best-email-platforms-your-membership-businessIf you're a coach, trainer, adviser or expert offering membership options, stepping into the world of email marketing, choosing the right platform can feel overwhelming. The good news? You don’t need all the bells and whistles to get started — but you do need a tool that supports your growth.

In this guide, we’re comparing four popular platforms — Mailchimp, ConvertKit, MailerLite, and ActiveCampaign — through the lens of what matters most for membership business owners: segmentation, automation, ease of use, and pricing.

Email Platforms for Membership Business Owners

Mailchimp

Mailchimp is a good all-around email marketing service for beginners. Keep in mind if using the free version, you are limited to one audience (email list), and support is via community forums only. For the cost ($13/mo), it's likely worth it to have the flexibility of 3 audiences and access to support. You can also add a user to your account.

  • Segmentation: Tag-based; manageable for multiple member groups.

  • Automation: Basic workflows; more advanced features available on paid plans.

  • Ease of Use: Drag-and-drop builder, templates, analytics dashboard tailored for small to mid-size businesses.

  • Pricing: Free plan up to 500 subscribers; costs can grow with list size and features.

  • Integrations:

    • Kajabi: Native integration + Zapier support

    • Podia/Kartra: Connect via Zapier 

    • SubHub: Native integration — auto-syncs member signups, cancellations, and unsubscribes. No Zapier connection necessary. 

ConvertKit

ConvertKit has become very popular with sectors like coaching and training, and so would be a natural fit for a membership website. The ability to tag and segment is said to be a little easier to manage than in Mailchimp.

  • Segmentation: Tag-based for granular group targeting (e.g., trial vs premium members).

  • Automation: Visual workflows ideal for member journeys (onboarding, renewal).

  • Ease of Use: Clean, creator-first UI.

  • Pricing: Free up to 1,000 subscribers; paid for advanced features.

  • Integrations:

    • Podia: Native one-way tagging integration

    • Kajabi/Kartra/SubHub: Integrates via Zapier

ActiveCampaign

A faily advanced program for those with large audiences and multiple products to keep track of.

  • Segmentation: Conditional logic for deep, multi-group targeting.

  • Automation: Advanced customer journeys—scoring, branching paths, CRM integration.

  • Ease of Use: Powerful but requires a learning curve.

  • Pricing: No free plan; higher cost suited to scale.

  • Integrations: Connects via Zapier with Kajabi, Podia, Kartra, and SubHub; ideal for complex setups.

MailerLite

Like the name says, it's lite weight and nice & easy  to work with for beginners.

  • Segmentation: Groups and segments work well for basic member splits.

  • Automation: Drag-and-drop workflow builder for simple funnels.

  • Ease of Use: Intuitive, fast to get started.

  • Pricing: Free up to 1,000 subscribers; competitively priced beyond that.

  • Integrations: Zapier-compatible with Kajabi, Podia, Kartra, and SubHub.

🔄 Integration Overview

Membership Site Mailchimp ConvertKit ActiveCampaign MailerLite
SubHub ✅ Native API sync with lists, cancellations, unsubscribes  Zapier Zapier Zapier
Kajabi ✅ Native + Zapier Zapier Zapier Zapier
Podia Zapier ✅ One-way API Zapier Zapier
Kartra Zapier Zapier Zapier Zapier

By the way, what is Zapier?

Zapier is an online automation tool that connects different apps and services—like your email platform and membership site—so they can work together without manual effort or coding. It uses "Zaps" (automated workflows) to trigger actions in one app when something happens in another. For example, when someone joins your membership site, Zapier can automatically add them to a specific email list, apply a tag, or start an onboarding sequence. It's especially useful for membership business owners who want to streamline their systems and integrate tools that don’t natively connect.

🧭 Best Picks Based on Your Membership Needs

  • Using SubHub? → Mailchimp is optimal thanks to its native sync and list management features.

  • Using Podia? → ConvertKit is ideal for cohesive tagging and growth workflows. You'll just have to have a Zapier account and complete the connection there.

  • Need advanced automation and multi-tier targeting? → ActiveCampaign delivers full funnel control. Connect via Zapier.

  • On a strict budget or just starting out? → MailerLite offers practical features at a low cost. Connect to most platforms via Zapier.