You start what looks like a cheap email marketing service with a free plan.
Everything’s great, then suddenly you hit:
- 1,000…
- 2,000…
- 5,000 subscribers…
- and your “affordable” tool hits you with a fat price jump.
Now you’re stuck choosing between overpaying or downgrading what worked.
This guide is for people who want to grow without getting punished for it.
Whether you’re a founder, creator, or marketer trying to squeeze the most out of every dollar, we’ve broken down the best cheap email marketing tools that actually deliver.
Not stripped-down features. Real features. Real automation. Real results.
TLDR: Cheap Email Marketing Software
- Encharge,
from $79/month:Best bang for your buck even though it’s in the higher range (feature-to-dollar ratio)- MailerLite,
from $25/month: Great for creators and design- Sender,
from $14/month: Solid pick for email + SMS on a budget- Moosend,
from $24/month: Good automation at low cost- EmailOctopus,
from $18/month: Simple and beginner-friendly- Brevo,
from $9/month: Cheap start, but upsells later- Omnisend,
from $44/month: Ideal for ecommerce + SMS- Mailchimp,
from $13/month: Well-known, but pricey as you grow
In a rush? Above’s the quick answer.
But if you’re serious about picking the right tool for growth, keep reading — the full breakdown below covers features, pricing limits, and which platform fits your goals best.
Contents
Listed: 7 Cheapest Email Marketing Services & Tools
Currently, these are the top 3 cheapest email marketing services: Encharge, Brevo and MailerLite.
Let’s start breaking down each service.
1. Encharge: The best cheap email marketing service
- Free Trial: 14 days
- Paid Plans: Start at $79/month
- G2 Rating: 4.7/5 ⭐️ (320+ reviews)
- Best For: Teams who want serious automation without hiring marketers
Encharge isn’t the cheapest on paper — but the value per dollar is unmatched.
You’re not just sending emails. You’re running onboarding, activation, upsells, and reactivation without duct-taping five tools together.
For teams who want to move fast without spending hours inside clunky dashboards, Encharge replaces your email tool, your workflow builder, your CRM sync, and your segmentation logic — in one place.
Encharge’s features included at low cost:
- Full visual automation builder (no-code)
- Behavior-based email sequences (user actions, Stripe payments, and more)
- Native integrations with CRMs, support tools, and analytics
- Dynamic personalization and tagging
- Lead scoring + segmentation without limits
- Team collaboration and user timelines
Why Encharge is an affordable email marketing tool: You get enterprise-grade automation at a price solo founders and small teams can still justify. No hidden upgrade traps, no “pay to unlock triggers” nonsense.
The workflows that actually drive revenue? They’re included from day one.
Who should use Encharge: SaaS founders, product-led teams, and startups who want serious lifecycle automation without hiring a full marketing team.
If you’re done wasting time stitching tools together — and just want something that does the job right for onboarding, activation, and retention — Encharge is for you.
Encharge’s pricing:
- Growth Plan: $79/month (yearly) – Supports 2,000 contacts, unlimited email flows, and full live chat support.
- Premium Plan: $129/month (yearly) – Adds deep integrations like HubSpot and Salesforce.
- Enterprise Plan: Custom – For large teams with advanced needs.
➡️ Unlike most tools, you get full automation features right from the first plan.
➡️ No contact-based overcharges — predictable pricing as you grow.
➡️ Designed for B2B and B2C, so you don’t pay for features you won’t use.
2. Brevo
- Free Plan: Up to 300 emails/day, unlimited contacts
- Paid Plans: Start at $9/month for 5,000 emails
- Our Rating: ⭐️ 4.4/5
- Best For: Small businesses that want email + SMS without paying much
Brevo is one of the cheapest email marketing tools on the market — and for basic email campaigns, it gets the job done. You get email, SMS, forms, and automation in one place, with a generous free plan to get started.
But once you need more than newsletters or basic automations, you’ll start to feel the limits. It’s built for volume, not customization — and it lacks the behavioral logic most teams depend on.
