Best for creators
Kit (ConvertKit)
Free up to 10,000 subscribers; strong automations and digital product sales.
- Category
- Email marketing
- Free plan
- Yes
- Paid from
- $39/mo
- Billed yearly
- $32.50/mo
We may earn a commission from links on this page, at no extra cost to you. It never changes our picks. How we make money.
Mailchimp’s prices rise quickly as your list grows. These alternatives offer bigger free plans or features built for creators and newsletters.
Best for creators
Free up to 10,000 subscribers; strong automations and digital product sales.
Best for newsletters
Free up to 2,500 subscribers; growth and monetization tools.
Best for businesses that need a CRM
Free CRM plus email that scales into full marketing automation.
Best for online stores
Ecommerce data and flows that drive revenue.
Best automations
From $15/mo for 1,000 contacts.
Easiest with phone support
Simple tools and real people to call.
| Tool | Our rating | Category | Free plan | Paid from | Year 1 (cheapest paid) |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Kit (ConvertKit) | 4.4/5 | Email marketing | Yes | $39/mo | $390 |
| beehiiv | 4.5/5 | Email marketing | Yes | $49/mo | $516 |
| HubSpot | 4.4/5 | Productivity & CRM | Yes | $20/mo | $180 |
| Klaviyo | 4.4/5 | Email marketing | Yes | $20/mo | $240 |
| ActiveCampaign | 4.4/5 | Email marketing | No | $15/mo | $180 |
| Constant Contact | 4.2/5 | Email marketing | No | $12/mo | $122 |
Checked Oct 10, 2026. Details change: confirm on the provider’s site.
MailerLite and Brevo are popular budget-friendly email tools with generous free tiers; check current limits on their sites.
Compare head to head: Kit vs Mailchimp, beehiiv vs Mailchimp and beehiiv vs Kit, Klaviyo vs Mailchimp, ActiveCampaign vs Mailchimp and Constant Contact vs Mailchimp. See the best email marketing platforms.
Know a tool that belongs on this list? Tell us which one and why. The first good one goes right here.