How we score Email marketing software
Rubric v1, published Sep 27, 2026 · See the ranking
We score each email marketing tool on its entry paid plan using only what the company publishes on its own website: the monthly price for 2,500 contacts, how many emails a month that allows, what the plan includes, whether there is a free plan, and support. Every score is worked out by the formula shown for its criterion, and every fact behind it links to the page it came from, with the date we read it.
A fact the company does not publish counts as absent. We have not sent campaigns with these tools; when we do, the method will say so and the rubric version will change.
The criteria
| Criterion | Weight | What a 10 and a 0 look like |
|---|---|---|
| Cost for 2,500 contacts | 35% | The entry paid plan's monthly price for 2,500 contacts at the regular price (no introductory discount), annual prepay included. 10 at $15 or less, 0 at $100 or more, straight line between; 0 if not published. |
| Included on the entry plan | 20% | Which of five the entry paid plan includes: automated emails (workflows or autoresponders), A/B testing, landing pages, signup forms, and emails without the provider's logo. 2 points each. |
| Free plan | 15% | 10 for a free plan with 1,000 or more contacts; 7 for a smaller free plan; 5 for a free trial; 0 for neither. |
| Emails a month | 15% | Monthly sends allowed at 2,500 contacts: unlimited or 10 or more per contact 10; 5 or more 7; 2 or more 4; fewer, or not published, 0. |
| Support | 15% | Support on the entry paid plan: phone and chat (or 24/7 chat) 10; one live channel 6; email or help centre only 3; not published 0. |
The overall score is 10 × the sum of weight × criterion score, from 0 to 100, shown as 0-10 with one decimal.
Version history
- v1, published Sep 27, 2026: Cost for 2,500 contacts 35%, Included on the entry plan 20%, Free plan 15%, Emails a month 15%, Support 15%