Brevo’s features included at low cost:
- Email + SMS campaigns in one dashboard
- Drag-and-drop email editor
- Simple automation workflows (if/then rules)
- Unlimited contact storage even on free plan
- Basic segmentation + personalization
- Signup forms and landing pages
Why Brevo is an affordable email marketing tool: You can send thousands of emails for the price of lunch. It’s one of the few platforms that gives you unlimited contacts on the free plan — a big win for list-heavy businesses.
Who should use Brevo: Brevo is ideal for small businesses and freelancers who just need to send emails and SMS affordably — and don’t want to overthink automation. If your needs are simple and your list is growing, it’s a great starting point.
Brevo’s cost:
- Free Plan: $0/month – Up to 300 emails/day, with basic features like templates, drag-and-drop editor, and SMS campaigns.
- Starter Plan: From $9/month – Starts at 5,000 emails/month, removes daily send limits, but removing Brevo branding costs extra.
- Business Plan: From $18/month – Adds marketing automation, predictive send times, landing pages, and basic A/B testing.
- Enterprise Plan: Custom – Includes sub-account management, advanced integrations, and personalized support.
Pricing starts low, but key features like automation and advanced reports are locked behind the Business tier.
Removing the Brevo logo or adding extra users? That’ll cost extra too.
3. MailerLite
- Free Plan: Up to 1,000 subscribers, 12,000 emails/month
- Paid Plans: Start at $10/month
- Our Rating: ⭐️ 4.5/5
- Best For: Beginners and small teams who want clean, no-fuss email tools
MailerLite keeps things simple — and that’s its edge.
You get clean design, automation, landing pages, and forms with almost no learning curve. The UI is beginner-friendly, and it doesn’t overload you with extras you’ll never use.
It’s not built for complex user journeys or product triggers, but if you’re sending newsletters, launching campaigns, or warming up a new list — it’ll take you far without draining your budget.
MailerLite’s features included at low cost:
- Email campaigns + visual editor
- Basic automation builder (triggers and actions)
- Forms, popups, and landing pages
- Subscriber tagging and segmentation
- Built-in analytics + A/B testing
- Drag-and-drop templates for email and web
Why MailerLite is an affordable email marketing tool: You get serious mileage on the free plan, and upgrades are cheap. Even at $10/month, you unlock automations, landing pages, and a pro-looking experience — without feeling like you’re using a stripped-down demo.
Who should use MailerLite: Creators, small teams, and early-stage startups looking for a simple, affordable email platform that looks clean and just works. If you’re sending campaigns, building landing pages, or starting automation for the first time — it’s a solid pick.
MailerLite’s pricing:
- Free Plan: $0/month – For up to 1,000 subscribers, 12,000 emails/month, automation, forms, and 10 landing pages.
- Growing Business Plan: $25/month (2,500 subscribers) – Unlimited emails, dynamic content, multivariate testing, and digital product selling.
- Advanced Plan: $40/month – Adds smart sending, Facebook integration, enhanced automations, custom HTML, and more personalization tools.
- Enterprise Plan: Custom – For businesses with 100K+ subscribers.
MailerLite gives a lot upfront, but more advanced tools like pop-ups, preference centers, and smart sending only come with the Advanced tier.
It’s affordable, but scaling may need a plan upgrade.
4. Moosend
- Free Trial: 30 days (full access)
- Paid Plans: Start at $9/month for 500 subscribers
- Our Rating: ⭐️ 4.5/5
- Best For: Small teams who want advanced automations on a tight budget
Moosend quietly delivers a ton of value for the price. You get email marketing, behavior-based automation, personalization, and a big template library — all in one clean package that feels way more premium than the price suggests.
It’s not the most modern UI and it’s not built specifically for SaaS, but if you need smart automation for cheap — it punches well above its price.
Moosend’s cheapest features:
- Full automation builder with advanced logic
- Email sequences triggered by behavior or time
- Dynamic content and personalization tools
- Rich template library + drag-and-drop editor
- Real-time reporting and heatmaps
- Website + product tracking (great for ecommerce)
Why Moosend is an affordable email marketing tool: You’re getting access to features that usually cost $50+/month — like conditional flows, advanced segmentation, and triggered campaigns — for under $10.
