What AI assistants actually recommend when buyers ask about self-hosted email marketing platforms — measured weekly across 3 engines, published as open data.
Updated 2026-08-02 · 49 sampled answers · rolling 4-week window · methodology
Rankings are measured from sampled AI answers — never editorial, never paid. Orbator builds AI-visibility tooling; when Orbator itself appears in any category, it is measured by the same rules as everyone else.
Sample: 49 AI answers · Window: Jul 5, 2026 – Aug 2, 2026 (4-week rolling) · trend vs prior 4 weeks (44 answers)
Across 49 sampled AI answers from 3 engines, Mautic is recommended most often — appearing in 87.8% of recommendations, followed by Listmonk (83.7%) and phpList (65.3%).
This is a measurement of share of voice across 3 AI engines — not an editorial pick. See the full ranking below.
| # | Product | Share | Trend | Engines | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Mautic mautic.org Best for: AI recommends Mautic most when buyers ask “best open-source email marketing tool for a startup that wants to own its subscriber data” (100% of those answers) | 87.8% 95% CI 75.8–94.3% 43 mentions · avg pos 3.7 first pick 23.3% | — | GEMINI 90.5%CLAUDE 71.4%PERPLEXITY 90.5% | Claim |
| 2 | Listmonk listmonk.app Best for: AI recommends Listmonk most when buyers ask “best self-hosted email marketing platform for sending newsletters without per-email fees” (100% of those answers) | 83.7% 95% CI 71–91.5% 41 mentions · avg pos 3.1 first pick 48.8% | — | GEMINI 90.5%CLAUDE 100%PERPLEXITY 71.4% | Claim |
| 3 | phpList phplist.com Best for: AI recommends phpList most when buyers ask “self-hosted email marketing alternatives to major cloud ESP platforms” (100% of those answers) | 65.3% 95% CI 51.3–77.1% 32 mentions · avg pos 5.1 first pick 3.1% | — | GEMINI 85.7%CLAUDE 42.9%PERPLEXITY 52.4% | Claim |
| 4 | Keila Best for: AI recommends Keila most when buyers ask “lightweight open-source alternatives to big hosted email marketing services for solo creators” (88.9% of those answers) | 57.1% 95% CI 43.3–70% 28 mentions · avg pos 5.2 first pick 7.1% | — | GEMINI 76.2%CLAUDE 28.6%PERPLEXITY 47.6% | Claim |
| 5 | SendPortal sendportal.io Best for: AI recommends SendPortal most when buyers ask “lightweight open-source alternatives to big hosted email marketing services for solo creators” (77.8% of those answers) | 51% 95% CI 37.5–64.4% 25 mentions · avg pos 7.4 first pick 0% | — | GEMINI 66.7%CLAUDE 28.6%PERPLEXITY 42.9% | Claim |
| 6 | Mailtrain Best for: AI recommends Mailtrain most when buyers ask “lightweight open-source alternatives to big hosted email marketing services for solo creators” (77.8% of those answers) | 46.9% 95% CI 33.7–60.6% 23 mentions · avg pos 5.8 first pick 0% | — | GEMINI 61.9%CLAUDE 14.3%PERPLEXITY 42.9% | Claim |
| 7 | Amazon SES Best for: AI recommends Amazon SES most when buyers ask “self-hosted email marketing alternatives to major cloud ESP platforms” (88.9% of those answers) | 38.8% 95% CI 26.4–52.8% 19 mentions · avg pos 7.3 first pick 15.8% | — | GEMINI 52.4%CLAUDE 14.3%PERPLEXITY 33.3% | Claim |
| 8 | Docker docker.com Best for: AI recommends Docker most when buyers ask “self-hosted email marketing alternatives to major cloud ESP platforms” (77.8% of those answers) | 36.7% 95% CI 24.7–50.7% 18 mentions · avg pos 5.1 first pick 22.2% | — | GEMINI 57.1%CLAUDE 14.3%PERPLEXITY 23.8% | Claim |
