If you think email marketing is dead, then think again.
The rise of social media stands nowhere near the returns generated by email marketing. According to a research, 60% of customers have made a purchase against marketing emails compared to 12.5% of customers who would consider buying through social media.
The scope of email marketing is not limited to just sending emails. From designing the email’s content to segmenting your audience - you can’t harness the full power of email marketing without a sophisticated software in place.
This article discusses the 10 best email marketing softwares and tips for you to select a software that meets your needs.
What Is an Email Marketing Software?
An email marketing software offers tools that enable you to design, execute, and monitor email marketing campaigns. An email marketing software takes control of the wheel while you relax in the backseat.
A competent email marketing software lets you;
Manage your email list
Design emails without having to employ a full-time designer
Segment and personalize your emails
Automatically send emails to a large number of people
Determine the success of a campaign through advanced analytical tools
What to Look For in an Email Marketing Software?
With so many options available, choosing a quality software can be overwhelming. Worry not as we discuss those features that are vital to the system you invest in.
These are;
1. Visual Editor
Ugly-looking emails are an absolute deal-breaker. Invest in an email marketing software with visual styling features, like a drag and drop editor, pre-designed HTML templates, and image editing tools.
2. Segmentation
There’s no such thing as a one-size-fits-all approach in email marketing. A robust system should enable you to segment your audience based on different demographic, geographic, and behavioral factors.
3. Integration
To create a seamless experience, your email marketing software must integrate with your CRM and ecommerce store. This will enable you to use real-time customer data, send personalized emails, and execute powerful campaigns.
4. Automation
Automation tools ensure no opportunity is left to engage with your subscribers. The autoresponder feature lets you send the right emails to the right people at the right time.
5. Analytical Tools
A robust email marketing software lets you measure the success of your campaigns using different email marketing metrics, like deliverability and conversion rates.
Top 10 Email Marketing Softwares of 2023
To make things super easy for you, we’ve come up with a list of the very best email marketing softwares. You can find each software’s details, key features, and pricing below, so you don’t have to look elsewhere.
If you’re in a hurry, we’ve got you covered. The below email marketing softwares excel in the following domains:
Best for email design: Unlayer.
Best for segmentation: Constant Contact.
Best for automation: HubSpot.
Best for integration: Mailchimp.
Best for affordability: Klaviyo.
If you want to look at things in greater detail, the below list will serve your needs. Let’s get started.
1. Mailchimp
With a sizeable clientele to its name, Mailchimp is one popular email marketing software. Not only does it allow users to execute meaningful campaigns, but it also enables them to build a website - completely free!
Personalized transactional emails are sent to customers instantly. With an inbox acceptance rate ranging between 96-99%, you can find yourself permanently dodging the spam folder.
Mailchimp seamlessly integrates with your ecommerce store and social media profiles to execute campaigns across all platforms. Our favorite feature is the efficient marketing calendar. The latter displays all activities in one central location and allows users to directly schedule emails and social media posts.
Key Features
Design and execute email campaigns
Targeted emails through automated customer journey builder
Integrated with CRMs, ecommerce stores, social media, and developer tools
Real-time analytics
Marketing calendar
Price
One reason behind Mailchimp’s popularity is its free services. Emails can be sent to 2,000 subscribers without costing you a cent. Paid solutions start from $11 per month. The latter allows users to schedule emails and perform A/B testing, among other features.
2. Unlayer
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Unlayer is a prime email design tool that lets you create responsive emails without needing any coding or design skills. Perfect for both freelancers and companies, the drag and drop editor can be used online or embedded in your application.
You can conveniently choose from a library of 1,000+ HTML email templates and modify them as you like. From Black Friday emails to the launch of a new product, there is a template available for all your needs.
Use Unlayer’s email editor to embed images, personalize content through merge tags, include countdown timers, change font style, save custom blocks, and use free stock images, among other features.
Collaborate with team members from the software directly and ask for their feedback. Changes can be made then and there, so you’re always on track. Once done, you can integrate with 11 leading email service providers in the industry.
Key Features
1,000+ professional templates to choose from
Desktop, tablet, and mobile preview
Personalization features, including merge tags and dynamic content
Reuseable custom blocks and tools
Collaborate with team members as you go
Price
Both Unlayer Studio and Embed offer free packages. Paid services are defined by user type and start from $15. You can opt for a risk-free 14-day free trial, no credit card details required!
