Email marketing only works if you can afford the tool that runs it. AWeber has been in this business since 1998, and its pricing has changed a lot recently. If you're comparing costs before you commit, this breakdown gives you real numbers, not vague ranges.
AWeber restructured its plans and pricing in late 2024. Some longtime users saw their bills jump. If you're pricing it out fresh in 2026, here's exactly what you'll pay and what you get for it.
AWeber's Current Plans at a Glance
AWeber offers three paid tiers in 2026: Lite, Plus, and Done For You. There's no permanent free plan anymore, though a 14-day free trial is available on paid plans and doesn't require a credit card.
Here's the quick version:
- Lite – starts around $12.49 to $15/month (annual vs monthly billing), core automation, unlimited landing pages, sign-up forms, and AI writing tools
- Plus – starts around $19.99 to $20/month, adds split automation, behavioral triggers, A/B testing, ecommerce tools, and branding removal
- Done For You – a one-time setup service, promotionally priced around $79 (normally $599), where AWeber's team builds your entire email system for you
All three scale in price based on how many subscribers you have. That's the part that trips people up, so let's walk through it properly.
If you want to check live pricing for your exact list size, AWeber's pricing page updates in real time based on subscriber count.
Lite Plan: Pricing and What's Included
The Lite plan is AWeber's entry point. At 500 subscribers, you're looking at roughly $12.49 to $14.99/month depending on whether you pay annually or monthly.
Annual billing saves you around 17% compared to paying month to month. That adds up fast once your list grows.
Here's what scales as your subscriber count increases on Lite:
- 500 subscribers: around $12.50/month (annual)
- 2,500 subscribers: around $30/month
- 5,000 subscribers: around $50/month
- 10,000 subscribers: around $70/month
- 25,000 subscribers: around $210/month
What you actually get on Lite:
- Unlimited email sends, no matter your list size
- Drag-and-drop email builder with 700+ templates
- Basic automation workflows
- Landing pages and sign-up forms
- AI Writing Assistant for drafting subject lines and copy
- Web push notifications
- Access to AWeber's customer support
This plan works well if you're running a straightforward newsletter or a small business list without complex automation needs. It's not built for advanced segmentation or split testing. That's where Plus comes in.
Plus Plan: Pricing and What's Included
Plus is AWeber's mid-tier plan, and for most serious marketers, it's the one that actually makes sense.
At 500 subscribers, Plus runs about $19.99 to $20/month. Here's how that scales:
- 500 subscribers: around $20/month (or $19.99 annual equivalent)
- 5,000 subscribers: around $50 to $100/month depending on billing cycle
- 10,000 subscribers: around $70 to $149/month
- 150,000 subscribers: around $1,050/month
That last number matters. Going from 500 to 150,000 subscribers on Plus is roughly a 52x price increase. AWeber's pricing model rewards small lists and gets expensive fast at scale, so keep that in mind if you're planning aggressive growth.
Annual billing saves around 33% on Plus, which is a bigger discount than what Lite offers. If you already know you're sticking with AWeber long-term, paying annually on Plus is where the real savings show up.
What you get with Plus that Lite doesn't include:
- Unlimited automation workflows, including split-path automation based on subscriber behavior
- A/B testing for subject lines and content
- Advanced analytics and reporting
- Ecommerce tools for selling products directly through email
- Custom branding, meaning AWeber's logo is removed from your emails and forms
- Priority phone support
If you plan to sell anything through your list, run behavioral email sequences, or need real testing data on what's working, Plus pays for itself quickly.
Done For You: The Setup Service
This one isn't a subscription tier. It's a service where AWeber's team builds your email marketing system from the ground up.
The promotional price is around $79 one-time. Normally it's listed at $599, so the discount is significant if you catch it while it's running.
What's included:
- A fully built welcome email series
- Custom-designed templates matching your brand
- Landing pages and sign-up forms already configured
- Basic automation set up and tested
- Delivery within about 7 days
After the setup is complete, you still pay the regular monthly Plus plan fee, which runs around $30/month depending on your list size.
