Choosing the right email marketing platform for your solo business

You’ve decided it’s finally time to start an email list. That direct line to your audience – safe from social media’s changing rules – is one of your most valuable assets. But now comes the tricky part: which platform should you use to actually send the emails?

There are plenty of email marketing tools out there, and choosing the right one for your small business can feel overwhelming. The platform you pick will affect everything from how your emails look to how easily you can automate your workflows.

As a solo business owner, you need a tool that helps you grow without adding stress or blowing your budget.

This guide breaks down how to choose your ideal email marketing platform, plus 8 of the best options for creators and small business owners like you.

How to choose your perfect email marketing platform

Before looking at specific tools, it’s important to understand what makes an email platform work for you. As a solo business owner, here are the key things to consider.

1. Ease of use

Time is money, and you don’t want to waste hours trying to figure out complicated software. Can you quickly design a professional, on-brand email that looks good on mobile? The best platforms feel intuitive and save you effort, not add to your to-do list.

2. Automation and tagging

This is where email marketing really shines. You want to send the right message to the right person at the right time. Look for features like segmentation (dividing your list by interest) and automation (sending emails automatically based on actions).

Think about how you’ll use it: do you need to tag subscribers based on what they bought or downloaded? If so, you’ll want a platform with strong tagging and visual workflow tools.

3. Pricing as you grow

Most platforms have a free plan, but costs can increase quickly as your list grows. Many charge based on either the number of subscribers or the number of emails sent. Platforms that use one main list with smart tagging tend to be more affordable long-term than those that require multiple separate lists.

4. Monetisation tools

If you sell digital downloads, courses or memberships, some email platforms now include built-in commerce tools. This can simplify your tech setup and reduce the need for additional software.

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Top email marketing platforms for creators and solopreneurs

Here are eight of the best email marketing platforms to help you find the right fit for your solo business.

1. Flodesk

Flodesk was designed for aesthetically minded creators who care about visuals and branding. If you’ve struggled with clunky editors or inconsistent templates, this one will be a relief.

Pros:

• Stunning templates: The drag-and-drop builder and template library are unmatched in style and simplicity
• Built-in sales pages: Create beautiful sales pages and checkouts directly inside the platform
• Custom branding: Upload your own brand fonts and colours so every email feels authentically you

Best for: Creatives who value beautiful, on-brand emails aesthetics and ease of use

Note: Flodesk currently offers a flat-rate plan but from 29 November 2025 pricing will adjust based on audience size. Get 50% off your first year of Flodesk using my link, offer expires at 11:59pm on November 28th.

2. Kit (formerly ConvertKit)

Kit calls itself the “email-first operating system for creators who mean business.” It’s built to help creators grow, automate and monetise their audience with ease.

Pros:

• Subscriber-centric model: Each person counts once, no matter how many tags or segments they have
• Visual automations: Map out your subscriber journeys visually with a simple flow builder
• Native commerce: Sell digital products or paid newsletters

Best for: Coaches and course creators wanting funnels to sell digital products

I’ve been using Kit for years and love it. It’s the perfect balance of beautiful emails, a simple interface and advanced segmentation that actually works. They recently introduced a free plan so you can try it out before committing.

Note: Kit has announced its first price increase in more than a decade, affecting all customers from November 2025.

3. MailerLite

MailerLite is known for its clean interface and simple drag-and-drop editor. It balances ease of use with the power to run automations and build landing pages.

Pros:

• Simple: Minimalist and easy to navigate
• Beginner-friendly: Simple automations/workflows
• Monetisation: Sell digital products or paid newsletters

Best for: Beginners and small businesses who value simplicity.

Note: MailerLite’s free plan recently dropped to a 500 subscriber cap, they’ve also increased their paid plans to be more in line with competitors

4. Beehiiv

Beehiiv is a modern alternative to Substack, designed to help creators grow their audience and monetise. Founded by former Morning Brew team members, it offers tools for growth and monetisation, making it ideal for newsletter-focused small businesses.

Pros:

• Referral programmes: Encourage subscribers to share your newsletter, creating a powerful growth loop.
• Ad network integration: Monetise through sponsorships or ads directly within the platform.
• Content-first design: Prioritises clean, readable layouts ideal for text-heavy newsletters.
• Basic automation & segmentation: Send welcome sequences and target subscribers based on behaviour, giving more flexibility than Substack for growing a business.

Best for: Writers, creators, and newsletter-first businesses looking to scale subscribers and monetise through paid subscriptions or sponsorships.

During Beehive’s 2025 Winter Release event on November 13th, they announced the launch of digital products (courses + merch coming in 2026), dynamic content for personalisation, AI website builder, website + newsletter templates, web analytics, native podcast functionality, link in bio pages, and automation workflows.

5. EmailOctopus

EmailOctopus focuses on the essentials: sending great emails and managing your list, without the extra complexity.

Pros:

• Affordable at scale: One of the most cost-effective platforms as your list grows.
• Straightforward interface: No unnecessary features or clutter – just email done well.

Best for: Businesses on a budget or those with large lists who want to keep things simple.

6. Mailchimp

Mailchimp is one of the most recognised names in email marketing. It offers a user-friendly drag-and-drop builder and a generous free plan for beginners.

Pros:

• Familiar tools: Robust templates and a simple interface make it easy to get started.
• All-in-one features: Includes landing pages, forms and social media tools.
  Worth noting: Pricing can increase quickly as your list grows, especially with its list-based structure.

Best for: New business owners, service providers and general marketing use.

7. Brevo (formerly Sendinblue)

Brevo is an all-in-one marketing platform that goes beyond email. It’s great for businesses that also want to use SMS, live chat or transactional emails.

Pros:

• Free plan based on emails sent: Send up to 300 emails a day, regardless of how many contacts you have.
• Multi-channel tools: Combine email, SMS and live chat in one place.
• Excellent deliverability: Known for strong inbox performance.

Best for: Service-based businesses wanting to manage multiple marketing channels.

8. ActiveCampaign

ActiveCampaign is ideal for business owners ready to take their marketing to the next level with advanced CRM and automation.

Pros:

• Advanced lead scoring: Identify and nurture your most engaged subscribers.
• Deep integrations: Works seamlessly with thousands of other tools.
• CRM included: Manage your client pipeline alongside your email automations.

Best for: Growing service-based businesses with complex customer journeys.

Quick comparison

What about Substack and other publishing platforms?

You might notice that tools like Substack or Medium aren’t listed here, despite becoming popular platforms lately. These are designed for publishing and paid subscriptions, not full marketing systems.

They work well if your main goal is to write and monetise a newsletter, but they’re limited when it comes to automation, segmentation and data control.

With Substack, for example, you can’t build advanced welcome sequences or tag subscribers based on actions, and your audience lives within their platform.

If your email list is a key part of your business (for selling products, services or courses) a dedicated email marketing platform gives you much more control and flexibility.

Final thoughts

The best email marketing platform is the one that fits your goals, budget and workflow.

• If design is your top priority, go for Flodesk.
• If you’re building funnels and selling digital products, start with Kit.
• If you’re just getting started and want a reliable free plan, try MailerLite.

Most importantly – pick one and start. You can always switch later, but getting started now is what will grow your list and your business.