Exploring Top Email Platforms: My Honest Review
I’ve spent a lot of time looking at different email platforms to find the best one for my campaigns. This journey has had its ups and downs, but I’ve learned a lot. I’ll share my findings with you, so you can choose the right email marketing software for your business.
The Forbes Advisor Small Business team has looked at1 13 companies and 26 factors to rank the best email marketing software of 20241. They did this with four levels of fact-checking. So, the data and insights I’ll share are reliable and trustworthy.
Key Takeaways
- The Forbes Advisor Small Business team has evaluated 13 top email service providers and 26 decision factors to identify the best email marketing software of 2024.
- Campaign Monitor, MailerLite, Drip, and Brevo are among the highest-rated email platforms with scores ranging from 4.5 to 4.8 out of 5.
- Pricing for the top email campaign management solutions starts as low as $4 per month for Zoho Campaigns and goes up to $299 per month for the best CRM tools, Keap.
- This comprehensive review covers the key features, user experience, and pricing of the leading email newsletter services to help you choose the perfect fit for your business.
- Discover the top-rated email deliverability optimization and email analytics and reporting tools to drive the best results for your email marketing campaigns.
What is an Email Platform?
Email marketing software platforms help you send emails to leads and customers2. They offer many features for managing contacts, segmenting audiences, and tracking email campaigns2.
Email platforms have advanced automation, analytics, and contact management2. They are key to modern digital marketing2. Businesses of all sizes can improve their email marketing, increase engagement, and boost conversions2.
Choosing the right email platform is crucial for your business2. These tools have various pricing options, from affordable for solo entrepreneurs to plans for big senders3.
Email marketing software can enhance your customer communication and lead nurturing2. It can help your business grow sustainably2. With the right platform, the possibilities are endless2.
Top Email Platforms in 2023
Choosing the right email platform is crucial for your marketing campaigns. Each platform offers unique features to meet different business needs. Let’s look at some of the best email platforms in 2023 and what makes them stand out.
Campaign Monitor: Best for Simplicity
Campaign Monitor is known for its simplicity. It has a drag-and-drop editor, branded templates, and segmentation tools. This makes it great for businesses of all sizes4. It also offers SMS marketing, advanced automations, and detailed reports to improve your campaigns.
MailerLite: Best for Selling Paid Subscriptions
MailerLite excels in selling paid subscriptions. It has easy-to-use email, website, and landing page builders. This helps businesses manage their online sales easily5. Its e-commerce integrations and automation tools make it perfect for entrepreneurs and small to medium-sized businesses.
Drip: Best for E-Commerce
Drip is ideal for e-commerce businesses. It offers custom email creation, audience segmentation, and a drag-and-drop builder. These features help automate your marketing efforts4. Its seamless integration with e-commerce platforms is a big plus for online retailers.
| Email Platform | Key Features | Pricing |
|---|---|---|
| Campaign Monitor | Drag-and-drop email editor Branded templates Audience segmentation SMS marketing Advanced automations Comprehensive reporting | Starts at $9 per month |
| MailerLite | Email, website, and landing page builders E-commerce integrations Robust automation tools Intuitive user interface | Starts at $9 per month |
| Drip | Custom email creation Audience segmentation Drag-and-drop workflow builder E-commerce platform integrations | Starts at $19 per month |
These top email platforms cater to various business needs. Whether you need simplicity, subscription sales, or e-commerce integration, there’s a platform for you. They can help streamline your marketing and boost your success.
Brevo: Affordable Email Marketing Solution
I’ve been searching for a good email marketing platform that’s easy on the wallet. Brevo6 caught my eye. It’s a great choice for businesses of all sizes.
Brevo is known for making email marketing easy to use. They have a free plan for 9,000 emails a month. Paid plans start at $9 for 5,000 emails6. This is perfect for small businesses and startups.
Brevo has a lot of cool features. You can use a drag-and-drop editor to make emails. They also have a huge library of email templates6. This makes it easy to create emails that look good on any device.
Another great thing about Brevo is its advanced segmentation. You can easily sort your contacts to send targeted emails6. It also supports personalization, so you can make emails more personal.
Brevo is also great for e-commerce and SaaS businesses. It has tools for marketing automation6. This helps streamline customer journeys and engagement strategies.
