How Much Does Email Marketing Cost for Small Businesses in 2026?
If you own a local business, you've probably wondered: is email marketing worth the cost?
The short answer: anywhere from $9/month to $799/month, depending on whether you do it yourself or hire a done-for-you service.
DIY Email Marketing Software
If you write and design emails yourself, here's what the tools cost:
| Platform | Starting Price |
|---|---|
| Mailchimp | $13/mo |
| Constant Contact | $12/mo |
| Brevo | $9/mo |
| Flodesk | $19/mo |
| MailerLite | $9/mo |
The hidden cost is your time. DIY email marketing takes 4-8 hours per week. At $50/hour, that's $800-$1,600/month in time alone.
Done-For-You Newsletter Services
Fully managed services handle everything — writing, design, sending, reporting. You do nothing.
| Service | Price | Fully Hands-Off? |
|---|---|---|
| Newsletter Pro | $297-$997/mo | Partial |
| Freelance Copywriter | $200-$500/email | No (you send) |
| InboxLocal | $199-$799/mo | ✅ Yes |
Which Option Is Right for You?
Choose DIY if you have time to learn email marketing and enjoy writing content.
Choose a done-for-you service if you'd rather focus on running your business while a professional team handles your email marketing.
InboxLocal's Starter plan at $199/mo is cheaper than hiring a freelance copywriter for a single email — and we handle design, sending, and everything else too.
Not sure if a newsletter is right for your business? Read our Complete Guide to Small Business Newsletters — it covers strategy, content, and benchmarks for every industry.
Ready to try it risk-free?
First newsletter is on us. No contracts, cancel anytime.
Get Your Free First Newsletter →