How we make this list: we compare vendor pricing pages, product documentation and plan limits, and print the month we checked each price. We don’t accept payment for rankings.
QUICK ANSWER
Sender is the best email marketing software for churches in 2026 because its free plan covers 2,500 subscribers and 15,000 emails a month, with automation and 24/7 support included. EmailOctopus is the simplest setup at $9 a month, and Brevo is the cheapest paid entry with SMS included.
Key takeaways
6 of 8 shortlisted tools have a free plan, and the lowest listed paid start is $9 a month (Brevo) (Nov 2026).
Sender ranks first because its free plan fits a whole congregation at no cost.
EmailOctopus and Brevo both start at $9 a month, and both suit a volunteer-run list.
Constant Contact is the best pick for event registration and phone support, but it has no free plan.
MailerLite is the best pick when the church also wants a simple website in the same account.
The best email marketing software for churches has to fit a volunteer team: a congregation list that grows slowly, a weekly bulletin to send, events to promote, and no budget for a complex tool. Every tool below was judged on low cost, donation links, event emails and a volunteer-friendly editor.
This guide sits under our best email marketing software pillar, which compares the full category. If you are still weighing the wider market, start there, then come back here to pick the tool that fits a congregation.
Sender is the best fit for a church because the free plan is big enough for a whole congregation. It covers 2,500 subscribers and 15,000 emails a month, with automation, segmentation, landing pages and 24/7 support included. A church can mail the weekly bulletin, run a welcome series for visitors and promote events for months without paying anything.
The catch is the shorter integration list. Common platforms such as WordPress connect directly, but a niche church management system may need Zapier instead. SMS is a prepaid add-on rather than part of the email plans, and free emails carry Sender branding until you upgrade.
What we like
Free plan covers 2,500 subscribers and 15,000 emails a month.
Automation and 24/7 support included on the free plan.
Standard starts at $9 a month.
Watch out for
Fewer native integrations than Mailchimp or Brevo.
SMS is a prepaid add-on, not part of email plans.
Free emails carry Sender branding until you upgrade.
EmailOctopus suits a church that only needs email and wants the simplest setup. The free plan covers 2,500 subscribers and 10,000 emails a month, and Pro starts at $9 a month billed annually. There is no SMS channel, no CRM and no course builder to learn, so a volunteer can import the congregation list, pick a template and send the first bulletin the same day.
The catch is the same focus that makes setup fast. Free-plan reports only last 30 days, and you get one form and one landing page until you pay. A church that later wants SMS reminders or event registration flows will outgrow it and need to move.
What we like
Free plan covers 2,500 subscribers and 10,000 emails a month.
Pro starts at $9 a month billed annually, $10 monthly.
Short learning curve with no extra channels to manage.
Watch out for
Email only, with no SMS channel at any price.
Free-plan reports expire after 30 days.
Some integrations run through Zapier rather than a direct link.
Brevo is the cheapest paid entry here at $9 a month for Starter with 5,000 emails, and you pay by emails sent rather than contacts stored. That suits a church whose member list is large but that only mails once a week. The same account covers SMS and WhatsApp, so a service change or prayer request can reach members by text too.
The catch is that automation and A/B testing only arrive on Standard at $18 a month, so the $9 tier suits simple bulletins. The free plan caps sends at 300 emails a day, so one big mail to 1,000 members takes four days, and Starter keeps Brevo branding unless you pay for removal.
What we like
Lowest paid start here at $9 a month.
Volume pricing suits a large list mailed once a week.
Email, SMS and WhatsApp in one account.
Watch out for
Automation and A/B testing need Standard at $18 a month.
Free plan caps sends at 300 emails a day.
Starter keeps Brevo branding unless you pay for removal.
Free trial14 days of premium features, no card required
PlatformsWeb, API
MailerLite suits a church that wants one account for email and a simple web presence. Comfort starts at $12 a month for up to 500 subscribers and adds a website builder, landing pages and digital product sales next to the email tools. The editor is clean, the templates look good without much work, and a volunteer can learn it in an afternoon.
The catch is the small free plan. It covers only 250 subscribers and 2,500 emails a month after the June 2026 cut, so a congregation over 250 hits the paid tier fast. Live chat is also limited on the free plan and only becomes 24/7 on Power at $25 a month.
