A straight guide to email marketing pricing in 2026
Most email tools bill by subscriber count and send volume, so your monthly cost climbs as your list grows. As of 2026, expect a free tier up to roughly 500 to 2,500 subscribers, then $9 to $30 per month at 1,000 contacts, scaling to $50 to $150 at 10,000. Beehiiv is the best overall value for creators because its free plan is genuinely usable and paid pricing does not punish list growth as hard as most rivals.
Beehiiv
Beehiiv gives you the most usable free tier in the category, covering up to 2,500 subscribers with unlimited sends, which is rare. Paid pricing is subscriber-based but flatter than most rivals, so a 10,000-subscriber list runs around $99/mo on the Scale plan rather than doubling every tier. The catch is that the referral program, website builder polish, and ad network access are gated to higher plans, so the free tier feels limited once you want to monetize.
Try Beehiiv free →| # | Tool | Best for | Free plan | From | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Beehiiv | Creators & newsletter growth | Up to 2,500 subscribers | ~$39/mo (Scale, billed yearly) | Try free |
| 2 | AWeber | Small businesses & solopreneurs | Up to 500 subscribers | ~$15/mo (Lite, billed yearly) | Try free |
| 3 | MailerLite | Budget-conscious lists | Up to 1,000 subscribers | ~$10/mo (Growing Business) | Try free |
| 4 | ConvertKit (Kit) | Established creators who automate | Up to 10,000 subscribers | ~$25/mo (Creator, at 1,000 subs) | Try free |
| 5 | Mailchimp | Businesses wanting all-in-one marketing | Up to 500 contacts | ~$13/mo (Essentials, at 500 contacts) | Try free |
| 6 | Substack | Paid newsletters, zero upfront cost | Unlimited subscribers (free sends) | 10% of paid revenue | Try free |
Beehiiv
Creators & newsletter growthBeehiiv gives you the most usable free tier in the category, covering up to 2,500 subscribers with unlimited sends, which is rare. Paid pricing is subscriber-based but flatter than most rivals, so a 10,000-subscriber list runs around $99/mo on the Scale plan rather than doubling every tier. The catch is that the referral program, website builder polish, and ad network access are gated to higher plans, so the free tier feels limited once you want to monetize.
Pros
- Free plan supports up to 2,500 subscribers with no send caps
- Built-in referral program and paid subscriptions for monetization
- Analytics and growth tools aimed squarely at publishers
Cons
- Automation is basic compared to dedicated email platforms
- Best monetization features require the pricier Scale or Max tiers
AWeber
Small businesses & solopreneursAWeber has quietly served small businesses for over two decades, and its pricing rewards that focus. The free plan covers 500 subscribers with a single automation, and the Lite plan starts around $15/mo billed annually. Its strength is reliable autoresponders and landing pages without a learning curve, though the interface shows its age and advanced segmentation lags behind newer tools.
Pros
- Genuinely simple for non-technical small-business owners
- Solid autoresponder sequences and landing pages included
- Responsive live support even on lower tiers
Cons
- Interface and templates feel dated next to newer platforms
- Free plan adds an AWeber footer to your emails
MailerLite
Budget-conscious listsMailerLite is the value pick for people who want proper automation without paying agency prices. The free plan handles 1,000 subscribers and 12,000 monthly sends, and the paid plan starts near $10/mo for the same 1,000 contacts with unlimited sends. The drag-and-drop editor is clean, but the free tier withholds some templates and the approval process for new accounts can be strict.
Pros
- Cheapest entry to real automation and segmentation
- Clean editor and reliable deliverability
- Free plan allows 1,000 subscribers and 12,000 sends/mo
Cons
- Manual account approval can delay or reject new signups
- Some templates and features locked behind paid tiers
ConvertKit (Kit)
Established creators who automateKit (formerly ConvertKit) has the most generous free subscriber ceiling at 10,000, though the free tier strips out automations and integrations. Paid pricing starts around $25/mo at 1,000 subscribers and climbs to roughly $100/mo at 10,000, so it gets expensive on larger lists. Its tag-based automation and creator commerce features are excellent, which is why serious course sellers and authors stay.
Pros
- Free plan up to 10,000 subscribers for basic sending
- Powerful tag-based automation and visual sequences
- Strong creator commerce and paid recommendations network
Cons
- Pricing scales steeply on larger lists
- No live chat support on lower tiers
Frequently asked questions
How is email marketing priced in 2026?
Almost every platform charges by subscriber count and monthly send volume. A 1,000-subscriber list typically costs $9 to $30 per month, rising to $50 to $150 at 10,000 subscribers. Substack is the exception, taking 10% of paid revenue instead of a flat fee.
Which email tools have a genuinely useful free plan?
Beehiiv leads with up to 2,500 subscribers and unlimited sends. MailerLite covers 1,000 subscribers with 12,000 monthly sends, and Kit allows 10,000 subscribers on a stripped-down free tier. Mailchimp and AWeber both cap their free plans at 500 contacts.
Is it hard to migrate my list to a new provider?
Moving subscribers is straightforward since every tool imports a CSV export. The harder part is rebuilding automations, tags, and templates, which do not transfer between platforms. Budget a weekend to recreate sequences, and send a re-engagement email after migrating to protect deliverability.
Which tool is cheapest for a large list?
For lists above 10,000, Beehiiv's flatter Scale pricing (around $99/mo) usually beats Kit and Mailchimp, which climb steeply. MailerLite also stays competitive on price. Substack looks free but its 10% revenue cut becomes the most expensive option once you have significant paid subscribers.
Which is best for a small business versus a creator?
Small businesses that rely on autoresponders and landing pages get the best value from AWeber or MailerLite. Creators and newsletter publishers who want growth and monetization tools should choose Beehiiv, or Kit if they need advanced tag-based automation.
Which one should you pick?
If you are a creator or newsletter publisher, start on Beehiiv's free plan and upgrade only when you need paid subscriptions or referral tools. Small businesses that lean on autoresponders and simple automation will spend less over time on AWeber or MailerLite. Avoid tools that jump price tiers steeply unless you have a real revenue reason to be there.
Some links above are affiliate links. If you sign up through them we may earn a commission, at no cost to you. We only recommend tools we would use ourselves, and commissions never change our rankings.