GetResponse Review 2026
Our verdict
Best for SMBs needing automation + webinars
Email marketing and automation platform with built-in webinars and funnel builder
Starting price
$19/mo
Free plan
✓ 500 contacts
Unlimited sends
✓ All paid plans
Free trial
30 days
Last updated: June 2026
Transparency note: This review does not contain affiliate links. GetResponse does not currently offer an affiliate program we participate in. Our recommendation is based entirely on merit. Read our full disclosure.
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What Is GetResponse?
Founded in 1998 by Simon Grabowski in Poland, GetResponse is one of the oldest email marketing platforms still operating at scale, now serving 350,000+ customers across 183 countries. What began as a simple autoresponder has evolved into a full marketing platform covering email, automation, landing pages, webinars, funnels, and AI-powered course creation.
GetResponse’s core differentiator is breadth at a mid-range price: unlike Mailchimp (which focuses on email and integrations) or ActiveCampaign (which focuses on automation depth), GetResponse bundles webinar hosting, a funnel builder, a website builder, and an AI course creator into the same subscription. Unlimited email sends on all paid plans is a notable advantage over contact-limit-based competitors.
Honest context: GetResponse introduced peak-subscriber billing in January 2025, which means a temporary spike in your contact count can lock you into a higher billing tier for the entire billing cycle. Combined with a strict no-refund policy and recurring Capterra complaints about billing disputes, it’s worth reading the fine print before committing. See our GetResponse vs ActiveCampaign comparison for a direct breakdown.
GetResponse at a glance
Customers
350,000+
Founded
1998
Free plan
Yes
Entry price
$19/month
Best for
Automation + webinars
Free trial
30 days
GetResponse Features
Email Marketing
Drag-and-drop email editor with 120+ templates, autoresponders, A/B testing, and send time optimization. Unlimited sends on all paid plans.
Marketing Automation
Visual workflow builder with conditional branching, behavioral triggers, lead scoring, and contact tagging. Unlimited workflows on Marketer plan and above; Starter plan limited to 1 custom workflow.
Landing Page Builder
Drag-and-drop landing page builder with A/B testing and conversion tracking. Paid plans remove the 1,000 unique visitor/month cap.
Webinar Hosting
Built-in webinar platform supporting live and on-demand webinars. Marketer plan: 100 attendees; Creator plan: 500 attendees. Unique in this price range.
AI Course Creator
Build and sell online courses with up to 500 students on the Creator plan. Includes a mobile app for course students and paid newsletter subscriptions.
Website Builder
AI-powered website builder with multi-page support, included on paid plans. Newer feature, less polished than dedicated website builders.
Conversion Funnels
Pre-built funnel templates for list building, sales, and webinar sign-ups. Includes Facebook ad integration for funnel traffic.
SMS Marketing
Available on MAX/Enterprise plans only. Not included in standard paid tiers.
GetResponse Pricing (2026)
GetResponse has a free plan plus three standard paid tiers, all including unlimited email sends. Annual billing saves 18%; biennial billing saves up to 30%. There is no refund policy — monthly billing is recommended for the first 2-3 months to test before committing annually.
Free
$0/month
500 contacts · 2,500 sends/mo
- ✓Basic email marketing
- ✓Landing pages (1,000 visitor/mo cap)
- ✓14-day premium feature access
- ✓AI course builder (250 students, can’t sell)
- ✓Live chat support
⚠ No automation workflows or webinars on Free
Starter
$19/month
~$15.58/month billed annually
1,000 contacts · unlimited sends
- ✓1 custom automation workflow
- ✓Autoresponders
- ✓Landing pages (unlimited visitors)
- ✓Website builder
- ✓24/7 chat support
⚠ Single user only — most need Marketer
Marketer
Most popular$59/month
~$48.38/month billed annually
The real entry point
- ✓Everything in Starter
- ✓Unlimited automation workflows
- ✓Webinars (100 attendees)
- ✓Contact scoring
- ✓Sales funnels
- ✓Multi-user access (3 users)
- ✓Facebook/Google ads
Creator
$69/month
~$56.58/month billed annually
Courses + bigger webinars
- ✓Everything in Marketer
- ✓AI course creator (500 students)
- ✓Paid newsletters
- ✓Mobile app for students
- ✓Webinars (500 attendees)
- ✓Full website builder (multi-page)
⚠ Peak-Subscriber Billing Alert
GetResponse introduced peak-subscriber billing in January 2025. If your contact count temporarily spikes above your plan’s limit — even for one day — you’ll be billed at the higher tier for the entire billing cycle. Monitor your list size carefully and clean inactive subscribers regularly to avoid unexpected charges.
No refund policy: GetResponse does not offer refunds under any circumstances. If you cancel mid-cycle on an annual plan, the remaining months are forfeited. Start with monthly billing before committing to an annual plan.