What we like
Comfort starts at $12 a month for up to 500 subscribers.
Clean editor a volunteer can learn in an afternoon.
Website builder and landing pages built in.
Watch out for
Free plan covers only 250 subscribers and 2,500 emails a month.
24/7 live chat needs the Power plan at $25 a month.
Paid accounts move up a tier automatically when limits are passed.
Constant Contact is the easiest tool here for a church that wants a human on the phone. Every plan, including Lite at $12 a month, includes live phone and chat support, and the interface is built for people who send mail a few times a month rather than for marketers. Event registration, social posting and SMS sit in the same account, which suits service signups and fundraisers.
The catch is that there is no free plan at all, only a free trial, so the meter starts running from day one. Lite is also thin: one automation template and no A/B testing, while fuller automation sits on Standard at $35 a month or Premium at $80 a month.
What we like
Live phone and chat support on every plan, including Lite.
Event registration built into the same account.
Simple interface suited to volunteers who mail a few times a month.
Watch out for
No free plan, only a free trial.
Lite allows one automation template and no A/B testing.
Mailchimp is the safe pick when your church already runs on many apps. It links to more than 300 tools, including donation, event and accounting apps, so member and giving data can shape who gets which mail. Essentials starts at $13 a month for up to 500 contacts, and the free plan covers 250 contacts and 500 emails a month.
The catch is the price curve and the thin free plan. Costs climb steeply as the congregation list grows, and Mailchimp counts unsubscribed contacts toward your bill. The free plan has no automation, no scheduling and no A/B testing, with email support ending after 30 days.
What we like
More than 300 integrations, the widest in this list.
Essentials starts at $13 a month for up to 500 contacts.
Mature reporting on the higher tiers.
Watch out for
Prices climb steeply as the list grows.
Free plan has no automation, no scheduling and no A/B testing.
AWeber suits a church that wants simple newsletters and help getting started. Lite starts at $12.49 a month billed annually, or $15 a month on monthly billing, and covers landing pages, sign-up forms, AI writing help and a Canva link for images. Paid plans include chat, email and phone support, and a Done For You option can build your first emails and landing pages.
The catch is the entry path, which is muddled right now. The pricing page leads with a 14-day trial, while AWeber help pages still describe a free plan for up to 500 subscribers. Lite also caps you at one list, three automations and three landing pages, and it adds a 1% fee on ecommerce sales.
What we like
Lite starts at $12.49 a month billed annually.
Chat, email and phone support are listed on paid plans.
Landing pages, forms and AI writing help are included on Lite.
Watch out for
Pricing page leads with a 14-day trial, not a free plan.
Lite caps you at one list, three automations and three landing pages.
Starting price$19/month, or $15.58/month billed annually…
Free planYes
Free trial14 days
PlatformsWeb, iOS, Android, API
GetResponse suits a church that runs online services or classes alongside email. Starter starts at $19 a month for 1,000 contacts and bundles landing pages, forms, popups and AI writing help with the email core, while higher tiers add webinars and a course creator. The free plan covers 500 contacts and 2,500 emails a month.
The catch is Starter's single custom automation workflow. One welcome series for new visitors uses it up, so real automation starts on Marketer at $59 a month. At $19 a month Starter is also one of the pricier entries here, and the free plan switches automation off after the 14-day premium window.
What we like
Webinars, landing pages and courses can replace separate tools.
Free plan covers 500 contacts and 2,500 emails a month.
Starter includes three user seats.
Watch out for
Starter allows only one custom automation workflow.
At $19 a month it is a pricier entry here.
Free plan drops automation after the trial window.
Sources used: vendor pricing pages, docs, changelogs. Prices and limits were checked against each vendor's own pricing page in Nov 2026.
Criterion
Weight
What we looked at
Low cost for a congregation
40%
We priced each tool at 250 to 2,500 contacts and noted what the free plan covers, since a church list can be large while the budget stays small.
Ease for volunteers
35%
We favored tools a volunteer can launch in an afternoon, with templates, forms and landing pages included rather than added on.
Event and donation support
25%
We checked which tools cover event registration, donation links and SMS, since those are the mails a church actually sends.
What is the best email marketing software for churches?
