EmailOctopus vs MailCheap (2026)
Dirt-cheap email for growing lists — against — Open-source newsletters priced per email sent, not per subscriber. 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 🏆 | MailCheap | |
|---|---|---|
| Free plan | Yes: up to 2,500 subscribers | No |
| Paid from | Paid typically from around $8/mo | From $19/mo for 20,000 emails and 10,000 active subscribers |
| Free trial | None | None |
| Automations | ✓ | ✗ |
| Landing pages | ✗ | ✓ |
| Paid subscriptions | ✗ | ✗ |
| Ecommerce features | ✗ | ✗ |
| Our score | 4.2/5 | 4/5 |
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 MailCheap if…
- You're primarily newsletters with large, partly inactive lists
- Pay for emails sent, so dormant subscribers cost nothing
- You can live with: no free plan or trial; cloud starts at $19/mo
EmailOctopus vs MailCheap: FAQ
EmailOctopus or MailCheap — 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 MailCheap for newsletters with large, partly inactive lists.
Is EmailOctopus cheaper than MailCheap?
EmailOctopus has a free plan (Paid typically from around $8/mo), while MailCheap has no permanent free plan (From $19/mo for 20,000 emails and 10,000 active subscribers). Vendors reprice several times a year — check both pricing pages before deciding.
Can I switch from EmailOctopus to MailCheap (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.