Best Email Marketing Software for Restaurants
There's no single best email tool for restaurants: the right one depends on the system you already run and the size of your list. Below, eight options compared on price, free plans, built-in AI writing, texts and how guest data gets in, each with its source and the month we checked.
Updated
How we evaluated
- What matters to a restaurant: price at 1,000 and 5,000 contacts, free plan, built-in AI writing, texts, how guest data from your POS or ordering gets in, and restaurant templates.
- Every fact comes from the vendor's official website, checked in October 2026. Sources are linked with each tool.
- We haven't run these tools in a restaurant ourselves yet, so nothing here is a hands-on test.
- “See official pricing” means the price sits behind a contact slider or a sales call we couldn't confirm. “Not listed” means we couldn't find it on the vendor's official pages.
- No scores and no ranking. Tools are grouped by type and listed alphabetically within each group. We don't earn commissions from any of them.
No. 01First
Do you need new software?
Maybe not. If you run Toast, Square or a restaurant platform like Owner.com, check its marketing features first: your guest data is already there, and for many restaurants that's enough. Look at a standalone email tool when your system has none, or when you want more control over automations and design.
- Log in to your POS or ordering system and look for a Marketing or Email section.
- Check what it costs on your current plan, and whether welcome and birthday emails can run on their own.
- If it covers those, start there. You can move your list to another tool later.
No. 02Comparison
Restaurant email software compared
Here are the eight tools side by side. The first two live inside a POS, five are standalone email platforms, and one is an all-in-one restaurant platform. Prices are monthly in U.S. dollars; where a price depends on a slider or a sales call, we point you to the official page instead.
Already in your POS
Best for
Restaurants already running Square POS
Square Marketing (opens in a new tab)
Not for: Restaurants that don't use Square POS
- Built-in AI writer
- Check
- Free plan
- See official site
- 1,000 contacts
- See official pricing
- 5,000 contacts
- See official pricing
- Texts (SMS)
- 500 texts/mo with Plus, then 3¢ each
- How guest data gets in
- Built into Square POS and its customer directory
- Restaurant templates
- Not listed
Best for
Restaurants already running Toast POS
Toast Marketing (opens in a new tab)
Not for: Restaurants that don't use Toast POS
- Built-in AI writer
- Yes
- Free plan
- See official site
- 1,000 contacts
- See official pricing
- 5,000 contacts
- See official pricing
- Texts (SMS)
- Built in (price not listed)
- How guest data gets in
- Built into Toast POS and Toast Online Ordering
- Restaurant templates
- Yes
Standalone email platforms
Best for
A few campaigns a month on a small budget
Not for: Large lists you email every week
- Built-in AI writer
- Paid plans
- Free plan
- Yes
- 1,000 contacts
- See official pricing
- 5,000 contacts
- See official pricing
- Texts (SMS)
- Credits sold separately
- How guest data gets in
- CSV import or its integrations (check for your POS)
- Restaurant templates
- Not listed
Best for
Owners who want a guided, all-in-one email tool
Constant Contact (opens in a new tab)
Not for: Owners who want to start on a free plan
- Built-in AI writer
- Yes
- Free plan
- Free trial only
- 1,000 contacts
- See official pricing
- 5,000 contacts
- See official pricing
- Texts (SMS)
- Add-on from $10/mo (Lite, Standard); included with Premium
- How guest data gets in
- CSV import or one of its 300 integrations
- Restaurant templates
- Not listed
Best for
Restaurants that also sell products online
Not for: Owners who only need a monthly newsletter
- Built-in AI writer
- Check
- Free plan
- Up to 250 profiles, 500 emails/mo
- 1,000 contacts
- See official pricing
- 5,000 contacts
- See official pricing
- Texts (SMS)
- Yes, billed separately
- How guest data gets in
- CSV import or its integrations (check for your POS)
- Restaurant templates
- Not listed
Best for
A familiar, all-round email tool
Mailchimp (opens in a new tab)
Not for: Owners who want AI writing help on the cheapest plan
- Built-in AI writer
- Standard plan and up
- Free plan
- Up to 250 contacts, 500 sends/mo
- 1,000 contacts
- See official pricing
- 5,000 contacts
- See official pricing
- Texts (SMS)
- Paid add-on
- How guest data gets in
- CSV import or its integrations (check for your POS)
