Launching a startup is an exciting yet resource-limited journey. When every dollar and hour counts, email marketing offers one of the most cost-effective ways to attract, engage, and convert customers. But with hundreds of tools on the market, finding the right one can be overwhelming.
This guide simplifies your decision by showcasing the 10 best email marketing platforms tailored for startups, focusing on affordability, automation, scalability, and support.
Short on time? Here’s a quick overview of the top email marketing platforms for startups:
| Software | Rating | Reason for selection |
|---|---|---|
| Mailmodo | 4.8/5 | Best for interactive AMP emails with automation at startup pricing |
| Brevo | 4.6/5 | Ideal for startups needing multichannel support (email + SMS + WhatsApp) |
| MailerLite | 4.5/5 | Most beginner-friendly and budget-conscious option |
| ActiveCampaign | 4.6/5 | Best for early-stage startups with CRM and automation needs |
| Mailchimp | 4.4/5 | Widest adoption and easy-to-use templates for new businesses |
| Constant Contact | 4.6/5 | Best support and user guidance for first-time founders |
| GetResponse | 4.4/5 | Best all-in-one for startups needing webinars + email |
| SendGrid | 4.2/5 | Great for developer-led startups needing transactional email |
| Resend | 4.3/5 | Excellent deliverability with developer-friendly APIs and easy integration |
| ConvertKit | 4.2/5 | Great for solo founders and creators with visual automation |
What is email marketing software?
Email marketing software is a tool that helps startups manage and automate communication with subscribers and potential customers.
It enables you to:
Build email lists and segment them based on behavior
Send personalized and automated campaigns
Design emails with easy-to-use editors
Track performance metrics like open rates and conversions
Scale your outreach as your startup grows
Best email marketing software for startups
1. Mailmodo
Mailmodo is purpose-built for startups looking to improve engagement with interactive email campaigns. It offers AMP emails that allow forms, surveys, and purchases directly inside the inbox. This boosts user response rates and removes friction from customer actions.
Pricing
Lite: $39/month
Pro: $79/month
Max: $159/month
Ease of use: Intuitive drag-and-drop AMP editor with guided onboarding for quick campaign setup.
Features:
AMP emails with embedded forms, carts, and calendars directly inside the inbox for interaction.
Visual automation builder to create complex workflows without technical skills.
Over 300 customizable email templates designed for high engagement and conversions.
Built-in A/B testing to optimize subject lines and email content performance.
Dedicated IP addresses and inbox placement testing to improve deliverability rates.
Why it’s suitable for startups: Helps fast-moving teams get quick wins with interactive, high-converting emails at affordable pricing.
Customer support: Highly rated for fast support, onboarding sessions, and deliverability expertise.
Startup ranking: 4.8/5
2. ActiveCampaign
ActiveCampaign offers serious marketing and sales automation for startups scaling fast. It combines email, CRM, and site tracking to deliver tailored experiences. Ideal for SaaS and service-based businesses.
Pricing
Starter: Starts at $15/month
Plus: Starts at $49/month
Pro: Starts at $79/month
Enterprise: Starts at $145/month
Ease of use: Slightly complex interface, but powerful automation workflows worth the learning curve.
Features:
Integrated sales CRM to manage customer relationships and sales pipelines efficiently.
Visual automation builder to design personalized customer journeys with ease.
Lead scoring tools to prioritize and segment prospects based on engagement level.
Support for email and SMS campaigns for multichannel marketing efforts.
Why it’s suitable for startups: Scales with you as your startup moves from early to mid-stage growth.
Customer support: Rated highly for automation power.
Startup ranking: 4.6/5
3. Brevo
Brevo supports startups in managing multichannel marketing from one platform. From email to SMS and WhatsApp, it helps young companies diversify their outreach. Its built-in CRM is an added bonus for managing leads.
