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Best Email Marketing Software (September 2023)
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Email marketing is crucial for businesses to reach customers. With so many options, choosing the right software can be difficult. Our team has evaluated 7 of the best email marketing services to help you find the perfect fit for your company. From automation to design, these tools offer everything needed to create successful campaigns. Suitable for small businesses and large enterprises alike, these platforms will elevate your email marketing efforts.
The Top 7 Best Email Marketing Sofware 2023
- Best Overall: HubSpot
- Best for Automation: ActiveCampaign
- Best for Small & Medium Sized Businesses: GetResponse
- Best for Budget: MailerLite
- Best for Email Deliverability: AWeber
- Best for E-commerce: Klaviyo
- Best All-In-One: Mailchimp
1. Best Overall: HubSpot
Hubspot is a comprehensive marketing platform that offers a range of tools and reporting for your marketing campaigns across various channels, including email marketing, social media, website, and more. With its CRM capabilities, you can store all of your contact information in one place and attract an audience through lead forms, live chat, and online ads.
Pros:
- Comprehensive marketing suite with CRM, social media, blog publishing, and email marketing capabilities.
- The email health tab helps maintain high deliverability rates.
- Only pay for the contacts you are actually marketing to.
- Track leads throughout the entire buying journey.
- Useful online educational materials.
Cons:
- No free-forever plan or low-cost plan is available
- Not ideal for businesses strictly looking for email marketing tools.
- Integration with a separate CRM like Salesforce or Pipedrive can be difficult.
- Big learning curve to fully utilize the platform’s marketing potential.
Hubspot is a prominent provider of CRM services that includes email marketing capabilities. The platform is a one-stop solution for all marketing needs, from managing emails and social media posts to publishing blogs.
A 14-day free trial is available, after which you will need to subscribe to one of the three paid plans offered by Hubspot. While you can store an unlimited number of contacts for free, if you exceed the included amount of email contacts, you will be charged an additional fee. You can save 10% on the first two plans by paying annually, with the Enterprise plan requiring annual payment.
Pricing
- Starter (up to 1,000 contacts): $50 per month
- Professional (up to 2,000 contacts): $890 per month
- Enterprise (up to 10,000 contacts): $3,600 per month
Hubspot brings together all aspects of your marketing activities in one centralized location, allowing you to see how your contacts interact with your website, Google ads, social media, and email marketing efforts. The platform offers insights into the buying journey, helping business owners to refine their marketing strategies for optimal success. Finally, it also provides a comprehensive training program that covers both the technical aspects of using the system and best practices for successful marketing campaigns.
2. Best for Automation: ActiveCampaign
ActiveCampaign excels in email marketing automation, offering a vast array of pre-designed automations to customize campaigns for each individual subscriber. The platform provides a wealth of helpful resources throughout the setup process, and its customer support team is both responsive and friendly. This makes ActiveCampaign the top choice for businesses looking to streamline and personalize their email marketing efforts.
Pros:
- Advanced automation features make customer interactions easy and efficient.
- Exceptional customer support that is both helpful and fast.
- Data migration and implementation services are included in all plan levels.
- Integrates with over 870 popular software platforms.
Cons:
- Steep learning curve may pose a challenge for some users.
- The Lite plan is restricted and includes ActiveCampaign branding.
- Plans can become expensive quickly as the number of contacts increases.
Pricing
- Starter (up to 1,000 contacts): $39 per month
- Plus (up to 2,500 contacts): $ 125 per month
- Professional (up to 5,000 contacts): $$262.00 per month
- Enterprise: Contact for information
ActiveCampaign’s plans are flexible and allow you to adjust the number of contacts while retaining the basic features of the plan. For instance, you can start with the Lite plan for 500 contacts and gradually increase it to greater than 50,000 contacts for a monthly cost of $486.00. The Plus, Professional, and Enterprise plans offer enhanced customer relationship management (CRM) capabilities, providing a more comprehensive solution for managing customer interactions.
