Introduction to Email Marketing Tools
Email marketing remains one of the most effective ways to reach customers, promote offers, and drive sales. For years, Mailchimp has been the go-to choice for businesses and creators thanks to its ease of use and strong brand reputation.
However, after several changes to pricing and free plan limits, many users are now exploring other platforms.
Modern email marketing tools combine automation, analytics, and CRM features to help businesses save time and communicate more effectively. The best tools come with a drag-and-drop email builder, SMS capabilities, and an affordable paid plan — ideal for small businesses or startups.
Let’s look at the key features of today’s leading Mailchimp alternatives and what makes them worth considering.
Features of the Best Mailchimp Alternatives
The strongest competitors offer advanced automation, unlimited emails, and online store integrations.
Here’s what to look for when choosing your next platform:
- Ease of use: an intuitive interface that makes campaign creation simple.
- Automation: powerful workflows that respond to subscriber actions.
- Segmentation: the ability to target audiences based on behaviour or purchase history.
- Design tools: customisable templates, landing pages, and sign-up forms.
- Contact management: smart systems that prevent duplicate contacts.
- Multi-channel marketing: integration with SMS, WhatsApp, or social ads.
- Analytics: detailed reporting to help you measure and improve performance.
These features help brands send smarter campaigns and maintain stronger relationships with their subscribers.
Email Marketing for Online Stores
Online retailers need platforms tailored to online store automation. The best tools provide:
- Abandoned cart reminders
- Order confirmations and shipping updates
- Product recommendations and discount codes
- Revenue tracking and sales attribution
A great Mailchimp alternative for online businesses should integrate with platforms like Shopify, WooCommerce, or BigCommerce, and include advanced analytics to measure conversions and lifetime value.
Email marketing for retailers isn’t just about sending offers — it’s about building trust and driving repeat sales through relevant, well-timed messages.
Free Plans and Pricing Options
A generous free plan is essential if you’re just getting started. It lets you test a tool before committing to a paid plan.
Most leading services offer flexible pricing and free trials. Common starting points include:
- MailerLite – free for up to 1,000 subscribers
- Brevo (Sendinblue) – free plan with 300 daily emails
- Moosend – free 30-day trial with all features
- Omnisend – free tier for small stores
- Beehiiv – free up to 2,500 subscribers
When upgrading, look for plans around $9–$20/month that include automation, segmentation, and custom branding.
The best email marketing tools balance cost, flexibility, and responsive support.
Advanced Automation and Workflows
Automation is where modern platforms shine.
With the right software, you can:
- Trigger emails when someone subscribes, clicks a link, or buys a product
- Build multi-step sequences to nurture leads or re-engage customers
- Use conditional logic (if/then rules) for personalisation
- Combine email, SMS, and on-site messages in one flow
Platforms like ActiveCampaign and GetResponse lead the way in automation depth, helping businesses scale without manual effort.
Marketing Campaigns and Templates
Good design plays a major role in engagement.
Look for services that include:
- Drag-and-drop builders for easy editing
- Mobile-friendly templates for any device
- Landing page and signup form builders
- A/B testing tools for subject lines and layouts
MailerLite and Moosend both excel here, offering modern layouts that make newsletters feel fresh and on brand.
Migration Made Easy
Switching from Mailchimp can seem daunting, but most modern platforms make it simple.
The best ones offer:
- One-click imports for contacts, templates, and automations
- Clear migration guides and live chat help
- Assisted migration for larger accounts
Choosing a service with smooth migration support — such as Moosend’s Mailchimp Synchroniser — helps you avoid downtime and keep campaigns running without disruption.
Leading Alternatives to Mailchimp
| Platform | Starting price | Standout feature | Review link |
|---|---|---|---|
| MailerLite | $10/month | Clean design, easy automation, generous free plan | Read full review |
| Brevo (Sendinblue) | $9/month | Pay-per-email model, includes SMS | Read comparison |
| Omnisend | $16/month | Built for online stores | See analysis |
| GetResponse | $19/month | Funnels, webinars, and AI tools | Full review |
| Moosend | $9/month | Great value, unlimited emails | Feature breakdown |
| ActiveCampaign | $19/month | Powerful automation and CRM | Comparison article |
| EngageBay | $12.99/month | All-in-one CRM + marketing suite | Read more |
| Zoho Campaigns | $5/month | Deep automation, Zoho ecosystem | Read comparison |
| HubSpot | from $20/month | Full CRM and marketing automation | Full review |
How They Compare with Mailchimp
Mailchimp remains beginner-friendly but limits free users to 500 contacts and 1,000 monthly emails.
By contrast:
- MailerLite offers a bigger free tier and better landing pages.
- Brevo gives unlimited contacts and SMS marketing.
- Moosend is cheaper for high volumes.
- ActiveCampaign provides far stronger automation.
- GetResponse includes funnels and webinars.
- Omnisend is best for online store integrations.
- Beehiiv lets newsletter creators monetise easily.
Read our dedicated comparisons:
- MailerLite vs Mailchimp
- ActiveCampaign vs Mailchimp
- GetResponse vs Mailchimp
- Brevo vs Mailchimp
- Omnisend vs Mailchimp
Conclusion
Email marketing continues to be one of the most cost-effective ways to grow your audience and drive sales.
The best Mailchimp alternatives now offer richer automation, stronger analytics, and more flexible pricing — without losing the simplicity Mailchimp is known for.
Whether you’re a small business, an online retailer, or a content creator, the right platform can make your campaigns more personal, more consistent, and far more profitable.
Start with a free plan or trial, explore the automation tools, and see which one fits your goals.