Pricing
Free: $0/month, limited to 300 emails/day
Starter: From $8.08/month, suitable for growing businesses
Business: From $16.17/month, ideal for marketing managers and ecommerce pros
Enterprise: Custom pricing, tailored solutions for large needs
Ease of use: Clean, logical workflow builder makes multichannel campaign setup straightforward and efficient.
Features:
Send email, SMS, and WhatsApp campaigns all from a single unified platform.
Drag-and-drop email builder simplifies creation of visually appealing campaigns fast.
Marketing automation workflows that trigger actions based on user behavior and events.
Built-in CRM system to track and nurture leads through the sales funnel.
Support for transactional emails with detailed reporting and analytics.
Why it’s suitable for startups: Budget-friendly multichannel support helps startups connect with users wherever they are.
Customer support: Known for frequent updates and a responsive support team.
Startup ranking: 4.6/5
4. MailerLite
MailerLite offers a clean and modern interface perfect for new startup teams. It balances usability with core features needed to launch campaigns quickly. Its free plan is ideal for early traction phases.
Pricing
Essentials: Free; limit of 500 contacts
Premium: $350/month for 10,000 contacts
Standard: $20/month for 500 contacts
Best Value: $13/month for 500 contacts
Ease of use: Simple drag-and-drop editor and clean dashboard designed for quick campaign launches.
Features:
Schedule email campaigns in advance with easy calendar and timing controls.
Marketing automation sequences to nurture leads with personalized messages automatically.
Create pop-ups and landing pages to capture subscribers and generate leads.
Advanced audience segmentation for targeted messaging based on behavior and preferences.
Why it’s suitable for startups: Low-friction onboarding, cost-efficiency, and essential features make it ideal for MVPs.
Customer support: Highly rated for UI clarity and responsive support.
Startup ranking: 4.5/5
5. Mailchimp
Mailchimp is a familiar name offering a solid starting point for startup email marketing. It’s user-friendly and integrates well with other tools. Great for basic campaigns, newsletters, and audience building.
Pricing:
Free: $0/month for up to 500 contacts
Essentials: Starting at $13/month for 500 contacts
Standard: Starting at $20/month for 500 contacts
Premium: Starting at $350/month for 10,000 contacts
Ease of use: User-friendly interface ideal for beginners with plenty of templates and integrations.
Features:
Drag-and-drop campaign builder with pre-designed templates for quick creation.
Audience segmentation tools to target subscribers based on demographics and activity.
Hundreds of customizable templates tailored for various industries and goals.
Automation features for welcome emails, abandoned carts, and follow-ups.
Why it’s suitable for startups: Easy to launch; integrations with many tools.
Customer support: Helpful knowledge base; limited support on free plans.
Startup ranking: 4.4/5
6. Constant Contact
Constant Contact caters to founders who want an easy setup and support. It’s great for non-technical teams who still want to run professional campaigns. The drag-and-drop editor and support staff are its biggest strengths.
Pricing
Lite: $12/month, ideal for beginners starting with email and social tools
Standard: $35/month, designed for growing businesses with automation tools
Premium: $80/month, built for pros needing advanced automation and segmentation
Ease of use: Easy drag-and-drop builder with step-by-step guidance for non-technical founders.
Features:
Email and event marketing tools to promote webinars, sales, and gatherings.
Real-time analytics dashboard to track campaign performance and engagement rates.
Social media scheduling to promote content across platforms simultaneously.
Why it’s suitable for startups: Excellent onboarding and training make it founder-friendly.
Customer support: Phone, chat, and email support stand out.
Startup ranking: 4.6/5
7. GetResponse
GetResponse is an all-in-one platform that goes beyond email marketing. It includes webinars, landing pages, and full funnel capabilities. It’s ideal for startups offering online services or education.
Pricing:
Free: $0/month with 30-day premium trial included
Starter: $19/month or $15.58/month if paid annually
Marketer: $59/month or $48.38/month if paid annually
Creator: $69/month or $56.58/month if paid annually
Enterprise: Custom pricing based on business needs
Ease of use: Intuitive UI and workflow setup help users create marketing funnels easily.