ActiveCampaign enables businesses to create custom automation to enhance engagement with subscribers, making it a leader in the field. The platform features an intuitive and user-friendly interface, with resources available to answer any questions that arise during the setup process. In addition, ActiveCampaign includes sales automation to seamlessly integrate marketing and sales efforts, resulting in increased revenue.
3. Best for SMB Businesses: GetResponse
GetResponse is the top choice for small and medium-sized businesses seeking an email marketing platform. It offers a comprehensive set of features that are designed specifically to meet the needs of these organizations. The platform’s intuitive interface and automation tools allow businesses to easily design and send professional-looking emails, while the analytics and reporting capabilities provide valuable insights into the performance of their campaigns. The platform has a good customer support and good resources to ensure that businesses have the support they need to succeed with their email marketing efforts.
Pros:
- User-friendly for those new to email marketing.
- Outstanding customer support Opportunity for savings with annual billing option.
- A free plan is available for use indefinitely.
- 24/7 chat support is available.
Cons:
- Lacks two-factor authentication for added security
- A limited number of contacts with higher-tier plans
- No phone support option
Pricing
- Email Marketing (up to 1000 contacts): $16.15 per month
- Marketing Automation (up to 1000 contacts): $50.15 per month
- E-commerce Marketing (up to 1000 contacts): $101.15 per month
GetResponse is suitable for companies of any size, thanks to its user-friendly interface and free plan, making it a compelling choice compared to other complex platforms. The platform offers a straightforward approach to advanced marketing capabilities, ideal for teams that prioritize ease of use.
4. Best for Budget: MailerLite
MailerLite is an excellent choice for businesses looking for budget-friendly email marketing software. The platform’s drag-and-drop interface makes it a breeze to design your desired email layout, adding an element of fun to the process. With simplicity as its core principle, MailerLite offers a clean and streamlined user interface, making it the easiest email marketing software to use.
Pros:
- The drag-and-drop interface simplifies email design
- A free plan is available for up to 1,000 contacts
- Email support is available
- A large selection of email templates to choose from
Cons:
- Limited CRM capabilities (although integration with other CRM is possible)
- A limited number of integrations
- Extensive company information is required to set up an account.
Pricing
- Free (up to 1000 contacts): $0 per month
- Growing Business (up to 1000 contacts): $10 per month
- Advanced (up to 1000 contacts): $21 per month
- Enterprise (over 100k contacts): Custom Pricing
MailerLite provides the fundamental components for email marketing in a streamlined manner, avoiding the inclusion of unnecessary advanced features. As a result, it’s an ideal solution for businesses seeking a simple approach to email marketing that can be quickly and easily learned.
5. Best for Email Deliverability: AWeber
AWeber is a trusted email marketing solution that has been helping small businesses achieve their marketing goals since 1998. The platform offers a comprehensive suite of tools for lead generation, customer relationship management, and conversion optimization. With its email newsletters, flexible autoresponder system, and audience segmentation capabilities, AWeber makes it easy for businesses to create highly personalized and effective marketing campaigns. The platform also provides powerful data collection and analysis tools to help businesses track performance and continuously improve their results.
Pros:
- Offers a free plan with unlimited landing pages.
- Wide range of email templates available or the option to build custom pages.
- Accessible support options including 24/7 live chat and an international telephone help desk.
- Intuitive drag-and-drop editor for quick and easy email and landing page creation.
Cons:
- Basic automation features
- Lack of a dedicated segmentation section.
Pricing
- Free (up to 500 contacts): $0 per month
- Lite (up to 500 contacts): $14.99 per month
- Plus (up to 500 contacts): $29.99 per month
- Unlimited (more than 100k+ contacts): Customized Pricing
AWeber provides a user-friendly experience for small businesses looking to improve their email marketing strategies. With 24/7 customer support based in the US, users can easily manage contacts, create stunning emails, design landing pages, send web push notifications, and analyze results with ease. The platform also offers integration with over 1,000 partner software solutions, making it a seamless addition to your existing technology stack.
