11+ of the Best Email Marketing Platforms & Services

On average, for every $1 spent on email marketing, the return on investment is $42.

That is higher than any other form of marketing, digital or otherwise.

Email marketing remains the highest return on investment marketing strategy. If you’re a business owner or a marketer then I can guarantee you already know the importance of the right email marketing software, but sometimes, especially for smaller outfits, the cost of a proper email marketing service can seem very steep.

On top of that, there are many other factors specific to your situation; maybe you want to send unlimited emails/have unlimited list sizes, automate follow-up emails, do A/B testing, or a number of other things.

Whether you’re just starting out with your email marketing strategy or are looking for a better platform, keep on reading to hear about the best email marketing service for any need and budget.

Griffin’s Top Picks

What are the best email marketing platforms?

EmailOctopus is a simple, inexpensive email marketing software designed with the essential features in mind and little extra fluff.

EmailOctopus offers a wide range of features, including an intuitive email builder, simple email automation, detailed analytics for both emails and campaigns, and integrations with other applications such as WordPress and Shopify.

Their free plan allows up to 2,500 subscribers and 10,000 emails per month, campaign analytics reports available for 30 days, and up to 3 landing pages and forms.

Plus, it’s forever; with no trial period, you can use EmailOctopus for free for as long as you want or until your email list outgrows its restrictions.

EmailOctopus’ paid plans start at $8/mo, allowing for unlimited users, unlimited landing pages and forms, and forever-available reports. From there, depending on how many subscribers you want to add or how many emails you want to send per month, their plans can scale up to 500,000 subscribers and 5,000,000 emails and beyond if you so choose.

Overall, as an email marketing tool, EmailOctopus’ email templates and other tools help make it incredibly beginner-friendly and effective for small businesses and up-and-coming users.

Getresponse is a better-known platform that helps business automate their email marketing campaigns, letting their users set up a steady drip of marketing content towards their lists.

Their feature list boasts a drag-and-drop email creator, landing pages, autoresponders, and campaign performance tracking through detailed analytics, which can help save any company time and money in the long run.

GetResponse’s free plan includes their drag-and-drop email creator, up to 500 contacts, up to 2,500 emails per month, and a website builder to build (and host) 1 website with 5GB of bandwidth. That means your website shouldn’t have any trouble handling traffic volume up until the tens of thousands of visitors per month. 

TIP: to calculate how much bandwidth your website needs, do the following:

1. Estimate the average page size of your website and its pages in kilobytes (KB).
2. Multiply that number (again, in KB) by your monthly average visitor count.
3. Multiply that number by the average number of page views per visitor.

If you aren’t sure about your page size, use Pingdom’s Loading Time test on your pages and take the average of those numbers. Not only will it show your page size, but also grade your site’s load time/performance as well.

Anyways, back to GetResponse. If you’re looking for more contacts, A/B testing, audience segmentation, SMS marketing support, and more, then you can try all of those premium features free for 30 days.

If you like what you see during your trial, those paid features start at $19/mo for their Email Marketing plan, $59/mo for their Marketing Automation plan, and $119/mo for their Ecommerce Marketing plan.

Each tier of plan adds more features to the previous, such as marketing & event-based automation, more contact management, scoring, advanced features like audience tagging, and much more.

Overall, Getresponse’s wide feature pool makes it one of the best email marketing platforms.

Aweber takes the ease of use of other email marketing platforms and takes it a step further, allowing its users to utilize a wide range of templates and free high-quality stock images as a part of their platform, plus Canva integration if you want to create something more specific.

In addition to that, Aweber also hosts a drag-and-drop editor, new subscriber autoresponders, automated welcome/abandoned cart/confirmation emails, and much more.

Plus, you can also buy and set up domains without ever leaving Aweber’s platform, making the job of domain management much simpler.

As with the previous two entries on this page, Aweber has an unlimited free plan. This plan allows up to 500 email subscribers,1 email list, 1 landing page, 1 email automation, plus a host of basic email templates to hit the ground running with.

Of course, Aweber also has a paid plan, and this is the one to go with if you’re on a tighter budget. Starting at $14.99/mo, Aweber’s “Lite” plan offers unlimited subscribers, two more landing pages and email automations, plus advanced analytics on top of that all.

If you’re looking for an upgrade and more detailed landing page features and sales tracking, their “Plus” plan starts at just $29.99/mo.