Great for squeezing the most power out of a lean budget!
Who should use Moosend: Bootstrapped startups, ecommerce stores, and digital marketers who want advanced automation without paying premium prices.If you’ve outgrown basic tools but don’t want to drop $50+ a month — Moosend fits the gap perfectly.
Moosend pricing:
- Pro Plan: Starts at $24/month (2,000 contacts) – Includes unlimited emails, automation, landing pages, forms, and transactional emails.
- Moosend+: Custom pricing – Lets you build a plan with just the features you need.
- Enterprise Plan: Custom pricing – Adds account manager, SSO, custom reports, team access, and deliverability strategy support.
Moosend is priced competitively, especially at lower contact volumes. But features like priority support and reporting tools are locked behind custom or enterprise setups.
Good entry value, but scaling means moving up.
5. Sender
- Free Plan: Up to 2,500 subscribers, 15,000 emails/month
- Paid Plans: Start at $19/month
- Our Rating: ⭐️ 4.4/5
- Best For: Content creators and online stores sending lots of emails for cheap
Sender gives you a ton of volume for free — more emails and subscribers than most other platforms at this price point. It includes email automation, transactional emails, and solid analytics, without overwhelming you with features you won’t touch.
It’s not built for deep user journeys or product events, but if you’re sending campaigns, welcome emails, or newsletters at scale — it keeps things lean and affordable.
Sender’s features included at low cost:
- Email automation and scheduling
- Transactional email support (rare at this price)
- Simple workflows with triggers and actions
- Drag-and-drop email builder
- Subscriber tagging + segmentation
- Campaign and engagement reports
Why Sender is an affordable email marketing tool: Most free plans cap you at 1,000 contacts — Sender gives you 2,500. And even the paid plans feel like they’re priced 3 years behind the competition.
Who should use Sender: Perfect for ecommerce brands, bloggers, and content creators who care more about reach than ultra-targeted workflows. If you want to send a lot of emails without spending a lot — this is one of the best deals out there.
Sender’s pricing:
- Free Plan: $0/month – Up to 2,500 subscribers and 15,000 emails/month. Includes automation, templates, and signup forms, but shows Sender branding.
- Standard Plan: $13.30/month (billed yearly) – Removes branding, adds SMS, and supports 30K emails/month with multi-user access.
- Professional Plan: $24.50/month – Includes advanced automation, free SMS, countdown timers, priority support, and up to 60K emails/month.
- Enterprise Plan: Custom pricing – Adds unlimited emails, dedicated manager, phone support, and advanced permissions.
Sender keeps things low-cost without cutting essential features—but branding removal and key automation upgrades require paid plans.
6. EmailOctopus
- Free Plan: Up to 2,500 subscribers, 10,000 emails/month
- Paid Plans: Start at $8/month
- Our Rating: ⭐️ 4.3/5
- Best For: Startups and lean teams who just want clean, cheap email delivery
EmailOctopus is one of the simplest, and most affordable, tools on the list.
It strips out the fluff, focuses on fast delivery, and helps you send campaigns without overcomplicating things.
You won’t find advanced automations or deep integrations, but if all you need is a tool to grow your list and send consistent emails, it’s reliable, lightweight, and ridiculously cost-effective.
EmailOctopus’ features included at low cost:
- Email campaigns and drip sequences
- Drag-and-drop + HTML email builder
- Signup forms and landing pages
- Simple autoresponders and automations
- Basic analytics (opens, clicks, unsubscribes)
Why EmailOctopus is an affordable email marketing tool: It gives you the essentials — automation, templates, and reports — at a price that feels stuck in 2018. Great for scaling up without worrying about costs ballooning every 1,000 contacts.
Who should use EmailOctopus: Perfect for early-stage founders, writers, or solo creators who want to keep things simple and cheap. If all you need is a way to send good-looking emails to a growing list — EmailOctopus is more than enough for the job.
