Newsletters and promotional emails are a quick and efficient way to get the latest news and deals out to your customers.

If you’ve been managing a digital marketing campaign and want to increase productivity, an email marketing platform can help streamline the process.

But, how do you know which platform to choose with a seemingly endless array of options?

Fortunately, we can help.

Keep reading to learn all about the best email marketing platforms.  

An Overview of Email Marketing Platforms

Email marketing platforms allow you to send emails en masse to all of your customers.

These emails can include newsletters, promotions, or other communications that you need to get out in one shot.

What Is an Email Marketing Platform?

An email marketing platform is a service that provides a collection of tools that help you create and send emails to large groups.

They’re the easiest way to arrange newsletter campaigns, send out surveys, share news, or offer personalized discounts.

Why Are Email Marketing Platforms Important?

Email marketing platforms take the stress out of collecting email addresses, managing subscriber lists, and sending mass emails.

Instead of manually entering each email address, you can provide an email signup form on your website or send users a link. What’s best is that they allow you to automate emails or schedule campaigns ahead of time.

Do I Need an Email Marketing Platform?

While an email marketing platform isn’t strictly necessary for a successful email marketing campaign, having one will certainly make it easier.

Your platform will help you create and send emails using templates and other integrations and will automatically manage your user list.

The Best Email Marketing Platforms at a Glance

The best email marketing platform we reviewed overall is AWeber.

However, if you’re looking to get started with email marketing for free, we highly recommend Mailjet.

Here’s a quick breakdown of each.

Features To Look For in Email Marketing Platforms

Most email marketing platforms have a broad selection of features and resources.

Here are a few criteria you should always have in mind when choosing the platform that best suits your skills and business needs.

1. Templates

Uniformity is a critical aspect of your branding.

That includes the appearance of your promotions and communications.

So, when you start examining email marketing platforms, find one that provides a large selection of templates and branding options.

This will ensure your emails are on-brand and precisely what your customers expect.

2. Automation and Scheduling

Most email marketing platforms offer ways to automate or schedule email campaigns in advance.

This is particularly useful if you send a “Welcome” email to new subscribers or a reward for signups.

In addition, being able to schedule emails ahead of time allows you to plan your drip campaigns far in advance.

3. Analytics

An email marketing campaign is only successful if your readers absorb or interact with your content.

Fortunately, email marketing platforms often include metrics and analytics that provide insight into user behavior.

These metrics include open rate, click rate, bounce rate, and link activity, which can be invaluable in determining how to segment or group your lists.

4. Mobile Responsiveness

Did you know that mobile emails are 65 percent more likely to draw traffic to your site?

That being the case, you need to choose an email marketing platform that offers smoothly responsive interfaces.

Each email should be just as easy to read on a mobile device as on a desktop.

Skipping responsiveness is a surefire way to cause users to click “Unsubscribe.”  

5. Customer Support

With all their moving parts, email marketing platforms can be tricky for new users.

So when you start researching platforms, be sure to pick one with a good reputation for customer support.

You’ll also want 24/7 customer care to ensure your email campaigns are running smoothly, especially if you plan to use automation or special features frequently.

Best Email Marketing Platforms: Our Top 3 Options [Ranked & Reviewed]

Email marketing platforms seem to be everywhere, which can make it challenging for a fledgling business to find the right one.

On top of all your other marketing decisions, picking a platform is one more hassle.

So, we decided to take a bit of that frustration away by researching for you.

After sifting through all the available options, we’ve come up with three that hit the mark.

1. AWeber: Our Pick 

AWeber is a feature-rich email marketing platform that makes crafting a well-rounded digital marketing campaign effortless.

It’s perfect for small and large businesses, personal websites, and bloggers who want to boost their platform and follower count.

Key Features of AWeber

AWeber has a long list of excellent features that’ll make email marketing a breeze.

Here are a few reasons we feel AWeber should be your first choice.

• Extensive library of email templates and branding options
• Access to Canva tools and resources within your account
• Drag-and-drop builder for easy designs
• Broad selection of automation tools
• Intuitive analytic tools to study customer behavior
• Dynamic pricing options so you only pay for what you need

Why Is AWeber a Great Solution?

One of the reasons we think AWeber is a great choice is because it offers dynamic pricing.

Instead of multiple plans, everyone who chooses a paid plan with AWeber gets the same tools.

However, a business with 1,000 subscribers won’t have to pay the same as a business with ten times that.

Paid plans start at around $16.

In addition to pricing, AWeber provides a decent selection of integrations, automation tools, and other resources that allow you to create a cohesive online experience for users.

It’ll also let you incorporate your online store, ensuring your products are easy to access when you include them in your emails.

Pros of AWeber

AWeber has plenty of great features, but here are a few of the top reasons you should give it a shot.

• In-account access to Canva stock photos and elements provides a wide range of professional elements and design features.
• Extensive automation tools make various email automation accessible on all plans.
• Dynamic content to tailor emails for subscribers and segments to ensure your customers only get the content they want.

Cons of AWeber

Although AWeber is a solid choice for email marketing, it has its limitations.

Here are the drawbacks that stood out to us.

• Low subscriber threshold on free plan limits what you can do for free.
• Landing page builder doesn’t allow testing or analytics cookies.
• No free trial of the paid plan.

AWeber vs Other Top Recommendations: How They Compare

AWeber stood out above ActiveCampaign and Sendinblue, our other two top picks, for a few reasons.

Mainly, its free plan is far more extensive than SendinBlue.

Also, its dynamic pricing allows your monthly price to reflect your business’ size, making it easier to stay on budget.

However, there were also a few things AWeber didn’t have.

Unlike ActiveCampaign, AWeber doesn’t offer quote-based pricing like SendinBlue.

It also doesn’t provide messaging features like ActiveCampaign, which allow you to reach your customers more easily.

If you’re looking for a budget option, Sendinblue might be more up your alley.

AWeber Pricing

Here’s a quick look at AWeber’s pricing.

You can see complete plan details on their pricing page.

• Start Pro: $16.15 to $146.15 per month, depending on subscriber count.
• Custom: bespoke plans for lists with more than 25,000 subscribers.

The pricing listed reflects a 19 percent discount off the cost of paying per month if you pay annually.

Can You Try AWeber for Free?

Unfortunately, AWeber doesn’t offer a free trial of its paid services.

However, its free plan is quite comprehensive.

If you sign up for it, you should be able to get a solid feel for whether or not it’ll work for you.

Conclusion: Should You Choose AWeber?

AWeber is the perfect choice for a business that doesn’t want to pay for services it doesn’t need.

You get the full suite of tools with any paid plan, so you can rest easy knowing your pricing is fair.

In addition, the monthly cost is lower than its competitors for similar tools.

2. ActiveCampaign: Runner-Up 

ActiveCampaign is a digital marketing platform that provides a customer-centric approach to email marketing.

It offers tools to help you reach new customers, grow your relationship, encourage conversions, and grow your audience.

Key Features of ActiveCampaign

The best thing about ActiveCampaign is its extensive list of features.

The creators included everything businesses need to get the word out with a successful, streamlined email marketing campaign.

When you choose ActiveCampaign as your email marketing platform, you’ll get the following features:

• Unlimited email sends with all paid plans, including Lite.
• Social media integrations allow you to segment subscribers based on behavior.
• Extensive customization options on the Pro plan.
• Advanced analytics and event tracking.
• Mobile campaign optimization to entice readers on mobile devices.
• Transactional email features via Postmark.
• Nearly 900 app integrations.

Why Is ActiveCampaign a Great Solution?

ActiveCampaign is a great solution because it provides web-based businesses the tools to draw in new customers.

With an array of customization and personalization options, you’ll be able to reach customers based on their preferences and behaviors.

ActiveCampaign offers four paid plans, each of which has a lengthy list of features.

All plans include its intuitive email builder, subscription forms, detailed reporting tools, and subscriber segmentation.

It also has a long list of app integrations to help better personalize your user’s experience.

Pros of ActiveCampaign

When you sign up for ActiveCampaign, you’ll find heaps of excellent features for building campaigns.

• No restrictions on emails: Unlimited email sends means there’s no restriction on how many newsletters or promotions you can send each month.
• Intuitive interface: Drag-and-drop builder lets you create emails quickly, efficiently, and professionally
• Data and analytics: Detailed analytics let you target campaigns based on user behavior and activity

Cons of ActiveCampaign

Despite its good qualities, ActiveCampaign has a few cons.

Take a look at what we found.

• Minimal customer support: tech support is not available 24/7
• No free version: All ActiveCampaign plans require payment 
• Learning curve: ActiveCampaign is a bit more difficult for newcomers to navigate at first 

ActiveCampaign vs Other Top Recommendations: How They Compare

The primary way in which ActiveCampaign stands out from the other top competitors is due to its plans.

It offers far more features in each plan than Sendinblue or AWeber and is much more popular than both.

However, ActiveCampaign’s downside is that it doesn’t offer a free plan.

Whereas AWeber and Sendinblue each provide free plans, ActiveCampaign doesn’t.

In addition, ActiveCampaign limits subscribers on the Plus Plan, while SendinBlue doesn’t.

ActiveCampaign Pricing

ActiveCampaign offers four paid plans, including an Enterprise plan for larger businesses.

Its pricing is as follows:

• Lite: $29 per month
• Plus: $39 per month
• Professional: $149 per month
• Enterprise: Custom pricing

Can You Try ActiveCampaign for Free?

Unfortunately, ActiveCampaign doesn’t offer a free plan.

However, you can take advantage of a 14-day free trial to test drive the tools.

You won’t need a credit card to sign up, but remember to save your content once the 14-day period is up if you choose not to use the service.

Conclusion: Should You Choose ActiveCampaign?

ActiveCampaign is an excellent second choice if AWeber isn’t for you.

It has a vast library of tools, many app integrations, and everything else you need to grow your business.

You’ll be able to learn how to build an email list and craft perfectly branded emails and newsletters to boost your subscriber list and attract new clients.

3. Sendinblue: Budget Pick

During our research, we focused on finding a great budget pick for businesses that need to keep costs low or won’t have a huge list.

Sendinblue was the clear winner based on others in its class.

Not only does it offer a marketing platform, but Sendinblue also provides chat, sales, and transactional email tools, making it a one-stop shop for a lot of your digital marketing.

Key Features of Sendinblue

Sendinblue has a wealth of excellent features.

The free plan is comprehensive, while the paid options provide everything you need at a great price.

Here are just a few of the best features Sendinblue offers.

• Messaging features: All plans include SMS and WhatsApp marketing tools to expand your reach to other online areas.
• Send time optimized: Email send optimization ensures you reach your customers at the right time of day.
• Landing page builder: You’ll have access to a high-quality landing page builder on the Business and Enterprise plans. 
• Unlimited sends: All paid plans include unlimited daily emails, so you won’t ever feel restricted. 
• Shared inbox: All paid plans include a shared inbox you can use to help better organize yourself.

Why Is Sendinblue a Great Solution?

Sendinblue is a great solution for email marketing needs because it allows you more flexibility than other plans.

With unlimited daily emails and messaging integrations, you’ll be able to reach your customers in all areas of the internet.

Pros of Sendinblue

Here are some of the top reasons we think Sendinblue is a great pick for building an email marketing campaign.

• Simple drag-and-drop editor for quick email builds lets you streamline your campaign process.
• Extensive email template library gives you plenty of ways to stand out from competitors.
• Supplement email messaging with SMS or WhatsApp for your customer’s convenience.

Cons of Sendinblue

As with other email marketing platforms, Sendinblue has a few cons.

• 300 message limit per day with the free plan.
• Added cost to remove branding on Starter plan.
• Send time optimization only available on Business and Enterprise plans.

Sendinblue vs Other Top Recommendations: How They Compare

Sendinblue stands out from our other top picks because of its comprehensive free plan.

You won’t feel bereft when using Sendinblue because it offers everything you need for a quality campaign.

SendinBlue’s main drawback is that all paid plans don’t have certain features.

For example, where ActiveCampaign and AWeber remove branding on all paid plans, brand removal is only included in Sendinblue’s Business and Enterprise plans.

If you want to remove ActiveCampaign branding from the Starter paid plan, you’ll have to pay an additional $10 per month.

Sendinblue Pricing

Sendinblue offers three paid plans.

Each plan has a base price and will fluctuate based on your subscriber count and needs.

• Starter: $25+ per month
• Business: $65+ per month
• Enterprise: $1,000+ per month

Annual subscribers receive the prices above, which reflect a 10 percent discount from the month-to-month prices.

You can read more about their plans on the website’s pricing page.

Can You Try Sendinblue for Free?

Sendinblue’s best feature is that it offers a well-stocked free plan.

You can try many of the service’s tools and amenities using the free plan, then upgrade as your business needs grow.

Conclusion: Should You Choose Sendinblue?

You should try out Sendinblue if you need a well-designed email marketing campaign with a low price tag to increase your email open rates.

You’ll have plenty of flexibility in pricing, so you’ll only pay for what you need, and the free plan will make it easy for you to keep those monthly costs down.

The Best Free Email Marketing Platforms Options

Although the email marketing platforms we’ve already discussed are pretty robust, a free option might be better if you’re working on a tight budget.

During our search, we felt two platforms stood out from the rest because of their free plans.

Mailjet and MailerLite are two excellent choices if you want to minimize costs.

4. Mailjet

Of all the free email marketing platforms we looked at, Mailjet provided the most comprehensive list of resources.

Some of its key features include a drag-and-drop editor, a high subscriber threshold, and basic analytics to help fine-tune your campaigns. In addition, you can have an unlimited contact list.

The only limit is on how many emails you can send per month.

While many platforms have low thresholds for free plans, Mailjet allows users to have up to 6,000 emails per month at no cost, which is quite high compared to others.

Its paid plans start at $15, but many businesses will get all they need with the free option based.

The main downside to Mailjet’s free plan is its low daily email limit. You can only send 200 emails each day.

In other words, if you have a subscriber list of 6,000 people, you’ll have to stagger your sends.

However, the extra steps might be a worthwhile tradeoff if you want to stretch your marketing dollars as far as possible.

5. MailerLite

MailerLite is a simple, comprehensive email marketing platform with plans for all business sizes.

You’ll get sleek branding options, a simple drag-and-drop editor, and total flexibility when designing your emails.

Although it has a slight learning curve, MailerLite has all the tools you need to create successful email marketing campaigns.

MailerLite has a free plan for users with up to 1,000 followers.

It offers MailerLite’s basic features for email creation and automation.

In addition, MailerLite offers two paid plans for $9 and $18.

Each provides tools for e-commerce, social media integration, and more tools for creating effective targeted campaigns.

The main drawback to MailerLite is that the free plan only applies if you have fewer than 1,000 subscribers.

You also won’t get many of the automation features that can help expand your reach.

It also has a bit of a learning curve regarding integrations and analytics.

However, it’s a great product once you get the hang of it.

Notable Mentions: Notable Mentions: Other Email Marketing Platforms To Check Out

Although we consider the options we listed above to be the best of the best regarding email marketing platforms, they’re by no means the only ones worth considering.

Here’s some information on a few more notable mentions we think are worth a look at.

6. SendGrid

SendGrid by Twilio is an email marketing platform that offers an array of tools for creating high-quality marketing campaigns.

Why Is SendGrid a Great Option?

SendGrid is an excellent choice because it’s aimed at users who want to put their customers first.

It heavily focuses on customer engagement and subscriber growth, making it perfect if you’re still growing your business.

You’ll find a variety of tools that’ll let you create responsive, professional, and engaging emails that always hit the mark.

You can also count on SendGrid to be reliable.

Its extensive toolkit takes the hard work out of reaching your customers across the internet.

With WhatsApp, voice messaging, and Twilio Conversations, you’re all but guaranteed to reach your customers where they’re most comfortable.

Drawbacks To SendGrid

SendGrid’s Main drawback is that it doesn’t have a free trial.

If you want to test the features, you’ll need to get the minimum with the free plan or pony up for a paid option.

If that’s a deal-breaker for you, you might consider using a service that offers more.

SendGrid Pricing

SendGrid offers two paid email marketing plans.

Both are scalable based on subscriber count and how many emails you’ll need to send per month.

• Basic: $15 to $200 per month
• Advanced: $60 to $900 per month

SendGrid also offers custom pricing for customers with more than 200,000 contacts.

Can You Try SendGrid for Free?

SendGrid offers a free plan you can use to test out the basic features.

You can send a monthly limit of 6,000 emails per month to 2,000 contacts.

7. Moosend

Another email marketing platform you can check out is Moosend.

It’s a well-rounded service that will give you high-quality email marketing and automation software designed for robust marketing campaigns.

Why Is Moosend a Great Option?

Moosend is a solid option because it provides multiple services you can combine to curate a marketing plan perfect for your business.

With Moosend, you’ll be able to create landing pages, automate workflows, and design emails around your brand’s image.

Some of Moosend’s best features include custom-coded templates, detailed real-time reporting, and extensive tech support.

All the tools are easy to learn, and if you need help, you’re never left waiting.

Drawbacks To Moosend

Although Moosend is an excellent resource for businesses looking to build a digital marketing campaign, it has some drawbacks.

Specifically, its analytics are a bit limited, and the interface can be a bit slow.

In addition, transactional emails are only available on the Pro and Enterprise plans. It’s also a bit pricier than many of its competitors.

Moosend Pricing

Moosend offers two paid plans that provide a wealth of features.

• Pro: $9 to $5,840 per month
• Enterprise: Custom pricing

Can You Try Moosend for Free?

Moosend offers a free plan you can sign up for to get a feel for the service.

Although it doesn’t have all the bells and whistles you get with the Pro plan, it has enough of Moosend’s features that you’ll be able to decide if the platform is right for you.

8. Campaigner

Campaigner is an email marketing platform perfect for small and mid-sized businesses looking to expand their online footprint.

This platform focuses on e-commerce email marketing, along with SMS marketing and automation.

Why Is Campaigner a Great Option?

One of Campaigner’s best features is its integration options.

Some of the third-party services and apps Campaigner offers include Google Sheets, Typeform, and Facebook Ads that will facilitate audience growth as you’ve never seen.

Another reason Campaigner is worth a look is its analytics tools.

Using this platform, you can monitor all user lifecycle stages.

These stages include online behavior, message engagement, and purchases, allowing you to better target each customer’s needs.

Drawbacks To Campaigner

Campaigner’s biggest drawback is its price.

Plans start at $59, which is a much higher price point than other email marketing platforms.

It also doesn’t offer a free plan, which can be a deterrent for smaller businesses or bloggers.

Campaigner Pricing

When you sign up for Campaigner, you’ll have four paid email plans to choose from.

• Starter: $59 per month
• Essential: $179 per month
• Advanced: $649 per month
• eCommerce: $79.95 per month

In addition to the email plans, you can choose from email and SMS plans, too.

• Starter: $104 per month
• Essential: $224 per month
• Advanced: $694 per month
• eCommerce: $79.95 per month

The main thing Campaigner’s plans have going is the high subscriber threshold on the Starter plan.

Users aren’t restricted to fewer than 2,000 followers, which is quite common.

Instead, you can have up to 5,000 contacts.

Can You Try Campaigner for Free?

Campaigner offers a 30-day free trial that lets users explore all its features.

Unfortunately, it doesn’t have a free plan for smaller organizations to use.

9. Constant Contact

If you want an email marketing platform that offers a complete marketing suite, Constant Contact is worth checking out.

It’s a platform designed with your customers in mind, so it’s perfect for boosting sales and expanding your base.

Why Is Constant Contact a Great Option?

Constant Contact offers digital marketing and marketing automation plans, making it ideal if you want to combine your digital marketing tools in one place.

You can choose the Core or Plus plans to make crafting your campaign more manageable, and growth tools will let you increase revenue with ease.

In addition to growth and marketing tools, Constant Contact will make it easy to market via SMS, social media, and mobile apps.

However, one of its greatest highlights is its library of hundreds of templates that’ll give you the branding options you need to stand out.

Drawbacks To Constant Contact

Constant Contact is ideal for business, but it has a few drawbacks.

You’ll want to ensure your business needs Constant Contact’s array of business-targeted tools before choosing this service.

Many options might be a bit too robust for new companies and bloggers.  

Constant Contact Pricing

Constant Contact has two paid digital marketing plans and one marketing automation plan.

• Core: $9.99 per month
• Plus: $45 per month
• Marketing Automation+: $449+ per month

Each plan includes various marketing and analytics tools and sufficient design tools to take the hard work out of creating your messages.

Can You Try Constant Contact for Free?

Unlike other platforms, Constant Contact doesn’t offer a free plan.

Still, you can sign up for a free trial to start exploring its features.

You won’t need to submit any payment information, making the trial completely risk-free.

