Constant Contact Review 2026: Pricing, Features, Pros & Cons

Last updated: October 2026 | Pricing checked on October 9, 2026 | 9 min read

Constant Contact is one of the oldest email marketing platforms. It has been around since 1995 and is still popular with small businesses, nonprofits and local organisations. Its pitch is simple: easy email, plus real people on the phone when you get stuck.

In this review we look at what Constant Contact does well, where it falls short, and what you’ll actually pay in 2026. We used the current plans and prices from its pricing page: Lite, Standard and Premium.

Short verdict: Constant Contact is a good fit for beginners and nonprofits who value phone support and an easy editor. It’s expensive for what you get, and automation is limited on the two lower plans. If you want more automation for less, compare it against the alternatives at the end.

Constant Contact at a Glance

Constant Contact Pricing in 2026

Constant Contact has three plans. Prices start at the figures below and rise as your contact list grows.

A few pricing details matter:

• Annual prepay saves up to 15%. Nonprofits can save up to 30% if they prepay for 12 months.
• Overages cost extra. If you go over your monthly send limit, Constant Contact keeps sending and charges $2 per 1,000 extra emails.
• Add-ons: SMS starts at $10/month for 500 messages on Lite and Standard (Premium includes 500 a month). Inbox Preview costs $10/month on every plan.
• 30-day money-back guarantee on all plans, and a free trial with no credit card.

What Constant Contact Does Well

An editor beginners can use on day one

The drag-and-drop editor is simple and the templates are clean. You don’t need design skills to send a professional-looking newsletter, and the AI content tools can draft subject lines and copy. If you need inspiration, our newsletter design ideas work in any editor.

Real people on the phone

Every plan includes live phone and chat support, plus live 1:1 onboarding to help you get started. That’s rare at this price, and it’s the main reason many small businesses and nonprofits stay.

More than email

Constant Contact includes social media posting, event marketing, landing pages and signup forms, so a small organisation can run most of its marketing from one place. Premium adds Google Ads management and SEO recommendations.

Nonprofit discounts

The 30% prepay discount for nonprofits is one of the better offers in the category. Our guide to Mailchimp alternatives for nonprofits covers other options for charities.

Where Constant Contact Falls Short

Automation is limited on Lite and Standard

Lite includes 1 automation template and Standard includes 3. Custom automations, such as branching journeys based on behaviour, need Premium at $80/month. Many cheaper tools include full workflow builders at lower prices; see our roundup of email marketing automation software.

Segmentation is basic until Premium

Lite allows 1 contact segment and Standard 10. Unlimited segments and dynamic content are Premium features.

It gets expensive as you grow

Prices climb with your contact count, and you pay overage fees if you send more than your plan allows. Lite and Standard also limit users (1 and 3).

Reporting is basic on Lite

Lite has basic reporting. Opens and clicks reports are on Standard, and revenue reporting is on Premium.

Deliverability

Constant Contact handles authentication and gives you tools to stay compliant, but your inbox placement still depends on your list. Gmail and Yahoo now require bulk senders to authenticate with SPF, DKIM and DMARC, keep spam complaints low and offer one-click unsubscribe. See Google’s sender guidelines, Yahoo’s best practices and RFC 8058. Set up a DMARC policy for your own domain (dmarc.org explains how) and watch your reputation in Google Postmaster Tools.

Constant Contact Pros and Cons

Who Constant Contact Is Best For

• Beginners who want a simple editor and someone to call.
• Nonprofits and associations that can use the 30% prepay discount and event tools.
• Local businesses that want email, social posts and events in one place. Our guide to email marketing for small business covers what to set up first.

It’s a weaker fit for ecommerce stores and growing businesses that need behaviour-based automation, deep segmentation or low cost at larger list sizes. Our list of the best email marketing software covers stronger options for those needs.

How Constant Contact Compares

• Constant Contact vs Mailchimp: Mailchimp has more integrations and stronger automation on Standard. Constant Contact has better phone support. Read our full Constant Contact vs Mailchimp comparison and our Mailchimp review.
• Cheaper options: Several tools offer full automation for less. See our list of Constant Contact alternatives and our guide to cheap email marketing services.

Whichever tool you use, every campaign needs an unsubscribe link and a physical address under the CAN-SPAM Act.

Frequently Asked Questions

Is Constant Contact worth it?

Constant Contact is worth it for beginners and nonprofits who value phone support and a simple editor. It’s less good value for businesses that need advanced automation, which is only on the $80/month Premium plan.

How much does Constant Contact cost?

Constant Contact starts at $12/month (Lite), $35/month (Standard) and $80/month (Premium) on monthly billing. Annual prepay saves up to 15%, and prices rise with your contact count.

Does Constant Contact have a free plan?

No. Constant Contact has a free trial with no credit card, but no free-forever plan. All plans include a 30-day money-back guarantee.

Is Constant Contact good for nonprofits?

Yes. Nonprofits can save up to 30% by prepaying for 12 months, and the event marketing tools suit fundraising events.

What happens if I go over my Constant Contact send limit?

Your emails keep sending, and you pay $2 per 1,000 extra sends. Lite allows 10x your contacts per month, Standard 12x and Premium 24x.

What are the best Constant Contact alternatives?

Mailercloud, Mailchimp, MailerLite and Brevo are common alternatives. See our full list of Constant Contact alternatives.

Final Verdict

Constant Contact is still one of the friendliest email tools for beginners, with an easy editor and real phone support on every plan. But automation and segmentation are limited until the $80/month Premium plan, and costs rise quickly with your list. It’s best for nonprofits and small local businesses that send simple newsletters.

Looking for a Cheaper Alternative?

If you want full email automation without Constant Contact’s prices, Mailercloud is free for 1,000 contacts and 12,000 emails a month. Premium costs $10/month for 5,000 contacts with unlimited sends and an advanced workflow editor with 25 automations. It also includes A/B testing and AI subject lines.