- Restaurant templates
- Not listed
Best for
Small lists on a tight budget
MailerLite (opens in a new tab)
Not for: Owners who want texts in the same tool
- Built-in AI writer
- Paid plans
- Free plan
- Up to 250 subscribers, 2,500 emails/mo
- 1,000 contacts
- See official pricing
- 5,000 contacts
- See official pricing
- Texts (SMS)
- Not listed
- How guest data gets in
- CSV import or one of its 100+ integrations
- Restaurant templates
- Not listed
Restaurant all-in-one
Best for
Owners who want ordering, loyalty and marketing in one platform
Owner.com (opens in a new tab)
Not for: Owners who only need an email tool
- Built-in AI writer
- Yes
- Free plan
- No
- 1,000 contacts
- Plan price: $249/mo + 5% per order, or $499/mo
- 5,000 contacts
- Plan price: $249/mo + 5% per order, or $499/mo
- Texts (SMS)
- Built in
- How guest data gets in
- Built into Owner's website, online ordering and loyalty
- Restaurant templates
- Not listed
| Platform | Best for | Built-in AI writer | Not for | Free plan | 1,000 contacts | 5,000 contacts | Texts (SMS) | How guest data gets in | Restaurant templates |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Already in your POS | |||||||||
| Square Marketing (opens in a new tab) | Restaurants already running Square POS | Check | Restaurants that don't use Square POS | See official site | See official pricing | See official pricing | 500 texts/mo with Plus, then 3¢ each | Built inBuilt into Square POS and its customer directory | Not listed |
| Toast Marketing (opens in a new tab) | Restaurants already running Toast POS | Yes | Restaurants that don't use Toast POS | See official site | See official pricing | See official pricing | Built in (price not listed) | Built inBuilt into Toast POS and Toast Online Ordering | Yes |
| Standalone email platforms | |||||||||
| Brevo (opens in a new tab) | A few campaigns a month on a small budget | Paid plans | Large lists you email every week | Yes | See official pricing | See official pricing | Credits sold separately | CSV importCSV import or its integrations (check for your POS) | Not listed |
| Constant Contact (opens in a new tab) | Owners who want a guided, all-in-one email tool | Yes | Owners who want to start on a free plan | Free trial only | See official pricing | See official pricing | Add-on from $10/mo (Lite, Standard); included with Premium | CSV importCSV import or one of its 300 integrations | Not listed |
| Klaviyo (opens in a new tab) | Restaurants that also sell products online | Check | Owners who only need a monthly newsletter | Up to 250 profiles, 500 emails/mo | See official pricing | See official pricing | Yes, billed separately | CSV importCSV import or its integrations (check for your POS) | Not listed |
| Mailchimp (opens in a new tab) | A familiar, all-round email tool | Standard plan and up | Owners who want AI writing help on the cheapest plan | Up to 250 contacts, 500 sends/mo | See official pricing | See official pricing | Paid add-on | CSV importCSV import or its integrations (check for your POS) | Not listed |
| MailerLite (opens in a new tab) | Small lists on a tight budget | Paid plans | Owners who want texts in the same tool | Up to 250 subscribers, 2,500 emails/mo | See official pricing | See official pricing | Not listed | CSV importCSV import or one of its 100+ integrations | Not listed |
| Restaurant all-in-one | |||||||||
| Owner.com (opens in a new tab) | Owners who want ordering, loyalty and marketing in one platform | Yes | Owners who only need an email tool | No | Plan price: $249/mo + 5% per order, or $499/mo | Plan price: $249/mo + 5% per order, or $499/mo | Built in | Built inBuilt into Owner's website, online ordering and loyalty | Not listed |
Scroll sideways for all columns.
Checked October 2026 on each vendor's official pages. Prices change; confirm on the vendor's site before you buy.
No. 03Each tool
Each tool in brief
A short look at each option: who it fits, when to skip it and one thing worth knowing before you sign up. Facts come from the vendor's own pages, linked under each tool with the month we checked them. Nothing here is sponsored, and the order is by type, then alphabetical.
Already in your POS
Square Marketing
Restaurants already running Square POS
Good fit if you already run Square POS on the Plus or Premium plan. Square says its email marketing works with your Square POS and customer directory, so guests who share an email at checkout are already on your list and there's nothing to import.
Skip if you don't use Square, or you need more detailed automations than your Square plan includes.