10. Drip

Drip is a streamlined email marketing platform that works seamlessly with e-commerce operations.

You can use its tools to build a high-quality newsletter or ad campaign to draw in new customers and give your existing ones solid reasons to stay.

Why Is Drip a Great Option?

When you want a platform that provides valuable business insights, Drip is the ideal choice.

Not only does it have extensive analytics tools, but it’ll give you simple marketing and segmentation tools too.

In addition, it integrates with Shopify, WooCommerce, and social media platforms, further enhancing your customer’s digital experience with your brand.

It’s genuinely one of the best all-around email marketing platforms you’ll find.

Drawbacks To Drip

Drip has two specific drawbacks.

First, it only offers one plan each user scales to their taste.

This can be frustrating because a small business or blogger won’t have the same needs as a larger, more established business.

Another downside is that tech support is only available from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m., Monday through Friday.

Drip Pricing

Drip only has one plan. It starts at $39, and users’ costs depend on how many subscribers they have.

$39 will cover up to 2,500 contacts.

Plans with more than 5,000 contacts will have access to chat support, and users with more than 110,000 contacts will have a dedicated customer service success manager.

Can You Try Drip for Free?

Drip offers a 14-day free trial of its plan that gives access to all its tools and services.

No credit card necessary to sign up.

11. ConvertKit

Looking for a platform that provides a complete marketing hub all in one place?

Then you should check out ConvertKit.

Its comprehensive plans and growth tools make it easy for businesses to reach customers and share all the latest news.

Why Is ConvertKit a Great Option?

When you sign up for ConvertKit, you’ll notice its featured use cases feature musicians, authors, coaches, and podcasters.

If you fall into any of the creative fields, you’ll find all the tools you need to showcase your talent and services.

ConvertKit aims to help draw and maintain interest in your brand.

As a creative, you know how tricky this can be.

Fortunately, ConvertKit offers integrations, design features, and engagement tools to catch your customers’ eyes.

As a result, you’ll never have to worry about whether your content is landing as it should.

Drawbacks To ConvertKit

ConvertKit provides an excellent array of business tools, but it has a few downsides, too.

In particular, Free and Creator plans don’t have access to subscriber engagement scoring.

In addition, only the Creator Pro plan has the option to edit links in previously sent emails.

ConvertKit Pricing

ConvertKit offers two paid plans that will scale based on subscriber or contact count.

• Creator: $9 per month
• Creator Pro: $25 per month

Can You Try ConvertKit for Free?

ConvertKit has a free plan that rivals some of the best free options we’ve already discussed.

Its feature list is extensive, so when you sign up, you’ll get a good idea of what to expect with its paid plans.

Even More Options To Check Out

Here are a few more email marketing platforms we think you’ll enjoy.

12. Omnisend

Omnisend is a great option because it strongly focuses on e-commerce marketing.

Businesses that want to increase revenue will find a lot of benefits in Omnisend.

Specifically, you’ll be able to create perfectly branded emails quickly using templates and a simple drag-and-drop builder.

The main drawback to Omnisend is that it’s not quite as universal as other platforms.

Since it’s geared toward businesses with an e-commerce operation, it might not be the best choice for personal websites or bloggers who aren’t monetizing any content or selling products.

13. Mailchimp

Mailchimp is an excellent email marketing platform because it helps get your business online while growing your marketing platform.

You’ll find features, including audience management and automation, which will help you target emails with little effort.

In addition, you won’t have to worry about a complex learning curve because Mailchimp’s tools are pretty easy to master.

Although Mailchimp is an excellent resource, there are a few things to consider.

First, although the tools aren’t complex, site navigation can take some getting used to.

Also, the free plan is quite limited, so if that’s something you need, you might want to check out one of the other options listed above.

14. HubSpot

One of the main things that make HubSpot so great is its focus on being powerful but simple.

With easy-to-use features and multiple “hubs” to choose from, you’ll get a solid email marketing platform that facilitates business growth and boosts subscriber counts.

However, HubSpot has its issues.

For example, there’s a significant jump in cost between the Starter and Professional plans, which can make it hard to get what you need at a low price.

In addition, only users on the Professional and Enterprise plans have access to campaign optimization and reporting tools.

15. Cakemail

Cakemail is a lesser-known email marketing platform perfect for businesses, personal sites, and blogs of all sizes.

It provides tools for generating revenue streams and managing your audience, along with reliable email design tools that’ll give your customers the features they’d expect from your digital communications.

Cakemail’s main drawbacks are its segmentation function and language limits.

For example, you’ll have to manually segment your lists to group your subscribers.

In addition, there’s a limit on language options, making it difficult for businesses with global readers to reach everyone.

16. Sendy

Another worthwhile tool to look into is Sendy.

This Amazon-run email marketing platform isn’t as popular as MailerLite or AWeber, but it packs a punch with its selection of features.

For example, some of its best features include multiple account management, third-party integrations, and branding tools.

Despite Sendy’s toolkit, the main issue is that it uses a license, not a company plan.

In other words, whereas a company hosts and manages the other options we discussed, Sendy is self-hosted.

That means you download the tool and handle everything yourself.

17. Zoho Campaigns

The last email marketing platform we felt worth mentioning is Zoho Campaigns.

This service does remarkable things for small business marketing by focusing on sales and engagement.

With plans starting at just $3, you’ll be able to find the perfect tools, no matter what your needs.

Zoho Campaigns’ drawbacks include its limited free plan, lack of integrations, and clunky editor.

However, its low-cost robust paid plans might make it a worthwhile service for small businesses to check out.

Other Products Relevant to Email Marketing Platforms

Email marketing platforms are invaluable, but they function best when combined with other tools.

Specifically, you’ll want to include a website builder, affiliate marketing tools, and SERP checkers in your marketing toolkit.

• Best Website Builders: A website builder is a platform that helps businesses easily create sleek, professional websites. The best website builders include themes, templates, and comprehensive plans that let you create a site without any prior coding knowledge.
• Best Affiliate Marketing Tools: Affiliate marketing is one of the most common ways bloggers and content creators monetize content. The best affiliate marketing tools include SEO features, chat marketing, and ad tracking.
• Best SERP Checkers: Search engine results page, or SERP, checkers will give you feedback on where your site lands on SERPs. The best SERP checkers will provide insight into where your site falls and why. Most importantly, you’ll be able to make informed decisions about how to improve your ranking.

Frequently Asked Questions

Here are the answers to a couple of common questions about email marketing campaigns.

Wrapping Up

Email marketing platforms eliminate the pain and frustration of creating newsletters and email promotions.

Based on our research, AWeber is the best option for any digital marketing needs.

ActiveCampaign and Sendinblue are the runners-up, so you can feel confident with any of those choices.

Now that you’ve read over all your email marketing platform options, you shouldn’t have any trouble getting your next campaign up and running.

If you’re looking for a Mailchimp alternative, there are a few things to consider.

An Overview of Mailchimp

Mailchimp is a web-based email marketing service founded in 2001.

The platform has over 17 million customers in more than 200 countries and is used by small businesses and large enterprises.

Mailchimp handles the behind-the-scenes of your email marketing (e.g., managing your mailing list, creating templates, segmenting groups, etc.) and lets you see how successful your campaigns have been.

What Is Mailchimp?

Mailchimp is a tool that lets users create and send promotional emails and targeted campaigns.

It’s one of the most popular email marketing platforms and has many components, making it suitable for businesses of all sizes.

Not only can you manage your mailing lists and create custom email templates with this tool, but you can also automate your entire marketing campaign.

Where Does Mailchimp Excel?

Mailchimp excels with the following:

• Custom email template
• Great template editor
• Ease of use
• AI-powered recommendations
• Advanced reporting
• Endless integration options
• Customizable design
• Advanced testing options

Mailchimp offers many features, including automation, segmentation, and personalization.

Mailchimp is also one of the most affordable email marketing platforms.

Where Does Mailchimp Fall Short?

• Low-level automation
• Difficulty managing lists
• Doesn’t support affiliate marketing
• High-cost subscription plans
• No email scheduling on the free plan
• Difficult campaign tracking.

Mailchimp doesn’t offer some of the more advanced features that other platforms do, such as A/B testing and lead scoring.

Mailchimp’s customer support is not as responsive as some of its competitors.

Read more in this Mailchimp review.

Best Mailchimp Alternatives: Our Top 3 Options [Ranked & Reviewed]

There are several things to think about when choosing a Mailchimp alternative.

Some of the factors you may want to consider include:

• What features does the platform offer?
• How much does the platform cost?
• How easy is the platform to use?
• Does the platform integrate with other software?

Here are nine fantastic Mailchimp alternatives:

1. Sendinblue: Our Pick

Sendinblue is a comprehensive email marketing service that helps businesses increase leads through marketing automation, email campaigns, and SMS.

Its customer service team and pricing plans are well regarded by users.

The platform combines a robust suite of services within a single, user-friendly package.

Key Features of Sendinblue

Email Marketing:

• Choose a template from the library and drag and drop blocks to create a custom email design.
• Use personalization options to add contact information to emails dynamically.
• Group contacts by any criteria you can think of and target customers effectively.
• Send time optimization makes sure emails are sent at the right time.

SMS Marketing:

• Promote time-sensitive deals by sending SMS content to your contact list.
• Use transactional SMS for order and shipping updates.
• Add individual contact details like name and company.
• Measure results with analytics and reporting.

Chat:

Build a custom chat environment and begin answering questions in real-time.

Proactive chatbots make it easy to answer common questions without lifting a finger.

You can always see which page a user is on.

Marketing Automation:

Develop rules and conditions that automatically perform tasks you want to automate.

These activities include sending emails and SMS messages, arranging contacts, welcoming new users, and updating contact information in your database.

Send automated emails based on customer behavior and automate repetitive tasks like welcome emails and abandoned cart reminders.

Use data from emails to create targeted lists and social media marketing.

Segmentation:

Split your contacts into targeted groups based on interests, purchase history, and location.

Users can be dynamically sorted into lists when they perform specific actions on your emails or website.

Best For:

Companies looking for advanced automation features.

Mailchimp vs. Sendinblue: How They Compare

Mailchimp and Sendinblue are both all-in-one email marketing platforms.

Sendinblue is smaller than Mailchimp but has a loyal following.

This product features a customizable dashboard, list segmentation, intuitive automation flows, and SMS and chat campaigns.

Mailchimp is a dominant company in the email marketing industry.

This product features intuitive drag & drop templates, many third-party integration options, and detailed reporting and analytics.

Why is Sendinblue a Great Alternative to Mailchimp?

Sendinblue offers excellent functionality at a lower price point than Mailchimp.

Sendinblue also excels with automation flows, segmentation, and personalization options.

Pros of Sendinblue

• Low cost
• Price is based on emails, not subscribers
• SMS campaign
• Custom chatbot
• CRM integration
• API integration
• A/B test automation
• Customizable interface

Cons of Sendinblue

• Restrictions on the free plan
• Limited drag & drop creation options
• Only 65 predesigned email templates
• No live chat support
• Metrics are lacking

Sendinblue Pricing:

Lite and Premium plan prices scale with the number of emails.

For example, 60,000 emails cost $45 and $94 per month, respectively.

• Free: $0 per month.
  • Unlimited contacts.
  • Up to 300 emails per day.
  • One chat user.
• Lite: $25 per month.
  • Everything in Free plan.
  • Up to 20,000 emails per month.
  • No daily sending limit.
  • Email Support.
  • A/B testing.
  • Advanced statistics.
• Premium: $65 per month.
  • Everything in Lite plan.
  • Up to 20,000 emails per month.
  • Marketing automation.
  • Facebook ads.
  • Landing pages, Multi-user access.
  • Telephone support.
• Enterprise: Custom quote.
  • Everything in the Premium plan.
  • Custom volume of emails.
  • Priority sending.
  • Over twenty landing pages.
  • Access for over ten users.
  • Customer success manager.
  • Priority support.

Conclusion: Should You Choose Sendinblue Over Mailchimp?

Yes, you should only choose Mailchimp if you need an advanced landing page builder, detailed eCommerce functionality, or integration with advanced marketing tools.

Sendinblue is reliable, lower cost, transactional, and offers SMS.

Sendinblue also has great segmentation and personalization options.

2. Convertkit: Runner-Up

Convertkit is an email service provider, landing page builder, cloud-based marketing software, and visual automation builder.

It is designed for bloggers and online entrepreneurs.

Founded in 2013 by Nathan Barry, Convertkit was one of the first companies to offer visual marketing automation.

Over 15,000 customers now use it in 140 countries.

Key Features of Convertkit

• Subscribers are only counted once, regardless of how many lists they are on.
• Tags can be converted into new segments. For example, you can tag everyone who opened an email and add those people to a new segment.
• Basic automation is easy to implement.
• The original opt-in form is saved in a user’s profile. This information can be used for tagging and segment creation.
• Simple email import and migration.

Best For:

Content creators, authors, bloggers, individual sellers, those looking for custom automation, and anyone who wants to turn their blog into a business.

Companies that need more than email marketing automation but don’t want an all-in-one solution will appreciate Convertkit.

If you’re using another tool for your website or eCommerce platform, Convertkit is a great complement.

Mailchimp vs. Convertkit: How They Compare

Convertkit provides more automation options than Mailchimp, but its reporting features lack options.

Mailchimp offers many customizable templates, and reporting is detailed and robust.

Convertkit’s segments are based on actions and behavior, while Mailchimp’s segments can be created using a variety of criteria.

Convertkit also allows you to create “sequences” which are automated emails that go out over time, while Mailchimp calls these “automation workflows.”

Convertkit provides a basic email editor, while Mailchimp has a more complex drag & drop and template-building system.

Analytics & reporting provide detailed insights into your marketing campaigns.

See how many contacts were reached, how many opened your email, and how many clicked through to your website.

Both platforms offer tagging to create new segments, but Mailchimp provides more options based on user activity.

Why is Convertkit a Great Alternative to Mailchimp?

Convertkit’s tag-based contact management is powerful and easy to use.

The automation system can be set to trigger based on many detailed actions.

Paid users can access “if/then” automation logic.

Convertkit has a simple interface that allows users to easily create and manage their email list, landing pages, and marketing.

Pros of Convertkit:

• Excellent deliverability
• Easy to create landing pages
• User-friendly
• Easy to track stats
• Sales funnels are easy to implement
• Subscription-based business model support

Cons of Convertkit:

• Relatively expensive
• Doesn’t integrate with eCommerce platforms
• Not the best for multiple clients

Convertkit Pricing:

Creator and Creator Pro plan pricing scales based on the number of subscribers.

Creator Pro can cost from $29 to over $2,500 per month.

Creator can cost from $15 to over $2300 per month.

Conclusion: Should You Choose Convertkit Over Mailchimp?

Most users should not choose Convertkit over Mailchimp.

Convertkit is more expensive, and the user interface is not as intuitive.

Mailchimp offers a more robust feature set, better deliverability, and integrations.

3. Mailerlite: Budget Pick

MailerLite is an email marketing provider that makes it simple to plan email marketing campaigns.

It can help you grow your mailing list and send emails to leads automatically.

What makes it perfect for beginners is its email templates.

No coding experience is needed since you can pick from different newsletter designs.

And if you need to make changes, the email editor is drag & drop — meaning you can make changes in a matter of minutes.

Key Features of Mailerlite:

• Advanced campaigns: You can utilize regular campaigns, A/B split campaigns, Automatic resend, and RSS campaigns.
• Segmentation functionality: Create groups and segment users based on your chosen conditions.
• Create forms: Design popups and lead magnets that help you with building an email list.
• Automation: Build triggered actions based on user behavior.
• Extended support: 24/7 chat and email support options.

Best For:

Beginners, small businesses, and anyone looking for an affordable email marketing option.

Mailchimp vs. Mailerlite: How They Compare

Mailerlite does not have as many integrations as Mailchimp.

However, it still integrates with the most popular platforms.

Mailchimp is more expensive, and its free plan does not provide as many contacts and emails.

Mailchimp’s reporting options offer more features, including conversion tracking.

Mailchimp has more design options, but Mailerlite’s are more user-friendly.

Why is Mailerlite a Great Alternative to Mailchimp?

Mailerlite integrates with the most popular platforms, has a user-friendly interface, and is more affordable than Mailchimp.

It also offers A/B testing for automated campaigns, which Mailchimp does not.

This valuable tool allows you to quickly and easily convert your followers from social media, YouTube, and other platforms into email subscribers.

With landing pages and opt-in templates, it has never been easier.

Determine which marketing strategies work best by trial and error, then use the ones that succeed.

Pros of Mailerlite

• Low-cost option
• Excellent customer support with 24/7 live chat
• Generous free plan
• Beginner friendly
• Approval process filters out spam accounts

Cons of Mailerlite

• Limited templates
• Complicated landing page editor
• Lacks expert automation options
• Could use more landing page templates

Mailerlite Pricing

Free (12,000 emails per month, up to 1,000 subscribers with one user); Growing Business ($10 per month, up to 1,000 subscribers with three users); Advanced ($21 per month, up to 1,000 subscribers with unlimited users); Enterprise (Custom, over 100k subscribers).

All prices scale with the number of subscribers.

The Growing Business plan is $239 per month with 500k subscribers, and the Advanced plan is $1,881.

Conclusion: Should You Choose Mailerlite Over Mailchimp?

You should choose Mailerlite over Mailchimp if you are on a tight budget and do not need all of the features that Mailchimp offers.

Mailerlite is more affordable and has a generous free plan.

It is also beginner-friendly with its user-friendly interface and great support.

However, Mailchimp is better if you need more components and integrations.

Notable Mentions: Other Alternatives to Mailchimp

Let’s take a look at some notable alternatives to Mailchimp:

4. Hubspot

Hubspot is a comprehensive platform that offers tools to help businesses grow.

It has sales, marketing, and customer service features all in one place.

Hubspot also offers a free CRM that gives you access to limited features.

Why Is Hubspot a Great Option?

Hubspot offers email scheduling, A/B testing, granular control over contacts, delays, and conditional logic automation.

A drag & drop email editor provides custom templates, and emails can be personalized with information gathered in the CRM.

Drawbacks to Hubspot

The price scales with added features, and it is difficult to only use some of the them as opposed to all functionality.

Ongoing tech support incurs an extra charge.

The email builder is less intuitive than some other tools.

The free CRM is lacks some features, and the paid plans are expensive.

You also need to have a fairly large team to get the most out of Hubspot.

5. ActiveCampaign

ActiveCampaign is an email marketing platform offering automation, sales software, and CRM.

This cloud-based system has what you need to execute email marketing campaigns, web analytics, and customer resource management.

Why Is ActiveCampaign a Great Option?

ActiveCampaign provides access to behavior tracking and marketing segmentation features to create the most customized campaigns for every audience.

With the drag & drop email designer, you can create responsive email templates in minutes.

If you already have email templates that represent your brand, you can simply import them into the  system and they will be integrate into ActiveCampaign.

Components include:

• An advanced automation system.
• Guaranteed email delivery.
• Integrated sales tools.
• Free migration from your current software.

Drawbacks to ActiveCampaign

ActiveCampaign may be challenging for beginners, as many advanced features can be overwhelming.

Price increases with the number of contacts and components.

There is no convenient way to filter subscribers as active or inactive.

The live chat feature can be buggy and needs to be streamlined.

6. Omnisend

Omnisend is a marketing automation solution for eCommerce retailers focused on growth.

Omnisend allows you to integrate various communication channels into a single automation process, such as email, SMS, web push notifications, and more.

Omnisend allows you to construct your customer base with a drag-and-drop visual composer for emails and email capture tools (popups, landing pages).

Automation tools assist in the creation of sophisticated workflows and the customization of your message based on client information, campaign involvement, and purchasing patterns.

Omnisend integrates with the majority of eCommerce platforms and other marketing tools.

Live chat, online knowledgebase assistance, and email are services provided monthly.

Why Is Omnisend a Great Option?

The Product Picker feature makes it easy to insert product information, and the layout is user-friendly.

You can send 500 free messages monthly, and customer service is knowledgeable and responsive.

It is simple to collect post-transaction customer feedback.

Drawbacks to Omnisend

Limited design options and lack of social media automation.

Unlimited emails are only available with the Enterprise plan.

You cannot add previous customers to automation flows; only users added with the automation system already in place.

Even More Options To Check Out

Let’s take a look at three more options:

7. Klaviyo

Klaviyo is a marketing automation platform used primarily for email and SMS marketing.

Features include lead grading, custom reports, list management, and abandoned cart flows.

Klaviyo provides easy-to-use templates, drip sequences, and automated sales alerts.

Some downsides to using Klaviyo include out-of-date design and navigation, minimal Shopify integration, and lack of SMS functionality.

