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How Much Does It Cost for Email Marketing in 2026?

Email marketing is the top ROI source in the field of digital marketing, providing businesses with an immediate channel of communication to their clients. However, when you plan your campaigns, a single issue is bound to pop up:

“How much does it cost for email marketing in 2026? “

It’s not a universal solution. Costs will differ depending on the size of your email list as well as the strategy, platform as well as whether or not you’re running your campaigns in-house through freelancers or working with an agency that is professional.

In this article we’ll go over everything you must be aware of the costs associated with email marketing that include services, tools, hidden costs and tips for getting the most value for your investment. If you’re a newbie, a growing ecommerce marketing company, or an established brand, this guide will assist you to plan your budget and grow with confidence.

How much does email marketing cost in 2026
A complete breakdown of email marketing costs in 2026, including tools, campaign pricing, and ROI insights.

Why Understanding Email Marketing Costs Is Critical in 2026

Marketing via email isn’t only about sending out newsletters. In today’s highly competitive marketplace it’s an strategically-planned growth channel that boosts the conversion rate, builds loyalty, and streamlines the customer experience.

Here’s a reason why you should be aware of how pricing works:

  • – Beware of spending too much on features that aren’t needed or services.
  • – Make data-driven budget decisions across marketing channels
  • – Improve ROI by using the appropriate tools, team, and strategies
  • – Scale campaigns with no hidden surprises or technical limitations

So, How Much Does Email Marketing Really Cost?

The cost of marketing via email can vary between $1 to $10,000+ per month dependent on:

  • – Your company’s dimension and your subscriber list
  • – You choose the platform or the ESP (email service providers) you choose
  • – If you decide to make it internally or use freelancers or even hire an agency
  • – How complicated your automations and campaigns are

Let’s look at the actual expenses step-by step.

1. Email Marketing Software Costs

Every campaign begins with an appropriate platform. The mail marketing software is the basis for subscriber management, automations grouping of lists, A/B test, and delivery of campaigns.

Popular Email Marketing Tools & Their Pricing

Platform Free Plan Starting Paid Plan Estimated Cost/Month
Mailchimp As many as 500 people can be subscribing ₹1,100/month ₹1,100 – ₹4,500+
Klaviyo up to 250 Subs ₹1,800/month ₹1,800 – ₹13,500+
ConvertKit Up to 1,000 ₹1,400/month ₹1,400 – ₹6,500+
ActiveCampaign No ₹2,400/month ₹2,400 – ₹8,000+
Brevo (Sendinblue) Yes ₹2,200/month ₹2,200 – ₹11,000+

Things That Influence Tool Costs:

  • – Subscriber number: The majority of platforms charge according to the size of the list.
  • – Volume of emails: Some fees are according to the amount of emails that are sent each month.
  • – Additional features: Segmentation, Automations, SMS integration, CRM tools.

Pro-Tip: Select the platform that can scale with your list’s size and has reliable delivery, analytics, support, and more.

2. Email Marketing Services Cost: In-House vs Freelance vs Agency

A. In-House Email Marketing Cost

  • – Email Marketing Specialist: ₹60,000 – ₹1,25,000/month
  • – Designer and Copywriter: ₹25,000 – ₹60,000/month
  • – Support Tools: ₹2,000 – ₹10,000/month

Ideal for large businesses that have complete control over branding and ongoing marketing campaigns.

B. Freelance Email Marketers

  • – Hourly rate: ₹800 – ₹2,500/hour
  • – Per campaign/project: ₹3,500 – ₹12,000
  • – Retainers: ₹18,000 – ₹75,000/month

Best choice for startups or small companies that require support without full-time staff.

C. Email Marketing Agencies

  • – Monthly Retainers: ₹12,000 – ₹1,50,000+
  • – Per Campaign: ₹5,000 – ₹50,000

Services Included:

  • – Strategy and planning
  • – Copywriting + design
  • – List management and segmentation
  • – Automation setup
  • – A/B testing and reporting

Best choice for growth-oriented businesses seeking full-service execution.