EmailOctopus pricing:
- Starter Plan: $0/month – For up to 2,500 subscribers and 10,000 emails/month. Includes basic features but adds EmailOctopus branding and limited reporting.
- Pro Plan: Starts at $18/month (2,000 subscribers) – 25,000 emails/month, no branding, full reports, unlimited forms/landing pages, and multi-user access.
Simple and affordable, but free users get limited analytics and must show EmailOctopus branding. The Pro plan is lean and flexible—great for small teams with steady growth.
7. Omnisend
- Free Plan: Up to 250 contacts, 500 emails/month
- Paid Plans: Start at $16/month for 500 contacts
- Our Rating: ⭐️ 4.5/5
- Best For: Ecommerce brands that want email + SMS + push in one place
Omnisend is designed for ecommerce from the ground up.
If you’re running a Shopify or WooCommerce store, you’ll feel right at home — with abandoned cart flows, product recommendations, and promo-ready templates out of the box.
It’s not for SaaS or deep product logic, but for online shops that want multichannel campaigns without juggling tools, it delivers serious bang for your buck.
Omnisend’s features included at low cost:
- Pre-built ecommerce automations (abandoned cart, post-purchase, etc.)
- Email + SMS + web push in one dashboard
- Product recommendations + dynamic content
- Visual automation editor with triggers/actions
- Popups and signup forms
Why Omnisend is an affordable email marketing tool: You get email, SMS, and web push in one tool — which would normally take 2–3 platforms to cover. Even the free plan gives you automation and pre-built ecommerce flows.
Who should use Omnisend: Ecommerce teams who want to do email, SMS, and push in one place — and not overthink it. If you’re running promotions, cart flows, and product drops, Omnisend gives you everything you need without piecing together multiple tools.
Omnisend pricing:
- Standard Plan: $44/month (2,500 contacts) – 30,000 emails/month, unlimited push, SMS add-on, $1 in free SMS credits, and basic automation.
- Pro Plan: $59/month – Unlimited emails, advanced reports, global SMS, $59 in free monthly SMS credits, and priority support.
- Custom Plan: Built for large teams – includes free migration, onboarding specialist, and full feature access.
Omnisend is more ecommerce-focused and offers strong email + SMS capabilities, but pricing starts higher than other entry-level tools.
Cheapest Email Marketing Services Compared
| Platform | Free Plan | Starting Paid Plan | Notable Features |
|---|---|---|---|
| Encharge | No free plan | $79/month | Full marketing automation, behavior-based flows, powerful integrations, and no feature gating |
| Brevo | 300 emails/day | $9/month | Email & SMS marketing, automation |
| MailerLite | 1,000 subs / 12,000 emails | $10/month | Automation, landing pages |
| Moosend | 30-day free trial | $9/month | Advanced automation, segmentation |
| Sender | 2,500 subs / 15,000 emails | $19/month | Transactional emails, analytics |
| EmailOctopus | 2,500 subs / 10,000 emails | $8/month | Customizable templates, integrations |
| Omnisend | 250 contacts / 500 emails | $16/month | Multi-channel (email + SMS + push), automation |
| Mailchimp | 500 contacts / 1,000 emails | $13/month | Templates, automation, basic reporting |
When to Upgrade Your Email Marketing Platform’s Free Plan
Free plans are great when you’re testing the waters. But if you’re trying to grow—actually grow—most free tiers will slow you down pretty quickly.
Here’s what usually happens: you hit a ceiling.
Suddenly you’re deleting contacts to stay under the limit, or stitching together tools because your platform won’t do what you need without an upgrade.