6. Best for E-commerce: Klaviyo
Next, Klaviyo is a powerful email marketing platform that is specifically designed for e-commerce businesses. With its advanced automation capabilities and powerful analytics, Klaviyo helps businesses deliver personalized and targeted email campaigns to their customers. It integrates seamlessly with popular e-commerce platforms like Shopify and Magento, making it easy for businesses to get started.
Pros:
- Strong integration capabilities.
- User-friendly platform.
- Streamlined email marketing tools to save time.
Cons:
- Limited customer support options.
- Limited advanced marketing automation workflows.
- Rigid templates for email creation.
Pricing
- Free (up to 250 contacts): $0 per month
- Email (501-1000 contacts): $30 per month
- Email & SMS (501-1000 contacts): $45 per month
- Enterprise (more than 150k+ contacts): Customized Pricing
Also, Klaviyo is a robust email marketing solution for e-commerce businesses, offering advanced features such as custom audience creation for Facebook ad campaigns and customer segmentation. However, its user interface can be confusing for new users, and its pricing is relatively higher compared to its competitors who offer similar features with a more user-friendly interface and quicker support.
7. Best All-In-One: Mailchimp
Lastly, Mailchimp is our best all-in-one choice for email marketing software. Mailchimp offerers the essential features that most businesses require without overwhelming complexity. It allows businesses to schedule campaigns, perform A/B testing on copy, and access comprehensive reports that include metrics like open rates, click-through rates, and unsubscribe rates. Additionally, Mailchimp offers one of the most inclusive free-forever plans in the market.
Pros:
- The free-forever plan accommodates up to 500 contacts
- Effortlessly build and customize campaigns
- Transparent reporting that facilitates optimization of future sends
- Integrates with a wide range of software platforms
Cons:
- Expensive for contact lists exceeding 150k subscribers
- Limited phone support options
- Not optimized for marketing teams with advanced needs.
Pricing
- Free (up to 500 contacts): $0 per month
- Essentials (up to 500 contacts): $ 13 per month
- Standard (up to 500 contacts): $20 per month
- Premium (up to 500 contacts): $350 per month
Mailchimp offers a streamlined solution for businesses seeking an uncomplicated way to send emails to their customers. The email editor is simple to use and once you upgrade to a paid plan, you gain access to advanced features such as A/B testing and multi-step journeys. The clear reporting provided by Mailchimp allows users to quickly assess the success of their campaigns by tracking metrics such as open rates and click-throughs. This helps business owners determine the effectiveness of their email content and make informed decisions.
Our Review Methodology
Our unique methodology for evaluating email marketing tools for small and medium businesses involves considering a number of important factors. These include the volume of emails that can be sent, the availability of image libraries, integrations with social media and other platforms, and the level of automation and A/B testing offered. Additionally, we looked at third-party ratings and reviews from trusted sources such as Trustpilot, Capterra, and G2 to gather expert and customer feedback.
- Features: How do the platform’s features compare to others in the market?
- Cost-Effectiveness: Does the cost of paid plans match the added features?
- Popularity Rate: How widespread is its usage?
- Usability: How much effort does it take to learn the platform?
What Is Email Marketing?
Email marketing is one of the earliest forms of digital marketing, which is straightforward to use and manage. It involves five basic elements, including:
- Building an Email List: You can accumulate email subscribers through various in-person and online sales activities, or by offering free e-books, webinars, coupons, and trial subscriptions as lead magnets.
- Segmenting the Email List: Segmentation categorizes email subscribers into different groups (segments) based on interests, location, purchased items, and website/blog interactions.
- Maintaining the Email List: Regularly removing undeliverable or unopened emails can enhance your email delivery rates.
- Deliver Valuable Content Consistently: Consistency and delivering engaging content that provides value to your readers are essential to email marketing success.
