The Best Email Marketing Software
Five leading email marketing platforms, scored on deliverability, ease of use, features and value.
Last updated Jul 3, 2026
Email marketing still delivers the best return of any channel, but only if your messages actually reach the inbox. We scored five leading platforms on deliverability, ease of use, features, and value, weighting deliverability the heaviest, and named a clear pick. Every commercial link is disclosed and never changes the ranking.
-
1
MailerLite
Our pickThe best balance of price, simplicity and capability for most senders.
8.8/ 10Pros
- + Very generous free plan
- + Clean, easy drag-and-drop editor
- + Strong value on paid tiers
Cons
- − Fewer advanced automations than rivals
- − Approval process can be strict
From $9.00 /monthVisit MailerLite -
2
Mailchimp
Best for beginnersA polished all-rounder with the widest set of integrations.
8.6/ 10Pros
- + Huge integration ecosystem
- + Polished, familiar interface
- + Broad marketing features
Cons
- − Gets expensive as lists grow
- − Counts unsubscribes toward billing on some plans
From $13.00 /monthVisit Mailchimp -
3
Brevo
Best valueSend-based pricing plus SMS and CRM make it strong for larger lists.
8.6/ 10Pros
- + Priced by sends, not contacts
- + Built-in SMS and CRM
- + Solid free tier
Cons
- − Editor is less refined than rivals
- − Daily send cap on the free plan
From $9.00 /monthVisit Brevo -
4
Kit
The creator-focused choice, with excellent automation and deliverability.
8.4/ 10Pros
- + Powerful visual automations
- + Strong deliverability record
- + Great for newsletters and creators
Cons
- − Plain-text style limits fancy designs
- − Pricier per subscriber than budget tools
From $9.00 /monthVisit Kit -
5
ActiveCampaign
Best for teamsThe most powerful automation here, best suited to teams that will use it.
8.3/ 10Pros
- + Best-in-class automation builder
- + Integrated sales CRM
- + Deep segmentation
Cons
- − Steeper learning curve
- − No free plan and higher entry price
From $15.00 /monthVisit ActiveCampaign
Side-by-side
| Product | Deliverability | Ease of use | Features | Value | Overall |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| MailerLite | 8.7 | 9.3 | 8.0 | 9.5 | 8.8 |
| Mailchimp | 8.8 | 8.5 | 9.0 | 7.7 | 8.6 |
| Brevo | 8.6 | 8.3 | 8.7 | 8.6 | 8.6 |
| Kit | 8.9 | 8.4 | 8.5 | 7.3 | 8.4 |
| ActiveCampaign | 8.8 | 7.5 | 9.3 | 6.8 | 8.3 |
How we scored this
Each platform is scored 0–10 on four weighted criteria: deliverability (weight 3), ease of use (2), features (2), and value (1.5). The overall score is the weighted average. Ranks are our editorial verdict from those scores plus hands-on use; they are independent of any affiliate commission.