Campaign Monitor's $12/month starting price for 500 contacts places it roughly 15% higher than several competitors offering comparable—or superior—functionality. For B2B SaaS companies scaling their go-to-market operations, this premium becomes increasingly difficult to justify when platforms like Brevo and MailerLite deliver multi-channel capabilities, advanced automation, and generous free tiers that Campaign Monitor simply cannot match. This comprehensive analysis examines seven alternatives that consistently outperform Campaign Monitor on value, features, and implementation speed for growing SaaS teams.

Key Takeaways

• Pricing transparency separates leaders from laggards: Campaign Monitor's $12/month for 2,500 emails compares unfavorably to Brevo's $9/month for 5,000 emails—choose platforms with predictable costs that scale with your growth

• Free plans enable risk-free evaluation: MailerLite offers 12,000 free emails monthly for up to 500 subscribers while Brevo provides 300 emails daily at no cost—Campaign Monitor only offers a 30-day free trial capped at 500 contacts and 500 emails

• Multi-channel marketing has become table stakes: Brevo integrates email, SMS, and WhatsApp in one platform; Campaign Monitor remains email-only—limiting your ability to meet customers where they are

• Automation depth directly impacts revenue: ActiveCampaign delivers 900+ integrations with behavior-based triggers, while Campaign Monitor offers basic time-based sequences—critical for lifecycle marketing programs

• Support accessibility varies dramatically: Constant Contact provides live phone support on all paid plans—a rarity among email platforms that matters when issues arise during critical campaigns

Email marketing continues to deliver exceptional returns for B2B SaaS companies. Yet Campaign Monitor's limitations increasingly constrain growth-stage companies building sophisticated go-to-market architectures.

1. Mailchimp: The Versatile All-Rounder for Email Marketing Tools

Mailchimp remains one of the world's most popular email marketing services, offering brand recognition and ecosystem depth that few competitors can match. For B2B SaaS teams requiring extensive third-party integrations, Mailchimp's 300+ native connections provide unmatched flexibility.

Key Features:

• 300+ integrations spanning CRM, ecommerce, and productivity tools

• AI content optimizer for subject lines and copy

• Drag-and-drop editor with 100+ templates

• Advanced segmentation with behavioral triggers

• Built-in A/B testing for emails and landing pages

Pricing Structure:

• Free: $0/month (up to 500 contacts with basic features)

• Essentials: from $13/month (up to 500 contacts; core email + templates, limited automation)

• Standard: from $20/month (up to 500 contacts; more automation and optimization tools)

• Premium: from $350/month (up to 10,000 contacts; advanced segmentation, reporting, and higher limits)

Mailchimp's free tier accommodates early-stage testing, though Capterra reviewers note the platform becomes expensive at scale compared to alternatives. The platform earns a 4.4/5 G2 rating from 5,370+ reviews with users praising ease of use while noting pricing complexity.

For teams implementing content operations at scale, Mailchimp's ecosystem integrations reduce manual work across marketing workflows. The platform particularly suits companies with existing tool stacks requiring seamless connectivity.

2. Constant Contact: Best for Small Businesses and Event Management

Constant Contact distinguishes itself through dedicated event marketing features and live phone support—capabilities that have defined the platform since 1995. For B2B SaaS companies running webinars, conferences, or community events, these specialized tools eliminate the need for separate event platforms.

Key Features:

• Event invitations with registration management

• Social media marketing integration

• Live phone support on all paid plans

• Industry-specific templates and guidance

• Online survey and polling tools

Pricing Structure:

• Lite: from $12/month (for up to 500 contacts; core email marketing, basic templates & reporting)

• Standard: from $35/month (for up to 500 contacts; adds automation, A/B testing, more analytics)

• Premium: from $80/month (for up to 500 contacts; advanced segmentation, dynamic content, optimization tools)

The platform maintains a 4.1/5 G2 rating from 7,200+ reviews with users consistently highlighting customer support quality. As one Capterra reviewer noted, the platform is "user-friendly and intuitive to use", making it accessible for teams without dedicated email marketing specialists.

Constant Contact's event capabilities align with product launch strategies that rely on webinar funnels and virtual events to drive pipeline. The phone support advantage proves invaluable during high-stakes campaign launches where email issues require immediate resolution.

3. MailerLite: Affordable and User-Friendly Email Marketing Software

MailerLite emerges as the value leader for growing SaaS companies, combining an exceptionally generous free tier with sophisticated features typically reserved for premium platforms. Founded in 2010 by Ignas Rubežius, the platform has built a 4.6/5 G2 rating from 1,080+ reviews through relentless focus on simplicity.

