp

Mailchimp is one of the most well-known email marketing platforms, particularly popular with small to medium-sized businesses. It offers a good balance of user-friendliness and features.  

Features and Functionality: Mailchimp provides an easy-to-use email builder, segmentation, automation (though more advanced features can be pricier), A/B testing, and integrations with many other platforms. It’s a solid all-rounder.  

Rating: 8/10

8. Omnisend

Omnisend, similar to Klaviyo, focuses on e-commerce and offers multi-channel marketing capabilities, including email, SMS, and push notifications. It aims to provide a unified platform for engaging online shoppers.  

Features and Functionality: Omnisend includes email marketing with a focus on product recommendations, automated workflows for e-commerce scenarios, SMS marketing, push notifications, and integrations with e-commerce platforms.  

Rating: 8/10 (specifically for e-commerce) / 6/10 (for general use)

9. Campaign Monitor

Campaign Monitor is known for its clean interface and focus on providing a professional-looking email marketing experience. It caters to businesses that value design and ease of use.  

Features and Functionality: Campaign Monitor offers a drag-and-drop builder, segmentation, automation, transactional emails, and detailed reporting. It’s particularly strong on design flexibility.  

Rating: 7/10

10. Constant Contact

Constant Contact is another long-standing player in the email marketing space, often recommended for small businesses and non-profits due to its user-friendly interface and helpful support.  

Features and Functionality: Constant Contact provides an easy-to-use email editor, list management tools, basic automation, event management features, and social media integration. It focuses on simplicity and deliverability.  

Rating: 6/10

Email Marketing Software Functionality: Compared

Email marketing software options are vast and varied, but this comparison of ten of the top platforms offers a clear overview of their features.

	HubSpot Marketing Hub	Brevo	Klaviyo	ActiveCampaign	MailerLite	GetResponse	Mailchimp	Omnisend	Campaign Monitor	Constant Contact
Email Builder	Drag-and-drop, customisable templates, visual editor	Drag-and-drop editor, responsive templates, HTML editor	Drag-and-drop, customisable templates, content blocks	Drag-and-drop, conditional content, design testing	Drag-and-drop, rich text editor, custom HTML	Drag-and-drop, ready-made templates, AI email creator	Easy-to-use, flexible layouts, creative tools	Drag-and-drop, product blocks, responsive templates	Drag-and-drop, template management, custom coding	Easy-to-use, mobile-optimised templates, branding tools
Automation	Advanced workflows, branching logic, triggers, lead nurturing	Automation workflows, transactional emails, autoresponders	Flows (abandoned cart, welcome series), behavioural triggers, predictive analytics	Advanced automation, branching logic, goal tracking, CRM automation	Automation workflows, email sequences, triggers	Automation tools, marketing automation, workflow builder	Basic automation, customer journeys, scheduling	E-commerce automation, pre-built workflows, segmentation-based	Automation, triggered emails, autoresponders	Basic automation, automated series, triggered emails
Segmentation	CRM-based, list segmentation, dynamic lists	Segmentation capabilities, contact lists, segmentation rules	E-commerce data, behavioural segmentation, predictive segmentation	Advanced segmentation, tags, custom fields, lead scoring	Segmentation, groups, tags	Segmentation, contact tagging, advanced segmentation	Segmentation, list segmentation, behavioural targeting	E-commerce segmentation, customer lifecycle, RFM analysis	Segmentation, list management, custom fields	List management, contact tagging, list segmentation
Personalisation	CRM data, dynamic content, personalisation tokens	Personalisation, dynamic content, contact attributes	Dynamic content, personalised recommendations, customer-specific data	Dynamic content, conditional content, personalised experiences	Personalisation, dynamic content	Personalisation, dynamic content, AI personalisation	Personalisation, merge tags, dynamic content	Product recommendations, personalised content, dynamic content	Personalisation, dynamic content, custom fields	Personalisation, contact details, dynamic content
A/B Testing	Yes, multivariate testing	Yes, A/B testing	Yes, A/B testing for emails and forms	Yes, A/B testing for emails, subject lines, and content	Yes, A/B testing	Yes, A/B testing	Yes, A/B testing	Yes, A/B testing	Yes, A/B testing	Yes, A/B testing
CRM Integration	Yes, HubSpot CRM	Yes, built-in CRM	Yes	Yes, built-in CRM	No	No	Yes	No	No	No
E-commerce	Yes, e-commerce workflows	Yes, e-commerce tools	Deep integrations with Shopify, Magento, etc.	Yes, e-commerce automation	Yes, e-commerce integrations	Yes, e-commerce tools	Yes, e-commerce integrations	Multi-channel e-commerce features	Yes, e-commerce features	Yes, e-commerce tools
Multi-Channel Marketing	Yes, social media, ads	SMS, Chat, Facebook Ads	SMS	Yes, SMS, site tracking	No	Webinars, Ads, SMS	No	SMS, Push notifications	No	Social media integration
Reporting/Analytics	Detailed reporting, custom reports, revenue tracking	Detailed analytics, campaign reports, delivery statistics	E-commerce specific reporting, revenue attribution, customer insights	Detailed reporting, funnel tracking, goal measurement	Decent reporting, campaign statistics	Detailed reporting, conversion tracking, ROI analysis	Standard reporting, campaign performance, basic analytics	Sales-focused reporting, product performance, customer behaviour	Detailed reporting, campaign performance, client reporting	Basic reporting, tracking, and deliverability
Landing Page Builder	Yes, landing page creation	Yes, landing page creation	No	No	Yes, landing page builder	Yes, landing page builder	Yes, landing page builder	No	No	No
Pricing	High, scalable pricing	Competitive, flexible plans	Mid-high, tiered pricing	Mid-high, feature-based pricing	Low-mid, affordable plans	Mid, tiered plans	Mid, varied plans	Mid-high, e-commerce based	Mid, tiered pricing	Low-mid, simple pricing