Pros & Cons
Pros
- ✓Unlimited email sends on all paid plans — no overage fees regardless of send frequency
- ✓Built-in webinar hosting (100-500 attendees) included — unique at this price point
- ✓Free plan available with genuine functionality (500 contacts, 2,500 sends/mo)
- ✓30-day free trial with no credit card required
- ✓Funnel builder, landing pages, and website builder bundled in — reduces need for separate tools
- ✓AI course creator on Creator plan adds monetization capability without extra cost
- ✓Strong automation depth on Marketer plan and above — comparable to ActiveCampaign mid-tier
- ✓24/7 chat support on all paid plans
Cons
- ✗Peak-subscriber billing (introduced January 2025) — temporary contact spikes trigger full-tier upgrades
- ✗Strict no-refund policy — risky on annual plans if needs change
- ✗Starter plan limited to 1 automation workflow and single user — most businesses need $59/mo Marketer immediately
- ✗Recurring Capterra complaints about billing disputes, unexpected charges, and account terminations for low open rates
- ✗Email deliverability concerns reported for large lists (50,000+ contacts) — campaigns flagged as spam more frequently
- ✗Chat-only support with no phone support or clear escalation path
- ✗SMS marketing not available on standard plans — MAX/Enterprise only
What Real Users Are Saying
We reviewed hundreds of user ratings across Capterra, G2, and Trustpilot to surface the most representative opinions. Here is what real users say about GetResponse in 2026.
“The automation workflows have genuinely transformed how we nurture leads. We switched from Mailchimp when our sequences got too complex — GetResponse handles multi-step behavioural automation at a price point Mailchimp can't match.”
— Amara J., Marketing Manager
“I had a temporary spike in subscribers during a promotion and got automatically bumped to a higher billing tier for the entire month. No warning, no grace period. The peak-subscriber billing model caught me completely off guard.”
— Daniel R., Small Business Owner
“The webinar tool and course builder are genuinely useful, but I needed the $59/mo Marketer plan just to get more than one automation workflow. The $19 Starter plan is too limited for anyone doing real email marketing.”
— Priya S., Course Creator
Who Should Use GetResponse?
Good fit:
- ✓SMBs and growing businesses needing email automation beyond basic newsletters
- ✓Businesses that host webinars and want them bundled with email (no separate Zoom/WebinarJam subscription)
- ✓Course creators who want email marketing and course hosting in one platform
- ✓Marketers who send frequently and need unlimited sends without overage anxiety
- ✓Businesses already on GetResponse's free plan ready to upgrade to Marketer
Consider alternatives:
- ✗Solo users or very small businesses — the Starter plan's single-user limit and 1-workflow cap mean most will need $59/mo Marketer immediately (consider MailerLite at $10/mo for simple email)
- ✗Large list senders (50,000+ contacts) concerned about deliverability — independent reviews flag GetResponse as higher spam-folder risk at scale
- ✗Businesses that need phone support or guaranteed billing transparency
- ✗E-commerce businesses needing deep Shopify/WooCommerce integrations (consider Klaviyo or Mailchimp)
- ✗Anyone needing a refund guarantee (consider MailerLite's or Mailchimp's more flexible billing)
Comparing options? See our GetResponse vs ActiveCampaign comparison or our Mailchimp review.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is GetResponse worth it in 2026?
+Does GetResponse have a free plan?
+What is GetResponse's peak-subscriber billing?
+Does GetResponse offer refunds?
+How does GetResponse compare to ActiveCampaign?
+Does GetResponse have a webinar tool?
+Is GetResponse Worth It in 2026?
For SMBs and creators who need webinars, automation, and email under one subscription, GetResponse’s Marketer plan at $59/mo represents genuine all-in-one value that would otherwise require separate Zoom, webinar, and email subscriptions. Unlimited sends remove the anxiety of overage fees that contact-based competitors create.
The honest caveats are real: the peak-subscriber billing model introduced in 2025 catches users off guard, the no-refund policy means annual commitment carries real risk, and the Starter plan ($19/mo) is too restricted for most businesses — the true entry point for meaningful email marketing is the $59/mo Marketer tier. Recurring billing complaints on Capterra in 2026 add a note of caution that isn’t present for competitors like MailerLite or Kit.
Verdict: GetResponse earns a genuine recommendation for businesses that specifically need webinar hosting bundled with email automation, or creators who want one platform for email, courses, and funnels. For pure email marketing at lower cost, MailerLite or Kit offer fewer billing surprises. See our GetResponse vs ActiveCampaign comparison or browse all our reviews for further reading.
Final Verdict
GetResponse earns a 4.3/5 for its breadth of features at a competitive price — particularly the bundled webinar hosting, funnel builder, and unlimited sends that competitors charge extra for. The Marketer plan at $59/mo is the real entry point and delivers genuine value for growing SMBs.
The peak-subscriber billing, no-refund policy, and Capterra billing complaints prevent a higher score. For Marketing Starter Hub readers who need webinars and automation in one platform, GetResponse is worth a serious look — but start with the 30-day free trial and monthly billing before committing annually.
Rating: 4.3/5 — Strong feature breadth and unlimited sends at a competitive price, held back by peak-subscriber billing and a strict no-refund policy.
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