# 12 Best Email Marketing Software for Startups in 2026

<script type="application/ld+json">
{
  "@context": "https://schema.org",
  "@type": "WebPage",
  "headline": "11 Best Email Marketing Software for Startups in 2026",
  "description": "Discover the 11 best email marketing software for startups. Find affordable, easy-to-use tools with CRM, and multichannel support to grow your business.",
  "image": "https://res.cloudinary.com/mailmodo/image/upload/v1652873093/strapi/Feature_image_How_to_create_a_business_email_bf30368ce3.png",
  "datePublished": "2025-07-24T22:06:52.035Z",
  "dateModified": "2026-01-27T02:27:26.817Z",
  "publisher": {
    "@type": "Organization",
    "name": "Mailmodo",
    "url": "https://www.mailmodo.com/",
    "sameAs": [
      "https://www.linkedin.com/company/mailmodo/",
      "https://www.facebook.com/mailmodo/",
      "https://www.instagram.com/mailmodohq/",
      "https://www.youtube.com/@mailmodo"
    ],
    "logo": "https://www.mailmodo.com/static/images/logo/logo-full.svg",
    "description": "Mailmodo is a complete email marketing platform that helps email marketers to create and send interactive emails to drive growth and engagement.",
    "address": {
      "@type": "PostalAddress",
      "addressLocality": "Lewes",
      "addressRegion": "DE",
      "postalCode": "19958",
      "streetAddress": "Mailmodo Technologies Inc. 16192, Coastal Highway",
      "addressCountry": {
        "@type": "Country",
        "name": "US"
      }
    },
    "contactPoint": {
      "@type": "ContactPoint",
      "email": "enquiries@mailmodo.com",
      "contactType": "customer service"
    }
  }
}
</script>

<script type="application/ld+json">
{
  "@context": "https://schema.org",
  "@type": "Article",
  "headline": "11 Best Email Marketing Software for Startups in 2026",
  "description": "Discover the 11 best email marketing software for startups. Find affordable, easy-to-use tools with CRM, and multichannel support to grow your business.",
  "image": "https://res.cloudinary.com/mailmodo/image/upload/v1652873093/strapi/Feature_image_How_to_create_a_business_email_bf30368ce3.png",
  "datePublished": "2025-07-24T22:06:52.035Z",
  "dateModified": "2026-01-27T02:27:26.817Z",
  "author": {
    "@type": "Person",
    "name": "Mashkoor Alam",
    "url": "https://www.mailmodo.com/guides/author/mashkoor-alam/"
  },
  "publisher": {
    "@type": "Organization",
    "name": "Mailmodo",
    "logo": {
      "@type": "ImageObject",
      "url": "https://www.mailmodo.com/static/images/logo/logo-full.svg"
    }
  },
  "mainEntityOfPage": {
    "@type": "WebPage",
    "@id": "https://www.mailmodo.com/guides/email-marketing-software-startups/"
  }
}
</script>

<script type="application/ld+json">
{
  "@context": "https://schema.org",
  "@type": "Organization",
  "@id": "#creator",
  "description": "Email marketing software to create and send interactive emails to maximize conversions and reinvent your user journey",
  "email": "support@mailmodo.com",
  "image": "https://www.mailmodo.com/static/images/og-image.png",
  "knowsAbout": "Email marketing",
  "legalName": "Mailmodo Technologies Inc.",
  "location": "United States",
  "logo": "https://www.mailmodo.com/static/images/logo/logo-full.svg",
  "name": "Mailmodo",
  "sameAs": [
    "https://twitter.com/mailmodo",
    "https://www.facebook.com/company/mailmodo/",
    "https://www.linkedin.com/company/mailmodo/"
  ],
  "url": "https://www.mailmodo.com/"
}
</script>

<script type="application/ld+json">
{
  "@context": "https://schema.org",
  "@type": "BreadcrumbList",
  "itemListElement": [
    {
      "@type": "ListItem",
      "position": 1,
      "name": "Home",
      "item": "https://www.mailmodo.com/"
    },
    {
      "@type": "ListItem",
      "position": 2,
      "name": "Guides",
      "item": "https://www.mailmodo.com/guides/"
    },
    {
      "@type": "ListItem",
      "position": 3,
      "name": "email marketing software startups",
      "item": "https://www.mailmodo.com/guides/email-marketing-software-startups/"
    }
  ]
}
</script>

## Table of contents

- What is email marketing software?
- Best email marketing software for startups
- Final Thoughts

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 **11 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 | AI-powered email marketing feature with advanced automation at startup-friendly 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 |
|SendPulse | 4.5/5 | Beginners and intermediate users who want an easy drag-and-drop email builder|
| 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](https://www.mailmodo.com/) 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 use AI to simplify email marketing for busy startup teams. Its AI Campaign Planner generates personalized campaign ideas based on your business information, industry, and marketing goals.

Once your campaign plan is ready, the AI Template Generator creates professional email layouts automatically. Simply upload your images and provide a brief description, and Mailmodo incorporates all assets into a ready-to-send template.

