Table of Contents
- Our Top Picks for the Best Email Marketing Software of 2023
- Mailchimp (Best for Small Businesses)
- Drip (Best for E-commerce)
- Brevo (formerly SendInBlue) (Best for B2B Programs)
- ActiveCampaign (Best for Automation)
- Constant Contact (Best for Beginners)
- Moosend (Best for Affordability)
- HubSpot (Best All-in-One Email Marketing Tool)
- Campaigner (Best for Experienced Marketers)
- Other Companies We Considered
- Guide to Email Marketing Software
- Conclusion
Choosing the right email marketing software is a crucial step in achieving your marketing goals. With so many options available, it can be challenging to determine which tools will work best for your company. This comprehensive guide aims to help you make an informed decision by highlighting our top picks for the best email marketing software of 2023 and providing valuable insights on how to make the most out of your chosen platform.
Our Top Picks for the Best Email Marketing Software of 2023
Below are our top picks for the best email marketing software of 2023, along with a brief overview of each platform’s features and pricing options.
Mailchimp (Best for Small Businesses)
- Pros:
- Offers a free forever plan option and flexible pay-as-you-go pricing
- Allows you to import your own email templates
- Integrated performance tracking
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Can act as an all-in-one digital marketing platform
-
Cons:
- Low send limits
- Costs can escalate rapidly as your program grows
Why we chose it: Mailchimp is an affordable and highly flexible email marketing platform suitable for startups and small businesses. It offers a free forever plan that allows you to send up to 1,000 messages to 500 subscribers. However, as your program grows and you exceed the limitations of the free plan, costs can increase significantly. Despite these limitations, Mailchimp provides value for very small enterprises with its range of tools.
Drip (Best for E-commerce)
- Pros:
- Comes with pre-built email series for e-commerce brands
- Offers SMS and email automation features
- Integrates with popular e-commerce platforms like Shopify
-
Makes list segmentation easier with customizable groupings
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Cons:
- Fewer integrations than other options
- Lacks drag-and-drop design functionality
Why we chose it: Drip is an excellent choice for e-commerce businesses. It integrates seamlessly with popular e-commerce platforms and provides pre-built messaging sequences for various scenarios, such as abandoned cart recovery and post-purchase engagement. While it may have fewer integrations compared to some competitors, Drip offers a ready-made email marketing solution for e-commerce brands.
Brevo (formerly SendInBlue) (Best for B2B Programs)
- Pros:
- Forever-free plan option
- Excels at sending personal emails in bulk
- Shared inboxes for teams
-
Integrates with SMS and WhatsApp campaigns
-
Cons:
- Doesn’t offer bespoke design services
- Setting up new accounts can be time-consuming
Why we chose it: Brevo (formerly SendInBlue) is a flexible email marketing platform that specializes in connecting with B2B clients via email, SMS, and WhatsApp. It excels at sending personalized emails in bulk, making it a great choice for larger B2B businesses with extensive contact lists. It offers a forever-free plan and flexible pricing options, with the ability to send up to 120,000 messages per minute.
ActiveCampaign (Best for Automation)
- Pros:
- Offers hundreds of email marketing automations
- Features 900+ app integrations
-
Complimentary data migration service with every plan
-
Cons:
- Takes time to learn and make the most of all features
- Can be expensive for businesses with a large number of contacts
Why we chose it: ActiveCampaign is a powerful email marketing tool that automates various aspects of email campaigns, saving you time and effort. It offers a wide range of email marketing automations and integrates with numerous third-party apps, making it a versatile choice. While it may take some time to learn all the features, ActiveCampaign is an excellent tool for businesses looking to streamline their email marketing automation.
Constant Contact (Best for Beginners)
- Pros:
- Offers many easy-to-fill-out templates
- New option for AI-powered content recommendations
- Easily scales with subscriber-based pricing packages
-
Integrates with other marketing strategies, such as social media ads
-
Cons:
- Comparatively expensive
- Limited automation features, especially for the price
Why we chose it: Constant Contact is a user-friendly email marketing platform that provides a variety of templates and an intuitive interface. It offers AI-powered content recommendations and integrates with various marketing tools. While it may be relatively expensive compared to some competitors, Constant Contact is a well-designed platform that can help beginners create effective email marketing campaigns.
Moosend (Best for Affordability)
- Pros:
- Less expensive than most services
- Unlimited email sends per month
- Generous 30-day free trial
-
Includes a drag-and-drop email builder tool
-
Cons:
- No forever-free plan option
- Not an all-in-one marketing tool
- Templates are relatively basic
Why we chose it: Moosend is one of the most affordable email marketing platforms available, offering unlimited email sends even on its lowest-priced plan. It provides access to essential email marketing tools, such as a drag-and-drop email builder and a variety of templates. While it lacks a forever-free plan and more sophisticated templates, Moosend offers a cost-effective solution for email marketing.