8. Moosend

Moosend is an email marketing platform for those who want to manage multiple campaigns, mailing lists, newsletters, and more.

With this system, companies of any size can work on email marketing campaigns with automation tools, real-time analytics, and a drag-and-drop editor.

Moosend includes personalization, lead generation, tracking & analytics, and automation workflows.

Some issues with this platform include no mobile app, lack of predesigned email templates, subpar customer support, and lack of third-party integrations.

9. GetResponse

GetResponse is an email marketing platform that develops your mailing list, e-newsletters, automated email marketing, and statistical analysis.

Webinar hosting, landing page customization, and automated sales funnels are all included in the package.

You can use the free version forever, GetResponse is cheaper than most similar companies, and you get a discount for paying up front.

The drag & drop feature for landing pages and forms is a bit unstable, and you can’t speak to customer support unless you have a higher-level plan.

Split testing with this website builder is only possible for subject lines and content, and the builder itself is pretty outdated.

Other Alternative Roundups (Similar to Mailchimp)

Let’s look at a few more alternatives:

ActiveCampaign Alternatives

Check out these ActiveCampaign alternatives:

• SendX: SendX is fairly new to the email marketing software market. The software uses simple blocks that you can move around with ease.
• EngageBay: EngageBay is a more all-round piece of software. It utilizes email marketing software. However, they have multiple marketing, service, and sales tools.

Drip Alternatives

Now, let’s look at some Drip alternatives:

• Aweber: As far as email marketing software options go, Aweber is among the more complex. The more experienced email marketer would enjoy the ability to include their own HTML code directly, rather than being limited to blocks.
• Ortto: Ortto aims to optimize your email marketing strategy by automating as much of the process as possible.

Pipedrive Alternatives

Finally, we’ll consider some Pipedrive alternatives:

• SharpSpring: Sharpspring is often used by small businesses and agencies. The tool provides basic email marketing software options and some automation advantages.
• Emarsys: Emarsys claims to take your marketing brand and apply it directly to your email marketing campaign, providing a more personalized result.

Frequently Asked Questions

Here are the answers to the most common questions regarding the best Mailchimp alternatives.

Wrapping Up

The winner of the alternative email marketing platforms is Hubspot.

Hubspot offers many features and an impressive knowledge base full of helpful content.

Hubspot is the best alternative to Mailchimp because it provides more services and better personalization at a higher cost.

Hubspot also includes more automation and analytics features than Mailchimp, making it a good choice for companies searching for a comprehensive growth platform.

The runner-up is Active Campaign.

ActiveCampaign beats Mailchimp on deliverability, automation, and list management.

Mailchimp is less expensive, offers a free plan, and is easier to use, but ActiveCampaign provides a CRM and over 250 email templates available to all users.

Thus, the demand for online marketing platforms has risen significantly to help marketplaces expand and businesses take advantage of marketers’ skills to grow their businesses.

Among the rising stars of this industry is ActiveCampaign but there are also ActiveCampaign alternatives.

The best alternative is SendX. Let’s see why.

An Overview of ActiveCampaign

ActiveCampaign is an industry-leading, all-in-one marketing automation platform that manages contacts, drives sales, monitors engagement, and helps manage your users’ experience.

What Is ActiveCampaign?

ActiveCampaign is one of the leading email marketing platforms.

It seeks to help small-to-mid-sized businesses in their marketing efforts by automating their efforts to contact customers and improve their experiences with their online content.

Where Does ActiveCampaign Excel?

ActiveCampaign put its CRM, email marketing, and automation tools in one easy-to-use interface.

Its automation tools are versatile and can apply to several uses, which include contact management, email management, newsletter management, and even content design.

ActiveCampaign’s user-friendly interface makes launching and managing a new campaign easy.

Its analytical tools help refine your approach and boost customer engagement with your emails, landing pages, and newsletters.

Additionally, ActiveCampaign can integrate with several commonly-used apps. It helps spread your marketing campaign further and meet customers where they are.

Don’t know how to use these features after you’ve started?

Or has something gone wrong?

Use their live chat to get in touch with a representative.

Where Does ActiveCampaign Fall Short?

Although ActiveCampaign’s interface is easy to use, its options can be overwhelming, especially when you are beginning to learn how to use it.

Their lower-cost subscriptions include less training in the onboarding stage, causing you to rely on more tech support later, which only comes in the form of live chat.

When you look at an ActiveCampaign review, you’ll find out that editing text for emails will require you to go back through several steps after the preview stage, and the post editor does not always format texts consistently.

Best ActiveCampaign Alternatives: Our Top 3 Options [Ranked & Reviewed]

ActiveCampaign is among the best services in its industry, but it is not a one-size-fits-all service, nor is it the only example of excellence in this industry.

If ActiveCampaign does not sound like it works for you, consider one of our three carefully chosen alternatives.

1. SendX: Our Pick

Our Pick

Like Sendinblue, SendX is a rising star that may overtake ActiveCampaign and offers many of the same features its packages do at a significantly lower cost.

SendX offers an excellent CRM program, email automation, and content editing to help your business grow, though it may sacrifice some of the sophistication of ActiveCampaign.

Visit SendXRead SendX reviews

Like Sendinblue, SendX is a rising star that may overtake ActiveCampaign and offers many of the same features its packages do at a significantly lower cost.

SendX offers an excellent CRM program, email automation, and content editing to help your business grow, though it may sacrifice some of the sophistication of ActiveCampaign.

Key Features of SendX

SendX offers the online marketing features that new businesses need to grow and offers them an intuitive online interface.

Additionally, they are working to develop testing features and deeper analytics for their customers—all at the same affordable price.

• Email automation: SendX’s email automation workloads and response features are on par with ActiveCampaign’s and are easier to understand.
• Email Editor: SendX’s email editor lets you preview your message in real time and offers over 50 templates and over 500,000 stock images.
• Deliverability: SendX Uses more complicated, trusted software in delivering emails to get around email addresses’ spam and social filters.
• Unlimited Emails: Since charges are based on subscriber count, you can send as many emails as needed to subscribers for no additional cost.
• 24/7 Support: All levels can receive tech support at all times of the day.

Best For

Small to mid-sized business owners with a limited marketing budget 

ActiveCampaign vs. SendX: How They Compare

Compared to ActiveCampaign, SendX is a relatively new player in this field, but its features are developing quickly, and it is half the price of ActiveCampaign.

That price does not skimp on features either; automation recipes and content editors are available at SendX’s lower levels, as is CRM software.

ActiveCampaign’s features at the moment go further in-depth than SendX’s but such features are not necessary for small or mid-sized companies.

ActiveCampaign also offers extensive integration that SendX has not had a chance to catch up with yet, though their quick development suggests this will happen soon.

Why is SendX a Great Alternative to ActiveCampaign?

SendX gets the same job done as ActiveCampaign and helps complete it in a less complicated fashion, making it an upgrade alternative.

SendX offers the same type of automation, CRM features, and content features at its lowest subscription, which currently is $7.49/month.

This software offers a simpler alternative to ActiveCampaign that is just as effective at growing a business for a much lower cost.

Pros of SendX

• Affordability: SendX starts at $7.49/month, and includes the features that define ActiveCampaign’s Plus plan.
• Simplicity: SendX is easy to use and always strives for simplicity and improving its user experience.
• Quick Development: SendX may not offer certain features such as A/B testing now but will at the same price in the future.

Cons of SendX

• Lack of sophistication: experienced business owners who want more sophisticated analytics and contact management will not find it here.
• Still Developing: though it is developing fast, there are still features lacking in SendX.
• Limited Deployability: At the moment, SendX is exclusively a web/Chrome concentrated app.

SendX Pricing

• 1-1000 subscribers: $7.49/month including all features. 
• 1001-2500 subscribers: $14.99/month including all features.
• 2501-5000 subscribers: $29.99/month including all features.

Conclusion: Should You Choose SendX Over ActiveCampaign?

We think the combination of SendX’s affordability with its features makes it arguably a better candidate for starting to grow your business than ActiveCampaign.

With its proven and effective tools for email, SMS, and social media marketing and subscriber-based pricing system, there are no better tools available for you to take your first steps in online marketing.

2. Mailchimp: Runner-Up

Runner Up

Mailchimp is an email marketing platform developed over decades to include a plethora of features that help you manage your relationships with customers and increase conversion value with individual customers.

Its simple layout makes it accessible for many beginning entrepreneurs and marketers.

Visit MailchimpRead Mailchimp reviews

Mailchimp is an email marketing platform developed over decades to include a plethora of features that help you manage your relationships with customers and increase conversion value with individual customers.

Its simple layout makes it accessible for many beginning entrepreneurs and marketers.

Key Features of Mailchimp

• All-in-one platform: You can edit your ad campaigns, use your CRM, and design newsletters all without leaving the same page.  
• Greater Integration: It integrates 100s of tools for your convenience, including favorites like Slack, and includes a social media tool, which makes this an upgrade alternative.
• Excellent Support: 24/7 live chat and email support.
• Unique Customer Outreach: Mailchimp includes not only newsletters, ads, and emails but new possibilities for reaching customers such as postcards.
• Design Capability: Mailchimp has over 100 templates ready to use and customize for emails.  

Best For

Small to mid-sized businesses and business owners new to online marketing

ActiveCampaign vs Mailchimp: How They Compare

ActiveCampaign and Mailchimp are respected names in the CRM and email marketing industry but both stand out in different ways.

Both are at their core email-focused platforms but both have come to include excellent CRM programs and features.

The main differences between the two are simplicity and what you get for the price.

ActiveCampaign includes the same amount of features for a lower price while Mailchimp has a simplified, streamlined platform.

Its software guides you through every step while ActiveCampaign does not.

ActiveCampaign’s sophistication is an advantage for a veteran of the industry.

For less money than Mailchimp, you can begin customizing your campaigns to a deeper level from the outset.

Why is Mailchimp a Great Alternative to ActiveCampaign?

Though Mailchimp may be slightly more expensive, it is the closest match to Active Campaign and does not have a steep learning curve.

With its helpful automated guide, you can quickly begin your email campaigns and begin using its CRM features.

Pros of Mailchimp

• Navigability: Mailchimp makes it easy for a new business owner to begin navigating the world of online marketing.
• Affordable: Mailchimp starts with a free version and its paid plans offer extensive features for a fair price.
• Pay-as-you-go plan: Mailchimp offers an email marketing option for businesses that do not want to enter contracts or subscriptions.

Cons of Mailchimp

• Lack of Customization: Mailchimp’s workflows and customer journey portals offer no customization compared to ActiveCampaign.
• Limited Marketing Automation: A/B testing and analytical features offer less helpful and in-depth conclusions than ActiveCampaign’s.
• One-dimensional Communication: While Mailchimp offers SMS and web communication options, they are not as developed as their email communication design.

Mailchimp Pricing

• Free: starting at $0/month for up to 500 contacts.
• Essentials: starting at $11/month for 50,000 marketing contacts with automation tools, custom reports, optimization tools, and email and chat support.
• Standard: starting at $17/month for 100,000 marketing contacts with advanced automation, reporting, and expansion tools.
• Premium: starting at $299/month for all features from standard and advanced testing tools with phone support.

Conclusion: Should You Choose Mailchimp Over ActiveCampaign?

If you are just starting a business with an online presence and don’t have the budget to spend your hard-earned cash on advanced marketing analysis tools yet, Mailchimp can go a long way for you.

You can cut your teeth using this software or many other free email marketing platforms for just $0 and get used to using emails and newsletters for marketing campaigns.

If you continue to value simplicity, then you can also stick with Mailchimp into its paid tiers, which do offer many of the same features as ActiveCampaign, albeit in limited capacities.

Choosing between the two comes down to your familiarity with online marketing tools and the level of sophistication you desire in the analytical tools you can use to grow your business.

3. Campaign Monitor: Budget Pick

Also Great

Campaign Monitor has been around since 2004, making this company the same age as ActiveCampaign.

Only recently have Campaign Monitor’s staff begun adding extended features, but like Mailchimp, its email capabilities stand out in the industry and make this a great alternative for those who just need to send emails.

Visit Campaign MonitorRead Campaign Monitor reviews

Campaign Monitor has been around since 2004, making this company the same age as ActiveCampaign.

Only recently have Campaign Monitor’s staff begun adding extended features, but like Mailchimp, its email capabilities stand out in the industry and make this a great alternative for those who just need to send emails.

Key Features of Campaign Monitor

Campaign Monitor does not pretend to be an all-in-one platform, which is what makes it the budget alternative.

Its key features and pricing tiers all relate to the increased deliverability and function of email campaigns.

ActiveCampaign has the edge on CRM and analytics but Campaign Monitor’s features allow you to dedicate all energies to excellent, successful email campaigns.

• Targeting: Personalize your email campaigns with email analytics and segmentation.
• Step-by-step guide: Miss nothing in your campaign building process with Campaign Monitor’s detailed email builder.
• Testing: Run A/B tests to determine the best marketing strategy for your team and product.
• Link review: Fight link rotting by using the link review feature to make sure all links to your products remain fresh and functional.
• Expanding communication options: Campaign Monitor now offers email, SMS, and live chat as options for communication and automated channels to your customers.

Best For

Small business owners who just need basic email marketing

ActiveCampaign vs. Campaign Monitor: How They Compare

While ActiveCampaign boasts excellent CRM features and workloads, its email builder is not as detailed as Campaign Monitor’s.

Campaign Monitor is one of the few exclusive email marketing platforms.

Its email interface not only creates a more thorough email than ActiveCampaign can; it is also easier to understand and use for new business owners approaching online marketing for their business.

Campaign Monitor’s basic version also offers a great starter package for you to begin automating your emails and campaigns at an affordable price.

Campaign Monitor starts at just $9/month for extensive email features, which is much cheaper compared to ActiveCampaign’s lite plan.

The extra cost for ActiveCampaign is for more complicated marketing features and analysis, but if you do not need these features, ActiveCampaign can be rather expensive.  

Why is Campaign Monitor a Great Alternative to ActiveCampaign?

Campaign Monitor’s simplicity makes it an excellent alternative to ActiveCampaign.

For just $9/month you can start an email marketing campaign without CRM or convoluted analytics getting in the way.

Their email builder also offers more detail and help than ActiveCampaign’s, which is perfect for users focused on this single dimension.

Its support is also highly rated, which assures that you are in good hands if you hit any snags.

Pros of Campaign Monitor

• Affordability: Campaign Monitor offers fairly-priced plans for email-marketing plans, so you can focus the majority of your budget on developing your product above all.
• Simplicity/Support: Campaign Monitor’s interface is intuitive and suitable for both experienced internet/computer users and business owners who are newer to the world of such technology.
• Focused: Campaign Monitor’s single-dimension focus lends it unparalleled excellence in conducting its email campaigns.

Cons of Campaign Monitor

• Inflexible Pricing: Campaign Monitor’s pricing always scales up to the next subscriber level, meaning you would pay the same price for 30,000 or 50,000 subscribers.
• Limited Capability: Campaign Monitor is an excellent email platform, but it offers no other features for building marketing campaigns.
• Overwhelming Templates: Campaign Monitor includes so many different templates for its emails that it can be overwhelming to choose from them.

Campaign Monitor Pricing

• Basic: $9/month
• Unlimited: $29/month
• Premier: $149/month

Conclusion: Should You Choose Campaign Monitor Over ActiveCampaign?

If you are a new small business or a still growing small business just starting with email campaigns, Campaign Monitor is a better option for you than ActiveCampaign.

ActiveCampaign’s features can be overwhelming and even obstructive to those still learning how to market online and its cost includes those extra features.

Campaign Monitor’s interface is more intuitive for business owners taking their first steps to grow online and its features will introduce you to analytics and engagement tracking with emails.

Though Campaign monitor does not offer as much integration or contact possibility as ActiveCampaign, Campaign Monitor may develop these features in time.

Notable Mentions: Other Alternatives to ActiveCampaign

Active Campaign, SendX, Mailchimp, and Campaign Monitor are certainly not the only online marketing tools available, and if none of them sounded appealing to you, then perhaps these honorable mentions may help you.

HubSpot

Hubspot has earned respect as a CRM platform and developed its features to improve customer relationships over two decades.

Its free version even includes a CRM and helps users understand how it and its features work.

Visit HubSpotRead HubSpot reviews

Hubspot has earned respect as a CRM platform and developed its features to improve customer relationships over two decades.

Its free version even includes a CRM and helps users understand how it and its features work.

Why Is HubSpot a Great Option?

Though Hubspot’s paid plans are more expensive than ActiveCampaigns, they present more possibilities to grow and more tools to do so, making the costs worth it.

Their analysis, automation, and personalization features are more extensive and help you say what a customer wants to hear in messages to them.  

Drawbacks to HubSpot

Hubspot might be a little too complicated and bloated for new users.

Its deep analytics might confuse users and get in the way of making new campaigns.

In addition, while many other companies operate on monthly billing models, Hubspot uses inflexible six- or 12-month contracts.

Consequently, this can make their already high prices feel even higher.

There is also no flexible pricing, unlike with ActiveCampaign and SendX.

Moosend

Moosend, like SendX, seeks to offer email marketing at an affordable price and help businesses grow through excellent email campaigns.

Their focus is above all on refining emails and their features and appearance.

Don’t expect a CRM here.

Visit MoosendRead Moosend reviews

Moosend, like SendX, seeks to offer email marketing at an affordable price and help businesses grow through excellent email campaigns.

Their focus is above all on refining emails and their features and appearance.

Don’t expect a CRM here.

Doubling down on one aspect of online marketing has paid off for them and customers as they can offer all analytical features and design features of their email campaigns for prices based on subscribers rather than tiers.

Why Is Moosend a Great Option?

Moosend’s affordability makes it a great option and alternative to ActiveCampaign, as does its single focus.

Moosend might be the best option among the honorable mentions for customers focused on email campaigns.

They offer lovely, aesthetically pleasing templates for emails and newsletters to catch customers’ eyes, excellent analytical reporting on email marketing campaigns, and A/B testing to refine marketing strategies starting at $9/month for 500 subscribers.  

Drawbacks to Moosend

If you need a bit more than email automation, such as basic CRM features and landing page management, Moosend cannot help you.

Though affordable, it costs more than our top pick, SendX.

While SendX is $7.49/month for up to 1,000 subscribers, Moosend is nearly double the cost for the same amount of subscribers.

Aweber

Aweber is another email-first platform that has doubled down on refining its email marketing capabilities.

They seek to help business owners with building an email list and gaining customers with email campaigns and email automation but they also have landing page templates available in addition to eCommerce pages.

Visit AweberRead Aweber reviews

Aweber is another email-first platform that has doubled down on refining its email marketing capabilities.

They seek to help business owners with building an email list and gaining customers with email campaigns and email automation but they also have landing page templates available in addition to eCommerce pages.

Why is Aweber a Great Option?

Aweber’s microfocus has expanded its capacity to market through email significantly.

The company offers over 700 templates for emails, while ActiveCampaign and others offer less than 100.

The marketing automation tool is also easy to use, with analytics that can be understood and explained through several connected mobile apps.

For creating an email/newsletter campaign with a specific aesthetic, Aweber is a great option.  

Drawbacks to Aweber

Like Moosend, Aweber is limited in terms of growing your business and attracting attention.

It also comes without CRM features, and although it does have analytics and landing page creation, these do not make up for the lack of CRM.

AWeber is also more expensive than Moosend, SendX, and ActiveCampaign.

It offers fewer features, with the only real payback being its expanded content template selection.

Even More Options To Check Out

To make this list of alternatives even more useful for our readers, we’ve analyzed more options that allow you to grow your business and improve your marketing techniques.

Let’s take a look at some newcomers to the field.

Sendinblue

Sendinblue is a newcomer to the email marketing and CRM scene but it has started to make a name for itself quickly.

Sendinblue features many of the same features as ActiveCampaign, SendX, and others, and even does so in a free version.

Its free version is limited, however, as it limits the number of emails you can send.

Visit SendinblueRead Sendinblue reviews

Sendinblue is a newcomer to the email marketing and CRM scene but it has started to make a name for itself quickly.

Sendinblue features many of the same features as ActiveCampaign, SendX, and others, and even does so in a free version.

Its free version is limited, however, as it limits the number of emails you can send.

Its pricing is also its major drawback.

Though it offers a free version that can help new business owners get used to CRM and email automation, its other plans are more expensive than ActiveCampaign’s most basic package.

Omnisend

Omnisend poses itself as an alternative to all the offered options by offering unlimited “Web pushes” for all its pricing plans.

They never define what that means in the rundowns of their features, which are the same as every other email automation engine and tool.

Visit OmnisendRead Omnisend reviews

Omnisend poses itself as an alternative to all the offered options by offering unlimited “Web pushes” for all its pricing plans.