| 9 | Mailgun mailgun.com Best for: AI recommends Mailgun most when buyers ask “self-hosted email marketing for a developer who wants full deliverability control — what should I use” (88.9% of those answers) | 36.7% 95% CI 24.7–50.7% 18 mentions · avg pos 6.3 first pick 11.1% | — | GEMINI 61.9%CLAUDE 14.3%PERPLEXITY 19% | Claim |
| 10 | SendGrid sendgrid.com Best for: AI recommends SendGrid most when buyers ask “self-hosted email marketing for a developer who wants full deliverability control — what should I use” (66.7% of those answers) | 32.7% 95% CI 21.2–46.6% 16 mentions · avg pos 7.4 first pick 6.3% | — | GEMINI 57.1%CLAUDE 28.6%PERPLEXITY 9.5% | Claim |
| 11 | Mailchimp mailchimp.com Best for: AI recommends Mailchimp most when buyers ask “self-hosted email marketing alternatives to major cloud ESP platforms” (77.8% of those answers) | 30.6% 95% CI 19.5–44.5% 15 mentions · avg pos 7.1 first pick 20% | — | GEMINI 28.6%CLAUDE 42.9%PERPLEXITY 28.6% | Claim |
| 12 | Sendy Best for: AI recommends Sendy most when buyers ask “self-hosted email marketing alternatives to major cloud ESP platforms” (77.8% of those answers) | 24.5% 95% CI 14.6–38.1% 12 mentions · avg pos 8.2 first pick 16.7% | — | GEMINI 33.3%CLAUDE 14.3%PERPLEXITY 19% | Claim |
| 13 | AWS SES Best for: AI recommends AWS SES most when buyers ask “best open-source email marketing tool for a startup that wants to own its subscriber data” (33.3% of those answers) | 20.4% 95% CI 11.5–33.6% 10 mentions · avg pos 8.1 first pick 10% | — | GEMINI 42.9%PERPLEXITY 4.8% | Claim |
| 14 | Postmark postmarkapp.com Best for: AI recommends Postmark most when buyers ask “self-hosted email marketing for a developer who wants full deliverability control — what should I use” (66.7% of those answers) | 18.4% 95% CI 10–31.4% 9 mentions · avg pos 6.5 first pick 11.1% | — | GEMINI 33.3%PERPLEXITY 9.5% | Claim |
| 15 | evoMailer evomailer.com Best for: AI recommends evoMailer most when buyers ask “best self-hosted email marketing platform for sending newsletters without per-email fees” (33.3% of those answers) | 16.3% 95% CI 8.5–29% 8 mentions · avg pos 10.4 first pick 0% | — | GEMINI 28.6%PERPLEXITY 9.5% | Claim |
| 16 | MailWizz Best for: AI recommends MailWizz most when buyers ask “self-hosted email marketing alternatives to major cloud ESP platforms” (44.4% of those answers) | 16.3% 95% CI 8.5–29% 8 mentions · avg pos 11.9 first pick 0% | — | GEMINI 33.3%PERPLEXITY 4.8% | Claim |
| 17 | Billionmail Best for: AI recommends Billionmail most when buyers ask “self-hosted email marketing for a developer who wants full deliverability control — what should I use” (44.4% of those answers) | 14.3% 95% CI 7.1–26.7% 7 mentions · avg pos 6.6 first pick 0% | — | GEMINI 4.8%CLAUDE 57.1%PERPLEXITY 9.5% | Claim |
| 18 | Postal postal.io Best for: AI recommends Postal most when buyers ask “self-hosted email marketing alternatives to major cloud ESP platforms” (33.3% of those answers) | 14.3% 95% CI 7.1–26.7% 7 mentions · avg pos 8 first pick 14.3% | — | GEMINI 4.8%CLAUDE 28.6%PERPLEXITY 19% | Claim |
| 19 | OpenEMM Best for: AI recommends OpenEMM most when buyers ask “how do I set up a self-hosted email marketing system using my own SMTP server” (33.3% of those answers) | 12.2% 95% CI 5.7–24.2% 6 mentions · avg pos 6.2 first pick 16.7% | — | GEMINI 23.8%PERPLEXITY 4.8% | Claim |
| 20 | WordPress wordpress.com Best for: AI recommends WordPress most when buyers ask “what open-source email marketing software supports automation sequences and list segmentation” (66.7% of those answers) | 12.2% 95% CI 5.7–24.2% 6 mentions · avg pos 6.2 first pick 0% | — | GEMINI 19%PERPLEXITY 9.5% | Claim |