Email marketing is included with Square Plus ($49 a month) and Premium ($149 a month). Plus includes 500 texts a month, then 3¢ per text.
- Built-in AI writer
- Check
- Free plan
- See official site
- 1,000 contacts
- See official pricing
- 5,000 contacts
- See official pricing
- Texts (SMS)
- 500 texts/mo with Plus, then 3¢ each
- How guest data gets in
- Built into Square POS and its customer directory
- Restaurant templates
- Not listed
Checked October 2026: Square Email Marketing (opens in a new tab), Square pricing (opens in a new tab)
Already in your POS
Toast Marketing
Restaurants already running Toast POS
Good fit if you run Toast POS and want guest and order data to feed your campaigns without exports. Toast describes email, text and social campaigns, an AI writing assistant and a library of templates designed for restaurants.
Skip if you're not on Toast, or you want to compare costs first: Toast doesn't publish a price for Marketing.
It's an add-on for Toast customers. Ask your Toast contact for the price, then compare it with a standalone tool fed by a guest export.
- Built-in AI writer
- Yes
- Free plan
- See official site
- 1,000 contacts
- See official pricing
- 5,000 contacts
- See official pricing
- Texts (SMS)
- Built in (price not listed)
- How guest data gets in
- Built into Toast POS and Toast Online Ordering
- Restaurant templates
- Yes
Checked October 2026: Toast Marketing (opens in a new tab), Toast pricing (opens in a new tab)
Standalone email platforms
Brevo
A few campaigns a month on a small budget
Good fit if you send a few campaigns a month and want to keep costs low. Plans are sized by how many emails you send, starting with Starter at 5,000 emails a month, and SMS credits are sold separately so texts can live in the same tool.
Skip if you email a large list every week, since the price grows with emails sent.
Its AI content generator drafts subject lines and email copy on Starter and higher plans.
- Built-in AI writer
- Paid plans
- Free plan
- Yes
- 1,000 contacts
- See official pricing
- 5,000 contacts
- See official pricing
- Texts (SMS)
- Credits sold separately
- How guest data gets in
- CSV import or its integrations (check for your POS)
- Restaurant templates
- Not listed
Checked October 2026: Brevo pricing (opens in a new tab)
Standalone email platforms
Constant Contact
Owners who want a guided, all-in-one email tool
Good fit if you want a guided setup and an editor that's hard to get wrong. Every plan includes an AI copy generator, and text messages can be added to Lite and Standard or come included with Premium.
Skip if you want a free plan to start: there's a free trial, then paid plans from $12 a month.
If your POS isn't among its integrations, export guests as a CSV and import them.
- Built-in AI writer
- Yes
- Free plan
- Free trial only
- 1,000 contacts
- See official pricing
- 5,000 contacts
- See official pricing
- Texts (SMS)
- Add-on from $10/mo (Lite, Standard); included with Premium
- How guest data gets in
- CSV import or one of its 300 integrations
- Restaurant templates
- Not listed
Checked October 2026: Constant Contact pricing (opens in a new tab)
Standalone email platforms
Klaviyo
Restaurants that also sell products online
Good fit if you also sell online, such as sauces, merchandise or gift boxes, and want emails and texts based on what people buy. Paid plans are priced by active profiles, and text messages are billed separately.
Skip if you only need a monthly newsletter and a few automations; a simpler tool will do.
The free plan covers 250 profiles and 500 emails a month and includes an AI subject line generator.
- Built-in AI writer
- Check
- Free plan
- Up to 250 profiles, 500 emails/mo
- 1,000 contacts
- See official pricing
- 5,000 contacts
- See official pricing
- Texts (SMS)
- Yes, billed separately
- How guest data gets in
- CSV import or its integrations (check for your POS)
- Restaurant templates
- Not listed
Checked October 2026: Klaviyo pricing (opens in a new tab), How Klaviyo pricing works (opens in a new tab)
Standalone email platforms
Mailchimp
A familiar, all-round email tool
Good fit if you want a well-known tool with plenty of how-to help around it. The free plan covers a very small list, and paid plans start with Essentials.
Skip if you want AI writing help on a budget: Intuit Assist comes with Standard and Premium, not Essentials.
SMS is available as an add-on to paid plans.
