Email Marketing & Automation
Five platforms for sending newsletters, automating follow-ups, and managing a subscriber list — Mailchimp, Kit, ActiveCampaign, Brevo, and GetResponse — each built around a different priority: breadth, creators, automation depth, value pricing, or an all-in-one suite. We've reviewed all five, plus how they stack up against each other.
What this category covers
Mailchimp is the category's oldest and most widely-integrated name — broad features, a huge template library, and contact-based pricing that climbs with list size. Kit (formerly ConvertKit) narrows the focus to creators and newsletter writers, with by far the most generous free tier of the five. Active Campaign goes furthest into genuine CRM-style automation — lead scoring, attribution, predictive content — at the highest starting price. Brevo (formerly Sendinblue) flips the pricing model entirely, charging by monthly email volume instead of contact count. GetResponse bundles webinars, a course creator, and a website builder alongside email, aiming to replace several separate subscriptions with one.
Pricing at a glance
| Tool | Entry paid tier | Free plan | Best for |
|---|---|---|---|
| Mailchimp | From $13/mo (Essentials) | Yes — up to 250 contacts | Broadest features, most integrations |
| Kit | From $33/mo (Creator) | Yes — up to 10,000 subscribers | Solo creators, newsletter writers |
| ActiveCampaign | From $19/mo (Starter, 1,000 contacts) | No — trial only | Deepest CRM-style automation |
| Brevo | From $20/mo (Starter, 5,000 emails/mo) | Yes — unlimited contacts, 300 emails/day | Large lists emailed infrequently |
| GetResponse | From $19/mo (Starter, unlimited sends) | No — trial only | All-in-one: webinars, courses, website builder |
Figures verified directly on each vendor's official pricing page in September 2026, at each plan's lowest tier — except ActiveCampaign, whose own page shows no static table and returns a quote dynamically by contact count; its figures here are cross-checked across independent pricing trackers instead, so treat them as a close estimate (see the ActiveCampaign review for the full caveat). Four of the five price by contact-list size or email volume on a sliding scale that rises as you grow — check each review for the full breakdown. We found no general affiliate program run directly by Mailchimp; Kit, ActiveCampaign, Brevo, and GetResponse all run real programs we've applied to but not yet been approved for.
Browse the reviews
Mailchimp
The most recognized name in the category — broad features and the biggest integration ecosystem.
Read the reviewKit
Built for creators, with a free plan that goes all the way to 10,000 subscribers.
Read the reviewActiveCampaign
The deepest CRM-style automation and attribution tracking in this category.
Read the reviewBrevo
Prices by email volume, not contact count — a real structural difference worth understanding.
Read the reviewGetResponse
Bundles webinars, a course creator, and a website builder alongside email marketing.
Read the reviewHead-to-head comparisons
Mailchimp vs Kit
All-in-one breadth versus creator-first simplicity and a far more generous free tier.
Read the comparisonActiveCampaign vs Brevo
CRM-style automation depth versus send-based value pricing for large, infrequently-emailed lists.
Read the comparisonGetResponse vs Kit
A bundled all-in-one marketing suite versus a simpler, creator-focused specialist.
Read the comparisonFrequently asked questions
Which is best for a solo creator just starting out?
Kit, generally — its free plan covers up to 10,000 subscribers with unlimited broadcasts and native digital-product sales, further than any other tool here before you pay anything.
Which is cheapest for a large list?
It depends on how often you email it. Brevo's send-based pricing usually wins for a large, infrequently-emailed list; a contact-based tool may cost less if you email a smaller list very often.
Which has the deepest marketing automation?
ActiveCampaign — lead scoring, attribution tracking, and predictive/conditional content go further than any other tool in this category, at the highest starting price.
Our take
Start with what you're actually optimizing for. If it's the broadest feature set and integrations, Mailchimp wins. If it's a generous free start as a solo creator, Kit is the clear pick. If it's automation depth, ActiveCampaign goes furthest — and if it's value pricing on a large list you don't email constantly, Brevo's send-based model is built for exactly that. If you'd rather consolidate webinars and course tools into one bill, GetResponse does the most outside of email itself. Full detail in our Mailchimp review, Kit review, ActiveCampaign review, Brevo review, GetResponse review, and the three head-to-head comparisons above.
Sources: pricing cross-checked against our own Mailchimp review, Kit review, ActiveCampaign review, Brevo review, and GetResponse review, each verified directly on the vendor's official pricing page in September 2026.