EmailOctopus vs listmonk (2026)
Dirt-cheap email for growing lists — against — Free, self-hosted newsletter and mailing-list manager. Same table, same scoring system, clear verdict.
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Head-to-head
Pricing and terms last verified 31 October 2026 — vendors change them often.
| EmailOctopus 🏆 | listmonk | |
|---|---|---|
| Free plan | Yes: up to 2,500 subscribers | Yes: free software, you pay your own server and SMTP costs |
| Paid from | Paid typically from around $8/mo | Free software; you supply hosting and an SMTP/SES provider |
| Free trial | None | None |
| Automations | ✓ | ✗ |
| Landing pages | ✗ | ✗ |
| Paid subscriptions | ✗ | ✗ |
| Ecommerce features | ✗ | ✗ |
| Our score | 4.2/5 | 3.5/5 |
Choose EmailOctopus if…
- You're primarily price-sensitive list builders
- Among the cheapest paid plans anywhere
- You can live with: fewer features: no landing pages, limited automation
Choose listmonk if…
- You're primarily developers and technical teams
- Free and open source with no subscriber limits
- You can live with: you must host it and set up smtp and deliverability yourself
EmailOctopus vs listmonk: FAQ
EmailOctopus or listmonk — which is better in 2026?
For most people matching EmailOctopus's strengths (price-sensitive list builders), EmailOctopus is the stronger choice — it scores 4.2/5 on our four-factor score. But "better" depends on you: choose EmailOctopus for price-sensitive list builders, and listmonk for developers and technical teams.
Is EmailOctopus cheaper than listmonk?
EmailOctopus has a free plan (Paid typically from around $8/mo), while listmonk has a free plan (Free software; you supply hosting and an SMTP/SES provider). Vendors reprice several times a year — check both pricing pages before deciding.
Can I switch from EmailOctopus to listmonk (or back)?
Yes. Subscribers export as CSV/JSON from either platform and import into the other. Automation sequences usually need rebuilding — map your tags and forms before migrating.