They never define what that means in the rundowns of their features, which are the same as every other email automation engine and tool.

Omnisend’s reporting features are delightfully easy to understand and their segmentation features are advanced and offered at the free level.

But ActiveCampaign and SendX’s segmentation features are just as advanced and come with more features for their price.

Getresponse

Getresponse started as an email marketing and automation service but converted to an all-in-one marketing needs suite.

Getresponse’s tools now include a website builder, live chat, and even sales-oriented features.

With the addition of these features and integration capabilities, Getresponse’s online marketing capacities have accelerated rapidly and attracted several small-business owners.

Visit GetresponseRead Getresponse reviews

Getresponse started as an email marketing and automation service but converted to an all-in-one marketing needs suite.

Getresponse’s tools now include a website builder, live chat, and even sales-oriented features.

With the addition of these features and integration capabilities, Getresponse’s online marketing capacities have accelerated rapidly and attracted several small-business owners.

Their features are extensive and starting to grow, and they offer their tools in their free version.

Their paid versions are also affordable and based on contacts, starting at $19/month for 1,000 contacts.

Other Alternative Roundups (Similar to ActiveCampaign)

ActiveCampaign is not the only online marketing solution for which customers are seeking alternatives.

As online marketing grows in relevance, more companies have entered the market and now offer their services as alternatives for the big names in the industry.

Related services have begun expanding too, such as social media managers and marketing services.

If you are seeking these other services and want to see what their alternative markets look like, feel free to see these other roundups below.  

• Mailchimp: Mailchimp is not without a list of potential replacements or alternative services. Several services claim to offer better email marketing solutions and better CRM solutions. Evaluate these alternatives yourself with this list of Mailchimp alternatives.
• Hootsuite: Hootsuite’s social media management capacities have put it on the map for many businesses. But luckily, it does not hold a monopoly. So, if Hootsuite does not sound suitable for your business or product, then check out Hootsuite alternatives.
• Pipedrive: Pipedrive has become a go-to sales manager for thousands of business owners. But others have started to migrate away from it to these Pipedrive alternatives. If you are unsure if Pipedrive can help you better than an alternative, then look at all the other services you can use.

Frequently Asked Questions

Even after extensive comparison to nine other services, there still may be unresolved questions about ActiveCampaign, which we will answer here.

Wrapping Up

ActiveCampaign is not alone in providing great marketing services to business owners seeking to use the power of the internet to their advantage.

But their success may have gone to their head, as reflected in their now less-affordable pricing.

Thus, we recommend SendX to help you begin building your business or product’s online following.

And if you only seek to launch email campaigns, then we recommend Campaign Monitor.

It allows you to stay in touch with your customers, keep them up-to-date on your latest offers, and build a relationship with them that can result in more sales.

In this article, we will teach you how to build an email list quickly and easily.

We’ll also discuss some traffic sources for finding email subscribers, as well as some best practices to follow.

Overview of Email Lists

Before you can start to create your email subscriber list, it’s good to understand the basics.

What Is an Email List?

An email list is a list of email addresses collected from people who permit you to contact them.

Once you have a list of email addresses, you can send out special offers, coupons, new product announcements, or anything else you think your customers might enjoy.

Why Is an Email List Important?

An email list is important because it allows your company to stay in touch with its prospects.

It can become a direct source of revenue for your business.

Many companies make a significant portion of their income by placing offers in front of their email list subscribers.

Who Uses Email Lists?

All types of businesses use email lists.

These might include online retailers, brick-and-mortar stores, service providers, bloggers, course providers, coaches, SaaS companies, and more.

What Are the Costs Associated With Building an Email List?

The cost associated with building an email list depends on how you go about it.

Typically, you’ll pay $50 to $100 or more per month to use an email service provider like MailChimp, Drip, or ConvertKit.

What Is the Fastest Way To Build an Email List?

There are a few methods you can use that will help you build your list quickly.

One method is to offer a lead magnet in exchange for an email address using paid ads.

A paid ad campaign lets you collect leads the moment you put the campaign into motion.

If you have as many as 500 to 1000 unique monthly blog visitors, you can start generating leads immediately as well.

What Does an Email List Include?

An email list includes the following four items.

1. Email Addresses

The most important part of an email list is the email addresses.

These are the addresses to which you’ll send your offers.

2. Contact Information

In addition to email addresses, you can collect other types of contact information.

You might include first and last names, phone numbers, mailing addresses, and more.

3. Demographic Information

Demographic information can help when segmenting your list.

Some of the demographic information you might collect includes the following.

• Age
• Gender
• Income level
• Job title

If you sell high-end products, for instance, you might segment your list by income level and send targeted offers to those who can afford your products.

4. Sales Information

You can track sales information inside an email list.

The data can include how much each person spends, what they purchase, and when they make a purchase.

Creative Ways To Build an Email List

Most businesses use one or more of the following three ways to build email lists.

Leverage an Existing Audience

Your existing audience already knows, likes, and trusts you.

They’re also more likely to buy from you.

Existing Clients

If you already have a database of customers or followers, you can start building your list immediately.

To do this, send out an email to your current database inviting them to subscribe to your list.

Include a link they can click on to subscribe.

You might also want to offer an incentive, like a discount code they can use when they make their next purchase.

Existing Followers

Do you have followers on social media?

Invite them to subscribe to your list.

When posting on your social media platforms, include a link they can click on to join your list.

For example, you might teach your audience three quick tips related to your industry.

At the end of the post, invite them to subscribe to your list for additional tips.

Convert Website Traffic

Existing website traffic gives you a leg up on starting a new email list.

You already have people interested in what you do.

Now, you just need to get their email addresses.

Optin Forms & Popups

Adding an opt-in form or popup to your website is an effective way to collect email addresses from your website visitors.

Different pop-ups exist.

For example, you can use exit-intent popups to capture the attention of those leaving your website.

Or, you can add slide-in forms to the side or bottom of your blog posts.

Many businesses will find that embedded opt-in forms on blog posts convert the best.

Offer a content upgrade relating to each article, place an opt-in form inside the content column, and watch your list grow.

Gated Content & Downloads

Another way to convert website traffic into email subscribers is by gating content.

Gated content is content that’s only accessible if the person provides their email address.

For example, you might gate an ebook or an instructional video.

Email Newsletter Subscriptions

If you have an email newsletter, make it easy for people to subscribe to it on your website.

Include a prominent link or button they can click on from every page of your website.

If you don’t have an email newsletter, consider starting one.

You can use it to share your latest blog posts, product releases, or coupon codes.

Webinars

Try building an email list by running webinars.

Webinars are live or recorded online events where you educate your audience on a particular topic.

They typically last between 30 minutes and one hour.

To run a successful webinar, you need to promote it on your website beforehand and offer something of value.

For example, you might offer a free ebook or an instructional video along with the webinar registration offer.

Once people register for the webinar, they’re typically added to your email list so you can follow up with them afterward.

Run Ad Campaigns

Ad campaigns work well to build an email list.

The key is to make sure to run a targeted ad campaign and that you’re promoting a valuable offer so people feel good giving you their email addresses for it.

Add a Subscribe Button to an Email Signature

If you’re sending emails regularly as part of your work, make it easy for people to subscribe to your email list by adding a subscribe button to your email signature.

That way, every time you send an email, people will see the link and can easily sign up if they’re interested.

How Do I Create an Email List?

To create a new email list, follow these five steps.

Select an Email Marketing Platform

The first step to creating an email list is selecting an email marketing platform.

Some people call these platforms email service providers (ESPs).

Inside these software services, you’ll store your subscribers’ email addresses, send your emails, and track your results.

Take time to research the various ESPs on the market to find the best one for your needs.

Popular email marketing platforms include the following.

• ActiveCampaign
• AWeber
• Constant Contact
• Drip
• GetResponse
• iContact
• MailChimp
• ConvertKit

Create a List or Audience in the Platform

The next step is to create a list or audience inside your email marketing platform.

The list is where you’ll store your subscribers’ email addresses.  

To create a new list, find the “Lists” or “Audiences” tab in your email marketing platform and click on it.

Then, click the “Create List” or “Create Audience” button.

The software will ask you to provide a name for your list.

It may also help you set some additional options, such as how often you plan to email your subscribers.

Once you create your list, you’re ready to start adding subscribers to it.

Create Optin Forms and Funnels for That List

Create opt-in forms and funnels for your list during the next step.

An opt-in form is a form that people fill out to subscribe to your email list.

Your email service provider will typically make it easy to create these forms.

It’s usually a matter of dragging and dropping the elements you want to show on the form.

Opt-in forms become the first part of an opt-in funnel.

A typical opt-in funnel includes the following steps.

The visitor sees a piece of content (usually a blog post) and clicks on the option to subscribe to your email list.

If they subscribe, they’re added to your email list and receive a welcome email.

After subscribing, they’re taken to a thank-you page where they’re given additional content, such as an ebook or video.

Drive Traffic and Subscribers to the List

Next, start driving traffic to your opt-in forms.

The goal is to get people to subscribe to your email list.

There are a few different ways to do this.

You can use paid advertising, such as Google Ads or Facebook Ads, to drive traffic to your opt-in forms.

You can also organically promote your opt-in forms on your website or blog.

Finally, you can use social media to promote your opt-in forms.

Send Emails to Your List

The final step is to begin sending emails to your list.

Login to your email marketing platform and create a new email.

Add the content you want to include in the email and send it out to your list.

Best Practices for Building an Email List

Now that you know how to build an email list, follow these best practices.

Always Provide Value

The most important best practice is to always provide value.

Your subscribers gave you their email address because they’re interested in what you have to say.

Don’t abuse their trust by sending them irrelevant or sales-heavy emails.

Instead, focus on providing value in every email you send.

It could include helpful tips, interesting information, or exclusive content.

Leverage Automation and Autoresponders

Automation can help you send emails to your subscribers without having to do it manually every time.

Autoresponders can help you send a series of emails to new subscribers automatically.  

Both of these features can save you a lot of time and help you build better relationships with your subscribers.

Clean Your Email List Often

Keeping your list clean will help improve your deliverability rate and ensure that your emails go to people who want to read them.

To clean your list, log in to your ESP and look for the “Inactive Subscribers” or “Unengaged Subscribers” report.

Then, remove any subscribers who haven’t interacted with your emails in a while.

Email List Providers: Should I Buy an Email List?

You might wonder if buying an email list will effectively help you earn money.

Let’s explore this option

Why People Buy Email Lists

People buy email lists for a variety of reasons.

The most common reason is that they don’t have the time to build their list.

Another reason is that some people aren’t sure how to go about building one themselves.

As well, some people believe that buying an email list is a shortcut to building a successful business.

The Pros of Buying an Email List

There are some pros to buying an email list.

The most obvious pro is that you’ll get access to a large number of email addresses.

If you’re looking to build a list quickly, this could be a good option for you.

Another pro is that you can target your ideal customer with laser precision.

When you buy an email list, you can specify the type of person you want to reach.

The Cons of Buying an Email List

There are some cons to buying an email list as well.

The most glaring con is that you might violate the law.

The CAN-SPAM Act prohibits sending emails to people who haven’t given you their permission.

Another con is that you could end up with a low-quality list.

A lot of times, people who buy email lists don’t verify the quality of the list.

It can lead to a high number of bounced emails and low engagement rates.

Should I Buy an Email List or Make One Myself?

We recommend that you make one yourself. It might take a little longer, but it’s worth it.

You’ll comply with the law and you’ll build a higher-quality list.

Frequently Asked Questions

Let’s answer three commonly asked questions about building email lists.

Wrapping Up

An email list is one of the most important assets your business can build.

It allows you to stay in touch with prospects and customers, promote new products and services, and build relationships that result in more sales.

Do you have further questions?

Please ask them in the comments below.

If you’re ready to start building your email list, decide on an email service provider and follow its directions.

If so, you’re in luck.

In this post, we’ll share some strategies that you can use to improve your open rates.

We’ll also provide tips for creating emails that are more likely to be opened.

So, whether you’re just starting or you’ve been blogging for a while, read on for some valuable insights.

What Is Email Open Rate?

Email open rate is a metric that measures the percentage of recipients who open an email.

The email open rate is calculated by dividing the number of people who open an email by the total number of people who received it.

These rates can be affected by several factors, including the perfect subject line, the time and day the email is sent, and whether or not the recipient is a subscriber.

Email providers often have algorithms that determine how likely an email is to be opened, which can also affect open rates.

Open rates can be used to measure the success of an email marketing campaign and to optimize future campaigns.

10 Effective Strategies To Increase Your Email Open Rates:

Below is the detail of effective 10 strategies to increase your email open rates.

1. Keep Your Subject Lines Short And To The Point

Your email subject line is one of the most important elements of your message.

It is what determines whether recipients will actually open and read your email, or send it straight to the trash.

So how do you write a great subject line?

Keep it short and to the point.

In general, shorter subject lines have higher open rates than longer ones, so try to keep your subject line under 50 characters.

Also, make sure your subject line is relevant to the content of your email – recipients are more likely to open an email with a subject line that sounds interesting or useful.

Finally, avoid using common spam phrases like “free” or ” offer” in your subject line, as these will likely trigger spam filters and prevent your email from reaching its intended recipients.

2. Segment Your Email List Into Different Categories

Your email list is one of your most valuable marketing assets.

But, if your emails are not being opened, they are not doing you any good.

That is why it is important to segment your list so you can send targeted, relevant messages that will get read.

One way to segment your entire email list is by location.

This is especially useful if you are a brick-and-mortar business with multiple locations.

You can send emails that are specific to each location, which is more likely to be opened and read by recipients.

Another way to segment your list is by purchase history.

This allows you to send targeted messages to people who have bought certain products or services from you in the past.

For example, if someone bought a product from you that requires refill cartridges, you could send them an email reminding them to buy a new cartridge before they run out.

Finally, you can also segment your list by engagement level.

This means sending different types of content – such as special offers, coupons, or invitations to events to people who have recently interacted with your brand (Opened an email, clicked on a link, etc.).

This ensures that they’re seeing content that is relevant to them and more likely to be opened.

3. Personalize Your Emails

When you personalize your emails, you are more likely to get them opened.

Why?

Because people are more likely to open an email that is addressed to them by name.

Personalized emails have been shown to have 6 times higher transaction rates than non-personalized emails.

Personalized subject lines are also 26% more likely to be opened.

Personalization doesn’t have to be complicated.

You can start by simply addressing your recipients by their first name in the subject line and the body of your email.

But, if you want to take things a step further, you can also include other personal details like their city, state, or country.

When recipients see their name in the subject line of the greeting, they are more likely to open the email.

You can also include other personalization details, such as their location or purchase history.

By making your emails more relevant to the recipient, you can improve your chances of getting them to read.

Just make sure, next time to send the same email or marketing messages with a personalized subject line and see the difference in click-through rates.

A personalized subject line gives a sense of a personal connection to the active subscribers.

Many AI marketing tools can do this, but so can most of the most popular email marketing platforms.

4. Use Interesting And Eye-Catching Subject Lines

As we discussed earlier in the blog post that email open rates are a key metric for any Email marketer.

A high email open rate means that your recipients are engaged with your content and are more likely to click through to your website or take the desired action.

Interesting and eye-catching email subject lines will grab and re-engage the recipient’s attention and encourage them to open the email.

Including personalization in the subject line is also a great way to increase email open rates.

Studies have shown that including the recipient’s name in the subject line can increase open rates by up to 26%.

So, if you’re looking to increase your Email open rates, make sure you’re using interesting and eye-catching subject lines.

5. Experiment With Different Send Times

One of the best ways to determine what time works best for your audience is to experiment with different send times.

Try sending emails at different times of the day or on different days of the week and see how your open rates respond.

You may find that certain times work better than others.

It’s also important to keep in mind that different types of content will perform better at different times.

For example, promotional emails are more likely to be opened on weekdays during business hours, while informative or educational emails may perform better on weekends or evenings.

The best way to determine what works best for your audience is to experiment with different send times and see how your open rates respond with new subscribers.

Also, ensure to experiment with a specific audience with new email messages, and send emails with a better subject line with a company name.

Mobile-friendly emails are also important as over 50% of emails are now opened on mobile devices.

6. Incentivize People To Open Your Emails:

If you want more people to open your emails, you need to give them a reason to do so.

Fortunately, there are several strategies you can use to incentivize recipients and increase your open rates.

One approach is to offer a discount or special offer in the subject line.

This can be an effective way to entice recipients, especially if they’re already interested in your product or service.

Another strategy is to include a personal message in the body of your email.

This could be something as simple as a short note letting the recipient know that you’re thinking of them.

Or, you could include a more detailed message sharing some news or updates from your company.

Either way, adding a personal touch can help increase the likelihood that someone will open your email.

Finally, make sure you’re sending relevant and targeted emails.

If people feel like they’re receiving valuable information from you, they’re more likely to open your messages.

So, take some time to segment your list and send content that’s specifically tailored to each group of recipients.

By taking these steps, you’ll be well on your way to increasing your email open rates.

Related: The best times to post on social media for maximum engagement

7. Provide Valuable Content

If you want people to open your emails, you need to give them a reason to do so.

Fortunately, there are several strategies you can use to incentivize recipients and increase your open rates.

One approach is to offer a discount or special offer in the subject line.

This can be an effective way to entice recipients, especially if they’re already interested in your product or service.

Another strategy is to include a personal message in the body of your email.

This could be something as simple as a short note letting the recipient know that you’re thinking of them.

Or, you could include a more detailed message sharing some news or updates from your company.

Either way, adding a personal touch can help increase the likelihood that someone will open your email.

Finally, make sure you’re sending relevant and targeted emails.

If people feel like they’re receiving valuable information from you, they’re more likely to open your messages.

So, take some time to segment your list and send content that’s specifically tailored to each group of recipients.

By taking these steps, you’ll be well on your way to increasing your email open rates.

Also related: How To Monetize A Blog In 2022

8. Use an Email Marketing Service

There are several different ways to increase your email open rates.

However, one of the best and most effective ways is to use an email marketing service.

For example, email service providers like MailChimp offer a variety of features that can help you segment your list, personalize your emails, and track your open rates.

Taking the help of an email service provider is an especially effective strategy if you’re looking to increase your open rates.

Email marketing services provide several features that can help you boost your open rates.

For example, many services offer segmentation tools that allow you to send targeted emails to specific groups of people.

This ensures that your messages are relevant and interesting to the people who receive them, which can encourage more people to open your emails.

Additionally, most email marketing services provide reporting tools that let you track your open rates and see how your campaigns are performing.

This information can be extremely valuable as you work to improve your open rates over time.

Email marketing software also typically includes a number of templates that you can use to create your messages.

This can be a great way to save time and ensure that your emails are well-designed and look professional.

Important blog: 7+ Free Tools to Help You Increase Website Traffic Exponentially

9. Be A Bit Friendly In Your Tone

If you want more people to open your emails, you need to be a bit friendly in your tone.

You’re not going to get very far with a formal, businesslike approach.

Instead, try to sound like a human being writing to another human being.

Be warm, be friendly, and be helpful.

In other words, make it sound like you’re trying to be helpful instead of just trying to sell something.

Another important thing to keep in mind is that people are often skeptical of emails, so it’s important to build trust from the beginning.

One way to do this is by using a personal story to illustrate your point.

When people see that you’re just like them, they’re more likely to listen to what you have to say.

Finally, always include a call to action.

Tell people what you want them to do, and make it easy for them to do it.

If you follow these simple tips, you’ll be well on your way to increasing your email open rates.

10. Test, Test, Test

Finally, it’s important to remember that the only way to know what works best for your audience is to experiment and test different strategies.

Try out different subject lines, send times, and email content to see what gets the best results.

Then, once you’ve found a strategy that works well, be sure to continue testing and tweaking it over time to ensure that your open rates don’t start to decline.

Further, email campaign results can vary depending on the time of year, so it’s important to keep an eye on your open rates and make adjustments as necessary.

Email marketing providers like MailChimp make it easy to track your open rates and see how your campaigns are performing and number of email subscribers increases.

Wrapping Up

By following these tips, you can encourage more people to open your emails and improve your email open rates and overall email marketing results.

So, don’t be afraid to experiment and see what works best for you.

With a little effort, you can significantly increase your email open rates.

Email-Related Content:

• What Is A Email Drip Campaign? What They Are And How The Work
• How to Build an Email List That Will Boost Your Business
• Free Email Marketing: Our Favorite Apps and Tools

When someone subscribes to your list, they permit you to contact them with marketing messages in the future.

In this article, we will discuss what opt-in plugin forms are, the different types of forms available, and how to select the correct plugin for your needs.

We will also review the top 15 WordPress opt-in plugins available today.

What Are WordPress Opt-in Form Plugins?

