GetResponse vs Constant Contact 2026: Which One’s Actually Worth It?
Updated: June 2026 | Both Tested | Honest Comparison
So you’ve decided to start an email list. Smart. Really smart, actually. But now you’re stuck on the part where you have to pick a platform, and every comparison article online reads like it was written by someone who’s never actually sent a newsletter in their life.
Hi. We’ve sent a lot of newsletters. We also use both of these tools. And we have opinions. Strong opinions
This is GetResponse vs Constant Contact, the honest version. We’re going to tell you what each one does well, what each one does badly, and which one is probably right for you. No corporate speak. No “it depends on your needs” cop-out at the end. An actual answer.
Let’s get into it.
Short on Time? Here’s the Verdict
GetResponse wins for most creators, students, and startups. It’s cheaper, has a free plan, includes landing pages and automation that Constant Contact charges extra for, and honestly just does more. Constant Contact is solid if you want dead-simple email blasts and phone support you can actually call. But for the price? GetResponse gives you way more to work with.
Try GetResponse Free (No Credit Card) →
Quick Comparison: GetResponse vs Constant Contact
| Feature | GetResponse | Constant Contact |
|---|---|---|
| Free Plan | Yes (500 contacts) | No (trial only) |
| Starting Price | $19/mo (1,000 contacts) | $12/mo (limited features) |
| Automation | Visual workflows, advanced triggers | Basic automations only |
| Landing Pages | Included on all plans | Basic, limited templates |
| A/B Testing | Subject lines, content, send time | Subject lines only |
| Webinars | Built in | Not available |
| AI Tools | AI email writer, AI subject lines | Basic AI assistant |
| Phone Support | No (chat and email only) | Yes |
| Cancellation | Cancel anytime online | Notoriously difficult |
| Best For | Creators, startups, growth | Simple newsletters, nonprofits |
GetResponse: The Full Breakdown
GetResponse is what happens when an email tool decides it wants to be an entire marketing platform. You get email campaigns, landing pages, automation workflows, webinars, AI writing tools, a website builder, and a free plan that actually lets you do stuff. Not “free but we removed everything useful” free. Actually free.
The free plan gives you 500 contacts, unlimited newsletters, one landing page, a website builder, and signup forms. That’s enough to launch a real email list from scratch without spending a dime. When you’re ready to grow, the Starter plan at $19/month unlocks autoresponders, basic automation, and unlimited landing pages.
The automation is where GetResponse really pulls ahead. You can build visual workflows that trigger based on subscriber behavior. Someone clicked a link? Tag them. Someone hasn’t opened in 30 days? Send a re-engagement sequence. Someone signed up from a specific landing page? Drop them into a custom welcome series. This is the kind of stuff that turns a list into a revenue stream.
And then there are webinars. Built right in. No Zoom subscription, no third-party integration, no extra cost on the higher plans. If you’re a creator or coach who teaches anything, this is a big deal.
GetResponse Pros
- Free plan that’s genuinely usable (500 contacts, unlimited emails)
- Visual automation builder that doesn’t require an engineering degree
- Landing pages included on every plan, even free
- Webinar hosting built in (try finding that anywhere else for this price)
- AI email writer that actually saves time
- Cancel online anytime. Like a normal company.
GetResponse Cons
- No phone support. Chat and email only. If you need to talk to a human voice, this will bug you.
- The sheer number of features can feel overwhelming when you’re starting out
- Template designs are good but not as polished as some competitors
Start Building Your Email List Free with GetResponse →
Constant Contact: The Full Breakdown
Constant Contact has been around since 1995. That is not a typo. It was doing email marketing before most of its current users were born. And honestly, that history is both its biggest strength and its biggest limitation.
The strength: it’s reliable, it’s simple, and the deliverability is solid. Your emails land in inboxes, not spam folders. If all you need is to send a nice-looking newsletter to your list once a week, Constant Contact handles that without breaking a sweat.
The limitation: the world moved on, and Constant Contact didn’t fully keep up. The automation is basic. We’re talking “send a welcome email when someone subscribes” basic. Not “build a multi-step funnel with behavioral triggers” basic. If you want to do anything sophisticated with your email marketing, you’re going to hit walls pretty quickly.
The other thing nobody talks about? The cancellation process. We’ll just say this: unlike basically every other SaaS tool in 2026, you cannot cancel Constant Contact online. You have to call. Some users report this process being… not fun. Take that for what it’s worth.
Where Constant Contact genuinely shines is phone support (real humans, real phone numbers, pretty fast response times), event marketing (built-in event registration and payment processing), and nonprofit pricing (30% discount on annual plans). If you’re a nonprofit that runs events and wants to call someone when things break, this is your tool. Full stop.
Constant Contact Pros
- Phone support. Actual phone support. From real people.
- Rock-solid email deliverability
- Event marketing tools built right in
- Simple interface that won’t overwhelm beginners
- Nonprofit discounts (30% off annual plans)
Constant Contact Cons
- No free plan. Just a short trial, then you’re paying.
- Automation is basic. Really basic. “Welcome email and that’s about it” basic.
