True Cost Engine | Calculating real costs for 6 products
True Cost of Email Marketing Over 3 Years
The cheapest email marketing over 3 years is Brevo at $324.00 total (monthly billing, 1 user). With annual billing, that drops to $290.88. We analyzed 6 products, factoring in intro pricing, renewal increases, and billing cycle savings.
Showing costs for 1 user with monthly billing
#1
D Transparency
Starter plan · Per email
Intro Renewal
Monthly price $9.00/mo Same
Year 1 $108.00
Year 2 $108.00
Year 3 $108.00
3-Year Total $324.00
Save $33.12 over 3 years with annual billing
Transparency Score: 38/100 (D)
- 3/4 plans show pricing (+23)
- No renewal data available (+10)
- Free plan available (+15)
- Pricing model: per-email (+5)
- 1 plan(s) require "Contact Sales" (-15)
#2
C Transparency
Essentials plan · Per subscriber
Intro Renewal
Monthly price $13.00/mo Same
Year 1 $156.00
Year 2 $156.00
Year 3 $156.00
3-Year Total $468.00
Transparency Score: 65/100 (C)
- All plans show public pricing (+30)
- No renewal data available (+10)
- Free plan available (+15)
- Predictable pricing model: per-subscriber (+10)
#3
C Transparency
Lite plan · Per subscriber
Intro Renewal
Monthly price $15.00/mo Same
Year 1 $180.00
Year 2 $180.00
Year 3 $180.00
3-Year Total $540.00
Save $90.00 over 3 years with annual billing
Transparency Score: 62/100 (C)
- All plans show public pricing (+30)
- No renewal data available (+10)
- 14-day free trial (+12)
- Predictable pricing model: per-subscriber (+10)
#4
D Transparency
Starter plan · Per subscriber
Intro Renewal
Monthly price $19.00/mo Same
Year 1 $228.00
Year 2 $228.00
Year 3 $228.00
3-Year Total $684.00
Save $123.12 over 3 years with annual billing
Transparency Score: 43/100 (D)
- 3/4 plans show pricing (+23)
- No renewal data available (+10)
- Free plan available (+15)
- Predictable pricing model: per-subscriber (+10)
- 1 plan(s) require "Contact Sales" (-15)
#5
C Transparency
Starter plan · Per subscriber
Intro Renewal
Monthly price $19.00/mo Same
Year 1 $228.00
Year 2 $228.00
Year 3 $228.00
3-Year Total $684.00
Save $144.00 over 3 years with annual billing
Transparency Score: 62/100 (C)
- All plans show public pricing (+30)
- No renewal data available (+10)
- 14-day free trial (+12)
- Predictable pricing model: per-subscriber (+10)
#6
C Transparency
Creator plan · Per subscriber
Intro Renewal
Monthly price $33.00/mo Same
Year 1 $396.00
Year 2 $396.00
Year 3 $396.00
3-Year Total $1,188
Save $288.00 over 3 years with annual billing
Transparency Score: 65/100 (C)
- All plans show public pricing (+30)
- No renewal data available (+10)
- Free plan available (+15)
- Predictable pricing model: per-subscriber (+10)
How We Calculate True Cost
1 Year 1 uses the intro/promotional price that vendors advertise.
2 Years 2-3 use the renewal price, which is often 2-6x higher than the intro price.
3 Team size multiplies per-user costs. For flat-rate products, the cost stays the same regardless of team size.
4 Annual billing typically saves 10-40% vs monthly. We show both so you can compare.
Building Your Business Stack?
Decision-makers comparing tools often need more than one category. Here are related comparisons:
Frequently Asked Questions
- What is the true cost of Email Marketing over 3 years?
- The cheapest email marketing over 3 years is Brevo at $324 (monthly billing) or $291 (annual billing) for 1 user. This includes intro pricing in Year 1 and renewal pricing in Years 2-3.
- Do email marketing prices increase after the first year?
- Among the 6 products we track, most maintain stable pricing after the intro period.
- How much can I save with annual billing on email marketing?
- Up to $288 over 3 years. Kit (formerly ConvertKit) offers the biggest savings by switching from monthly to annual billing.
- What is a Price Transparency Score?
- Our Price Transparency Score rates vendors on a 0-100 scale based on how openly they share pricing information. We evaluate whether prices are shown publicly, renewal costs are disclosed, free trials or plans exist, the pricing model is predictable, and if any plans require contacting sales.