Constant Contact vs EmailOctopus (2026)

Built for brick-and-mortar small business — against — Dirt-cheap email for growing lists. Same table, same scoring system, clear verdict.

Affiliate disclosure: Critingo is reader-supported. If you sign up through links on this page we may earn a commission — it costs you nothing extra and never changes our verdicts. We verify pricing and terms regularly, but they change often: always confirm on the vendor's site before buying.

Our pick: EmailOctopusDirt-cheap email for growing lists — scored 4.2/5. The right choice still depends on what you need; the table below shows exactly where they differ.

Head-to-head

Pricing and terms last verified 31 October 2026 — vendors change them often.

Constant Contact EmailOctopus 🏆
Free planNoYes: up to 2,500 subscribers
Paid fromPaid typically from around $12/mo for small listsPaid typically from around $8/mo
Free trial60 daysNone
Automations✓✓
Landing pages✓✗
Paid subscriptions✗✗
Ecommerce features✓✗
Our score4/54.2/5

Choose Constant Contact if…

  • You're primarily restaurants, salons, local services running events
  • Longest free trial in the category (60 days)
  • You can live with: no permanent free plan

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
Ready to try Constant Contact?Using our link supports independent reviews like this one — at no extra cost to you.
Try Constant Contact
Ready to try EmailOctopus?Using our link supports independent reviews like this one — at no extra cost to you.
Try EmailOctopus

Constant Contact vs EmailOctopus: FAQ

Constant Contact or EmailOctopus — 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 Constant Contact for restaurants, salons, local services running events, and EmailOctopus for price-sensitive list builders.

Is Constant Contact cheaper than EmailOctopus?

Constant Contact has no permanent free plan (Paid typically from around $12/mo for small lists), while EmailOctopus has a free plan (Paid typically from around $8/mo). Vendors reprice several times a year — check both pricing pages before deciding.

Can I switch from Constant Contact to EmailOctopus (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.