Compare Email Marketing Costs
Calculate true annual costs across Mailchimp, Brevo, Kit, beehiiv, and MailerLite. Normalized billing engine factoring in audience tiers and monthly send ceilings.
Interactive Volume Simulator
Drag sliders to test tier jumps, send ceilings, and overage limits.
| Platform | Rate (monthly) | Annual Total | Effective $/1k Sends | Capacity Status | Action |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Mailchimp(Standard) | $60/mo | $720/yr | $3.00 | ✓ Within Limits | Visit Mailchimp → |
Brevo(Starter)Best Value | $25/mo | $276/yr | $1.25 | ✓ Within Limits | Visit Brevo → |
MailerLite(Comfort)Best Value | $25/mo | $228/yr | $1.25 | ✓ Within Limits | Visit MailerLite → |
beehiiv(Scale) | $69/mo | $696/yr | $3.45 | ✓ Within Limits | Visit beehiiv → |
Kit(Creator) | $59/mo | $588/yr | $2.95 | ✓ Within Limits | Visit Kit → |
Direct Comparisons
Contact-based vs send-volume billing. Find the tipping point for your list size.
Compare Rates →Unlimited contact storage vs generous email limits. Discover lowest annual cost.
Compare Rates →Cost breakdown & migration ROI. See how much you save moving off Mailchimp.
Compare Rates →Creator course commerce vs modern newsletter sponsorship ad network.
Compare Rates →Legacy multi-channel marketing vs flat unlimited newsletter broadcasting.
Compare Rates →Platform Pricing Guides
Standard plan tiers, 12x contact send caps, and unengaged subscriber billing nuances.
View Tier Table →Starter plan volume tiers, daily send limits, and unlimited contact capabilities.
View Tier Table →Comfort plan subscriber tiers with strict 10x monthly dispatch allowance caps.
View Tier Table →Scale plan subscriber brackets with unlimited monthly emails and built-in boosts.
View Tier Table →Creator plan subscriber tiers with unlimited broadcast dispatches and funnel tagging.
View Tier Table →Understanding Email Marketing Pricing in 2026
Comparing Email Service Providers (ESPs) is intentionally complex. Platforms measure billing metrics differently, often masking hidden tier jumps and overage fees.
Contact-Based Billing
Platforms like Mailchimp, Kit, and MailerLite charge primarily for the total number of contacts stored inside your database, regardless of how many emails you dispatch per month.
- Best for: High-frequency senders (daily or multiple newsletters weekly).
- Hidden Catch: You often pay for inactive, unsubscribed, or duplicate contacts until manually pruned.
Volume / Send-Based Billing
Platforms like Brevo (Sendinblue) allow unlimited or generous contact storage, billing strictly based on the gross volume of emails dispatched each billing cycle.
- Best for: Irregular senders, transactional emails, or businesses with large dormant audiences.
- Hidden Catch: Costs surge rapidly if your list grows and you attempt daily broadcast cadences.
Frequently Asked Questions About ESP Pricing
Why is Mailchimp significantly more expensive than modern alternatives?
Mailchimp positions itself as a legacy all-in-one marketing platform. Over recent years, Intuit adjusted tier thresholds, charging users for unengaged and unsubscribed contacts while lowering free-tier limits to 250 contacts. Modern alternatives like MailerLite, beehiiv, and Brevo focus on leaner infrastructures with transparent flat pricing.
How do tier jumps affect total monthly software spend?
Most contact-based providers use stepped pricing tiers (e.g., up to 2,500, up to 5,000, up to 10,000). Crossing a tier by a single subscriber (e.g., reaching 10,001) triggers automatic tier escalation, which can increase your monthly bill by 30% to 100% immediately.
Are there risks to switching email marketing platforms?
The primary technical consideration during platform migration is maintaining sender domain reputation. When migrating to providers like beehiiv or Brevo, you should authenticate DKIM/SPF/DMARC records and warm up your domain with gradual list sends over 2–3 weeks to avoid spam folder placement.