An opt-in form is a feature on a website that allows visitors to subscribe to your email list.

The word “opt-in” means that the visitor says it’s OK for you to contact them about your products and services.

Opt-in forms are an essential tool for any email marketer because they help you grow your list of subscribers.

Types of WordPress Opt-in Form Plugins

You can choose from five basic opt-in forms.

1. Pop-up Boxes

Pop-up boxes appear as a small box that pops up on the screen.

Many marketers choose to use it in the lower right-hand corner of a web page.

2. Modal Boxes

Modal boxes are similar to pop-ups, but they appear in the middle of the screen.

3. Slide-in Boxes

Slide-in boxes are opt-ins that appear as a small box sliding in from the side of the screen.

4. Sidebars

Sidebars are opt-ins that appear in the sidebar of a website, usually on the right side.

They can be static or they can scroll with the page.

5. Notification Bars

Notification bars are opt-ins that appear at the top or bottom of a website, usually across the entire width of the screen.

Why Use a WordPress Opt-in Form Plugin?

Typically, you’ll use an opt-in form plugin for two reasons.

Increase Conversions

The first reason to use an opt-in form plugin is to increase conversions.

A conversion is when a website visitor takes the desired action that you want them to take.

For example, if you have an eCommerce store, a conversion would be when someone buys something from you.

If you have a blog, a conversion might occur when someone subscribes to your email list.

Allow Visitors to Opt-in to Emails

An opt-in form allows a visitor to subscribe to your email list so that you can contact them in the future. It’s different from a general contact form.

In this case, the visitor specifically states that they want to receive marketing messages from you.

The benefit of this is that you can send targeted emails to people who already show an interest in your products or services.

It can lead to more sales and more customers because you’re only contacting people who want to hear from you.

How to Choose the Right Opt-in Plugin

Consider the following four factors when selecting your next WordPress opt-in form plugin.

1. Integration

You’ll want to make sure that the plugin integrates with your email service provider (ESP).

For example, if you use MailChimp to send your emails, you need a plugin that provides a built-in MailChimp integration.

That way, each new lead is automatically added to your MailChimp list.

2. Ease of Use

The best plugins have a user-friendly interface and provide step-by-step instructions.

They also offer customer support in case you run into any problems.

3. Performance

The plugin should not slow down your website.

A slow website can lead to lower conversion rates and fewer subscribers.

4. Flexibility

The plugin should be flexible so that you can customize it to match your branding.

For example, the plugin should make it simple to change the colors, fonts, and text of the opt-in form.

Best WordPress Opt-in Form Plugins

It’s time to take a look at the best plugins available.

1. Thrive Leads

Thrive Leads is a popular popup plugin that allows you to create opt-in forms and pop-ups.

Our Pick

Thrive Leads is a popular popup plugin that allows you to create opt-in forms and pop-ups.

Visit Thrive LeadsRead Thrive Leads reviews

Best For

Marketers who want to increase conversions.

Notable Features

• A/B testing
• Built-in integrations
• Analytics and reporting dashboard

Pros

• Includes many different types of forms
• Offers a simple drag and drop editor
• Easy to use
• Helps you use content targeting rules
• The triggers help to segment your list

Cons

• A paywall locks some features
• High traffic sites may experience slowdowns
• Integrations sometimes require resetting

Is Thrive Leads Hard To Use?

No, the dashboard is a simple and intuitive for users.

There shouldn’t be any stumbling in the menus.

Pricing & Plans

• Thrive Suite: $99 per quarter or $299 annually

When purchasing Thrive Leads inside the Thrive Suite, you also get Thrive Quiz Builder, Thrive Optimize, Thrive Architect, Trive Comments, and four other plugins.

Our Take

Thrive Leads is an excellent plugin for increasing conversions.

It’s easy to use and offers a wide range of features.

2. MailOptinLite

MailOptinLite is a powerful WordPress opt-in form plugin.

It allows you to create beautiful opt-in forms and manage your leads in one place.

Runner Up

MailOptinLite is a powerful WordPress opt-in form plugin.

It allows you to create beautiful opt-in forms and manage your leads in one place.

Visit MailOptinLiteRead MailOptinLite reviews

Best For

Beginners looking for a simple way to collect emails.

Notable Features

• Lightbox popups
• Exit-intent popups
• Slide-in boxes

Pros

• Easy to set up A/B tests
• Integrates with many popular email marketing platforms
• Makes default WordPress signup forms look more attractive
• Can create gated content with the tool
• Reporting and analytics

Cons

• The free version (Lite) offers limited options
• No live chat support
• Offers a limited number of templates

Is MailOptinLite Hard To Use

No, the plugin includes a simple dashboard.

Pricing & Plans

• Lite: $0 per year
• Standard: $89 per year
• Pro: $199 per year
• Agency: $399 per year

Our Take

MailOptinLite is a good WordPress opt-in form plugin if you’re looking for something to get started with.

You’ll need to upgrade to a paid plan for the best features.

3. ConvertPro

ConvertPro allows you to create high-converting opt-in forms.

Also Great

ConvertPro allows you to create high-converting opt-in forms.

Visit ConvertProRead ConvertPro reviews

Best For

Businesses with high-traffic sites looking for an easy way to increase conversions.

Notable Features

• Drag and drop editor
• Exit-intent technology
• Mobile-friendly designs

Pros

• Integrates with popular email marketing platforms
• Action triggers can increase engagement
• Fast loading forms
• Offers on-click text popups
• Easy A/B testing features

Cons

• The template library is on the smaller size
• Can’t optimize forms for better performance on tablets
• Doesn’t include lightbox features

Is ConvertPro Hard To Use?

No, it’s easy to use due to its easy to follow design.

Pricing & Plans

• Convert Pro: $89 per year
• Growth Bundle: $249 per year

Our Take

ConvertPro is easy to use and offers a variety of features, including drag-and-drop editing, exit-intent technology, and mobile-friendly designs.

4. Opt-in Panda

Opt-in Panda is a WordPress opt-in form plugin that allows users to hide content until website visitors subscribe.

Opt-in Panda is a WordPress opt-in form plugin that allows users to hide content until website visitors subscribe.

Visit Opt-in PandaRead Opt-in Panda reviews

Best For

Marketers who require a gated content feature.

Notable Features

• Will integrate with services like GetResponse, Mailchimp, and more
• The unique content locking feature encourages the opt-in
• Four types of locks are available

Pros

• Allows single and double opt-ins
• Loads quickly
• Optimized for mobile devices
• Locked content remains visible for SEO purposes
• Integrates easily with Visual Composer

Cons

• Sometimes loses its integration connections
• It will potentially frustrate some site visitors
• Support isn’t always responsive

Is Opt-in Panda Hard To Use?

It’s a simple WordPress plugin to use, so the design is very intuitive for users to implement into their regular WordPress management.

Pricing & Plans

• Free

Our Take

Opt-in Panda is an excellent choice if you want the gated content feature.

5. PopUpMaker

PopUpMaker allows you to create both lightbox popups and inline forms.

With this plugin, you can choose from a variety of templates and customize them to match your website’s design.

PopUpMaker allows you to create both lightbox popups and inline forms.

With this plugin, you can choose from a variety of templates and customize them to match your website’s design.

Visit PopUpMakerRead PopUpMaker reviews

PopUpMaker also includes a powerful email marketing integration that lets you connect your opt-in forms to your email list.

Best For

An eCommerce store will appreciate this plugin.

Notable Features

• Popups for content upgrades
• Opt-in boxes that open automatically
• Upsell and cross-sell slide-ins

Pros

• Integrates with WP Forms, Ninja Forms, and more
• Popups for product categories
• Product popups
• Can target specific browsers and countries
• Add videos and images to popup forms

Cons

• Limited templates
• No preview option
• The editor is a little confusing

Is PopUpMaker Hard To Use?

No, but it takes time to understand the dashboard.

Pricing & Plans

• Start: $87 per year
• Grow: $147 per year
• Optimize: $247 per year

Our Take

PopUpMaker is a solid tool that will help you increase your conversion rate.

However, the lack of templates and preview options may be a dealbreaker for some users.

6. ConvertBox

ConvertBox is a powerful tool that allows you to customize opt-in forms based on repeat visitor history or email subscriber status.

ConvertBox is a powerful tool that allows you to customize opt-in forms based on repeat visitor history or email subscriber status.

Visit ConvertBoxRead ConvertBox reviews

Best For

Bloggers, course creators, and affiliate marketers.

Notable Features

• Pass data to and from an email service provider
• Drag and drop editor
• Real-time tracking and analytics

Pros

• A/B testing
• Exit intent forms
• Personalize by name and other data
• Easily segment leads
• Use countdown timers to encourage the opt-in

Cons

• Could use improvements with its page-by-page reporting
• No monthly pricing option
• An overwhelming number of features for new marketers

Is ConvertBox Hard To Use?

It’s easy to use the dashboard.

However, there are a dizzying array of options.

Pricing & Plans

It offers one $ 495-lifetime pricing option

Our Take

ConvertBox is the best tool on the market for customizing the user experience based on past interactions with your brand.

7. Holler Box

Holler Box is a plugin that allows you to create pop-ups and opt-ins for your website.

Holler Box is a plugin that allows you to create pop-ups and opt-ins for your website.

Visit Holler BoxRead Holler Box reviews

Best For

Agencies and small business owners.

Notable Features

• A/B testing
• Exit intent options
• Customizable design

Pros

• Integrates with major email marketing platforms
• Can create banners
• Includes a website chat feature
• Use callout popups
• Select when and where popups display

Cons

• More expensive than other options
• Plugin sometimes returns confusing error messages
• Integrations need to be reset periodically

Is Holler Box Hard To Use?

It’s easy to use for most users.

An intuitive design makes it so that there isn’t a ton of trial and error in trying to find what you want.

Our Take

Holler Box is an effective tool for increasing your website’s engagement.

8. Hustle

Hustle will help you improve website conversions via its opt-in forms.

Hustle will help you improve website conversions via its opt-in forms.

Visit HustleRead Hustle reviews

Best For

Any type of business currently struggling to convert website traffic into leads.

Notable Features

• Unique opt-in forms for mobile devices and desktops
• CSS customization options
• Smart triggers for slide-ins and popups

Pros

• Includes social sharing buttons
• Integration with a variety of email service providers
• Supports both Gutenberg and Classic Editor in WordPress
• The Recaptcha option fights spam
• Analytics and reporting

Cons

• Some users report that the plugin deletes itself
• Integrations don’t always “fire”
• The support team isn’t responsive

Is Hustle Hard To Use?

No, it’s easy to install and use without much learning involved.

Pricing & Plans

• Free

Our Take

Hustle does have some cons.

However, most plugins do.

The pros far outweigh them.

9. Icegram

Icegram helps you grow and nurture your tribe.

Icegram helps you grow and nurture your tribe.

Visit IcegramRead Icegram reviews

Best For

Any type of business can use Icegram.

Notable Features

• Automated relays and saved submissions
• Security checks
• Offers 12 different types of messaging features

Pros

• Comes with ready-to-use campaigns
• Behavior triggers
• Retargeting
• Analytics
• Unlimited usage

Cons

• The dashboard isn’t intuitive
• Multiple options cause some confusion
• You need to sometimes reset its integrations

Is Icegram Hard To Use?

You should plan to take the time to understand all the dashboard options at first.

Pricing & Plans

• Free

Our Take

The wide range of features makes Icegram a worthy choice.

10. Sumo 

Sumo is a free WordPress opt-in form plugin that offers a wide range of features and options.

Sumo is a free WordPress opt-in form plugin that offers a wide range of features and options.

Visit SumoRead Sumo reviews

Best For

All types of businesses can put the power of Sumo to work.

Notable Features

• Welcome mat features
• Smart Mode list builder popup
• Click triggers

Pros

• Can set it up in under 60 seconds
• Offers a free-forever plan
• Integrates with all major email service providers
• Can customize the forms to match your website’s color scheme
• Social media share buttons

Cons

• The free version includes Sumo branding
• The paid plan is expensive
• The interface isn’t as intuitive as other options

Is Sumo Hard To Use?

No, but the interface takes some getting used to.

Pricing & Plans

• Free
• Pro: $39 per month

Our Take

Sumo is a nice tool for businesses of all sizes.

The free plan is generous and the paid plan packs in interesting features.

11. Bloom

Bloom is a plugin created by Elegant Themes.

Bloom is a plugin created by Elegant Themes.

Visit BloomRead Bloom reviews

Best For

Bloggers, affiliate marketers, and eCommerce businesses can use Bloom.

Notable Features

• Time popups
• Scrolling opt-in forms
• On-click forms

Pros

• Over 100 templates to choose from
• Exclude specific website pages
• Integrates with plenty of email software
• Automatic fly-in popup forms
• Can lock premium content

Cons

• Doesn’t include a drag and drop form builder
• No exit-intent popup options
• Can’t purchase it as a standalone plugin

Is Bloom Hard To Use?

Users find it intuitive and have little hassle getting up and running.

Pricing & Plans

You must purchase an Elegant Themes membership to use Bloom.

• Annual: $89 per year
• Lifetime: $249

Our Take

Bloom works well for anyone already using the Elegant Theme platform.

12. OptinMonster

OptinMonster is one of the most popular plugins available, with a lot of features and an easy-to-use interface.

OptinMonster is one of the most popular plugins available, with a lot of features and an easy-to-use interface.

Visit OptinMonsterRead OptinMonster reviews

Best For

People who want to increase conversions with powerful pop-ups, exit-intent forms, and floating bars.

Notable Features

• Floating bars
• Lightbox popups
• Scroll boxes

Pros

• Integrates well with major email service providers
• Use gamified wheels
• Over 100 templates are available
• Geolocation targeting
• Easily add unique content to each opt-in form

Cons

• Customer support isn’t as responsive as other options
• CSS features don’t always work well
• The free plugin version provides limited features

Is OptinMonster Hard To Use?

No, it’s a relatively simple WordPress plugin with a design that should allow for a seamless implementation.

Pricing & Plans

• Free
• Basic: $9 per month
• Plus: $19 per month
• Pro: $29 per month
• Growth: $49 per month

Our Take

OptinMonster is one of the industry’s leaders.

It’s well worth the investment when using a paid plan.

13. Elementor Pro Popup Builder

Elementor Pro Popup Builder is one of the most versatile plugins on the market.

Elementor Pro Popup Builder is one of the most versatile plugins on the market.

Visit Elementor Pro Popup BuilderRead Elementor Pro Popup Builder reviews

Best For

All business types.

Notable Features

• Simple drag and drop editor
• Build custom opt-in forms
• Display conditions and triggers

Pros

• No coding skills required
• Content lock features
• Exit intent popup forms
• Use it for sales promotions
• Upsell features

Cons

• Exit animations are not as good as other options
• No split testing features
• Reporting features aren’t as robust as other plugins

Is Elementor Pro Popup Builder Hard To Use?

No, the drag and drop builder makes it easy to use.

Pricing & Plans

• Essential: $49 per year
• Expert: $199 per year
• Agency: $399 per year

Our Take

If you’re looking for a plugin that comes with almost every essential feature, consider using Elementor Pro Popup Builder.

14. WP Subscribe

WP Subscribe is one of the most user-friendly WordPress optin form plugins available.

WP Subscribe is one of the most user-friendly WordPress optin form plugins available.

Visit WP SubscribeRead WP Subscribe reviews

Best For

All types of businesses can put WP Subscribe to work.

Notable Features

• Popup animations and triggers
• Popup previews
• Attractive designs

Pros

• Show related articles inside your popup forms
• No coding required
• Mobile-friendly designs
• Supports shortcodes
• Opt-in forms come optimized for speed

Cons

• The plugin stops working periodically
• Fewer features than other options
• Support always helps but sometimes takes a while to respond

Is WP Subscribe Hard To Use?

No, it’s easy to implement and users should have little issue navigating the program.

Pricing & Plans

• Free plan for one site
• Unlimited sites plan: $19
• Unlimited sites membership: $199

Our Take

WP Subscribe is a good choice if you’re looking for an opt-in form plugin that’s easy to use and doesn’t require any coding.

15. MailPoet

MailPoet is a freemium WordPress opt-in form plugin that allows you to create beautiful opt-in forms and manage your subscribers.

MailPoet is a freemium WordPress opt-in form plugin that allows you to create beautiful opt-in forms and manage your subscribers.

Visit MailPoetRead MailPoet reviews

Best For

Bloggers and affiliate marketers with smaller businesses.

Notable Features

• Single and double opt-in forms
• A/B split testing
• Drag and drop editor

Pros

• Use images in your opt-in forms
• Can use the built-in MailPoet email plugin
• Use it to send newsletters
• Basic engagement analytics
• Plenty of templates

Cons

• Must upgrade for detailed statistics
• Google Analytics integration requires a paid plan
• Best segmentation options come with paid plans only

Is MailPoet Hard To Use?

No, it’s a simple plugin to learn and use.

Pricing & Plans

• Starter: Free
• Creator: $8 per month
• Business: $10 per month
• Agency: $30 per month

Our Take

MailPoet is a quality WordPress opt-in form plugin for those just starting their online business.

The paid plans are affordable.

WordPress Opt-in Form Examples

Looking at examples of companies and brands using WordPress opt-in forms helps when you need ideas for your WordPress website.

FabFitFun makes good use of a simple opt-in form in the footer of its website.

At Backlinko.com, Brian Dean uses an effective “above-the-fold” opt-in form to attract new subscribers.

He makes sure website visitors understand that they won’t find Dean’s newsletter content on his website.

On his website, Neil Patel, uses a full-page opt-in form.

It encourages visitors to enter their website URL to receive a free website audit.

Jon Morrow gives his Smart Blogger visitors an interesting exit-intent popup when they try to leave.

It uses an industry-relevant image and offers a 3-part video series.

How To Use an Opt-in Form in WordPress

It’s simple to set up an opt-in form using a plugin in WordPress.

You can install most plugins directly from your WordPress dashboard by going to Plugins > Add New and searching for the plugin by name.

Once you install the plugin and activate it, you’ll need to configure it according to your needs.

Each plugin offers its own settings page where you can add fields, customize the form’s appearance, and more.

If you can’t find the plugin by searching for it, then you can always download it from the WordPress.org plugin directory and upload it to your site manually.

After installing and activating your favorite plugin, follow these steps.

Select the opt-in form type you want to use on your website.

There are many different types of opt-in forms, so be sure to choose the one that’s right for you.

Configure the plugin settings to match your preferences.

You can usually find the settings page by going to Settings > Optin Forms in your WordPress dashboard.

Place the opt-in form on your website using a shortcode or widget.

Most plugins will provide a shortcode that you can copy and paste into any post or page on your site.

Test the opt-in form to make sure it’s working properly.

Be sure to test all the fields and submit the form several times to make sure everything is working as it should.

Wrapping Up

WordPress optin form plugins make it easy to collect email addresses from your website visitors.

Most plugins offer a wide range of customization options.

Select one or two from the above list and investigate them in detail.

Choose the one that meets your needs and put it to use on your site.

New technologies, new strategies, new platforms, new forms of engagement.

But there’s one thing that doesn’t change: the importance of building an email list.

The Money Is In The List

It’s probably the oldest proverb of Internet marketing. But it’s just as true now as it was in 1999.

Why is a subscriber list so important?

Two reasons (there are more, but these 2 are enough):

Reason #1 – Pre-Qualified Leads

People who subscribe to your email list are pre-qualified as highly interested in what you have to offer.

They’ve already done 2 things that are key steps in your conversion funnel:

• They visited your site
• They clicked on your subscribe button

The statistics confirm this:

• According to the Direct Marketing Association, email marketing on average produces a 4300% return on investment (ROI).
• According to McKinsey & Company email is nearly 40 times more effective than Facebook and Twitter combined in the acquisition of customers.

Reason #2 – Your Own Marketing Channel

Let’s say you’ve built your business on organic search or social media.

Google, Facebook, Twitter, and Pinterest could decide tomorrow they don’t like your content.

Entire businesses have gone down the drain because of a change in the Google algorithm.

But once you have your own email list, you’re safe. It’s your own private marketing channel, and no one can take it away from you.

What is a Lead Magnet?

But how do you get people to join your list?

By using a lead magnet (also known as an ‘opt-in bribe’). Simply put, a lead magnet is something you offer to your visitors in exchange for their email address.

When it’s done right, a lead magnet is an offer so powerful your target simply has to know what it says.

In this article, I’m going to show you how to create a highly effective lead magnet. I’ll show you:

• The 7 key ingredients of a lead magnet that converts
• The 9 most popular types of lead magnet.

The Key Ingredients of a Successful Lead Magnet

The folks at OptinMonster have listed 7 key characteristics of lead magnets that convert well.