| 21 | Brevo brevo.com Best for: AI recommends Brevo most when buyers ask “self-hosted email marketing alternatives to major cloud ESP platforms” (33.3% of those answers) | 12.2% 95% CI 5.7–24.2% 6 mentions · avg pos 10.3 first pick 0% | — | GEMINI 9.5%CLAUDE 14.3%PERPLEXITY 14.3% | Claim |
| 22 | Plunk plunk.io | 10.2% 95% CI 4.4–21.8% 5 mentions · avg pos 5 first pick 0% | — | GEMINI 14.3%CLAUDE 14.3%PERPLEXITY 4.8% | Claim |
| 23 | Postfix Best for: AI recommends Postfix most when buyers ask “how do I set up a self-hosted email marketing system using my own SMTP server” (77.8% of those answers) | 10.2% 95% CI 4.4–21.8% 5 mentions · avg pos 5 first pick 0% | — | GEMINI 4.8%CLAUDE 14.3%PERPLEXITY 14.3% | Claim |
| 24 | nuevoMailer nuevomailer.com Best for: AI recommends nuevoMailer most when buyers ask “self-hosted email marketing alternatives to major cloud ESP platforms” (33.3% of those answers) | 10.2% 95% CI 4.4–21.8% 5 mentions · avg pos 9.8 first pick 0% | — | GEMINI 23.8% | Claim |
| 25 | FluentCRM fluentcrm.com Best for: AI recommends FluentCRM most when buyers ask “what open-source email marketing software supports automation sequences and list segmentation” (55.6% of those answers) | 8.2% 95% CI 3.2–19.2% 4 mentions · avg pos 3.3 first pick 0% | — | GEMINI 14.3%CLAUDE 14.3% | Claim |
| 26 | Exim Best for: AI recommends Exim most when buyers ask “how do I set up a self-hosted email marketing system using my own SMTP server” (66.7% of those answers) | 8.2% 95% CI 3.2–19.2% 4 mentions · avg pos 5.3 first pick 0% | — | GEMINI 4.8%CLAUDE 14.3%PERPLEXITY 9.5% | Claim |
| 27 | AWS aws.amazon.com | 8.2% 95% CI 3.2–19.2% 4 mentions · avg pos 6.3 first pick 0% | — | GEMINI 14.3%CLAUDE 14.3% | Claim |
| 28 | Mailcoach mailcoach.app Best for: AI recommends Mailcoach most when buyers ask “self-hosted email marketing alternatives to major cloud ESP platforms” (33.3% of those answers) | 8.2% 95% CI 3.2–19.2% 4 mentions · avg pos 12 first pick 0% | — | GEMINI 9.5%PERPLEXITY 9.5% | Claim |
| 29 | DigitalOcean digitalocean.com Best for: AI recommends DigitalOcean most when buyers ask “how do I set up a self-hosted email marketing system using my own SMTP server” (44.4% of those answers) | 6.1% 95% CI 2.1–16.5% 3 mentions · avg pos 2 first pick 33.3% | — | GEMINI 9.5%CLAUDE 14.3% | Claim |
| 30 | Odoo odoo.com | 6.1% 95% CI 2.1–16.5% 3 mentions · avg pos 4.3 first pick 0% | — | GEMINI 14.3% | Claim |
| 31 | Broadcast | 6.1% 95% CI 2.1–16.5% 3 mentions · avg pos 10 first pick 33.3% | — | GEMINI 9.5%PERPLEXITY 4.8% | Claim |
| 32 | Acelle Mail | 6.1% 95% CI 2.1–16.5% 3 mentions · avg pos 10.7 first pick 33.3% | — | GEMINI 4.8%PERPLEXITY 9.5% | Claim |
| 33 | Modoboa | 6.1% 95% CI 2.1–16.5% 3 mentions · avg pos 11 first pick 0% | — | GEMINI 14.3% | Claim |
| 34 | Mailjet mailjet.com Best for: AI recommends Mailjet most when buyers ask “self-hosted email marketing for a developer who wants full deliverability control — what should I use” (33.3% of those answers) | 6.1% 95% CI 2.1–16.5% 3 mentions · avg pos 16.7 first pick 0% | — | GEMINI 14.3% | Claim |
| 35 | Campaign Monitor campaignmonitor.com Best for: AI recommends Campaign Monitor most when buyers ask “self-hosted email marketing alternatives to major cloud ESP platforms” (33.3% of those answers) | 6.1% 95% CI 2.1–16.5% 3 mentions first pick 0% | — | PERPLEXITY 14.3% | Claim |
