Email marketing (software and agency) cost in 2026
Email marketing (software and agency) costs $10 to $3,000 per month in 2026, and most people pay about $100.
What moves the price
- The size of the email list changes software prices, and bigger lists cost more.
- Doing it yourself costs far less than hiring an agency.
- The number of emails and campaigns each month changes agency fees.
- Extras like automation, drip campaigns and custom design add cost.
- The industry matters, and online stores tend to spend more than service firms.
- Where you live. Prices in big cities usually run higher than in small towns.
What is included
Software prices cover sending the emails and basic tools like templates and reports. Agency fees cover planning, writing, design and sending. Software subscriptions, custom design, list cleaning and automation are often extra.
Email software cost by list size (per month)
| List size | Price range | Average |
|---|---|---|
| Up to 1,000 | $0 to $39 | $18 |
| 5,000 | $0 to $99 | $62 |
| 10,000 | $25 to $155 | $100 |
| 50,000 | $45 to $345 | $270 |
| 100,000 | $65 to $540 | $420 |
Average prices in US dollars. Source: Email Vendor Selection.
Email marketing help cost (per month)
| Type of help | Price as printed |
|---|---|
| Freelancer retainer | $500 to $2,000 |
| Small agency (2 to 3 campaigns a month) | $1,500 to $3,000 |
| Full service agency, average | About $2,500 |
| Larger agency | $5,000 to $15,000 |
| Partly managed service from one agency | $125 to $1,200 |
| Fully managed service from one agency | $550 to $1,275 |
Average prices in US dollars. Source: Email Vendor Selection.
Ways to pay less
- Many tools have free or low cost plans for lists under 1,000 contacts.
- A partly managed plan, where the business writes the copy, costs less than a fully managed plan.
- A freelancer at $500 to $2,000 a month can cost less than an agency retainer.
What price guides say
We checked 3 price guides and read every number on their pages. They do not all measure the same thing, so the ranges on this page come from putting them side by side.
- Email Vendor Selection: How Much Does Email Marketing Cost? Pricing Guide 2026 (updated Aug 10, 2026)
- Nutshell: Email Marketing Costs: Complete 2026 Pricing Guide for Small Businesses (updated May 13, 2026)
- WebFX: Email Marketing Pricing (page edited 2026, figures dated 2025)
Common questions
How much does this cost in 2026?
Email marketing (software and agency) costs $10 to $3,000 per month in 2026, and most people pay about $100. Most people pay about $100 per month. The low end is $10 and the high end is $3,000.
What changes the price the most?
The biggest factors are: The size of the email list changes software prices, and bigger lists cost more; Doing it yourself costs far less than hiring an agency; The number of emails and campaigns each month changes agency fees.
How can I pay less?
Many tools have free or low cost plans for lists under 1,000 contacts. A partly managed plan, where the business writes the copy, costs less than a fully managed plan. A freelancer at $500 to $2,000 a month can cost less than an agency retainer.
Where do these numbers come from?
From 3 named price guides: Email Vendor Selection, Nutshell, WebFX. Each one is linked on this page with the date we read it.
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