What to Look for in a good email marketing tool
Marketing automation, also referred to as the ability to easily send personalized and targeted bulk emails, should be a feature included in a quality email marketing service. Furthermore, the service should offer a user-friendly interface, preferably with a drag-and-drop editor, to assist in the creation of captivating email newsletters.
In addition, your email marketing service should offer easy management of your contact list, grouping users into segments, and tracking the performance of your email marketing campaigns.
First and foremost, it is crucial for a reliable email service provider to prevent your email campaigns from being flagged as spam. With that being said, let’s examine the various popular email marketing service providers and compare their performance.
1. Constant contact
Constant Contact is a widely used email marketing service that is known for its expansive growth. It is also recognized for being user-friendly, especially for beginners. With this service, users have the capability to effortlessly handle their email lists, contacts, templates, marketing calendar, and additional features.
Each account provides unlimited access to emails, simplified tracking and reporting, integrated social media sharing tools, a complimentary image library, list segmentation, seamless integration with Facebook ads, and a robust eCommerce integration tailored for Shopify stores.
Their Email Plus accounts also include email automation, drip campaigns, surveys & polls, coupons, online donations, and subject line A/B testing, allowing you to send targeted emails and optimize your open rate.
Constant Contact provides excellent customer support through various channels such as live chat, phone calls, email, community support, and a comprehensive library of useful resources. In addition to online training, they also organize face-to-face seminars in different locations across the United States. These seminars provide small business owners with the opportunity to swiftly acquire fundamental email marketing knowledge and begin utilizing it effectively to enhance their business.
Considering all of the aforementioned reasons, Constant Contact is given the highest rating as the top email marketing service for small businesses and startups. Moreover, Constant Contact offers a 60-day free trial, with no need for a credit card. Subsequently, their pricing begins at a modest $9.99 per month.
Users of WPBeginner have the option to utilize our Constant Contact coupon code in order to receive an extra 20% discount.
2. Brevo (Formerly Sendinblue)
Brevo, which was previously called Sendinblue, is a comprehensive software designed for businesses to conduct SMS and email marketing. It is among the rapidly expanding email marketing platforms in Europe. The platform is extremely user-friendly and offers excellent features for crafting visually appealing and captivating emails. Particularly suitable for novices in email marketing, their straightforward drag and drop email editor simplifies the process.
Brevo offers marketing automation tools that are easy for users to navigate. These tools facilitate the sending of transactional emails, creation of workflows for automatic follow-up emails, and segmentation of users. Additionally, Brevo’s AI algorithms can determine the optimal timing for sending bulk emails, thereby enhancing email deliverability.
Brevo provides a fully free email marketing plan with unlimited contacts. With their free plan, you can send a maximum of 300 emails daily, although all emails will contain their branding. Starting from $25 per month, their paid plans begin with Lite. Additionally, you can choose to incorporate SMS into your account, but the pricing will depend on your sending requirements.
The addition of more advanced features such as a landing page builder, live chat, sales CRM, and Facebook ads integration to their premium plan is a recent improvement by them. Consequently, users now receive greater value at no additional cost.
Additionally, Brevo provides a distinct SMTP bulk email marketing service that enables you to generate automated or transactional emails directly from your WordPress site. Although not required for email marketing campaigns, this feature proves beneficial for websites with substantial content, facilitating the delivery of automatic real-time emails based on the content.
3. HubSpot
HubSpot is a renowned software in the customer relationship management (CRM) and email marketing field. It offers a free starting email marketing service with numerous advanced automation features that aim to enhance business growth.
You can create a custom newsletter that aligns with your brand’s personality and colors using their easy drag-and-drop email builder and a variety of templates.
Due to its native integration with the HubSpot CRM, you have the ability to customize your emails according to various factors such as device type, country, list membership, or any other specific details pertaining to the subscriber.
HubSpot possesses all the typical features of an enterprise-level email marketing software, including send time optimization, excellent email deliverability, A/B testing, comprehensive performance analytics, marketing automation, drip campaigns, and additional functionalities.
HubSpot is chosen by small, medium, and enterprise customers mainly because it provides a comprehensive marketing platform that includes various features such as email marketing, CRM, automation workflows, sales tools, website builder, operation hub, and more.
Included in the free plan of Hubspot Email Marketing are the CRM and all of HubSpot’s free marketing, sales, service, and operations tools.
With the free version, you have the capability to send 2,000 emails and store an unlimited amount of subscribers. Additionally, you are able to create custom signup and popup forms, construct landing pages, oversee and monitor your online ads, and utilize other features. It encompasses all the necessary tools for initiating your endeavors.
If you require more advanced capabilities, their paid plans begin at $45 per month.
4. Mailchimp
Newbies typically begin with Mailchimp due to its easy user interface, but eventually switch to more affordable alternatives because it is both popular and expensive.
With the help of the drag-and-drop email builder and professional templates, it is possible for you to create stunning campaigns within minutes. Additionally, you can enhance your audience growth by integrating popup signup forms to your website or making use of premade templates to create limitless landing pages.