Brevo uses AI to help create engaging emails. It also has A/B testing for subject lines and email content6. This helps businesses make their campaigns more effective.
Brevo also focuses on compliance. They help users follow rules like CCPA, GDPR, and CPA6. This lets businesses build their email lists safely.
In summary, Brevo is a great choice for businesses. It’s affordable, has lots of features, and focuses on compliance. With its free plan, customizable templates, and advanced tools, Brevo is worth checking out for any email marketing strategy.
| Platform | Free Plan | Paid Plan |
|---|---|---|
| Brevo | 9,000 emails/month, 40+ templates, customizable signup forms3 | Paid plans start at $9/month for 5,000 emails63, |
| HubSpot | 2,000 emails/month, 1,000,000 non-marketing contacts3 | Starter Marketing plan is $40/month for 2,000 contacts3 |
| Mailchimp | 1,000 emails/month, 500 contacts3 | Paid plans start at $13/month for 500 contacts3 |
| ConvertKit | Up to 300 subscribers3 | Paid plans start at $15/month for 300 contacts3 |
“Brevo has been a game-changer for our email marketing campaigns. The affordable pricing, advanced features, and commitment to compliance make it an unbeatable choice for our business.”
If you’re looking for an email marketing platform that’s both affordable and powerful, check out Brevo. It has an easy-to-use interface, advanced automation tools, and focuses on compliance. Brevo can really help take your email marketing to the next level.
Mailchimp: All-in-One Marketing Platform
Mailchimp is a top choice for email marketing software. It has many features that make it a great all-in-one marketing platform7. You get pre-built email templates, audience segmentation, advanced analytics, and social media integration. This helps businesses improve their marketing and get better results.
Streamlined Marketing Solutions
Mailchimp’s platform is easy to use. It lets you send targeted email campaigns with over 300 app integrations7. You can also use the Customer Journey Builder for personalized experiences and the Campaign Manager for a quick view of your marketing efforts7.
Mailchimp also has creative tools like expertly-designed email templates and Content Studio. These tools help businesses make visually appealing and personalized campaigns7. Automation features like Customer Journeys and Send Time Optimization make the sales process easier7.
Actionable Insights and Support
Mailchimp gives you real-time analytics and reporting. This helps businesses make informed decisions and improve their marketing strategies7. It also has automation tools for creating audiences, generating discounts, and managing push notifications7.
Mailchimp is known for its excellent customer support and expert guidance. It helps businesses tackle marketing challenges and grow7. Success stories, like Simply Gum’s, show how well Mailchimp works for businesses7.
Mailchimp is a great choice for email marketing software. It works with over 200 web apps and services8. It also has real-time reporting and customizable transactional emails8. Its open APIs and all-in-one pricing make it even more appealing87.
Constant Contact: Great Customer Support
Constant Contact is a top name in email marketing, known for its excellent customer support9. It offers plans for all business sizes, starting at $12 a month for 500 emails9. The Premium plan costs $80 a month for unlimited users9. This makes it perfect for small businesses with limited contacts9.
Constant Contact stands out with its 60-day free trial9. It has a 90% email delivery rate, thanks to its AI spam-detection9. It also works well with many CRM tools, making it easy to manage subscribers9.
Constant Contact keeps improving its fraud monitoring and email delivery9. It also has AI tools for creating great marketing content9. With a 2GB image library and integrations with many platforms, it offers a wide range of features9.
Forbes Advisor ranks Constant Contact as the 10th best email marketing software10. It’s known for its easy-to-use interface and vast library of templates10. While it might cost more for big contact lists, its features and support are worth it10.
Constant Contact also offers automation and lead generation tools10. Its analytics help users understand their email campaign success10.
Some users have mentioned issues with email templates and UI11. But, its high deliverability rate, integrations, and support make it a great choice11.
In summary, Constant Contact is a top pick for businesses. It offers great support, robust features, and flexible pricing91011.
Email Platforms for Small to Medium Businesses
Choosing the right email marketing software is key for small to medium-sized businesses. GetResponse and ActiveCampaign are top choices for reaching and engaging your audience12.
GetResponse: Suited for Small to Medium-Sized Enterprises (SMEs)
GetResponse offers project management, client onboarding, CRM, and email marketing. It’s perfect for SMEs12. It has a user-friendly interface and flexible pricing, including a free tier for basic features12. This makes it great for small businesses to manage their marketing.