Key Features:

• 12,000 free emails/month for up to 500 subscribers

• Paid newsletter subscription features for monetization

• AI subject line generator for optimization

• Drag-and-drop landing page builder

• Embedded forms with automation triggers

Pricing Structure:

• Free: $0/month (free-forever plan for up to 500 subscribers with a monthly email cap around 12,000 emails and core features)

• Growing Business: from $10/month (unlimited monthly emails for lower subscriber tiers, with automation and 24/7 support)

• Advanced: from $20/month (adds more advanced automation, analytics, and extra features)

• Enterprise: Custom pricing (for large lists needing dedicated support, security, and custom terms)

MailerLite's free plan stands out as one of the most generous in the industry, enabling meaningful testing before any financial commitment. Users praise the platform as "excellent customer service... super easy to use" according to Capterra reviews.

For B2B SaaS companies building thought leadership through newsletters, MailerLite's paid subscription features enable direct monetization—supporting product positioning frameworks that establish category authority.

4. Brevo (formerly Sendinblue): Comprehensive Marketing Automation Tools for SaaS

Brevo represents the most complete Campaign Monitor alternative for B2B SaaS companies requiring multi-channel capabilities. Founded in 2012, the platform has evolved into a full marketing suite combining email, SMS, WhatsApp, and CRM functionality.

Key Features:

• Multi-channel messaging: email, SMS, WhatsApp, chat

• Built-in CRM with sales pipeline management

• Transactional emails on free plan

• Visual workflow builder for automation

• 300 free emails daily (forever-free tier)

Pricing Structure:

• Free: $0/month (up to 300 emails per day; up to 100,000 stored contacts on the free plan)

• Starter: from $9/month (removes daily sending limits; entry tier around 5,000 emails/month with included contact storage)

• Standard: from $18/month (adds unlimited marketing automation, A/B testing, and advanced reports)

• Enterprise: Custom pricing (unlimited users, custom email volumes, enterprise-grade features and SLAs)

The platform's value proposition crystallizes in direct comparison: Brevo delivers 5,000 emails for $9/month versus Campaign Monitor's 2,500 emails for $12/month. This pricing advantage compounds as lists grow.

Brevo earns praise as a "Reliable, Affordable, and Surprisingly Powerful All-in-One Marketing Platform" from product marketing professionals. The platform maintains a 4.5/5 G2 rating from 2,470+ reviews with particular strength in multi-channel campaign orchestration.

For teams implementing demand generation strategies, Brevo's integrated SMS and WhatsApp capabilities enable omnichannel nurturing sequences that meet prospects on their preferred channels.

5. ActiveCampaign: Advanced Email Marketing Automation and CRM for SaaS

ActiveCampaign delivers the most sophisticated automation capabilities among Campaign Monitor alternatives, combining enterprise-grade marketing automation with integrated CRM functionality. Founded in 2003 by Jason VandeBoom, the platform has become the benchmark for advanced automation.

Key Features:

• Industry-leading automation with conditional logic

• Built-in CRM with sales automation

• 900+ native integrations

• Predictive sending optimization

• Machine learning-powered recommendations

Pricing Structure:

• Free: $0 (14-day trial with email sign-up)

• Starter: Starts at $15/month (10x contact limit)

• Plus: Starts at $49/month (10x contact limit)

• Pro: Starts at $79/month (12x contact limit)

• Enterprise: Starts at $145/month (15x contact limit)

Users consistently cite ActiveCampaign as "the best tool for automations and reasonably priced" according to small business owner reviews. The platform earns a 4.5/5 G2 rating from 14,470+ reviews..

Industry analysts recognize ActiveCampaign for balancing user-friendly design with advanced automation—a combination that typically requires enterprise pricing elsewhere. This capability depth supports PLG metrics dashboards that track user behavior and trigger conversion sequences automatically.

For B2B SaaS companies ready to graduate from basic email tools, ActiveCampaign provides a clear growth path without the complexity or cost of enterprise marketing clouds.

6. HubSpot Email Marketing: The Integrated Suite for GTM Success

HubSpot's email marketing capabilities exist within a broader ecosystem designed for complete go-to-market execution. For B2B SaaS companies already invested in the HubSpot CRM, the email tools deliver seamless integration that standalone platforms cannot replicate.

Key Features:

• Native CRM integration with contact enrichment

• Sales Hub alignment for marketing-sales handoff

• Content management system integration

• Lead nurturing with behavioral triggers

• Full marketing attribution reporting

Pricing Structure:

• Free: $0/month (core CRM + basic marketing tools such as forms, email, and simple automation)

• Starter: Starts at $10/month (entry-level marketing automation, priced by marketing contacts; typically billed annually)

• Professional: $890/month (advanced automation, collaboration, and reporting, with a larger included contact bundle; billed annually)

• Enterprise: Starts at $3,600/month (full enterprise feature set, including advanced permissions and governance, for higher contact volumes; billed annually)

HubSpot's strength lies in ecosystem integration rather than standalone email capabilities. The platform eliminates data silos between marketing, sales, and service teams—critical for companies implementing account-based marketing strategies.