That’s when cheap paid tools become the better deal—not because they’re flashier, but because they actually help you move forward.
| Upgrade Your Plan If… | Stick With Free If… |
|---|---|
| You’ve hit your contact or monthly email limit | You have a small list and only send basic updates occasionally |
| You need automations like welcome flows, cart recovery, or drip sequences | You only send one-off newsletters or announcements |
| Your emails feel generic and off-brand due to design or branding restrictions | You’re okay with limited templates and basic branding |
| You want deeper reporting to optimize campaigns | You’re just getting started and learning the basics |
| You need integrations with your store, CRM, or other tools | You manage everything manually or don’t use many external tools yet |
| You’re ready to segment, personalize, and scale your outreach | You only send the same content to your full list |
| Your revenue depends on email-driven automation and engagement | Your email strategy isn’t yet tied to revenue or conversions |
| You’re spending more time working around limitations than building campaigns | You’re still experimenting and not ready to invest in advanced features |
If you’re seeing any of these signs, it’s time to upgrade:
- You’ve hit your contact or email limit, and you’re manually trimming lists to stay free
- You need automations that react to user behavior—like welcome emails, abandoned cart recovery, or upsell flows
- You want cleaner, better-designed emails with more control over layout and branding
- You can’t connect your email tool to other parts of your stack—your CRM, eCommerce store, or checkout
- Your reporting is too basic to tell you what’s actually working
- You want to segment your audience and send personalized content based on their actions
- You’re wasting time working around missing features instead of growing your list or selling
The good news: You don’t have to jump from free to $300/month.
Most of the tools in this guide have paid plans starting under $30/month—with real automation, real segmentation, and enough volume to handle serious growth.
If you’re already thinking about how to grow, it’s probably time to step up. Use the free plan to test, then move to a real solution when you’re ready to build something that lasts.
The affordable email marketing tool that actually scales with you
Most “cheap” tools cut corners — limited features, locked automations, or pricing that spikes when your list grows.
Encharge gives you the full automation engine from day one — with behavior-based flows, Stripe triggers, CRM integrations, and trial-to-paid journeys built in.
✅ Serious automation without needing 3 extra tools
✅ Built for SaaS and product-led teams
✅ Simple pricing, no feature gates
✅ Saves hours every week with set-it-and-forget-it flows
If you’re ready to stop duct-taping tools and start growing.
Start your free trial of Encharge — and actually get what you’re paying for.
The Verdict: What’s the Cheapest Email Marketing Tool?
The cheapest email marketing tool is Sender, with paid plans starting at just $13.30/month for 2,500 subscribers and 30,000 emails. It also includes automation, SMS support, and branding removal — features many tools lock behind higher tiers.
- Sender – $13.30/mo for 2,500 subs
- Mailchimp – $13/mo for 500 subs
- Brevo – $9/mo for 5,000 emails
- EmailOctopus – $18/mo for 2,000 subs
- Moosend – $24/mo for 2,000 subs
- MailerLite – $25/mo for 2,500 subs
- Omnisend – $44/mo for 2,500 subs
- Encharge – $79/mo for 2,000 subs (but includes full automation from day one)
If you just want to send newsletters and keep costs near zero, Sender and MailerLite give you the most generous free plans.
But if you’re looking for real automation — without stacking 3 tools or hitting upgrade walls — Encharge gives you the most value per dollar.
It’s not the cheapest on paper. But it’s the only tool that saves you time, drives revenue, and scales without surprises.
Set it up once — and let it move users from trial to upgrade while you sleep.
FAQ: Cheap Email Marketing Software
1. What is the cheapest email marketing service for ~1500 users?
The cheapest service for around 1,500 subscribers is Sender, starting at $13.30/month, offering 30,000 emails, automation, and no branding.
It’s followed by Encharge and Brevo, both offering solid value at low cost.
2. What are some good cheap options for basic email marketing?
For simple email newsletters, signup forms, and light automation, Encharge, Sender, MailerLite, and EmailOctopus are great low-cost options.
3. What are the best low-cost email marketing tools for beginners?
Encharge is the best pick if you want serious automation from the start, without dealing with upsells or hidden limits.
For simpler needs, tools like MailerLite, Sender, and EmailOctopus offer affordable plans and beginner-friendly features.
Thank you so much for reading this,
David Ch
Head of Marketing at Encharge