- Built-in AI writer
- Standard plan and up
- Free plan
- Up to 250 contacts, 500 sends/mo
- 1,000 contacts
- See official pricing
- 5,000 contacts
- See official pricing
- Texts (SMS)
- Paid add-on
- How guest data gets in
- CSV import or its integrations (check for your POS)
- Restaurant templates
- Not listed
Checked October 2026: Mailchimp pricing (opens in a new tab), Mailchimp plan comparison (opens in a new tab)
Standalone email platforms
MailerLite
Small lists on a tight budget
Good fit if you're starting small and want a clean, simple editor. The free plan is roomy for a new list, and the paid Comfort and Power plans add an AI writing assistant.
Skip if you want email and texts in one place: we couldn't find SMS in MailerLite's marketing plans.
MailerLite offers a restaurant landing page template, useful for a sign-up page, but no restaurant email templates that we could find.
- Built-in AI writer
- Paid plans
- Free plan
- Up to 250 subscribers, 2,500 emails/mo
- 1,000 contacts
- See official pricing
- 5,000 contacts
- See official pricing
- Texts (SMS)
- Not listed
- How guest data gets in
- CSV import or one of its 100+ integrations
- Restaurant templates
- Not listed
Checked October 2026: MailerLite pricing (opens in a new tab), MailerLite restaurant landing page (opens in a new tab)
Restaurant all-in-one
Owner.com
Owners who want ordering, loyalty and marketing in one platform
Good fit if you want one platform for your website, online ordering, app and loyalty, with email and text campaigns built in. Both plans include every feature and are billed month to month.
Skip if you already have a website and ordering you like; you'd be paying for far more than email.
Flex is $249 a month plus a 5% restaurant fee per order; Flat Rate is $499 a month with no per-order fee.
- Built-in AI writer
- Yes
- Free plan
- No
- 1,000 contacts
- Plan price: $249/mo + 5% per order, or $499/mo
- 5,000 contacts
- Plan price: $249/mo + 5% per order, or $499/mo
- Texts (SMS)
- Built in
- How guest data gets in
- Built into Owner's website, online ordering and loyalty
- Restaurant templates
- Not listed
Checked October 2026: Owner.com pricing (opens in a new tab), Owner.com email and SMS marketing (opens in a new tab)
No. 04By situation
Which email platform fits your restaurant?
Start from the system you already use and the way you'll use email. Here's where we'd begin in five common situations. Each is a starting point to test, not a ranking, and the right answer can change as your list grows.
You run Toast POS
Start with Toast Marketing: guest and order data from Toast POS and Toast Online Ordering feed it directly. Toast doesn't publish the price, so ask. If it's more than you want to spend, export your guests and try a standalone tool.
Toast Marketing (opens in a new tab)MailerLite (opens in a new tab)
You run Square POS
Check your Square plan first: email marketing is included with Square Plus and Premium. On another plan, compare the cost of upgrading with a standalone tool fed by a customer export.
You're independent and just starting
Start free while your list is small: MailerLite's and Mailchimp's free plans cover up to 250 contacts. Move to a paid plan when your list or your needs outgrow it.
MailerLite (opens in a new tab)Mailchimp (opens in a new tab)
You host a lot of events
You'll email more often and may want texts for day-of reminders. Brevo sells SMS credits, Constant Contact adds texts to Lite and Standard and includes them with Premium, and Klaviyo bills texts separately.
Brevo (opens in a new tab)Constant Contact (opens in a new tab)Klaviyo (opens in a new tab)
You run several locations
If every location shares one POS, its built-in marketing keeps all your guests in one place. If they don't, pick one email platform for every location so the list and the results stay together. Want ordering and loyalty too? Look at an all-in-one platform.
Sources
- Square Email Marketing (opens in a new tab)
- Square pricing (opens in a new tab)
- Toast Marketing (opens in a new tab)
- Toast pricing (opens in a new tab)
- Brevo pricing (opens in a new tab)
- Constant Contact pricing (opens in a new tab)
- Klaviyo pricing (opens in a new tab)
- How Klaviyo pricing works (opens in a new tab)
- Mailchimp pricing (opens in a new tab)
- Mailchimp plan comparison (opens in a new tab)
- MailerLite pricing (opens in a new tab)
- MailerLite restaurant landing page (opens in a new tab)
- Owner.com pricing (opens in a new tab)
- Owner.com email and SMS marketing (opens in a new tab)