Email Marketing Platforms Compared: Find Your Perfect Match (2025)

Choosing between email marketing platforms shouldn't feel like a full-time job. Yet with every platform claiming to be the best, making the right choice can feel paralyzing.

This comparison gives you the clarity you need. We put the top platforms side by side, comparing what actually matters: features that impact results, realistic pricing, and honest pros and cons.

Platform Overview: Quick Comparison

Platform	Best For	Price Range	Ease of Use
Brew	AI-powered creation	$0-199/mo	⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
Mailchimp	General marketing	$0-350/mo	⭐⭐⭐⭐
Klaviyo	E-commerce	$0-700/mo	⭐⭐⭐
ConvertKit	Creators	$0-79/mo	⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
ActiveCampaign	Automation	$29-259/mo	⭐⭐⭐
HubSpot	All-in-one	$0-3600/mo	⭐⭐⭐
Brevo	Budget	$0-65/mo	⭐⭐⭐⭐

Detailed Platform Comparisons

Brew: The AI-First Approach

Brew takes a fundamentally different approach to email marketing. Instead of manually building emails in a drag-and-drop editor, you describe what you want in plain English and AI creates it.

How it works:

1. Describe your email: "Welcome email for new SaaS trial users"
2. AI generates complete design and copy
3. Review and send

Key differences from traditional platforms:

• Create emails in under 60 seconds vs. 30-60 minutes
• No design skills required
• Brand consistency is automatic
• Automation workflows built from prompts

Pricing:

• Free: 200 credits, preview only
• Starter: $49/month (1,000 contacts, 500 credits)
• Pro: $199/month (10,000 contacts, 10,000 credits)

Best for: Teams who want professional results without the time investment.

Mailchimp: The Industry Standard

Mailchimp is the most recognized email platform with extensive features and integrations.

Strengths:

• 300+ integrations
• Good template library
• Marketing CRM included
• Landing page builder
• Extensive resources and tutorials

Weaknesses:

• Pricing has increased significantly
• Interface has become cluttered
• Free tier is limited (500 contacts)
• Automation is good but not best-in-class

Pricing: Free (500 contacts), Essentials from $13/month

Best for: Small businesses wanting an established platform with lots of learning resources. See our HubSpot vs Mailchimp comparison.

Klaviyo: E-commerce Dominance

Klaviyo is built specifically for online stores, with deep e-commerce data integration.

Strengths:

• Best Shopify/WooCommerce integration
• Revenue attribution
• Predictive analytics
• Advanced segmentation
• SMS included

Weaknesses:

• Expensive at scale ($700+/month for large lists)
• Overkill for non-e-commerce
• Learning curve for full features

Pricing: Free (250 contacts), paid from $20/month

Best for: E-commerce stores where email revenue is a priority.

ConvertKit: Creator-Focused

ConvertKit is purpose-built for bloggers, YouTubers, and course creators.

Strengths:

• Dead simple interface
• Visual automation builder
• Paid newsletter support
• Creator network for growth
• Text-focused emails (intentionally)

Weaknesses:

• Limited design options
• Basic reporting
• Not suited for e-commerce

Pricing: Free (1,000 subscribers), paid from $15/month

Best for: Individual creators who value simplicity over design flexibility.

ActiveCampaign: Automation Power

ActiveCampaign offers the most sophisticated automation on the market.

Strengths:

• Industry-leading automation builder
• CRM included
• Site tracking
• Predictive sending
• Machine learning features

Weaknesses:

• Steep learning curve
• No free tier
• Can be overwhelming

Pricing: Starting at $29/month

Best for: B2B companies with complex sales cycles and nurture needs.

HubSpot: The Suite Play

HubSpot offers email as part of a complete marketing, sales, and service platform.

Strengths:

• World-class CRM (free)
• Complete marketing suite
• Sales alignment tools
• Extensive training (HubSpot Academy)

Weaknesses:

• Email is just one piece—you're buying a platform
• Expensive for full features ($890+/month)
• Overkill for email-only needs

Pricing: Free tools, Marketing Hub from $20/month

Best for: Growing companies wanting an all-in-one solution.

Brevo: Budget Champion

Brevo (formerly Sendinblue) offers solid features at the lowest prices.

Strengths:

• Most affordable option
• SMS marketing included
• Pay-per-email pricing available
• Transactional emails
• EU-based (GDPR-focused)

Weaknesses:

• Interface feels dated
• Automation limited in lower tiers
• Less intuitive than competitors

Pricing: Free (300 emails/day), paid from $25/month

Best for: Budget-conscious businesses needing email + SMS.

Feature-by-Feature Comparison

Email Builder

Platform	Builder Type	AI Assist	Mobile Preview
Brew	AI generation	✅ Full	✅ Automatic
Mailchimp	Drag-drop	Limited	✅
Klaviyo	Drag-drop	Limited	✅
ConvertKit	Simple/text	❌	✅
ActiveCampaign	Drag-drop	Limited	✅
HubSpot	Drag-drop	Limited	✅
Brevo	Drag-drop	Limited	✅

Automation Capabilities

Platform	Visual Builder	Branching	Behavioral Triggers
Brew	✅ (AI-built)	Good	✅
Mailchimp	✅	Good	Good
Klaviyo	✅	Advanced	Excellent
ConvertKit	✅	Basic	Good
ActiveCampaign	✅	Best	Excellent
HubSpot	✅	Advanced	Excellent
Brevo	✅	Good	Good

Pricing at Scale (10,000 contacts)

Platform	Monthly Cost	Notes
Brew	$199	Pro tier
Mailchimp	$100-150	Standard tier
Klaviyo	$150-200	Scales with usage
ConvertKit	$100	Creator Pro
ActiveCampaign	$155	Plus tier
HubSpot	$890+	Professional required
Brevo	$65	Business tier

How to Choose Your Platform

Decision Framework

Question 1: What's your biggest pain point?

• "I spend too much time creating emails" → Brew
• "I need better e-commerce tracking" → Klaviyo
• "I need complex automation" → ActiveCampaign
• "I want everything in one place" → HubSpot
• "I need the cheapest option" → Brevo

Question 2: What's your technical ability?

• Beginner → Brew, MailerLite, ConvertKit
• Intermediate → Mailchimp, Brevo
• Advanced → ActiveCampaign, Klaviyo, HubSpot

Question 3: What's your budget for 10,000 contacts?

• Under $100/mo → Brevo
• $100-200/mo → Brew, Mailchimp, ConvertKit, Klaviyo
• $200+/mo → ActiveCampaign, HubSpot

Making the Switch

Already on a platform? Switching is easier than you think:

1. Export your contact list (CSV)
2. Note your key automations (welcome sequences, abandoned cart)
3. Set up the new platform
4. Import contacts
5. Rebuild automations (or let AI do it in Brew)
6. Update signup forms
7. Monitor deliverability

Most migrations take 1-2 weeks.

Our Recommendation

For most businesses, the choice comes down to:

Speed over control: Brew — AI creates emails in seconds

E-commerce focus: Klaviyo — Best revenue tracking

Complex automation: ActiveCampaign — Most powerful workflows

Budget constraints: Brevo — Most affordable

General marketing: Mailchimp — Established and reliable

Ready to try a new approach? Start with Brew free and create your first AI-powered email in under 60 seconds.

Try Brew Free →