Our Top Ten Email Marketing Software Options

Based on the features and functionality discussed, here’s our ranking of the top ten options for email marketing software:

1. HubSpot Marketing Hub (9/10): Top marks for its deep integration, comprehensive features, and powerful automation, especially for businesses already using the HubSpot ecosystem.
2. ActiveCampaign (9/10): Highly rated for its advanced automation capabilities and focus on personalised customer journeys.  
3. Klaviyo (9/10 for e-commerce): Excels in providing e-commerce specific features and deep integrations for online stores.  
4. Brevo (8/10): A strong contender offering a good balance of features and affordability, with a multi-channel approach.
5. GetResponse (8/10): A comprehensive platform with a wide range of marketing tools beyond just email.  
6. Mailchimp (8/10): A popular and user-friendly option with a good set of features and extensive integrations.
7. Omnisend (8/10 for e-commerce): Another excellent choice for e-commerce businesses looking for multi-channel marketing.
8. MailerLite (7/10): A great option for those seeking simplicity and ease of use without sacrificing essential features.
9. Campaign Monitor (7/10): Strong on design and user experience, providing a professional email marketing platform.
10. Constant Contact (6/10): A user-friendly option particularly suited for small businesses and non-profits needing straightforward email marketing. 

Choosing the right platform ultimately depends on your specific business needs, budget, and technical expertise. Whether you prioritise advanced automation, ease of use, e-commerce integration, or budget-friendliness, there is a solution tailored to your needs. We encourage you to leverage the information provided in this article to make an informed decision and unlock the full potential of your email marketing strategy. It’s also a good idea to have a play around with the free trials or demos to see which one feels like the best fit for you.

Choosing the right email marketing software is crucial for any business looking to connect with its audience effectively. However, the sheer number of options and their varying pricing models can be overwhelming. That’s why we’ve taken it upon ourselves to delve into the nitty-gritty of ten popular email marketing platforms – HubSpot Marketing Hub, Brevo, Klaviyo, ActiveCampaign, MailerLite, GetResponse, Mailchimp, Omnisend, Campaign Monitor, and Constant Contact – to give you our honest opinion on whether they’re worth the money. We’ll be looking at their starting prices, offering our take on their value for money, and rating each out of ten to help you make a sensible choice.

1. HubSpot Marketing Hub

From Price: Free plan available with limited features; paid plans start from around £17 per month (Starter tier, billed annually).

Value for Money: HubSpot’s strength lies in its comprehensive suite of marketing tools, of which email marketing is just one component. The free plan is excellent for basic needs. However, the paid tiers can become quite expensive as you scale and require more advanced features and a larger contact list. For businesses already heavily invested in the HubSpot ecosystem, the integration is seamless. For those solely focused on email, the cost might feel a bit steep compared to more specialised platforms.

