The short answer: For simple newsletters, MailerLite and Mailchimp are easy, low-cost starting points, and Brevo suits big lists you email occasionally. ActiveCampaign is strong on email automation, and HubSpot is a large marketing suite. If you want email, SMS, automation and your CRM in one app with unlimited users, My New Admin keeps it all together.
Most email marketing tools are priced in US dollars and by the number of contacts, so the cheapest option today isn’t always the cheapest as you grow. Here’s how the popular options compare for Australian businesses.
The options at a glance
| Software | Starting price | Watch out for | Best for |
|---|---|---|---|
| MailerLite | Free for up to 1,000 subscribers. Paid plans from about US$12 a month | Prices rise with your list size | Simple newsletters on a budget |
| Mailchimp | Free for 250 contacts. Essentials from US$13 a month | Multi-step journeys need the Standard plan, from US$20 a month | Beginners and small lists |
| Brevo | Free plan. Starter from US$9 a month | Priced by emails sent, and fuller automation costs more | Large lists emailed occasionally |
| ActiveCampaign | From US$15 a month, billed annually | No free plan, and prices climb as your list grows | Detailed email automation |
| HubSpot Marketing Hub | Starter about US$15–20 per seat a month | Fuller automation is on Professional, from US$890 a month plus onboarding | Teams wanting a large marketing suite |
| My New Admin | $297 a month incl. GST, unlimited users | More than you need for a monthly newsletter alone | Email, SMS, automation and CRM in one app |
Prices are in US dollars unless stated, before GST and exchange-rate costs, as published or reported in 2026. Check each provider’s website for your list size.
MailerLite
A simple, affordable email tool with a generous free plan.
- Good: easy to use, free for small lists, clean templates.
- Watch out for: fewer advanced features than automation-focused tools.
Mailchimp
The best-known name in email marketing, with lots of templates and integrations.
- Good: beginner-friendly, huge template library.
- Watch out for: a small free plan, and branching automations need a paid upgrade.
Brevo
A value-focused platform priced by how many emails you send, not how many contacts you have.
- Good: generous free plan, SMS available, good for big lists.
- Watch out for: the cheapest plan keeps Brevo branding.
ActiveCampaign
A favourite for detailed email automation and segmentation.
- Good: powerful automation on every paid plan, built-in CRM.
- Watch out for: a steeper learning curve and no free plan.
HubSpot Marketing Hub
A large marketing suite with a free CRM and polished tools.
- Good: free tools to start, strong reporting, huge ecosystem.
- Watch out for: the big price jump from Starter to Professional.
My New Admin
My New Admin’s email marketing includes a drag-and-drop builder, templates, campaigns and automated sequences, alongside SMS marketing, your CRM, calendar and AI receptionist.
- Good: email and SMS in one place, unlimited users, every message saved to the customer.
- Watch out for: if you only send a monthly newsletter, an email-only tool may be enough.
Australian things to check
- The real price in Australian dollars, including GST and exchange rates.
- Spam Act compliance. Whichever tool you use, you’re responsible for consent and unsubscribes. Read our guide to the Spam Act rules.
- Do you need SMS too? For reminders and quick offers, texts are often seen sooner than emails.
Start emailing your customers this week. Try My New Admin free for 14 days. Comparing more broadly? See the best marketing automation software.
Frequently asked questions
For simple newsletters, MailerLite and Mailchimp are easy starting points. ActiveCampaign suits detailed automation, and My New Admin suits businesses that want email, SMS and their CRM in one app.
Yes. MailerLite, Mailchimp and Brevo all have free plans with limits on contacts or emails. They’re a good way to start, but most growing businesses upgrade.
For newsletters, email is fine. For appointment reminders, quick offers and follow-ups, texts are often seen sooner, so many service businesses use both.
Most include unsubscribe features, but compliance is your responsibility. Only email people who’ve agreed to hear from you, identify your business and action unsubscribes within five working days.