ActiveCampaign: Automated Email Marketing Powerhouse
ActiveCampaign is a top choice for advanced email marketing. It has features like multi-step automations and AI automations. It also offers CRM, integrations, and detailed analytics12.
ActiveCampaign’s pricing starts at $19 per month for up to 1,000 contacts. GetResponse offers a free plan for up to 500 subscribers and paid plans starting at $19 per month for up to 1,000 subscribers13. MailerLite also has a free plan for up to 1,000 subscribers and paid plans starting at $39 per month for up to 5,000 subscribers13.
When choosing an email marketing platform, consider cost, ease of use, and automation. Also, think about how the platform will grow with your business. By comparing these factors, SMEs can find the best fit for their needs and budget.
In summary, GetResponse and ActiveCampaign are great for small to medium-sized businesses. GetResponse is all-in-one and easy to use. ActiveCampaign is a powerhouse for automated email marketing, offering advanced features for SMEs1213.
CRM-Focused Email Platforms
Some email marketing software stands out for its strong customer relationship management (CRM) features. Keap is a top choice for businesses looking for powerful CRM tools that work well with their email marketing.
Keap: Best for CRM Tools
Keap is more than just email marketing. It offers features for small and medium-sized businesses. Users can manage emails, texts, and automations, track customer pipelines, and use a full CRM system14. Over 200,000 customers have used Keap in its 20 years, showing its reliability14.
Keap’s big feature is how it links email marketing with CRM tools. This helps businesses understand their customers better, personalize their messages, and make their sales and marketing smoother14. Automated emails can boost reply rates by 250%14. Personalized emails have a 46% higher open rate than regular marketing14.
Keap is unique because it focuses on CRM, offering a complete solution for customer engagement and management. With its strong features and success stories, Keap is a great pick for businesses needing a CRM-centric email platform.
| Platform | CRM Features | Pricing |
|---|---|---|
| Keap | Lead and contact management Automated sales pipelines Invoice and payment processing Task and calendar management Integrated email and text messaging | Starts at $79/month for 1 user |
| ActiveCampaign | Customer relationship management Marketing automation Site and event tracking Predictive sending Lead scoring and segmentation | Starts at $9/month for 100 contacts |
| EngageBay | Contact and company management Deal and pipeline management Email marketing and automation Live chat and helpdesk Reporting and analytics | Starts at $14.99/month for 1,000 contacts |
In the world of email marketing software, CRM-focused platforms like Keap offer a complete solution. They integrate CRM with powerful email marketing. By using Keap’s CRM tools, businesses can improve customer engagement, personalize their messages, and achieve better results14.
Choosing the Right Email Platform
Finding the best email marketing software for your business can be tough. But it’s key to your success. The simplest tools let you create, send, and track emails. For more, look for platforms with extra features like landing pages and automation15.
When picking an email platform, think about your team’s needs. Consider send volume, migration, and design flexibility. Also, look at the platform’s contact limit and marketing features15.
| Email Platform Feature | Benefit |
|---|---|
| Transactional Email Capabilities | Allows sending order confirmations and other important messages. It needs to work well with websites and APIs15. |
| Customer Data Management | Good data management is key for personalized emails. It should work with CRM systems15. |
| Lead Generation and List Building | Features like opt-in forms and social media integrations help grow your list15. |
| Advanced Marketing Features | Tools like lookalike audience finders make emails more effective15. |
By looking at these factors and your business goals, you can pick the right platform. The email marketing world is growing fast, with billions of emails sent daily16.
Email marketing is very profitable, with an ROI of 3,600%. It’s more visible than social media, as emails go straight to inboxes16. This is great for e-commerce sites, helping with personalized offers and sales16.
Email marketing software prices vary a lot. They range from $10 a month for 500 contacts to $4,000 for 1 million16. Some offer free plans or pay-as-you-go options16. Constant Contact is known for its ease of use and various plans16.
The right email platform is crucial for your marketing success. Look at performance, engagement, and cost to make a good choice17. Whether you want to boost engagement or lead generation, there’s a platform for you17.
Email Platforms: Key Features to Consider
Choosing the right email marketing platform is crucial. Look for features like email creation and contact management. These allow you to design great emails and manage your subscribers easily.
