Every Email Tool Under $25/Month (Verified Prices)
We filtered our tools database for email marketing platforms with a lowest paid plan under $25/month. Here's what qualifies, sorted by price.
| Tool | Plan Name | Price/Mo | What You Get |
|---|---|---|---|
| Brevo | Starter | $9/mo | 5,000 emails/mo, no daily limit, basic reporting |
| Buttondown | Basic | $9/mo | Unlimited subscribers, custom domain, automation |
| Mailchimp | Essentials | $13/mo | 500 contacts, 5,000 sends/mo, email + chat support |
| ActiveCampaign | Starter | $15/mo | 1,000 contacts, email marketing, basic automations |
| Brevo | Standard | $18/mo | 5,000 emails/mo, marketing automation, A/B testing, advanced stats |
| Mailchimp | Standard | $20/mo | 500 contacts, 6,000 sends/mo, advanced automations |
| Writesonic | Individual | $20/mo | Unlimited words, brand voice, Chatsonic (AI writing, not email) |
Note: Writesonic is an AI writing tool, not a traditional email platform. Included because it appears in the under-$25 filter but is better suited for content creation than email delivery.
Best Value: Brevo Starter at $9/month
Brevo's pricing model is unique: you pay by emails sent, not contacts stored. At $9/month you get 5,000 email sends with no daily sending limit and unlimited contacts. That pricing model alone makes Brevo the best value for businesses with large lists but moderate send frequency.
The Standard plan at $18/month adds marketing automation, A/B testing, and advanced statistics. That's a significant step up from Starter and still under $25.
Best for Automation: ActiveCampaign Starter at $15/month
ActiveCampaign has the most powerful automation builder in this price range. Even the Starter plan at $15/month for 1,000 contacts includes basic automation workflows. If automation is your primary need, ActiveCampaign delivers more per dollar than Mailchimp or Brevo at this tier.
The catch: contact-based pricing. At 2,500 contacts the Starter plan jumps to $39/month, pushing it outside the $25 budget. Plan for growth carefully.
Best for Simplicity: Buttondown Basic at $9/month
Buttondown offers unlimited subscribers, custom domain, and automation at $9/month. It's a developer-friendly, Markdown-first newsletter tool with zero bloat. If you write technical content and want the simplest possible workflow, Buttondown at $9/month is hard to beat.
Common Mistakes
- Comparing base prices without checking contact limits. Mailchimp Essentials is $13/month but only for 500 contacts. ActiveCampaign Starter is $15/month for 1,000 contacts. Price-per-contact matters more than the sticker price.
- Ignoring send-based vs contact-based pricing. Brevo charges per email sent (unlimited contacts). Mailchimp and ActiveCampaign charge per contact. If you have a large list but send infrequently, Brevo saves significantly.
- Forgetting overage costs. Some plans throttle sends when you hit the limit; others charge overage fees. Check what happens when you exceed your plan's limit before committing.
- Choosing a tool without checking the next tier. If your list will grow past 1,000 contacts within 6 months, check what the tool costs at 5,000 and 10,000 contacts. The cheapest plan today may be the most expensive plan in a year.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the cheapest email marketing tool with automation?
Buttondown Basic at $9/month includes automation with unlimited subscribers. Brevo Standard at $18/month includes marketing automation with unlimited contacts and 5,000 emails/month. ActiveCampaign Starter at $15/month has basic automations for 1,000 contacts.
Is Brevo better than Mailchimp at this price range?
For most users, yes. Brevo Starter ($9/month) stores unlimited contacts and sends 5,000 emails. Mailchimp Essentials ($13/month) limits you to 500 contacts. Brevo's per-send model is more cost-effective unless you need Mailchimp's specific template library or e-commerce integrations.
Should I start with a free tier or jump to paid?
If you have fewer than 2,500 subscribers and don't need automation, start with a free tier (Kit or beehiiv). If you need automation, A/B testing, or have more than 500 contacts, the $9–18/month paid tiers pay for themselves in time savings.
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