With all that said, Aweber is definitely the right email marketing service for those who want to spend less time managing their campaigns and focus their efforts

MailerLite is an email marketing software that provides a wide range of features and tools to help businesses of all sizes create, send, and track effective transactional emails.

Founded in 2010, the platform has grown to become one of the most popular email marketing software solutions on the market, with over 1 million users worldwide.

One of the key features of MailerLite, as with many other platforms, is its intuitive email editor, which allows users to create and use professional-looking email templates without any coding experience.

The platform also offers a variety of customizable templates, so businesses can easily create emails that match their brand’s aesthetic.

MailerLite also has a number of automation tools, such as triggered emails and autoresponders, which can be used to send targeted messages to subscribers based on their behavior or preferences. The platform also provides advanced analytics and reporting tools, so businesses can track the success of their campaigns and make data-driven decisions.

In addition to its email marketing capabilities, MailerLite also offers landing page and pop-up form builders, as well as integrations with a variety of third-party marketing tools and platforms, such as Shopify, WordPress, and Salesforce.

MailerLite’s free plan offers up to 12,000 emails per month to 1,000 subscribers, plus their drag-and-drop email editor, marketing automation builder, SMS marketing, and pop-up forms on top of that.

Because of this, their free plan is one of the most robust of any email marketing software, plus their paid plan isn’t particularly expensive either.

Starting at $9/mo, their “Growing Business” plan allows you to send unlimited emails per month plus all of the free features, while also allowing users to sell digital products, auto-resend campaigns, and have unlimited websites/blogs for their business.

To see our full review, click here.

Systeme.io is an all-in-one platform for e-commerce businesses that offers a comprehensive suite of email marketing tools and features for small businesses and entrepreneurs to streamline their online operations.

Among its many functionalities, Systeme.io is an email marketing platform that allows users to create and send email campaigns to their subscribers.

One of the key features of Systeme.io’s email marketing platform is its user-friendly interface, which makes it easy for even novice users to create professional-looking marketing tools.

The platform offers a drag-and-drop editor that lets users customize their emails with different fonts, colors, and images. They can also add buttons, links, and personalized tags to their emails to make them more engaging and interactive.

Systeme.io is also the best email marketing service that provides a variety of templates and pre-built email sequences that users can choose from, which can save time and effort in creating their own campaigns.

These templates are designed to be mobile-friendly, ensuring that emails look great on all devices.

Another useful feature of Systeme.io’s email marketing platform is its automation capabilities. Users can create email sequences that are triggered by specific actions or events, such as when a new subscriber joins their list or when a purchase is made in an online store.

This automation feature allows businesses to engage with their customers and prospects automatically, without requiring manual intervention.

Additionally, Systeme.io’s email marketing platform integrates seamlessly with other features on the platform, such as its landing page builder and sales funnel creator.

This integration enables businesses to create cohesive and consistent messaging across all their customer touchpoints, from initial contact to final purchase.

Their free plan allows unlimited emails per month to up to 2,000 contacts, 3 sales funnels, a blog and unlimited blog posts, social media accounts, one custom domain, and much more.

One tier up, their “Startup” plan starts at $27/mo and allows up to 5,000 contacts, 10 sales funnels, and much more flexibility with automation and your email campaigns, plus it allows you to start A/B testing your emails to optimize your results.

Their unlimited plan, starting at $97/mo, allows both unlimited emails and unlimited contacts, plus an unlimited amount of sales funnels & steps, blogs, social media posts, courses, students, communities and community members, and much more; the plan offers unlimited in every facet of Systeme.io’s platform.

ConvertKit is a powerful platform that has gained popularity in recent years due to its ease of use and powerful features.

Designed specifically for creators, ConvertKit offers a range of tools to help users grow their email list, engage with their subscribers, and ultimately, make more sales.

One of the key benefits of ConvertKit is its automation capabilities. With the platform’s visual automation builder, users can create sophisticated email sequences that are triggered by subscriber behavior.

This allows creators to nurture their audience with relevant content, without requiring manual effort on their part.

ConvertKit also offers a variety of customizable opt-in forms and landing pages that can be used to attract new subscribers.

The platform’s tagging system allows creators to segment their audience based on their interests and behavior, enabling them to send targeted messages that resonate with their subscribers.

ConvertKit’s reporting and analytics tools provide valuable insights into email performance, subscriber engagement, and audience growth, allowing users to optimize their email strategy over time.