These guys know what they’re talking about because their whole business is built around lead magnets:

1. Solves a Real Problem – your lead magnet must address a real problem that your visitor faces (e.g. traffic, list building, copywriting etc)
2. Promises a Quick Win – your lead magnet must hold out the promise of delivering one thing quickly
3. Is Highly Specific – the more specific the better. Instead of ‘How To Improve Your Social Media Presence’ go for ‘How To Get 15K New Followers on Twitter in 14 Days’
4. Easy to Consume – avoid lengthy reports, anything where the potential subscriber can see there’s a big upfront time investment. Instead go for Checklists, Swipe Files, and Cheat Sheets.
5. High Value – your Lead Magnet must be of high value but also needs to be perceived as high value.
6. Offers Immediate Gratification – in this day and age we want everything NOW! – your Lead Magnet must be something they can get immediate access to.
7. Demonstrates Your Expertise – when the subscriber uses your Lead Magnet, it should leave them feeling that you are an authority on that topic. (This last point is less important than the other six since we are focusing on a potential subscriber who hasn’t yet signed up and hasn’t yet downloaded your lead magnet).

The 7 Most Popular Lead Magnets

You’re probably wondering by now, what are these lead magnets that convert so well?

There are 7 of them and here they are:

• Checklists
• Cheat Sheets
• Templates
• Swipe Files
• Toolkits
• Worksheets
• PDF Versions

1. Checklists

Checklists, as the name implies, are simply a list of items with a check box against each item. It’s a list of tasks, often ordered in a certain way. They can be used in any industry and any niche. Here are some examples:

• List of things to pack when going on vacation
• List of things to do to promote a blog post
• List of things to do to optimize a blog post for SEO

Checklists work well as lead magnets because they give the reader the main points on a single page.

2. Cheat Sheets

Cheat sheets are like checklists, but instead of a list of tasks, they give you a list of tips or guidelines for achieving a particular result.

Cheat Sheets are appealing because they condense a topic into a few main points.

3. Templates

A template is a file that serves as a starting point for a new document. But in this context, it’s any standardized content containing blanks that the user fills in to customize the content. Examples are:

• Influencer Outreach email templates
• Facebook Ad templates

Templates are very popular because they give the user a head start and give them a proven foundation for doing something (emailing prospects, creating ads for Facebook).

4. Swipe Files

A swipe file is a file where you collect examples of things you like. For example, I keep swipe files of:

• Lead Magnets that I think are very effective
• Author Bios that are fresh and original
• About Pages that grab my attention

A swipe file might contain the 50 best headlines you’ve ever seen in an email campaign.

Swipe files work well as lead magnets because they’re real-life examples of things that have been tried and tested and work. And the user can implement them straight away.

5. Toolkits

These are also called ‘Resource Lists’. Toolkits are simply a list of all the tools and resources that you use to run your online business.

Toolkits work well as a lead magnet because potential subscribers are genuinely curious about the tools you use. They want to know how to save time or how to get better results – but there are so many competing products out there, they want to know what tools the experts are using.

6. Worksheets

A Worksheet is usually geared towards a particular task. Typically, it asks questions and provides a space where the user can give a response. In other words, a Worksheet walks the reader through a process. Examples are:

• How to set up an Adwords campaign
• How to choose a niche for your blog

Worksheets work well where people feel they need to be ‘walked through’ a process.

7. PDF Versions

These are simply a PDF version of your blog post. Of all lead magnets, they’re the easiest to create. Just add some nice formatting to your Word file, and hit ‘Save as PDF’.

PDF Versions work as lead magnets because if your article is full of useful tips, your readers want a hard copy they can refer to later. Also, when you offer a PDF version as a content upgrade, you can offer 2 or 3 extra tips that are not included in the original blog post.

How To Create Your Own Lead Magnet

The two most common mistakes in creating lead magnets are:

1. Going too broad – e.g. ‘The Complete Guide To Successful Blogging’. This is better: ‘17 Ways To Promote Your Blog Post After You Press Publish’
2. Going too big – e.g. offering a 147 page eBook. To your prospective lead that sounds like a lot of hard work and a big time investment. A 1-Page Cheat Sheet will get you many more optins.

Remember – the most effective lead magnets are easy to consume, 1 or 2 pages at most. That means you shouldn’t spend more than a couple of hours creating your lead magnet.

If you find yourself trying to create the perfect lead magnet, keep this in mind – any lead magnet is better than none!

If you’re not convinced that less is better, John Corcoran’s lead magnet is a 72-word email template:

When creating your lead magnet think about your audience’s pain points:

• What do they have the most difficulty with?
• What do they struggle with?

Use this formula to create your lead magnet:

I want [goal], but [obstacle]

For example:

• I want to write blog posts in half the time but I don’t know how
• I want to write a blog post every week but I’ve run out of ideas
• I want to slash my household budget by 30% but I don’t know how

Delivering Your Lead Magnet

At this point, you need some software to get your lead magnet in front of your visitor.

Many of the major email service providers (AWeber, Constant Contact, GetResponse, MailerLite) now include pop-up optin forms. So that’s certainly an option if you have budget constraints.

However, these optin forms are fairly basic and you won’t get a whole library of different templates. You also won’t have analytics, or A/B testing to see how your optin performs.

Dedicated optin software is preferable if you want to maximize your optin rate.

I use Thrive Leads because I found it the easiest to set up.

But there are plenty of other options:

Lead Pages

• Recurring fees – $25 p/month
• WordPress plugin
• Mobile responsive
• A/B Testing
• Optin templates
• Integrates with all major email service providers

Optinmonster (Sue uses this one)

• Recurring fees – $9 p/month
• WordPress plugin
• Exit-Intent® Technology
• Page Level Targeting
• Optin templates
• A/B Testing
• Integrates with all major email service providers
• Mobile responsive

WP Subscribe Pro

• One Time fee of $29
• WordPress plugin
• Optin templates
• Includes Exit Intent
• Integrates with all major email service providers
• Mobile responsive

Thrive Leads

• One Time fee of $67
• WordPress plugin
• Exit Intent technology
• A/B Testing
• Optin templates
• Advanced targeting
• Smart Analytics
• Mobile responsive
• Integrates with all major email service providers

Convert Plug

• One Time Fee of $21
• WordPress plugin
• Exit Intent pop-ups
• Optin templates
• Real Time Analytics
• Page Level Targeting
• Mobile Specific Popups
• Integrates with all major email service providers

WP Subscribe

• Free
• Integrates with MailChimp, AWeber, FeedBurner
• Customizable text
• Mobile responsive
• No Exit Intent (Pro Version only)

Boxzilla

• Free
• No pop-ups
• Boxes (optin forms) slide or fade in, triggered by scroll percentage, reaching a certain page element, or X amount of time on the page
• Customize boxes
• Page Level Targeting
• Exit Intent (premium only)
• Time On Site (premium only)

The Three Golden Rules of Optin Forms

When you design your optin form, keep in mind these three Golden Rules of lead magnet optin forms:

Rule #1 – Words That Turn People Off

Don’t use ‘subscribe’ or ‘sign-up’ on your button.

Instead, use positive phrases such as ‘Get Instant Access’ or ‘Send Me My Cheat Sheet’.

Rule #2 – Less Information Is Better

The more information you ask for, the fewer optins you get – don’t ask for names, just an email address.

Rule #3 – Instant Gratification

Make your lead magnet accessible as soon as the button has been clicked.

Some people send a link to the lead magnet in an email once the person has confirmed their email address.

I have my optin forms configured so that the lead magnet loads in the next screen as soon as the visitor has pressed the button. I’m taking a gamble that the email address is valid, but I believe this approach is more in keeping with what people want and expect.

If you use this approach, you have the advantage of being able to say “Instant Access” on your optin form.

Where To Place Your Optin Offer

The more places you put your optin form, the quicker you’ll build your list.

Here are some of the most effective locations for your optin form:

• Sidebar
• Feature Box
• Exit Intent pop-up
• Slide-In
• Landing Page
• ‘About Me’ section of your social media pages (Facebook, Linked In, Twitter etc)

If you write guest posts, your guest post bio is another great place to put your optin form (or at least a link to it). For example:

“Rob Powell is on a mission to show beginning bloggers how to create content that builds traffic, backlinks, and authority. Download his formula for getting 147 Social Media Shares in just 24 Hours”.

Your Optin Headline

Your optin headline will be a key part of the success of your lead magnet.

Here are 5 popular formulas for creating optin headlines:

1. Toolkit / Checklist for [desired result/audience]

• Toolkit for Dominating the Search Results
• Checklist for Planning the Perfect Wedding
• Toolkit for Writing Like a Pro

2. X Easy Ways to [desired result]

• 27 Easy Ways to Boost Your Traffic
• 17 Easy Ways to Save Money In The Kitchen
• 21 Easy Ways to Get More Likes on Facebook

3. The [blank] Cheat Sheet

• The Home Brewer’s Cheat Sheet
• The Ultimate Wedding Planner’s Cheat Sheet
• The Essential Body Builder’s Cheat Sheet

4. The Essential X: Top [things] that Every [audience] Needs

• The Essential 7: Top Reports that Every Photographer Needs
• The Essential 13: Items Every Pet Lover Needs
• The Essential 21: Tips Every Dieter Needs to Know

5. X-Point Checklist for [blank]

• 73-Point Checklist for Creating the Ultimate Kindle Book
• 17-Point Checklist for Parents With Teenagers
• 31-Point Checklist for Hiking In The Himalayas

Most of the plugins mentioned above allow you to do A/B split testing. This is a great way to test different headlines.

Just set up 2 competing headlines and after they’ve each had 100 impressions, you take the winner.

Then create another headline to compete with the winner. And so on. In no time at all, you’ll have an optin headline that converts like crazy!

Over To You

So now it’s over to you. I hope you use this information to build amazing lead magnets and high-converting optin forms.

When you start to see a daily trickle of email sign-ups, you’ll know you’re on the road to success.

Because an email list is the backbone of successful online business!

Had your own experiences with lead magnets and optin forms? If so, I’d love to hear from you in the comments below:

Email marketing campaigns may help you engage your customers better and gain more sales.

Since the top email marketing platforms are Mailchimp and Constant Contact, you must decide which one is right for your business.

This guide will teach all about Constant Contact vs Mailchimp and which one is best for you.

Hear about the similarities and differences between Contact Contact and Mailchimp.

We look into templates, design, automation, integrations, and reporting features between the two email marketing platforms.

Most importantly, you will find out the advantages and disadvantages of Constant Contact vs Mailchimp.

Read on to learn all the details behind the two email platforms!

What is Constant Contact?

When I worked as a marketing manager for a legal services company, I used Constant Contact for sending email marketing campaigns to lawyers and other legal firms.

So, what is Constant Contact?

Constant Contact is an online marketing services company founded in 1995 which serves various small businesses.

The platform from Constant Contact allows business owners to monitor and send email marketing operations.

You can also use it for social media marketing and developing websites and online stores.

What is Mailchimp?

When I worked for a nonprofit organization, I utilized Mailchimp to send out impressive email campaigns and provide health information to everyday people.

Mailchimp is an email marketing tool that enables business owners to communicate with their customers and others interested in their products or services.

Mailchimp provides contact management facets, a well-designed email marketing campaign, sound data analytics, and several advanced features.

Suitable Users

The best email marketing service focuses on specific audiences and does not provide an infinite amount of capabilities for any possible customer base.

When too many diverse clients are part of the game, email marketing services tend to lack the customized features consumers need.

Who is Constant Contact For?

Constant Contact is valuable for small businesses.

The email marketing software from Constant Contact is perfect for the commerce industry and small shops.

It provides companies with online store development and other e-commerce capabilities.

Currently, the email solution provider has more than 600,000 customers.

Who is Mailchimp For?

Mailchimp provides an email marketing service for a wide range of customers.

The diverse consumer base includes one-person startups, small businesses, nonprofit organizations, and even Fortune 500 companies.

Even bloggers use Mailchimp.

The industries represented include:

• Food services
• Finance
• Education and training
• Government
• Health and fitness
• Insurance
• Legal services
• And more

When to Use Constant Contact Vs Mailchimp

Email and digital marketing solutions serve a variety of roles and provide different features.

Each consumer can decide which email marketing tool is best for them based on customer support services, automation capabilities, and other email marketing features.

When to Choose Mailchimp?

When considering Mailchimp vs Constant Contact, choose Mailchimp when looking for a user-friendly interface and gorgeous designs for your email template.

You can also split test your email marketing campaigns through the platform to see which time is best to send them.

When to Choose Constant Contact?

If you are looking for email marketing software with an easy-to-use interface and a simple design, then Constant Contact is the right choice.

Constant Contact is perfect for beginners as well as those with advanced email campaign marketing expertise.

Comparison Between Constant Contact and Mailchimp

Constant Contact alternatives include Mailchimp Pro and the standard Mailchimp email marketing platform.

Essentially, Constant Contact and Mailchimp do have some similarities.

Nonetheless, they also have divergences in terms of:

• Email list management
• Templates
• Analytics
• Each automation feature
• Designs
• Integrations
• Reporting
• Phone support and customer service

List Management

Email list management involves collecting important information about subscribers to your email solution account.

Using specific marketing strategies to assess business email lists can help marketers better understand their consumer base.

It allows marketers to figure out whether a specific email campaign will effectively target their audience.

How is Constant Contact’s List Management?

Constant Contact’s list management features involve adding client emails and organizing customers based on industry or other characteristics.

Doing so allows small businesses to target the right audience in each email.

Some features include tagging, segmenting contacts, integrating with Outlook, and storing a wide amount of information on each customer.

How is Mailchimp’s List Management?

Mailchimp’s list management capabilities allow you to create a master list and import lists from zip files and more.

Lastly, you can identify groups within each list and match customers to each group.

Mailchimp also lets you track which groups open your emails the most.

Templates and Design

The right email template needs to have compatibility among various devices and a consistent layout.

The design of any email newsletter needs to consistently match the company brand.

Automated email features and visual graphics that align with the content may help.

What are Constant Contact’s Templates and Design?

Constant Contact has 100 built-in email templates for you to choose from.

As such, you should have enough choices without an infinite amount to look through.

You can also use layout and column features to create the best email newsletter for your audience.

What are Mailchimp’s Templates and Design?

On Mailchimp, you can reuse past email templates or edit those you’ve used before.

Along with more than 100 email templates available to choose from on this platform, Mailchimp also provides a chance to produce a personal brand template.

Reporting and Analytics

Email marketing software features reporting and analytics to help marketers better assess and engage their audience.

For instance, Constant Contact uses the Google Analytics application while Mailchimp has its reporting capabilities.

With analytics, you’ll see which campaigns get the most openings and clicks.

What is the Strength of Constant Contact’s Reporting and Analytics?

The Constant Contact email platform has the key strength of simplifying the reporting procedure.

All essential statistics are available in one simple chart.

As such, users will easily understand the analytics of Constant Contact and gather all relevant data in one spot.

It also integrates Google Analytics.

What is the Strength of Mailchimp’s Reporting and Analytics?

Mailchimp has its reporting features that provide real-time statistics and a Click Map that tells you where your customers clicked after opening your email newsletters.

You can even obtain comprehensive revenue reports that will track sales from each email campaign.

Automation

The best email marketing services include automation features so that you don’t spend needless hours creating the perfect email template.

For instance, you can create an automatic email sent to consumers who had products in their online cart but didn’t finish purchasing.

Send an automatic email with a discount to tempt the customer to buy the products.

What Automation Feature Does Constant Contact Have?

Constant Contact allows you to send automatic emails including welcome emails, emails for those with abandoned online carts, and anniversary or birthday emails.

You can even have automatic resending of emails to customers who failed to open the initial newsletter.

What Automation Feature Does MailChimp Have?

Mailchimp provides automated emails such as those based on specific dates like birthdays or ones that are triggered based on the actions an email subscriber takes.

Integrations

Email marketing platforms also tend to have integration capabilities, such as downloading email contacts from Outlook, Gmail, your files, and other email systems.

Further, integration can involve combining multiple tools and systems to streamline the production of email campaigns.

Constant Contact’s Integrations

Constant Contact has numerous integrations to consider.

For example, you can add Eventbrite attendees to Constant Contact subscriber lists and contacts from Google Sheets, Gravity Forms submitters, and Google Contacts.

Calix Marketing Cloud also recently announced an integration with Constant Contact.

You can even integrate Mailchimp subscribers to the platform.

Mailchimp’s Integrations

Similarly, you can add your subscribers from Constant Contact to Mailchimp in case you decide to switch your email marketing platform.

Generally, you can integrate nearly any app with the Mailchimp platform including Shopify, Salesforce, HubSpot, and WordPress.

Design and Flexibility

Every email newsletter process comes with many design factors.

The factors include the background, visual imagery, and even call-to-action buttons.

Flexible email templates are also essential.

They can make automatic emails and other newsletters.

Flexibility provides simple processes to customize borders, backgrounds, paragraphs, and more.

Constant Contact’s Design and Flexibility

Depending on the price point, Constant Contact can provide you with more than 200 email templates and designs to choose from.

You will have the ability to customize the design and the text blocks.

Constant Contact provides greater flexibility in terms of designing the type of newsletters you prefer.

Mailchimp’s Design and Flexibility

Mailchimp also provides enough flexibility to customize an email with the colors you prefer, the fonts that make the best impact, and the images in the sizes you choose.

You can also personalize emails with sign-up forms and automation features.

Email Marketing Features

You should find numerous email marketing features on both Mailchimp and Constant Contact.

The best email platforms have robust analytics features, optimization for mobile devices, automation capabilities, and third-party app integrations.

Email surveys are also effective features for marketers.

What to Know About Constant Contact’s Email Marketing Features

Constant Contact includes features like automation and interactive email templates.

For instance, the platform can trigger automatic emails based on subscribers’ actions.

Constant Contact allows email newsletters to include interactive content like RSVPs and responses to surveys.

It also allows tracking in real-time.

What to Know About Mailchimp’s Email Marketing Features

Via Mailchimp, you can manage subscriber lists, data analytics and click-through rates, and social media sharing.

Some other features include mobile signup forms, subscriber email testing, and customization of email designs.

You’ll benefit from detailed analytics and an easy-to-use interface.

Reporting

Reporting features via email marketing platforms provide a plethora of information, including:

• The growth of subscriber lists
• Real-time data
• Reports based on your company brand
• Overall engagement
  • Click-through rates, open rates, and bounce rates

The best email marketing report should also include how many people unsubscribed, recent subscribers, business metrics, and a list of the best-performing campaigns.

Constant Contact’s Reporting

Constant Contact has various analytics features to assess the success of email campaigns.

You can track the click-through rates, email open rates, and the number of newsletters sent.

You can download every report and save it for future use.

You can also compare the metrics with industry standards and prior email campaigns.

MailChimp’s Reporting

Similar to Constant Contact, the Mailchimp reports also show the number of clicks and email opening rates.

You can also view landing page reports about the number of clicks, views, and signup rate.

You can even see how well your social media channels are engaging customers.

Registration Forms

Email marketing involves registering subscribers and producing effective registration forms for potential consumers.

When you create an account on Mailchimp or Constant Contact, you need to create an email signup or a registration form.

Then, you can share the form through social media channels and other means.

Constant Contact’s Registration Forms

Constant Contact includes professional email sign-up forms with mobile-optimized and security features.

You can personalize the email signup form to fit your website and your company brand.

Further, you can integrate email marketing services to simplify registration forms.

MailChimp’s Registration Forms

To create a Mailchimp registration form, click on the audience and then choose the audience dashboard.

Now, pick the “current audience” and click “Manage Audience.”

Now, you can pick “signup forms” and then the “Form Builder” button.

Highlight and copy the signup form URL and paste it into a new browser tab.

Now, right-click and pick the “View Page Source” tab.

Now, you can edit the signup form and customize it.

Landing Pages

There are numerous landing pages available through email marketing platforms, such as online store pages, lead generation pages, product description pages, and subscription pages.

Constant Contact’s Landing Pages

Constant Contact provides customized landing pages that allow you to boost your conversion rates.

Constant Contact’s landing page builder allows you to quickly design your website landing pages without needing to manually code them on your site.

Mailchimp’s Landing Pages

Mailchimp also provides a landing page builder feature.

Here, you can choose your favorite template and customize it to fit your company brand.

You can also produce the URL for the landing page.

Also, you can choose your audience, tags, and tracking features.

Ease of Use

What is the easiest email marketing platform to use?

Which one has the best user-friendly interface?

Which one is best for beginners and which one is better for experts?

You can find the answers to these questions below.

Is Constant Contact Easy to Use?

Constant Contact is the easiest email marketing system to utilize.

The platform is also great for beginners, especially since it has a simple interface where you can easily manage the contact lists, calendar of campaigns, and email templates.

