Your Small Business Software Pricing Cheat SheetReal starting prices, renewal costs and the catches, for 25 popular tools.
Prices checked against each company’s own pricing page, October 26 to 31, 2026. Prices change often, so confirm with the provider before you buy. Some links are affiliate links; how we make money.
Email marketing
| Tool | Free plan | Paid from | Watch out for |
|---|---|---|---|
| MailerLite | 250 subscribers, 2,500 emails/mo | $10.80/mo (500 subscribers, yearly) | Comfort caps sends at 10x your list |
| Kit | Up to 10,000 subscribers | $33/mo (Creator, 1,000 subscribers, yearly) | No automations on the free plan |
| Brevo | 300 emails/day | $8.08/mo (5,000 emails, yearly) | Automation starts on Standard |
| ActiveCampaign | No | $15/mo (1,000 contacts, yearly) | Starter and Plus include 1 user |
| Mailchimp | Under 250 contacts | $13/mo (Essentials) | Price rises with contacts |
| Constant Contact | No | $10.20/mo | No free plan |
Go deeper: Kit pricing · MailerLite pricing · Kit vs MailerLite
Accounting
| Tool | Free plan | Paid from | Watch out for |
|---|---|---|---|
| QuickBooks Online | Yes (QuickBooks Free) | $38/mo (Simple Start) | Simple Start is 1 user; intro discount lasts 3 months |
| Xero | No | $27/mo (Early) | Early allows 20 invoices and 5 bills |
| Zoho Books | Yes, 1 user + accountant | $15/mo (billed yearly) | Users limited by plan |
| Wave | Yes | Pro $19/mo | Bank imports need Pro |
| FreshBooks | No | $23/mo (Lite) | Extra users $11/mo each |
Go deeper: QuickBooks Online pricing · Xero vs QuickBooks
Web hosting
| Host | Intro price | Renews at | Watch out for |
|---|---|---|---|
| Hostinger | $2.49/mo (48 months, $119.52 upfront) | $10.99/mo | You prepay 4 years |
| SiteGround | $2.99/mo (12 months, $35.88 upfront) | $17.99/mo | Renewal is 6x the intro price |
| Bluehost | Promotional pricing varies | $10.99/mo (1-year regular) | Check the term at checkout |
| WP Engine | $28/mo billed annually | Same | Managed WordPress only |
Go deeper: SiteGround pricing · SiteGround vs Hostinger
Business phone
| Service | Paid from | Pricing model | Watch out for |
|---|---|---|---|
| Quo | $15/user/mo (yearly) | Per user | Call summaries and phone menus need Business ($23) |
| RingCentral | $20/user/mo | Per user | Costs add up per seat |
| Nextiva | $15/user/mo | Per user | Demo rather than free trial |
| Grasshopper | $14/mo | Flat, per plan | Priced per plan, not per user |
| Google Voice | $10/user/mo | Per user add-on | Requires Google Workspace |
Go deeper: Quo pricing · Quo vs Grasshopper
Payroll
| Provider | Base fee + per person | Cost for 5 people | Tax filing |
|---|---|---|---|
| Patriot Payroll (Full Service) | $37/mo + $5 | $62/mo | Included |
| OnPay | $49/mo + $6 | $79/mo | Included |
| Gusto (Simple) | $49/mo + $7 | $84/mo | Included |
| QuickBooks Payroll | $50/mo + $7 | $85/mo | Included |
| ADP RUN | Quote only | Quote only | Included |
Work out your exact cost with our free payroll cost calculator.
5 rules that save money on any software
- Budget for the renewal price, not the intro price. Hosting renewals can be 4 to 6 times the sale price.
- Price your list or team a year out. Email tools charge by subscribers and phone tools by user, so growth raises your bill.
- Pay yearly only once you’re sure. Yearly billing saves 10% to 17% on most tools, but locks you in.
- Use free trials with a real task. Send a real campaign or invoice before you commit.
- Ask your accountant first before picking accounting or payroll software. Using the tool they know saves fees.
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