Different tools for different jobs. Superhuman ($30/mo) for inbox management (saves 30min/day for heavy emailers). GetResponse ($15/mo) for email marketing (best ROI for newsletters). Mailchimp's free tier works until 500 contacts. Pick based on your actual problem, not features.
The "best email tool" question is broken. These three tools solve completely different problems. Comparing them is like comparing a hammer to a screwdriver. Here's how to pick the right one for YOUR situation.
The Three Email Problems
Email tools fall into three categories, and mixing them up is the most common mistake:
- Inbox management: Making your daily email faster (Superhuman, SaneBox)
- Email marketing: Sending campaigns to lists (GetResponse, Mailchimp)
- Email automation: Triggered sequences and workflows (all of the above, plus Zapier)
Superhuman won't help you send newsletters. GetResponse won't speed up your inbox. Buy the tool that solves your actual problem.
Superhuman: The Inbox Speed Tool
Superhuman is for people drowning in email. If you process 100+ emails daily, it can cut that time significantly through keyboard shortcuts, AI triage, and aggressive speed optimizations.
ROI Calculation for Superhuman
- Average time savings: 30 minutes/day (reported by users)
- At $50/hour: $25/day saved = $500/month value
- Monthly cost: $30
- Net ROI: $470/month (if you're a heavy email user)
Superhuman only makes sense if you spend 2+ hours daily on email. For lighter email loads, it's expensive overkill.
Best for: Executives, salespeople, customer success managers—anyone whose job IS email.
GetResponse: The Marketing ROI Champion
GetResponse is an email marketing platform with strong AI features for creating campaigns, landing pages, and automated sequences. It's designed to generate revenue, not save inbox time.
ROI Calculation for GetResponse
- Average email marketing ROI: $36-42 per $1 spent (industry data)
- AI features save 2-3 hours per campaign on copywriting
- At $50/hour and 4 campaigns/month: $400-600 in time savings
- Plus: direct revenue from email campaigns
Best for: Businesses that monetize through email lists—course creators, e-commerce, SaaS.
Mailchimp: The Free Tier King
Mailchimp's free tier is legitimately useful for small lists. Once you exceed 500 contacts, pricing jumps to $13/month and scales with list size.
When to Stay vs Switch
- Under 500 contacts: Mailchimp Free is unbeatable
- 500-2,500 contacts: GetResponse often cheaper with better AI
- 2,500+ contacts: Compare pricing carefully—Mailchimp gets expensive
- Need landing pages + email: GetResponse includes them; Mailchimp charges extra
The Decision Matrix
Here's how to choose:
- Problem: "I spend too much time in my inbox" → Superhuman
- Problem: "I need to send newsletters and campaigns" → GetResponse or Mailchimp
- Problem: "I'm just starting and have under 500 contacts" → Mailchimp Free
- Problem: "I need landing pages AND email marketing" → GetResponse
The Hidden Costs
Watch for these sneaky costs:
- Mailchimp: Charges per contact on ALL lists (duplicates count)
- GetResponse: Webinar features require higher tier
- Superhuman: Requires Gmail or Outlook (no other email providers)
- All: Learning curve costs 5-15 hours initially
Our Take
Most small businesses need GetResponse for email marketing ROI. Superhuman is a luxury for email-heavy roles. Mailchimp's free tier is perfect for starting out but becomes expensive at scale.
Don't buy an inbox tool when you need marketing. Don't buy a marketing tool when you need inbox speed. Match the tool to the problem.
The TaskROI team researches AI productivity tools and helps businesses calculate real ROI before purchasing. Our data comes from industry studies by McKinsey, Harvard Business Review, and the Federal Reserve.