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Campaign Monitor starts at $11.7, and its campaign and customer-journey tools may suit teams with predictable sending needs. But contact-tier costs can sting as lists grow, and Reddit users have raised support concerns. A switch has costs too: one high-volume sender said it would need to rebuild API integrations, journeys and templates, then warm a new IP. Compare the starting prices and tradeoffs below, but check each vendor’s current limits before moving.
01Why people leave Campaign Monitor
Contact-tier costs add up
Campaign Monitor’s pricing is based on subscriber count, according to one high-volume sender. Check your contact tier before assuming a switch will save money.
Support concerns surface
One Reddit thread describes trouble verifying an account and reaching support; a commenter also reported being locked out after paying. These are individual accounts, not proof of a general pattern.
Switching risks real work
A high-volume sender said a move would mean rebuilding API integrations, journeys and templates, plus warming a new IP and risking deliverability.
02The alternatives, ranked by fit
- Budget-conscious small teams
MailerLiteMailerLiteMailerLite starts at $10.8 and is positioned for creators, small teams needing automations and forms, and marketers testing AI-assisted email tools. It is a straightforward price comparison if Campaign Monitor’s contact tiers are the sticking point. Its free plan also gives small senders a lower-cost way to assess fit before committing.
Trade-off: The brief flags risk for messy or unverified lists; confirm list requirements first.
6.5/10from
$10.80/mofree plan - Deep automation logic
ActiveCampaignActiveCampaignActiveCampaign starts at $15 and is aimed at marketers who rely on deep automation logic, with AI-drafted multichannel campaigns also listed. Consider it if Campaign Monitor’s journey tools no longer cover the automation needs behind your campaigns. The starting price is not the full cost: the brief warns that it rises quickly as contacts grow.
Trade-off: Contact growth can make it expensive fast.
6.8/10from
$15/mo - Ecommerce email and SMS
KlaviyoKlaviyoKlaviyo starts at $20 and targets ecommerce brands where email drives revenue, including stores outgrowing Shopify Email. The brief also lists email, SMS and AI-assisted campaign planning tools. It is a more relevant comparison than a general campaign tool if your store needs are driving the move from Campaign Monitor.
Trade-off: Costs stack up as lists and add-ons grow.
6.5/10from
$20/mofree plan - Small-list starter
MailchimpMailchimpMailchimp has a free plan and is positioned for small lists, bundled email and SMS, and eligible nonprofits. It is worth comparing if Campaign Monitor’s subscriber-based bill is hard to justify for a smaller audience. Its starter positioning may fit better than a platform built around deeper automation or ecommerce-specific needs.
Trade-off: The brief says ecommerce users on Reddit keep moving toward Klaviyo and Omnisend.
5.7/10from
$13/mofree plan - Events and social
Constant ContactConstant ContactConstant Contact starts at $10.2 and is aimed at small teams combining email and social, businesses promoting events, and marketers needing basic automation. It may fit if Campaign Monitor’s campaign features exceed what your event or registration marketing needs. Compare the actual tiers before switching; the brief flags pricing tiers as a concern.
Trade-off: Reported editor problems are another reason to compare carefully.
5.0/10from
$10.20/mo - Multi-location organizations
EmmaEmmaEmma starts at $105 and is positioned for organizations with multiple locations, shared branded templates and email automation. Consider it if your Campaign Monitor setup serves several teams that need consistent branded campaigns. It is a specific operational fit, not an obvious budget replacement for a small sender.
Trade-off: Its starting price is high for buyers seeking a low-cost option.
6.5/10from
$105/mo - Budget multichannel campaigns
BrevoBrevoBrevo has a free plan and is positioned for budget multichannel email and SMS campaigns, plus no-code automation for non-technical teams. It is worth comparing if you want to test a free tier before moving away from Campaign Monitor. The brief does not publish a paid starting price, so compare quotes and limits directly.
Trade-off: Paid pricing is unclear; Reddit reports suspensions and slow support.
5.6/10from
Freefree plan
03Side by side
| Tool | Score | From | Free plan | Best for |
|---|---|---|---|---|
 Campaign Monitor Campaign Monitor (current) | 6.2 | $11.70/mo | No | Teams wanting branded email campaigns |
| MailerLite MailerLite | 6.5 | $10.80/mo | Yes | Creators selling ebooks or newsletters |
| ActiveCampaign ActiveCampaign | 6.8 | $15/mo | No | Small teams wanting AI-drafted multi-channel campaigns |
| Klaviyo Klaviyo | 6.5 | $20/mo | Yes | Ecommerce brands where email drives most revenue |
| Mailchimp Mailchimp | 5.7 | $13/mo | Yes | Small lists on tight budgets |
| Constant Contact Constant Contact | 5.0 | $10.20/mo | No | Small teams combining email and social |
| Emma Emma | 6.5 | $105/mo | No | Organizations with multiple locations |
| Brevo Brevo | 5.6 | Free | Yes | Small senders testing the free tier |
Questions people ask
Why are people leaving Mailchimp?
The material for this comparison does not establish a general reason people leave Mailchimp. It does note that ecommerce users on Reddit keep moving toward Klaviyo and Omnisend instead. If ecommerce is your reason for switching, compare Klaviyo’s fit and growing list and add-on costs before deciding.
Is Campaign Monitor similar to Mailchimp?
Both are email marketing options, but our comparison positions Campaign Monitor around branded campaigns and customer journeys, while Mailchimp is aimed at small lists and bundles email with SMS. Mailchimp has a free plan; Campaign Monitor’s listed starting price is $11.7. Check current contact and sending limits before comparing bills.
Is Campaign Monitor legit, and what are five automation alternatives?
One Reddit thread reports account verification and support problems, but that single account does not establish that Campaign Monitor is illegitimate. Five alternatives in this comparison with automation-related positioning are ActiveCampaign, Klaviyo, MailerLite, Kit and Constant Contact. Their listed starting prices and best-fit use cases differ, so check plan limits before moving.