Starting with their free plan, ConverKit offers unlimited emails to up to 300 subscribers, along with unlimited forms and broadcasts, audience segmentation, and the ability to sell digital products and subscriptions.

The “Creator” plan, which starts at $9/mo, includes all features of the free plan plus live chat & email support, migration from other email marketing tools, automated email sequences and visualized automation builders, and a host of third-party integrations.

From there, the next step up, their “Creator Pro” plan includes all of that plus a newsletter referral system, subscriber scoring, and advanced reporting on your email marketing campaigns.

Overall, this makes ConvertKit one of the top email marketing services, especially as one of the best email marketing services for small businesses and other start-ups or up-and-coming creators.

Another of the less discussed email marketing platforms, Vbout is a powerful platform that allows businesses of all sizes to create and send effective email campaigns.

With Vbout, users can easily create custom email templates, automate their email campaigns, and track their performance with detailed analytics. The platform is easy to use and offers a variety of features that make it a great choice for businesses looking to improve their email marketing efforts.

One of the standout features of Vbout is its automation capabilities. The platform allows users to set up automated email campaigns based on triggers such as subscriber behavior or specific dates.

This means that businesses can send targeted messages to their subscribers at exactly the right time, increasing the chances of conversion and engagement.

Another standout feature of Vbout is its analytics and reporting tools. Users can track important metrics such as open rates, click-through rates, and conversion rates, allowing them to optimize their campaigns for maximum effectiveness. Additionally, Vbout offers advanced segmentation options, allowing users to target specific segments of their audience with tailored messaging.

Vbout offers a 14-day free trial to users looking into the software, with which you can test all of the premium features they offer including unlimited contacts, landing pages, automation workflows, and more.

The paid plan pivots from this model of serving a bunch of features with the plan and allows you to pick and choose which features you want as a part of your own plan.

You can opt out of having unlimited landing pages or automation (these are examples, there are more options) if you don’t want them as a part of your plan, and can cut your costs down as a consequence.

With the bare minimum of features, their paid plans start at $60/mo, allowing unlimited contacts and up to 5,000 emails a month, but that metric can be adjusted to fit your needs just as the rest of your plan can. All of this makes Vbout one of the most flexible email marketing platforms, which caters to people who know exactly what they care about to cut down on their email marketing expenses.

Sendinblue is a comprehensive email marketing service that offers a variety of features to help businesses create effective email campaigns.

With a focus on automation and engagement, Sendinblue allows users to create personalized campaigns that drive results.

One of Sendinblue’s best features is its advanced personalization options. The platform allows users to segment their audience based on a wide range of criteria, including behavior, demographics, and preferences.

This means that businesses can send highly relevant messages to each individual subscriber, increasing the chances of engagement and conversion.

Sendinblue offers a free plan which comes with unlimited contacts and 300 emails per day, which is fairly different from other email marketing services limiting emails by the month.

In addition to a free marketing platform plan, Sendinblue also offers a free chat widget and sales CRM as extra features.

As for the marketing platform’s paid plans, they start at $25/mo and allow up to 20,000 emails per month with no daily limit, plus basic analytics and email support from the Sendinblue support team if needed. The next step up, the “Business” plan, allows for marketing automation, A/B testing, and much more advanced analytics to help you perfect your email marketing campaigns.

Campaigner is a powerful email marketing software that provides businesses with the tools and features they need to create and execute successful email campaigns.

One of the platform’s standout features is its easy-to-use drag-and-drop email editor, which allows users to create professional-looking emails without any coding experience. The software also provides a wide range of templates and designs to choose from, allowing users to customize their emails to match their brand’s aesthetic.

Campaigner’s advanced segmentation options allow businesses to target specific segments of their email list based on factors such as purchase history, behavior, and demographic data. This helps businesses create more targeted and personalized email campaigns, which can result in higher engagement and conversions.

The software also includes A/B testing capabilities, allowing businesses to test different variations of their emails to determine which performs best. Campaigner’s robust reporting and analytics features provide valuable insights into campaign performance, helping businesses optimize their email marketing efforts for better results.

In terms of deliverability, Campaigner takes measures to ensure that emails sent through the platform are delivered to recipients’ inboxes. The software offers spam-checking tools and monitors email campaigns to identify any issues that may impact deliverability.