Design templates and customization options are also key. They help you personalize your emails and match your brand. Reporting and analytics tools are vital too. They give you insights into your email campaign’s performance.
Automation and AI features can make your email marketing easier. They automate tasks like segmentation and personalization. This saves you time and effort.
Consider how easy the platform is to use and the quality of customer support. You want a platform that’s easy to navigate and has helpful support. Deliverability and sender reputation are also important. They ensure your emails reach your subscribers’ inboxes.
Pricing and send limits vary among platforms. Some offer free plans, while others have tiered pricing. It’s important to find a balance between cost and functionality that fits your budget and needs.
When choosing an email platform, consider email creation, design tools, reporting, automation, ease of use, customer support, deliverability, and pricing. By evaluating these factors, you can find a platform that meets your business needs and boosts your email marketing ROI.
| Email Platform | Free Plan Offering | Paid Plan Pricing | Key Features |
|---|---|---|---|
| Nutshell | Up to 150 emails per month | Not provided | CRM integration, email automation |
| Mailchimp | Up to 500 contacts | $13+ per month for 500 contacts | Pre-built templates, audience segmentation, analytics |
| Constant Contact | Not provided | $12+ per month for 500 subscribers | Customer support, email scheduling, list management |
| ActiveCampaign | Not provided | $29+ per month for 1,000 contacts | Automation capabilities, CRM integration, advanced analytics |
| HubSpot | Not provided | $15+ per month for 1,000 contacts | Extensive automation, CRM tools, marketing analytics |
| Brevo | Limited free plan | $25+ per month | Multiple marketing tools, email creation, reporting |
| MailerLite | Up to 1,000 subscribers | $10+ per month for 500 subscribers | Drag-and-drop editor, list management, reporting |
| Moosend | Not provided | $9+ per month for 500 contacts | Automation capabilities, A/B testing, advanced analytics |
“Businesses see an average ROI of $36 for every dollar spent on email marketing, representing a return of almost 4,000 percent.”18
When picking an email platform, look at email creation, design tools, reporting, automation, ease of use, customer support, deliverability, and pricing. By carefully considering these, you can find a platform that helps you engage your audience and drive better results for your business.
Conclusion
Exploring the top192021 email platforms shows a wide range of solutions for businesses. From simple platforms like Campaign Monitor to all-in-one solutions like Mailchimp, there’s something for everyone. Each platform can boost your digital marketing.
Understanding the features, pricing, and user experience of these platforms is key. Look for automation, segmentation, AI content creation, and integration with other tools. These can make your email campaigns much more effective21.
When looking into192021 email marketing, it’s important to explore and choose wisely. Think about your business needs and pick a platform that helps you reach your audience. This will drive engagement and help you meet your marketing goals.
FAQ
What is an email platform?
Email marketing software platforms help you send emails to people who are interested in your products or services. They let you manage your contacts and track who opens your emails.
What are the top email platforms in 2023?
In 2023, the best email platforms include Campaign Monitor, MailerLite, Drip, Brevo, and Mailchimp. Also, Constant Contact, GetResponse, ActiveCampaign, and Keap are highly recommended.
What features does Brevo offer as an affordable email marketing solution?
Brevo is a budget-friendly option. It lets you create custom emails, send SMS and Whatsapp messages, and build landing pages. It also offers automation and segmentation starting at $9 a month.
What are the key features of Mailchimp as an all-in-one marketing platform?
Mailchimp has many features. You can use pre-made email templates, segment your audience, and track your results. It also helps you post on social media and automate your emails.
What makes Constant Contact a great option for customer support?
Constant Contact is known for its excellent customer support. It allows you to schedule emails and create landing pages. You can also test different versions of your emails and use SMS marketing.
What email platforms are suited for small to medium-sized businesses?
GetResponse is great for small to medium-sized businesses. It offers autoresponders, templates, and e-commerce features. ActiveCampaign is also a top choice, with advanced automation and CRM tools.
What makes Keap the best email platform for CRM tools?
Keap is the top choice for CRM tools. It includes email and text marketing, automations, and a customer pipeline. It also has a CRM, reporting tools, and payment processing.
What are the key features to consider when choosing an email platform?
Look for email creation, contact management, and design tools. Reporting and customization are also important. Consider how easy it is to use and the customer service. Check the send limits and pricing too.