Value for Money Rating: 6/10

2. Brevo (formerly Sendinblue)

From Price: Free plan with transactional email limits and Brevo branding; paid plans start from around £19 per month (Starter tier, billed monthly).

Value for Money: Brevo offers a good balance of features at a competitive price point, especially for businesses that also require SMS marketing and transactional emails. Their pricing is often based on the number of emails sent rather than the number of contacts, which can be advantageous for certain businesses. The free plan is quite generous for those just starting out.

Value for Money Rating: 8/10

3. Klaviyo

From Price: Free plan for up to 250 contacts and 500 email sends; paid plans start from around £17 per month (Email Starter tier, billed monthly, for up to 500 contacts).

Value for Money: Klaviyo is particularly powerful for e-commerce businesses due to its deep integrations with platforms like Shopify. Its segmentation and automation capabilities are highly advanced, allowing for very personalised campaigns. However, it can be one of the more expensive options, especially as your contact list grows. If you run an online shop and need sophisticated customer journey automation, it’s likely worth the investment.

Value for Money Rating: 7/10 (specifically for e-commerce) / 5/10 (for general use)

4. ActiveCampaign

From Price: Lite plan starts from around £24 per month (billed monthly, for up to 1,000 contacts).

Value for Money: ActiveCampaign is known for its robust automation features and CRM capabilities. It offers a wide range of tools for segmentation, personalisation, and complex workflows. While the starting price is a bit higher than some competitors, the depth of features can provide significant value for businesses looking to automate their marketing efforts extensively.

Value for Money Rating: 8/10 (for businesses needing advanced automation) / 6/10 (for basic email needs)

5. MailerLite

From Price: Free plan for up to 1,000 subscribers and 12,000 monthly emails; paid plans start from around £9 per month (billed monthly, for up to 1,000 subscribers).

Value for Money: MailerLite is often praised for its user-friendly interface and affordable pricing, particularly for small to medium-sized businesses. It offers a good set of features without the complexity of some of the more expensive platforms. The free plan is quite generous, making it an attractive option for those on a tight budget.

Value for Money Rating: 9/10

6. GetResponse

From Price: Email Marketing plan starts from around £14 per month (billed monthly, for up to 1,000 contacts).

Value for Money: GetResponse offers a solid all-in-one marketing platform with email marketing, landing pages, webinars, and automation tools. Its pricing is competitive, and it provides a good range of features for the cost. It’s a versatile option for businesses looking for more than just email marketing.

Value for Money Rating: 7/10

7. Mailchimp

From Price: Free plan with limited features for up to 500 contacts and 1,000 monthly email sends; Essentials plan starts from around £11 per month (billed monthly, for up to 500 contacts).

Value for Money: Mailchimp is a well-established player in the email marketing space, known for its user-friendly interface and creative tools. While the free plan is a good starting point, the paid plans can become relatively expensive as your contact list grows, especially with the increase in per-contact pricing. Other platforms now offer more competitive pricing structures for larger lists.

Value for Money Rating: 6/10

8. Omnisend

From Price: Free plan with limited features; Standard plan starts from around £13 per month (billed monthly, based on contacts and email volume).

Value for Money: Omnisend is tailored for e-commerce, offering strong automation and segmentation capabilities, particularly for multi-channel marketing (email, SMS, push notifications). Its pricing scales based on both contacts and the number of emails sent, which can be beneficial for some. If you’re focused on e-commerce and want robust multi-channel features, it offers good value.

Value for Money Rating: 8/10 (specifically for e-commerce with multi-channel needs) / 6/10 (for basic email needs)

9. Campaign Monitor

From Price: Basic plan starts from around £7 per month (billed monthly, for up to 500 contacts and 2,500 email sends).

Value for Money: Campaign Monitor is known for its focus on design and ease of use, making it a good option for those who prioritise visually appealing emails. While the starting price seems low, the cost can increase relatively quickly as you add more subscribers and require more advanced features. It offers a solid platform but might not be the most budget-friendly for large lists with complex automation needs.

Value for Money Rating: 7/10

10. Constant Contact

From Price: Standard plan starts from around £17 per month (billed monthly, for up to 500 contacts).

Value for Money: Constant Contact is a user-friendly platform with a strong emphasis on customer support. It offers a good range of features for small businesses. However, its pricing can be on the higher side compared to some competitors, especially as your contact list grows. While it’s easy to use, you might find more feature-rich or cost-effective options elsewhere.

