By Farhan Hirsi · Updated September 2026 · This article may contain affiliate links. We may earn a commission at no extra cost to you. Learn more.
Constant Contact is one of the oldest and best-known email marketing platforms, used by small businesses, nonprofits and event organizers. In this Constant Contact review we look at what you actually get in 2026: pricing, features, the new AI tools, deliverability, support, and the downsides most reviews skip. We also cover who it suits and the best alternatives, so you can decide whether it’s the right tool for your business.
Quick verdict
Constant Contact is a safe, beginner-friendly choice with phone support on every plan, strong deliverability and built-in event tools. It’s more expensive than rivals like MailerLite and Brevo as your list grows, and its automation is basic unless you pay for a higher plan.
| Best for | Small businesses, nonprofits and event organizers who want simplicity and live support |
| Starting price | $12/month (Lite, up to 500 contacts) |
| Free plan | No. Free trial available |
| Standout features | Event management, AI Content Generator, phone support on all plans |
| Main drawback | Price rises quickly with list size; advanced automation only on higher plans |
Table of contents
- What is Constant Contact?
- Constant Contact pricing 2026
- Key features
- AI tools
- Deliverability
- Ease of use and support
- Pros and cons
- Who should use Constant Contact?
- Constant Contact alternatives
- FAQ
- Final verdict
What is Constant Contact?
Constant Contact is an all-in-one email and digital marketing platform founded in 1995. Alongside email campaigns, it includes SMS, social media posting, landing pages, sign-up forms, event registration and basic marketing automation. Its focus has always been on small organizations that want an easy tool with real human support, rather than on advanced marketers who need complex workflows.
Constant Contact pricing 2026
Pricing is the first thing most readers ask about in any Constant Contact review. Constant Contact has three main plans. Prices depend on how many contacts you have, and all plans start at 500 contacts. According to the official pricing page:
| Plan | Starting price | Monthly sends | Users | Highlights |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Lite | $12/mo | 10× your contacts | 1 | Core email, 1 automation template, 1 custom segment |
| Standard | $35/mo | 12× your contacts | 3 | A/B testing, 3 automation templates, 10 segments |
| Premium | $80/mo | 24× your contacts | Unlimited | Custom automations, unlimited segments, dynamic content, 500 SMS/month, priority support |
A few things to know before you buy:
- Annual discount: paying for 12 months upfront saves about 15%. Nonprofits can save up to 30% with a 12-month prepay.
- Prices climb with your list. For example, the Lite plan costs around $80/month once you reach 5,000 contacts. Use our email marketing pricing guides to compare costs at your list size.
- Free trial: Constant Contact’s standard trial lasts 30 days and is limited to 100 email sends. Some regional offers run longer.
- Money-back guarantee: paid plans come with a 30-day money-back guarantee, but annual prepayments are non-refundable if you cancel later in the term.
- Extras cost more: some add-ons, such as inbox preview testing, are paid extras.
Key features
Email editor and templates
The drag-and-drop editor is simple and reliable, and you get a library of roughly 200 mobile-responsive templates organized by use case (newsletters, promotions, events, holidays). You can save your brand colors and logo so new emails match your style automatically. The editor is not as flexible as some newer tools, but it’s hard to break a design with it.
List building: forms and landing pages
You can create sign-up forms, pop-ups and simple landing pages to grow your list. Contacts can be imported from spreadsheets, Gmail, Outlook and other tools. If you are just starting, read our guide to building an email list from scratch.
Marketing automation
Automation covers the essentials: welcome emails, birthday and anniversary emails, and follow-ups based on opens or clicks. Standard adds pre-built automated paths, and Premium unlocks custom multi-step automations. Abandoned-cart emails are available when you connect Shopify or WooCommerce. If you need advanced, behavior-based workflows, tools like ActiveCampaign go much further.
Event management
This is where Constant Contact stands out. You can create event pages, handle registration and RSVPs, sell tickets and send reminders, all from the same account. Ticket sales carry a per-transaction fee, so check the current rates before planning a paid event.
SMS and social media
You can post and schedule content to Facebook, Instagram and other networks, and run SMS campaigns alongside email. SMS is included in limited volume on Premium and available as an add-on on other plans.
Integrations and reporting
Constant Contact connects with 300+ apps, including Shopify, WooCommerce, WordPress, Salesforce and Zapier. Reports show opens, clicks, bounces and revenue for connected stores. Advanced reporting, such as click heatmaps, is reserved for higher plans.
