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SaaSScored
Updated March 2026

Best Email Marketing Tools for Automation

If email automation is your priority — complex drip sequences, behavioural triggers, lead scoring, multi-channel workflows — not every platform is built for it. We ranked each tool by the depth and flexibility of their automation builder, the number of triggers and actions available, and what real users say about building and managing workflows on G2, Capterra, and Reddit.

Transparency note: We earn affiliate commissions from some tools listed here. This never influences our rankings — our scoring methodology is published and open for scrutiny.

What to look for

  • Visual workflow builder — can you see and edit the entire flow visually?
  • Number of triggers — behavioural, time-based, conditional splits, webhook triggers
  • Pre-built automation templates — how many recipes come ready to use?
  • Lead scoring — can you automatically score and segment contacts based on behaviour?
  • Multi-channel — can automations include SMS, push notifications, or webhooks alongside email?

Quick Picks

#1
ActiveCampaign—Mid-sized businesses (1K-25K contacts) that actively use complex automation daily
7.4
Read review
#2
Klaviyo—Shopify stores doing $500K+ in revenue that need serious segmentation and revenue attribution
7.5
Read review
#3
Drip—Small-to-mid ecommerce stores ($100K-$1M revenue) on Shopify or WooCommerce who want powerful automation without Klaviyo's price tag
6.8
Read review
ActiveCampaign logo
Our #1 Pick

ActiveCampaign

ActiveCampaign is a powerful tool being undermined by its own pricing strategy and declining customer experience. The automation is actually excellent...

7.4/10
Try ActiveCampaign →

How They Compare

RankToolScorePriceFree?Best For
#1ActiveCampaign
7.4/10
From $19/moMid-sized businesses (1K-25K contacts) that actively use complex automation daily
#2Klaviyo
7.5/10
From $20/moShopify stores doing $500K+ in revenue that need serious segmentation and revenue attribution
#3Drip
6.8/10
From $39/moSmall-to-mid ecommerce stores ($100K-$1M revenue) on Shopify or WooCommerce who want powerful automation without Klaviyo's price tag
#4GetResponse
7.2/10
From $19/moCourse creators and small businesses who want email + webinars + funnels in one platform
#5Omnisend
7.1/10
From $16/moSmall-to-mid Shopify stores that want email + SMS + push in one platform without Klaviyo's price tag or learning curve
#6Brevo
7.3/10
From $9/moSmall businesses that need email, CRM, SMS, and chat in one affordable platform — especially those with large contact lists but low send volume
#7MailerLite
7.5/10
From $10/moSmall businesses and creators on a budget who want simplicity
#8Mailchimp
6.5/10
From $13/moComplete beginners who want the easiest interface and maximum third-party integrations
#9Kit (ConvertKit)
7.2/10
From $33/moSolo creators, bloggers, and podcasters who value simplicity and built-in monetisation
#10beehiiv
7/10
From $43/moNewsletter creators and media companies who want to monetise their audience through ads, paid subscriptions, and cross-promotion
#11AWeber
6.2/10
From $15/moNon-technical beginners who value phone support and simplicity above all else, and digital product sellers who want built-in payment processing on landing pages
ActiveCampaign logo
#1

ActiveCampaign

The automation king — if you can stomach the pricing

7.4/10
Best for: Mid-sized businesses (1K-25K contacts) that actively use complex automation daily
Not for: Beginners, budget-conscious solopreneurs, or simple newsletter senders — MailerLite offers 80% of the functionality at 30-50% of the cost
Try ActiveCampaignFull review
Klaviyo logo
#2

Klaviyo

The ecommerce email powerhouse — at a premium price

7.5/10
Best for: Shopify stores doing $500K+ in revenue that need serious segmentation and revenue attribution
Not for: Bloggers, creators, coaches, SaaS businesses, or anyone without an ecommerce store — zero advantage over tools at half the price
Try KlaviyoFull review
Drip logo
#3

Drip

Solid ecommerce automation — quietly falling behind Klaviyo

6.8/10
Best for: Small-to-mid ecommerce stores ($100K-$1M revenue) on Shopify or WooCommerce who want powerful automation without Klaviyo's price tag
Not for: Anyone needing SMS marketing (discontinued for new customers), non-ecommerce businesses (Drip is ecommerce-only), or large stores needing predictive analytics and AI-powered optimisation
Try DripFull review
GetResponse logo
#4

GetResponse

The all-in-one platform with a billing problem

7.2/10
Best for: Course creators and small businesses who want email + webinars + funnels in one platform
Not for: Simple newsletter senders (you will overpay), WordPress users (no plugin), or anyone who might need to cancel quickly
Try GetResponseFull review
Omnisend logo
#5

Omnisend

The budget Klaviyo with genuine omnichannel chops

7.1/10
Best for: Small-to-mid Shopify stores that want email + SMS + push in one platform without Klaviyo's price tag or learning curve
Not for: Stores with heavy Outlook/Hotmail customer bases (38.7% Microsoft deliverability), B2B businesses, enterprise operations at 50K+ contacts, or advanced marketers who need Klaviyo-level segmentation depth
Try OmnisendFull review
Brevo logo
#6