- Tracking Campaign Results: Monitoring email open and click-through rates and conducting A/B tests on subject lines and copy content can help to improve results.
All of these tasks can be easily managed with cost-effective or even free email marketing tools and software.
Why Is Email Marketing Important For Your Business?
Email marketing is a crucial aspect of your business strategy as it is one of the most widely used forms of digital communication. With a large number of active email users, email marketing provides a personal touchpoint and allows you to target specific subscriber interests. Moreover, email marketing has low startup and ongoing costs, making it an affordable option for small businesses.
With the availability of top-rated email marketing software and tools, starting at less than $50 per month, businesses can easily implement an effective email marketing strategy. If you’re not utilizing email marketing in your marketing mix, it’s time to start building your email list and sending regular emails to maximize your reach and success.
6 Must-Read Tips To Improve Your Email Marketing Strategy
Additionally, email marketing is an essential tool for businesses to reach their target audience and drive conversions. However, to be effective, it’s crucial to have a solid email marketing strategy in place. Here are six tips to help improve your email marketing strategy and boost your results.
Segment Your Email List
Segmenting your email list helps you send relevant and targeted messages to specific groups of subscribers. Evidently, this not only increases the relevance of your emails but also the chances of them being opened and acted upon. Consider segmenting your email list based on subscriber demographics, location, behavior, and other relevant factors.
Personalize Your Emails
Moving along, personalized emails have a higher open rate than generic emails, making it essential to include personalized elements in your messages. Personalize your emails by including subscribers’ names, locations, and other relevant information to make them feel more connected to your brand.
Use A/B Testing
A/B testing is a crucial aspect of improving your email marketing strategy. Test different elements of your email, such as subject lines, calls-to-action, and layouts, to determine what resonates best with your subscribers. This will help you optimize your emails for maximum impact and engagement.
Make Your Emails Mobile-Friendly
More than half of all emails are opened on mobile devices, making it crucial to ensure your emails are mobile-friendly. Your emails should be optimized for small screens and should be easy to navigate on a mobile device.
Focus On The Subject Line
The subject line is the first thing your subscribers see. It can really influence the success of your email marketing campaign. Ensure your subject lines are clear, concise, and attention-grabbing to entice subscribers to open your emails.
Keep Your Emails Short And Sweet
Long emails can be overwhelming and can decrease the chances of your subscribers taking action. Keep your emails short, concise, and focused on a single message or call-to-action. This will increase the chances of your subscribers reading and acting upon your emails.
These six tips will help you improve your email marketing strategy and drive better results. Remember to keep your emails relevant, personal, and focused on your subscribers’ needs. With a solid email marketing strategy in place, you’ll be well on your way to building stronger relationships with your subscribers and driving more conversions.
Email Marketing Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)
1. What is email marketing software?
Email marketing software is a platform used by businesses to send mass emails to their customers and subscribers. It is designed to help companies reach their audience with personalized and automated messages.
2. What are the benefits of using email marketing software?
There are several benefits of using email marketing software, including the ability to target specific segments of your audience, automate your email campaigns, track the success of your campaigns, and save time and resources compared to manual email marketing efforts.
3. What features should I look for in email marketing software?
When choosing email marketing software, it is important to consider features such as automation, email design and customization options, email list management, and reporting and analytics.
4. How much does email marketing software cost?
The cost of email marketing software varies greatly depending on the platform, with free plans available for small businesses and more advanced plans costing several hundred dollars per year.
5. Is email marketing software easy to use?
The ease of use of email marketing software can vary greatly depending on the platform. Some platforms have a steep learning curve, while others offer drag-and-drop editors and user-friendly interfaces.
6. Can I try email marketing software for free?
Many email marketing software platforms offer free trials or limited free plans for small businesses. This allows you to try the software before committing to a paid plan.
7. How do I choose the best email marketing software for my business?
The best email marketing software for your business will depend on your specific needs and budget. Also, It is important to research and compare different options and consider factors such as features, pricing, ease of use, and customer support.
