Mailchimp
4.4 AI Email & Lifecycle Marketing
The best-known all-in-one email marketing platform, now with Intuit Assist generative AI baked into the editor.
Free tier · $13/mo Visit ↗
Campaign Monitor
Design-driven email marketing (now part of Marigold) with a drag-and-drop builder, visual journeys, and new AI email tools.
Quick answer
Campaign Monitor is best for design-conscious brands & teams. It offers paid plans from $13/mo. Its standout strength is polished drag-and-drop builder with team template management; the main trade-off is lite plan caps monthly sends (5x contacts); unlimited sends need Essentials+. Top alternatives: Mailchimp and Constant Contact.
Pricing
$13/mo
Free tier
No
MaxAEO Score
4.2 /5
Pricing as of June 2026 and may change — verify on the vendor's site. · Data verified 2026-06-04
Third-party ratings: G2 4.1 · 720+ reviews
Pricing plans
| Plan | Price | Highlights |
|---|---|---|
| Lite | $13/mo ($11.70/mo with 10% annual discount) | Up to 500 contacts; 5x subscriber emails/mo, custom-coded templates, unlimited signup forms, AI Writer, automated emails, prebuilt journeys, transactional email |
| Essentials | $31/mo ($27.90/mo with 10% annual discount) | Best value; unlimited email sends, priority support, unlimited AI-powered email features & automated emails, inbox preview |
| Premier | $171/mo ($153.90/mo with 10% annual discount) | Phone support, advanced engagement segments, send-time optimization, email section locking, advanced link tracking, drag-and-drop website builder included |
| Enterprise | Custom | Custom contract, dedicated account manager, multi-brand/team management, proactive deliverability monitoring, GDPR/SOC2 security |
Verify pricing on the vendor's site (as of 2026-06-04).
Best for
Design-conscious brands & teams Agencies managing multiple senders Nonprofits & media organizations Marketers who value polished templates
Why we recommend it
Campaign Monitor is a long-standing, design-focused email marketing platform — now part of Marigold — favored by brands, agencies, and nonprofits that want polished, on-brand campaigns. It combines a strong drag-and-drop builder and template management with a visual journey designer, engagement segmentation, and a newer AI layer (AI Email Booster, AI Segment Mapper, and AI Writer). Used by organizations from media outlets to nonprofits, it's a dependable pick when email design and brand consistency matter most.
Our take
From our research, Campaign Monitor (now part of Marigold) leans into design and brand polish — a strong drag-and-drop builder, team template management, and a visual journey designer — with a newer AI layer (AI Email Booster, AI Segment Mapper, AI Writer) added across plans. Two honest caveats surfaced while verifying pricing: there's no permanent free tier (30-day trial only), and the entry Lite plan caps monthly sends at 5x your contact count, so you need the Essentials plan or higher for unlimited sends; several advanced capabilities (engagement segments, the website builder) are gated to higher tiers or paid add-ons.
Key use cases
- Design on-brand emails with a drag-and-drop builder and template library
- Automate customer journeys with a visual journey designer
- Improve copy and targeting with AI Email Booster and Segment Mapper
- Segment and personalize sends with engagement-based segments
- Track performance with Marketing Monitor real-time analytics
Integrations
Shopify WordPress Salesforce Zapier Microsoft Dynamics WooCommerce
Pros
- Polished drag-and-drop builder with team template management
- Newer AI tools (Email Booster, Segment Mapper, AI Writer) across plans
- Visual customer journeys plus transactional email and SMS
Cons
- Lite plan caps monthly sends (5x contacts); unlimited sends need Essentials+
- Some advanced features (engagement segments, website builder) are paid add-ons or higher tiers
What to compare
- Design-first builder and template management aimed at on-brand, polished emails
- New AI layer (AI Email Booster, AI Segment Mapper, AI Writer) across plans
- Pricing scales by contact tier; unlimited sends require the Essentials plan or above
Campaign Monitor alternatives
Constant Contact
4.3 AI Email & Lifecycle Marketing
Veteran SMB email & digital marketing platform with an AI copy generator, social posting, events, and SMS in one suite.
$12/mo Visit ↗
GetResponse
4.4 AI Email & Lifecycle Marketing
All-in-one email marketing & automation with AI email generation, landing pages, webinars, and course tools.
Free tier · $19/mo Visit ↗
Frequently asked questions
How is Campaign Monitor priced, and is there a free plan?
There's no permanent free plan — a 30-day free trial (up to 500 contacts, 500-email limit) lets you test it. Paid plans are priced by contact tier and start at $13/mo for Lite (up to 500 contacts; about $11.70/mo with the 10% annual discount). The Lite plan caps monthly sends at 5x your contacts, while Essentials and Premier include unlimited sends.
What AI features does Campaign Monitor offer?
It has added an AI layer including AI Email Booster and AI Segment Mapper, plus an AI Writer for copy. The Lite plan includes AI Writer access, while Essentials and above unlock unlimited access to the AI-powered email features. There's also a Marketing Monitor analytics layer and Campaign Score.
How much does Campaign Monitor cost?
Campaign Monitor starts at $13/mo. There is no permanent free tier.
Who is Campaign Monitor best for?
Campaign Monitor is best for Design-conscious brands & teams, Agencies managing multiple senders, Nonprofits & media organizations. A typical use: design on-brand emails with a drag-and-drop builder and template library.
What are the best Campaign Monitor alternatives?
Top Campaign Monitor alternatives include Mailchimp, Constant Contact, GetResponse — compare them on features, pricing, and best-fit use case.
Is Campaign Monitor worth it?
Polished drag-and-drop builder with team template management, though lite plan caps monthly sends (5x contacts); unlimited sends need Essentials+. It is a strong fit for design-conscious brands & teams.
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