Is Mailchimp Easy to Use?

Mailchimp may not be the perfect choice for beginners, but, once you get the hang of it, the interface is one of the simplest to get used to due to the drag-and-drop capabilities.

You should also find the email editor easy to use.

Customer Service

An easy-to-use interface isn’t always enough.

Email solution platforms also require effective customer service capabilities.

From live chat options to phone support, the best email marketing system aims to solve customers’ problems.

What is Constant Contact’s Customer Service System?

The customer service phone number for Constant Contact is 866-289-2101 for those in the United States and Canada.

The company also provides a live chat option for its customers to talk with a specialist.

You can find other customer service phone numbers here.

What is Mailchimp’s Customer Service System?

Mailchimp does not offer as many options for customer service support.

You can choose a topic in a form ranging from technical support and account access to billing and contact sales.

Once you pick the topic, you will see tutorials and guides as well as a contact form for customer service support.

Pricing

What is the price of Constant Contact vs Mailchimp?

There are multiple different pricing plans to choose from with more features and email templates when you pay more.

If affordability matters to your needs, then check out the pricing plans below.

Constant Contact’s Pricing Plans

The pricing plans for Constant Contact have tiered costs that start as little as $9.99 per month and can grow above $300 under the Core pricing plan.

You can get away with $9.99 a month if you have 500 or fewer contacts.

The Plus pricing plan starts at $45 per month and grows to $410 per month when the contact list grows above 45,000 subscribers.

Mailchimp’s Pricing Plans

Mailchimp has one very simple plan starting at $0 and then grows to the Essentials pricing plan at $11 per month, the Standard pricing plan at $17 per month, and the Premium pricing plan at $299 per month.

What are the Similarities Between Constant Contact and Mailchimp?

Mailchimp and Constant Contact both provide data analytics reports including click-through and open rates.

Further, both email marketing platforms provide automated emails after you customize your account.

Lastly, both Mailchimp and Constant Contact enable A/B testing to see which email variations work best.

Pros and Cons of Constant Contact and Mailchimp

You’ll find numerous benefits along with disadvantages of the two email solution providers for business owners and nonprofits.

Pros

The pros of email marketing systems include automation, customized email templates, integration, data analytics reports, and easy-to-use platforms.

Also, straightforward email list management benefits customers as well.

What to Like about Mailchimp

Mailchimp has numerous reporting feature benefits and user-friendly design features.

Mailchimp also provides more automation capabilities than Constant Contact at a more affordable cost.

In addition, you can obtain more A/B testing options through Mailchimp.

What to Like about Constant Contact

Constant Contact has a higher deliverability rate than Mailchimp, so you can rest assured the emails make their way to customers’ inboxes.

You’ll love the simple design and the easy-to-navigate interface.

It’s perfect for beginners as well as those with advanced skills.

It also integrates with Google Analytics and Eventbrite.

Cons

Nonetheless, every email solution provider comes with certain drawbacks and disadvantages.

Below, I detail the cons of Mailchimp and Constant Contact.

What Not to Like about Mailchimp

The interface on Mailchimp is more awkward to use and somewhat outdated compared to more modern platforms.

Since it is a membership-based site, it is more difficult to import email contacts.

The email templates are rather basic and customers spend more time creating a well-designed template.

What Not to Like about Constant Contact

The email templates on Constant Contact lack advanced features and workflows.

Essentially, the email templates are limited in terms of customization.

The automation capabilities are also limited.

Can You Transfer Contacts Between Mailchimp and Constant Contact?

It is possible to transfer all of your email contacts from Mailchimp to Constant Contact and vice versa.

You will need to follow the steps below.

Transferring Contacts From Mailchimp to Constant Contact

1. Go to the Audience tab on Mailchimp
2. Click the “Current Audience”
3. Press “View Contacts”
4. Click on “Export Audience”
5. Choose “Export as CSV”
6. Unzip the Mailchimp files
7. Upload the Mailchimp contact list to Constant Contact

Transferring Contacts From Constant Contact to Mailchimp

1. Go to the Contacts section and click “Active”
2. Select “all active contacts” and click export
3. Pick the fields you want and then click “Export Contacts”
4. Then choose Download CSV

Final Word

The complete guide detailing Constant Contact vs Mailchimp should have helped you decide which platform is best for you.

You can pick the best automation capabilities, data analytics reports, and integration features.

What email marketing system are you planning to use?

Let us know!

Drip campaigns are one way that marketers can keep up their contact with customers over time.

Being able to segment your customers and reach them at the right time with the right message can lead to fantastic results in your marketing campaigns.

The aim is to build a relationship with your customers and keep them engaged with your brand without feeling too intrusive.

Let’s look at exactly what an email drip campaign is, how they work, and how to use them for maximum success in your future marketing campaigns.

What is an Email Drip Campaign?

An email drip campaign refers to a series of emails sent out over a period.

The purpose of an email campaign is usually either to get people interested in a product or service or to encourage them to take some action.

The idea of drip marketing is that you send out several emails over time so that they don’t overwhelm your customer.

Drip Campaign Flowchart

An email drip campaign flowchart can help you decide what emails to send and give a general overview of your marketing automation processes.

The layout reminds you what your automated email communications should look like across time.

You can use the infographic to plan out your drip campaigns chronologically and refer back to it whenever you need a refresher on email drip-campaign best practices.

The visual form is accessible for your team members to follow and see exactly where your prospects are on each journey toward their purchase.

What is the Difference Between a Drip Campaign and Mass Email?

A mass email campaign is a marketing automation strategy that sends one message to a large group of recipients regardless of their individual preferences.

They have limited room for customization.

On the other hand, a drip campaign is more personalized and interactive.

Types of Drip Campaigns

Depending on your marketing goals, there are various types of drip campaigns that you can set up.

Here are five types of drip campaigns to consider:

• Welcome campaign – Onboarding emails introduce new subscribers and welcome them into your community.
• Retargeting campaign – Re-engagement campaigns work well for keeping customers interested in your brand.
• Post-purchase campaign – Send tailored messaging after someone has purchased from you to encourage future engagement.
• Abandoned cart campaign – If someone has added items to their cart but left without making a purchase, send them an email with some special offers or discounts if they return and complete their order.
• Unsubscribe Campaign – Send one last email when people unsubscribe from your email list to try and recover the lead.

How Does an Email Drip Campaign Work?

An email drip campaign consists of emails sent in succession, all promoting the same product or service.

The concept builds around time-based emailing, where you send out one email per day or week for a certain period.

You can also do it based on an event, such as if a lead fills out a form on your website.

As your subscribers open and read each email, they are reminded about your brand and encouraged to make a purchase.

What Should Be Included in an Email Drip Campaign?

An email drip campaign should include valuable content to keep customers engaged and interested in your products.

Begin with a clear subject line relevant to your audience, followed by a brief but informative email to entice them to click through.

Connect with your leads through short and straightforward messaging and get personal by including non-business information tailored to each individual.

Include images, videos, or links as needed for maximum response rates.

Finally, create urgency at every stage of your email drip campaign to prompt customers to take action and buy from you.

How Many Emails Should Be in a Drip Campaign?

There is no fixed rule here.

The frequency of your drip campaign emails will depend on what you’re trying to accomplish.

Having three to ten emails in a drip campaign is ideal for most businesses, though some might need more and others might need less.

Essentially, you do not want to overwhelm your subscriber, but you also don’t want them to forget about you.

A good rule of thumb is that every email in a drip campaign should have a purpose and be relevant to each stage of your sales funnel.

What Makes A Drip Campaign Successful?

A successful drip campaign has a specific purpose, and it’s not just a product announcement or sales pitch.

It communicates value to your audience by providing helpful information, enticing incentives, and increasing brand loyalty.  

Conducting multiple drip campaigns for each segment of your audience and hitting the mark on timing will enhance your odds of success.

How Much Do Email Drip Campaigns Cost?

The cost of an email drip campaign can vary greatly depending on your specific needs and which platform you use.

Advanced marketing automation platforms cost anywhere from $15 to $1000 per month for small businesses, while enterprise-level solutions are more expensive ranging from $2,000 to over $10,000 per month.

Are Drip Campaigns Effective?

There are ways to create more effective drip campaigns based on what you want people to do and who you’re targeting.

To build a compelling campaign, you need first to identify your target audience and what type of information or updates will be most valuable to them.

This journal, for example, believes personalized email marketing achieves a 25% higher click-through rate than non-personalized email campaigns.

Why Use Email Drip Campaigns?

The use of email marketing automation is one of many strategies that can help your business stand out from its competitors.

With a successful campaign, you can nurture leads and turn them into customers who are more likely to purchase your products or services.

Incorporating an email drip campaign as part of your overall strategy also boosts sales and improves brand loyalty.

How to Measure Drip Marketing Results

You can use email marketing key performance indicators (KPIs) to gauge whether or not an email drip campaign is effective.

These KPIs differ depending on your business goals and industry, but some of them include:

How Is Email Drip Marketing Success Measured?

By tracking the metrics mentioned above over time, you’ll be able to tell if your marketing automation is performing well enough to justify continuing with the drip campaign.

You might need to change what you’re doing to improve on effectiveness.

How to Set Up an Email Drip Campaign

Email drip campaigns are a great way to nurture prospects or customers into buying from you.

You can set up yours by following these steps.

Choose a Drip Campaign Software

The first step in setting up your drip campaign is choosing software that allows you to create and send out emails.

Your choice of software will depend on how many contacts you have, how frequently you want to email them, and what type of information you want to send them.

Select a platform based on what features you need to accomplish your goals.

An essential sales and marketing company should include email design and templates, reporting & analytics, campaign scheduling, and customer relationship management (CRM) integration.

Pick out a service provider that offers these features or some combination of them.

Ensure you clearly understand the pricing packages before signing up.

Some services offer free trials so take advantage of those to test their functionality before committing to a plan.

Identify Your Target Audience

Identifying your target audience is one of your most essential tasks.

It will help you create a sales funnel that makes it easy for your potential customers to buy from you.

Analyze your customer base and learn about their interests, concerns, and pain points.

Defining your buyer personas will also make it easier to determine what type of content you should create for your drip campaign.

A buyer persona refers to a character drawn based on accurate data about your ideal customers.

You can build out a buyer persona based on demographic and psychographic information.

These factors include:

• Age
• Gender
• Income level
• Marital status
• Location
• Occupation (industry)
• Hobbies/interests

The more detailed your buyer personas are, the better they will be able to serve as a guide when creating content for your email drip campaigns.

Craft Your Message

After you’ve decided on your target audience, develop compelling content that will resonate with them.

The more engaging your emails are, the more likely people will open them.

Your email drip campaign should focus on one main topic at a time.

Break down your case into smaller pieces and make sure each piece of content is compelling enough to stand alone.

Include actionable tips in your email automation so subscribers can take advantage of what they learn right away.

Plan Out Your Campaign

A well-thought-out campaign will help you stay on track and give you room to experiment with different strategies.

A vital step is planning out what content and offers are going into your drip campaign.

Brainstorm ideas for each email in your drip campaign.

Create a spreadsheet where you can list all of these ideas in order.

Outlining will help keep everything organized and make sure that you prioritize the most important ones.  

Determine the required resources needed to execute each idea.

It’s essential to know how much time it will take to create any assets or collateral for your campaign.

Create a budget based on the campaign’s financial needs.

Make sure to include other areas such as design, development, and copywriting.

You can hire freelancers if you don’t have internal resources who can complete specific tasks for your campaign.

If you decide to hire freelancers, make sure they are familiar with your industry and understand your target audience.

They should produce high-quality work that aligns with your brand identity.

Initiate Your Campaign

Once you’ve got your drip campaign set up, it’s time to get things started.

The best way to do that is by sending a welcome email.

Warming up will help you build rapport with new subscribers and entice them into reading more of your content.

Your onboarding emails should include a brief overview of what they can expect from your emails.

Build up the suspense by giving them a preview of upcoming content or offering some incentive for signing up.

Evaluate Results and Adjust

Assess the performance of your email drip campaign and pay attention to how many people engage with each message, what actions they take, and what links they click on.

You can even send out a survey during or after your campaign to get direct feedback from your audience.

Keep track of what works and what doesn’t to improve results continually.

Tweak subject lines, modify content, and experiment with and days of the week to see which elements positively impact engagement rates.

Ultimately, your email drip campaign results should have a positive return on investment (ROI) for your business.

Drip Campaign Tips

Here are five tips to help you run a successful drip email campaign that people will look forward to receiving each month.

Prioritize the Right Metrics

Focus on specific KPIs and set goals accordingly for your drip email campaign.

This will help you understand which metrics truly matter, so you can spend your time focusing on strategies that drive results.

Personalize Your Email Messages

Don’t just blast an email out to all of your customers.

Make it personal.

Offer customized messages for different groups of customers on your email list, segmented by date or product category.

You’ll be able to create drip email campaign content that resonates with them emotionally, ultimately leading to higher engagement rates.

Different Campaigns For Different Objectives

Each product or service you offer will likely have a unique audience, even if it’s an offshoot of your primary business.

Create a separate drip email campaign for each product type and tailor each one to its specific audience.

Create a Clear Call to Action

When writing a drip campaign, it’s essential to include a call-to-action (CTA) at every stage of your message.

A good CTA encourages engagement while giving readers options based on their preferences.

Use the Right Platform

Select a platform that’s best suited to your business.

Ensure the cost of setting up, running, and managing it is worth it in terms of marketing ROI.

Are Email Drip Campaigns Worth it?

We evaluate the benefits and drawbacks of drip campaigns to help you decide if they’re suitable for your business.

Pros

• A drip email campaign allows you to increase customer engagement
• It helps you promote relevant content about your products
• Lets you nurture prospects into a sustainable marketing funnel
• You can use a drip email campaign to re-engage your lead base

Cons

• It needs significant time and dedication to execute correctly
• Campaigns are subject to trial and error, especially when starting out

If you can create a drip campaign that people are excited about and open every email you send them, it will positively impact your business overall.

Wrapping Up

Businesses can use email drip campaigns to increase customer engagement and ultimately drive more sales.

Your business can create an effective drip campaign to keep customers coming back for more by following a few simple steps.

In this article, you will learn how ActiveCampaign works, what the ActiveCampaign pricing model is, how it compares to other services in the market, and whether it is worth it for you.

What is ActiveCampaign?

ActiveCampaign is an email marketing platform that helps businesses manage their entire customer experience workflow.

The platform includes opt-in email forms, list management, list segmentation, email automation, customer relationship management (CRM), and many other features.

ActiveCampaign’s marketing automation software caters to small to medium-sized businesses and has successfully served them thus far.

With over 145,000 customers from almost 200 countries (as of April 2021), the company is valued at over $3 billion.

Most of its new customers come from word of mouth.

The ActiveCampaign enterprise is also one of the more user-friendly services available, helping it cater to solo entrepreneurs and bloggers and larger companies looking to step up their e-commerce and SaaS marketing efforts.

The drag-and-drop editor lets customers set up email autoresponders based on timing, on-site user behavior, user intent, buying history, browsing history, geo-location, and more.

ActiveCampaign combines scaled pricing, user-friendliness, customer support, and marketing/sales capability to help small and medium-sized businesses run their marketing more effectively.

How Does ActiveCampaign Work?

ActiveCampaign is a cloud-based service.

Once logged in, the software allows users to create new automations (email campaigns), manage email lists, view recent subscribers, set up opt-in forms, and view analytics reports.

The core of ActiveCampaign’s service is its automation capability.

Customers can create workflows that run in the background without additional input.

Utilizing automation is a great way to increase customer retention.

For example, you can tell ActiveCampaign to automatically send an email about a specific product only to people who have clicked to read an article about a similar topic.

This type of targeting is more likely to have a higher conversion rate, while not over-selling to the rest of your list who might not be interested in that product.

The software can do this without needing someone to manually segment the list and send an email blast each time.

ActiveCampaign also features machine-learning algorithms to analyze prospect/customer data and offer insights to help businesses make more effective decisions.

Overall, ActiveCampaign helps businesses save time, market more effectively, and increase sales.

ActiveCampaign Pricing

ActiveCampaign’s pricing is broken up into three tiers, starting with the most affordable.

Lite Plan

ActiveCampaign Lite plan pricing:

• 500 contacts: $9 per month (yearly) or $15 per month (monthly)
• 1000 contacts: $29 per month (yearly) or $30 per month (monthly)
• 2,500 contacts: $49 per month (yearly) or $61 per month (monthly)
• 5,000 contacts: $79 per month (yearly) or $99 per month (monthly)
• 10,000 contacts: $139 per month (yearly) or $174 per month (monthly)
• 25,000 contacts: $229 per month (yearly) or $286 per month (monthly)
• 50,000 contacts: $339 per month (yearly) or $424 per month (monthly)
• 75,000 contacts: $449 per month (yearly) or $561 per month (monthly)
• 100,000 contacts: $549 per month (yearly) or $687 per month (monthly)
• >100,000 contacts: Customized pricing

This ActiveCampaign enterprise pricing plan includes marketing automation, email marketing sorftware, unlimited emails, the drag-and-drop builder, pre-made email templates, opt-in forms, segmentation, site and event tracking, and campaign/automation reporting.

The Lite plan supports one user login at a time.

Plus Plan

ActiveCampaign Plus plan pricing:

• 500 contacts: $49 per month (yearly) or $70 per month (monthly)
• 1,000 contacts: $49 per month (yearly) or $70 per month (monthly)
• 2,500 contacts: $99 per month (yearly) or $125 per month (monthly)
• 5,000 contacts: $149 per month (yearly) or $186 per month (monthly)
• 10,000 contacts: $229 per month (yearly) or $287 per month (monthly)
• 25,000 contacts: $379 per month (yearly) or $474 per month (monthly)
• 50,000 contacts: Customized pricing

The Plus plan offers everything in the Lite plan plus:

• landing pages,
• Facebook Custom Audiences,
• contact scoring,
• SMS marketing,
• conditional content,
• advanced reporting,
• CRM with sales automation,
• lead scoring,
• customer success pipelines
• advanced customer experience management features.

In addition, up to 25 users can have unique logins.

Professional Plan

ActiveCampaign Professional plan pricing:

• 500 contacts: $149 per month (yearly) or $187 per month (monthly)
• 1,000 contacts: $149 per month (yearly) or $187 per month (monthly)
• 2,500 contacts: $149 per month (yearly) or $187 per month (monthly)
• 5,000 contacts: $209 per month (yearly) or $262 per month (monthly)
• 10,000 contacts: $339 per month (yearly) or $424 per month (monthly)
• 25,000 contacts: $549 per month (yearly) or $686 per month (monthly)
• 50,000 contacts: Customized pricing

This is ActiveCampaign’s most popular plan, offering some powerful machine learning features.

These include predictive sending, predictive content, marketing attribution, split automations, site messages, sales engagement automation, win probability, and personalized product experiences.

This plan also offers CXA strategy consultations and access to quarterly business reviews from the ActiveCampaign team.

Up to 50 users can create accounts.

Enterprise Plan

ActiveCampaign’s Enterprise plan only offers custom pricing.

With this plan, you receive everything in the other plans plus a host of customization options.

This plan is tailored to larger businesses that want domain support, onboarding, training, custom reporting, design services, email marketing software, and more.

ActiveCampaign Pricing Comparisons

Here is how ActiveCampaign’s pricing compares to some of its competitors.

ActiveCampaign Pricing vs. Mailchimp Pricing

MailChimp is a cheaper ActiveCampaign alternative, with a free option if you have 2,500 subscribers or less.

MailChimp’s premium tiers are cheaper than ActiveCampaign, and MailChimp stays cheaper even as your subscriber base scales up.

However, MailChimp’s email marketing software comes with fewer features overall.

ActiveCampaign Pricing vs. HubSpot Pricing

HubSpot separates its pricing into three tiers.

They are more expensive than ActiveCampaign.

HubSpot’s Starter package starts at $50 per month, their Professional package starts at $500 per month, and their Enterprise package starts at $1,200.

While HubSpot can cater to smaller and medium-sized businesses, it is best for companies with large budgets.

ActiveCampaign Pricing vs. Constant Contact

Constant Contact is cheaper than ActiveCampaign.

It starts at $9.99 per month for their Core plan and $45 per month for their Plus plan.

As the service scales, it stays cheaper than ActiveCampaign.

However, Constant Contact has a monthly send limit of 24 email times your total contacts.

Beyond this, you will pay a fee of $0.002 per email.

Limitations like this aren’t an issue for companies sending fewer emails.

However, some companies could quickly go over this limit.

ActiveCampaign Pricing vs. Emma

Emma starts at $99 per month for up to 10,000 contacts.