Tip: ROI Hunt provides end-to-end email marketing solutions specifically designed for eCommerce and high-growth companies. As a trusted email marketing company, ROI Hunt ensures high deliverability, ROI-focused strategies, and scalable automation for growing brands.

3. Other Hidden or Add-On Email Marketing Costs

Even if you’ve got the equipment and personnel, extra costs sneak in as your campaigns become more sophisticated.

Common Add-On Expenses

  • – Email List Cleaning Tools: ₹800 – ₹8,000/month
  • – Email Templates (one-time): ₹2,000 – ₹10,000
  • – Copywriting Services (per email): ₹1,000 – ₹3,000
  • – Automation Tools (Zapier, Make, etc.): ₹2,000 – ₹7,500/month
  • – Deliverability & Testing Tools (e.g. GlockApps): ₹4,000 – ₹10,000/month

Total Monthly Email Marketing Cost: By Business Size

Business Type Subscribers DIY Tools Only Freelancer Agency
Startup <5,000 ₹0 – ₹2,500 ₹15,000 – ₹55,000 ₹25,000 – ₹1,00,000
Small Business 5,000 – 25,000 ₹2,500 – ₹10,000 ₹40,000 – ₹1,00,000 ₹50,000 – ₹1,75,000
Mid-size Brand 25k – 75k ₹10,000 – ₹35,000 ₹75,000 – ₹2,00,000 ₹1,00,000 – ₹3,50,000
Large Enterprise 75k+ ₹35,000 – ₹1L+ ₹2L+ ₹3L – ₹8L+

What Impacts the Cost of Email Marketing?

  • – List Size & Email Volume: More contacts = higher costs
  • – Frequency & Cadence: More emails sent = higher platform and content costs
  • – Level of Automation: Triggers and flows require tools, time, and setup
  • – Personalization & Segmentation: Requires better data and more strategy

So, What Should You Budget for Email Marketing?

  • – Beginner (DIY): ₹0 – ₹5,000
  • – Intermediate (freelancer + tools): ₹15,000 – ₹1,00,000
  • – Advanced (agency + full funnel): ₹1,00,000 – ₹8,00,000+

ROI Tip: Begin lean, analyze performance, and invest where returns are proven.

Bonus: How to Reduce Your Email Marketing Costs

  • – Clean your list regularly
  • – A/B test subject lines to boost open rates
  • – Use templates for efficiency
  • – Focus on high-intent segments
  • – Outsource only when ROI justifies cost

Final Thoughts: So, What Should You Be Paying?

There’s no universal solution to how much does it cost for email marketing However, here’s a quick approach to think about it:

  • Startups / Solopreneurs: ₹0 – ₹15,000/month

  • Small to Midsize Businesses: ₹30,000 – ₹1,50,000/month

  • Enterprises / Scaling Brands: ₹2L – ₹8L+/month

The important factor is not only the price, but the ROI on the investment. If your emails generate revenue, nurturing leads, and creating long-lasting relationships, the investment is worth it.

Ready to Maximize Your Email Marketing ROI?

We are ROI Hunt — experts in building high-converting email marketing strategies for eCommerce and digital-first brands.

  • – Intelligent segmentation
  • – Automated workflows
  • – Conversion-optimized content
  • – Transparent pricing & flexible plans

Let’s design your next high-ROI email campaign. Contact us now for a FREE strategy consultation!

FAQs: How Much Does Email Marketing Cost?

Q1 What’s the minimum price to start marketing via email?

Start at no cost or less than $20/month with platforms such as Mailchimp and ConvertKit. As your requirements and lists expand, you can anticipate costs to grow too.

Q2 What is the value of employing an online marketing company that sends cold emails worthwhile?

It’s a good idea, especially when you’re targeting B2B customers or are running leads that are generated outside of your office. A reputable cold marketing service will help you create appealing emails, control deliverability and improve conversion rates.

Q3 What is the best frequency to contact my contacts?

It depends on your goals. Generally:

  • – Weekly newsletters for engagement
  • – Transactional and promotional emails for conversions
  • – Automated flows based on customer behavior