HubSpot (Best All-in-One Email Marketing Tool)
- Pros:
- An all-in-one digital marketing solution
- Very easy to use
- Offers a massive app marketplace to customize your marketing strategy further
-
Free-forever CRM
-
Cons:
- One of the most expensive email marketing solutions on the market
- All business plans require a one-year commitment
Why we chose it: HubSpot is a comprehensive digital marketing platform that provides excellent email marketing tools and integrations. It offers personalized email capabilities, extensive app integrations, and a free-forever CRM. While it may be one of the more expensive options, HubSpot is an ideal choice for medium-sized or larger businesses looking for a powerful all-in-one digital marketing solution.
Campaigner (Best for Experienced Marketers)
- Pros:
- Well-priced given its program scale
- 24/7 customer support options
- Comes with a wide variety of templates
-
Offers many onboarding and educational resources
-
Cons:
- Tougher than many programs for beginners
- Doesn’t make it easy to migrate from other marketing platforms
Why we chose it: Campaigner offers advanced email marketing features and extensive support for large-scale email marketing campaigns. It provides tools for automation, audience segmentation, and conversion tracking. While it may be more challenging for beginners, experienced marketers will appreciate the range of features and resources offered by Campaigner.
Other Companies We Considered
While researching the best email marketing platforms of 2023, we also considered the following companies. Here is a brief overview of each, along with the reasons they did not make the final cut.
AWeber
- Pros:
- Forever-free plan option
- Responsive email designs
-
Includes many templates
-
Cons:
- Continues charging for contacts that unsubscribe from your lists
- Offers only basic automation features
Why it didn’t make the cut: AWeber is an affordable email marketing solution that offers responsive email designs and a variety of templates. However, it continues to charge for contacts that unsubscribe from your lists, which may not be cost-effective for some businesses. Additionally, it offers only basic automation features compared to other platforms.
ConvertKit
- Pros:
- Lets you sell digital products and subscriptions
- Includes a landing page editor
-
Can help you monetize your newsletter
-
Cons:
- Expensive for the features provided
- Limited template offerings
- Relatively basic data reporting
Why it didn’t make the cut: ConvertKit focuses on helping users monetize their emails through tips, subscriptions, and digital product sales. While it offers features for monetization and lead generation, it is relatively expensive compared to other platforms, considering the features it provides. Additionally, its template offerings are limited, and the data reporting capabilities are relatively basic.
Campaign Monitor
- Pros:
- Beginner-friendly tools and interface
- Powerful integrated analytics
-
Comes with a variety of versatile templates
-
Cons:
- Customer support is very limited
- Doesn’t help with other forms of marketing
Why it didn’t make the cut: Campaign Monitor offers beginner-friendly tools and a user-friendly interface, making it easy to create and track email campaigns. However, it lacks real-time customer support options, which may lead to delays in receiving assistance when needed. Additionally, it does not offer comprehensive support for other forms of marketing beyond email marketing.
Guide to Email Marketing Software
Choosing the right email marketing software involves considering several factors. Here’s a guide to help you make an informed decision:
Main things to know before choosing email marketing software
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Identify your needs: Determine what your company requires from an email marketing platform, such as unlimited contacts, automation capabilities, or A/B testing.
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Evaluate features and capabilities: Look for platforms that offer a user-friendly interface, contact management features, customizable email templates, personalization options, automation tools, analytics and reporting capabilities, deliverability and spam compliance, integration options, and scalability.
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Consider pricing: Compare pricing options based on the number of email sends and subscribers allowed. Evaluate how costs may change as your business grows.
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Review support resources: Ensure that the platform provides the support you need, such as onboarding and educational resources, as well as timely customer support.
What is the average cost of email marketing software?
The cost of email marketing software varies depending on the platform and plan you choose. It can range from free plans to thousands of dollars per month. The average cost will depend on the specific needs of your business.
How does email marketing software work?
Email marketing software helps businesses create and execute effective email campaigns. It offers various features, including automations, email templates, integrations, and analytics tools. These tools streamline the process of engaging with your audience, whether it’s through drip campaigns, transactional emails, or personalized content.
Why use email marketing software?
Email marketing software provides several benefits, including time-saving through automation, in-depth performance tracking, integration with other marketing tools, and enhanced email design capabilities. It can help you create more engaging and effective email campaigns, leading to increased sales and improved ROI.
Conclusion
Choosing the right email marketing software is essential for achieving your marketing goals. Our top picks for the best email marketing software of 2023 offer a range of features and pricing options to suit different business needs. Consider your specific requirements, evaluate the features and capabilities of each platform, and review customer reviews and support resources to make an informed decision. With the right email marketing software, you can streamline your campaigns, engage your audience, and drive business growth.