- More expensive than GetResponse at almost every list size
- A/B testing limited to subject lines only
- Cancellation process is a whole thing. Not in a good way.
Head-to-Head: The Categories That Actually Matter
Pricing
GetResponse has a free plan. Constant Contact doesn’t. That alone settles this for anyone starting from zero.
Once you’re paying, GetResponse starts at $19/month for 1,000 contacts with unlimited emails, landing pages, and basic automation. Constant Contact starts at $12/month but that’s a stripped-down plan with limited features. By the time you add what you actually need, you’re paying more for less.
At 10,000 contacts, GetResponse runs about $59/month. Constant Contact? Around $80/month. And GetResponse includes more features at that price.
Winner: GetResponse. Not close.
Automation
This is where the gap gets embarrassing. GetResponse gives you a visual automation builder where you can create multi-step workflows based on opens, clicks, tags, page visits, purchases, and time delays. You can build entire sales funnels inside the email platform.
Constant Contact lets you send a welcome email and some basic follow-ups. That’s… pretty much it. If you need to tag subscribers based on behavior, build conditional sequences, or set up abandoned cart emails, you’ll hit a dead end.
Winner: GetResponse. This isn’t even a competition.
Ease of Use
Here’s where Constant Contact earns its keep. The interface is simple. Clean. You open it, you make an email, you send it. No 47 menu options staring at you. No automation flowchart that looks like a subway map.
GetResponse has more features, which means more things to click. The learning curve isn’t steep, but it exists. If you just want to send a weekly email and nothing else, Constant Contact is easier to use on day one.
Winner: Constant Contact. For simplicity specifically.
Landing Pages
GetResponse includes a drag-and-drop landing page builder on every plan, including free. Over 180 templates. Constant Contact has landing pages too, but they’re limited in design options and template variety.
If you’re building landing pages for lead magnets, product launches, or webinar signups, GetResponse treats this like a core feature. Constant Contact treats it like an afterthought.
Winner: GetResponse.
Customer Support
If you need to hear a human voice when something goes wrong, Constant Contact wins this outright. Phone support. Real people. Reasonable wait times. For some users, especially people who are less comfortable with tech, this is the deciding factor. And that’s completely valid.
GetResponse offers 24/7 live chat and email support, which is responsive and helpful. But there’s no phone number to call. If chat support makes you want to throw your laptop, factor that in.
Winner: Constant Contact.
So Which One Should You Pick?
Pick GetResponse if:
- You’re starting from scratch and want to pay $0 to begin
- You’re a creator, student, or startup building an audience
- You want automation that actually does things
- You need landing pages without paying for a separate tool
- You plan to sell digital products, run webinars, or build funnels
- You want to cancel without having to call anyone
Pick Constant Contact if:
- You just want to send a simple newsletter. That’s it. Nothing fancy.
- Phone support is a dealbreaker for you
- You run events and need built-in registration and payments
- You’re a nonprofit and want that 30% discount
- You’ve used it for years and it works and you don’t want to learn something new (honestly, fair)
Start Free with GetResponse → Try Constant Contact Free →
Pricing Breakdown: What You’ll Actually Pay
| Contacts | GetResponse | Constant Contact |
|---|---|---|
| 500 | Free | ~$12/mo |
| 1,000 | $19/mo | ~$30/mo |
| 5,000 | $54/mo | ~$60/mo |
| 10,000 | $79/mo | ~$80/mo |
| 25,000 | $174/mo | ~$260/mo |
GetResponse is cheaper at almost every tier. And it includes more features at each price point. The gap widens as your list grows.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is GetResponse really free?
Yes. The free plan covers up to 500 contacts with unlimited emails, one landing page, a website builder, and signup forms. No credit card required to start. It’s not a trial. It doesn’t expire.
Does Constant Contact have a free plan?
No. They offer a free trial (14 or 60 days depending on your location), but after that you’re paying. There’s no permanent free tier.
Can I switch from Constant Contact to GetResponse?
Yes. GetResponse lets you import your contact list from Constant Contact (or any other platform). Export your list as a CSV, upload it, and you’re set. The process takes about 10 minutes.
Which one is better for beginners?
If “better” means simpler, Constant Contact. If “better” means more value for your money and room to grow, GetResponse. We’d recommend GetResponse for most beginners because the free plan lets you learn without any financial pressure.
Which platform has better email deliverability?
Both are strong. Constant Contact has a slight edge in some third-party deliverability tests, but GetResponse performs well across the board. You’re not going to have deliverability problems with either one.
Is Constant Contact hard to cancel?
Harder than it should be. You can’t cancel online. You have to call their support line. Some users report the process being frustrating. GetResponse lets you cancel from your account settings in about 30 seconds.
The Mintedware Bottom Line
Both of these tools work. Both will send your emails. Both have been around long enough to trust. But for the person reading this site? The creator, the student, the startup founder trying to build something real on a tight budget? GetResponse is the better fit nine times out of ten.
It’s cheaper. It does more. It lets you start for free. And when you’re ready to get serious with automation and landing pages and funnels, you don’t have to switch platforms. It grows with you. That matters more than people realize.
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