Genesys Growth's HubSpot guide details implementation best practices for B2B SaaS companies evaluating the platform. The investment makes sense primarily for organizations committed to the broader HubSpot ecosystem rather than those seeking standalone email capabilities.

7. Zoho Marketing Automation: Powering B2B Growth with AI

Zoho Marketing Automation provides AI-powered capabilities within the broader Zoho business suite. For companies already using Zoho CRM, Finance, or other Zoho applications, the marketing automation platform delivers native integration advantages.

Key Features:

• AI-powered campaign optimization

• Predictive analytics for engagement

• Customer journey mapping tools

• Lead scoring with behavioral triggers

• Omnichannel marketing coordination

Pricing Structure:

• Standard: $19/month (unlimited emails, 10 users, basic journeys & segmentation)

• Professional: $29/month (unlimited emails, 15 users, advanced journeys, scoring, landing pages, A/B testing)

• Enterprise: $59/month (unlimited emails, 25 users, full journey builder, attribution, advanced pop-ups, product recommendations)

Zoho's AI capabilities support AI-powered GTM workflows that automate routine optimization decisions. The platform particularly suits organizations standardizing on Zoho's business application suite for operational efficiency.

For marketing leaders exploring AI integration, the GTM Engineer School provides hands-on training for implementing AI-powered marketing automation workflows effectively.

Choosing Your Next Email Marketing Platform: A Genesys Growth Perspective

Platform selection depends on organizational maturity, technical resources, and strategic priorities. The right choice accelerates growth; the wrong choice creates operational drag that compounds over time.

• For Budget-Conscious Teams: MailerLite and Brevo deliver exceptional value with generous free tiers enabling meaningful evaluation before commitment. Starting at $9-10/month, these platforms provide capabilities that Campaign Monitor reserves for higher tiers.

• For Automation-First Organizations: ActiveCampaign's 900+ integrations and conditional logic support sophisticated nurturing sequences that drive conversion. The investment justifies itself through reduced manual effort and improved campaign performance.

• For Multi-Channel Strategies: Brevo's integrated email, SMS, and WhatsApp capabilities enable omnichannel engagement without managing multiple vendor relationships. This consolidation reduces operational complexity while improving customer experience.

• For Ecosystem Alignment: HubSpot and Zoho make sense for organizations already invested in those platforms. Native integration eliminates data synchronization challenges that plague multi-vendor stacks.

The Genesys Growth tools directory provides curated recommendations across the GTM technology landscape, helping teams identify complementary solutions that amplify platform investments.

Frequently Asked Questions

What makes an email marketing platform "best" for B2B SaaS?

B2B SaaS companies require platforms supporting lifecycle marketing, behavioral triggers, and CRM integration. The best platforms enable automated sequences triggered by product usage data, trial expiration, and engagement signals—capabilities that generic email tools often lack. Email marketing ROI of $36-42 per dollar depends on these sophisticated capabilities driving conversion throughout the customer journey.

How important is marketing automation for B2B SaaS growth in 2025?

Marketing automation has become essential for scaling customer acquisition and retention without proportional headcount growth. ActiveCampaign and Brevo excel here with visual workflow builders and conditional logic that enables sophisticated nurturing sequences. Companies implementing demand generation strategies rely on these capabilities to convert prospects efficiently.

Can free email marketing tools be effective for a growing SaaS company?

Free email marketing platforms like MailerLite (12,000 emails/month for up to 1,000 subscribers) and Brevo (300 daily emails) provide meaningful capabilities for early-stage companies. These tiers enable list building and campaign testing before financial commitment. However, growing companies typically outgrow free limitations within 6-12 months as subscriber counts and automation needs increase.

How can I integrate AI into my email marketing strategy effectively?

Start with AI features embedded in platforms like ActiveCampaign's predictive sending and Zoho's campaign optimization. These tools automate timing decisions and subject line testing without requiring technical expertise. Genesys Growth's consulting helps teams implement AI-powered workflows that amplify marketing effectiveness while maintaining strategic control.

What are the key differences between dedicated email platforms and all-in-one marketing suites?

Dedicated email platforms like MailerLite offer depth in email-specific features at lower cost. All-in-one suites like HubSpot and Zoho provide broader functionality including CRM, sales tools, and service capabilities. The choice depends on existing tool stack and integration requirements.