The short answer
For exactly 5,000 contacts, Systeme.io Startup is the smallest tier in our snapshot: $17 monthly or $170 paid annually. At 5,001 contacts, the starting tier becomes Webinar at $47 monthly. Automation, course and funnel requirements can move you to a higher tier sooner.
Compare the current pricing snapshot and limits →Count people, then count workflows
Use the number of contacts you expect to keep, rather than the number of rows in every export combined. Duplicates and suppressed addresses need deliberate handling. Do not erase unsubscribe history just to reduce a plan total. Keep a record of consent and suppression decisions in your own systems; this calculator does not need access to them.
Give yourself a capacity scenario
Run two estimates: your current list and a modest growth scenario based on your own acquisition history. A plan that fits exactly today may move into a different tier as your list grows. This is a capacity test, not a forecast. Also list automation rules, campaigns, tags and domains; these have separate limits that the simplified calculator does not model.
Test delivery, not just import
Importing records does not prove that a welcome sequence, suppression rule or purchase event behaves correctly. Use a small permitted test segment and check the messages, links, sender authentication and unsubscribe behavior. The destination provider should confirm its import requirements before the full move. Keep essential transactional email running until the replacement is verified.
Your decision checklist
- Confirm how contacts are counted
- Preserve consent and unsubscribe records
- Test sender setup and purchase-triggered messages
Common questions
Product prices and limits checked 25 September 2026. Our cost scenarios are illustrative. Live product terms: provider pricing, detailed limits table, migration eligibility and process. See our formulas and limitations.