3. Brevo
If you are a small business looking to invest in a single marketing software, then Brevo is your knight in shining armor. From email marketing to creating Facebook ads, there is something in store for all your marketing needs.
With Brevo, you can design emails from scratch or through pre-built templates. With real-time engagement and deliverability statistics, you can monitor the success of your email campaigns.
A/B testing enables you to choose the best email message and design for your clients. The artificial intelligence tool highlights the optimal time to send emails so that you achieve maximum engagement.
Key Features
Design emails, signup forms, landing pages, and Facebook ads
Automated marketing messages
Segment audience based on interests, purchase history, and socio-economic status
Real-time analytics, including A/B testing and email heat map
Integrate with any product, irrespective of its technical setup
Price
The free version of Brevo enables its users to send up to 300 emails daily. Along with pre-made price bundles, the software provider follows a pay-as-you-go model - you pay only for the features you choose.
4. Constant Contact
Constant Contact is known for its advanced email segmentation feature. Say goodbye to generic and ill-fitted emails. With Constant Contact, you can filter emailing lists and create as many segments as you want.
Differentiate your customers based on their engagement levels, geographic location, occupation, and how recently they’ve been subscribed to your mailing list. You can speed up the process of future campaigns by saving these defined segments.
The automation tools are also a class apart. Determine event triggers and engage with your customers quickly to win their attention and loyalty.
Key Features
Customizable, industry-specific templates to choose from
Segment audience based on different criteria
Automated emails triggered on events
Contact database management for emails
Real-time monitoring of campaign results
Price
Unlike other email marketing softwares discussed so far, Constant Contact does not offer a free version. However, you can sign up for a free 60-day trial. The starting cost is $20 per month, which increases as more subscribers are added.
5. Hubspot
How can we talk about email marketing softwares without mentioning HubSpot? With a vast network of clients worldwide, HubSpot offers a complete marketing, sales, and customer service solution suite. A jack of all trades, you can surely find a tool for your marketing needs.
Use the drag and drop editor to design professional-looking emails. Add your logo, write calls to action, and include your social media handles - the choice is all yours.
Once designed, emails are automatically sent at an optimal time. This lowers the chances of emails being left unread. You can further automate the email marketing process by enabling targeted emails sent against specific event triggers. So, if one purchases from your ecommerce store, they will be sent a thank you email straight away.
Key Features
Segmentation based on defined criteria
Automated trigger emails
Real-time analytics, including A/B testing
Social media integration
Free Customer Relationship Management (CRM) tool
Price
With HubSpot, you benefit from its free tools. Up to 15 features are offered free of charge, including email marketing, reporting dashboard, and list segmentation. The starting price of its marketing hub is $45 per month.
6. ConvertKit
Loved by bloggers and online content creators, ConvertKit offers simplified marketing tools. Anyone having limited marketing and design skills can successfully use this software to create compelling email campaigns.
The people behind ConverKit believe that the focal point of an email is its content. Hence, it offers a clutter-free writing experience. Add text, embed images in emails, and include buttons that redirect to landing pages.
Imagine designing a top-notch email only to find it in your audience’s spam folder? The latter is never the case with ConvertKit. With a delivery rate of 98%, you can be optimistic about reaching your customers’ inbox each time.
Key Features
Drag and drop email builder
Automated emails through custom funnels
Detailed stats on each email, including open and click rate
Customized customer segments
Email list management
Price
The free version of ConvertKit sends emails to up to 300 subscribers. The price escalates as the number of subscribers and advanced tools increases.
7. Klaviyo
Klaviyo offers a powerful tool that provides solutions for each stage of the email marketing funnel. You can create well-designed emails using their pre-made templates. If you fancy advanced email designs, you can write your own code as well.
Klaviyo focuses on building strong customer relationships, which is why you can benefit from their ready-to-go campaign automations. Common automation flows are built beforehand so you can use them straight away to offer targeted messages to your subscribers.