Sender is the best email marketing software for churches in 2026 because its free plan covers 2,500 subscribers and 15,000 emails a month, with automation and 24/7 support included. EmailOctopus is the simplest setup at $9 a month, and Brevo is the cheapest paid entry with SMS included.
How much does email marketing software for churches cost?
Email marketing software for churches costs $0 to $19 a month at the entry tier in Nov 2026. Sender and EmailOctopus are free for up to 2,500 subscribers, Brevo starts at $9 a month, MailerLite and Constant Contact at $12, AWeber at $12.49, Mailchimp at $13, and GetResponse at $19. Every paid price rises with list size.
Is there a free email marketing software for churches?
Yes, 6 of the 8 tools in this list have a free plan. Sender covers 2,500 subscribers and 15,000 emails a month, EmailOctopus covers 2,500 subscribers and 10,000 emails a month, and Brevo sends 300 emails a day free. Constant Contact and AWeber have no free plan, only a free trial. Our best free email marketing software guide compares the free plans in more detail.
Which email marketing software for churches is easiest to set up?
EmailOctopus, MailerLite and Sender are the easiest tools here to set up. EmailOctopus keeps the menu short because it only does email, MailerLite pairs a clean editor with ready templates, and Sender adds automation on the free plan. Brevo and GetResponse take longer because they bundle SMS, CRM or webinar tools.
How should I run a best email marketing software for churches comparison?
Run a best email marketing software for churches comparison at your real congregation size, not at the headline price. Pick your member count, note the monthly price, the free plan limit and whether the tool covers event registration and SMS, then check whether automation and branding removal cost extra.
Frequently asked questions
What is the best email marketing software for a small church?
Sender is the best pick for a small church because its free plan covers 2,500 subscribers and 15,000 emails a month with automation included. EmailOctopus is the best pick for the simplest setup at $9 a month, and Brevo is the best paid pick at $9 a month with SMS included.
What is the top email marketing software for churches 2026?
The top email marketing software for churches 2026 is Sender, based on free plan size, automation and support. EmailOctopus ranks second for the simplest setup, Brevo third for the lowest paid price with SMS, and MailerLite fourth for bundling email with a website builder.
Can a church use email marketing software for free?
Yes. Sender covers 2,500 subscribers and 15,000 emails a month, EmailOctopus covers 2,500 subscribers and 10,000 emails a month, and Brevo sends 300 emails a day free. GetResponse covers 500 contacts. Free plans carry the vendor logo and cap automations or reports.
Does Constant Contact have a free plan for churches?
No, Constant Contact has no free plan as of Nov 2026. It offers a free trial, then paid plans start at $12 a month for Lite at up to 500 contacts. Every plan includes live phone and chat support plus event registration, which is the main reason to pick it over a free tool.
How many emails can a church send for free each month?
The free monthly send limit depends on the tool. Sender allows 15,000 emails a month, EmailOctopus allows 10,000, Brevo allows about 9,000 if you send 300 a day every day, and MailerLite, GetResponse and Mailchimp allow 2,500, 2,500 and 500 a month. Sender gives the highest free send limit here.
Is Mailchimp good for churches?
Mailchimp is good for churches that run on many apps, since it links to more than 300 tools, including donation and event apps. Essentials starts at $13 a month. The free plan covers 250 contacts but has no automation or scheduling, so a church that mails weekly will outgrow it fast.
What should a church pay for email marketing in 2026?
A church should pay $0 to $13 a month for email marketing in 2026 if its list is under 2,500 members. Sender and EmailOctopus are free at that size, Brevo starts at $9 a month, and MailerLite, Constant Contact and Mailchimp start at $12 to $13. Pay more only if you need webinars or deep automation.
Final verdict
Pick Sender if you want to start free and stay free the longest.
Pick EmailOctopus if you only need email and want the simplest setup.
Pick Brevo if you want the lowest paid price and email plus SMS.
Pick MailerLite if you want a simple editor plus a website in one account.
Pick Constant Contact if you want phone support and event tools on every plan.
Pick Mailchimp if you need the widest set of app integrations.
Pick AWeber if you want simple newsletters with round-the-clock support.
Pick GetResponse if you want webinars and landing pages bundled with email.
Compare the 10 best email marketing software in 2026 by price, free plan and best fit. See where Mailchimp and Brevo win, their limits, and which to pick.