Brevo

The best-value all-in-one — if support doesn't ghost you

7.3/10
Best for: Small businesses that need email, CRM, SMS, and chat in one affordable platform — especially those with large contact lists but low send volume
Not for: Ecommerce stores needing deep Shopify integration and revenue attribution (Klaviyo and Omnisend are far better), or anyone who needs responsive customer support
Try BrevoFull review
MailerLite logo
#7

MailerLite

Clean, affordable, and easy to use

7.5/10
Best for: Small businesses and creators on a budget who want simplicity
Not for: E-commerce needing deep analytics, or anyone in finance/health/dating niches where deliverability drops significantly
Try MailerLiteFull review
Mailchimp logo
#8

Mailchimp

The biggest name in email — coasting on reputation

6.5/10
Best for: Complete beginners who want the easiest interface and maximum third-party integrations
Not for: Anyone with 5,000+ contacts (dramatically overpriced), ecommerce businesses (Klaviyo is far superior), or anyone who needs real customer support
Try MailchimpFull review
Kit (ConvertKit) logo
#9

Kit (ConvertKit)

Built for creators — but the price just tripled

7.2/10
Best for: Solo creators, bloggers, and podcasters who value simplicity and built-in monetisation
Not for: Ecommerce businesses, anyone needing detailed analytics, or large lists where cost becomes hard to justify vs MailerLite
Try KitFull review
beehiiv logo
#10

beehiiv

The newsletter platform built for monetisation — not marketing

7/10
Best for: Newsletter creators and media companies who want to monetise their audience through ads, paid subscriptions, and cross-promotion
Not for: Ecommerce businesses (zero ecommerce features), anyone needing complex automation or advanced segmentation, and integration-heavy tech stacks
Try beehiivFull review
AWeber logo
#11

AWeber

The veteran platform coasting on loyalty — after a brutal price hike

6.2/10
Best for: Non-technical beginners who value phone support and simplicity above all else, and digital product sellers who want built-in payment processing on landing pages
Not for: Ecommerce businesses (lacks pre-built flows and deep platform integrations), advanced marketers needing sophisticated automation, or cost-conscious users at scale — MailerLite does the same job for significantly less
Try AWeberFull review

Compare the Top Picks Head-to-Head

ActiveCampaign vs Klaviyo
ActiveCampaign vs Drip
Klaviyo vs Drip

Explore Related Categories

Best Email Marketing for Small Business — 11 Tools Ranked, Real Pricing
Best Free Email Marketing Tools — 9 Plans Compared (2026)
Best Email Marketing Tools for Bloggers & Creators

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the best email marketing tool for automation in 2026?

Based on our research, ActiveCampaign ranks #1 for automation. The automation king — if you can stomach the pricing. Score: 7.4/10.

How did you rank these email marketing tools?

We score each tool across 6 criteria: Deliverability (20%), Automation (20%), Ease of Use (20%), Value for Money (20%), Templates (10%), and Analytics + Support (10%). Scores are based on independent deliverability data, verified pricing, and real user reviews from G2, Capterra, Reddit, and Trustpilot.

Are these rankings influenced by affiliate commissions?

No. We earn affiliate commissions from some tools listed, but commissions never influence rankings. Our scoring methodology is published on our methodology page and open for scrutiny. Tools with higher commissions do not rank higher — Mailchimp has the lowest score despite being one of the biggest brands.

Which email marketing tool has the best automation?

ActiveCampaign has the most powerful automation builder — 135+ triggers, 750+ pre-built recipes, conditional branching, lead scoring, and a built-in CRM. It's the clear winner for businesses that rely on complex workflows. Klaviyo is the best for ecommerce-specific automation with predictive analytics and revenue attribution.

Is Mailchimp good for email automation?

Mailchimp retired its Classic Automation Builder in June 2025 and replaced it with the Customer Journey Builder, widely considered a step backward. For serious automation needs, ActiveCampaign, Klaviyo, or even MailerLite offer significantly more capable workflow builders at comparable or lower prices.

What email automations should every business set up?

Start with these three: (1) Welcome sequence — 3-5 emails for new subscribers, (2) Abandoned cart recovery — triggers 1-4 hours after abandonment, recovers 5-15% of lost sales, (3) Re-engagement series — targets inactive subscribers before they hurt deliverability. These three flows alone can generate 30-40% of email revenue.

Do I need a paid plan for email automation?

MailerLite includes visual automation on its free plan (500 subscribers). Kit's free plan includes basic sequences for up to 10,000 subscribers. Mailchimp removed automation from free in June 2025. ActiveCampaign has no free plan — paid starts at $19/mo. For serious automation, expect to pay $19-59/mo depending on the platform.

How we rank these tools

Rankings based on 6 weighted criteria: Deliverability (20%), Automation (20%), Ease of Use (20%), Value for Money (20%), Templates (10%), Analytics + Support (10%). All scores are research-backed — sourced from real user reviews on Reddit, G2, Capterra, and Trustpilot, plus verified pricing and independent deliverability data. Read our full methodology

Last updated: March 2026

Need help deciding?

Take our 60-second quiz to get a personalised recommendation, or compare any two tools side-by-side.

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Our top pick for this category: ActiveCampaign (7.4/10)