| 36 | Mailcow mailcow.email | 4.1% 95% CI 1.1–13.7% 2 mentions · avg pos 3.5 first pick 50% | — | GEMINI 4.8%PERPLEXITY 4.8% | Claim |
| 37 | Agnitus | 4.1% 95% CI 1.1–13.7% 2 mentions · avg pos 5.5 first pick 0% | — | GEMINI 9.5% | Claim |
| 38 | Maileroo | 4.1% 95% CI 1.1–13.7% 2 mentions · avg pos 7.5 first pick 50% | — | GEMINI 4.8%PERPLEXITY 4.8% | Claim |
| 39 | SMTP2GO | 4.1% 95% CI 1.1–13.7% 2 mentions · avg pos 7.5 first pick 50% | — | GEMINI 4.8%PERPLEXITY 4.8% | Claim |
| 40 | hMailServer | 4.1% 95% CI 1.1–13.7% 2 mentions · avg pos 9 first pick 0% | — | GEMINI 4.8%PERPLEXITY 4.8% | Claim |
| 41 | Octeth | 4.1% 95% CI 1.1–13.7% 2 mentions · avg pos 11 first pick 0% | — | GEMINI 4.8%PERPLEXITY 4.8% | Claim |
| 42 | Dev.to dev.to | 4.1% 95% CI 1.1–13.7% 2 mentions first pick 0% | — | PERPLEXITY 9.5% | Claim |
| 43 | OpenAlternative openalternative.co Best for: AI recommends OpenAlternative most when buyers ask “lightweight open-source alternatives to big hosted email marketing services for solo creators” (44.4% of those answers) | 4.1% 95% CI 1.1–13.7% 2 mentions first pick 0% | — | PERPLEXITY 9.5% | Claim |
| 44 | Notifuse notifuse.com | 2% 95% CI 0.4–10.7% 1 mentions · avg pos 1 first pick 100% | — | CLAUDE 14.3% | Claim |
| 45 | MXToolbox mxtoolbox.com | 2% 95% CI 0.4–10.7% 1 mentions · avg pos 2 first pick 0% | — | CLAUDE 14.3% | Claim |
| 46 | NodeMailer | 2% 95% CI 0.4–10.7% 1 mentions · avg pos 2 first pick 0% | — | GEMINI 4.8% | Claim |
| 47 | Sendmail | 2% 95% CI 0.4–10.7% 1 mentions · avg pos 2 first pick 0% | — | PERPLEXITY 4.8% | Claim |
| 48 | Dovecot | 2% 95% CI 0.4–10.7% 1 mentions · avg pos 3 first pick 0% | — | PERPLEXITY 4.8% | Claim |
| 49 | Ghost ghost.org | 2% 95% CI 0.4–10.7% 1 mentions · avg pos 9 first pick 0% | — | PERPLEXITY 4.8% | Claim |
| 50 | Let's Encrypt letsencrypt.org | 2% 95% CI 0.4–10.7% 1 mentions · avg pos 10 first pick 0% | — | CLAUDE 14.3% | Claim |
| 51 | ClamAV | 2% 95% CI 0.4–10.7% 1 mentions · avg pos 49 first pick 0% | — | GEMINI 4.8% | Claim |
| 52 | Rspamd | 2% 95% CI 0.4–10.7% 1 mentions · avg pos 49 first pick 0% | — | GEMINI 4.8% | Claim |
| 53 | Goodfirms goodfirms.co | 2% 95% CI 0.4–10.7% 1 mentions first pick 0% | — | PERPLEXITY 4.8% | Claim |
| 54 | SoftwareSuggest softwaresuggest.com | 2% 95% CI 0.4–10.7% 1 mentions first pick 0% | — | PERPLEXITY 4.8% | Claim |
| 55 | SourceForge sourceforge.net Best for: AI recommends SourceForge most when buyers ask “what open-source email marketing software supports automation sequences and list segmentation” (33.3% of those answers) | 2% 95% CI 0.4–10.7% 1 mentions first pick 0% | — | PERPLEXITY 4.8% | Claim |
| 56 | Unsend | 2% 95% CI 0.4–10.7% 1 mentions first pick 0% | — | PERPLEXITY 4.8% | Claim |
Reading the numbers: Share is a point estimate on 49 sampled answers, so each row also shows its 95% CI — the Wilson score interval around that share. When two products' intervals overlap, the gap between them isn't statistically meaningful at this sample size. First pick is the share of a product's recommending answers where it was named first, which separates “always mentioned” from “usually the top recommendation”. Full methodology.
Independence: Orbator customers are badged for disclosure. Customer status does not affect prompts, sampling, extraction, or ranking — see the methodology. Your product on this list? Claim it to see the prompts behind your rank and track it weekly.
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