5 Best Benchmark Email Alternatives (2026): Prices Compared
Benchmark Email is a simple, multilingual email tool for small businesses, priced by contacts. In November 2026 its free plan's send allowance fell to 1,000 emails a month. The best Benchmark Email alternatives in 2026: Bluey Email for send-based pricing, MailerLite for equal simplicity, Sender for a much larger free plan, GetResponse for more automation, and AWeber for small-business support.
Full disclosure: Bluey Email is our own product, and it's on this list. We've applied the same criteria to every tool and said where each competitor beats Bluey.
Benchmark Email's free plan now covers 500 contacts and 1,000 emails a month, and Pro starts at $12 a month ($10 billed annually) for 500 contacts and 5,000 emails (Benchmark pricing).
Why look for a Benchmark Email alternative?
- Free plan cut. The free send allowance is now 1,000 emails a month, down from between 2,500 and 3,500 a month earlier in 2026 (EmailTooltester, Mar 2026; Benchmark pricing).
- Deliverability. Benchmark scored 47.1% in EmailTooltester's January 2024 test (EmailTooltester).
- Automation and list limits. No split testing inside automations, no tagging, and segments only within a single list (EmailTooltester).
- Send caps. Paid plans cap sends at 10 times your contact limit.
To be fair to Benchmark: it is genuinely simple to use, and the app, help centre and live support are available in 9 languages (EmailTooltester).
The best Benchmark Email alternatives at a glance
| Tool | Pricing based on | Entry price | Best for |
|---|---|---|---|
| Bluey Email | Emails sent | Free 500 sends/mo; Spark from $7/mo | Send-based pricing with automation and a CRM |
| MailerLite | Subscribers | Free 250; Comfort from $12/mo | Equal simplicity with stronger deliverability |
| Sender | Subscribers | Free 2,500; Standard from $9/mo | A much larger free plan |
| GetResponse | Contacts | Free 500; Starter $19/mo | More automation and landing pages |
| AWeber | Subscribers | Free 500; Lite $15/mo | Small-business support |
Prices checked on each vendor's pricing page or a dated review on 9 November 2026, in US dollars, before tax. Confirm on the vendor's page before you buy.
1. Bluey Email: best for send-based pricing with automation and a CRM
Bluey bills on emails sent, not contacts stored: Free at 500 sends and 500 contacts a month, Spark from $7/mo for 6,000 sends, Grow at $30/mo for 50,000 sends with unlimited contacts and a built-in CRM, and Business at $300/mo with unlimited automations. Marketing and transactional email run on one account, and it bills in 128 currencies (Bluey pricing). Where it falls short: it is a newer platform with a smaller template and integration library than the long-established tools.
2. MailerLite: best for equal simplicity with stronger deliverability
MailerLite is just as easy to learn and scored 89.8% in the same January 2024 deliverability test (EmailTooltester). Free for 250 subscribers, paid from $12 a month (MailerLite pricing). Trade-off: no multilingual support on Benchmark's scale.
3. Sender: best for a much larger free plan
Sender's free plan covers 2,500 subscribers and 15,000 emails a month, 15 times Benchmark's free send allowance (Sender pricing). Trade-off: fewer integrations.
4. GetResponse: best for more automation and landing pages
GetResponse adds landing pages, webinars and richer automation. Free for 500 contacts and 2,500 newsletters; Starter is $19 a month for 1,000 contacts per its FAQ (GetResponse pricing). Trade-off: more to learn.
5. AWeber: best for small-business support
AWeber targets the same small-business buyer, with phone and live support. Free for 500 subscribers and 3,000 emails; Lite is $15 a month or $12.49 billed annually (AWeber pricing; AWeber pricing explained). Trade-off: subscriber-based pricing.
How to choose a Benchmark Email alternative
Lost your free sends? Sender or Bluey. Want the same simplicity with better inbox placement? MailerLite. Want more automation? GetResponse or Bluey. Want phone support? AWeber.
Frequently asked questions
Is Benchmark Email still free?
Yes, for 500 contacts, but the free plan now sends 1,000 emails a month, down from earlier in 2026.
How much does Benchmark Email cost?
Pro starts at $12 a month, or $10 billed annually, for 500 contacts and 5,000 emails, as published on its pricing page.
What is the best free Benchmark Email alternative?
Sender (2,500 subscribers and 15,000 emails a month) has the largest free plan of these; AWeber (500 subscribers) and Bluey Email (500 sends) also have free plans.
Related
Start sending in an afternoon.
Spin up Bluey free, get your email trusted, and send your first campaign today.