Mailchimp provides advanced email marketing tools such as A/B testing, prebuilt and custom list segmentation options, and send time optimization in order to delve further into its services. Additionally, you have the capability to personalize email content by utilizing an ecommerce plugin, including the integration of product recommendations.
If you want to use email automation, you can select from pre-designed workflow options like re-engagement emails or create your own customer journeys. Additionally, if you want to expand your marketing strategy to multiple channels, the platform also provides social media scheduling and advertising features.
The price of paid plans depends on the number of subscribers in your contact lists. Customer support is not included in the free plan, but there is a comprehensive knowledge base available to assist you. Mailchimp provides a free plan, which entails 1,000 emails per month and 500 contacts. To access increased limits and additional features, prices begin at $13 for 500 contacts.
5. ConvertKit
ConvertKit is an emailing service that specifically targets bloggers and YouTubers, who are online creatives. It provides email marketing features that allow users to segment their lists and personalize campaigns using tags. Additionally, A/B testing for subject lines is also available.
By utilizing customizable landing page templates and signup forms, you have the opportunity to expand your audience while also boosting conversion rates. Additionally, if you offer downloadable content as an incentive, you can conveniently deliver these materials to individuals who have completed the form using automated processes.
ConvertKit offers automation software that allows you to create email drip campaigns based on how subscribers interact. With the workflow editor, you can see your sequences in action and easily modify the paths subscribers follow. Additionally, there are automation templates available for different use cases such as webinars and product launches, in case you need assistance starting out.
All plans offer the option to send unlimited emails and include live chat and email support. Paid plans are priced according to the number of subscribers. The free plan allows for up to 300 subscribers, while prices begin at $15 per month for 300 contacts and additional advanced features.
6. MailerLite
MailerLite is a suitable email marketing service for beginners as it caters to all their needs. It offers a drag-and-drop editor that allows users to easily create various types of email campaigns. Additionally, users can utilize signup forms to expand their email list, generate dedicated landing pages, and even build an entire website using their website builder. For transactional emails, MailerSend can be used as a third-party service.
MailerLite provides email automation and personalization options that are tailored to user behavior. For Shopify and WooCommerce stores, abandoned cart emails can be utilized. Alongside this, contact management and segmentation features are also included.
MailerLite offers features such as A/B testing and smart delivery based on time zones, which allow you to maximize the effectiveness of your campaigns. Additionally, MailerLite provides reports and analytics to help you monitor and evaluate your performance. It is worth mentioning that MailerLite offers a free plan that accommodates up to 1,000 subscribers and allows for the sending of 12,000 emails per month.
With the free plan, you can send a maximum of 12,000 emails each month to up to 1,000 contacts. If you opt for a paid plan, it begins at $10 per month and covers 1,000 subscribers.
7. Klaviyo
Klaviyo primarily serves online shops, offering marketers SMS and advanced email features to boost revenue. Its user-friendly editor includes pre-designed responsive templates, allowing for personalized emails featuring product recommendations and dynamic blocks.
Klaviyo monitors website interactions and events, which can be applied for email marketing, automations, and segmentation purposes. All customer data is stored in individual profiles within a CRM, enabling a comprehensive understanding of buyers.
In addition to providing customized benchmarks for your business, Klaviyo also offers advanced reporting capabilities with a metrics dashboard. Klaviyo’s free plan includes 250 email contacts and 50 SMS contacts, as well as the ability to send 500 emails and 150 SMS messages.
The free plan allows for sending 500 emails per month to a maximum of 250 contacts. If you choose to upgrade to a paid plan, the prices begin at $20 per month and allow for up to 500 contacts.
8. Omnisend
Omnisend is an omni-channel marketing automation solution specially designed for eCommerce businesses in search of a powerful SMS & email marketing service.
Their free email marketing plan stands out due to its inclusiveness of powerful features such as pre-built automation workflows, subscriber segmentation, A/B testing, performance reports, and even SMS + web push notifications, making it one of the most generous options available.
Omnisend offers almost everything in their free plan, unlike most other free email marketing plans that have restrictions. They are confident in their value proposition. However, as your contact list increases, you will be required to upgrade to their paid plans.
Omnisend has smooth integration with popular website builders and eCommerce platforms such as WooCommerce, Shopify, BigCommerce, and others. Additionally, they offer integration with numerous other business tools including live chat software and help desk services.
The thing we liked most about Omnisend is their ready-made eCommerce marketing automation workflows, which aim to increase your revenue. These workflows consist of various emails such as welcome email series, cart abandonment emails, cross-sell emails, and more.
The email builder provided by them is highly user-friendly and offers a wide variety of customizable email templates that enable you to design stunning campaigns in line with your brand. Once the setup is complete, you can make the email personalized by utilizing their robust targeting and segmentation capabilities.
Omnisend is highly appreciated by many users because it includes SMS functionality within its platform, eliminating the need for an extra software purchase. Moreover, their SMS feature enables worldwide message delivery across 209 regions.
Omnisend offers a free email marketing plan, which permits you to reach a maximum of 250 subscribers. Additionally, they have paid plans available, with prices starting at $16 per month.