Features:
Host webinars integrated with email campaigns to engage audiences live.
Marketing automation for creating complex, personalized customer journeys.
Landing page builder to capture leads and convert visitors effectively.
Conversion funnels to track prospects through sales stages seamlessly.
Why it’s suitable for startups: Consolidates multiple growth tools into one stack.
Customer support: Strong customer success resources.
Startup ranking: 4.4/5
8. SendGrid
SendGrid is built for startups that need reliable transactional email at scale. It’s trusted by developers for sign-up flows, receipts, and alerts. With a strong API, it’s perfect for SaaS and product-led startups.
Pricing
Free Trial: $0/month for 60 days, 100 emails/day
Essentials: Starting at $19.95/month for 50,000–100,000 emails/month
Pro: Starting at $89.95/month for 100,000–2,500,000 emails/month
Premier: Custom pricing based on volume and needs
Ease of use: Developer-friendly platform with powerful APIs; non-technical users may find it challenging.
Features:
Send transactional emails reliably for order confirmations, alerts, and receipts.
Marketing campaign support with tools for segmentation and scheduling.
Deliverability optimization tools to maintain high inbox placement rates.
Robust email API for seamless integration with apps and services.
Why it’s suitable for startups: Reliable for tech-led companies who need fast, secure delivery.
Customer support: Dependable infrastructure; limited design tools.
Startup ranking: 4.2/5
9. Resend
Resend is a developer-centric email marketing tool designed for startups that prioritize reliable deliverability and simple integration. It offers powerful APIs that make sending transactional and marketing emails straightforward while ensuring high inbox placement rates. This makes it a great fit for startups with some technical resources who want control without complexity.
Pricing
Starter: Free tier available with limited emails/month
Pro: Starting at $20/month for higher volume and advanced features
Enterprise: Custom pricing for large-scale needs
Ease of use: Minimalist dashboard focused on API usability, perfect for developer-driven integrations.
Features:
High deliverability ensured with DMARC, DKIM, and SPF email authentication protocols.
Developer-friendly APIs and webhook support for seamless email sending and tracking.
Real-time email tracking and analytics to monitor open and click rates instantly.
Simple template management system to create and update email designs quickly.
Scalable cloud infrastructure supports growing email volumes without downtime.
Why it’s suitable for startups: Perfect for startups needing developer control and reliable email delivery.
Customer support: Responsive developer support and detailed technical documentation.
Startup ranking: 4.3
10.ConvertKit
ConvertKit is designed for creators and solo founders who want simple but effective email marketing with automation. Its visual automation builder makes it easy to design subscriber journeys without coding knowledge. ConvertKit is great for blogs, newsletters, and course creators.
Pricing
Free: Up to 300 subscribers with limited features
Creator: Starting at $15/month for 300+ subscribers
Creator Pro: Starting at $29/month with advanced reporting and automation
Ease of use: Visual automation builder simplifies subscriber journeys with drag-and-drop simplicity.
Features:
Visual automation builder to map email sequences and subscriber paths clearly.
Tagging and segmentation system to organize subscribers based on interests and actions.
Built-in landing page and form builders for capturing new leads easily.
Broadcast email campaigns for announcements and newsletters to segmented audiences.
Integrations with popular tools like WordPress, Shopify, and Zapier for easy workflows.
Why it’s suitable for startups: Ideal for creators and solo founders focusing on audience growth and engagement.
Customer support: Helpful support and educational resources for beginners and creators.
Startup ranking: 4.2/5
Final Thoughts
Choosing the right email marketing software can accelerate your startup’s growth and save countless hours of manual work. Whether you need automation, ecommerce personalization, or a free tool to start testing, the platforms listed above offer startup-friendly features at every stage.
Test a few tools based on your current needs and future goals. The right email platform should grow with you, not hold you back.
Ready to supercharge your marketing? Start with Mailmodo and see the power of interactive email in action!
Create and send AMP emails without coding in minutes