Overall, Campaigner is a comprehensive email marketing software that offers a wide range of features and tools to help businesses create effective and targeted email campaigns. Its user-friendly interface, advanced segmentation options, and robust reporting capabilities make it a top choice for businesses looking to enhance their email marketing efforts.

Constant Contact is a powerful email marketing service that helps businesses of all sizes to effectively communicate with their customers and prospects. With its user-friendly interface and robust features, Constant Contact makes it easy for businesses to create, send, and track professional-looking email campaigns. The platform offers a wide range of customizable templates, so businesses can design emails that align with their brand and messaging. The templates are also mobile-optimized, ensuring that emails look great and are easily readable on any device.

One of the standout features of Constant Contact is its segmentation capabilities. Businesses can easily segment their email list based on criteria such as location, interests, and purchase history. This allows businesses to send targeted messages to specific groups of subscribers, increasing the relevance and effectiveness of their campaigns. Additionally, Constant Contact offers automation tools, enabling businesses to send triggered emails based on subscriber behavior, such as abandoned cart reminders or welcome emails for new subscribers.

Constant Contact also provides detailed analytics, giving businesses insight into how their emails are performing. They can see open and click-through rates, as well as which links and content within the email are resonating with subscribers. Armed with this data, businesses can make informed decisions about how to improve their email campaigns and increase engagement.

The platform integrates with a variety of other tools, such as social media platforms and e-commerce platforms, making it easy for businesses to connect with their customers across multiple channels. Constant Contact also offers robust customer support, including phone, email, and live chat support, as well as a comprehensive knowledge base and community forum.

Overall, Constant Contact is an excellent choice for businesses looking for a reliable and easy-to-use email marketing service. Its wide range of features and tools, along with its excellent customer support, make it a top choice for businesses of all sizes.

Mailchimp is a popular email marketing hub that helps businesses of all sizes to create, send, and track campaigns.

The platform is known for its user-friendly interface, wide range of features, and integrations with other email marketing service providers.

With Mailchimp, businesses can easily design and customize campaigns using drag-and-drop templates that are optimized for mobile devices.

One of the key features of Mailchimp is its segmentation capabilities. Businesses can create targeted campaigns by segmenting their email list based on criteria such as location, purchase history, and interests.

This ensures that subscribers receive messages that are relevant to their needs and interests, increasing the likelihood of engagement and conversions.

Mailchimp also offers automation tools, enabling businesses to set up triggered emails based on subscriber behavior, such as abandoned cart reminders or birthday greetings.

In addition to email marketing, Mailchimp offers a variety of other marketing tools, such as social media management and digital ad campaigns.

This makes it easy for businesses to create a cohesive marketing strategy across multiple channels.

Mailchimp also integrates with a wide range of other email marketing solutions, such as e-commerce platforms and CRM software, providing businesses with a seamless marketing ecosystem.

Mailchimp provides detailed analytics, allowing businesses to track the performance of their campaigns and make data-driven decisions.

They can see open rates and CTR, as well as which links and content within the email are resonating with subscribers.

Mailchimp also offers A/B testing capabilities, enabling businesses to test different subject lines, content, and calls-to-action to see what resonates best with their audience.

Finally, Mailchimp provides excellent customer support, including phone, email, and chat support, as well as a comprehensive knowledge base and community forum. This ensures that businesses have access to the resources they need to get the most out of the platform.

Mailchimp offers a free plan which caps out at 1,000 emails per month, includes pre-built email templates, signup forms, landing pages, and basic reporting/analytics on top of that. Their next step up, the “Essentials” plan, allows for A/B testing, automated customer journeys, onboarding assistance, and much more. From there they offer a “Standard” plan for $20/mo and a “Premium” plan for $350/mo, both of which pile on the features which Mailchimp, as an all-in-one email marketing service, should include such as a campaign manager, predictive segmentation, multivariate testing, comparative reporting, and much more.

Overall, Mailchimp is a powerful all-in-one email marketing system that offers a wide range of features, integrations, and analytics tools. Its user-friendly interface and excellent customer support make it a top choice for businesses looking to streamline their marketing efforts and grow their customer base.

Of those, which is the best email marketing platform?

Short answer: I don’t know.

Slightly longer answer: That fully depends on your needs. If you’re just starting out or looking for something less feature-rich, EmailOctopus is your best bet. If you’re looking for a more robust platform with greater flexibility, then both Getresponse and Aweber would do you wonders. Regardless, I hope this article has been helpful and informed you better about your choice of email marketing platform.