They also only offer annual contracts, which might not suit smaller businesses or content creators.

Their other two tiers are priced at $159 per month and $299 per month, respectively, for up to 10,000 contacts.

If you have more than 10,000 contacts, you must contact them for a custom quote.

If you have around 10,000 contacts, Emma is cheaper than ActiveCampaign.

Is ActiveCampaign Worth It?

Compared to other services, ActiveCampaign is on the more expensive end overall.

However, businesses with small contact lists can start cheaply and scale up as their business/contact list grows.

When it comes to the actual service offered, ActiveCampaign offers more advanced features than most of its competitors.

If you want to use targeted automation to increase sales, ActiveCampaign can be an ROI-positive option.

If you also wish to access machine-learning data to improve your decision-making, ActiveCampaign is one of the only SMB-facing services that offer this data.

However, if you won’t get as much value from segmenting your audience and targeted automation, then a less expensive email marketing service might suit your business better.

Wrapping Up

Overall, ActiveCampaign is a powerful tool focused on helping its customers save time, optimize marketing efforts, and increase sales.

Customer results indicate that if ActiveCampaign is right for you and fits into your budget, it has the potential to make a positive impact on your bottom line when utilized correctly.

Email marketing can help keep your customers engaged with new and innovative improvements to your products and services.

With the impressive number of paid email marketing tools, it’s surprising there are plenty of high-quality free options as well.

What Do Email Marketing Tools Offer?

Before you start choosing the right email marketing app or tool to use, it’s essential to know what they offer.

You’ll want to ensure you’re choosing a platform with all the features you could dream of for effective email marketing campaigns.

Some of the most important things to look for when choosing a free email tool include:

Templates

By far, one of the most important features your email tool should have is an assortment of templates.

Templates give your marketing campaigns a specific look and feel, similar to website themes.

The design you choose will have a specific layout, color palette, and even specific font types to capture the reader’s attention.

Not only will you want to ensure the templates are free, but that they’re attractive and professionally designed.

You’ll want to send stylish and appealing marketing materials to impress your audience and generate more traffic.

Automated Features

Another considerable advantage to consider is the integration of automated features with your marketing emails.

For example, will you be able to set up a schedule to automatically push emails on a specific day of the month?

Using these features, you won’t have to worry about manually sending emails to a contact list of over 200 participants each time.

Contact Grouping

This benefit depends on how you have your blog, membership site, or online shop organized.

You might want to be able to arrange your contacts into specific groups or tiers depending on what they’ve signed up for.

In a nutshell, this applies to customers who want all marketing materials compared to those interested only in promotions.

Using contact grouping allows you to send specific emails to particular groups of registrants.

It is one of the most important features to help you deliver suitable materials to the correct contacts.

Campaign Caps

There’s no doubt that there will be plenty of marketing emails you’ll want to push to your audiences over the years.

With that said, you’re going to need a free account that allows you to make a reasonable number of emails.

Most platforms likely have campaign caps, allowing you to make a specific number of campaigns per cycle.

However, you’ll have to make sure the maximum number of emails you can send is comfortable with your marketing strategy.

Otherwise, it might just make sense to sign up for a paid account through these platforms.

Data Reporting

One of the most valuable things that you’ll receive from your email campaigns is data.

The data you receive can tell you the effectiveness of your emails, including how many people click the integrated links.

It can also give you a good idea of how many emails are sent to inboxes and how many end up in spam folders.

Using these metrics, you can develop the most effective marketing campaigns to attract the highest number of customers.

Much like designing a website, you’ll want to see which features of your emails are the most effective.

For example, are there specific, actionable items that your audience uses or avoids?

Free Email Marketing: Our Favorite Tools

Let’s take a look at some of the highest-rated email marketing tools that you can use entirely for free.

Mailchimp

Undoubtedly, Mailchimp is one of the most popular platforms that large and small businesses use.

Their extensive number of features sets them apart from the competition, as does their experience with marketing campaigns.

This platform was the first service to offer an email marketing plan, making it one of the most established options.

With a free Mailchimp account, you’ll get up to 2,000 subscribers with 10,000 emails that you can push monthly.

Then, there’s also the option of upgrading your account (for a cost of $10/month) to have unlimited emails.

There are several considerable advantages to using this platform, including:

App Integration

When you create free email campaigns with Mailchimp, you’ll have many options for tool integration.

Some of the most popular platforms you can connect to your emails include Salesforce, Shopify, and Eventbrite.

Automated Features

Fortunately, Mailchimp also offers many automation tools, making it easier for customers to capitalize on your emails.

You’ll find options for product recommendations, welcoming campaigns, as well as abandoned cart automation.

Landing Page Builder

One of the most important aspects of any campaign is to ensure you provide a landing page, even without a website.

With this platform, you can create a landing page to bring customers to your latest promotional offers.

Drag-and-Drop Editor

If you’ve never had the chance to create marketing emails, you’ll find this platform suitable for beginners.

Using the drag-and-drop editor, you can effortlessly make appealing emails that are sure to entice your customers.

There is also an assortment of editable templates that allow you to genuinely make any campaign your own.

Benchmark

Spending hours creating unique email marketing campaigns can be challenging for small business owners.

If you’re someone strapped for time, Benchmark is a valuable resource to have in your arsenal.

Their straightforward editor allows you to choose pre-designed templates and make minor adjustments to personalize campaigns.

With a free plan, you’ll have access to a few additional benefits compared to other platforms.

Your account will allow you to send up to 250 emails per month with unlimited subscribers, best for small businesses.

There’s also the option to upgrade your plan to have 600 subscribers with unlimited email sends monthly for $13.99/month.

Let’s take a look at some of the most impressive features Benchmark has to offer:

Drag-and-Drop Editor

Like Mailchimp, Benchmark also has an easy-to-use drag-and-drop editor.

All you have to do is select a template that interests you, and then you can customize it as needed.

Alternatively, you can build your marketing campaign from scratch using your own stock images and ideas.

Custom Coding

If you want to take email design a step further, there is the opportunity to custom code your emails with this platform.

Although this isn’t useful for beginners, it can be a fantastic option for businesses looking to create a unique marketing approach.

Email Automation Features

Fortunately, there are a few automated features that you’ll receive with a free account on this platform.

You can automate follow-up emails as well as welcome emails for new subscribers.

As an added benefit, there are abandoned cart automated features that you can select as well.

Included Surveys and Polls

Getting an idea of your customer’s satisfaction is one of the best ways to improve your business over the years.

Instead of having guests take surveys directly on your site, why not offer a chance for reviews after purchase?

With the included surveys and polls with Benchmark’s free accounts, you can give your customers a space to voice their opinions.

App Integration

There’s no doubt that Benchmark is one of the most impressive platforms for app integration.

There are hundreds of apps that you can add to your marketing campaigns to help with metrics and A/B testing.

Omnisend

Omnisend is one of the best platforms to consider if you own an online shop.

Their free email tools help bring products from your store to the inboxes of your customers.

They also have a collection of fun and unique email templates to help you improve your contact list.

With a free Omnisend account, you’ll receive an ample number of email pushes and subscribers monthly.

Every account can send 2,000 emails daily or 15,000 emails every month regardless of your subscriber amounts.

If you wish to send more marketing content, you can sign up for a paid plan depending on the number of subscribers.

Some of the most impressive features of Omnisend include:

Creative Signup Forms

If you want to give your contact list something new and fresh, Omnisend is the platform to choose because of their signup forms.

There are a variety of options you can take advantage of, including landing pages, pop-ups, and even innovative email games.

eCommerce Integration

Boosting traffic to your product pages is of the utmost importance for online sellers.

With Omnisend’s ample eCommerce integrations, you can directly refer customers to specific items on your site.

This feature is essential if you want to sell directly through emails instead of sending customers back to your site.

Mobile-Friendly Templates

One feature many email marketing platforms lack is a collection of mobile-friendly emails.

As more users are transitioning to handheld devices for shopping, this feature is ideal.

You’ll be able to choose from an assortment of highly responsive templates designed specifically for mobile devices.

MailerLite

If you think you’ve tried all of the free marketing services online, MailerLite is a new platform to consider.

The company was recently established, so you can guarantee they meet modern demands.

The two most considerable benefits you’ll experience with their email marketing tools is the ability to improve and expand your business.

When you sign up for a free MailerLite account, you’ll receive 1,000 free emails that you can send with paid packages available.

The paid accounts depend on the number of subscribers you want to have.

For example, you can upgrade your account to $15/month to send emails to 2,500 subscribers/month.

There are several fantastic features your free account will come with, including:

Attractive and Optimized Templates

The collection of email templates from MailerLite are pretty impressive, especially if you prefer modern designs.

Each of the templates comes with various features, such as surveys, newsletters, and pop-ups.

You’ll also find that most templates are mobile-optimized, making them perfect for smartphones and tablets.

Time Zone Delivery

Your email campaigns must make it to your subscribers’ inboxes at a reasonable time to make them more actionable.

With time zone delivery, you’ll be able to ensure all of your content is pushed at the best time for each contact.

Custom HTML Editing

Having a more hands-on approach to the design of your marketing campaigns is ideal, especially if you have a design team.

With custom HTML editing, free MailerLite accounts can fine-tune pre-existing templates to make them more authentic.

Final Thoughts

There are plenty of online tools you can find when it comes to free email marketing, each with an assortment of features.

You’ll want to choose a platform with the most attractive templates and adjustable features to customize your campaigns.

Choosing the perfect platform has never been easier, as most sites adapt to your modern marketing needs.

For this reason it’s a smart idea to start your email list as early as you can, so you can continue to build it as you grow your blog.

To do this, you’ll need somewhere to collect, store, and send emails to your subscribers.

That’s where an email marketing tool comes in.

Here you’ll be able to create sign-up forms to capture subscribers, set up content upgrades or automated welcome sequences, and send newsletters or other marketing emails to readers.

There are lots of email marketing tools available, but in this feature we’ll be comparing two of the most popular for bloggers — ConvertKit and Mailchimp.

In this review we’ll cover:

• Pricing
• Features
• Analytics
• Integrations
• Experience and Support
• Our Verdict

Pricing

As a new blogger, or an experienced blogger who wants to save on monthly expenses, price can be a key factor in which email marketing software you choose.

This may be especially true in this battle between the giants of Mailchimp and ConvertKit, as one offers a free plan and the other doesn’t.

Mailchimp is one of only a handful of email marketing tools to offer a free plan.

The free plan is suitable for bloggers with an email list smaller than 2,000 subscribers, so it’s great for beginners or bloggers with a new list.

On this plan you’re limited by how many emails you can send per month, but this is generously capped at 12,000.

While the plan misses out on some advanced features, it’s a popular place to start as there’s no pressure to grow and monetize your list straight away.

Beyond the free plan, both Mailchimp and ConvertKit work on subscriber count based pricing model.

The service remains the same, but you pay a higher cost if your subscriber numbers increase.

Here’s a comparison table of what you can expect to pay based on subscriber count at Mailchimp and ConvertKit.

As you can see from the table above, you can expect to pay around $20 more per month for a similar number of subscribers if you choose ConvertKit over Mailchimp.

If you want to trial both services before you make a decision, you can sign up for the “Free” plan with Mailchimp or opt for a 14-day trial of ConvertKit’s plan.

Features

After you’ve considered the price, the next area to research is the feature list.

Like most email marketing software out there, ConvertKit and Mailchimp offer a similar service with comparable features.

Here’s a look at some of the most popular features for bloggers and how they compare on ConvertKit vs. Mailchimp.

Subscriber Management

Let’s start with one of the most noticeable differences between ConvertKit and Mailchimp, which is how they handle subscribers.

Mailchimp is set up on a per-list basis, so within your account you can create multiple lists for different purposes.

This can make targeting campaigns easy, but it also means that you could be in a position where someone subscribes to multiple lists.

If you have more than one list this can become hard to manage and confusing for subscribers — especially if they want to update their details or unsubscribe.

While Mailchimp has brought in the ability to tag subscribers, and therefore create a more unified database of subscribers, the functionality feels less intuitive than ConvertKit’s approach.

ConvertKit is set up in a way that’s closer to how a customer relationship management (CRM) tool is.

People can subscribe through a sign-up form, and from there you can tag them or create a rule that adds them to one or more lists.

This means that you have one record per subscriber, which makes things a lot easier if you have multiple lists or want to categorize subscribers by lots of interests or purposes.

If you want to start an email list solely to send your blog posts by email or to send a monthly newsletter to all your subscribers, Mailchimp’s system would work well for this.

If you plan to segment your list further or create multiple content upgrades or lead magnets, ConvertKit’s approach to subscriber management would suit your needs better.

Sign-Up Forms

Mailchimp and ConvertKit both allow you to create customized sign-up forms for your blog.

These sign-up forms are a great way to encourage your readers to enter their email address and become a subscriber.

Both services offer a range of sign-up form types including landing pages, widgets you can add to your blog sidebar, and forms which can be embedded within your blog posts.

Due to the way that Mailchimp and ConvertKit handle subscribers differently, Mailchimp only allows you to create one sign-up form per list.

While you can use this to create widgets and embedded forms, you can’t create multiple versions with different fields or check boxes.

With ConvertKit you can create multiple sign-up forms, so you could present readers with a customized offer or message for specific pages on your blog.

This makes it an effective way to attract subscribers based on interest and grow your subscriber list in an organized way.

Design

As you’d expect from email marketing tools that are designed with bloggers and small business owners in mind, ConvertKit and Mailchimp both allow you to customize the designs for your sign-up forms, email templates, and other elements of your email marketing experience.

With both providers you can input your blog’s brand colors and use them throughout your designs — you can style your sign-up forms to match your blog’s theme, and create landing pages with a similar look and feel to your website.

You can also style fonts, font sizes, borders, and add images and graphics to forms and template designs.

This all helps your readers to feel at home and more connected to your email campaigns.

The design process feels easier with Mailchimp, especially if you are new to email marketing or design.

You can start from premade templates for your email campaigns, customize existing designs, or create your own.

This is through a drag-and-drop style editor, where you can click and make edits visually.

There’s also the opportunity to add custom CSS if that’s something you’re comfortable with.

Designing your email campaigns in ConvertKit is a different experience.

The platform is focused on text-based emails, with plain text emails (which are reported to have higher success rates) the default.

You can still style email campaigns with your on-brand fonts, colors, and imagery, but it’s definitely geared towards text-focused emails.

Email Campaigns

Let’s move on and take a look at the different ways you could use email marketing tools like Mailchimp or ConvertKit to stay in touch with your subscribers.

Blog Posts via Email

One of the most popular ways for bloggers to use email marketing is to send a daily or weekly digest of blog posts.

This is also known as sending blog posts via RSS, which is the technology that creates a “feed” of your blog posts for your email marketing software to distribute.

It’s simple to set up blog posts via RSS feeds in Mailchimp and ConvertKit.

Mailchimp has a guide and a pre-built template with the fields already included for your daily or weekly email.

ConvertKit also has a guide on how to do this that also shows you how to change the frequency of your emails.

The process feels easier with Mailchimp, where you have more opportunity to customize the way your emails will look for subscribers.

You can also manually edit RSS feed emails within ConvertKit, but the design ability is more limited and single broadcasts don’t include a link back to the original blog post by default.

Newsletters

Another great way to stay in touch with your email subscribers is to create a weekly or monthly newsletter.

This helps to attract people to subscribe, especially if your content is designed with your ideal audience in mind, and is an easy way to encourage readers to visit your blog more often.

To create a newsletter, you would follow the same process as you would to create any email campaign within both Mailchimp and ConvertKit.

From there, you would create or re-use an existing design or template, create your content, save, and schedule for sending.

You’d then repeat this weekly or monthly, depending on how often you send your newsletter.

As Mailchimp is set up to handle designed email templates better than ConvertKit, it would be our pick if you want to send image-heavy or formatted newsletters.

While you can send and schedule newsletters with ConvertKit, the service is better designed for text-only or mostly-text emails.

Automated Campaigns

Mailchimp and ConvertKit both offer the ability to create automated campaigns.

These can be used in a number of ways, and here are some of the most popular ways for bloggers to use automation:

• Send a welcome sequence to new email subscribers that directs them to your best content
• Send a lead magnet to new subscribers
• Send a series of emails to subscribers as part of a free email course

As you can see, automation can not only save time as you don’t need to manually customize emails, but it can result in an enhanced experience for subscribers — especially if you create a free email course.

The process to create automated campaigns (also known as drip campaigns) is smooth with both providers.

You create a workflow or automation, and then add in the individual emails within it. You can then set the triggers and rules, which is where you tell the software who to send the email to and when.

Mailchimp and ConvertKit both allow you to send timed emails, so you can send the first email and the second a specific number of hours or days later.

While you can create automated campaigns with both providers, we feel ConvertKit has an edge here.

The platform has been designed with this type of email marketing in mind, and is well set up to allow you to create multiple sign-up forms, tag subscribers, and create rules based on your subscribers’ activity.

Analytics

After you’ve designed and sent your email campaigns, you’ll want to know how they’ve performed.

This is where analytics and reporting come into play, and it’s important for the email marketing provider you choose to share the type and depth of data that you need.

Mailchimp has long been known for providing excellent analytics and data reporting.

You can view a huge range of statistics from your sent campaigns and your subscribers’ activity, including the links clicked, who has clicked them, how engaged subscribers are with your emails, and more.

One area of analytics that’s especially useful is the graph which shows you when people open your emails.

This can help you to refine future email campaigns and send them based on when your audience is active.

ConvertKit also offers a full range of analytics, including link click data, subscriber activity, and the essentials like the percentage of emails delivered and opened.

We found that the analytics didn’t go into the same depth as Mailchimp, but that all the important stats were available.

Integrations

As bloggers we use lots of tools, software, and programs to manage our blogs.

Email marketing is just one part of the machine, so if you can find a tool that integrates with other software you use this can make managing your blog more efficient.

Mailchimp and ConvertKit both have a really useful database to help you find an integration for your other software.

At the time of publication, they both offer integrations for these popular tools for bloggers:

• Acuity Scheduling
• Gleam Giveaways
• LeadPages
• Squarespace
• WordPress

There’s also the ability to use Zapier to create your own integrations for hundreds of different tools and combinations.

It’s worth doing a search on both to see how they compare for other software that you use already, as this could be a deciding factor in the email marketing tool you choose for your blog.

Experience and Support

Lastly, let’s see how Mailchimp and ConvertKit compare when it comes to user experience and customer support.

Mailchimp’s interface is clean and simple, even more so thanks to a recent rebrand in October 2018.

The service has an element of fun and humor, and the menu system and design interfaces are intuitive and easy to learn.

ConvertKit also has a clutter-free approach, with a simple dashboard area that allows you to easily navigate between functions to create, send, and evaluate the success of your email campaigns.

There may be a bigger learning curve with ConvertKit, but the good news is it’s backed by plenty of useful tutorials and how-to guides.

Both email marketing tools have knowledgebases which contain articles, guides, tutorials, and answers to common questions.

These are searchable, so you can easily find a help article which meets your needs.

If you can’t find an answer for your query, there’s plenty of resources available online — especially through helpful tutorials by other users on YouTube.

When it comes to more detailed support, this is an area where the free plan with Mailchimp suffers.

There’s no access to email support beyond 30 days for free plan users.

ConvertKit users can raise a support ticket to reach customer or technical support, and Mailchimp users on a paid plan can access email or live chat support.

Our Verdict

Mailchimp and ConvertKit are both popular with bloggers for a reason — you can easily start and grow your email list at a relatively low cost.
So who would we recommend in the battle between Mailchimp vs. ConvertKit?
As the two platforms offer a unique experience, we feel it depends a lot on your needs and how you want to use email marketing for your blog.
Mailchimp may be the best choice for you if you want:

• A free plan that gives you time to understand the basics of email marketing
• Lower monthly costs
• Highly designed templates for your blog newsletters
• Detailed analytics for your email campaigns

ConvertKit could be the right choice for you if you want:

• Affordable monthly costs
• To create multiple sign-up forms and lead magnets
• To tag subscribers based on activity
• Ability to create marketing-focused, text-based email campaigns
• A discount for paying yearly in advance

As with almost every software, it’s also about your own personal taste and experience.

We’d recommend signing up for Mailchimp’s free plan and ConvertKit’s free 14-day trial to give them both a test and see which you like best.

You could also look at alternatives, such as ActiveCampaign, MadMimi, Infusionsoft, and Aweber.

We weigh these options in other comparison guides:

• Infusionsoft vs Mailchimp
• Convertkit vs Aweber

Learn More About Blogging

Now that you’ve explored email marketing for your blog, continue the learning by taking a look at our blogging resources.

We have an ever-growing archive of helpful blog posts that cover topics like how to write a great blog post and how to make money blogging.