Value for Money Rating: 6/10

Email Marketing Pricing: A Comparison of the Top 10 Platforms

The below pricing comparison table includes a clear side-by-side view of the starting costs and our value-for-money ratings for each of the email marketing platforms we’ve discussed.

	From Price (Approx)	Value for Money	Value for Money Rating
HubSpot Marketing Hub	£17/month (Starter)	Excellent free plan, but paid tiers can become expensive, especially for email-only focus. Best for those already in the HubSpot ecosystem.	6/10
Brevo	£19/month (Starter)	Good balance of features at a competitive price, especially for SMS and transactional emails. Pricing based on emails sent can be advantageous.	8/10
Klaviyo	£17/month (Email Starter)	Powerful for e-commerce with advanced segmentation and automation. Can be pricey as list grows. High value for online shops.	7/10 (e-commerce) / 5/10 (general)
ActiveCampaign	£24/month (Lite)	Robust automation and CRM capabilities. Higher starting price, but valuable for extensive automation needs.	8/10 (advanced automation) / 6/10 (basic)
MailerLite	£9/month	User-friendly and affordable, especially for small to medium businesses. Generous free plan.	9/10
GetResponse	£14/month (Email Marketing)	Solid all-in-one platform with email, landing pages, webinars, and automation at a competitive price.	7/10
Mailchimp	£11/month (Essentials)	User-friendly interface and creative tools. Paid plans can become expensive as contact list grows.	6/10
Omnisend	£13/month (Standard)	Tailored for e-commerce with strong multi-channel capabilities. Pricing scales on contacts and email volume. Good value for relevant users.	8/10 (e-commerce multi-channel) / 6/10 (basic)
Campaign Monitor	£7/month (Basic)	Focus on design and ease of use. Cost can increase quickly with more subscribers and advanced features.	7/10
Constant Contact	£17/month (Standard)	User-friendly with strong customer support. Can be pricier than competitors, especially for larger lists.	6/10

Things to note:

• All “From Prices” are approximate starting prices for the lowest-tier paid plan and are often based on monthly billing for a specific number of contacts or email sends. These can vary depending on the exact plan, contract length (monthly vs. annual), and the number of contacts you have.
• The “Value for Money Rating” is our subjective opinion based on the features offered at the starting price point and how it compares to competitors. Your individual assessment may differ based on your specific needs and priorities.
• It’s always recommended to check the latest pricing and features directly on each software provider’s website as they can change. Many offer free trials or more detailed pricing pages based on your specific requirements.

Top Ten Email Marketing Platforms: Our Value for Money Ranking

Based on our assessment, here’s a ranking of the email marketing software based on their value for money (highest to lowest rated):

1. MailerLite (9/10): Offers a generous free plan and affordable paid plans with a good balance of features.
2. Brevo (8/10): Competitive pricing, especially for businesses needing SMS and transactional emails.  
3. ActiveCampaign (8/10 for advanced automation): Powerful automation capabilities justify the higher starting price for users who need them.
4. Omnisend (8/10 for e-commerce with multi-channel): Strong e-commerce focus with multi-channel features at a reasonable price for relevant users.
5. GetResponse (7/10): A versatile all-in-one platform with competitive pricing.
6. Klaviyo (7/10 for e-commerce): Excellent for e-commerce with advanced segmentation and automation, but can be pricey.
7. Campaign Monitor (7/10): Focus on design and ease of use, but can become costly with scale.
8. HubSpot Marketing Hub (6/10): Excellent free plan and integrated marketing suite, but paid plans can be expensive for email-focused users.
9. Mailchimp (6/10): User-friendly but can become expensive as your list grows.
10. Constant Contact (6/10): Easy to use with good support, but pricier than some alternatives.

As you can see, the “best” value for money isn’t a one-size-fits-all affair. MailerLite and Brevo really stand out for those keeping a close eye on the budget, offering a decent chunk of features without breaking the bank. For businesses with more specific needs, like advanced automation (ActiveCampaign) or a strong focus on e-commerce (Klaviyo and Omnisend), the slightly higher price tags might well be justified. Established players like Mailchimp and Constant Contact, while user-friendly, might not offer the same level of value for money as some of their more competitively priced counterparts, particularly as your subscriber list grows. 

Ultimately, the platform that offers the best value for your business will depend on your unique requirements, the complexity of your marketing strategy, and, of course, how much you’re willing to spend. We hope this breakdown has given you a clearer picture and helps you make a decision that’s right for your business.