![Campaign planner - Made with Clipchamp 1.gif](https://res.cloudinary.com/mailmodo/image/upload/f_auto,q_100/v1761117385/strapi/Campaign_planner_Made_with_Clipchamp_1_7a872dbd84.gif)

<div class="inline_cta"><div class="ctaBox"><div class="leftdiv"><p>Your AI Assistant for Everything Email Marketing</p><div class="button_container"><a href="https://manage.mailmodo.com/auth/signup?utm_content=inline-cta-s&utm_term=/guides/email-marketing-software-startups/"><button class="primary_button">Try Mailmodo AI for Free</button></a></div></div><div class="rightdiv"><img src="https://res.cloudinary.com/mailmodo/image/upload/v1760533119/strapi/image_907_1_ce416d5a3f.png" width="290" height="230" alt="cta-img"/></div></div><div class="gradient"></div></div>  


  

**Pricing**

- Free plan available
-  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. Elastic Email

[Elastic Email](https://elasticemail.com/) is a powerful and affordable email delivery platform for developers, marketers, and businesses of all sizes. Offering both an Email API and a full-featured Email Marketing platform, Elastic Email helps users send transactional and marketing emails at scale with high deliverability and detailed analytics.

With an intuitive drag-and-drop editor, smart subscriber management, and email automation tools, companies of all kinds can easily create, manage, and optimize their email campaigns. The platform also includes real-time tracking, A/B testing, and integrations with popular tools and services.

Elastic Email is known for its flexible pricing, scalable infrastructure, and responsive customer support, making it a top choice for companies looking to simplify and supercharge their email communication strategy.

![Screenshot 1947-07-30 at 12.19.36 PM 1.png](https://res.cloudinary.com/mailmodo/image/upload/f_auto,q_100/v1761115901/strapi/Screenshot_1947_07_30_at_12_19_36_PM_1_25fffaa407.png)


### 6. SendPulse

 SendPulse gives startups a multichannel marketing platform that goes beyond email. In addition to [bulk newsletters](https://sendpulse.com/features/email), it supports SMS and WhatsApp campaigns, live chat with chatbots, and even a built-in CRM. For lean teams, this makes it easy to manage all customer communication from one place without juggling multiple tools.

  

**Pricing:**

- Free: $0/month, up to 500 subscribers and 15,000 emails/month, 1 landing page, 3 chatbots.

- Standard: From $8/month, includes unlimited emails, segmentation, and A/B testing

- Pro: From $9.60/month, adds more automation flows, users, and storage

- Enterprise: Custom pricing, advanced features and higher limits for scaling teams


**Ease of use:** The drag-and-drop editor and visual automation builder make creating campaigns and customer journeys simple, even for beginners.

  

**Features:**

- Send email, SMS, web push, and chatbot messages from one dashboard


- Drag-and-drop email builder with customizable templates


- Automation workflows to engage users with triggers and behavior-based actions


- Built-in CRM for managing contacts and tracking interactions


- Support for transactional emails with SMTP service and analytics




  

**Why it’s suitable for startups:**  Flexible pricing and an attractive free plan give startups room to grow, while multichannel marketing means you can experiment with Instagram, WhatsApp, and SMS campaigns. 


  

**Customer support:** 24/7 support via live chat and email, plus tutorials, a knowledge base, and SendPulse Academy courses.

  

**Startup ranking:** 4.5/5



  

### 7. 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

### 8. 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

### 9. 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

  

### 10. 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

  

### 11. 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

  

### 12.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!

<div class="inline_cta"><div class="ctaBox"><div class="leftdiv"><p>Create and send AMP emails without coding in minutes</p><div class="button_container"><a href="https://manage.mailmodo.com/auth/signup?utm_content=inline-cta-s&utm_term=/guides/email-marketing-software-startups/"><button class="primary_button">Try Mailmodo for free</button></a></div></div><div class="rightdiv"><img src="https://res.cloudinary.com/mailmodo/image/upload/v1712747193/strapi/Group_1110165064_1_57b7027899.png" width="290" height="230" alt="cta-img"/></div></div><div class="gradient"></div></div>

## Frequently Asked Questions

### What should startups consider when choosing email marketing software?

Consider factors such as budget, ease of use, automation capabilities, multichannel support, CRM integration, deliverability, and customer support when selecting the right platform.

### How much should a startup budget for email marketing software?


Pricing varies, but many startups begin with free plans or spend $15–$50/month for essential features.

### Do I need coding skills to use email marketing software?


No. Most platforms offer drag-and-drop builders that require no coding. Tools like Mailmodo, Mailchimp, and MailerLite are beginner-friendly.

<script type="application/ld+json">
{
  "@context": "https://schema.org",
  "@type": "FAQPage",
  "mainEntity": [
    {
      "@type": "Question",
      "name": "What should startups consider when choosing email marketing software?",
      "acceptedAnswer": {
        "@type": "Answer",
        "text": "Consider factors such as budget, ease of use, automation capabilities, multichannel support, CRM integration, deliverability, and customer support when selecting the right platform."
      }
    },
    {
      "@type": "Question",
      "name": "How much should a startup budget for email marketing software?\n",
      "acceptedAnswer": {
        "@type": "Answer",
        "text": "Pricing varies, but many startups begin with free plans or spend $15–$50/month for essential features."
      }
    },
    {
      "@type": "Question",
      "name": "Do I need coding skills to use email marketing software?\n",
      "acceptedAnswer": {
        "@type": "Answer",
        "text": "No. Most platforms offer drag-and-drop builders that require no coding. Tools like Mailmodo, Mailchimp, and MailerLite are beginner-friendly."
      }
    }
  ]
}
</script>

---

**Author: Mashkoor Alam**

Mashkoor has always been passionate about writing. He used to write short stories on his blog before he started writing for SaaS companies years back. He aspires to have a book under his name.

