Question 1

How much does email marketing actually cost over 3 years?

Accepted Answer

At 10,000 subscribers with 5% monthly list growth, the 3-year total ranges from $4,200 (MailerLite) to $14,800+ (Klaviyo). The variance comes from three factors: base price differences (MailerLite $73/mo vs Klaviyo $150/mo at 10K), how each platform handles tier jumps as your list grows, and documented price increases — Mailchimp and ActiveCampaign have raised prices 15-25% annually since 2022, while MailerLite has remained stable.

Question 2

Why did my email marketing bill go up?

Accepted Answer

Three common reasons: (1) Your subscriber count crossed a pricing tier threshold — most platforms jump $20-80/mo at each tier. (2) The platform raised prices — Mailchimp increased prices 3 times between 2022-2025, and ActiveCampaign users report 20-100% renewal hikes. (3) You're being charged for contacts you didn't know about — Mailchimp charges for unsubscribed contacts unless you manually archive them, and Klaviyo charges for all profiles including suppressed ones.

Question 3

Is Mailchimp too expensive now?

Accepted Answer

Mailchimp is 46-63% more expensive than MailerLite at every subscriber tier. At 2,500 subscribers: Mailchimp Standard costs $60/mo, MailerLite Growing Business costs $25/mo. At 10,000: $135/mo vs $73/mo. Add Mailchimp's hidden cost of charging for unsubscribed contacts (~15% surcharge for most accounts) and the gap widens further. If you're using Mailchimp primarily for email campaigns and basic automation, you're overpaying.

Question 4

Which email marketing platform is cheapest?

Accepted Answer

MailerLite is the cheapest per-subscriber platform at every tier from 500 to 50,000 subscribers. The exception is Brevo, which charges per email sent — if you have a large list you email infrequently (e.g., 50,000 contacts emailed once per month), Brevo's $18/mo Business plan beats MailerLite's $289/mo. For typical sending patterns (2-4x per month), MailerLite wins on price.

Question 5

Do email marketing platforms raise prices?

Accepted Answer

Yes, and some aggressively. Mailchimp has raised prices at least 3 times since the Intuit acquisition in 2021 — the free plan dropped from 2,000 contacts to 500 to 250. ActiveCampaign users on Reddit and Trustpilot report 20-100% increases at renewal, plus a Nov 2025 billing change that now charges for unsubscribed and bounced contacts. MailerLite, GetResponse, and Brevo have been the most price-stable platforms over the last 3 years.

Question 6

What are the hidden costs of email marketing?

Accepted Answer

The biggest hidden costs by platform: Mailchimp adds ~15% by charging for unsubscribed contacts you haven't archived. ActiveCampaign adds ~25% through SMS add-ons, CRM seat fees, and charges for bounced contacts. Klaviyo adds ~10-20% by billing for all profiles including suppressed ones. Omnisend adds ~5% by counting non-subscriber contacts (abandoned carts, imports) toward your tier. MailerLite and Brevo have effectively zero hidden costs.

Question 7

How much can I save by switching email platforms?

Accepted Answer

At 10,000 subscribers, switching from Mailchimp to MailerLite saves $744/year on list price alone — $960/year when you factor in Mailchimp's hidden charges for unsubscribed contacts. Switching from ActiveCampaign saves $1,392/year. Over 3 years with list growth factored in, the cumulative savings range from $3,000 to $12,000+ depending on your current platform and growth rate.

Question 8

Should I factor in price increases when choosing an ESP?

Accepted Answer

Absolutely. A platform that's $20/mo cheaper today but raises prices 15% annually will cost more than the 'expensive' option within 2-3 years. Our 3-year projection models historical price increase patterns: Mailchimp (~15% annual), ActiveCampaign (~12% annual), Klaviyo (~8% annual), vs MailerLite (~3% annual). The platform that looks cheapest on the pricing page isn't always cheapest over the life of your business.

Question 9

What is a 'true cost multiplier' for email marketing?

Accepted Answer

The true cost multiplier captures hidden charges that don't appear on the pricing page. Mailchimp's is 1.15x (you pay ~15% more than advertised due to unsubscribed contact charges). ActiveCampaign's is 1.25x (add-ons, CRM seats, bounced contact charges). Klaviyo's is 1.10x (suppressed profile charges, SMS minimums). MailerLite, GetResponse, and Brevo have a 1.0x multiplier — what you see is what you pay.

Question 10

How accurate is this cost calculator?

Accepted Answer

Every base price is verified by logging into each platform's live pricing page — last verified April 2026. True cost multipliers are derived from documented billing policies (charging for unsubscribed contacts, add-on pricing, etc.), not estimates. The 3-year projection uses conservative price increase rates based on documented historical increases. Your actual costs may vary based on your specific plan, add-ons, and negotiated pricing.