AI tools
Constant Contact has added a set of AI marketing features that are useful for busy small teams:
- AI Content Generator: turns a short prompt into email, SMS, social and landing page copy.
- AI campaign builder: suggests a multi-channel marketing plan with ready-made content.
- Subject line suggestions: generates subject lines you can A/B test on Standard and Premium.
- Tone settings: adjust copy to sound professional, enthusiastic, informative, approachable or persuasive.
- Email-to-social: repurposes an email into social media posts in one click.
The AI tools won’t replace a good writer, but they are a real time-saver for drafting and for getting past a blank page. Always edit AI copy so it sounds like your brand.
Deliverability
An email tool is only as good as its ability to reach the inbox. Constant Contact has a solid track record here. In EmailToolTester’s independent deliverability tests, it averaged around 88% across recent rounds and ranked near the top of the providers tested.
Deliverability also depends on you. Authenticate your domain with SPF, DKIM and DMARC and keep your list clean. Our deliverability guides explain how, step by step.
Ease of use and support
Constant Contact is one of the easiest platforms for beginners. Setup is guided, list imports are forgiving, and the interface is straightforward, although some users find it a little dated and slower than newer tools.
Support is a major strength: live phone and chat support is included on every plan, even the $12 Lite plan, plus a large knowledge base and community forum. Premium users get priority support.
One important downside: cancelling requires a phone call to the billing team before your next billing date. There is no one-click online cancellation.
Constant Contact review: pros and cons
Pros
- Very easy for beginners
- Phone and chat support on all plans
- Strong deliverability in independent tests
- Built-in event registration and ticketing
- Useful AI content tools
- Nonprofit discounts of up to 30%
Cons
- No free plan; short, limited trial
- Gets expensive as your list grows
- Basic automation on Lite and Standard
- A/B testing not included on Lite
- Interface feels dated
- Cancellation by phone only
Who should use Constant Contact?
Choose Constant Contact if you:
- are a small business, nonprofit, church or association sending regular newsletters;
- run events and want registration and email in one tool;
- value talking to a real person when you need help.
Look elsewhere if you:
- are on a tight budget or have a large list;
- need advanced automation, lead scoring or detailed ecommerce personalization;
- want a free plan to get started.
Constant Contact alternatives
- MailerLite: a free plan and lower paid prices, with a modern editor. Great value for creators and small businesses. See our MailerLite vs Constant Contact comparison.
- Brevo: pricing based on emails sent rather than contacts, plus email, SMS and WhatsApp in one place.
- Mailchimp: well-known all-in-one platform with strong templates and integrations.
- ActiveCampaign: the best choice for advanced marketing automation and CRM.
- GetResponse: email marketing with built-in webinars and funnels.
Compare them all in our email marketing software reviews.
Constant Contact FAQ
Is Constant Contact free?
No. Constant Contact has no free plan. It offers a free trial (usually 30 days with up to 100 email sends) and paid plans from $12 per month.
How much does Constant Contact cost per month?
Plans start at $12/month (Lite), $35/month (Standard) and $80/month (Premium) for up to 500 contacts. Prices increase with the number of contacts, and paying annually saves about 15%.
Is Constant Contact good for beginners?
Yes. It’s one of the easiest email marketing tools to learn, and every plan includes live phone and chat support.
Is Constant Contact better than Mailchimp?
Constant Contact is better for event management and live support, while Mailchimp offers a free plan and a wider range of templates and integrations. The right choice depends on your budget and needs.
How do I cancel Constant Contact?
You need to call Constant Contact’s billing support team before your next billing date. Your account stays active until the end of the paid period, and annual prepayments are non-refundable.
Final verdict: is Constant Contact worth it in 2026?
To sum up this Constant Contact review: the platform is worth it if you want a simple, reliable email marketing tool with excellent human support, especially if you run events or manage a nonprofit. Its deliverability is strong and the AI tools make content creation faster.
However, if price matters or you need advanced automation, you will likely get better value from alternatives such as MailerLite, Brevo or ActiveCampaign. Our advice: start with the free trial, test the editor and support, and compare the cost at your list size before you commit.
See Constant Contact’s current pricing →
Pricing and features were checked against Constant Contact’s official website and knowledge base in September 2026 and may change. Always confirm current prices before buying.