Who this makes sense for: non-technical business owners who find email setup overwhelming. A bakery owner, a local service provider, or a solo consultant who would rather spend their time running the business than configuring automation gets a working system without the learning curve.
Compare that to hiring a marketing consultant, where a single hour of work often costs more than this entire setup service. That's a real value gap worth noticing.
Hidden Costs You Should Know About
AWeber's pricing is more transparent than some competitors, but there are still a few extra costs that catch people off guard.
- Ecommerce transaction fees: If you sell products through AWeber directly, Lite charges 1% per transaction, and Plus charges 0.6%. These aren't huge, but they add up if you're running high sales volume through email.
- Overage charges: Going past your subscriber tier automatically bumps you to the next pricing bracket. There's no separate "overage fee," but your monthly bill increases the moment you cross a threshold.
- List size counts all subscribers: Even unengaged or unconfirmed contacts often count toward your total, so a bloated list can push you into a higher price bracket without you fully realizing why.
None of these are dealbreakers, but they're worth factoring into your budget before you commit to a plan size.
How AWeber Compares to Other Email Tools
Pricing only means something in context. Here's how AWeber stacks up against a few common alternatives at similar list sizes.
- Mailchimp: At 5,000 subscribers, Mailchimp's Standard plan tends to cost noticeably more than AWeber Plus on annual billing. AWeber wins on price at this range.
- GetResponse: Roughly comparable to AWeber Plus at the same subscriber count when both are billed annually.
- MailerLite: Offers a genuine free tier with automation included, which AWeber no longer does. If you're under 1,000 subscribers and budget is tight, MailerLite is worth a look before you commit elsewhere.
- Kit (formerly ConvertKit): Covers up to 10,000 subscribers free in some configurations, which makes it attractive for creators just starting out.
AWeber doesn't currently offer a permanent free plan, which is a real shift from its history. If your list is small and you're not ready to pay yet, that's worth knowing upfront. But once you're ready to commit, AWeber's paid plans tend to hold their value well against competitors at the 2,500 to 10,000 subscriber range, especially on annual billing.
Is AWeber Worth the Cost in 2026?
That depends entirely on what you need from an email tool.
Choose Lite if:
- You run a simple newsletter or basic promotional list
- You don't need advanced automation or split testing
- You're comfortable with AWeber's branding appearing on your forms
Choose Plus if:
- You need behavioral automation, A/B testing, or detailed analytics
- You're selling products directly through email
- Removing AWeber's branding matters for your business image
- You're planning to grow your list significantly over time
Choose Done For You if:
- Setting up email marketing feels overwhelming or time-consuming
- You'd rather pay someone to build it correctly than learn the platform yourself
- You want a working system live within a week
For most small businesses and solo creators, Plus billed annually is where AWeber makes the most sense. The features justify the price, and the annual discount brings the effective monthly cost down meaningfully.
If you're just testing the waters, start with the 14-day free trial before committing to a full year. You can explore the actual dashboard, test the automation builder, and see if the interface fits how you work before any money changes hands. You can start that trial directly through AWeber's official pricing page.
Frequently Asked Questions
Does AWeber still offer a free plan in 2026?
No. AWeber removed its permanent free plan. It now offers a 14-day free trial on paid plans instead, with no credit card required to start.
How is AWeber pricing calculated?
Pricing is based on your number of subscribers, not how many emails you send. Both Lite and Plus plans include unlimited sending regardless of list size.
Is annual billing actually worth it?
Yes, if you're confident you'll stick with the platform. Annual billing saves around 17% on Lite and around 33% on Plus, which is a meaningful reduction over 12 months.
What happens if my subscriber count grows past my plan's limit?
Your monthly price automatically adjusts to match your new subscriber tier. There's no separate penalty fee, just a higher recurring charge.
Is the Done For You setup service actually worth $79?
For non-technical users who would otherwise spend hours or hire a consultant, yes. It gets a complete, working email system live in about a week without requiring you to learn the platform from scratch.
Which plan should a beginner start with?
If you're just starting out and your list is under 1,000 subscribers, Lite covers the essentials. Upgrade to Plus once you need automation based on subscriber behavior or want to sell through email.