Key Features
Email design through templates or custom code
Ready-to-go campaign automations
Real-time data monitoring
Email deliverability management
Integrate with ecommerce stores and more
Pricing
If your budget is limited, then Klaviyo has some amazing packages for you. You can use the email marketing software completely free to send 500 emails to up to 250 subscribers. The price increases as the number of subscribers increases. Klaviyo even provides an ROI calculator so you can truly know the value you’re getting.
8. Campaign Monitor
Another well-famed software in the email marketing industry is Campaign Monitor. This powerful software lets you offer extremely personalized experiences to your audience.
You can import your customer data by integrating Campaign Monitor with your ecommerce store or CRM. You can use this data to create different segments to target each of them individually in the best way possible.
One spotlight feature is testing emails before sending them. With Campaign Monitor, you can test anything from subject lines to send times to design responsiveness.
Key Features
Email list management
Segmentation and personalization capabilities
Automated visual journey designer
Mobile preview
Email deliverability management
Pricing
Campaign Monitor doesn’t offer a free version. However, a free trial is available. Packages start from $9 monthly and include all core features with 2,500 email sends.
9. ActiveCampaign
ActiveCampaign offers a complete email marketing software for those looking for complete solutions in one place.
You can design emails via 125+ pre-made templates. Emails can be personalized by using merge tags and dynamic content. Data can be integrated from ecommerce stores and CRMs to create segments and hence, offer targeted messages.
Once the email is ready, you can schedule it at the right time beforehand. You can even A/B test to see which email (or email variable) performs better. Real-time analytics give you an overview of how you’re performing against your targets.
Key Features
Pre-made templates and drag and drop editor
Audience segmentation
Merge tags and dynamic content
Managed deliverability
Real-time analytics
Pricing
ActiveCampaign doesn’t offer a free package. Paid ones start from $9 per month billed annually and includes unlimited email sending.
10. EngageBay
With EngageBay, you won't need to hire a developer and build a custom solution for your business as well as an expensive software and spend time learning how to use it. This is a big plus for small businesses, because it means you can start using the software immediately and move on with your business.
EngageBay’s free plan is pretty robust, allowing you to send up to 1,000 emails per month to 500 subscribers. There’s a drag-and-drop builder that works smoothly, and the email templates library is not bad either. You can add images, videos, and links to your emails. Plus, EngageBay users have reported very high delivery rates.
Key Features
A/B testing for all email components
Email broadcast reports with live updates
Predictive lead scoring to target the right prospects
Dozens of pre-set conditions for email automation
360-degree view of all contacts, with complete interaction history
Social media suite
Pricing
The free plan allows up to 15 users and can be used forever. It limits your email sends to 1,000 a month, though. Paid plans start at $15 a month, and add more landing pages, email and other marketing automation and sales tools, and a free, integrated CRM suite.
Tips for Selecting the Best Email Marketing Software
Thanks to this article, you now know about the best softwares for email marketing. But how do you narrow your decision to one single choice?
Easy. Take a paper and pen, or open your notes app if you’re a computer geek, and follow along.
Pricing that works for you
Often the most crucial factor behind choosing an email marketing software is your budget. Let us tell you a secret. Don’t choose the cheapest system but opt for one that gives you the best value for your buck.
If you’re a freelancer and can’t afford paid bundles, choose a software that offers the most relevant tools in its free version. Similarly, opt for a package that caters to your actual number of subscribers, not one that you aspire to have.
Features you need, not want
It can be tempting to fall into the marketing gimmicks of software providers. Be more intelligent than that. Enlist all the features you require from an email marketing system. You’re better off investing in a software that specializes in a few tools than a jack of all trades.
Software that grows with you
Growth is the reason why you considered opting for email marketing in the first place. Choose a software that is flexible enough to grow with you. Ideally, you should invest in a service provider that follows a pay-as-you-go approach.
Similarly, your preference should be towards a software that allows integration with other apps and tools.
An ally, not an enemy
Not everyone is a born marketer. We all go through phases of learning and implementing. An email marketing software should be your friend that grows with you. Choose one that offers impeccable customer support and extends helpful content to boost your knowledge.
The Bottomline
Email marketing is pivotal for the success and growth of any online brand. Without a competent software in place, you will deprive yourself of its true potential.
This article discussed the 10 best email marketing softwares of 2023. From design tools to segmentation features, this list covered it all. Take the leap and choose the system that works for you - not the other way around.
Which email marketing software will you invest in?